Dear Judge:

I am writing this letter in behalf of my patient, Steve Kubby, who was diagnosed with malignant pheochromocytoma over 15 years ago. At that time, I was taking care of him with maximum medical therapy including the drugs dibenzline and alphamethyltyrosine. His tumor had spread to his liver at that time. I referred him to Ann Arbor, where Dr. James Sisson treated him with radiotherapeutic doses of the radionuclide MIBG. Then, as now, that was experimental therapy. I lost Steve to follow up over the past 10-12 years.

I first noted his survival when I received my voter pamphlet in November 1998. I contacted him to determine how it was that he had survived all these years. He told me that he was treating himself with the advice of his physicians in Northern California with marijuana, and has been taking no other medical therapy for several years. I also contacted Dr. Sisson at Ann Arbor - he told me that every patient other than Steve, with Steve's condition, had died during this interval of time. Steve was the only survivor. I am convinced by Steve's blood pressure response during his recent incarceration when he was without marijuana therapy, that he still harbors a malignant pheochromocytoma. In some amazing fashion, this medication has not only controlled the symptoms of the pheochromocytoma, but in my view, has arrested growth.

I strongly endorse that you consider supplying Steve with sufficient supplies of his specific marijuana product in order to control his life threatening disease. Further, over the next few weeks, I propose to evaluate in a scientific and conventional medically approved manner, Steve's condition; to evaluate his response to marijuana therapy, and to evaluate his future need for treatment.

I have spent most of my adult life in the study and treatment of pheochromocytoma. Fortunately, it occurs only about once in 1 million people. Presently in Los Angeles, we have 7-10 patients who have pheochromocytoma. Of the five under my care presently, three have malignant pheochromocytoma. Each one is at the end of their line after having had maximum conventional therapy. If in fact marijuana therapy has improved and extended Steve's life, it may also be a terrific boon to our present patient's and their families.

Further, your Honor, please consider the consequences of Steve's condition not being controlled. His tumor is manufacturing large quantities of norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and possibly epinephrine (adrenaline). Either compound in minute quantities could kill him instantly by causing sudden cardiac death due to arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death due to acute myocardial infarction, or sudden death due to cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral vascular occlusion.

Faith healers would term Steve's existence these past 10 -15 years as nothing short of a miracle. In my view, this miracle, in part, is related to the therapy with marijuana. Marijuana contains many substances with can neutralize the effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine on the heart and vascular tissue. Several are potent antioxidants like vitamins C and vitamin E. I have offered Steve extensive evaluation at our Medical Center to determine in a scientific manner the extent of his ailment and the mechanisms by which his therapy has held his disease at bay for all these many years. This is not only for Steve's benefit, but to seek the potential for benefit to many patients around the world.

Thank you for your kind consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Best personal wishes in your deliberation.

Sincerely yours,

s/Vincent DeQuattro, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.A.C.P.

Professor of Medicine