*** PLEASE READ: Cannabis has the most healing effects for patients early in ALS disease progression. While it can be useful later, SMOKING ANYTHING CAN BE DANGEROUS IN ADVANCED CASES OF ALS, so check with your doctor if you have any concerns. This is what works for one person and is not intended to be medical advice. ***

I used to be a hairdresser from New Castle, DE, but now I'm a medical marijuana patient & activist, living near Tampa, FL.
I was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease) in 1986 (I was 36), was told by my doctor not to smoke anything, standard advise for a new ALS patient, suffered typical deteriation of my body over the next two years and prepared for my death - ALS is a terminal illness and I probably had only another year or two.
Then, in 1989, standing on a beach in Sarasota, FL, I was passed a "joint" and said "Why not?". After just a few puffs, I had a wonderful feeling - that my disease had stopped!
I've been smoking ever since - for twenty-one years now, and I think I'm aging quite well, thank you.
Cannabis (the scientific name for marijuana) works for me by drying up my saliva (ALS patients often drown in their own fluids), helping me cough and stimulating my lungs through it's broncial-dialation action.
Science now shows that Cannabis is actually a neuroprotectant,treating auto-immune conditions like ALS and MS by supressing "excito-toxicity" and the over-production of glutomate. Also, Cannabis has long been known to have an anti-inflammatory effect and inflammation is now believed to play an important role in ALS. (see Dr. Mechoulam's video)

My wonderful husband Bob and his fellow patriots of the Vietnam Brotherhood here in Florida are very supportive of me and we hope to feature videos reflective of the love these soldiers have for their country.