Steve McWilliams is Dead

Cal NORML is sad to report that San Diego medical cannabis patient
activist Steve McWilliams has taken his life. McWilliams, who had
been fighting federal charges for growing a modest home garden for
the Shelter from the Storm Collective, was depressed over the Supreme
Court decision and in terrible pain, having been denied access to
medical marijuana since his arrest in 2002. Steve was a courageous
fighter for the cause and will be sorely missed. Our deepest
sympathies to his partner, Barbara MacKenzie.
- Dale Gieringer, Cal NORML

David Bronner Reports:
Hello all,

Barbara MacKenzie, Steve's partner, called to say that Steve
committed suicide by overdose late last night/early morning. Steve
had been depressed and in terrible pain, and been hospitalized last
week. Steve's depression was apparently a combination of dread of
going to jail in light of Raich and his deteriorating health. He had
had to take powerful pharmaceutical opiates, anti-nausea,
anti-migraine, etc. drugs in far higher amounts than when he was able
to medicate with marijuana, and evidently was what he used to
overdose.

Steve was an incredibly kind, compassionate, intelligent and wise
man, as well as a balls to the wall activist. He inspired me and
many others, and will be dearly missed. I was proud to know him and
be his friend.

Steve will be cremated and flown back to his family in Colorado, but
I'll be helping Barbara with a memorial service here for the medical
marijuana community. I'll be at the protest tomorrow at noon (San
Diego Police Dept. Headquarters, 1401 Broadway).

Please forward this note as appropriate.

David Bronner