Did you hear the story about Angel Raich who wants to take marijuana every few hours, under her doctor’s advice, to control pain and give her an appetite? Her doctor claims without it she would “starve to death.”

I think she needs a second opinion.

The breathless headline in the Medical News Today article reads. “Woman Denied Right To Use Marijuana As Life-saving Medication.”

A headline from a Washington Post blog reads, “Federal Court Vetoes Marijuana For Dying Mom.”

I hate to be the one to break the news to these writers, but smoking weed is not a right. Furthermore, marijuana is not a “life-saving medication.”

And does this women (see photo) look like she’s dying?

We are told she has an inoperable brain tumor, a seizure disorder, life-threatening weight loss,” scoliosis, and chronic nausea.

She is also probably very depressed.

Need treatment options? We can start here, here, here, and even here. If they don’t work try consulting with a psychologist who specializes in treating depression. Also, consider consulting an oncologist specializing in brain cancer, a neurologist specializing in seizures, a nutritionist specializing in nutrition, and an orthopedist specializing in spinal disorders.

If she has serious medical conditions, then give her serious medical attention, not excuses in the form of marijuana.

3/16/07 11:19 JR

Hi, I’m JR

John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.