Posted on 11/28/2004 9:20:33 AM PST by Ellesu
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/11/28/MNGQ4A2RL11.DTL
Partially paralyzed, in constant pain from multiple disorders and desperate for help after trying nearly three dozen doctor-prescribed medications, the 30-year-old woman, a product of a conservative upbringing that made her recoil from illegal drugs, decided pot "might be my last shot.''
She's suffered back pain from scoliosis and pelvic pain from endometriosis since her teenage years. She became partially paralyzed from an allergic reaction to doctor-recommended birth control pills in 1995.
Since then, she's been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, a seizure disorder and a wasting syndrome. She keeps 98 to 100 pounds on her 5- foot-4 frame only by gorging on high-calorie foods and using marijuana to maintain her appetite.
There's no euphoric effect. I do not like using it.''
Still, she takes her pipe everywhere, even to the Oakland Police Department, where she's worked with officers on their encounters with medical marijuana patients. She also vaporizes the drug, mixes it with massage oils, or bakes it in zucchini bread, which she eats in large quantities before a rare and agonizing plane trip like her journey to Washington for Monday's hearing.
Raich, now 39, has a doctor's recommendation for marijuana, as required by Prop. 215, and says she needs the medication every two hours. She wakes up in pain every morning and requires help getting out of bed. She uses 8 pounds of marijuana a year and gets it for free from two caregivers -- "my heroes'' -- in thanks for her work as an advocate.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Prayer is the last shot.
Amen.
Dave? Dave's not here, man.
It has to be said again and again. While marijuana has no curative value that we know of, it may have the ability to relieve pain for those who are suffering greatly. If so, and if a doctor prescribes it when other prescriptions have failed, then let the patient smoke it by the trainload if they want, and to hell with - and God curse - anyone who decides that the Government knows better.
Maybe implantable slow-release THC sources could be designed for such people: it would be more convenient for them than frequent smoking or eating laced foods, and the control over the distribution would be easier to maintain.
excuse my sarcasm, but her "diseases" don't make sense...Endometriosis rarely starts before one's mid twenties, scoliosis is present in 7% of women, and rarely causes back pain from arthritis before age 40, and usually exercize and NSAIDS keeps it under control. Brain tumor? Seizures? Let me see the CT scan...bet the reporter never saw them...and my favorite "Chronic wasting syndrome"...this only exists with HIV or advanced cancer. And it is NOT a medical disease, just one of the side effects of advanced disease...makes me wonder if she has HIV or hepatitis C from her earlier illegal drug use making her sick...
Want to bet she likes being high, and after doctor shopping for her narcs has found the marijuana lets her be stoned all the time so she doesn't have to cope with life...
I know of no person who contracted HIV or HepC from smoking pot.
And LadyDoc-if you are indeed a Doc- I just love your bedside manner. Sounds like you are not at all concerned with your patient's level of pain.
Don't be surprised.
Pain has been the favored control method of the Authorities from time immemorial.
From the point of view of statecraft, it would be a grave error to allow the population this privilege.
I happen to doubt that you're a real doctor of medicine, or even a real Dr. of anything. How about posting a copy of your medical diploma? After all, it's the same standard for credibility that you require from this medical marijuana patient.
I don't believe that the article said she had arthritis due to her scoliosis, only that she had back pain from it. I, too, have some slight scoliosis. Now, it is not at all severe -it barely even counts- , but it does cause me some pain and muscle spasms on occasion. I am only 29. This I can manage with massage and judicious use of OTC pain medication. I can only imagine how much worse the pain would be if the scoliosis were more pronounced...
I also get migraines, and I have already tied belts,scarves ect. around my head (and begged poor dh to squeeze my skull, lol) to relieve the pain of migraines, when I couldn't afford Imitrex, and my doc has said I shouldn't use it now that I am pregnant. Other migraine meds did not work for me, so I can't rule out the idea that I would use medicinal pot for chronic pain like this lady suffers from if nothing else worked. A better idea, of course, would be to change the delivery method, so you could control it better...I don't know if that would prevent addiction, since I am not sure how THC would react to your system in a pill form vice smoking it.
Age. Endometriosis can occur in women of all ages. It has been reported in girls as young as 8 (and has been documented before the onset of menstruation), and in women over 75, with the average age being between 25 and 29. Approximately 40% to 60% of women with endometriosis report symptoms before age 25.[end excerpt]
Read more carefully. The poster did not say "from smoking pot," she said from prior illegal drug use.
Where did you get that she had earlier injected illegal drugs? The only way to get HepC or HIV by drug use is by contaminated needles, correct?
You have no evidence she has either one of those diseases nor do you know if she has a history of injecting illegal drugs, now do you?
I see. Then why does she carry around a pipe?
From the article: "Still, she takes her pipe everywhere, even to the Oakland Police Department, where she's worked ..."
She may consider a refund. ;)
And if "patients" are in "pain" and nothing else works, should they be allowed to grow their own poppy fields and "chase the dragon" every two hours?
Surely you wouldn't deny this patient the benefits of smoked opium, would you?
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