The necessary legalization of medical marijuana

[WilliamPitt]

My Mom and Me

http://www.ommas-aarden.net/my_mom_and_me.htm

On December 10, 1983, on my mom's 54th birthday, I showed up to take care of her in her final months of living with cancer. I was 24. I did the shopping, housework, I bathed her, fed her, gave her medication, changed her dressings, massaged her, let her yell at me one minute and laugh the next when the cancer entered her brain, and spent every minute I could with her. She was in insurmountable pain. With all the pills available, she just couldn't stand it. It was extremely hard to watch this feisty, independent thinking woman that used to stop me in my tracks just by putting her fingernails on my scalp, withering away at 75 lbs. I remember getting in a contest with her to see who could lose 20 lbs the fastest when we both weighed in at 165 lbs. - 7 years earlier !

She won... it was then we discovered the cancer. It was a most deadly strain. My best friend's mom had just died of the same strain that month. I didn't handle things very well the next few years. She went through the gamut of treatments, and they didn't work. She fought for about 7 years. So there she was on the last leg of this horrific fight, losing it with no hope. Sent home to die because the hospital could do no more. I was smoking cannabis for the stress I was under, and she thought that was fine. She knew it was therapeutic with the dosage I was consuming, and she relied on my competence morning, noon and night without regret or question.

There came a point, just before Christmas when the pain was too much to bear. She asked me if cannabis would help her. In my experience, I said, " Yes, definitely.". Many people do serious things for the wrong reason, this was not the case. We smoked... she got some much needed sleep and I cleaned the kitchen and prepared dinner. No crimes committed here. I was grateful she got some rest. When she awoke, a most awesome thing happened. SHE WAS HUNGRY ! I thanked God and Lord Jesus and cried. I made her some food, she ate it and smiled. She said, "Kathy, I had no idea. I wish I knew sooner how this helps." I told her " You know now, so whenever you need it mom, just tell me."

(snip)

One time I recall vividly, We had just smoked before I prepared dinner so she could rest before she ate. She had just received this beautiful music box that had one of her favorite classical music pieces, and she was playing it while she was resting, waiting for dinner. Her eyes were closed, her fists were under her back, (part of her spine had been fused.) and her legs were rocking side to side. Her look was peaceful. Her husband came into the kitchen to discuss her comfort. We must have been a bit too loud because all of a sudden her forehead got all crinkly and she said in a whisper... "SSShhhhhh.... I'm skating ! " We were disturbing her visualization of that peaceful place where cannabis helped her go.

...more...

[VelmaD]

1. Shhhh...I'm skating

You really know how to pick 'em honey. I'm about to cry at work again and it's all your fault...again. :-)

It is still stunning to me that a government would deny someone who is in pain and/or near death a drug that would help for no good reason. What is their reasoning? Becuase I've yet to hear the anti-medical marijuana faction offer a good reason for their stance. I suppose these are the same people that have made people so paranoid about addiction that doctors often won't prescribe needed prescription painkillers in appropriate doses.

[momandme]

13. "Shhhh...I'm Skating

That was my mom. When I see the words written down, I hear them all over again. That was 20 years ago. It still gets me. I will always miss her. This is the first time I have written to one of these things. Bless all of you.

[grannylib]

2. grannylib the big sap is weeping too...

what a travesty that a substance that can do such great good is illegal, when two of the most lethal substances on the planet (alcohol and tobacco) are readily available.
Makes me sick.

[VelmaD]

3. and it makes no sense

My basic philosophy is that they should legalize drugs completely and tax the hell out of them like they do cigarettes. They could use the revenue for all sorts of fun things - like drug rehab for folks who need/want it.

Then enforce the laws already on the books against things like Driving Under the Influence. As long as you aren't hurting someone I don't give a damn what you put in your body. If you're neglecting your kids or driving stoned or get high and set fire to your house...then the law should get involved.

[grannylib]

4. Total agreement here.

[onebigbadwulf]

6. Don't worry

Dean is advocating the testing for medical MJ by the FDA/NIDA and it will be removed from schedule 1 - no purpose, to schedule 3 - easily prescribed.

It has been proven in countless studies to provide pain relief and appetite stimulation that no other drug can do, even marinol an artifical THC agonist.

[tridim]

5. The sickest part of the drug war

is that in the eyes of the law, this cannabis using cancer patient was no different than a common junkie or a crackhead. Heaven help her if she had decided to grow a few plants of her own to save money. At that point she'd be treated no differently than a coke dealer or a rapist.

Something has to be done, like yesterday. Current medicinal marijuana laws are a joke, Ed Rosenthal's case last year in Oakland being a prime example. http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=14973

[ninkasi]

7. It's incredibly sadistic

to deny the easing of pain to dying patients. There is absolutely no valid reason to keep marijuana from those in intense pain, none. That the insanity of the "War on Drugs" has been permitted to grow to the monster it now is, is a shameful fact of what the U.S. has become.

We are becoming more and more a nation of people whose values systems are seriously screwed up. What's wrong with us? Of course, I'm all for making marijuana legal, but for those who can't seem to tolerate that, why deny it to people dying in agony?

[damnraddem]

8. Thanks for posting.

What a great story! I just spent last night at the hospital with my siblings, trying to get help for my mother, who was obviously in great pain, scared to death, and unaware of her surroundings. It took hours for the specialist to see her and order a drug to calm her -- and many more hours for her to be medicated because the pharmacy could not supply the drug in the form ordered, nor contact the specialist, and so on. (Today, she's better, and thankfully doesn't remember last night.)

As I said: what a great story you posted.

[Dr Satan]

9. Why should cancer patients get special treatment?

Just because im not dying means I should have less freedom?
We are all going to die anyway, so where is my bong?

[WilliamPitt]

12. You're not as funny as A-Schwarzenegger

[DrFunkenstein]

10. Our Puritanism Stops Us From Just Saying We Want It For Pleasure

I'm a dork and I can't stand the smoke, but I also have a big libertarian streak in me. What you do in your house is your business.

Illegal Smile
by John Prine

When I woke up this morning, things were lookin' bad
Seem like total silence was the only friend I had
Bowl of oatmeal tried to stare me down... and won
And it was twelve o'clock before I realized
That I was havin' .. no fun

Chorus:
But fortunately I have the key to escape reality
And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile
It don't cost very much, but it lasts a long while
Won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone
No I'm just tryin' to have me some fun

Last time I checked my bankroll,
It was gettin' thin
Sometimes it seems like the bottom
Is the only place I've been
I Chased a rainbow down a one-way street... dead end
And all my friends turned out to be insurance salesmen

Repeat Chorus:

Well i sat down in my closet wiht all my overalls
tryin to get away form allthese years inside my walls
dreamed the police heard every thing i thought but then
i went to court and the judges name was hoffman

Repeat Chorus:

Well Done, Hot Dog Bun, My sisters a nun

[Nikia]

11. It should be legal, especially medically

At the Harvest Fest in Madison, I heard moving stories from patients and care givers about how much marijuana helped them with their illnesses. I think that it is horrible that sick people are treated like criminals when they find an effective treatment for their symptoms and suffering. I think that marijuana is effective treatment for non serious diseases and symptoms as well. I think that a false sense of well being is a good side effect if you have been rather ill for a while. I, personally, like smoking pot even when I'm not having a headache or stomach problems. If I cannot smoke pot legally for enjoyment or treating minor symptoms, I will accept that, but severely ill people should not be denied treatment that will much improve their quality of life.