FINDING SOLACE IN MEDPOT DESPITE U.S. DRUG POLICY

Thank you for your excellent piece on medical marijuana refugees in Canada
("The Drug War Refugees," by Eric Bailey, Feb. 2). I too emigrated from the
U.S. in order to best treat my medical condition. Since 1997 I have spent
as much time as the law will allow in the Netherlands. I have a severe
neuromuscular disease called Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy, also
known as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It is a painful degenerative
disease--much like multiple sclerosis. Unless I can smoke or eat pot, I am
in excruciating pain from morning to night. In addition to cannabis, I use
two different opiate medications.

Given the pain relief provided by marijuana, I am able to bicycle great
distances in the Netherlands and pursue my hobby of digital photography. I
also can attend concerts, movies and plays, and remain comfortable enough
to sit through entire performances.

Eric Johnson

Amsterdam