cannabisnews.com: EDITORIAL: Medicinal Marijuana Saves Lives EDITORIAL: Medicinal Marijuana Saves Lives Posted by FoM on June 21, 2000 at 07:39:00 PT Staff Editorial, Michigan Daily, U. Michigan Source: U-WIRE Last Wednesday, author turned medicinal marijuana advocate Peter McWilliams was found in his California home, choked to death on his own vomit. After being arrested for selling marijuana to medical buyers' clubs, McWilliams was barred from using California's Prop. 215 (which legalized medicinal marijuana in that state) as a defense in his federal trial. He was forced to plead guilty and sentenced to a parole that denied him the right to use the only medicine that allowed him to stomach a powerful cocktail of AIDS and cancer drugs: marijuana. This begs the question: how many more must die before this legitimate medicine can reach the sick and the dying? McWilliams' AIDS and cancer had been in remission with his use of potent prescription drugs. But the only way he and many other sufferers of these disorders can cope with the overwhelming toll of these drugs is with a substance that is still illegal in most states. The power of federal law to override local initiatives, as well as a continued rejection by the government's top drug authorities of marijuana's medicinal claims is directly responsible for this man's death. He is the victim of lawmaker's continued ignorance. Their reliance on prohibitionist tactics has long overstayed its welcome. The tragic death of Peter McWilliams highlights the government's continued failure to accept the virtues of medicinal marijuana, despite its historic usage. Our lawmakers continually withstand the ravages of alcohol, a drug that contributes to over 100,000 deaths annually. They also contribute huge subsidies to tobacco farmers, who sell products that are directly responsible for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths. Updated 12:00 PM ET June 20, 2000 (U-WIRE) Ann Arbor Mich. (C) 2000 Michigan Daily via U-WIRECopyright © 2000 At Home Corporation.Related Articles & Web Sites:The Medical Marijuana Magazinehttp://www.marijuanamagazine.com/McWilliams.comhttp://www.mcwilliams.com PeterTrialhttp://www.petertrial.com/Grow Medicinehttp://www.growmedicine.com/MapInc. Articles On Peter McWilliamshttp://mapinc.org/mcwilliams.htmMurder in Californiahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6119.shtmlUnnecessary Deathhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6109.shtmlLearning from Peter McWilliams http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6086.shtmlPeter McWilliams Backed Medical Use of Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6083.shtmlLibertarians Mourn Passing of M Marijuana Activisthttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6078.shtmlPeter McWilliams Passes Away http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6069.shtml Pictures Of Peter McWilliams 1950 - 2000http://mischiefmarketing.com/mcwilliams/pics_01.html Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 21, 2000 at 19:09:05 PT Thank You freedom fighter Hi freedom fighter,You're welcome. Such sad news and so many questions yet unanswered. Have you thought of registering your name so no one else can use it? Here is how. You sure don't have to though. Just a suggestion.Here is the link!http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/register.shtmlPeace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by freedom fighter on June 21, 2000 at 18:19:42 PT FoM It is really good to hear that all those folks are there for a purpose. And many thanks for reporting this. I think it would help alot of folks feel better.Respectfully Yours [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 21, 2000 at 17:00:40 PT Libertarian Party Press Release Libertarian Party Press ReleaseJune 17, 2000The Libertarian Party http://www.lp.org/http://www.lp.org/press/archive.php?function=view&record=78Bestselling Author Peter McWilliams is "Murdered By the War on Drugs"WASHINGTON, DC -- Peter McWilliams, the #1 bestselling author and medical marijuana activist who was found dead in California on June 14, was murdered by the War on Drugs, the Libertarian Party charged today. "Peter McWilliams would not be dead today if not for the heartless, lethal War on Drugs," said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director. "The federal government killed Peter McWilliams by denying him the medical marijuana he needed to stay alive as surely as if its drug warriors had put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger. "Peter McWilliams may be dead, but the causes he so bravely fought for -- access to life-saving medicine, an end to the War on Drugs, and greater freedom for all Americans -- will live on." On Wednesday, McWilliams was found dead in the bathroom of his Los Angeles home. According to sources, he had choked on his vomit. McWilliams, 50, had suffered from AIDS and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma since 1996, and had used medical marijuana to suppress the nausea that was a common side-effect to the potent medications needed to keep him alive. The marijuana was completely legal, thanks to California's Proposition 215, which passed in 1996 and legalized the use of marijuana for treatment of illness. However, in late 1997, McWilliams was arrested by federal drug agents and charged with conspiracy to sell marijuana. After a federal judge ruled that McWilliams could not mention his illnesses at his trial -- or introduce as evidence any of the documented benefits of