CANCER VICTIM USED MARIJUANA

I have non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (cancer). I went through several surgeries
and radiation therapy. That was the easy part.

I just finished eight months of an experimental high-dose chemotherapy
trial. The first two weeks of chemotherapy were terrible - nausea and no
rest. Prozac didn't help; the sleeping pills were ineffective; I just
couldn't get any resting sleep. I'd wake up after dozing off. Patients at
the infusion center (where the chemo is administered) told me Marinol -
synthetic THC - didn't work. I was not going to be able to survive this way.

I started smoking marijuana two weeks into the chemotherapy. The nausea
abated and I was able to get some blessed rest. I was able to survive this
trial, even do some work. I don't know if I would have been able to without
the marijuana.

In opposing compassionate medical marijuana use, State Sens. Alex Mooney
and Tim Ferguson must live in a world that is blessedly free of cancer,
AIDS and glaucoma. Unfortunately, that world doesn't exist for the rest of us.

I'd like to thank Delegates David Brinkley, Sue Hecht and Louise Snodgrass
for their support of compassionate medical marijuana use. And special
accolades to Delegate Donald Murphy for leading the good fight.

LARRY SILBERMAN

Burtonsville