Pubdate: Thu, 23 Oct 2003
Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram (TX)
Copyright: 2003 Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, Texas
Contact:  http://www.star-telegram.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/162
Author: Jessamy Brown, Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/ocbc.htm (Oakland Cannabis Court Case)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Conant (Walters v. Conant)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/people/George+McMahon (George McMahon)
Photo: STAR-TELEGRAM/AMY WISEMAN George McMahon says marijuana helps his 
chronic pain and nausea in ways that traditional medicines cannot.

LEGAL MARIJUANA SMOKER TOUTS 'GOOD MEDICINE'

DRUGS: Nine states -- Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, 
Nevada, Oregon and Washington -- allow medical use of marijuana.

DENTON--When George McMahon picks up his pain relief medicine, he has to go 
through two sets of locked doors and, once home, store it in a locked safe.

He's just done a drug deal, but it's legal.

McMahon, who smokes 10 marijuana cigarettes a day to ease chronic pain, is 
one of a handful of patients in the government's little-known medical 
marijuana program.

McMahon, 54, was a guest speaker at a public forum Wednesday at the 
University of North Texas on the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The 
event was hosted by the school's Department of Rehabilitation, Substance 
Abuse and Addictions.

The forum, attended mostly by students, was designed to give an overview of 
marijuana and research on medical uses of the drug but not be a debate on 
the issue.

McMahon, who has a genetic degenerative disease, was an enthusiastic proponent.

"I want to tell you, marijuana's good medicine," McMahon said.

The discussion Wednesday comes amid mixed signals from government agencies 
throughout the country.

Nine states -- Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, 
Nevada, Oregon and Washington -- allow medical use of marijuana. However, 
it is still illegal under federal law to grow, sell or possess marijuana. 
In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against medical marijuana clubs, 
stating that there is no medical exception to the federal law against 
marijuana.

Then last week, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to let the federal 
government revoke doctors' federal licenses for recommending or discussing 
the benefits of pot to their patients. The justices declined without 
comment to review a lower-court ruling that said doctors should be able to 
speak frankly with their patients.

Jess Cline, a UNT psychology student who is taking a drugs and alcohol 
class, said government officials need to take a final stance on medical 
marijuana.

"I think it shows some of the stupidity of the drug policies that we have," 
said Cline, 22, of Kilgore.

McMahon, who lives near Tyler but declined to give his hometown because of 
security concerns, frequently travels to advocate for medical marijuana 
legalization. He recently co-wrote a book with former UNT student 
Christopher Largen called Prescription Pot: A Leading Advocate's Heroic 
Battle to Legalize Medical Marijuana.

The federal government supplies McMahon with 300 prerolled cigarettes per 
month at no charge.

McMahon has a rare neurological disease called nail patella syndrome, a 
genetic condition that disrupts major organs and causes bones to become 
brittle and break easily.

After years of illness, he applied in 1990 to the National Institute on 
Drug Abuse to get the drug under the Investigational New Drug Applications 
program, he said.

The program was canceled in 1992, but the government continues to supply 
seven patients with marijuana, officials said. Eight others in the program 
have died, McMahon said.

Research shows that marijuana can relieve pain, stimulate appetite and ward 
off nausea. It is used by patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple 
sclerosis and other illnesses, said Jim Quinn, a UNT professor of 
addictions, corrections and criminology.

"It is a drug that helps some people with chronic illnesses and 
disabilities lead full lives," he said. "I think we've got a pretty good 
case for this drug's usefulness."

He noted, however, that many experts believe the findings don't merit 
further research.

Quinn also detailed several effects of marijuana that can be dangerous to 
patients, including cancer, respiratory problems and accelerated heart rate.

McMahon said marijuana helped him become active again and no longer 
confined to bed. Traditional medications did not relieve his symptoms, he said.

"I can't take a pill and stop my nausea; they tried," McMahon said. "I 
can't take a pill and stop my pain; they tried."

Marijuana information

The main ingredient in marijuana, Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, can 
help treat some medical conditions. THC is the main ingredient in a 
medicine that relieves nausea for cancer chemotherapy patients.

Marijuana use can impair short-term memory, attention, judgment and 
learning skills. Long-term use can lead to addiction and cause increased 
risk of chronic cough, bronchitis, emphysema and cancer of the head, neck 
and lungs.

SOURCE: National Institute on Drug Abuse

Forum

A teaching forum "Head, Fed and Med: Views on Marijuana Legalization" is 
set for 7:30 to 9 p.m. today at Tarrant County College Northeast Campus, 
Student Center.

ONLINE: www.drugabuse.gov

www.trvnet.net/ mmcmahon
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom