Meet Our Speakers

Name: K. R. "Doc" Miller

My name is Doc Miller and since an industrial accident 5 1/2 years ago I have had a condition called RSD. This has left me in constant pain, an insomniac and unable to live life like most people. After long years of invasive surgeries, narcotic treatments and other types of so-called approved medical therapies I was urged by friends to try marijuana as aid to help me regain some of my quality of life.

I did, and yes it has helped. No, it wasn't a miracle cure, it didn't take away the all the pain but, it did help me manage my symptoms better than anything else I had been given. It gave me hope and some of my life back to me that I had before my accident. But, it made me angry and frustrated at the system that denies patients like myself whom could be helped with medical marijuana.

"Doc" Miller
Director of Development

Name: Deirdre Zoretic

Hello, my name is Deirdre Zoretic, but everyone calls me Dee Dee. At the age of 27, I fell at work and acquired a progressive, incurable nerve condition called Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy.

After running out of further legal medical options, using the information that I found in a government report, I began using cannabis therapeutically.

I regained the use of my once completely atrophied right arm, and gained a felony record. Today, I work as the Director of Patient Advocacy for the Ohio Patient Network. I strive to educate legislators and their staff about the scientific evidence of the efficacy of marijuana as a medication. I also try to expose them to the harsh reality of the cruelty shown by our government policies on our most vulnerable citizens.

Deirdre "Dee Dee" Zoretic
Director of Patient Advocacy
Ohio Patient Network

Hello, my name is Joseph Zoretic. I have been involved in drug policy reform for approximately 10 years now. Starting out as an occasional recreational marijuana user, I soon discovered, with the help of cyberspace, that mostly all of our drug laws were wrong prompting me to join several internet and nationwide organizations.

I took me several years to become a local activist due to the fact that I was growing marijuana, most of which was used medically by my wife Deirdre.

After a fire next door and a subsequent search of my house, my wife and I were charged with second degree felonies. After a plea of guilty to 5th degree felonies and a compassionate judges' decision we escaped without even probation because of the mounds of medical evidence we handed over to the prosecutor's.

Since this time (going on 4 years now) my wife and I have dedicated our extra time to change the system and stop feeling like a criminals. Speaking, and writing letters are probably my strongest of skills, so this is how I have decided to participate in the on-going struggle for justice.

I am also a volunteer speaker for the Kucinich for President campaign and have spoken at several Democrat clubs across the county.

Name: Robert "Rob" Ryan

Hi, my name is Robert Ryan. I am an engineer by trade, and an anti-drug-war warrior by conviction. In the 80's I lived in Cincinnati and then moved to Maryland for family reasons, now I'm back in Ohio.

    I have served in a number of organizations, Weed n Seed, Republican party etc. In Maryland I was heavily engaged in lobbying efforts on numerous issues, but the one that was closest to my heart was the recently passed Darrell Putman Compassionate Use Act (now waiting on Gov. Bob Ehrlich's signature). One of the biggest tragedies in Darrell Putman's story (besides his death) was the erosion of respect he had for the government as he came to learn more of the truth concerning marijuana.

    I'm ready to once again to do my part in ending this aberration called the War on Drugs, which has affected me personally. There is a direct connection between my mother's breast cancer agony, due to inadequate pain relief ("she might get addicted") and my son's arrest. That connection is the War on Drugs, which I prefer to call it a War on Americans.

    I support the compassionate use of cannabis for various medicinal purposes. I shall assist OPN's mission to coordinate information between patients, medical professionals, and attorneys, as well as to educate the public.

If you want to know more about me please go to my webpage www.robryan.org and follow the Profile and Principle links.

Thank You
Robert R Ryan

Name: John Precup

   My Name is John Precup, age 39. I was diagnosed with secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis in 1986, after waking up on the morning of April 5th with the worst case of the "bed spins" imaginable. I was unable to keep anything down, even water. On April 6th I was admitted to the hospital for a seven-day stay during which the ‘spinning’ continued for six days straight.

When I was sent home, the dizziness had subsided a little, but I still could not function well at all. My neurologist prescribed the drugs Compazine and Antivert. They had little affect on the nausea and no affect on the appetite, even after the dosage was doubled. After a couple of weeks of feeling sick and not eating, I had lost 15 pounds and no medication was helping. I was truly in fear for my life. It was then that I decided to try smoking Cannabis/Marijuana.

