Who is Peter McWilliams?

Answer 1

Peter Alexander McWilliams (August 5, 1949 - June 14, 2000) was a poet, publisher, author, photographer and cannabis activist.

He grew up in a Roman Catholic household, outside of Detroit, with two doting parents and brother, Michael. Early on Peter developed a zest for creativity. In 1967, while still in his teens, Peter began publishing his own works of poetry long before we had the ease of the internet. "Come Love With Me & Be My Life" started a series of poetry books which have sold nearly four million copies. Along with the teenage angst of love, comes loss. In 1971 Peter co-wrote "Surviving the Loss of a Love," with his therapist Melba Colgrove, Ph.D., and Harold Bloomfield, M.D. Now called: "How to Survive the Loss of a Love," this book has sold more than two million copies. Peter also became interested in meditation and wrote the New York Times Bestseller, "The TM Book" plus "The Personal Computer Book." Peter's prolific writings also included New York Times bestsellers: "LIFE 101: Everything We Wish We Had Learned About Life In School-But Didn't," "DO IT! Let's Get Off Our Buts" and "LOVE 101: To Love Oneself Is the Beginning of a Lifelong Romance" to name a few. Not only did Peter display talent in writing, he had a knack for Photography and in 1992 he published his first book of lush photography called "Portraits."

Peter was also passionate about personal freedom as long as it would not harm others. In 1993 he wrote "Ain't Nobody's Business if You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country." In 1994, after battling his own depression and successfully conquering it, he co-wrote a book with Harold Bloomfield, M.D., "How to Heal Depression." This was followed by "Hypericum (St. John's Wort) and Depression." These books show how depression can be cured naturally.

In later years, Peter became an outspoken activist for the use of medicinal marijuana. He was diagnosed with both Cancer and AIDS and found that marijuana was the cure for the nausea he suffered as a side-effect of his medications. Peter came out as a gay man and also embraced the Libertarian Party when he spoke at their convention.

A vocal supporter of medical cannabis due to being terminally ill with AIDS and cancer, McWilliams was investigated by the Federal Drug Enforcement Administration and convicted for violating federal marijuana laws, even though medical marijuana was legal under California state law. He later choked to death on his own vomit when he was forced to switch from cannabis to Marinol in order to remain free on bond pending sentencing.

Peter is remembered for not only for his activism but for the many books he wrote

which have helped and healed many people.

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