Peter McWilliams: Difference between revisions
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'''Peter McWilliams''' (August 5, {{Event|year=1949|event=Birth|notes=author and activist}} - June 14, {{Event|year=2000|event=Death|notes=author and activist}}), was a world renown author of many books, a libertarian activist, and an advocate of full legalization of | {{Infobox Person | ||
|name = Peter McWilliams | |||
|name-first = Peter | |||
|name-last = McWilliams | |||
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|birth-date = August 5, 1949 | |||
|birth-place = Detroit, Michigan | |||
|death-date = {{Death date and age|2000|6|14|1949|8|5}} | |||
|death-place = Los Angeles, California | |||
|education = Eastern Michigan University, Maharishi International University | |||
|military = | |||
|occupation = Author, poet, self-publisher, photographer, activist | |||
|residence = | |||
|party = [[Libertarian Party]] | |||
|website = | |||
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'''Peter McWilliams''' (August 5, {{Event|year=1949|event=Birth|notes=author and activist}} - June 14, {{Event|year=2000|event=Death|notes=author and activist}}), was a world renown author of many books, a libertarian activist, and an advocate of full legalization of marijuana. He spoke at the [[1998 Libertarian Party convention]] calling for Libertarians to work for medicinal marijuana "for our children." | |||
==Ailments== | ==Ailments== | ||
In | In 1996, McWilliams was diagnosed with both cancer and AIDS. Subsequently, he was required to take a lot of pills—14 different medications; however, like many cancer patients, Peter was unable to keep his pills down due to intense nausea. This made the pills useless. His 15th drug, an antinausea medication, was not working. So, instead, he began taking marijuana. Like many other cancer patients, smoking marijuana relieved the intense nausea and also soothed the constant pain he was in. This allowed him to keep his pills down and thus stay alive. | ||
==Medicinal Marijuana Activism== | ==Medicinal Marijuana Activism== | ||
Once Peter discovered that marijuana was the most "benign medical substance known to human beings," he decided to dedicate his life | Once Peter discovered that marijuana was the most "benign medical substance known to human beings," he decided to dedicate his life to the struggle to legalize medicinal marijuana throughout the country. | ||
==Cause of Death: An Overdose Of Government== | ==Cause of Death: An Overdose Of Government== | ||
The | The United States federal government made it a crime to smoke marijuana, even for medical purposes. In 1998, McWilliams was arrested for violating the Federal marijuana law. The judge prohibited him from pointing-out that medical marijuana is legal in California, which was his only defense. In 2000, he lost the case. No longer allowed to use marijuana, his pain and nausea returned, and he once again couldn't keep his medicine down. He died on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, allegedly choking on his own vomit. | ||
In | |||
==Quotes by Peter McWilliams== | ==Quotes by Peter McWilliams== | ||
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* ''[http://www.myspace.com/petermcwilliamstribute/ Peter McWilliams Tribute] | * ''[http://www.myspace.com/petermcwilliamstribute/ Peter McWilliams Tribute] | ||
[[Category:Authors|McWilliams, Peter]] | [[Category:Authors|McWilliams, Peter]] | ||
[[Category:Drug Activists]] | |||
[[Category:Party Activists from the 2000s]] | |||
[[Category:Party Activists from the 1990s]] | |||
Latest revision as of 22:33, 4 May 2023
| Peter McWilliams | |
| Personal Details | |
| Birth: | August 5, 1949 Detroit, Michigan |
| Death: | June 14, 2000 (aged 50) Los Angeles, California |
| Education: | Eastern Michigan University, Maharishi International University |
| Occupation: | Author, poet, self-publisher, photographer, activist |
| Party: | Libertarian Party |
Peter McWilliams (August 5, 1949 - June 14, 2000), was a world renown author of many books, a libertarian activist, and an advocate of full legalization of marijuana. He spoke at the 1998 Libertarian Party convention calling for Libertarians to work for medicinal marijuana "for our children."
Ailments
In 1996, McWilliams was diagnosed with both cancer and AIDS. Subsequently, he was required to take a lot of pills—14 different medications; however, like many cancer patients, Peter was unable to keep his pills down due to intense nausea. This made the pills useless. His 15th drug, an antinausea medication, was not working. So, instead, he began taking marijuana. Like many other cancer patients, smoking marijuana relieved the intense nausea and also soothed the constant pain he was in. This allowed him to keep his pills down and thus stay alive.
Medicinal Marijuana Activism
Once Peter discovered that marijuana was the most "benign medical substance known to human beings," he decided to dedicate his life to the struggle to legalize medicinal marijuana throughout the country.
Cause of Death: An Overdose Of Government
The United States federal government made it a crime to smoke marijuana, even for medical purposes. In 1998, McWilliams was arrested for violating the Federal marijuana law. The judge prohibited him from pointing-out that medical marijuana is legal in California, which was his only defense. In 2000, he lost the case. No longer allowed to use marijuana, his pain and nausea returned, and he once again couldn't keep his medicine down. He died on Wednesday, June 14, 2000, allegedly choking on his own vomit.
Quotes by Peter McWilliams
- "Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science." -- 1998 LP National Convention
- "Within seconds of the first toke, the nausea was gone, vanished with the smoke into the air." -- A Question of Compassion: An AIDS-Cancer Patient Explores Medical Marijuana
- "The Drug War is another Viet Nam." -- The DEA Wishes Me a Nice Day
- "In reality, serendipity accounts for one percent of the blessings we receive in life, work and love. The other 99 percent is due to our efforts."
- "To avoid situations in which you might make mistakes may be the biggest mistake of all." -- Life 101
Also See
External Links
- The Peter McWilliams Homepage
- The DEA Wishes Me a Nice Day by Peter McWilliams, circa 1997
- McWilliams is arrested for "trying to save lives" -- LP News September 1998
- Part One of A Question of Compassion: An AIDS-Cancer Patient Explores Medical Marijuana by Peter McWilliams
- Is Violence Justified? by Peter McWilliams, February 20, 1999
- Learning from Peter McWilliams by Harry Browne, 2000
- Peter McWilliams R.I.P. by William F. Buckley, Jr., July 17, 2000, National Review
- Peter McWilliams Tribute