Pubdate: Wed, 23 Aug 2006 Source: Seattle Weekly (WA) Copyright: 2006 Seattle Weekly Contact: http://www.seattleweekly.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/410 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n1081/a06.html Author: Dan VanderKolk MARIJUANA BEATS MORPHINE I am a 61-year-old stage IV metastatic melanoma patient. I have tumors in my chest, spine, liver, and back. I can get all the morphine I want, but the side effects are horrendous. I much prefer to use marijuana to help with some of the pain. I smoke frequently and am appalled at the way this drug is treated. Kudos to attorney Douglas Hiatt, reporter Philip Dawdy, and Seattle Weekly for bringing up this important topic ["Club Pot Med," Aug. 16]. Frankly, at this stage of my life and the short time left of it, I find it ludicrous that anyone would refuse to allow me to purchase and indulge in any drug I wanted. What's it gonna do? KILL ME! Dan VanderKolk Seattle - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake