Not to jump (not that I could, lol) on a political "high-horse" about the release of medical marijuana to Chronic Pain Patients, but I feel its absolutely horrible to keep the option open to us for a few reasons I'll share. Yesterday, while checking some info on my medication, I realized that my Oxycontin (available in Purdue Brand Only now because they sued all the other generic makers under a violation of PATENT rights) was costing my insurance company $2,400 PER MONTH. One medication, one month, and if I didn't have insurance, yes, and I know others, must go without because they could never afford that out-of-pocket expense. With the economy the way its been the last few days, the bail out of one insurance company already, how in the world can these pharmaceutical companies sleep at night (oh yeah, they manufacture sleeping pills). They break the banks of insurance companies, and leave us the patient, consumer and 24/7 pain suffer without adequate medication to maintain some "QUALITY OF LIFE". Medical marijuana could be grown by our own USA farmers, tested for potency and distributed even as they do in California thru yes, a vending machine. I have personally tried marijuana to aid the years of pain from Anklosing Spondylitis AND Fibromyalgia, and it does help dramatically. Yet the fear of being busted, loosing the things I have worked for, having my name published in the local newspapers, and yeah... the money for court costs that I don't have, when my own health insurance considers my pain specialist an out of pocket cost for me, and those appointments do not come cheap. Over the last year, I have lost 70 lbs., and at times with the Fibromyalgia related Irritable Bowel Syndrome, what I do feel like eating doesn't "stay with me". When I have used marijuana, my appetite was good (and what's wrong with brownie munchies? lol) and my bowel problems disappeared. Family harmony... how many chronic pain patients end up divorced, have few "friends" and not to mention often that even immediate family "back off" from those calls to see how you are, when its as difficult to them (I have read and been told to my face) to talk about pain issues as death and dying. Most patients with pain, especially those that are chronic, are put on many anti-depressants and when I thought about it, even though I have lost my Dad and 2 weeks before he passed we learned Mom had extensive Lung Cancer, but I was sad about these things, sad about the financial drain I had put on our family.. no vacations, Goodwill clothing shopping (but its fun finding a Talbot's designer dress with the tag of $180.00 and pay $9.00 for it!!!) TOGETHER we decided I may not be "a Clinical Depressed" individual, and I went off all the anti depressant medications. I knew the warning and danger signs, and keep myself in a check and balance system. The point I was getting to was that marijuana relaxed me, and where many of the anti-depressants left me uptight, aggressive, worsened insomnia, weight gain, and zapped that desire of intimacy which.. Well personally, I find those moments to raise serotonin levels, block pain transmission and does wonders for your self esteem
Now I know, and am old enough to remember all those high school movies, that said cigarettes led to pot, pot to heroin, you'd get pregnant, wouldn't go to college and your "Leave It to Beaver" parents would be disappointed. Come on, times, people, the information loop of technology and yes diseases have changed and how we treat them. Let marijuana for medical use be available, not just for cancer victims (why? because they are considered "almost gone"???) but for the high rate of pain suffering individuals that have days that only suicide seems a way to have peace of mind. Let us feel the softness of clouds, see the smile of a child or spouse when they look at us and see a smile back, not the grimace of pain... yeah even with a lil buzz. The government, pharmaceutical companies, and medical malpractice insurance companies have too much control; over things, they don't know what "no control" of means. Love, Peace and Happiness To All. Feel free to leave me any personal messages. I love to write, share my thoughts, and if I can brighten just one persons day with a smile or giggle... then my calling for the day has been done, and gives me inspiration to meet another. Willow
(no complaints there, lol) and all of those "happy pills" made my pain problems only worse.
Hiya Lady Willow!
Admittedly, I wouldn't have written if you hadn't left an open invitation. *smile
Where you wouldn't jump, I lept (or rolled, considering I'm in a wheelchair) LOL
But you went and left your soapbox just kinda sitting there, all alone. <giggling>
S'ok ... there are dirty jobs everywhere and somebody had to do it. Right? LOL
It's such a shame that anyone, much less good people like you and I, must pay such huge insurance premiums as do our neighbors, family and friends, just so some drug manufacturer can charge us the absurd prices they do for a few measly little pills.
You come across as a very strong-willed and intelligent individual. For this reason I was inclined to say, "hello" to you. My deepest sincerity envelopes my intentions when I say that I wish you the best of days for always!
Hava Good'un!
Burney
I couldn't have said it any better myself, you go girl! I also use sexual arrousal to keep my pain level down (it really works!) keeping the arrousal up helps just as much as actually having sex, when I do I feel almost normal for a couple of hours after....I have Generalized Dystonia which effects my muscles in my whole body, but mostly my head, neck, face, and shoulders and of course my pelvis pops out of place all the time along with herniated disks from falling...I feel like I'm constantly vibrating and the muscles in my throat constantly move, making it difficult to eat and speak..With MJ and sex I've cut down on the pain meds I take...It makes me feel closer to normal, though there is no such thing as normal only varing degrees of weird, hehe...Ask anyone I know, I never looked stoned. I use what I need to make me feel better, just like taking a perscription med. I believe it's because the MJ is helping me not hurting me..Without it, I loose control of my body more, you can visibly see me shaking..They did a study on MJ and Dystonia..In all 3 studies of the 3 main Dystonia's the patients showed a 98% improvement lasting effects up to 48 hrs. I'm living proof of those studies, I look close to being myself, I can be social, I can go out in public, it's given me a life! Angela Peace Be
Thank heavens I live in an enlightened state, Colorado, where marijuana has been de-criminalized by the voters. We no longer have to live in constant fear of arrest for less than an ounce. Medical marijuana is also legal here and available. Of course, if the Feds had their way it would be back to the dark ages. My doctor recently told me that over half of his patients admit to smoking pot! With so much consumer activity, how can the government continue to behave as though this were the 1940's? If they should ban anything, it should be alcohol with its resultant severe health issues, family and societal damage and traffic deaths. But they tried that and society rebelled. It's time for marijuana users to do the same. Even those who do not suffer from chronic pain can benefit from the stress reduction without fear of driving impaired, etc. It should be obvious by now that people can and will turn to some form of pharmacopia to cope with daily living. The only reason the pharmacutical industry does not embrace and promote marijuana is because plant based products can't be patented and so the profit margin is not there. They certainly take up the airwaves promoting the patented drugs they have designed. Take Lyrica, which is now being touted for fibromyalgia. In my case it caused severe weight gain and breathing problems. But my doc, who I fired after this, blamed me and said I should stop eating junk food. As if! I'm very careful about what I put in my body but as a pain management patient I often had to bow to my doctors wishes whether I liked it or not if I wished to continue recieving treatment. And don't even get me started on Topamax! Talk about severe side effects. I'll stick to my home grown, thanks. Dr. Mark, congrats for fostering this discussion.
There are days when I can't move parts of my body without intense pain. I go to an anesthesiologist for pain management. My nerve blocks work at times, at times they don't / I have to deal with it, I have to work full time, I took care of my sweet mother with alzheimer's disease for 8 yrs, I have to raise my family and be there for all of them, I have to be a wife, I have to smoke pot to ease my pain. I don't do drugs, no pain meds. I have been to a chiropractor for 30 yrs / I'm 52 yo/ I have had rolfing therapy as well. I have spinal, shoulder and foot pain everyday of my life...traditional therapies do not help....smoking pot helps....it does not lead to harder drugs, loss of wages, visual or physical impairment for me..I might even have a margarita with it
, so there...NY State is the tax capital, I can't believe that marijuana has not be legalized so the state can take 1/2 of the profits.
I have fibro, depression, & other chronic pain issues. I have smoked weed in the past & felt so much better. I do not smoke it now for fear of losing my medical help. There are days when I still can't get out of bed, do to the pain, even with my medications. They should make it legal for us that it helps & prefer it over the side effects & days that the medications don't work. I really wish I could smoke again & not be looked down on for it from family, friends & health professionals. Please make it legal so I can go back to work & not live in poverty.
