Richard Williams, 46, Richmondville

"State law makes it a crime for me to try to survive. I have been HIV positive for 20 years and also have hepatitis C. Marijuana helps with pain from joint damage caused by my HIV drugs. It also helps me endure the side effects of my medications, which include nausea and appetite loss. It's not just me: A study showed that marijuana tripled the chances that nauseated AIDS patients would be able to stay on their medications. New York patients have undoubtedly died, and many more have suffered grievously, because state law made it illegal for them to use a safe and effective medicine. Please change these cruel laws."

 If you are a New Yorker, please write your state senator in support of allowing medical marijuana here or call him or her here.

Back to New York's medical marijuana patients' page