MEDIA ADVISORY

"Should the Hawai'i Legislature Legalize Marijuana for Medical Use?" A DPFH
Event with Robert Randall, "The Man Who Launched the Medical Marijuana
Movement." The video will air on Oceanic Channel 54 on Monday 3/13 at 10:30
PM & Wednesday 3/22 at 5 PM.

Robert Randall, Federal Medical Marijuana Patient #1, appeared in Honolulu
at a public forum sponsored by the Drug Policy of Hawai'i on Tuesday,
December 7, 1999. Senator Matt Matsunaga, Co-Chair of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, and Dr. John McDonnell, past president of the Hawai'i Medical
Association are guest panelists.

ABOUT ROBERT RANDALL
Perhaps the nation's foremost advocate for the medical use of marijuana,
Randall was diagnosed with glaucoma in 1972 at age 24. He soon discovered
that marijuana helped relieve the potentially-blinding eye pressure
associated with the disease. After Randall and his companion, Alice O'Leary
were arrested for growing marijuana, the couple began their long battle.
Their successful efforts led to the "medical necessity" defense, and in
1976 Randall made history when he became the first American to gain legal
access to marijuana for medical purposes.

Randall has now smoked Uncle Sam's marijuana for more than 20 years -
prescribed by a doctor, grown under the strict supervision of the Federal
government on a heavily-guarded farm in Mississippi, and shipped to a
pharmacy in Sarasota, Florida near Randall's home. Randall is one of only
eight survivors of the program that once served 17; abruptly closed in 1992
under the Bush Administration as the demand for access to the program
increased dramatically because of AIDS. Since then, marijuana has been
acknowledged to be effective in stimulating the appetite of patients
suffering from AIDS wasting syndrome, and for associated pain relief and
stress reduction. Randall was himself diagnosed with AIDS in 1994. Robert
Randall is the author of six books, including MARIJUANA RX: The Patients'
Fight For Medical Pot (1998).

The mission of the non-profit Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i is to encourage
the development of effective drug policies that minimize economic, social
and human costs and to promote discussion and consideration of pragmatic
approaches to drug policy based upon scientific principles, effective
outcomes, public-health considerations, concern for human dignity and the
enhanced well-being of individuals & communities. For more information call
808-637-9822.
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