Despite Cannabisrsquo; illegal status, sick citizens of the U.S. still need to use it as a medicine. For certain illnesses, such as Glaucoma, no pharmaceutical alternatives are available that deal with the symptoms as well as cannabis. The Compassionate Investigational New Drug Study program began in 1976 when Robert Randall won a court case against the federal government. He suffered from Glaucoma and used that fact as a medical necessity defense when arrested for cultivating his own marijuana. The Compassionate IND was then extended for other applicants to participate. In 1992, the Bush Administration closed the program to new participants after receiving a flood of HIV/AIDS patientsrsquo; applications. There are four remaining members of the program that still receive medical marijuana from the federal government. Their names are, Barbara Douglass, George McMahon, Elvy Musikka and Irvin Rosenfeld. Each receive between eight and nine cured ounces per month.
