JOHN ROE
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
V. Civil Action No.
UNITED STATES, et. al., Defendants
AFFIDAVIT OF JOHN ROE [fictitious name]
State of Wisconsin
County of (REDACTED) ss:
I, John Roe (NAME WITHHELD), being duly sworn, hereby make oath that, to wit:
I am 22 years of age and am a student living at (REDACTED), Wisconsin.
In 1962, at the age of 8 years old, it was diagnosed that I had open-angle glaucoma in both eyes.
Following this diagnosis I was placed on a routine of conventional anti-glaucoma medications.
Over the past fourteen years a gradual erosion of my vision has occurred. At present, the visual acuity in my left eye is 20/200 corrected. The vision in my right eye can still be corrected at 20/20, although damage in this eye has also occurred.
In 1970 I began smoking marijuana socially, and a short time later I noticed it had a positive effect on my eye pressure. This was during the same time that my eye pressures were becoming difficult to control and my physician was increasing the dosage of my conventional medicines and substituting more powerful drugs.
I continued to experiment with marijuana’s effect on my eye pressure and soon became confident that with its use I could control my pressures.
At present, my glaucoma appears stable and no progression in visual loss is occurring. Attempts to increase or alter my conventional medicines have ended. I am presently taking a combination of pilocarpine and epinephrine in addition to six to ten marijuana cigarettes per day.
My conventional medications do at times blur my vision and also produce intense migraine-like headaches which themselves are debilitating.
Marijuana assists in reducing my eye pressure, reduces or eliminates the headaches, but does not have any effect on the blurred vision which is caused by the conventional medications.
My last examination showed that my IOP was 21 to 22 mm. which indicates that my glaucoma is under effective management.
I have discussed the use of marijuana as a glaucoma controlling drug with my doctor. He has informally confirmed the drug’s utility in reducing my eye pressure and has given me basic guidance on the nature of my glaucoma and the control of it.
I usually grow my own marijuana, but at times I am forced to purchase the drug from unfamiliar people on the street.
Since 1970 I have been smoking marijuana at the rate of six to ten marijuana cigarettes a day and neither I nor my doctor have noticed any significant side effects. The use of marijuana has not interfered with my studies nor with my ability to lead a normal life. In fact, without marijuana, it is likely that my eyesight or the side effects of the conventional medications would have prevented me from attending school.
Both I and my doctor believe I am gaining a medical benefit from using marijuana. If my doctor could prescribe it for me, he would.
