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| Dying for a Smoke |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 09, 2002 at 16:20:08 PT By Nick Davis Source: Missoula Independent 
Robin Prosser is a 45-year-old Missoula woman who has been on a hunger strike since April 20 protesting her inability to secure legal, medicinal marijuana in Montana to treat her diagnosed immunosuppressive disorder. The Independent sat down with Prosser earlier this week to discuss the circumstances that would lead a disabled, middle-aged mother to entertain thoughts of making the ultimate sacrifice. Missoula Independent: How long have you been medicating yourself with marijuana? Robin Prosser: Well, I’ve had 17 years of attempting to treat this through conventional methods. I’ve had biopsies, steroid treatments, cortisone injections, and every kind of pain reliever, anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, narcotic, anti-depressants, and anti-seizure drugs you can name. I’ve been using marijuana as medicine for the last seven years, but I’ve only been open about it for the last four. I told my GP, “Nothing’s working, and I have to tell you that I’m finding that cannabis is very effective, and helps my pain and helps all these symptoms without all these horrible side effects.” And he just got irate, and up and walked out on me. MI: What precipitated your decision to go public with a hunger strike? RP: The first real bell that went off was when my daughter got this brain injury almost five years ago. I found out four months afterwards that if I had administered cannabis to her—and you know, I would have run all the way, broken into the ER, given her a joint and told her to light up right there—it’s been proven to prevent brain cell deaths. If I had been able to administer cannabis within six hours of that injury, I might have been able to save some of the intellect and brain function that she lost. It’s just horrible to think that my doctor may have known it at the time, but because of the laws it’s very strict what he can and cannot say to me. Here’s another generation of my family who didn’t need to suffer what she suffered, and might have been helped. So that, and then the terrorism ads in response to the 9/11 thing, the ones that say that I’m supporting terrorism, and the whole issue of personal freedoms. I’m not a terrorist, I’m not a traitor, but I feel as if I’m being forced to leave my country. With my kid and my life here, that’s just not fair. Because this is not my choice. It’s not a lifestyle choice, it’s a critical medical decision. And they can’t have the Supreme Court, none of whom are doctors, say that this has no medical benefit. It’s a pure lie. This drug has tremendous medical benefits. MI: How do you medicate yourself? RP: If I’m lucky enough to have some for baking, I make baked goods to establish a base level. And then I smoke, depending on quality and potency, about three grams per day. I find I can get by on half that with hydroponically grown stuff. MI: How far are you willing to take this? RP: Well, I told my doctor last week that if my heart stops, that he had better get it started again. I’m not placing a DNR [Do Not Resuscitate order]. I couldn’t do that to my child, she’d totally freak. But I don’t think I would appreciate a heart attack, because it’s really going to hurt. MI: What’s the difference in your mind between starving to death and dying of a heart attack? RP: I have to make them resuscitate me. That’s continuing on, that’s saying, “I’m not going to give up even if my heart stops. Bring me back so I can do some more.” Which would be more effective, I think, than dying for this because other people have already died. MI: Let’s say it gets to the point where you need medical attention and nutrition or you will die. What happens then? RP: Somehow inside I have a belief that it won’t come to that, that if it gets that serious there will be enough public outrage that somebody will save me. I just feel that it will not come to that. I don’t think I could have done this if I thought people were going to let me die. But it takes making it known. MI: Who do you hope will save you? RP: George Bush, because the policy change must happen on a federal level. This state-by-state crap, when they’re going to close them [medicinal cannabis clubs] down anyway…it does me no good to move to California or Oregon. Or the governor, even. That would be really helpful, to get some measure of protection for myself and my daughter. I’m a good citizen of Montana and I deserve protection. Because this is torture. It’s a human rights violation, as far as I’m concerned. I either break the law or I live in horrible pain. But I don’t believe a lot of people actually see a clear medical case, and that’s why I thought I was a good candidate for this. I’m not what they expect. MI: Is it your intention to evoke pity with the strike? RP: Well, sometimes you find yourself in these positions in life and you go, “Why me? Why does this have to be the only medicine that works?” But then again, if you use it for a purpose, that’s