looking for answers

[suffering]

hello, i am desperated looking for some advice from fellow new members, i got hurt on the job when i was 37 now 43, injuried my back, last 3 vertabraes and right shoulder, i have had 6 surgeries so far. I had a fusion done to my last 3 vertabres, Laminectomy, hardware removal, spinal stim. implant, and finally morphine pump implant. Of course all these procedures have help me very little to none, i have constant chronic pains in my lower and mid back, pains in my legs, major depression, nausea, loss of appetite, very little sleep, constipation and last my right shoulder which is currently being treated. i am and have been taking oxycontins for about 6 years and about 6 other pills, for depression to nausea, i'm sure you guys heard it all. I really don't know what to do anymore for my pains. i have no physical life with my family anymore, and after sharing medical stores with another patient with different type of illness he suggested that i should try marijuana, but with 3 kids it scares to think about bringing something like that into the house to even try, so i have been doing alot of research, and thought joining a club/forum might help. thank you for reading my problems..

[Nailhead]

but with 3 kids it scares to think about bringing something like that into the house to even try

It shouldn't, all kids, including yours, will eventually learn about marijuana. You might as well be the first to talk to them about it like an adult. Marijuana has never killed anyone, it is a natural weed that has been on this planet, (probably), longer than we have, so there really is nothing to fear with the drug itself. What you should fear are the harsh laws regarding it. Reading about the pain you are going through would have me highly recommend you try marijuana to see if it can help you. A lot of people are able to replace many pharmaceutical drugs with marijuana, so if you can do that then that would be great!

Depending how old your kids are, I would have a sit down with your children and tell them straight up how you plan to use marijuana for medical reasons, and it isn't about partying. How old are they anyway? I have read stories about parents using marijuana for a medical reason, and because of that damn fascist DARE program in schools, I've read about parents being charged and having problems with custody. I don't know how likely that is, but if you have very young kids it might be better to not let them know about it until they are older.

[Storm Crow]

By all means, try the cannabis! It may change your life for the better! It sure helps me!

Let me tell you about myself. I'm 60, for a start. I've used cannabis for over 40 years. When I was 3, a kid tried to murder me with a hammer. I have dents in my skull from it and was left with migraine headaches.

At 19, I discovered cannabis. :jointsmile: The headaches were either eliminated or greatly reduced (depending on the strain). I've used it ever since, except for a 3 year period when I tried to tough it out. It got bad enough that my teacher was telling me to see a doctor. Got my head scanned- nothing- no tumors or anurisms (It's too early to check spelling!). I just have migraines from a head trauma! :(

I work as a teacher's aide in Special Education. I am still married to the same dude after 40 years. My two adult sons do not use cannabis or tobacco and between the two of them, they drink maybe a 6 pack of beer a year! I am well respected at school, got evaluated recently (some "4"s and mostly "5"s out of 5), and NO ONE has a clue that I use cannabis heavily every day. I don't go to work stoned, of course. But my brain IS my job and it still works just fine, thank you!

And hon, you might want to take a peek at the link in my sig, where it says "medical studies". Cannabis has a far longer medical history than aspirin, and it is SAFER than aspirin! (Not to mention oxy!)

"with 3 kids it scares to think about bringing something like that into the house to even try"

You've been scammed by the government! There is NOTHING to fear about cannabis (aside from the cops)! The lies they have told you about cannabis are beginning to crumble. Cannabis is not a "gateway drug", nor does it lower your IQ, make you grow breasts, make you sterile, give you lung cancer, turn you into a couch potato or a raving lunatic.

What it does do is, make pain bearable, stop or slow certain cancers, helps kids with ADHD concentrate, protect nerves from damage, and a whole lot more!

I would suggest that you get a vaporizer (run a search). They cut down on the odor, use less cannabis for the same level of pain relief, and is WAY easier on the lungs! I have a little Vapor Brothers and it was worth every penny!

Another place you might want to check out is treatingyourself.com- a nice little Canadian MMJ site. They are about 99% medical users. Cannabisnews.com is also a great site to keep up with the news on medical cannabis.