I have RA, I have been in the past two years with pain management. I do yoga and meditation. Strong faith in God. I also have Fibromyalgia, chronic pain. Diabetics, EBS, you name it. My med list is unbelievable. I have no friends, family some think I should be off medication, others think mind over matter. Unless you are going though this, they really don't understand. I have a RA specialist, Blood Specialist, PV disease} which I believe I got from Remicade, humira, Imeria. I am on now Oceanica. I also have a high dose of Lyrica , which is the only Med's out there for Fibromyalgia. My husband smokes, I do once in a while. I receive good benefits from it. I am raising two grandson's so I am in fear, so rather I just do it once in a while. Ca- state we passed for medical marijuana, FBI or Police will put you up and put you in jail or ticket, so I guess it wasn't for the people by the people. I found your article interesting and subscribe
to this. I just joined today, so I am a new comm-er, not sure what I am doing, hope this helps, good luck, keep the faith, press on for the cause! Dee
Yes I would like to comment on this issue, coming from someone who has not only rsd, lupus, fibromyalgia, scleroderma, gastroperesis, oa, and the list goes on.
I can remember a day almost 15 years ago when my hands were swollen almost as big as my thighs, they were beat red and when touch they were too hot to touch. My son had said that he learned in school about the medical effects of cannibis and he new one of our neighbors smoked because he could smell it and he though i should give it a try. I did and within minutes and I mean minutes my hands were back to normal. Not only did two drags a minor amount helped days of suffering it gave me hope. Did I got out and drive, did i make any legal agreements that would effect my life, did i act happy, that i did not because i was high, but because i was not in pain. I realize that cannibas is a drug and should be treated like one, but I am pretty sure that if you are a responsible adult and treat marijuana like a medication that last thing anyone would do is abuse it. I have also had in the past marinol which is a pill, that can't be controlled once you take it, the effects were just to strong for me. Would i rather have a choice over how i am treated for my medical problems i would rather take a couple drags of a joint that would help me immediatly than an opiod that will effect me for hours. And if you think that i would rather take a chance with marijuana smoke than medications that will effect my liver, kidneys, bones I know which i would choose, but i don't have that choice and i should! There is also a group that defends those who use medical marijuana for medication and are busted and are for the defense of this kind of medication "NORML"
LISA
PS: NO I DONT' SMOKE KNOW, BUT I WOULD IF I COULD
Regardless of what any person may be inclined to think or feel about smokers, making such a derogatory comment as those "nasty smokers," especially while perceptibly referring to any one of their own readers, demonstrates this particular author's incredible lack of professionalism. Albeit, Dr. Borigini indeed may think this way about those who choose to indulge in a habit he clearly feels is obscene. Even so, when writing an article as a representative of the scientific community and on as controversial a subject as Medicinal Marijuana, every effort should've been made by the author to refrain from soliciting their own personal opinions therein. Others undoubtedly will also find it just as disappointing to find published medical information being treated with such flagrant disregard for any number of its audience that such a comment may represent. For if there had been any reasonable expectation of the information being taken seriously, its reputability has instead been lost to those of which is does by this so-called "expert's" patronizing perceptions of those who elect to use tobacco products.
The subject of this article rightfully deserves considerably more than dismissal by those, like myself, who demand that research and its findings be available without personal bias clouding the issues. Otherwise, how else does one expect the reader to know where the fiction will end and the facts are to begin? The media and our Federal Government already provide us with a barely sufferable cornucopia of this type of misinformation and propaganda. No one ever needs willingly accept any portion thereof, particularly when an article is obviously laden with mere opinion that serves to debase even one of those who would read it. Just as disappointing is the publisher's having allowed the article's vulgarity to reflect so poorly upon them in the process.
**Insofar as the subject is concerned and for those consenting adults who may wish to use this substance to treat their illness(es), please continue to write your elected officials (Governors, Senators, Congressmen, etc.) become a constituent of those who support this measure and attend political meetings in your own city, state and anywhere else that the battle wages on for the decriminalization effort and be heard!
Through the last twelve years I have suffered endless Chemotherapy, radiation and too-numerous-to-count trial drugs with only a number for a name and have bore all the mind-numbing pain anyone has the right to force another to endure -- and then some! For several reasons I no longer choose to discuss with any acquaintance, clergy or family member, the aspects of my health. The truth is, I long ago had grown tired of hurting them with their having to bare seeing me in such horrendous pain and moved over 500 miles away from my beloved family, just so my own mother would no longer have to witness this slow death of mine. And believe me when I say, I've had every opportunity to accept that once I became platinum refractory, silver refractory and plain-old refractory to every other known drug approved by the USP for treating Ovarian Cx., my disease is now truly terminal (not like it wasn't already lol) and I am now way over-warranty too, to do what every Oncologist, Hematologist, Family or Primary Physician I've ever had told me I would do in mere months or less. And I'm still grinning and laughing! The decision, I believe is between me and my Maker alone.
Every other anti-emetic available on the market left me retching until I could do no more than choke on the very air I breath, I admit my curiosity ultimately peaked until yes, I inhaled! Marinol (Dronabinol) is an extremely expensive (name brand at $55+^ per cap, generic at $20+^ per cap), sorry excuse for the full benefit of the various cannabinoids found in The Creator's version. No one ought to be so foolish as to believe that there are no possible ill-effects or health associated risks that could come from long-term Marijuana usage. As is said, Do Everything in Moderation.
The "withdrawal" spoken of is only psychological and not physiological. Anyone saying differently speaks without evidence or experience. You're not going to become terribly ill or die without it. Hallucinations? Surely you jest! NO way! Oh, now that's a real knee-slapper! rotfl... I wonder where they found any that was capable of doing that! Perhaps in Vietnam during the 60's or in Hashish, but I sincerely doubt it. Just like with any drug, anything IS possible, although I don't know of anyone who's ever experienced anything like that by smoking Marijuana alone.
Personally, I've never tried Heroin, Cocaine, Methamphetamine nor any other designer drug on the street and don't drink and don't smoke. At my age and with my immune system, there's absolutely no way I'd ever consider trying any of them, either. Many of my health-mates have also been brave enough to try Marijuana, though I remain convinced that Big Brother would somehow find me out. Since there's no way I could live with the pain of this life-altering disease without round the clock opioids, I have but only considered moving to another state for the will to use it medicinally where the voters have had the good-sense to fight and vote for decriminalization. Unfortunately, I lack the strength to move to elsewhere anymore. I believe I should've been allowed to use it legally a long time ago. To those of you who are not terminal will be here to keep on fighting for the right to use the type of medication that works best for you; I pray that none of you ever gives up hope in that possibility! Many Blessings to each and every one of you!
Walt;
While it would seem that the editor (see editor Dan's comment below ours) of this publication should've been the one whom you might've written to about Dr. Borigini's callous, and according to Dan, merely "misunderstood comment." As Dan also states, his own obvious failure to have "caught and rephrased" such a misguided statement is indeed partly his own responsibility. Then again Walt, Dan doesn't seem a likely candidate for changing his position, either. Especially not since he feels the good doctor's words, after all, were simply misunderstood. Ultimately, the primary responsibility falls upon HealthCentral for the two of them.
Granted that I've not yet had the opportunity to visit the link inserted with the intention to defend the one's position by the other to learn and decide for myself whether Borigini is actually anything other than a degree-holding simpleton, who prefers to spew scathing commentary instead of using his learned mind to bring ChronicPainConnection's readers, usable, factual and non-biased, information.
The fact remains that whether or not Borigini's glib statement was indeed intended to mock society's inconsistencies between the two types of smokers or not, I have lost significant faith in either ones ability to be writing for this forum by their having cheapened themselves and the publication's noble intentions to educate by failing to write succinctly. Nonetheless, I am willing to give them both the benefit of doubt for the moment and am now off to further consider the source.
You, Dr. Borigini, have no business writing as an "expert" on a chronic pain site. Your areas of practice, according to your license records are gastroenterology, internal medicine, and rheumatology. One would think that at least a rheumatology area of interest would give you enough experience treating people with chronic pain issues that you'd have some sense about you when writing for this audience. Yet, rather than maintain professionalism in your writing, you become judgmental and abrasive, showing that you are not fit to be here.
You said, "As mentioned earlier, the United States government does not agree with those who advocate the legitimate use of marijuana..." Well, the United States government, as represented by the DEA, has been quite busy putting good doctors in jail simply for trying to help their patients in chronic pain. Having decided that pain management doctors should be able to read the minds and intentions of their patients and never be fooled by them, the government is busy putting such doctors in prision. Persecuting them rather than trying to find real solutions for real pain. Or perhaps you didn't read about or don't care about what's happening to people like Dr. Hurwitz in Virginia?
You also mentioned, "those nasty tobacco users." Well, well, well. Now, maybe it's just fine and dandy to say that tobacco is "nasty," but to say the users are "nasty?"
Dr. Borigini, how much time do you spend in severe pain? What percentage of your waking hours are spent not wanting to die exactly, but not really caring if you do because at least then the pain would stop? Your answer, sir? Yes, I am a tobacco user, and I don't give a hoot if it kills me because the minutes spent smoking are pleasurable to me. The only reason I don't smoke marijuana is that I tried it years ago, and it did nothing for me.
I will stop just short of wishing that you would spend 24 hours in as much pain as many people here are in. Naaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh. I won't. I wish you WOULD. Then, just maybe, you'd have a bit of understanding in your soul and your writing.
NOT respectfully,
Walt
Hi Walt and Burney,
I'm Dan, the Web Producer for Chronic Pain Connection. Thanks for your comments and interest in pain advocacy. I've been editing Dr. Borigini's work on our site for a couple years now, and I feel I should step in and defend.
First, Dr. Borigini has been a tireless advocate of good pain management and defending a patient's right to proper pain treatment. He has been pointed in his criticism of doctors who don't take a patient's pain seriously, and don't work with them until an effective treatment regimen is found. You can read some of his work on this here:
A New Year's Wish for 2008: No More Breakthrough Pain
Sickle Cell Disease: Severe Pain Often Goes Untreated
His comment about "nasty smokers" I believe came across wrong, and I'll admit that I should have caught that and perhaps rephrased it. The point he was trying to make is that there is a very prevalent movement in America right now to label tobacco users as "nasty," while touting the benefits of natural remedies and organic substances (among them, marijuana). But the truth is that labeling organic substances as good and healthy while processed cigarettes are dirty and unhealthy is an incorrect assumption. Marijuana, even while natural and organic, can still have profound negative health effects; studies have shown it can be more harmful to smoke than cigarettes. So I believe Dr. Borigini is pointing out that smoking of any kind is a health risk, and referring to one kind of smoker as a connoisseur and one as nasty is a simiplification, and incorrect. I apologize if it was not made clear that his reference to "nasty smokers" was not intended as a jab at smokers, but rather a jab at a culture that lauds one kind of smoker while turning its back on another.
"The point he was trying to make is that there is a very prevalent movement in America right now to label tobacco users as "nasty," while touting the benefits of natural remedies and organic substances (among them, marijuana)"
That's exactly how I read it - as intended by the quotation marks. But, maybe it's just because I'm not stoned?
And no I'm not saying that you users who benefit from MJ shouldn't do whatever you have to do, to bring that elusive "quality of life" to being. I'm just saying that the majority of what I read in the comments, with the exception of very few, were rambling and incoherrant, and yet you all claim it doesn't effect your brain cells....I just wish you'd all be honest and wait until you're not high to state your points. They would be much more effective and condusive towards your fight for complete legalization. Sounding like a bunch of "stoners" does not help your cause.
And yes, I am a chronic pain sufferer also, severe and for 8 years, so no need to wish it on me. But, I don't like feeling stupid, I love my brain. I know it's the only thing I've got that's going to get me out of this mess, so pass that joint to someone else, thanks anyway.
Hi'
I'm 47 years old and suffer from Severe Degenerative Disk disease, Rhumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.
I have been on Cesamet since the spring(1mg 2x a day)...I was skeptical at first but throught I'd give it a chance. I was a fan of my Oxycontin and I worried severe pain would grab me again should I give the Oxy up.
Not only did the cesamet decrease my Oxy it has allowed me to eliminate Clonozipam as my anxiety disorder has all but disapeared.
I think it should be available to all with a Dr's Prescription.
BTW - Part of my disability agreement covers my med costs...they are currently at $52,000 per year.
