Pubdate: Fri, 17 Jun 2005
Source: Chicago Tribune (IL)
Copyright: 2005 Chicago Tribune Company
Contact:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/82
Author: Ruth Banoff
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n927/a14.html?82050

MARIJUANA BENEFITS

Niles -- After reading your editorial stating that the Supreme Court has 
once again shot down the use of marijuana as medicine, I feel compelled to 
tell you of my family's experience ("Marijuana as medicine," Editorial, 
June 10).

When I was a young child 80 years ago, my sister Betty had a severe case of 
asthma.

My mother spent many nights at her bedside, praying that she survive until 
morning.

With the help of a miracle drug, Asthmador, she always made it.

Asthmador was a powder that was placed on a tin plate, lighted and then 
inhaled.

It was taken off the market suddenly, probably because marijuana was its 
main ingredient.

Many years later my husband tried some of my sister's leftover container 
for his asthma.

And it worked for my husband too.

Yet today our government is keeping other sufferers from using marijuana 
for purposes that have been shown scientifically to be beneficial, such as 
relief of nausea from chemotherapy and muscle spasticity of multiple sclerosis.

I think it's shameful!

Ruth Banoff
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom