Pubdate: Sun, 29 Aug 2004
Source: Trenton Times, The (NJ)
Copyright: 2004 The Times
Contact:  http://www.njo.com/times/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/458
Author: Amy Kuperinsky
Cited: Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey http://www.cmmnj.org/
Photos: of the event http://www.cmmnj.org/8_28_04Photos/picpage.htm
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Jim+Miller

FAMILIES BACK MEDICAL MARIJUANA BILL

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - Sean McGrath was what his father Don called a "health 
freak," a member of the "straight-edge" community, embracing a wholesome 
life that never included drug abuse or smoking. He was a vegetarian who 
regularly exercised, an animal rights enthusiast who never wore leather.

But cancer doesn't discriminate, so when McGrath's doctors suggested he use 
marijuana to alleviate the pain and other symptoms of intestinal cancer, he 
had little choice, his father said.

In the hours before his death just three months ago, McGrath's family 
helped him use marijuana for the last time to ease his incessant pain. It 
was out of compassion, out of unquestionable love that they offered to 
soothe him as he lay dying.

But legally, they were all in the wrong. "Technically, Sean and everyone 
else in the room could have been arrested," said Don McGrath.

Civil liberties advocates, a state lawmaker and members of the Coalition 
for Medical Marijuana New Jersey met at McGrath's home yesterday to kick 
off a fight against what they consider an outrageous injustice.

They spoke in support of a bill that would make New Jersey the 10th state 
to decriminalize medical marijuana. Titled the New Jersey Compassionate Use 
Medical Marijuana Act, it is co-sponsored by Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, 
D-Princeton Borough, and Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, R-Morris 
Township, and will be introduced in the fall.

"This is something that speaks of compassion and the right thing to do," 
Gusciora said. The bill provides for a registry of patients afflicted by 
medical conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and HIV and 
their caregivers who would be protected from arrest for using marijuana 
therapeutically.

Federal law prohibits marijuana use, but the act cites an FBI statistic 
that "99 out of every 100 marijuana arrests in the U.S. are made under 
state law, rather than under federal law."

It continues: "Changing the state law will have the practical effect of 
protecting from arrest the vast majority of seriously ill people who have a 
medical need to use marijuana."

For years, Jim Miller, co-founder of CMM-NJ, stood alongside the wheelchair 
of his wife, Cheryl, who died last year. Cheryl used marijuana to ease the 
reactions caused by her multiple sclerosis, which causes muscle stiffness 
and prevented her from receiving rehabilitative treatment.

Despite her debilitating condition, the two fought for legalization of 
medical marijuana. A documentary of their efforts played at the forum. At 
one time Jim pushed Cheryl's wheelchair 58 miles across the state in 
support of legalization. "No patient should have to apologize for their 
pain," he said.

When Sean McGrath decided to obtain marijuana, he was still uncomfortable 
with its illegality and would have gladly used another lawful, effective 
option if it had existed, his father said.

Former bassist for punk bands Saves The Day, Hands Tied, Mouthpiece and The 
Alps, chemotherapy cost McGrath the ability to play guitar. But it was the 
loss of appetite, constant vomiting and nausea that reduced the 5-foot-11 
McGrath, 28, to a mere 97 pounds. Other legal pain medications, including 
Marinol - a prescription drug that to an extent replicates the effects of 
marijuana - did little to ease McGrath's symptoms, in part because nausea 
prevented him from keeping pills down.

Ken Wolski, registered nurse for the state Department of Corrections and 
co-founder of CMM-NJ, said marijuana can stimulate appetite and ease 
problems with pain and muscle spasticity for disease sufferers.

Edward Barokas, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New 
Jersey, called existing law regarding medical marijuana use a 
quintessential example of a violation of the right to privacy.

The "war on drugs" has also greatly affected how politicians and lawmakers 
view marijuana as a medical aid, he said. "It is a war on certain drugs," 
Barokas said. That warring mindset "has taken a real hold on our society 
and we have to take ourselves out of that hole," he said.

Gusciora urged people to contact their legislators in support of the act. 
"We have a chance to give Sean an everlasting legacy," Miller said. "Let's 
help make this happen. It needs to happen and it needs to happen soon. We 
owe it to all the Seans and Cheryls."

Information on the topic can be found at cmmnj.org. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake