[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 53 (Thursday, March 29, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E382-E383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA 
                         PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATION

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MATT GAETZ

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2018

  Mr. GAETZ. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to recognize the Board of 
Directors of the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association, a 
group of doctors working tirelessly for the advancement of medical 
marijuana as a treatment for their patients.

[[Page E383]]

  I was not always supportive of medical marijuana. What changed my 
mind was hearing testimonials from suffering people who had turned to 
medical marijuana for relief. The choice to use medical cannabis for 
treatment was often a decision made when all other treatments had 
failed, when patients and families alike had lost hope.
  I have seen families in the throes of grief at their loved ones' 
illnesses--including parents who watched their children with epilepsy 
suffer from daily, debilitating seizures. Every day brought a new 
heartbreak, until medical cannabis finally brought patients and 
families some much-needed relief. For many patients, this was the first 
relief from their symptoms that they had felt in many years.
  But while some patients discover medical cannabis after research, 
many patients do not know, or even consider, that medical marijuana may 
help their conditions.
  AMMPA, the American Medical Marijuana Physicians Association, has 
been instrumental--particularly in Florida--in raising patients' 
awareness of medical cannabis as a valid treatment option. They have 
helped many find relief when other treatments had not worked.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, I want to 
recognize the Board of Directors of the American Medical Marijuana 
Physicians Association, and to thank them for their good work.

                          ____________________