medical marijuana -- he pled guilty to avoid a 10-year mandatory-minimum prison sentence. While out on bail awaiting sentencing, McWilliams was prohibited from using medical marijuana -- and being denied access to the drug's anti-nausea properties almost certainly caused his death, said Dasbach. "First, the federal government arrested McWilliams for doing something that is 100% legal in California," he said. "Then, they put him on trial and wouldn't allow him to introduce the one piece of evidence that could have explained his actions. Finally, they let him out of jail on the condition that he couldn't use the one medicine that kept him alive. "What the federal government did to Peter McWilliams is nothing less that cold-blooded, premeditated murder. A good, decent, talented man is dead because of the bipartisan public policy disaster known as the War on Drugs." Ironically, on June 9, McWilliams appeared on the "Give Me A Break!" segment of ABC Television's 20/20, where host John Stossel noted, "[McWilliams] is out of prison on the condition that he not smoke marijuana, but it was the marijuana that kept him from vomiting up his medication. I can understand that the federal drug police don't agree with what some states have decided to do about medical marijuana, but does that give them the right to just end run those laws and lock people up? "Give me a break! [It] seems this War on Drugs often does more harm than the drugs themselves." Five days later, McWilliams was dead. McWilliams, the owner of Prelude Press, was a multi-million-copy-selling author of How to Survive the Loss of a Love, The Personal Computer Book, and DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts (with co-author John-Roger), a #1 New York Times bestseller. He also wrote what is widely considered to be the definitive book against "consensual" crimes, Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do. He joined the Libertarian Party in 1998 following a nationally televised speech at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, DC. In that speech, McWilliams said, "Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. [Arresting people for] medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It's an outrage within an outrage within an outrage." McWilliams' death was also noted by Libertarians in his home state. "Peter McWilliams was a true hero who fought and ultimately gave his life for what he believed in: The right to heal oneself without government interference," said Mark Hinkle, state chair of the California Libertarian Party. "His loss opens a gaping hole in the fabric of liberty, but his memory will live on not only in the hearts of grateful Libertarians but also in the lives of the countless patients who will take up the crusade for health freedom." [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 21, 2000 at 16:38:59 PT Steve Kubby On Pot-TV Tonight! STEVE KUBBY ON POT TV TODAY AT 4:20!Steve Kubby will be interviewed on the "420 MarijuanaNews with Richard Cowan" on Pot-TV: http://www.Pot-TV.net at 4:20 P.M. Pacific time.Steve will be discussing the Peter McWilliams murder and provide some comments about the memorial services held for Peter yesterday. In addition, Steve will be making a dramatic political announcement that will certainly add a new dimension to this year's elections. Steve's announcement will also be posted at: http://marijuananews.com/ later this week.If anyone misses it, Steve's interview today will be archived and available indefinitely by clicking on the Archives icon.THE AMERICAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ASSOCIATION15 Monarch Bay Plaza, Box 375, Dana Point, Ca 92629Web site: http://www.kubby.com/AMMA.htmlSubscribe: AMMA-Talk list.tyrell.com Murder in California - National Reviewhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6119.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 21, 2000 at 13:39:13 PT Peter's Memorial Service Report PETER McWILLIAMS MEMORIAL SERVICESE-Mail News: June 21, 2000By Doug Scribner, AMMA Director for Orange CountyThe Peter McWilliams funeral was covered on the CH 13 news (KCOP L.A.).Jack Herer and others were interviewed as well as Steve Kubby. On the screen under Steve's name were the words American Medical Marijuana Association!I'm glad that at least one station covered the funeral of our friend Peter.I forgot to mention this at the rally that followed, but right before I arrived in L.A., I was in Orange County at a Lunch with John Stossel event hosted by the Reason Foundation.A number of asked John if he would join us for Peter's funeral. John really wanted to go but was taping Politically Incorrect with Bill Mahr.(that should be a good show).John expressed sincere pain at the loss of Peter. He and Peter had great mutual respect for each other, and it's Johns specials on ABC really help our movement.Stossel also said he'd like to do a follow up on 20/20.After lunch I got a chance to shake John's hand and he immediately asked me give his best and deepest sympathies to Mrs. McWilliams. Then John Stossel gave me his voice mail phone number and asked that I please call him and tell him how the funeral and rally went. Wow! John is really is plugged into our movement and I think he understands that ours is a spiritual quest to change the hearts and minds of America.THE AMERICAN MEDICAL MARIJUANA ASSOCIATION15 Monarch Bay Plaza, Box 375, Dana Point, Ca 92629Web site: http://www.kubby.com/AMMA.htmlSubscribe: AMMA-Talk list.tyrell.com [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: