cannabisnews.com: Eaglehead Woman Fights for Medical Marijuana Eaglehead Woman Fights for Medical Marijuana Posted by CN Staff on April 15, 2004 at 23:25:51 PT By Brad Pierce, Staff Writer Source: Gazette A painting of Patricia Skidmore's son hangs over her fireplace, facing a porch overlooking Lake Linganore. It's a good likeness of him, she said. And it is a constant reminder of why she advocates the use of marijuana for those who are suffering from crippling diseases.Her son, John, died 11 years ago at the age of 28 from AIDS. Constantly nauseous, he would smoke marijuana to keep the pain down and his appetite up, she said. And when his supply ran out, Skidmore, a registered nurse who at the time was working with Johns Hopkins Hospital, went to bat for her son by finding him more. She said she wasn't afraid of the legal consequences because she knew what she was doing was right.Skidmore, who now teaches at Frederick Community College, said keeping people who are suffering from being able to ease their pain is criminal."For some people, [marijuana] can be a godsend," she said. "It was with my son. I saw it with my own eyes."Under strict conditions, Maryland allows for the medical use of marijuana. However, nothing on record stops federal law enforcement agencies from prosecuting those with state permission and seizing property for being in violation of federal laws. Pending bills now being debated in House sub-committees would give states the power to rule over the matter themselves without federal interference.Skidmore, a Coldstream resident, said she and other proponents of medical marijuana use have spoken with U.S. Congressman Roscoe G. Bartlett (R-Dist. 6) of Buckeystown about their efforts and the pending House bills. She said Bartlett was very receptive to their concerns and indicated support. But according to Lisa Wright, spokesman for Bartlett, "he has not taken a position one way or another."In general, she said, "he is very wary" about politicians determining the appropriate medical policies when it comes to specific drugs and the Food and Drug Administration should be the first to make the determination.To Skidmore, it's a simple issue of states' rights. "There are a lot of strong feelings about it," she said, but in the end it's a matter of either helping out someone in pain or leaving them to suffer knowing that something could have been done.So Skidmore will continue her campaign by talking to anyone who will listen. Next month, she's off to Charlottesville, Va. to speak at the Third National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics.She'll be part of a program titled, "Mothers Know Best." Complete Title: Eaglehead Woman Fights for Medical Marijuana, in Memory of SonSource: Gazette.Net (MD)Author: Brad Pierce, Staff Writer Published: April 15, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Gazette Contact: editor gazette.netWebsite: http://www.gazette.net/Related Articles & Web Site:Medical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmEhrlich Signs Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16364.shtmlMd. Gov. Signs Medical Marijuana Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16358.shtmlEhrlich Lowers Fine for Medical Marijuana Users http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16357.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by ekim on April 16, 2004 at 07:55:44 PT Arriana Huffington on NPR now National Public Radio. http://www.minorml.org [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by goneposthole on April 16, 2004 at 07:08:58 PT poor babies "... politicians try to make it illegal to mock or question them"Politicians have done a lot to deserve the disdain they receive. No question about it. They have no sense of humor if they can't take a little ribbing. In which case, a healthy dollop of mockery is more than deserving.Placing a rag over Lady Liberty's chest is going too far. What else can be done except to mock them?George Bush in a jester costume fits just fine, too.Patricia Skidmore wasn't afraid of the legal consequences by providing her son with medical cannabis. No one should be afraid of any kind of law prohibiting the mockery of politicians.If you abide by such laws, you're stupid. Not as stupid as those politicians who don't want to be mocked. That's ridiculous. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by The GCW on April 16, 2004 at 04:03:36 PT Cannabis is making friends. &Democracy reform http://www.boulderweekly.com/incaseyoumissedit.html The current state of affairs in Washington has some wondering if we are now witnessing the most corrupt government body in U.S. history. While that might be a little extreme, something’s sure amiss when the politicians try to make it illegal to mock or question them.The Republican National Committee is pushing the Federal Election Commission to limit nonprofit groups’ ability to criticize elected federal officials like the president and members of Congress. The FEC is proposing to redefine these kinds of groups so that nonprofit campaigns, such as MoveOn.org’s current ad in the Washington Post asking Congress to censure the president, would be considered in violation of federal election spending limits. In other words, it would be considered a "Vote for Kerry" ad, legally aligning MoveOn with the Democratic Party and calling into question their nonprofit status. We need campaign-finance reform, but would stifling the free speech of nonprofits be the most effective way to get it? The only thing America can win this way is the War on Sanity. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment