cannabisnews.com: Moms Who Need Marijuana Await Supreme Court Ruling Moms Who Need Marijuana Await Supreme Court Ruling Posted by CN Staff on August 19, 2004 at 07:36:04 PT By Patrick Hoge, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle Angel Raich and Diane Monson never imagined themselves as the standard-bearers for the medical marijuana movement. They just wanted to ease their pain. But the two middle-aged Northern California mothers say they were forced to challenge federal authority over the drug's use in a case the U.S. Supreme Court will hear in the coming months. They insist marijuana is the only thing that keeps their otherwise debilitating illnesses at bay despite government claims that it is an illegal and addictive drug that doctors have no business prescribing or even recommending. Raich, 38, of Oakland, is a mother of two teenagers who began using pot for her ill health nearly a decade ago. She became an activist and met her attorney -- and husband-to-be -- at a medical marijuana event. "I really feel like I have been blessed by cannabis," said Raich, who has a 15-year-old daughter and 18-year-old son. "Cannabis is my family's miracle. Without cannabis, I would have wasted away.'' Monson, 47, who lives quietly in a home she and her husband built on 160 acres in rural Butte County near Oroville, joined the cause two years ago after federal agents raided the property and confiscated six pot plants she used to cope with back pain. Shortly after the raid, the two women met each other in their lawyers' office and decided to sue the federal government, seeking protection for medical use of marijuana under California's Proposition 215; approved by the state's voters in 1996, it allows doctors to recommend marijuana to their patients. Snipped: Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/moms.htmSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Patrick Hoge, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Thursday, August 19, 2004 - Page B - 1Copyright: 2004 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/Related Articles & Web Sites:Angel Justicehttp://www.angeljustice.org/Angel Raich vs. John Ashcroft Newshttp://www.freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmHigh Court To Hear Oakland Pot Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19097.shtmlTop Court Will Take Oakland Pot Case http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19096.shtmlMarijuana Backers Pleased by Justices' Decisionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19093.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Max Flowers on August 20, 2004 at 01:06:23 PT FoM Yep that one. Cool, eh? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on August 19, 2004 at 17:34:07 PT Max Flowers This Picture? http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object.cgi?object=/chronicle/pictures/2004/08/19/ba_pot.jpg&paper=chronicle&file=BAG9O8AC6V1.DTL&directory=/chronicle/archive/2004/08/19&type=news [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Max Flowers on August 19, 2004 at 17:31:05 PT Angel It was good to see this story right up front page in the bay area section of the paper. In the photo Angel Raich is gripping a huge Volcano bag and letting out a big vape hit! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment