Hello and let me introduce myself; my Name is Bill and I am not an active marijuana user. I quit smoking cigarettes about twenty years ago because of a lung condition, but now am facing having to go back to it out of necessity. I am under constant medical care and I must admit, that the Doctors are prescribing some really expensive medications with some really strong side effects. I legitemately have cronic problems. I have had my left hip removed (actually three times as the first one got infected and they had to take it out, put in a temporary with anti-biotics then remove that one to replace it with my third and final perment hip). The hip replacement was caused by extremely painful arthritis. Now my other hip is going bad. There is no cure for arthritis and the pain is incrediable. To top that off, I went in for a colonoscopy and they found Crohns Disease and Diverticulitis as well as irritable bowl syndrome. There is no cure for that. The medication they prescribe is $320 per month and it is only to control the pain, not the disease. If that wasn't enough, I have Myestenia Gravis (Hospitalized orginally they thought it was a stroke) and have been diagonosed with Macular Degeneration by an optomolgist. I see about ten different doctors, all costing thousands of dollars per month and none of the illnesses I have is there a cure. Only surgery to remove parts fo my body. After awhile, there is not much to remove. I see a nurologist because I have very little feeling from my waste down. It seems your nerves that run through your body are much like an electrical wire. If the insulation of the wire, the plasic or rubber, deteriates, then the electrical wire shorts out. So does your nerves and it is called Nuroopathy. The medications I take are obscene. The number of Doctors I go to reguarly is obscene. The pharmacy bills that I pay each month are unconsciencable. One of my very good friends has Muscular Dystrophy (MS) and takes medical marijuana to relieve some of the pain. while attending one of my regular doctor appointments, I asked my doctor if he thought that there was a legitamate and a sound medical reason for me to try it. The pain was getting severe and I was quickly reaching a point where I was not about to take any more prescribed pain medications. When you are in the hospital, they load you up with so much of that stuff that you really do question your senses and sensibilities. I couldn't take that anymore nor would I. I was really concerned about substituting one harmful medication for a better one, but having to deliver that medication by inhaling harmful smoke into my lungs. That was a really tough call for me. I was told that maybe I should try some non-smoking type delivery such as baked goods and keep what remained of my health. Here is the thing: IT WORKED. No, I can't honestly say I enjoy when I have to take it. I am in pain. I wished I could lie to you and tell you that I got some sort of high or feel good from the use of marijuana, but I can't. I am just hurting too much when I finally break down and take my medication. But here is the thing. I have over a reem of paper (over 500) pages of medical test, reports and recommendations. It was only when an "Old" Doctore who didn't believe in medical marijuana finally gave me the green light to at least try it and see what happens that I got any sort of relief at all. Now here is the really weird part. My son is in Medical School in Tennessee at Vanderbilt. My other son is a Registered Nurse and one other is a paramedic in the back of an ambulance saving lives. None of them could believe the change that came over medically when their "old man" starting using "dope" as they like to call it. Now comes the final son, he graduated from Harvard Law with honors. He explained to me what jury nulification is and suggested I "go for it". He said it would probably take him three weeks to present to a jury just my medical records and explain the condition and the pain. But he assured me that there is not a jury in America that would go along with some government mandated law that was unjust. Basically, his recommendation was that every single person who really had medical justification for use of marijuana join together and take this to court. The law is based on precidence meaning that prior case law and the outcome of those cases, pretty much determines even if some prosecutor is going to pursuit litigation. The Attorney General of the State of California has issued a legal opinion basically saying it is the humane thing to do and yet, each of us has our very rights violated day in and day out. I can assure you, that given enough time, there will be enough cases taken to court that after loosing case after case, they are going to have to legalize marijuana. To many people can see because of it. Too many people can go home after Kemo theropy and not throw up. To many AIDS patients and those in pain can live a little bit better life because of Marijuana. No, I don't agree with all that is written in this forum, but even though I disagree with so much of it, I will fight to the death your right to say it and use it if it truly helps you in your medical condition. I stand on the back of so many who have gone before me and paid the ultimate price for me to write this note today. I am here because many others went through so much pain to just make it possible for me to have some kind of relief. I am sorry, I don't like getting high. I am sorry, I don't like it misused. If it helps you, by all means, use it. Thank you for this forum. Thanks to all of the people who have shared countless hours of information and education I needed to get to this point in my life. Without you, I would have probably died in pain. I owe you, each and everyone of you out there that have risked everything for people like me. Thank you.
ralex999 Reviewed by ralex999 on . A Medical need Hello and let me introduce myself; my Name is Bill and I am not an active marijuana user. I quit smoking cigarettes about twenty years ago because of a lung condition, but now am facing having to go back to it out of necessity. I am under constant medical care and I must admit, that the Doctors are prescribing some really expensive medications with some really strong side effects. I legitemately have cronic problems. I have had my left hip removed (actually three times as the first one got Rating: 5