cannabisnews.com: MS Sufferer Vows To Fight Pot Laws 





MS Sufferer Vows To Fight Pot Laws 
Posted by CN Staff on July 07, 2004 at 11:01:31 PT
By Ian C. Storey, Record-Eagle Staff Writer
Source: Record-Eagle 
Traverse City -- Matthew Barber says the only thing that alleviates the painful symptoms of his multiple sclerosis is marijuana. Now, he is in trouble with the law over it. But as a handful of protesters gathered with signs outside the Grand Traverse Courthouse in support of medical marijuana Tuesday morning, inside Barber remained steadfast in his decision to fight recent a possession charge.
"This is what America is all about," said Barber, who after a pre-trial hearing said he would not accept a plea bargain. "Lawyers have told me there is no way I am going to beat the charge, but that doesn't matter. I have to try, not just for myself, but for everyone who suffers."   Barber, 31, was arrested in early June during a traffic stop after officers found two ounces of marijuana - equivalent to a month's supply for his symptoms, he said - in the vehicle his wife, Laura, was driving.   Diagnosed with MS in 2001, Barber said he has exhausted all of the acceptable, and expensive, forms of treatment for a disease that affects the central nervous system and has left lesions on Barber's brain.   Barber said without the marijuana, he has pain and spasms, imbalance, dizziness, the loss of leg function and sometimes even blindness.   Barber, who served in the Army during the first Gulf War, said a neurologist through Veterans Affairs told him that because all other treatments have failed, that marijuana may alleviate some symptoms.    "I will fight this and we will go the distance, whatever it takes," he said.   Prosecutor Dennis LaBelle said Barber could face as much as a year in jail for the misdemeanor possession charge.   "(Medical marijuana) is really not something to be tried in the courts," LaBelle said. "Let him pick it up with the Legislature, not us."    According to the National MS Society's Web site, its medical advisory board states that "there are insufficient data at this time to recommend cannabinoids in any form as a treatment for MS" and warns users to be aware that the drug is still illegal, even medicinally, in most states.    But Laura Barber said she will do whatever it takes to make sure her husband is comfortable and able to fight for others who suffer from diseases that could be alleviated by marijuana use.    "He has tried every conventional treatment," she said. "(Marijuana) was the last resort. It doesn't take the disease away, but it is slowing the progression."Note: Matthew Barber faces marijuana charge. Source: Traverse City Record-Eagle (MI)Author: Ian C. Storey, Record-Eagle Staff WriterPublished: July 7, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Traverse City Record-EagleContact: letters record-eagle.comWebsite: http://www.record-eagle.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:National Multiple Sclerosis Society http://www.nmss.org/Medicinal Cannabis Research Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/research.htmWilliams To Urge Congress To Legalize MMJ http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19102.shtmlMontel Williams Pushes Pot -- for Medical Reliefhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18797.shtml Worlds Biggest MS Trial Shows Benefits of Cannabis http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17744.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by siege on August 27, 2004 at 09:58:12 PT
        govt said !! (Medical marijua)
  said a neurologist through(( Veterans Affairs hospital)) told him that because all other treatments have failed, that marijuana may alleviate some symptom.
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Comment #5 posted by gloovins on July 07, 2004 at 17:47:58 PT
WTF?
"(Medical marijuana) is really not something to be tried in the courts," LaBelle said. "Let him pick it up with the Legislature, not usNo, but we do have an old friend in the system call JURY NULIIFICATION, which was set up as a way to buck the system when the laws are outdated, old and down-right deadly -- as is obviously in this case.I hope Mr. Barber knows of nullification, from what I gleaned from his comments, he may well know of it and it's broad power to tell all the prosecutors, judges, state representitives, etc. exactly where to shove their outdated "law".Nullify that charge ! Let's hope at least one of the members of his jury knows of it....it's his only chance I'm afraid....
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Comment #4 posted by RasAric on July 07, 2004 at 15:52:48 PT
Not Something To Be Tried In The Courts? BS
It Is The Courts That will Ultimately keep this bastardized federal government in check. Either that or a civil war.
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Comment #3 posted by Sam Adams on July 07, 2004 at 11:27:49 PT
Ah yes, following orders
Zee Jew problem ees not for zee courts! Right on buddy, it's not actually your fault that you're jailing a cripple, it's someone else's responsibility!  Now that we cleared that up, hell, you might as well execute the bastard, right?
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Comment #2 posted by fearfull on July 07, 2004 at 11:25:51 PT
Just what I would expect
"""Prosecutor Dennis LaBelle said Barber could face as much as a year in jail for the misdemeanor possession charge."(Medical marijuana) is really not something to be tried in the courts," LaBelle said. "Let him pick it up with the Legislature, not us." """What a doodie head...
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Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on July 07, 2004 at 11:23:23 PT
An old story: the brave man vs. the coward
 "(Medical marijuana) is really not something to be tried in the courts," LaBelle said. "Let him pick it up with the Legislature, not us."
"Paint a big yellow stripe down this man's back, and give Barber a medal.
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