| Graphic: PUFMM |
| Photo: WPTV.com |
| Angel Luis Hernandez was arrested for using the only medication that helps his multiple sclerosis. |
Comments
Alex Llanio said:
I live in Florida and i would do anything to push Medical Marijuana legalization!
Posted 02/08/2010 at 10:34:43 PM
Steve Janowitz replied to Alex Llanio:
Alex [Adam, Ray],
There is a ballot initiative in Florida to Amend it's "Constitution" to allow safe access to medical marijuana for patients. We are People United For Medical Marijuana [PUFMM]. We are actively collecting petitions throughout Florida. I'm the South Florida Campaign Manager and we are continuously collecting signatures at various events and venues. If you go to www.meetup.com or www.facebook.com we have chapters set up for you to join [it's free] and bond with like minded people. You may contact me at: pufmmSoFl@gmail.com
Posted 02/10/2010 at 03:54:01 PM
jeffrey kennedy replied to Alex Llanio:
My Trial will start in the Courts of Palm Beach County, Florida. On the 28th of June 2010 My Attorney Michael c Minardi will File a Motion for the medical necessity defense,
We our in searc of compassionate experts in the medical field to help in my defense, Contact me at kennedyjeffrfey@bellsouth.net.
Thank you
Posted 02/10/2010 at 07:30:01 PM
susan cologggi replied to jeffrey kennedy:
I to have MS Marajuana is the only thing that works even my steroids used to land mr in the hospitol every 3rd wk instead of 4 wk now since ill smoke u go for the steroids every 8 weeks I went off all pain meds vesicare for incontiande that used yo so awfull I have papers that state that the federal gov 2 yrs ago pd with my humnana 160,000.00 for medicine and hospitil bills now I lost 60 lbs which is healthy i am 5 ft 2 in and i weighed @225ny nuerologist highly recommended it i never smoked it in my life I am also Mormon and they frown on smoking and weed even for medicinal reasons so I stopped goingto the church I let all MS patients know that have faith and it will be legal for us it will create so many jobs legal ones for dealers and others classes how to grow it getting a dealer to work with
coffee shops wull open like in oakland openig up jobs for others they make cookies brownies etc there also they will alow you to smoke there not mear you childrenwith a doct rx/. they would be dunb to not leagalize it
Posted 02/23/2010 at 06:34:15 AM
Nicole replied to Alex Llanio:
Marijuana is Medicine
State of Florida vs. Elvy Mussika
Seventeen Judicial Circuit
In and For Broward County, Florida
Case No. 68 4395 CFA 10
State of Florida vs. Elvy Mussika, Defendant
Mark F. Polen, Circuit Court Judge
Appearances:
Norman Elliott Kent, P.A., for Defendant
Carol Wilhelm, A.S.A., State Attorney's Office
Dated: December 28, 1988
Opinion
On March 5, 1988, the defendant, Elvy Mussika, was arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana, in violation of Florida Statute ss893.13(1)(a). The case came before the Court for trial on August 15, 1988. The Court heard testimony from three witnesses, including the defendant. After due deliberation, the Court found Ms. Mussika not guilty of the charges by reason of a defense of medical necessity. The Court now renders the following decision.
Conclusion
One point I want to emphasize is that no one should interpret this decision as the Court giving a green light to the consumption of marijuana. That is not the message of this opinion. Marijuana use continues to be against the law. Ms. Mussika's circumstances, while not unique, are somewhat unusual. The message of this decision is that the law is flexible enough, and humane enough, to allow an individual to preserve her eyesight with a substance that is generally illegal. Indeed, this Court hopes that is decision, and the other decisions cited herein, will encourage legislators and regulators to correct the anomaly in the law which forces people trying to save their lives and senses into becoming criminals.
The government is charged with a responsibility to see that its laws are faithfully obeyed. And the Court does not dispute the government's legitimate role in regulating drugs. But the absolute prohibition against marijuana's use, even when such use may be therapeutically required to avoid grave and irreversible injury, appears on its face to be irrational. Such a sweeping, indiscriminate prohibition is not well founded.
Surely the Florida legislature, when it embraced such a total prohibition, could not have foreseen the possibility that a socially abused substance like marijuana might prove to be of critical medical value to patients confronting life-threatening and sense-threatening diseases.
In our haste to rightfully prosecute those who profit from the social trafficking and sale of illicit drugs we cannot become blind to the legitimate medical needs of those who are afflicted by incurable diseases and require appropriate medical care. To ignore the plight of such people renders the law callous to the most basic of all human rights; the right of self-preservation.
