cannabisnews.com: Coping With a Life Full of Pain Coping With a Life Full of Pain Posted by CN Staff on November 28, 2004 at 09:40:01 PT By Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Source: San Francisco Chronicle Angel Raich voted for California's Proposition 215 in 1996 because she thought medical marijuana might help others. Then came the night, a year later, when Raich steered her wheelchair into the bedroom of her sobbing 9-year-old daughter, who asked her, "Why can't you do the things that other mommies do?'' Partially paralyzed, in constant pain from multiple disorders and desperate for help after trying nearly three dozen doctor-prescribed medications, the 30-year-old woman, a product of a conservative upbringing that made her recoil from illegal drugs, decided pot "might be my last shot.'' It worked. Raich regained her appetite, felt less pain, got out of her wheelchair 18 months later and embarked on a career of advocacy for herself and other patients that has led her to the U.S. Supreme Court. On Monday, the court will hear the case of Ashcroft vs. Raich, a clash of federal and state powers that could determine the future of medical marijuana in the United States. Lawyers for Raich and co-plaintiff Diane Monson argue that their use of marijuana -- obtained from within California, without any cost or commercial transaction, under procedures regulated by state law -- is exempt from federal drug laws because the Constitution allows Congress to regulate only interstate commerce. Government lawyers contend all marijuana use is part of illicit drug traffic that affects interstate commerce. While denying that marijuana has any legitimate use, the government says any claimed medical benefits are legally available in a pill called Marinol, which has the same active ingredient. Before filing her suit in 2002, Raich tried Marinol. It made her sick. "I haven't had a pain-free minute in years,'' she said in an interview in the Oakland home she shares with her husband and lawyer, Robert Raich, and her teenage son and daughter from an earlier marriage. Snipped:Complete Article: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/pain.htmSource: San Francisco Chronicle (CA)Author: Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff WriterPublished: Sunday, November 28, 2004 - Page A - 12Copyright: 2004 San Francisco Chronicle Contact: letters sfchronicle.comWebsite: http://www.sfgate.com/chronicle/ Related Articles & Web Sites:Raich vs. Ashcroft http://www.angeljustice.org/Angel Raich v. Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmWomen Make a New Case for Medical Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19893.shtmlMedical Marijuana and The Supremeshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19892.shtmlMedical Marijuana Before Supreme Court http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19891.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on November 29, 2004 at 08:15:13 PT afterburner I'm listening to the radio station and now I'm in a Doo Wop mood! LOL! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 29, 2004 at 08:02:21 PT afterburner Everytime I hear Four Strong Winds I think of you! Thanks for the link! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by afterburner on November 29, 2004 at 03:50:00 PT I Just Listened to Four Strong Winds on the 'Net Neil Young's version (Comes a Time album). If anyone is interested in what we're listening to in Canada, CKOC has live streaming AM radio. You might want to compare to US radio. The "Rock 'n' Roll Minute" just mentioned that John Lennon was the first Beatle to be busted for marijuana [sic]. Home - Ckoc Ontario Canada at 701.com http://ckoc.701.com/sites/701/HTML/ckoc/306762.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 28, 2004 at 19:56:17 PT Nuevo Mexican I wanted to say hello and I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. We did. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Nuevo Mexican on November 28, 2004 at 18:04:50 PT Done with being a 'victim' of prohibition and bush I'm sure you are! Check out this great article, and Happy Thanksgiving to those giving thanks! And you too FOM!And to anyone who says bush won, you're wrong, rephrase that statement to this: Bush stole the election with computer voting in OHIO, end of story, GOT IT! NOw repeat after me: Bush stole the election with computer voting in OHIO! Thank you very much, that's better!I don't ever want to hear 'bush won, gee, I don't get it'. Puleez!The Politics of Victimization[Mel Gilles, who has worked for many years as an advocate for victims of domestic abuse, draws some parallels between her work and the reaction of many Democrats to the election.-- Mathew Gross]http://mathewgross.com/blog/archives/001041.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by mayan on November 28, 2004 at 14:20:15 PT FUTURE? On Monday, the court will hear the case of Ashcroft vs. Raich, a clash of federal and state powers that could determine the future of medical marijuana in the United States.Oh, this case will determine much,much more than the future of medical marijuana in the United States. This case may determine if the United States even has a future!The way out is the way in...First-hand Accounts of Underground Explosions In The North Tower: http://st12.startlogic.com/~xenonpup/underground/underground_explosions.htmNails In The Coffin of Trade Seven - WTC-7 Collapse Footage Shows Unmistakable Demolition Charges: http://www.libertyforum.org/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=consp_911&Number=293140235The Hidden Story of WTC-7: http://www.wtc7.net/What You Can Do! Re: Spitzer Complaint, Ryan & 911Truth.org news: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20041119181332882AMENDED AND RESTATED CITIZENS' COMPLAINT AND PETITION TO ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR AN INDEPENDENT GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION: http://www.justicefor911.org/Justicefor911Index_111904.php [ Post Comment ] Post Comment