PAIN RELIEF WHEN NEEDED

My 24-year-old son was diagnosed with terminal cancer in January 2000.
He endured surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The only thing that we
could find to ease his pain and relive his nausea was marijuana.

We looked into the Medical Marijuana Act and discovered that not only
did he have to pay $150 to be covered, but that either he or I had to
cultivate a crop.

He needed it right then. It helped his pain and nausea so much. We
didn't have time to grow a crop.

So we were left to buy it on the black market. One day, after his
sources dried up, I called a friend who had a teenage daughter, and
within an hour I was able to procure a pound of it on the black
market. My son was really upset: "They could have thrown you in jail!"
I didn't care, because it gave him the relief that he needed.

My son died in May 2001, enduring great pain. The relief he got from
illegal marijuana during the 16 months that he was ill helped ease his
pain for a time. If he had had to wait for me to grow a crop, it would
have made the time much more painful and difficult for us both.

I urge you to vote "yes" on Ballot Measure 33.

SUSAN M. JOHNSON

Southeast Portland