Medical Marijuana and its impact on government medical spending.

[BreezyKiefAir]

Medical Marijuana and its impact on government medical spending.

Why have I heard nothing in this new health care plan about medical marijuana? The government is saving a ton of money due to the growth in the medical marijuana industry, but no one is talking about it in a real way. I have decided that I may have a unique perspective on this issue and have decided to throw my two cents in on the topic.

First of all, I am a female under 40 with severe and debilitating Fibromyalgia, the kind that forces doctors to shake their heads and prescribe one ineffective man made medicine on top of another while I waste away and my quality of life diminishes.

My sole health insurance is provided to me is under medicare/medicaid. This is because I am completely disabled and the doctors do not allow me to work, or even to attend school. So I am forced to be on government programs like Social Security Disability and Social Security Income (SSD/SSI).

Before I was placed on the Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry in June 2009, I would have to visit a doctors office several times a month, sometimes several times a week, sometimes with several appointments booked the same day with specialists and tests, physical therapy, and there were to many trips to the emergency room to count.

I went to the ER out of sheer desperation, I went just so I could get comfortable enough to have a bit of sleep after a week or more of lingering in a painful place that seemed to be located in deep within the realm of a narcotic distorted pain haze, a no-where-land that seemed to be somewhere between life and death. AND I WAS MISERABLE!

Since I was approved for the medical marijuana registry I haven't needed near the amount of services from the medicaid/medicare program. In fact, aside from bit of dental work, a doctor visit and medications for a bad cold, I haven't seen a doctor at all. I haven't needed to.

How many others are there like me? Meanwhile, the price of my medicine increases as the MMJ movement grows. I am stuck having to make really hard decisions like, do my husband and I pawn our wedding and engagement rings to get my medicine? Or do I pawn them and buy some food? (I ended up pawning the rings, having nothing else of value to pawn, and buying both medicine and food.) We promised ourselves we would get them back, but I ended up crying my eyes out when I realized I can't afford to get them out of hock. I live in a 1968 Winnebago and am almost starving to death as it is. Now don't get me wrong, my life has been profoundly changed by this medicine, and any hardship I may have to endure is truly worth the benefits of this plant!

Each year, the government gives people on SSI/SSD a cost of living increase. I have had a cost of living increase of up to $200 per month in past years. This is supposed to be based upon the economy and how much it actually costs to survive, but this year mycost of living increase for my entire household is less than $5 a month for 2010. I won't disclose what that is an increase from, but I will say have no trouble qualifying as well below the federal poverty guidelines.The government actually told me in writing that the cost of living had not increased any this year!

Now the other side of the coin. The people who are inside the movement are making money on it too. If you are low income and can't afford your â??mainstream pharmacyâ?� medicine, you can go to various organizations and they will help you to buy your medicine, sometimes even on a regular basis if they are necessary and not covered by insurance, but that doesn't include mmj. If your medicine is MMJ no one is willing to help you unless you happen to be lucky enough to find a care giver who actually gives a care if you have medicine or not!:hippy::rastasmoke:

There is no fund or organization to help people like me get my medicine when I can't afford it. There is no way for a person who wants to help to donate money to people in a position similar to mine.

"So what," you say? Well let's look at this... The high price can force a person in my position to go back to buying their medicine off the street where it is less expensive, but also less potent, less safe, more dangerous to obtain, and the process of obtaining it can be a risk to your health with long periods in the cold and encounters with strange germs. I personally counted avoiding purchasing on the street as one of the largest pluses to getting on the registry, and yet I see people like me being forced back there.:wtf:

So the government ignores the money it saves, and many of the dispensaries in the area seem to have little social conscience about the price a person like me can pay to have their medicine. It costs me a minimum of 5% of my combined household monthly income for 3 days medicine, for 30 days, that's 50% of my household income - and that is using a bare minimum dosing. Someone needed to say something on this. I decided, I was as good a voice as any.

Now that I'm off my rant for the morning. I just wanna say Thanks to all the people out there helping to make it possible for people who need this medicine to have it. Have a Happy Holiday all, and Blessings to you all! :hippy::thumbsup::jointsmile::thumbsup::rastasmoke :

BreezyKiefAir Reviewed by BreezyKiefAir on 12-17-2009. Medical Marijuana and its impact on government medical spending. Medical Marijuana and its impact on government medical spending. Why have I heard nothing in this new health care plan about medical marijuana? The government is saving a ton of money due to the growth in the medical marijuana industry, but no one is talking about it in a real way. I have decided that I may have a unique perspective on this issue and have decided to throw my two cents in on the topic. First of all, I am a female under 40 with severe and debilitating Fibromyalgia, the kind Rating: 5

[gypski]

