cannabisnews.com: Cancer Patient Defends His Marijuana Smoking Cancer Patient Defends His Marijuana Smoking Posted by CN Staff on October 31, 2003 at 07:06:07 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Cincinnati -- Carter Singleton says he was weak and had lost 80 pounds in five months from cancer when he followed a friend's advice to smoke marijuana, which helped him get back his appetite and gain weight. Now, Singleton is awaiting trial on a felony charge of growing marijuana - which he admits he grew in his basement for personal use. If convicted, the 65-year-old could go to prison for one to five years or be placed on probation. "Carter is not the type of person to intentionally violate the law, but he was desperate," his lawyer, Larry Keller, said yesterday. Singleton has a clean record except two speeding tickets, Keller said. The suburban Mount Healthy man is free on bond awaiting a Nov. 17 pretrial hearing, when a date could be set for his trial in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court. A debate has raged for years in this country over whether marijuana should be legalized for medical use. Nine states have laws legalizing marijuana for people with physician recommendations or prescriptions: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. And 35 states have passed legislation recognizing the drug's medicinal value. But federal law bans the use of marijuana under any circumstances. It is illegal to grow or use the drug in Ohio. Hamilton County Prosecutor Michael Allen said his office had no choice but to prosecute Singleton. "What he did is a violation of the law," Allen said. "However, if he pleads guilty or goes to trial, his reason for growing marijuana is something the judge can take into consideration." Two weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for state laws allowing ill patients to smoke marijuana if a doctor recommends it. The 6-foot-tall Singleton said he was diagnosed in 2001 with non-Hodgkin's malignant lymphoma. He said he weighed 230 pounds before the cancer ravaged his body. "I was starving to death," he said. "I did what I had to do." Singleton said he took his friend's advice but was afraid to ask his doctor about using marijuana. "I kept losing weight," Singleton said. "I went from a 38 pant to a 30 pant. I went from an extra-large shirt to a large. My butt and arms were all skin. I couldn't eat." He said he smoked marijuana by himself for the first time on Easter Sunday of 2002. Then he ate ham, turkey, dressing, cherry pie, pumpkin pie and strawberry shortcake. "I ate till my belly about busted," he said. A county grand jury indicted Singleton this month. A neighbor who saw a flickering light in Singleton's basement and feared it might be a fire called firefighters, who said they went into the house and found the marijuana plants. Source: Associated Press Published: October 31, 2003Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Americans For Safe Accesshttp://www.safeaccessnow.orgCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by ekim on November 01, 2003 at 20:35:09 PT Peace center should fight for -- Carter Singleton We wait for word that Carters name was mentioned today at Dennis talking about the Dept of Peace.Dennis schedule and interview in Rollingstone http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm http://www.rollingstone.com/features/featuregen.asp?pid=2016 Sat Nov. 1 5:45 - 9:00 p.m. Columbus, Ohio "This is the Moment for Creating Peace" Join Dennis for a fundraiser as he speaks about the Department of Peace Columbus Convention Center, Ballrooms 4 & 5, Columbus Hosted by Ohio Natural Law Party $10 to cover cost for Ohio NLP, $50 suggested donation for Kucinich for President Also speaking: Dr. John Hagelin, NLP Presidential Candidate 2000, Senator Mike Gravel (D-AK), Neale Donald Walsh Reservations: Matt Trafis, phone 216-410-4062Sunday, November 2, 20033:00 - 4:30 p.m.Oakland, California Congresswoman Barbara Lee presents "Bring it to the Bay": National Leadership 2004 Open Forum with Dennis Kucinich - free to public Taylor Memorial Church, 1188 12th St. Oakland 510-663-1207 campaign leeforcongress.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by 13th step on November 01, 2003 at 14:17:28 PT A poll with this story http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/content/news/daily/1031ohcincypot.html?28926And the results are good.Today’s Poll Should marijuana be legalized for medical use? Yes 1643 No 319 Total Votes 1962 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Adam1 on October 31, 2003 at 19:55:05 PT: Hmmmmmmm.... "A neighbor who saw a flickering light in Singleton's basement and feared it might be a fire called firefighters, who said they went into the house and found the marijuana plants." Sorry, but this sounds just a little suspicious. Is a flickering light justifiable cause to assume a fire and then just go into someones home w/o permission? If it went down like this, I would imagine this is a very illegal entry [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Arthropod on October 31, 2003 at 15:56:23 PT: I hope he wins! I'm going to go down to the courthouse the day of his trial to see him in court. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment