Faces at rally reveal tragic truth of medical marijuana patients

Sacramento Bee ^ | 22 September 2002 | Diana Griego Erwin

[JediGirl]

Tess Williams of Elk Grove wept when she saw her sister holding a sign in the crowd of protesters standing outside Santa Cruz's City Hall last week.

"It just is so unlike her," Williams said. Her sister, a soccer mom, PTA secretary "and always the more quiet and elegant of us two," isn't the sign-waving type.

[superfluousdude]

they kill?

dude, it is impossible to OD on pot. You can't physically smoke enough to kill you. You'll just pass out and sleep. Try that with alcohol.

[Cynderbean]

"Where is the dignity in spending your final days in a dope haze?"

I have watched 4 family members die of cancer. A "dignified death" from the disease is an oxymoron no matter what the treatment. Well 3 of them actually died of the disease. One couldn't stand the pain and shot himself.

If dancing naked in the street, eating cockroaches, or smoking marijuana could have given them any brief respite from the agony so be it, screw the dignity.

[evad]

This whole argument of "medical marijuana" is just a farce.

I would disagree but I do see your point.

My wife is in the medical profession and deals with controlled substances on a regular basis. I don't see the inabilitly to "control" the substance as the real problem so there must be some other reason..IMO.

[evad]

A law like this is pretty wide open and subject to abuse. One can easily make an argument against medical marijuana laws written this way.

Totally agree.
After all, it is Californicia..what other kind of law would one expect?

[evad]

But since pot can be grown by the average Joe for his own consumption - medical or not - there are no major pharmaceutical companies for the FDA gestapo to extort money from for the drug's "approval".

I think you may have hit upon the answer.

The "real" reason for the opposition to MM (medical marijuana) just may be:
(a)Opposition from the drug companies
(b)Inability for the FDA to extort the proper vigorish

[Rocksalt]

I think the inability of the drug companys to find a way to make windfall profits off the stuff is one of the major reasons for widespread acceptance of medical pot.And the goverment feels tha same way-they can't really regulate it to the level they wish,since it can be grown in any ditch or alley almost anywhere.I say if someone is dying and in pain,let them smoke the stuff.If it's less dangerous than alcohol,why not let everyone smoke the stuff.All these people who favor the feds kicking in doors and goverment controls over our lives need to have their heads examined.

[lodwick]

bttt

[alexandria]

cancer patients who also are denied the treatments. Chemotherapy sucks, so I have been told. Radiation therapy sucks, so I have been told. Both therapys make you sick to your stomach. You can't eat for days. Smoking pot gives you the munchies

For these reason primarily and for the fact that my sister had gone thru this type of therapy AND a stem cell transplant. We sought out marijuana as a possible way to increse her appetite and calm the nausea. She had an NG tube (tube from nose into stomach) that was used to provide a way for her to get the 8oz. cans of supplement that were approx. 400 cal. a can. There were too many ulcerated spots in her mouth and throat to eat normally. During the stem cell proceedure she was not able to eat anything for about a month and was kept alive by a broviac catherder thru her heart pumping lipids and TPN which is a supplement with all nutrients that you HAVE to have just to survive. (growth is not an issue)
I would hold her hand while she cried and tried to just get down 15 cc's of meds. so she could tolerate the machine that would supply the calorie formula to be turned on. When your stomach has not had any food for so long you do not get hungry and the radiation screwed up her taste buds to the point that everything tasted strange. We started to ask the DR. about the possibility of marijuana and after the usual paper signing proceedure she was givin a 30 pill script for man made THC at $437.00.

I do not wonder why the gov. does not want marijuana legal or to be had unless you are buying it from them. They are to be blunt making a killing off of the stuff that they are giving out. BTW, if you cannot pay for it we found out there are state and federal programs that will for you. So now, for everyone saying that it should be illegal to grow it yourself for use and only be able to have by gov. regulation and control I hope you DO KNOW that it is coming out of YOUR pocket. The go. cannot patent a plant that alleviates so many destructive medical symptoms, so in it's usual greedy way it makes it illegal to obtain unless you can pay for it or they'll take it out of everyone's tax dollars. The most ironc thing is the man made stuff is not even as helpful as 2 or 3 hits off of a joint.

On a better note with the pills from Dr. my sister was able to not just hold down her meds. but she gained an appetite so we could eventually take the tube out of her nose and she is now fully recovered. She only needed the medicine for a short while but it was imperative that she had it.

[let freedom sing]

Her sister, a soccer mom

enough said

[Illbay]

YOU are the one who said "OD." I never did. Think: Alchohol kills--and you can't really OD on it, either.

[BlazingArizona]

Where's the 'dignity', in spending your final days in a dope haze?

Well, mate, if there is significant pain and the patient isn't smoking dope, then he/she may be on 'legal' opiates which may create their own haze.

The difference is that the Really Big Drug Lobby, the one that funnels all the campaign funds to Washington, makes money on the currently prescribed opiates. If there's anything that the "medical RIAA" hates, it's competition from small-time pot growers.

[Lokibob]

I am so glad your sister is doing well.

I did'nt ralize that the pills were so expensive. It is no wonder the V.A. doesn't stock them.

[Temple Owl]

It can be controlled like any other controlled substance and prescribed like any other drug.

If anyone can recommend to me a source that provides a cogent, logical position, I would appreciate it.

Those are my thoughts exactly. I have never used the stuff, and hopefully I will never have the need or urge to, but , if I were in great pain and marijuana would relieve it, I would certainly want a doctor to write a prescription for it. If doctors abused a law they should be punished, not a patient in need.

[Rocksalt]

"It can be controlled like any other controlled substance and prescribed like any other drug"
Why should the goverment have control of it?The medical marajuana providers,who do it on a non-profit basis are doing a wonderful job-until the feds come and steal all the medicine,like what happened in Santa Cruz.These providers have no interest in providing it to unauthorized persons or minors.But why lte the drug companys or the feds get their hands on it.If you ever need this medicine,you should be able to grow it yourself,providing it is legal in your state.And it should be.

[ThinkDifferent]

Alchohol kills--and you can't really OD on it, either.

Sure you can. Heard of alcohol poisoning?

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..marijuana has never killed anybody regardless of the doseage...

That's complete nonsense, Norm. I know a guy who rode a motorbike into a creek while under influence of the weed. Missed the bridge and went into the creek. It's a miracle that he wasn't killed.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..if smoking weed gives them relief and some giggles along the way then whats it to you or me?...

Because people are unable to exercise their Rights in the manner intended when they are under the influence of narcotics. And that is why your rights under the Constitution and your 'right' to take recreational drugs are mutually exclusive.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

..I suppose you'd find more dignity in screaming and grovelling in constant, intense, unbearable pain...

There's no dignity in smoking marijuana as your end draws near. Medically administered morphine will at least leave you compos mentis. Would you really want to make your last visit, to a dying relative, only to find them giggling and asking if you brought anything to eat?

[JediGirl]

Okay. If I'm sitting in my bedroom with a joint, how am I not properly exercising my rights? And okay, what about people under the influence of alcohol? Are you for making alcohol illegal? Abuse is no argument against proper use.