Sherry
im my 43 years of life i have smoked marijuana for about 20 of it, i no longer smoke it , and have not smoked it in about 4 years, i never had a withdrawel from it, and i never felt like i HAD to have it, it was recreation, and to a degree , medicinal, the only reason why the government wont legalize it is because they are afraid of not getting the share of the money , knowing that most people with at least a 3rd grade education could grow it on there own,
i was think medicinal marajuana might not be a bad choice but not after this article.i thought the law made exceptions for medical marajuana use as long as the person isn't driving impaired or stoned in public.now it sounds like the risks out weigh the benefits considering there are a zillion pain killers out there but for any1 to go from tylenol to weed is rediculous! the article seems a bit sarcastic at times but cigarettes & weed both are rotten for anyone's health.so i doubt i will ever support a medical marajuana bill again.i never supported it for total legalization.
There are days when I would eat, smoke or drink anything that might stop this constant chronic pain that I have suffered with for the last seven (7) years. However, it would take nothing less than a miracle for my state to pass a law permitting the use of medical marijuana.
I have suffered with pain for over thirty (30) years. However the debilitating chronic pain has been with me for seven. The medications I take now do lessen the pain enough to keep me from being suicidal. But, I would love to be able to live a decent life. A life filled with my ability to get substantially above the poverty level again. Yes the poverty level (Somewhere I never dreamed I would find myself). A life that made me feel useful and independent again.
Frankly, I wish that before the United States Supreme Court could make a decision that drastically affects so many lives, that they would be required to feel the same pain for the same amount of time each day. They should have to find a way to the doctor's office because they can no longer legally drive. They should experience the gradual loss of their life savings as well as any intimate relationship. They should be forced to look into the eyes of loved ones who don't understand why they can not just get up and shake off the depression. They should know what it is like to go from giving to charity to being charity. They should watch their home (if they are fortunate enough to hold on to their home) fall apart in front of them. All because every cent is already spent and there is not money left for repairs to their home. There is not even enough money to pay the medical bills. And, monthly prescriptions are not even included in that equation.
Then my dear Supreme Court Justices, tell me what you would smoke!
Hi McKay, K... I feel for you honestly. You sound like you have been thru the ringer physically! I am sooo sorry that your state does not have med MJ... I have RSD and a body that is also in pain 24/7. And yes, "they" need to feel the suffering of those in CHRONIC pain to fully understand life on the other side!! I just got my Med liscense and will be on the journey to see which type works for my pain. What state do you live? Keep the faith on change, k
Ok straight up and simple I have talked to alot of medical personal Doctors Nurses
Reseachers ect. Most have agreed if marijuana was legal they would somke it if but for one major stumbling block. The tar in it.....worse than tabaco. remove the T H C and put it in an inhaler type dispencer and I think that would solve alot of the problems
except one. A way for the government to TAX it...look at booze Prohabition worked well ha ha . The govenrment TAXED it regulated it WOW legal... simple. I.ve been smoking Marijuana since I was 11 years old Tabaco at 13 years old . quit smoking 4 yrs. ago Sept 29, 2004 .I take 9 percocets a day to relieve pain My buddy arther Ritis and his buddy Mr. Gout lives with me also . smoking marijuana helped alot in pain pain control . Not get rid of pain but relieve it enough to function cloth, bath cook for my self ect...with out increasing pain medication dosage. My opinion for what its woth...oh yeah almost forgot see what smoking marijuana does memory lose . But I am a highschool Grad at 16 years old some college but nothing major.
"Talk to your doctor before you consider moving from Tylenol to marijuana... That is usually a little less expensive than your lawyer."
If more doctors were willing to speak up in this way about the benefits of Medical Marujuana use, we might be able to change the archaic laws surrounding the use of marujuana for pain.
In the last ten years, I have watched as several dear friends suffered needlessly as they died from cancers. One used marijuana, provided him by a friend, to ease his severe pain and increase his appetite. It helped him more than any of the prescription drugs he had been using and without unpleasant side effects. It gave him a much better quality of life as he faced his death. Because of it's illegal status, he had anxiety about using marijuana, but it's ability to give him relief from pain and help him to eat again was such a blessing, he did continue. Marijuana use gave him relief at a time when he so needed it. It made his journey to death an easier one.
