I want to thank my friend Toon for his help and for setting up this page for me.

We, in the United States of America, a so called Democratic Free Society, realize it's not a free country (but we are working on it). Ours is a country that has lied to it's citizens and put others in jail and taken away their personal property all because of a drug called Cannabis (Marijuana). This drug which is less potent then alcohol (which by the way is legal), is a medication used to combat muscle spasms, pain, Glacoma (a deadly eye disease that makes you blind) and other disorders.

But due to the "So called war on drugs" citizens everywhere are suffering because the government has taken a narrow minded approach when it comes to the marijuana situation. They say Marijuana causes cancer (like cigarettes). Well, most people who have marijuana perscribed for them are Terminally Ill. So why would that concern them? And why is it legal for a doctor to perscribe Morphine and Cocaine but not marijuana? Are they saying Those drugs are less lethal or addictive then Marijuana? I was on both Cocaine patches and Morphine and I can tell you from experience that they both damn near killed me. I refuse to allow my government to force me into a situation again where I must use those drugs with side effects so bad they are worse then the origional illness. Even if marijuana offered no medical help so what? If a terminally ill person thinks it gives them relief I (and my doctor) sees nothing wrong with it.

We have people completely blind that didn't have to be and others like myself who are in so much pain we can't even think straight, if marijuana or any drug allows us relief, it should be available to us. I thank you for taking the time to read this and for your concern in this matter. We all are living, breathing beings and until we all learn compassion and understanding for each other our world will be filled with narrow minded people who seem to have no hearts. I hope I live to see the day this is no longer the case. Please make this information available to all you come in contact with. Marijuana is not what our (USA) government would want you to believe. And remember, a government is only as good as it's people.

Ron Shaw Newspaper-article from the Indiatlantic, Florida.
A Florida man who suffers from the crippling effects of Post-Polio Syndromes (PPS) today publicly appealed to President Bush for help in getting FDA-promised supplies of medical marijuana.
"Federal drug bureaucrats are killing me with their lies," said Ronald Shaw, 44, of Coco Beach. Shaw is one of a handful of Americans with FDA approval to medically smoke marijuana. But Shaw has been waiting more than a year for FDA to deliver his legal supplies of medical marijuana. "I can't understand why FDA is treating me like this," Shaw said. "FDA promised to help me . Instead, War on Drugs bureaucrats have turned my life into a living hell."

Shaw, the first Afro-American to secure FDA approval for marijuana therapy, suffers from the crippling effects of Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS). PPS is common among survivors of the polio epidemics which struck the U.S. in the 1940s and early 1950s. Shaw contracted polio in 1948, six years before the first polio vaccine became available. Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS) strikes decades after the initial infection and causes severe muscle cramps and spasms which can be permanently crippling. Conventional treatments involve highly addictive narcotics and Valium These drugs are often ineffective and generally leave patients unable to function.

Shaw, a a highly trained engineer who once worked on NASA projects said, "I don't want to take addictive drugs that are ineffective and make it difficult for me to function. I need a medicine that reduces my muscle spasm as without destroying my mind. Marijuana is that medicine."

In an effort to legally meet his medical needs Shaw tried the FDA promoted synthetic pot pill, Marinol. But the synthetic failed to ease Shaw's muscle spasm. "The socalled pot pill was a waste of time and money," Shaw said. "I tried Marinol and it caused chest pains, stomach problems, severe headaches. But it did not ease my muscle spasm. Marinol costs a fortune and it did not work for me at all."

In desperation, Shaw and his neurologist applied to FDA for legal marijuana. FDA has authorized marijuana's Compassionate IND medical use for neurologic conditions like paralysis , multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. After reviewing Shaw's medical record FDA approved request for medical marijuana in early 1991.

"We did it by the book," Shaw said. "My doctor and I jumped through all the hoops. We filed mountains of paperwork. Then FDA approved my request and promised to help me. I felt so relieved. I believed my prayers had been a answered. I really believed my government would help me. Boy, was I wong."

A year after FDA promised to help, Shaw has still not received his first legal marijuana cigarette. "I'm getting the red tape run-around," Shaw said. These War on Drugs bureaucrats don't give a damn if people suffer. They care more a about ideology than real human being. What really hurts is the way FDA just flat out lied to me. I feel like I've been taken for a ride."

"I did not want to make a big deal out of this," Shaw said. "I'm just trying to meet my medical needs. It's s a private matter. But, what the drug bureaucrats are doing to me and other seriously ill Americans is worse than wrong. People are suffering in silence. I've been silent for a year. I cannot remain silent any longer. It's time FDA lived up to its promise to help me."

Shaw is not alone. At least 50 seriously ill Americans, many afflicted with AIDS and cancer, have not received FDA-promised supplies of medical marijuana. Applications from hundreds of a additional patients have been lost in the bureaucracy.

In January, the White House blasted bureaucratic efforts to block marijuana's medical use. The Bush administration condemned such efforts and said, "For HHS to treat this matter as just another bureaucratic decision is unconscionable and . . . shows an intolerable lack of compassion."

The White House letter, leaked to the Los Angeles Times, was signed by I.A. Kolb, Acting Assistant Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. It was addressed to James 0. Mason, Chief, U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). The White House bluntly told Mason desperately ill Americans are in great pain -- many are dying because of bureaucratic delays in shipping medical marijuana to seriously ill people. People like Ron Shaw.

"That White House letter was my first ray of hope," Shaw said. "I thought the White House would clean up this mess. But another month has passed and I still don't have the medical marijuana FDA promised me last year. The drug bureaucrats are just thumbing their noses at the White House," Shaw said. "So I am appealing to President Bush for help. Mr President if you can send half a million troops in Desert Storm I'm certain you get FDA to deliver medical marijuana to a sick man in Florida. I'd really appreciate your help."

Shaw was joined at the press conference by his wife, Linda, who expressed contempt for bureaucratic efforts to block marijuana's medical use. I just can't understand why FDA promised to help my husband and then pulled the rug out from a under us. My husband is suffering. You bet I'm mad," Mrs. Shaw said. "You can see the difference marijuana makes. It reduces his muscle cramps and let's him get out of bed. And marijuana doesn't leave him all doped up like those terrible narcotics he's forced o take. His doctor can prescribe morphine, but not marijuana That's insane.

"Marijuana makes a world of difference," Shaw said. "It's a sin two-bit bureaucrats are forcing seriously ill Americans to become criminals to meet their legitimate medical needs."

Shaw joins two Tampa men, Chris Woiderski and Craig Sovine, who are also waiting for FDA-promised supplies of medical marijuana. Both Tampa men, who are paralyzed, received FDA approval to medically smoke marijuana last year. FDA, however, has refused to send the Tampa men their promised shipments.

Final Comment on the newspaper-article written by Ron.
This was an article sent to me by ACT. although I was approved for medical marijuana, as of June 4, 1995 I still haven't received any, And have as of yet found an attorney (although we have went as far as to post requests in newspapers). If you are or can recommend an Attorney please contact me.

This is not by all means the end of this story. I and my family have been on Television & in many news articles. I have smoked marijuana on Television and my doctor has appeared with me on one broadcast. Although I smoked pot on TV (while my wife rolled them in plain sight), not one law enforcement official has shown up to do anything. In fact the police department has been very kind and has offered suggestions like "growing my own".

My need for Marijuana still exists and currently I purchase about 1 ounce a week (when I can afford it). Of course this is street marijuana and is not tested for it's properties (like my physician & myself want). If you are interested in any of the news articles send me email (they are scanned and available).

Ron Shaw