WHEN THE CASE FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA HITS HOME

I've been following the marijuana vs. Marinol letters debate in this
section recently. Unmentioned so far is Marinol's cost.

In 1993 my mother's oncologist prescribed Marinol as a last-ditch
attempt to stop her vomiting caused by breast cancer
chemotherapy.

The prescription was for a small bottle of 100 capsules. At the
pharmacy the pharmacist asked me, "How do you intend to pay for this?"

I responded, "With a check, of course. Why do you
ask?"

He replied, "Because this little bottle of pills will cost you six
hundred dollars, that's why."

I purchased twenty capsules. They had no effect.

Mom continued round-the-clock vomiting. Her oncologist prescribed
compazine and thorazine suppositories.

The vomiting continued unabated.

In desperation I contacted one of those "underground" groups that
provided marijuana to the terminally ill. And thank God, it worked.

It makes me giggle, reading the protests against using marijuana to
halt the effects of chemotherapy. My bet is that should cancer strike
the protester's family he'll hotfoot it to the nearest pot dealer ASAP.

One's viewpoint changes when it's your wife, daughter, mother, etc.
who's suffering.

Laws mean nothing then.

Fred Herman, Santa Ana