From: [v--d--t] at [twain.ucs.umass.edu] (Sol Lightman)
Newsgroups: alt.activism,talk.politics.drugs,alt.drugs
Subject: Drug War Victims Let it Out...
Date: 2 Jul 1993 04:21:42 GMT

PLEASE REDISTRIBUTE THIS POST AS YOU DEEM FIT.

Have you been fucked over by the War on Drugs/prohibition?

I want to hear your story -- In fact I want to ``publish'' it.

I want to collect a file of stories from people who have fallen victim
to the War On Drugs -- be it through getting busted, shot at, denied employment
whatever.  Just send me your account through e-mail to [v--d--t] at [twain.umass.edu]

Please change all names in your stories, as they will be released to the
general public.  If you want me to print your name or address as the 
author, say so, or else I won't.

Just so you know I'm on the level, here's my story...


[excuse the formatting, please.]

A little over a year ago, my mother,
who had been diagnosed with malignant cancer in both
her liver and her lungs, passed away.  She had been in and
out of the hospital several times over the course of about
eight years.  During this period, she underwent chemotherapy,
surgery, and other medication.

During the worst parts of her illness, she would be bedridden 
most of the day.

 She could not eat many foods and was constantly in pain.

 She found herself weak and delirious.

The last few months were the worst.  Her lungs were full of 
fluid and she would be overcome by spasmodic coughing fits, 
which more often than not led directly into severe nausea and 
vomiting.

 She wasted away before our eyes, losing about seventy
pounds, and was racked with suffering and confusion.

My household has always been one of the most law abiding,
to the point that many of the things most people
disregard, like speeding, bootleg software, and under-the-counter
employment were discouraged.  My parents even registered my 
first bicycle with the department of motor vehicles.  To have 
suggested that my mother should have smoked marijuana would have 
been alien to our values, not to mention that we would not have 
known anybody capable of obtaining it.  Nor would we have been 
able to pay the price of being found out and reported to the police. 
(This happens, many have lost their houses and property this way.)

So, when I read Jack Herer's book "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" 
a few months before my mother's death, and learned how marijuana 
was the most effective treatment for nausea caused by cancer
chemotherapy, I considered suggesting it to my father.

I was not able to work up the courage to do so.

Needless to say, Herer's book got me mad.  My mother had changed
medications at least six times during her illness.  She
was constantly on the phone to doctors pleading for relief
from particularly bad phases. My father was lucky enough
to have good health care coverage, but even so, much of
his money went to hospitals and medication.  Finding out that
much of her pain and trouble could have been eliminated
by a natural herb, where expensive care had failed, was infuriating.

Add to that the fact that the U.S. Government,
which is supposed to protect and serve its citizens,
was for the most part responsible for this untimely
gap in common medical knowledge, and that this was mostly
due to the greed and self interest of a handful of businessmen.
back in 1937, and it is no mystery why I felt it was important to 
become active.

I am not a regular advocate of hate, but.

I hate the War on Drugs.  I hate prohibition.  I hate the
mentality which led to prohibition and I hate the complacency
which allows it to continue.  I hate it in my enemies,
my friends, my family, and in myself.  Even if it is the last thing
this man does, I will see this insanity die.

    
Good night.


Brian

--

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