Medical marijuana saved my life.

This isn't a policy argument in favor of Proposition 203; this is what happened to me, a young, outgoing, 26-year-old pursuing her dreams. I am sharing this so that anyone who has any doubt about the need for medical marijuana will understand the difference this medicine can make.

In 2007, I was diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer and given a grim prognosis: I likely had just six months to live. My only chance for survival was a brutal regimen of chemotherapy coupled with radiation. For months I endured muscle weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and strong bouts of nausea. I was losing weight, losing my hair and worst of all my strength. The side effects of the treatment were literally killing me and no pharmaceutical drug was alleviating any of my symptoms.

Running out of time and hope, I decided to follow the suggestion of a family member and try something I had never tried before in my life: marijuana.

I tried it and it helped. Almost immediately after using it, the severity of my nausea was diminished. I developed an appetite and was able to eat some food. Gradually, I put on some weight and regained my strength.

Three years later, I am alive and feeling good. I continue to undergo monthly maintenance chemotherapy treatments. And when I do, I use some marijuana both before and after my treatments.

While my story is especially dramatic, there are other patients like me -- with MS, HIV/AIDS or other conditions -- who have found relief from marijuana.

We don't deserve to be jailed for using marijuana. And we would benefit from safe and reliable access to our medicine. So on behalf of myself and other patients; please vote YES on Proposition 203.