parafarmer
12-02-2004, 06:39 PM
Source: Houston Chronicle (TX)
Author: Daniel Abrahamson
Published: December 01, 2004
Copyright: 2004 Houston Chronicle
Contact: viewpoints@chron.com
Website: http://www.chron.com/
Angel Raich was confined to a wheelchair and unable to even hug her daughter when a nurse mentioned a medication that she had never considered. Raich, who suffers from multiple debilitating conditions, including an inoperable brain tumor, scoliosis and fibromyalgia, had tried 30 medicines, none of which had helped alleviate her pain.
Raich, 39, who calls herself a proper conservative mom, had never smoked marijuana in her life, and was taken aback at the nurse's suggestion that she try medical cannabis. But nothing else was working, so Raich finally relented and tried it. Raich can now walk, hold down food and play with her family. She credits the medicine with saving her life.
In the U.S. Supreme Court this week, oral arguments were heard regarding Raich's right to use her medicine without fear of federal prosecution or arrest. The case, Raich v. Ashcroft, was brought by her and another seriously ill California patient, Diane Monson, who seek to prevent federal law enforcement officials from seizing their herbal medicine and arresting them for violating federal drug laws.
Raich uses medical marijuana in California, one of the 10 states that have enacted laws in the past eight years permitting seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana to relieve their suffering per their physician's recommendation. These laws were passed against the vocal opposition of the federal government.
The Supreme Court's decision could have many different implications. Should the court rule in the Raich patients' favor, their victory may dramatically redraw the lines of federal police powers and further empower states and their individual citizens - to pursue policies and engage in a wide array of conduct free from federal government interference.
article:
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/befree.htm
Author: Daniel Abrahamson
Published: December 01, 2004
Copyright: 2004 Houston Chronicle
Contact: viewpoints@chron.com
Website: http://www.chron.com/
Angel Raich was confined to a wheelchair and unable to even hug her daughter when a nurse mentioned a medication that she had never considered. Raich, who suffers from multiple debilitating conditions, including an inoperable brain tumor, scoliosis and fibromyalgia, had tried 30 medicines, none of which had helped alleviate her pain.
Raich, 39, who calls herself a proper conservative mom, had never smoked marijuana in her life, and was taken aback at the nurse's suggestion that she try medical cannabis. But nothing else was working, so Raich finally relented and tried it. Raich can now walk, hold down food and play with her family. She credits the medicine with saving her life.
In the U.S. Supreme Court this week, oral arguments were heard regarding Raich's right to use her medicine without fear of federal prosecution or arrest. The case, Raich v. Ashcroft, was brought by her and another seriously ill California patient, Diane Monson, who seek to prevent federal law enforcement officials from seizing their herbal medicine and arresting them for violating federal drug laws.
Raich uses medical marijuana in California, one of the 10 states that have enacted laws in the past eight years permitting seriously ill patients to use medical marijuana to relieve their suffering per their physician's recommendation. These laws were passed against the vocal opposition of the federal government.
The Supreme Court's decision could have many different implications. Should the court rule in the Raich patients' favor, their victory may dramatically redraw the lines of federal police powers and further empower states and their individual citizens - to pursue policies and engage in a wide array of conduct free from federal government interference.
article:
http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/befree.htm