I know marijuana is usually prescribed for only serious conditions, such as cancer patients on chemotherapy; to induce their hunger. My question is, is this medicinal marijuana only able to be perscribed out of California, where it's been pretty much decriminalized. If so what type of pain ailments would qualify for this sort of perscription medication? Only chronic pain, break through pain, or moderate to severe, ETC...? Just curious, I mean I do have legitimate pain. Also would you have to be a resident of Cali. How does it work, I've seen the documentary "In Pot We Trust" and it shines light on the effectiveness of this type of drug, and gave good insight to it's benefits.
Thanks in advance...
Your peer in the fight for legalization!!
I have been using marijuana for nearly 30 years now. I started using it recreationally but several years ago, after being in a terrible auto accident where I sustained several fractures and then suffered the onset of arthritis, I found that marijuana really helped in my pain management. I have to use this remedy secretly as our society just doesn't seem to get the fact that it really does have positive effects when used correctly. I see marijuana as much less harmful to us humans when compared to alcohol and tobacco! I think both of those should be outlawed and marijuana should be allowed to be used by those who need it! I have been a drinker many years ago and even though I wasn't a heavy drinker, I could definitely see that it is a very negative substance that can cause a lot of harm in so many ways, yet it still is out there for us to abuse! And cigarettes are so bad, I don't even want to waste my time writing about them.
I'll slowly creep up onto my soapbox about pain relief and chronic pain to applaud some of the responses to this article. I thought that in California that they had passed legislation that any one who has a doctor's prescription could obtain marijuana for medical purposes. The problem is, I can't imagine any of the pain management specialists who have the DEA crawling up their derrriere would feel relaxed enough to tell a patient to take a toke.
In addition to having a chronic pain disorder, I also have other medical problems the most severe being FTD which is a terminal degenerative brain disorder. I wonder if marijuana might help the anxiety symptoms that go along with that diagnosis.
Although, I smoked a little pot at parties in college, I never owned an ounce of my own. I think I am the type of person that would have the bad luck to buy from an undercover cop right off the bat. I know I am already on the list that the DEA keeps for people who take prescribed higher level schedule narcotics. I was once on a pain management group in which I signed a petition that was sent to some governmental offical regarding pain management. Some people were also doing a big no no, which was giving people information about compassionate pain doctors on the group posts. It was before they knew how much the DEA were policing doctors. The person who drafted the petition's doctor, was sent a letter by the DEA. His office was raided, he was charged with a federal offense and went to trial. I don't remember the outcome but he lost his practice. So, I am thinking since I was a part of that group, I might even have a file with the DEA. If anyone thinks I'm being paranoid that I suggest to read many of the posts in this chonic pain site as well as others.
I honestly think that when a person becomes an adult they should be able to do what they want to with their own body. Much of the reason for violence that affects the general public is not because people are high, it is because of the crimes that people do to get the drugs. I do believe that if someone hurts someone else when they are on "illegal" drugs that they should suffer legal consequences. But, if you look back to when there was no prohibition on drugs, there were not thousands of drug crazed people roaming the streets. I see these documentaries on television now and the way they protray the way things were before drug enforcement is laughable. I have done quite a bit of geneology research and the truth is most people went on about their business. Life was physically harder then and can you imagine what it would have been like if they didn't allow people to take whatever they needed to get through the day?
I know there will continue to be a problem with distribution of medical marijuana as well as even more invasion of The War On Drugs coming into your local doctor's office. Well meaning people who follow the law are much softer targets and the government has to keep their numbers of convictions and intercessions to justify their existance. If there was no war on jobs, thousands of people connected with law enforcement including the prision system and all people who work in services connected to these people would lose their jobs.
That is the downside to giving up the War on Drugs so I don't see it ending in the foreseeable future. Not to mention all the kick backs from the crime industry, lawyers, etc. So we have to live with things the way they are but I will continue to climb up on my soapbox until I am no longer physically able to do so. Maybe I'll even risk smoking a little marijuana when things get more rocky on my journey to literally losing my mind.
I'm climbing down now.
Take care.
