Pubdate: Mon, 30 Mar 2009
Source: Anniston Star (AL)
Copyright: 2009 Consolidated Publishing
Contact:  http://www.annistonstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/923
Author: Laura Tidmore

SUPPORT MARIJUANA BILL

I am writing in support of HB434 in the Alabama  Legislature, the
Michael Phillips Compassionate Care  Act. In February 2007, my husband
of 19 years, Craig,  was diagnosed with advanced liver and lymph node
cancer. With chemotherapy, doctors gave him six months  to live. Our
only child was a few months from  graduating high school and he wanted
so much to live to  see that day that he opted for the chemotherapy
knowing  it would decrease the quality of his life.

Seeing him waste away was awful. The medicines didn't  help with the
nausea or pain because he was unable to  keep them down.

Since patients in 13 other states have the right to use  marijuana, we
decided to try it. It worked. With  medical marijuana, Craig was able
to eat, take his  medications and ease his pain.

Obtaining marijuana was terrifying. I am nearly 50 and  was scared of
being arrested, jailed, losing our home,  not being there when he died
and missing our daughter's  graduation. But I was willing to risk all
that to ease  his suffering.

No one should have to risk everything to ease the  terrible suffering
of a terminally ill loved one.  Alabama needs to pass HB434 to help
the people  suffering and their families at such a difficult time  in
their lives. My husband passed away in October 2007,  but with the
help of medical marijuana he lived to see  our daughter graduate.

Please contact your representatives in Montgomery and  ask them to
vote "yes" on HB434.

Laura Tidmore

Birmingham
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake