YOUR COMMENTS

Mr Yates accuses Officer Jardis of pandering to the interests of narcotics users. Ignoring for a moment that marijuana is not a narcotic, I'd be interested to know why Mr. Yates is so strident pandering to a drug prohibition regime that is such a staggering failure. The drug war has done absolutely nothing to solve drug problems. Drugs are cheaper and more plentiful than ever. I say bravo to Officer Jardis for questioning the morality of drug prohibition in the case of a sick or dying person in need of medication. We need more cops with such a moral reflex.
- Dave Otto, Fairfax, VA

I didn't agree with this at first either,Then my grandma got really sick. The doc drugged her up w/oxcycodone and other types of prescribed junk. My grammy was a zombie,no life left in her,plus the meds weren't helping her pain at all. Since then I have introduced her to cannabis. She has never felt better in her life. She actually leaves the house now eats sleeps, and can do almost everything she could do before coming ill. She is very great full and so am I.. She's 80 and has never broken a law in her life. I would be really upset if my grammy was arrested thrown in jail and branded a criminal for trying to better her life and stick around a little longer for her grandkids.
- eric smith, londonderry

This is a response to Mr. Thomas Thorpe's post.

Mr. Jardis's point is that Police officers and legislators DON'T have medical credentials. This bill is to keep those who are unqualified from making decisions that counteract the advice of a qualified medical professional.

Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug and the numbers prove it. According to the FBI uniform crime reports 98.5% of people who try Pot NEVER go on to harder drugs.

As far as finding only two LEO's to support this, just go and check out L.E.A.P. which stands for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. Created less than ten years ago it has grown to over 20,000 members who are either cops, judges, prosecutors or other law enforcement professionals.

Finally, as someone who does smoke Pot for pleasure, a pothead if you like, I am sick to death of hearing people like you use people like me as an excuse to keep sick people in pain.

You are wrong sir and attitudes like yours are keeping sick people sick. Please at least keep an open mind and do some research.
- Budd, Henniker

I feel it's just a matter of time before people see the insanity of this drug war. I think Mr. Jardis is on the leading edge of a trend. I suspect many already agree with him. I hope he inspires more LEOs to have the courage to speak out.
- Dale Everett, Keene, NH

I have found so often when it comes to this issue that instead of discussing facts and scientific evidence, the people who oppose this bill resort to personal attacks rather then having a legitimate point. Because we live in a free country, Officer Jardis has a right to his opinion. If you do not agree with him fine but saying he is an embarrassment is just being rude. He does his job and he is putting himself out there for an issue he believes in, which I consider to be everyone's civic duty in our Democracy.
I don't agree with Alan here or Thomas but I will always fight for their rights to express them.
- Carrie James, Hooksett,NH

Mr. Jardis makes some good points. There are plenty of reasons why only around 1/3 of Republicans are against medical marijuana in NH. Likewise, around 90% of Democrats support medical marijuana. Making people who are gravely sick or about to die suffer needlessly is not a nice thing to do. The prohibition of medical marijuana is a disgrace to the good people of NH.

Mr. Jardis, thank you for your work.
- Keith, Seabrook

Thanks, Brad, for your courage. As a fellow officer here in NYC currently on vacation in your neck of the woods it is heartening to see the discussion extend to places I would not have imagined. Our government realizes they made a mistake putting marijuana as a Schedule I drug. It's just politically difficult to publicly admit their error. We'll change it. Good luck.
- Ryan Pittis, New York, New York

I for one would like to thank Officer Jardis in his courage to bring forth this hot topic debate. It is unfortunate as well knowing that he probably has made some enemies among the law enforcement community. Only in America can a man of integrity, take on a topic like this with courage and be ripped apart by so many. What is the problem folks? I deal with multiple diseases, and live in chronic pain. Day to day life changes where a wheelchair is sometimes needed to get through the day. I live on enough medication that it doesn't leave room for a meal. All the medicine going into me, from chemical plants and all, it will be a wonder if I ever decompose. Now as for the topic on prescribed marijuana, why such a fuss? Are we not living in a free world, with laws that maintain law and justice? Are we not law abiding citizens paying our fair dues to society? I am a person of faith that personally feels that a little bit of marijuana would be far more beneficial to me than all the various drugs being pumped into me by pill form. I have had the opportunity to know and hear of people who have seen restored health and pain free from marijuana. I have read many articles that substantiate the healing properties of it as well. I have read where people have regained sight from glaucoma and the list goes on. So why would anyone think that denying any individual the right to carry in their possession a prescribed vial or whatever or marijuana be illegal? Lets get on with the more important dealings that plague this state and country and let the people be free in the state where the motto is, "Live Free or Die"
- Keith R, Raymond

Thomas Thorpe, I read & reread your editorial several times and I fail to find where you list your pharmaceutical and/or psychiatric credentials. I hardly think that your opinion that marijuana is a gateway drug qualifies you to define it as such. Actually, marijuana isn't even a drug - it's a substance, a plant. A plant that some people claim has helped them in medical situations. Why should you - or anyone - determine what substance (or drug) another person ingests for medical or any other reason? If you're concerned about crimes that will happen when a person is on drugs, the pursue the crime, not the drug. More crimes and violence occur by people under the influence of the legal drug alcohol anyway. Of course, I don't have any credentials to prove that, so I could be wrong. :)
- Mike Barskey, Derry, NH

Thanks so much to Officer Jardis for telling the truth about the current situation in New Hampshire - unless the law is changes, police officers are compelled to arrest ANYONE who is in possession of any amount of cannabis, as is required by state law.

I hope the New Hampshire senate and Governor Lynch choose to let seriously ill patients who need this medicine to survive use it.
- Brinck Slattery, Manchester, NH

Brad Jardis is a hero. Thank you to him for having the courage to stand against this insane war on our friends and family.
- Ian Freeman, Keene

Alan,

You find Officer Jardis comments to be" an embarrassment to Epping and to other Police Officers."? And "the most disgusting example of pandering to the interests of narcotic users by a so-called police officer I have ever seen"!!! Seriously? What I read makes my heart sing. A police officer with integrity, common sense, honesty and compassion speaks out!! I can only pray we have others like him on the force. Thank you Officer Jardis!! Alan, if a loved one of yours was suffering and marijuana ( by the way it's not a narcotic ) could help would you really want them arrested and locked up? No seriously??
- Gail Domenico, Manchester

It's so easy for people to sit back from the outside looking in and form opinions on how issues should be handled, until one has to face the issues head on. It doesn't matter if it's a friend, family member, or yourself. When we see people we love suffering, it's only natural to want to ease that pain. My father has several diseases that work against each other and his body is slowly and painfully deteriorating. He is in chronic pain on a daily basis and often can barely find the strength to walk. He's still only in his 40's. Why should he, a normal, law abiding citizen be refused a substance much less damaging to his body than the several narcotics prescribed to him every day? Where is the logic?

And to Alan Yates of Concord- yes, doctors sometimes make bad decisions. But are yours always right? We are all human, and we do the best with what we are given. If doctors had the option of giving marijuana to patients, I think that's much less damaging than doping them up with some other substance that makes them completely incoherent.
- Melanie Roberts, Plaistow, NH

Great article Brad. What a person does to their own body is their own business. Legalizing medicinal marijuana will make people safer because cops won't have to arrest as many peaceful people.
- Patrick Shields, Keene

Officer Jardis, I read & reread your editorial several times and I fail to find where you list your medical credentials. I hadly think the first aid class you may have took at the police academy qualifies you to the opinion you express on medical marijuana. As a matter of fact plenty of credentialed professionals all agree that in this day of modern medicine there are a number of accepted and specific legal medications that can alleviate pain. Medicianl use of marijuana is a ruse to ultimately de-criminalize this gateway drug. I am embarassed and ashamed that a law enforcement officer in my County would encourage its use. But in case you need a clue, you did look closely around the room the other day, didn't you? And you must have noticed that in a State that has over 8000 sworn police officers, you could find only one other supporting your position. I guess sometimes people get so wrapped up in a cause that they become oblivious to the obvious!
- Thomas Thorpe, Portsmouth, NH

I agree with many that this is a difficult topic to discuss, but my view on the subject is that medicinal marijuana use should be legalized. A friend of mine, age 28, has multiple sclerosis (ms) and currently uses marijuana to assist in lowering her pain levels, if only for short relief. At her young age she already uses a cane, and with particular bouts of relapse, she even uses a wheelchair to get around for long periods of time. She is courageous, 100% healthy otherwise, takes care of her body and she uses marijuana to aid in her pain levels. She's not a pothead. She doesn't walk around high all the time. She just takes enough in to ease the pain when it gets too much for her to handle. This isn't a cure but MS also doesn't have a cure. I believe this should be legalized so she doesn't have to hide it. I don't believe it should be smoked on the public streets but I feel she should be able to talk about it without shame or fear. It works. Why deny it? They go through enough hell as it is.
- Sarah Doherty, Derry

I am glad to see the discussion of the use of marijuana as a beneficial drug. Officer Jardis is absolutely right when he talks about the fact that any treatment for illness should be between a person and his or her doctor. This insane war on drugs is really just a war on people, the weakest of whom are the easiest victims for the drug warriors. The peaceful citizens of New Hampshire are fortunate there is at least one law enforcement officer who is putting his reputation and his job on the line to speak out against the insanity of some of the drug laws in this country. Bravo, Officer Jardis!
- Brian Travis, Candia, NH

Alan,

Marijuana isn't a narcotic. In 1988, after two years of considering testimony, DEA Chief Administrative Law Judge Francis Young ruled that it should be made available for seriously ill patients.

In his opinion he found that "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious for the DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of the substance." Of course, this was just an opinion, like the opinion of Officer Jardis, right?
- Matt Simon, Pembroke

Alan,

How big was the pen you used to draw a connection between supporting medicinal marijuana and assisted suicide? It had to be a big one because that was quite a stretch. Doctors are not counseling their patients on how to break the law. They are counseling them on pain management. You never actually gave a reason as to why you disagree with marijuana use for medical use besides it's against the law. What in particular bothers you about the practice? Have you ever seen someone slowly and painfully die of cancer? Do you really want to keep something away from them that will ease that pain simply because it is against the law? You chided Officer Jardis for not using any medical evidence yet you did not cite any relevant information yourself. In your comment you manage to attack police officers and doctors. Did you leave out Red Cross volunteers, people who read to the blind or any other individuals who work to serve others for a reason?
- Scott Mullen, Dorchester, MA

This letter has to be the most disgusting example of pandering to the interests of narcotic users by a so-called police officer I have ever seen. Officer Jardis, you may be a good cop but your opinions about medical care and treatment are simply your opinions and don't have a lot of cogent information in them. Medical care decisions aren't "sacrosanct"...A person may be a wonderful doctor but they still may not counsel their patients to break the laws. Doctors are human and often make bad choices. Will you next champion the cause of Dr Jack Kervorkian? I consider you decision to take such a public stance while representing yourself as an Epping Police Officer to be a very bad choice on your part and an embarrassment to Epping and to other Police Officers.
- Alan R Yates, Cocnord