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| Patient Shares Experiences with Medicinal Pot |
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Posted by FoM on April 16, 2002 at 17:36:39 PT By Nicole Limpede, Staff Writer Source: North Texas Daily 
A bag of hemp, a flag displaying a marijuana plant reading “A spliff a day keeps the doctor away” and tin can of government-prescribed marijuana set up the scene for George McMahon as he spoke to students Monday about his experience as medicinal marijuana patient.“I’m living proof that marijuana is not bad for you and that it is a medicine,” McMahon said to a room full of more than 50 people in the Environmental Education, Science and Technology Building. “I really have a better quality of life since I started smoking marijuana.” McMahon is one of only six people who receive federally prescribed medicinal marijuana. Diagnosed with a genetic disorder, Nail Patella Syndrome, McMahon suffers from severe pain, muscle spasms and nausea. Marijuana relieves his symptoms. McMahon told the story about the first time he realized the marijuana was working as a medicine for him. He said while at a university hospital, the doctors told him he had only five hours to live. He said he had not eaten in over a month and he was recovering from surgery. A cancer patient offered him a joint for a cigarette. “One joint changed my life,” McMahon said. “I felt so good I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t laugh. I wanted to eat again, and I couldn’t believe it.” He was released from the hospital a week later and began illegally smoking pot as a medicine. He said he felt guilty at first because he thought maybe he was a drug addict, but when he realized the hospital was pumping him full of morphine and prescribing medicines that were not helping he began to understand the effects of the marijuana. “I didn’t know feeling good was something I was supposed to feel,” McMahon said. A federally funded program, Compassionate Investigational New Drug, allowed McMahon to smoke marijuana legally in 1990. The Drug Enforcement Agency shut the program down in 1992. Only six of the original 57 patients are still in the program or still alive. During the 2 1/2 hour discussion in the EESAT building, McMahon answered questions from people in the audience and encouraged students to get involved in this issue by talking to their state and local representatives. He said change comes from people uniting and acting on the subject. “There are a lot of believers out there but not enough joiners,” McMahon said. Houston sophomore Lynnea Edwards, member of NT’s chapter of Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said she came to the event because she wanted to educate herself on the subject more. She said she was glad to see an adult speak on the issue and learned a lot more about how the government works. Although the audience consisted mostly of students quietly listening, Emlyn Miller, 72-year-old Forney resident, proved to be the exception to the rule. Miller actively participated in discussion with McMahon, supporting what he said and often turned and faced the audience to also encourage students to get involved. Miller talked about meeting with representatives on the issue and said the future is up to students. He said afterward that he learned a lot from McMahon. “I did not know all the details he shared with us,” Miller said. “We need programs like this so people can begin to think about it more.” After McMahon finished the conversation he and some supporters went to Kharma Café to talk and allow McMahon to smoke his medicine. Students interested in marijuana reform laws can attend the Students for Sensible Drug Policy meeting at 8 p.m. April 23 in EESAT 130. Source: North Texas Daily (TX) Related Articles & Web Sites: George McMahon's Home Page Medical Marijuana Patient Plans Visit to Campus Legal Marijuana User Visits UM Kind Bud - Village Voice Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #4 posted by Hope on April 17, 2002 at 19:19:55 PT |
| George told me that something he can never seem to get across to reporters is that he doesn't use cannabis because of Nail Patella Syndrome. He said, "Every reporter has to report NPS as the reason I get marijuana. Not so, and is not even mentioned in my protocol. I think so few really understand. Man that tics me." "I tell every reporter "NPS is not mentioned . I get it for pain, spasm, and nausea caused by accident treatment and surgery. But I am NPS." They cannot say, "Treatment caused me to suffer". Had to be a "reason" . And so, they twist until they say "NPS... rare genetic syndrome". The implication being it just helps me." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by DdC on April 16, 2002 at 20:28:52 PT |
| I had the same thoughts and posted it...
before I read Hope's message... ¶8) "Take what you have gathered from coincidence" DdC IT'S ALL OVER NOW, BOYZ n BLUE [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by DdC on April 16, 2002 at 20:16:44 PT |
| Although they have the right to privacy it seems all of the patients could send a powerful message of reality if they choose to do so. I've appreciated George. Robert Randall and Elvy's contributions over the years. And they already get it, they don't have to advocate...Thats takes special people. People who care. What a concept... It would also seem that by the government sending the same reefer madness they spew to these patients in the form of rolled joints. Besides the obvious hypocrisy and lies and murder and torture of the remaining millions of patients. Looks like George and Elvy and all could sue and get very wealthy... By Peter Gorman, Special To HighWitness News Source: High Times In the first study of its kind, four recipients of federally provided medical marijuana were examined for the health effects of their long-term cannabis use-and none showed any serious adverse effects. The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study-headed by Montana neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo and Virginia nurse Mary Lynn Mathre, cofounder of Patients Out of Time-investigated "the therapeutic benefits and adverse effects" among patients receiving cannabis through the department of Health and Human Services' Compassionate Investigational New Drug program. Continued... (Thanks Doc Russo) http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread10533.shtmlAN INCIDENT IN KANSAS "I realize now that I was never blinded by glaucoma,
I was blinded by ignorance" Blinded by Ignorance Coalition for Compassionate Access Comments from Elvy Musikka [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Hope on April 16, 2002 at 19:06:47 PT |
| This man is wonderful! He has legal access to marijuana yet he still goes out of his way to try and help the movement. He did not have to drive to North Texas State University and speak to this group. But he did. I've had the honor of meeting George and his wife, Margaret. We are very lucky to have them and all they do to help. He is a marvel! [ Post Comment ] |
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