How old are your kids? Parenting with cannabis can be tricky in non-MMJ states (the reply page doesn't give your state, and I've forgotten which you are in). My kids were raised with it around- we just treated it like the hubby's tobacco. No shame, no hiding it- Momma just smoked a different "brand". Fortunately, my kids are brilliant, and understood by school age that it just was not talked about (about on the same level as that the hubby walks around in the house in his underpants sometimes). It never was a problem. And since we are good neighbors and don't deal, we have never had a problem with the law.

I'll be gone (work, ya know) for about 6 hours, but I'll check back in on this thread. If you have any questions, I'll do my best to answer them. It is criminal that you have to be in such pain when a simple, safe, highly effective, herbal remedy is available!
- Granny:hippy:

[Storm Crow]

I see that you ARE in California- so I have to add about getting legal. To get legal, all you will need is a copy of your medical records (just ask your doctor) and about $200. Go to the California NORML site and check out their list of "cannabis friendly" doctors. Take your money and records to the doc, get a quick check up and lecture, and you are legal! Takes about an hour. THAT SIMPLE! - OK, gotta get ready for work. Catch ya later!- Granny:hippy:

[suffering]

thanks alot that was very informative, and just so you guys know my kids are 17(turning 18 in 4 months), 14 and 10. We have sat them down especially the 2 older kids, about drugs and sex. I guess pot was also catagorized as one of the items off the list of drugs of warning, guess i just supported what they teach in school. But, my kids are very sensitive and helpful when it come to my chronic pains that i get. Since it was a work injury, meaning workes comp. claim still pending, i wondering if i try this route for pain relieve will they/insurance find out, will they dis-credit me or deny my claim?, since we are at the final stages of closing the claim..

[JeffersonBud]

Education is crucial to your children as you know. Its time we cleared up the role of cannabis as being a negative one.

[suffering]

yes, you're correct i need to have more talks about it with the older kids, Don't get me wrong i too totally think its wrong for a plant that is grown by natural and unprocessed in any way to say its illegal, but i guess its the law thats governs it, that makes it very picky. Its getting pretty desperate now, my pains are so great at times and since my body has a higher tolerancee to the oxycontins, and the morphine the same amount is less ineffective. I'm going to present to my pain mgt. docter and see what is view is on the use of marijuana.

[Storm Crow]

Print up (or give the doctor the URL) the sections of my post on pain, spinal injuries and anything else that catches your eye. Go in "armed to the teeth" with information! Many doctors are rather uneducated when it comes to cannabis. A Canadian newspaper had an article recently where it stated that most of the knowledge that doctors had about cannabis, came from their PATIENTS! We have to educate our doctors!

Now about the workman's comp. If you go to a cannabis specialist, all that happens is that you are given a piece of paper- nothing is said to the insurance companies or the government. (Your "regular" doctors, I don't know what they might do.) You cannabis recommendation is between you and the doc! Short of a court order, "ain't nobody's business but your own"! If you don't say anything, how will they know?

By the way, there's a fair chance your oldest, and possibly the middle kid have already tried cannabis!

"Almost two-thirds of all American young people try illicit drugs before they finish high school. One out of sixteen seniors smokes marijuana daily and 20 percent have done so for at least a month sometime in their lives. "
Drug Abuse (http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/drugabus.html)

You might even find that they know a lot more about it than you do! I have caught a 6th grader talking about his personal marijuana patch! From what I heard, he was doing quite well- his plants were taller than he was! LOL (No, I didn't bust him! I just pretended not to hear. ;) )

Sit the kids down and talk to them about cannabis as a medicine. Look, you are taking a dangerous, addictive drug, oxycontin. It will addict you and it can kill you! You want to reduce (or, hopefully, replace) that very dangerous drug with a safe herbal remedy. It's a no-brainer- even if you are a kid! Because you are in California, there isn't even a legal problem- on a state level, it's no different than using milk thistle for liver problems!

Granny:hippy:

[suffering]

granny, thanks for the advice. my wife is all for it, she hates what i am going thru and she knows about the long term use of oxycontin, and now morphine. When i introduce the idea of trying medicine/marj. and after giving her all the pros with little to no cons of marijuana, she is very anxious on how i can get started, she hates to see me on the floor pounding on my back for relief and the orals aren't a darn thing any more. So to get started on trying it, i'm kinda lost as to what to do after i get a copy of my medical records, and then what? I want to this correctly thanks..
(i'm sorry you might have mentioned it, but my memory is pretty much short to gone now due to all the oxycontins i have taking so far)

[Storm Crow]

I'll walk you through it. :thumbsup:

(1) Get those medical records.

(2) Go to NORML's California site. They have a list of "friendly" doctors. Make your appointment. If you are strapped for cash, call around- there can be quite a price difference. Expect about $200 for the first visit.

(3) It will be much like a normal doctor's visit. You will be weighed and all that jazz. The doctor will look at your records and discuss cannabis use and your condition. He will ask if you have any questions- if you do, ask! Since you have real, documented problems, you WILL be given your rec! No doubt about it!

(4) You pay the receptionist and she hands you a piece of paper stating the doctor believes that you could benefit from using cannabis.

(5) You walk out "legal". It's that simple! :thumbsup: You may now possess 8 ounces of cannabis and 6 mature plants.

(6) Now about the dispensaries/clubs...I'm way out in the boonies, and there ain't no such thing around here. :( From what I understand, they vary on who can use their services. But the green bar at the top of the page has "Cannabis Club Directory" as one of the options!:) (If all else fails, your eldest knows who to ask- unless s/he has absolutely no social life!)

And I understand about your meds/memory problem. Even low dosage codeine makes me "about 5 years old". Totally wipes out my higher mental functions! My boys say I'm hilarious! - Granny:hippy:

[suffering]

sweet.. those are the exact queue cards that i needed to get going/legal, since i am on workmans comp and ssi, and a slim budget, after reading dozens of threads on the prices of medicine, i sure would like try growing my own, do you think the climate of the high desert, low humity and lots of hot and cold seasons will work? indoor might be alittle out of the question, but i will be abit nervous about growing it at all, since the law is so not forgiving. About having mature and immature plants, is the rec card is a out jail pass? and I guess the hobby of reeftanks might have to be cut down abit too save money for my medicine. thank you...

[justgrowit]

Amen - get legal. An entire world will open up to you. Not all clinics are the same, you will find those who are genuine. Santa Barbara has a clinic who actually hires registered nurses, my favorite whom is taking a smoking break. Lastly, please think positive - watch a funny movie if you need. Open the windows, stretch, pet an animal, do anything to smile - your mind has more power to heal than any drug... even weed. Never let yourself drool on the couch, smoke another bowl and go for a walk with some music in your ears. Cheers!

[suffering]

My life has changed so drastically for the worse, if i had a choice i probably never had decided to go under the scapel. I had a very physical life, I'm a person that cannot sit still, i have to fix or built or clean something to satisfy my urge of accomplishment, a perfectionist i am. and ever since my accident its like being under house arrest, always just going to the doctors for pills, morphine refill or my depression seem to spiral downwards in a speed with no brakes. my mind never seem to stop thinking of the worse. Pains are so unbearable that i shake and a single tear can be felt on my face, and numerous times that i am on my knees pounding my back with my fists, glad that i am at home at those times...

Your thoughts of relaxation sound so good, i can feel or just smile at it of the thought of trying it, but hopefully soon enough, i maybe able to try those suggestions. but since kids are involve with me, i am seriously checking out vaporizers, much reading done so far, but i haven't come across on exactly how its done...

[Nailhead]

I once had a conversation with a girl who's father had cancer, but he didn't want to use medical marijuana because he was afraid it would set a bad example for the rest of his kids. It was really sad to hear her talk about this because this girl wasn't thinking about marijuana as a party drug, but as a serious medicine to help her father. I think if you sit your kids down and just explain to them that it's for your health they will understand. Your older ones might have already had this discussion with their friends but afraid to bring it up.

Hopefully your doctor will be understanding, but they might not know much about medical marijuana so I would recommend printing copies of Prop 215 and SB420 out for them to read. This way, they will know exactly what the law says about it so they don't have to worry about loosing their license or getting in trouble.

