"I am a cancer patient. I am also a convicted felon, on probation for the next five years, for growing my own medicine — cannabis (marijuana). I have been living with cancer for 10 years now. On the recommendation of my oncologist, I have been smoking marijuana since I began chemotherapy six years ago. Marijuana gives me an appetite. It helps me sleep. It helps me stay alive. Without medical marijuana, I would not have survived these years of chemotherapy — I say this with some certainty.
"In 2007, state police entered my home, took the medicine I depend on, arrested me, and charged me with felony possession. In the weeks that followed, my breast cancer went from being stable to being out of control. I was forced back onto heavier chemotherapy treatments — the ones that make your hair fall out and destroy your organs. I tried — among other things — Marinol (dronabinol), but it only contains THC and does not contain cannabinoids. It did not alleviate my nausea or give me an appetite. It also was slow to work and made it difficult to function. It became impossible to keep up with my demanding job as a CFO. After eight or nine weeks, I had lost 35 pounds because I could not eat. I did not want to risk further legal troubles by using medical marijuana, but my health left me no other option. Finally, I procured some marijuana, and my weight stabilized. I was able to go back to work. I was able to resume my cancer treatments.
"Underreported medical marijuana research has demonstrated that the cannabinoid components of the plant cannabis (medical marijuana) demonstrate cancer-destroying properties. I have, and continue to, consider myself a living experiment, something which has fascinated my doctors over the years. I am confident that medical marijuana has contributed to my life, my well-being, and my continued strength to purge cancer from my body.
"Cannabis is a God-given plant. In my case, it is medicine — natural, herbal medicine. Please make it legal for me to use the medicine that allows me to survive."
