on December 9, 2014
Here is a little bit of History about Jeffrey Kennedy and his battle with cancer and the law.
Last Modified: Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 7:33 p.m.
Every few months, cancer patient and Boynton Beach resident Jeffrey Kennedy flies to Northern California — not for treatment, but to get medical-grade marijuana.
There, the 55-year-old helps out on a marijuana farm in Mendocino County, trimming plants and doing other odd jobs.
In return, he receives pot to alleviate neuropathic pain in his legs and a highly concentrated marijuana extract he hopes will cure his bone cancer.
“It is sad I have to get on a plane and travel 3,000 miles to get my medicine,” he said. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
It’s estimated that there are tens of thousands of Florida residents like Kennedy, who use marijuana to aid symptoms of illnesses from cancer to Parkinson’s disease.
But because pot is illegal in Florida, most are reluctant to admit they use the drug for any reason.
Kennedy, who possesses a medical marijuana card from the state of California, said he is in a unique position to speak out.
After being arrested for surrounding his pool deck with 26 pots of cannabis plants in 2009, he and lawyer Michael Minardi used medical necessity as a defense.
It worked.
The State Attorney’s Office in Palm Beach County decided not to prosecute just prior to his trial.
“I have already been tried in the courts of Palm Beach County pretty much, and they told me, ‘Mr. Kennedy, you don’t bother us, we won’t bother you.’ ”
Minardi said the defense was based on common law rather than any particular statute.
“What I argue is, No. 1 the person didn’t bring about the disease or illness themselves,” the lawyer said. “No. 2, there is no reasonable alternative for treatment, and No. 3, the harm to society is less than the harm that would come to the person as a result of their disease or illness.”
Minardi credits lawyer Norm Kent of Fort Lauderdale, who has been chairman of the marijuana advocacy group NORML, with coming up with the medical necessity defense.
These days, Minardi has several cases that involve medical cannabis.
Kennedy, meanwhile, credits inhaled marijuana with helping him ditch the opiates he had used for 10 years to combat pain.
After getting a bone cancer diagnosis last summer, he has also begun ingesting a much more concentrated marijuana product called “Rick Simpson Oil.”
“It is going to cure my cancer,” Kennedy says. “I am a firm believer in it.”
LATEST CANCER REPORT FROM JEFFREY KENNEDY (Dec.9 2014)
Today I received my quarterly blood work report for the cancer (CLL) that has invaded my body. In July my white blood cell count was a little over 27,000 today those numbers have been cut in half, coming in a tad bit over 13,000
My doctor couldn't believe the latest numbers and improvement I have made in the past four months. He has now noted in my chart that I have been using RSO to lower my numbers. The doctor said he will now take my advice and do his own research on RSO (Rick Simpson Oil)
My progress could not have been achieved with out the use of RSO. A gram a day, will will keep the cancer at bay and allow you and I to live another day.
Congratulations Jeffrey Kennedy
Laurie Canadian420
(https://www.facebook.com/Canadian420nurses)
Last Modified: Saturday, March 8, 2014 at 7:33 p.m.
Every few months, cancer patient and Boynton Beach resident Jeffrey Kennedy flies to Northern California — not for treatment, but to get medical-grade marijuana.
There, the 55-year-old helps out on a marijuana farm in Mendocino County, trimming plants and doing other odd jobs.
In return, he receives pot to alleviate neuropathic pain in his legs and a highly concentrated marijuana extract he hopes will cure his bone cancer.
“It is sad I have to get on a plane and travel 3,000 miles to get my medicine,” he said. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
It’s estimated that there are tens of thousands of Florida residents like Kennedy, who use marijuana to aid symptoms of illnesses from cancer to Parkinson’s disease.
But because pot is illegal in Florida, most are reluctant to admit they use the drug for any reason.
Kennedy, who possesses a medical marijuana card from the state of California, said he is in a unique position to speak out.
After being arrested for surrounding his pool deck with 26 pots of cannabis plants in 2009, he and lawyer Michael Minardi used medical necessity as a defense.
It worked.
The State Attorney’s Office in Palm Beach County decided not to prosecute just prior to his trial.
“I have already been tried in the courts of Palm Beach County pretty much, and they told me, ‘Mr. Kennedy, you don’t bother us, we won’t bother you.’ ”
Minardi said the defense was based on common law rather than any particular statute.
“What I argue is, No. 1 the person didn’t bring about the disease or illness themselves,” the lawyer said. “No. 2, there is no reasonable alternative for treatment, and No. 3, the harm to society is less than the harm that would come to the person as a result of their disease or illness.”
Minardi credits lawyer Norm Kent of Fort Lauderdale, who has been chairman of the marijuana advocacy group NORML, with coming up with the medical necessity defense.
These days, Minardi has several cases that involve medical cannabis.
Kennedy, meanwhile, credits inhaled marijuana with helping him ditch the opiates he had used for 10 years to combat pain.
After getting a bone cancer diagnosis last summer, he has also begun ingesting a much more concentrated marijuana product called “Rick Simpson Oil.”
“It is going to cure my cancer,” Kennedy says. “I am a firm believer in it.”
LATEST CANCER REPORT FROM JEFFREY KENNEDY (Dec.9 2014)
Today I received my quarterly blood work report for the cancer (CLL) that has invaded my body. In July my white blood cell count was a little over 27,000 today those numbers have been cut in half, coming in a tad bit over 13,000
My doctor couldn't believe the latest numbers and improvement I have made in the past four months. He has now noted in my chart that I have been using RSO to lower my numbers. The doctor said he will now take my advice and do his own research on RSO (Rick Simpson Oil)
My progress could not have been achieved with out the use of RSO. A gram a day, will will keep the cancer at bay and allow you and I to live another day.
Congratulations Jeffrey Kennedy
Laurie Canadian420
(https://www.facebook.com/Canadian420nurses)
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