Pubdate: Mon, 30 Jun 2003 Source: Courier-Post (NJ) Copyright: 2003 Courier-Post Contact: http://www.courierpostonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/826 Author: Jim Miller MARIJUANA USE The medical marijuana movement lost one of it's most visible proponents June 7. My wife, Cheryl Miller, lost her 32-year battle with multiple sclerosis that day, and I lost the light of my life. Cheryl lived a life that few of us could. She could not even move her arms or legs for the last 10 years of her life. Still, when she found out in 1991 that marijuana relieved her spasticity and resulting pain better than her legal prescription medications, Cheryl felt that she had an obligation and an opportunity. Together, we did whatever it took to see that everybody with multiple sclerosis knew of the possibilities so the choice would be theirs. Along the way, Cheryl even ate marijuana in a congressman's office in Washington, DC, and was arrested on national television. The rest that Cheryl accomplished, too much to mention, is still on her web site, www.cherylheart.org. Since the federal government does not recognize marijuana's medical utility under a 1970 decision, we sought an appointment with our representative in Congress to discuss the outdated nature of this federal law. From that time in 1994 until the present, Rep. James Saxton, R-N.J. has replied to our requests for an appointment with a letter summarizing his opinion of what was wrong with the concept of medical marijuana. It didn't matter that Cheryl would show up at his Washington office, laying down in her reclining wheelchair after a painful trip from New Jersey. No appointment. No matter how many faxes, calls, or trips to his office, Saxton refused to give us any of his time. Saxton did not represent Cheryl. He ran from her. He outlasted her. Eighty percent of Americans support patients' right to medical marijuana, but most are willing to let seriously ill patients like Cheryl fight for herself. That example will be best demonstrated if Saxton gets no calls of dissent. You never know though. Perhaps Cheryl can accomplish in her passing what she couldn't accomplish in her lifetime. Jim Miller, Silverton - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom