Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2000
Source: Honolulu Star-Bulletin (HI)
Copyright: 2000 Honolulu Star-Bulletin
Contact:  P.O. Box 3080, Honolulu, Hawaii 96802
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Author: Kenji Klein

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT KILLED SUFFERING PATIENT

The June 16 wire service story on the death of Peter McWilliams
neglected to mention that he died in his bathroom -- choking on his
own vomit. This piece of information is crucial in light of the other
facts mentioned in the article.

McWilliams was a medical marijuana patient who suffered severe nausea
because of chemotherapy treatment for his AIDS and non-Hodgkin's
lymphoma. Marijuana alleviated the nausea, but McWilliams could not
use the drug because the federal government refused to recognize
California law. Instead, it arrested and tried this seriously ill man
as a drug kingpin.

At times like these, I am ashamed of my own government. The feds
killed Peter McWilliams by denying him the right to control his nausea
through the use of marijuana.

Kenji Klein
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