Unfortunately, medical patients who want to use cannabis for their condition are caught between the law, doctors, pharmaceutical companies, and some irresponsible recreational users. Look into the history of cannabis prohibition in our country and you will see many catch-22 deceptions. The first was the marijuana stamp act, which was eventually ruled to be unconstitutional by the supreme court. The stamp act said you could grow marijuana if you had a stamp. To get the stamp you had to show the authorities your marijuana. When you showed them your marijuana you were arrested for having marijuana. Thus began the "noble" legal cause against pot! Recently New Jersey made marijuana legal for certain patients. They initially said you could grow it... but it was still illegal to obtain the seeds. Same Ol Blank, different year!
The article said it was less expensive to talk to your doctor than your lawyer... not if you get thrown out of your rehab that your insurance is paying for because you were honest about your cannabis use and then they also refuse to refill any of your prescriptions...
Pharmaceutical companies have a closer relationship with your doctor than you do. The next time you go to the doctor try to notice how long pharmaceutical reps wait compared to the patients. After being in constant and intense pain for years I began to notice how things really work. Doctors will bend backwards to defend their freebies- I know this because I have heard them laugh at the withdrawal issues I've had with tramadol. Then I've watched them shut down the consultation when I've mentioned "Marinol", which is legal. O yeah, my bad, that's the one medicine they don't want you to have because it is too much like that nasty demon weed that the Devil cooked up in his basement for your alleged personal distruction. That's also why most pharmacies don't carry it and why you could buy like six flat screens with the money a year of marinol would cost you.
There are many responsible recreational users of cannabis. People like Louis Armstrong who lived long productive lives and who disdained hard drugs like heroin and cocaine. Then there are some who don't respect themselves and others. I'm thinking of the mother who gives her two year old a fat blunt and then it ends up on youtube. Thanks a lot for reinforcing negative stereotypes that will help keep me from the only substance that will stop my spastic muscles and headaches from hell. I guess I should be thankful that you didn't put the baby in the microwave while you were smoking that blunt.
Personally-I am tired of all the arguments re pot..I take perscribed meds that can do much more damage than anyone can think of for pot..I am on Methadone for pain, Methotrexate for Arthritis-either of these two alone could cause terrible side affects..It is obvious there is no cure for Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Sjorgens, Raynauds, Low thyroid, degenerative disc disease with multiple spurs at lower hips-each of these diseases bad anough alone but put them together and you have me..
The only problem with pot is that I have not had any in a long time. Side affects-laughing-wow eating-wow.........Throw me in jail for those two very bad things..Methadone and Methotrexate-these two meds. can kill off my bodily organs and it's ok because it is a perscribed medicene-truth after a year of trying these meds my body still rejects both of these meds and have all along so I am working my way off them..Yes my doc knows about all of this.. I give meds a try and then stop if no real results seen..will I find my way to pot-I don't know--I prefer a fix over a cover up and to me meds are a cover up.. Yet-all my ailments have no fix so yeh I probably will find my way to...
that is false my friend,
Myth: Marijuana is More Damaging to the Lungs Than Tobacco. Marijuana smokers are at a high risk of developing lung cancer, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Fact: Moderate smoking of marijuana appears to pose minimal danger to the lungs. Like tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke contains a number of irritants and carcinogens. But marijuana users typically smoke much less often than tobacco smokers, and over time, inhale much less smoke. As a result, the risk of serious lung damage should be lower in marijuana smokers. There have been no reports of lung cancer related solely to marijuana, and in a large study presented to the American Thoracic Society in 2006, even heavy users of smoked marijuana were found not to have any increased risk of lung cancer. Unlike heavy tobacco smokers, heavy marijuana smokers exhibit no obstruction of the lung's small airway. That indicates that people will not develop emphysema from smoking marijuana.
heres something alot of you who are curious about medical marijuana should check out
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/
as well as
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0psJhQHk_GI
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I have been a patient of Medical Cannabis since 1994. I Have almost almost died 4 times now. I have used cannabis since other drugs have caused severe side effects. I create my own pills with crushed cannabis and hashish. One of my diseases is HIV DSP which is HIV Dystal Symmetric Polyneuropathy - nerve damage from the feet to the knees. Medical Cannabis works well for some patients others need to try the Western Medical route. Meditation works well for pain management as well.
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