At first I felt worse, but after the effects of the smoke were gone I began to relax and have an appetite. I could finally eat again.

Since that time, I have used cannabis to maintain a healthy body weight and a decent standard of living. For years I left my prescription drugs setting on the counter, as Cannabis was more effective.

By November 1993, the disease had progressed to the point that I needed to use a cane and a wheelchair. The damage to the nerves that control the lower part of my body and legs caused my legs to be spastic and ache. Again, I saw a real benefit from using Cannabis, it allowed my muscles to relax. I was given a prescription for the drug Bacoflen in 1993 to help control muscle spasms. I experienced little benefit from the drug, it didn’t alleviate the pain in my legs. However with cannabis I got relief and, without the spasms, I could get a good night’s sleep.

I briefly discussed the benefits I had been getting from the cannabis with my neurologist, Dr. Vilnius S. Ciemins, upon my initial office visit with him in 1986. After learning of Ohio's medical marijuana defense law in December of 1996, I decided to talk him again about my use of the drug and the short-lived law. Dr. Ciemins, agreed that Cannabis is useful in the treatment of my condition.

He provided me with a handwritten recommendation that states: "Told patient that marijuana may relive nausea, realizing that as yet the drug is still illegal."

I feel the reason for the prohibition of cannabis is misinformation and the stigma that surrounds this medicine. So I have become active getting people informed and involved.

I am currently the president of the Ohio Patient Network, a member of the OPN speakers bureau, and on several committees of OPN. I am also a member of the Oho Cannabis Society.

Today I weigh 160 lbs. and use a wheelchair most of the time. Cannabis has no doubt, given me a better life than I would have had without it. I didn't ask for this. I would gladly give up using Cannabis and all the other drugs that are prescribed for me if I were miraculously cured.

I don't consider myself a criminal just for using the only thing I know that works to try to maintain what quality of life I have left.

John Precup
President, Ohio Patient Network

Name: Kenneth B. Schweickart

I'm an activist that mobilizes conferences, fundraisers, voter drives, and demonstrations. Former endorsed Democratic Candidate for Ohio House of Representatives and current Director of Development for the Ohio Patient Network. I speak mainly about the about past, present, and future of medicinal cannabis.

Occupation: Assistant Mortgage Loan Officer, Office Manager of a computer service company, and independent political consultant.

Kenneth Schweickart
Ohio Patient Network

Name: Mary Jane Borden, MBA, APR

I bring a unique perspective to issue of medicinal cannabis, one developed through thirty years of interest in the subject, nine years as a pharmaceutical company market research analyst, and three years as a full time drug policy reform activist. I specialize in online media activism, public opinion polling, and organization building.

I'm a writer, artist, and activist from Westerville, Ohio, the home of prohibition in the early part of the last century. I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and Psychology from Otterbein College and a Masters in Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Dayton.

I am a past president of the Columbus Chapter of Women in Communications and its 501(c)(3) subsidiary, the Columbus Matrix Foundation. In 2000, I earned the Accredited in Public Relations (APR) certification from the Public Relations Society of America.

I worked for nine years at Adria Laboratories, most in the capacity of Senior Analyst, before starting my graphic design business, which has operated for ten years. I am now serving as Director of Development for DrugSense. I am also a co-founder of the Ohio Patient Network and currently serve as its Treasurer and Director of Public Relations.

Mary Jane Borden
Treasure, Director of Public Relations
Ohio Patient Network

Name: Paula Mercer

My name is Paula Mercer, Age, 43. I am a retired Registered Nurse, specializing in orthopedics. I retired from nursing because of a circulation problem.

I grew up in Fairborn, Ohio. I came from a family of two brothers and one sister. I graduated from Fairborn High School in 1979. In 1992 I graduated from Clark State College in Springfield. In 1980, I married Joe Mercer and we have a son who is now ready to graduate from Clark State. He will be attending Wittenberg next winter quarter.

I have had lifelong medical problems. When I was six weeks old, my parents realized I had problems with my left leg. Throughout my life, I have had exams, tests, x-rays, etc. It was only a few years ago that a new doctor sent me for more tests and a CT scan and we really found out the extent of my problems.

I have always been interested in the movement to make marijuana legal for sick people. As long as I can remember. My physical limitations do hold me back a lot though, I will always support this as long as I am breathing.

Thank you,
Paula Mercer RN-C
Ohio Patient Network