Finally, the Court is deeply disturbed by the broader implications to the testimony presented in this case. Medical necessity is a stringent, demanding legal defense. The practice of medicine, however, cannot be predicted upon the legal requirements of the medical necessity defense if it is to preserve health in a rational, compassionate manner. As this decision, and the earlier decisions cited herein illustrate, marijuana has "an accepted medical use in treatment". Indeed, the evidence indicates marijuana is now being employed, albeit illegally, by patients throughout the United States. In the vast majority of such cases, these desperately ill people are being forced underground and away from urgently needed medical supervision to acquire marijuana.
This is an intolerable, untenable legal situation. Unless legislators and regulators heed these urgent human needs and rapidly move to correct the anomaly arising from the absolute prohibition of marijuana which forces law-abiding citizens into the streets - and criminality - to meet their legitimate medical needs, cases of this type will become increasingly common in coming years. There is a pressing need for a more compassionate, humane law which clearly discriminates between the criminal conduct of those who socially abuse chemicals and the legitimate medical needs of seriously ill patients whose welfare and very lives may depend on the prudent therapeutic use of those very same chemical substances.
Upon the basis of the foregoing discussion, the Court finds that the defendant, Elvy Mussika, has established the defense of medical necessity. Accordingly, it is the decision of this Court that she is not guilty of violation of Florida Statute ss893.13(1)(a) , and the defendant is hereby discharged.
Footnotes
1. These "experimental" procedures included the use of medical and/or surgical therapies which are not yet approved by the FDA for general medical use.
2. United States v. Randall, 104 Wash. Daily Rptr. 2249 (1976).
3. Based on testimony from Ms. Mussika, Dr. Palmberg and Mr. Randall it is clear the defendant, Ms. Mussika, has made numerous attempts to acquire licit access to marijuana to meet her legitimate medical needs. She asked a number of physicians to assist her in acquiring prescriptive access to marijuana, but they refused to assist her because of the tremendous paperwork and technical knowledge involved in such an undertaking.
Desperate to prolong her sight, the defendant, at one point in 1987 telephone the Hollywood Police Department to request their help in securing licit access to marijuana.
Only after the defendant was arrested on March 5, 1988, did she learn from Mr. Randall that her physician could request legal access to marijuana from the Federal Food and Drug Administration. At this juncture Dr. Palmberg and Mr. Randall agreed to assist her in filing for a Compassionate Investigational New Drug "IND" from the FDA.
Despite the fact Dr. Palmberg filed his request with the FDA in April, 1988, FDA had not as yet approved Dr. Palmberg's request for licit supplies of marijuana to treat Ms. Mussika. At the time of this writing - and despite the verdict of this Court - Ms. Mussika has yet to receive any legal marijuana from FDA to meet her legitimate needs. The Court is greatly disturbed by the fact that, because of federal inaction, Ms. Mussika must use illicit marijuana if she is to save her sight. Such a situation is not legally tenable, much less moral.
Florida Law Weekly, January 27, 1989
Conant VS Walters -Judge Kozinski's Opinion
Posted 02/10/2010 at 08:29:09 PM
Adam said:
"Currently, 14 states have legalized medical marijuana and allow its use for multiple sclerosis."
Fourteen states, yes, but what about the CITY of Washington D.C.? :) I shouldn't have to remind you about the Barr amendment being taken off, should I? ;)
Posted 02/09/2010 at 12:24:24 AM
ray said:
Hang in there Angel...I am very proud of you....God please bless my angel's request for your medicine.
Posted 02/10/2010 at 03:21:18 PM
Kevin Tewey said:
Why, oh why must you life in that opressive state. I hope you have a good reason, your health is important, without it you are no good to anyone. Cannabis is proven as a nerve regerneratant, (look it up others). YOU know it works, you are not addicted to "happy drug." Fight them, but remember you fight every wrinkle Regan, Anslinger and the others falsely gave them. I will put you up in Oregon if it's not too far and even help you here. Or Jersy is closer and Mass, Nevada is warm. Whatever, all praise for your courage and strength.*bow* (may I get up now?) *kisses feet*
Posted 02/12/2010 at 12:51:22 AM
PUFMMgieseghj said:
Time to change these laws - Medical Marijuana in Florida - PUFMM.org.
Posted 02/25/2010 at 07:26:50 PM






