Remembering Peter McWilliams

The Death of an Activist


Peter McWiliams, 50, best selling author, poet, photographer, publisher, libertarian crusader, medical marijuana activist, AIDS patient and cancer survivor, was found dead on the floor of his bathroom, apparently having choked to death after vomiting, for want of medical marijuana.

There will be an autopsy, but whatever the immediate cause of death may have been, he was murdered by the United States Government as surely as if they shot him. Indeed, it would have been much more humane if they had just put a bullet in his head. No one should have to go through what he suffered at the hands of his country.

This is a time of profound moral crisis. Peter McWilliams is dead. Are you?
--Richard Cowan

I had an ongoing email exchange with Peter in late 1999 --early 2000. Peter's health was starting to fail and death was on his doorstep and he knew he was fighting a losing battle. the most important battle of his life, the right to use medical marijuana. He lost and we all lost as a result.

I wrote an article in The Black Market Manifesto (Johnny, Judy and I's online zine) back in 2000 when I heard of his death. I was crushed. What a loss to humanity. I'm sure Peter's soul will be around to inspire us all when things get rough, none the less I still miss him terribly.

Peter McWilliams archives

Please click the link above to read about Peter and remember an honorable man with a soul of gold.

I can only wish that someday our leadership in this country will have the heart and soul Peter possessed. The world would be a much nicer and just place to live.