Here are both of those bills:
Prop 215 (http://www.canorml.org/prop/patientsguide.htm#prop)
SB420 (http://www.canorml.org/laws/sb420.html)

[suffering]

thank you..

[suffering]

after much research on the prices of medicine and the quantity for it, and being on a tight budget is it very difficult to grow my own, and i have seen some videos on growing beginning to the end process, but where does one get descent types of seeds to get started? thank you..

[Nailhead]

It might be easier to start out with a clone, some clubs offer these, although I'm not sure what they cost but it might be easier to deal with a clone than starting from a seed.

Check out the Growing section (http://boards.cannabis.com/growing-information/) on this forum.

[suffering]

sillly questiion whats the difference from a clone to a seed? thanks.

[Storm Crow]

When you have a plant, you can take a cutting from it. If you root it, it makes a clone- an identical plant. With seeds you may get a male or female plant. Males are only good for 2 things- fertilizing females and cutting bud when you are low on smoke.

A clone that is female and will produce only female cuttings (clones). A clone that is male will produce only (pretty well) useless male clones.

When you grow out seeds, take a cutting from the seedling. (I like about 1 1/2-2 inches of growth above the 4th set of leaves.) Put the clones under 12/12 and let them sex out. Destroy the males as they appear. You can grow out the female sexing clones for a while (still under 12/12) and use them for a "taste test" or you can reveg them. Clone the superior (still in veg) females and expand your next generation grow!

Granny:hippy:

[suffering]

that info sounds easy enough without much difficulty, but when never have done it before, sure would be so nice to see on hand or vid of it. another copy and paste for my notes. thank you..

[Nailhead]

This is about an hour long, (divided into 9 clips), and pretty f-ing advanced, but he seems to know what he's talking about. I agree, video is a much much better educational reference than text! This video may seem a bit long and goofy since the dude painted himself green, but it's pretty informative, albeit a bit overwhelming.

Part 1
8KVO26htvoQ
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kBQbEjMpGA)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI6y8k2ZVxs)
Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AFFFX2Iymk)
Part 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMnQzo-TOKA)
Part 6 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JO_7MFOihU)
Part 7 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bvLskVH7TM)
Part 8 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8z_GUGQLIDw)
Part 9 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qf-xA9p8gDM)

[suffering]

again, thank you... feel like getting started with the growing...

[onequickmove]

absolutely try; if you can get a med cert, do it; as a way to protect your kids from their dad potentially facing prosecution; whatever you do, don't EVER convince yourself you're being a bad father by having marijuana around; be honest and open about it with your kids

[suffering]

you're absoutly correct, being honest and having kids that understand how bad the pains are, and having kids that understand is totally a great feeling. and them knowing its only for the heavy chronic un-bearable pains, and without the abuse...

[stinkyattic]

IMHO, if your kids grow up viewing cannabis as a helpful MEDICAL drug, it will give them a healthier view of pot later in life. Nailhead has lived up to his username... hittin' it on the head! :D

I highly suggest looking into the anti-inflammatory strains that are out there, as well as the painkilling ones, and check out the thread that is stickied at the top of the 'medical strains' section.

Growing is really easy if you don't over-think it! Also, the process of growing from a seed or clone to a ripe plant will give your kids, if you choose to involve them when they are old enough, a new respect for cannabis the PLANT, not 'dope' the DRUG. The growers here are really helpful. Check out the link in my siggy to get started. When the time comes, we can give some strain/seed recommendations too.

[veggii]

suffering I would also recommend MMJ as it will help you
alot. you will reclaim more of your life!:thumbsup:
as far as legal matters things are still hostile in california
If i were you I would see a MMJ doctor get a recommendation
and don't tell anyone! except fpr the ppl at the local dispenciary
and then only pick up and keep under ounce on you or in your house. and keep it well hidden! you should be safe following those
guidelines ,under 1 ounce in california is a misdemeaner :thumbsup:
He has to think about if cps finds out they can take his kids!

[suffering]

thanks for your advice..