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Patient's Rights Defended: Doctor to Testify in Medical Cannabis Necessity Trial |
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WAUKEGAN (IL) - On Wednesday, June 4, at 2:00 pm in the Lake County Court House in Waukegan, IL, Dr. Michael L. Savitt, MD, will give testimony in a pretrial motion in defense of Brenda Kratovil, who was arrested in 2001 and charged with the possession of cannabis. Dr. Savitt is Kratovil's glaucoma specialist, and he will testify to the efficacy and necessity of using cannabis to treat Kratovil's glaucoma.
Also in Waukegan on Wednesday in support of Kratovil will be Elvy Musika. Musika is one of seven patients in the US to receive medical marijuana from the US Government. Musika, like Kratovil, suffers from glaucoma: but unlike Kratovil, Musika has legal access to her medicine (cannabis). In 1988, while fighting cannabis cultivation charges in Florida, Musika's case established Florida's medical marijuana necessity defense. After that, Musika became the first woman to receive her medicine from a Federal Compassionate Use Program. Unfortunately for other patients, the program was closed to new patients in 1992 due to political pressure.
The trial judge in Kratovil's case requested Dr. Savit's testimony in order to see why Kratovil was allegedly in possession of cannabis. The judge wants to hear from Dr. Savitt on the use of cannabis to treat glaucoma, and in testifying to the necessity of cannabis for Kratovil???s health care, he will be setting a precedent in Illinois.
There will be a press conference following the hearing. Brenda Kratovil, Elvy Musika, Dr. Savitt, and Brenda's lawyer, David Stepanich, will be available for questions.
For more information, contact Bryan Brickner at 773-395-9708 or Caren Thomas at 847-293-4862:
*Wednesday, June 4: 2 PM: Lake County Court House, Waukegan, IL |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 14 February 2007 )
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