JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED?

Because some patients with complex illnesses such as multiple
sclerosis, AIDS, cancer and epilepsy often do not experience the
effects they hope to from pharmaceutical medicine, a few turn to an
alternative drug for beneficial results: pot. As the trend caught on,
former NT student Christopher Largen took an interest.

"It is not a cure-all," Largen, a 10-year Denton resident and
co-author of the book "Prescription Pot," slated for nationwide
release Sept. 20, said. "It is not known to cure anything, but what it
does do is provide symptomatic relief that can either prolong life or
increase the quality of life."

Largen withdrew from the university in 2001 with some 20 credit hours
left in his community services major to begin drafting the work.

George McMahon of Frankton in East Texas co-wrote the book. McMahon is
the fifth person in the United States to receive medicinal marijuana
from the federal government. "Prescription Pot" traces his history of
using the narcotic and covers his ongoing battle to legalize the use
of marijuana for medical purposes in the United States.

Today McMahon and six other patients continue to receive medicinal
marijuana from the federal government. It is provided to them by the
Investigational New Drug (IND) program, which developed in 1978 when
Robert Randall, a glaucoma patient arrested for growing his own
marijuana, filed a lawsuit and won using the "medical necessity case."

Though various studies have proven marijuana to increase appetite and
provide relief from chronic pain, muscle spasms and nausea, under
federal law, only seven medicinal marijuana users are permitted to use
the drug legally, according to the MPP. "The problem with legalizing
anything in America is the subject of who is going to control this,"
said Miranda Knowles, an R.N. at Baylor Medical Center of Grapevine,
and transfer student from the Netherlands, Holland.

In the Netherlands, she said, where marijuana is a legal
pharmaceutical medicine, officials are having to re-educate the
community because of its misuse. In addition, legalizing medicinal
marijuana would also rise new tax concerns, Knowles said.

In 1992, the Bush administration closed the program because of a
plethora of new applicants reacting from an AIDS epidemic. However, it
continues to run for its surviving patients like McMahon. "I think
there is a good story," McMahon said about the book. "But I believe
every man has a good story, but it takes a good man to get it out. We
have something everybody can read. As a rule, it should talk to you
about compassion."

Medical doctors have quietly been recommending marijuana to seriously
ill patients suffering from chronic pain for many years, Largen says.
But, legalizing the medicinal use of marijuana has been difficult.

"I think there is a lot of misinformation and a lot of cultural
stereotypes, which don't come into play," he said. "On a fundamental
level, it is difficult for federal officials to admit that they have
made a mistake, particularly when they have spent 30 years
propagandizing to the American public about how dangerous it is."
Though marijuana is considered an addictive narcotic, it does not
raise serious health concerns as it does lifestyle concerns, according
to Knowles.

The most recent study qualifying medicinal marijuana took place in
2001. The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study conducted on
four of the medicinal marijuana patients showed the narcotic to
demonstrate clinical effectiveness in these patients in treating
glaucoma, chronic musculo-skeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and
spasticity of multiple sclerosis.

Despite his unique life story, McMahon says he is an average person
and encourages average citizens to make a difference in public policy.

"Wake up and open your eyes," he said. "Do something. Anything. Call
your senator."

Note: Ex-student writes medicinal marijuana guide.