Written by Yes, Marijuana Has Medical Uses:
Working in the professional world while using Cannabinoid Medicine is quite interesting – the conversations that get started outside of the workplace that surrounds what I use and why I use it can get more than fascinating! Many times CEOs and others that work in top management or other lines of work will come forward with their cannabis recovery story. One thing that is quite common, like Tia here, they don’t want to be on the cover of a story that’s spread across the internet. Many times using medicinal cannabis causes professionals to go into hiding or into the closet so to say. When I first started heavily using oils to stop the seizures I was working as a non-attorney representative. When opposing counsel found out my method of medicating it was a weapon that was fired almost immediately in every case that went to hearing. “Motion to Dismiss” based on petitioners representative being ‘under the influence’ of a schedule one substance. In states like Texas, a few of those motions were granted! So it makes sense that Tia would like to stay very anonymous – in fact, that’s not even her name. Let’s hear what she has to say.
“I think it’s safe to say that the majority of people have heard or read different viewpoints for using marijuana for medical reasons. Whether people have formed their opinions from anecdotal stories posted online, reports from the news media, academic papers as a result of medical studies, or from friends, family, and acquaintances, the responses are varied. Some people are vehemently opposed to its use, some are favorable to its use, while others are not sure because they don’t have enough reliable information.”
“We are entering an age where more and more knowledgeable doctors, patients, activists, and politicians are demanding the right for the legitimate use of this plant that has alleviated suffering for many people. They want legitimate research done, safety and quality assurance guidelines created for laboratory testing, and proper usage data – you know, the same general approach used for man-made chemicals in medicines that make massive profits for some pharmaceutical companies. (If you sense a dose of sarcasm here at the hypocrisy perpetrated by these same pharmaceutical companies, it’s intended. Especially when the FDA just approved a cannabinoid-based medicine for use.) Additionally, medical marijuana (MMJ) patients want the same protection that patients who use traditional prescribed narcotic medicines enjoy in the workplace. To date, only a handful of states that allow medical marijuana have legal provisions protecting MMJ users.”
“For those of you who have doubts as to the efficacy of MMJ, let me offer you a perspective. Imagine suffering from a medical condition that can be so debilitating, you just curl up in a fetal position and whimper in pain. You don’t dare move because every movement brings a new wave of pain accompanied by nausea. Now imagine this pain lasting for hours, days, and sometimes as long as a week without stopping. Welcome to my world as a chronic migraine sufferer whose condition isn’t triggered by a known chemical, food, etc., but by an injury resulting in nerve damage. Pain medications are given either make me sick to my stomach or rendered me useless (or both) and I still had pain. Imagine having this condition plague you for 20-24 days out of the month and still holding a full-time job (NOT easy to do at all).”
“After numerous visits to the family doctor, then to neurologists, and then pain management doctors, they run the gamut of tests and scans (as they should) showing that yes, they can see why you have migraines. Then I went through the levels of trying to mitigate and manage my condition via prescriptions and treatments ranging from Botox, radiofrequency neurotomy, to heavy-duty pain medicines including Morphine, Dilaudid, Oxycodone, and too many others to mention. It’s a wonder I didn’t become addicted. The radiofrequency treatments had limited effectiveness for a very short time but the pain returned, and insurance will only cover so much over the course of a year. Imagine dealing with this condition for over a decade. Only tenacity and the determination that there was help out there kept me going.”
“What became my “YES” moment was being referred to another pain management physician who, after thoroughly reviewing my history complete with the requisite tests and results, asked if I had tried marijuana. After telling him that I hadn’t, he contacted a colleague of his who did medical marijuana recommendations and sent my file to him. Working in concert with each other, they were able to determine the strain of cannabinoid and THC levels that could be beneficial to me.
Queue the choruses of hallelujahs!
After my first use, the banging and pain that had been a constant companion were severely curtailed to being almost non-existent for me. I called both doctors to tell them that it was working and I started to cry because I was that happy. In retrospect, I probably did the goofiest dance you could imagine while talking to them because of the relief I felt and it wasn’t because of the “high” from the marijuana, which was minimal – far less than the opioids. Over the ensuing months, they adjusted the frequency of use to maintain an effective level that would work for me.”
Speaking of work –
“Even though I live in a state that allows medical marijuana, there is no protection for workers. Now I had another dilemma to deal with. I understand that for some job positions it is necessary to have a zero-tolerance for any type of narcotics in your system (federally legal or otherwise). I don’t have a problem with that but I don’t work in those types of jobs. However, with no legal protection, I still run the risk of being subjected to drug tests regardless of my medical necessity to use MMJ.
When the economy went into the dump, the challenge became even tougher. I had to stop using MMJ when I was looking for a position in order to pass the test. The pain returned, taking me back to square one but you do what you have to do. However, this approach does take a toll on you mentally and physically. No one at my contract jobs ever knew I was an MMJ patient as I did not work under the influence nor would I. Strangely enough, the companies I worked for didn’t seem to have a problem with people working under the influence of prescribed narcotics (and yes, they knew about it as the employees weren’t shy in telling them and even joked about it). Double standards are alive and well it seems.”
For those who think MMJ patients are stupid and just want to get high –
“To augment my numerous certifications, I went back to college for my degree and graduated with a 3.98 GPA in business management while working a full-time job. And no, I am not the exception to the rule. I know plenty of MMJ patients who achieved the same results in academia. I urge these doubting people to do a bit of research on the subject with an open mind and look at the promising results the medical society is discovering every day about marijuana.
I am not saying that marijuana is the panacea for every ache and pain or disease. We need to think rationally and intelligently about how to proceed with research and development without the shadow of the thinly veiled greed and hypocrisy shown by some companies. What I am saying is that this plant gave me back my quality of life and allows me to be as productive as I was before the onset of chronic migraines. I am saying the disinformation being spread about marijuana and the stigma associated with using it needs to be squashed, buried, and replaced with FACTS.”
For those who wonder what they can do—
“Call, write or e-mail your local, state, and federal representatives to get this plant removed from Schedule 1 classification on the FEDERAL level. At this stage, we should be far beyond the “Reefer Madness” propaganda and the misguided rhetoric exhibited by the uneducated that grace our state and federal government buildings trying to maintain their status quo and not looking after their constituents. Remember, it is supposed to be “We The People…”.
Imagine if your loved one was suffering and you found that marijuana could help where no other medication or medical procedure could. Would you not do want the legal right and access to obtain it?
Walk a mile in my shoes and just imagine…”
Wow, now that was awesome! I love publishing people’s thoughts and stories such as this – there’s so much insight into each patient’s journey. Cannabis is truly a miraculous plant that’s saved our lives, made our home from scratch, and created a house of love filled with happiness. Before cannabis oils both myself and Genevieve were a slave to pills, stuck with doctors and pharmacists waiting for the next failed medication to be replaced with another. It’s incredible to see this one act of nature replace countless acts of what I see as bold incompetence quite often within the medical community. Doctors are slammed with no time to see patients and most are not learning the necessary information to keep up with our ever-changing world of medicine.
Let’s all hope for a positive future where the stigmas are all broken and the plant is accessible for everyone to use in abundance.
Mike Robinson, Medicinal Cannabis Patient and Director of Communications, The American Academy of Cannabinoid Medicine
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