cannabisnews.com: Patient Who Smokes Pot for Pain Continues Toking Patient Who Smokes Pot for Pain Continues Toking Posted by FoM on March 01, 2000 at 10:28:03 PT By The Associated Press Source: Sacramento Bee More than two months after he was acquitted of criminal charges of possession, cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale, Richard Levin continues to take a long drag off a joint every few hours.He does not hide his smoking habit. At his house, a sign bearing a red cross and marijuana leaf hangs in the kitchen window. Dr. Tod Mikuriya of Berkeley, the physician who wrote Levin's marijuana prescription, is also not hiding. In the past four years, Mikuriya claims, he has written 3,000 recommendations for marijuana under the 1996 Compassionate Use Act approved by California voters to allow medical marijuana under state law.But Mikuriya lives in fear of federal prosecution. Possession of marijuana is still strictly illegal under federal law."It's kind of like being put on the enemy's hit list, and targeting yourself for the roving band of persecutors," he told the Record Searchlight newspaper in Redding.Levin, 49, of Redding, says pot relaxes back muscles damaged in a serious fall that required four surgeries, and also eases the pain of his Hepatitis C, a virus that attacks the liver.But the drug had negative legal repercussions for Levin, a former carpenter, after authorities found 41 seedlings growing in his backyard.His case was similar to that of Redding mother and son Lydia and Jim Hall, who were acquitted this week of possessing and growing marijuana yet were convicted of conspiracy to cultivate marijuana.Levin says marijuana saved him from a life of popping pills every few hours, including those that treated the nausea, constipation and other side effects of pain killers."Back then, we had a twin bed in the living room, and my back and my body hurt so much that all I could basically do was lay there. I wasn't really part of the family," he said.Now he works at household chores and caring for his son, stopping every few hours to get a jar of green bud from a padlocked cupboard in his garage and roll a joint.Redding, Calif. (AP) Published: March 1, 2000 Copyright © The Sacramento Bee Related Articles & Web Site:Dr. Tod Mikuriya's Home Pagehttp://www.mikuriya.com/althealth/index.htmlMedical Pot a Mixed Baghttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4928.shtmlRed Bluff IOOF Leader Evictedhttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4909.shtmlDoctor's Visit To Red Bluff Draws Firehttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4897.shtml Levins Sue Over Pot Arresthttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread4758.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml END SNIP --> Snipped Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 01, 2000 at 18:43:33 PT Northern California Briefs - Related Article Modesto Beehttp://www.modbee.com/Published: March 1, 2000Copyright © 2000 Nando MediaCopyright © 2000 Associated PressRED BLUFF, Calif. (AP) -- A leader of a fraternal organization was evicted from his living quarters after he broke up a medical marijuana clinic at the club's hall. Richard Atchison, noble grand for the Independent Order of Odd Fellows' Red Bluff chapter, was removed Sunday as live-in caretaker of the club's hall, IOOF member John Ennis said Monday. Click the link to read the complete article. Northern California Briefs - Related Article [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: