To the Editor:

With the end of the legislative session in Albany early last Saturday morning came a huge statement from our state lawmakers. "There is no compassion for the thousands of New Yorkers living with serious debilitating illnesses." The Compassionate Care Act would have allowed patients living with a serious illness for which their healthcare provider believes medical marijuana can be beneficial, access to a small amount of medical marijuana to alleviate their symptoms. Medical marijuana has been proven in many instances to have a palliative and therapeutic effect in alleviating the symptoms from illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, Cancer, and Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

In 1998, Multiple Sclerosis Resources of Central New York Inc. was founded. As the associate director, I work with Executive Director Jessa Goss to serve thousands of patients and families across Central, Northern, Upstate and Southern Tier of New York living with multiple sclerosis. Many of our clients suffer from severe neuropathic pain, fatigue, vision problems, tingling, numbness, loss of balance/coordination, etc. One of our support group leaders and scores of clients use medical marijuana as part of a regimen to manage their symptoms. We have, on numerous occasions, witnessed their improvement in symptoms after using medical marijuana, so they could enjoy activities and much more. Their overall quality of life was dramatically increased. But right now, because medical marijuana remains illegal, they must break the law just to relieve their suffering.

As a services provider and most importantly as a human being, I am disheartened that members of my community and from all across the state will have to continue to suffer or break the law to ease their pain. It is heartbreaking to continuously witness the fear and know that their well-being depends on whether or not our leaders in Albany stop playing politics long enough to do the right thing. We'll be continuing the fight for medical marijuana on behalf of our clients until our leaders in Albany show some sense and human decency and pass the Compassionate Care Act.

Annette Simiele

Associate director

Multiple Sclerosis Resources of Central New York

Syracuse

