cannabisnews.com: Support For Medical Marijuana Support For Medical Marijuana Posted by FoM on October 04, 1999 at 06:40:47 PT By Larry A. Stevens Source: Journal Online As a sufferer of epilepsy who has used cannabis to prevent seizures for almost 20 years, I want to thank The Prince George's Journal for printing Vaishali Honawar's fine article, ``Some doctors and patients swear by marijuana." Most epilepsy patients that I encounter have no idea that a safe, effective alternative exists to the dangerous and debilitating medications they have been prescribed by their doctors. Because seizures are so terrible, so dangerous and unpredictable, doctors have taken drastic measures to abate them. Patients are typically prescribed Phenobarbital or Dilantin, dangerous narcotics that over the years will rob many users of their livers and other vital organs. This pushes hard on the physicians' Hippocratic oath of ``First, do no harm." Cannabis, on the other hand, is comprised of antioxidants, ``more powerful than vitamin C or vitamin E," according to the National Academy of Sciences. That would explain why no deaths or disease have ever been blamed on smoking or ingesting cannabis. Antioxidants are the key to preventing free radical cell damage, which is blamed for all sorts of disease and mortality. Just as cannabis heals our bodies, ending prohibition will heal our society. LARRY A. STEVENS Springfield, Ill. Pubdate: October 4, 1999Journal OnlineSome Doctors and Patients Swear by Marijuana - 9/27/99http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread3038.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #3 posted by Donna Kaminski on June 14, 2001 at 03:52:43 PT: marijuana and epilepsy In May of 1999 I had three grand-mal seizures. My brother is epileptic too but on the left side. I thought that all epileptics only had g-m. It never occurred to me that the deju vu sensations and personality changes were complex partial seizures. I was forty-three. For twenty years I went to therapists, trying to control my rapid speech, obsessive thoughts and sleepless nights. Not one ever sent me to a neurologist to see if this could be medical. I paid their bills so why would they.The right temporal lobe controls communication. Untreated seizures cause low seratonin levels. Low seratonin caused the OCD behavior. When I found out I had epilepsy I was thrilled. I wasn't crazy, having epilepsy explained everything. When I read the list of famous untreated epileptics, I realized that they began to look crazy and behave ob/compul. I didn't earn enough to pay for all the tests and I had no insurance. I could not have functioned all those years without marijuana. All the medications perscribed to treat me for things I didn't have never helped but smoking always did. Smoking calmed me and helped me to sleep and eat. Most of us know that the seizures don't totally disappear. I can get Valium. Nice drug if you want to be out of it. If marijuana had arrived here with the Europeans on the boat, we would not have these problems. It is a native plant "bad" and easy to grow. When marijuana comes in a pill form the cancer patients will get it first. If the profit is good it will suddenly become a wonder drug and they will add more medical conditions. They will say the pill is safe but the plant should remain illegal. No other drug (I have a lot of experience) helps me like marijuana. Ingesting a pill is not going to feel the same.Since capitalist control the lawmakers all the way to the Supreme Court the word of an epileptic means nothing. I have the condition but Clarence has the robe. Making it legal could harm our economy. Cigarette makers also own liquor manufacturers and parent companies leaders have powerful friends in high places.Look at all the people who would need new employment: Court through lawyer, when you get arrested you provide income. Privitized prisons need inmates, and drug enforcent agents supply them. Keeping it illigal makes good business sense. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 04, 1999 at 10:17:04 PT: Way To Go! That is great to read Richard! You must feel so proud and rightfully so! Bless their hearts! Thanks for you comments. I really appreciate it!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Richard Lake on October 04, 1999 at 09:32:30 PT: Way to go Larry! Another MAP LTE writer Scores! We are making it happen, one LTE at a time! Published Letter Archives at MAP [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: