George McMahon has a constant supplier of marijuana for as long as he lives — and he gets it for free.

The supplier? The federal government.

McMahon is one of five U.S. citizens granted access to medicinal marijuana by the government. He receives a tin of 300 marijuana cigarettes each month to deal with Nail Patella Syndrome, a rare disease that causes muscle spasms and joint degeneration.

“It’s good marijuana,” he said. “I know it’s making me better.”

McMahon spoke to about 75 people Monday evening at Kansas University’s Strong Hall. He was invited to campus by Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

McMahon has smoked about 10 marijuana cigarettes a day legally since 1990, when he was approved for a federal trial testing the use of pot for medical purposes. Fifteen people received doses of marijuana through the program, which stopped accepting new participants in the early 1990s, though only five are still alive.

Five years earlier, McMahon said, he was within days of dying when he smoked an illegal marijuana cigarette. His health began improving immediately, he said.

Now, he tours the country advocating the legalization of medicinal marijuana.

George McMahon receives a one-month supply of medicinal marijuana cigarettes, shown in the tin, from the federal government. McMahon spoke Monday at Kansas University.

“I still have brothers and sisters (with Nail Patella Syndrome) who are using prescription drugs and dying,” he said. “But look at me.”

McMahon said he had never had problems with law enforcement agents while smoking marijuana, though he said he avoided smoking in public.

McMahon’s appearance Monday was without incident. Officials with the KU Public Safety Office on Friday had threatened to arrest McMahon if he was found smoking pot on campus.

But Lt. Schuyler Bailey said he spoke with McMahon later that day and received assurance his smoking would be legal under federal law. The Public Safety Office didn’t send officers to Monday night’s lecture.

During his speech, McMahon also sounded off on the conviction of Ed Rosenthal, a California marijuana advocate who was convicted for growing medicinal marijuana plants. Rosenthal is represented by Topeka attorney Bob Eye, who lives in Lawrence.

“I’m pretty angry,” McMahon said of the conviction. “That’s a pretty nasty thing to do to someone who’s trying to be compassionate.”

¢ Students for Sensible Drug Policy¢ Medical marijuana patient to visit KU (4-19-03)¢ Kansas NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)¢ American Medical Assn. (medical marijuana information)¢ Lawyer takes high-profile role in marijuana defense (3-2-03)