Medical Marijuana Patients - Katherine Perera

About Katherine Affliction / Illness: AIDS Age: 41 Occupation: Restaurant owner, Spanish teacher, and life coach for caregivers and patients Katherine Perera was diagnosed with AIDS in 1982, which she contracted from a blood transfusion. After suffering from the effects of wasting syndrome -- losing weight at an alarming rate due to constant vomiting -- Katherine turned to medical marijuana. Using medical marijuana dramatically increased her appetite and helped boost her weight by 20 pounds. A mother of two young children, Katherine lives in rural Vermont with her husband and is active in her community. Here is a television ad that was recorded with Katherine and used in Vermont during the medical marijuana campaign in 2002.