I've known several people with MS. This disease is highly variable in how it affects people. Some are completely disabled by it, but many are not. For many people, I think they fear the worst possible outcome. But in at least three of the people I have known who had it, you would never know they had MS unless they told you.

One is my best friend. I've known him since we were kids. He was diagnosed about 15 years ago. He lives a very functional and rewarding life. His first symptoms were waking up one morning paralyzed on one side. That horrible experience and the diagnosis were very devastating to him. But he did recover about 90 percent of his function, and even now, after several more attacks, the worst you could say is that he seems a little bit clumsy. He's got a great job, and has a nice wife and kid. He's got a decent life.

So I tell you this so that you won't think of your friend like she has a death sentence.

In my friend's case, when he started to open up about his MS, a lot of people who you would never know had MS confided to him that they had it too, and that's why I know so many people who have it. Hopefully your friend's experience will be the same, and it will take away some of the fear.

Anyway, my friend does occaisionally smoke. He says it takes away some of the pain and stiffness that he experieinces. He doesn't smoke very often becasue he has a lot of responsibilities and can't be "out of it" too often. He also takes a number of mainstream drugs to diminish the frequency and severity of attacks.

I also had a friend in college who had a severe case of MS that progressed rapidly during the time we were in school. His story was a lot sadder that my other freind's, but i;m not going to get into that. Anyway, he smoked a lot and found a lot of relief in it.

I would suggest you treat your friend like she is going to be okay. Talk to her about her specific symptoms. Ask her whether she has spoken to anyone else who has MS. Encourage her to seek the best medical treatment and to get in contact with other people who have MS. You might bring up the issue of whether smoking would help her particular symptoms --- I think it mostly alleviates stiffness and pain, not so helpful for other kinds of symptoms. But if she is a non-smoker, then she might be a bit put off about it. She has a lot to deal with already, without having to deal with the issue of illegal alternative treatment right away. Weed does not cure MS, only helps with some symptoms, so there is no need to rush into that issue for fear of lost time. If her symptoms seem to warrant considering it, and she is looking for alternatives, I'd bring it up then. If that is not the case, then just leave it alone --- she opened up to you, so you are one of her trusted freinds --- don't scare her away by bringing up weed if you don't think she is open to it. You'll do the most good just by being there and being hopeful.