what counts. MI: If it comes down to a conscious choice between eating and dying, do you believe that you will cross the line and eat? RP: Nope. I want to already. I mean, I’m hungry. But that’s the one thing I’m sure of. I’m determined. And when I set my mind to something, I don’t back off. There’s a difference between getting what you want and getting what you need. And I need this. Note: Cannabis hunger striker faces a grim choice. “This is not my choice. It’s not a lifestyle choice, it’s a critical medical decision,” says Missoula resident Robin Prosser, who, as of press time, was 17 days into a hunger strike to call attention to her need for medicinal marijuana. “They can’t…say that this has no medical benefit. It’s a pure lie.” Source: Missoula Independent (MT) Related Articles & Web Sites: Cannabis Now Cannabinoids in Pain Management Growing Desperate Missoula Woman Launches a Hunger Strike Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 11, 2002 at 16:03:19 PT:
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| Robin's E-mail address is: keltikmoon@aol.com [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by p4me on May 11, 2002 at 15:47:33 PT |
| I may be a little chatty here as today is Saturday and we want to make sure the fat slob eating the doughnuts that works for DEAth has something to read and report. Jump in here doughnut man and tell us we are wrong. If you don't like freedom why don't you try another country. You work for a Caveman that is a national disgrace and you are part of it. I wanted to talk about Kelly White that is a moderator at Marijuana.com. He married a German woman and lives in Germany. He has chronic pain associated with his back- from an accident I believe. He was the first person that I read on the internet that said that if he was arrested that he may have a hunger strike. Like many things that bounced around in my IQ reduced brain and I put the concept up here so as to spread the idea. This is just one hunger strike. What happens when people start taking turns not eating as in a hunger strike vigil. How could I not be thankful for a patriot like Robin? To carry the Kelly White story further, when the first articles came out about this hunger strike Kelly started a thread and announced he wanted everyone to comment and he would email it to the Montana paper that reported it. He was very disappointed at the small response but he actually stated the situation very well in his own response. I myself really could add nothing. His email thread was a response of information about like a blast from a gun. It didn't make much difference whether it was from a 410 or a 12 gauge. If someone is going to listen to reason at the paper he gave them enough to reason on. Personnally, I cannot help but applaude this woman's effort. I just think she needs a tagteam partner or two. It is a serious problem, the treason of the drug wars, and Robin gave it a serious response. I just think that she does not realize that she is not alone and 40% of us are out to change these laws that have nothing to do with the spirit of the Constitution. I did some propoganda when I put this up a couple of days ago: WE ARE THE 40% THAT CARE Just like those incessant singing people in the high Caves repeating THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN, THE CHILDREN, this was put up as a chant. There may well be 40% of us that think these laws are unjust. It breaks down on the CARE part. What is caring? California just had the lowest turnout for an election several months ago and that number seems like it was 31%. Might have been 28%. So when I say "We are the 40% that care," it is somewhat rhetorical sense we don't all vote. I guess that deserves a God Damn too. You have done good work Robin but you do not have to do it all by yourself. Rest up for the elections and drive someone to vote. I think you could continue the hunger strike longer if you had some partners, not that it matters much what I think. You are not the man, but you surely are the woman Robin. It looks like Jimmy Ward will be reopening the DE2 in Bournemouth at a new location. There is another person that cares. We say that things aren't fair and we will change them because we are the 40% that care. What is the value of a thrifty meal? VAAI [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by Jose Melendez on May 11, 2002 at 14:50:29 PT:
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| thanks, Swampie, I emailed her already suggesting she eat at least the seeds, and am glad to see she might be eating baked goods? [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by SWAMPIE on May 11, 2002 at 09:41:00 PT |
| kelticmoon@ganja.com. Hope that you can help!Your knowledge is very much appreciated! Ken [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by Jose Melendez on May 11, 2002 at 09:22:31 PT:
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| She'll be stoned, but not starve. Good Luck Robin, email me if there is anything I can do to help. [ Post Comment ] |
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