Pubdate: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 Source: Gambit Weekly (LA) Copyright: 2002, Gambit Communications, Inc. Contact: http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/current/gw_index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2406 Author: Christopher Largen Referecned: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2090/a06.html THE MIRACLE OF MARIJUANA I want to thank you for your recent editorial highlighting the necessity of medical marijuana policy reform ("Legalize Medical Marijuana," Nov. 12). My best friend and co-author George McMahon is one of only six patients in the entire United States who receives medical marijuana from the federal government. He has smoked 10 joints a day for 12 years to treat the pain, spasms and nausea associated with a rare genetic condition called Nail Patella Syndrome. Prior to being admitted to the federal marijuana program, George had been through 19 major surgeries and was taking 17 pharmaceutical substances on a daily basis. Since smoking the federal marijuana, he has not had one surgery or hospitalization, and he has stopped taking all pharmaceuticals. Cannabis literally saved his life. George's story will be chronicled in our book, The Green Path: A Journey to Uncle Sam's Marijuana Garden due for release this May. Thanks again for speaking out on behalf of sick and dying people. - --Christopher Largen - --- MAP posted-by: Alex