I agree with your analysis on the cost of mmj. I can remember when an oz cost $20 and it was good stuff even back then. There will be the profiteers, but if its a true non-profit, then they should make allowances and have a fund to assist fixed income patients. But, I really don't see it getting much better if the state's themselves try and take it over completely. they simple can't be trusted either at this stage of the game. As with everything else in this country, it all boils down to money, and there are and will be those who are only in it for the money. MMJ is not cheap and is nearly as expensive as some prescription meds. In my opinion, a real non-profit mmj dispensary or what ever you want to call it, should have an income based sliding scale for meds for verifiable fixed income patients. In order for that to happen though, the non-profit needs outside donations to help cover the cost that those with the income to pay in full can't cover. A move in this direction will prove the validity that mmj is medicine, not just another gold rush bubble. If a mmj whatever can't cut it @ $10 a gram, with a 10% state/federal tax then they are gouging patients and need to cut their overhead cost. :twocents:

[Storm Crow]

Is kept artificially inflated by prohibition. Now I grow on a "shoe string" budget, but it costs me only about $20 to produce an ounce of cannabis in my little closet set up (compost/organic soil, $3 tubs from Walmart, CFLs & fluoros). If I grew outdoors, the cost would be even less.

I recently bought some powdered ginseng (cheapest kind) for $30 a pound. Ginseng is hard to grow commercially. It takes years to produce a few ounces of dried roots. Yet the price is far lower than cannabis.

Cannabis is an annual. It is a weed that can be grown almost anywhere, even in Siberia (ruderalis)! An outdoor plant can easily produce a pound of product. And the price per pound??? What is wrong with this picture??? :wtf:

Many people could benefit from a few plants tucked in among the rose bushes or in a sunny window. Our seniors and others on fixed or low incomes could save a fair amount of cash each month by growing their own. Unfortunately, cannabis is medically legal in just 1/4 of the states and many people are not familiar with its many medical uses. Please click the link in my sig to learn about MMJ from hundreds of scientific studies and articles. I think you will love what you find!


Granny :hippy:

[BreezyKiefAir]

Hi there stormcrow, I really wanna be growing for myself as you suggested, and did try my hand with a Super Silver Haze Clone I called "Eve". She was doing really well, and looking so tasty:hippy:. Unfortunately, I had to move from one Recreational Vehicle to another mid grow. I couldn't normalize the conditions quick enough (the new RV leaks air like a strainer) and unfortunately "eve" passed away:sorry1:. We are planning on weatherizing, and then converting a small closet we have into a grow room. Any suggestions you can offer for cutting costs in this department and what is cheap and works, would be greatly appreciated.:rastasmoke:

[BreezyKiefAir]

I can't understand why the dispensary owners of various states haven't formed a fund for low income people independently or as a group. It would be a great promotional tool as well as an activism push, etc. There are many benefits if they will only drop the green of greed from their eyes and pick up the true spirit of the green herb.

[BreezyKiefAir]

WOW Granny Storm Crow. the link you provided is great! I'm gonna give it to my care giver and post it as a link on forums I frequent if you do not mind. Gonna be digging into some reading on Granny's List for a while! THANKS!

[jamessr]

I agree with your analysis on the cost of mmj. I can remember when an oz cost $20 and it was good stuff even back then. There will be the profiteers, but if its a true non-profit, then they should make allowances and have a fund to assist fixed income patients. But, I really don't see it getting much better if the state's themselves try and take it over completely. they simple can't be trusted either at this stage of the game. As with everything else in this country, it all boils down to money, and there are and will be those who are only in it for the money. MMJ is not cheap and is nearly as expensive as some prescription meds. In my opinion, a real non-profit mmj dispensary or what ever you want to call it, should have an income based sliding scale for meds for verifiable fixed income patients. In order for that to happen though, the non-profit needs outside donations to help cover the cost that those with the income to pay in full can't cover. A move in this direction will prove the validity that mmj is medicine, not just another gold rush bubble. If a mmj whatever can't cut it @ $10 a gram, with a 10% state/federal tax then they are gouging patients and need to cut their overhead cost. :twocents:

A "true non-profit" should be giving it away for free with no cost to the patients EVER, poor or not. REGARDLESS OF THEIR OVERHEAD^.

That's the whole idea behind the NON-PROFIT BUSINESS MODEL. SUCK IT UP COMPANY FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT......FREE SERVICES AND PRODUCTS. Just my opinion.....

[mad1010]

jamessr, I am sorry, but you are wrong. A non profit will sell their goods. All proceeds go back into running said non profit and helping who they set out to help. Does Goodwill give away anything in thier thrift stores. NO.

[WashougalWonder]

I am a caregiver in WA and I GIVE my patient all the medicine he needs and then some. I also make sure he gets the best I have. Poor guy is under 30 and undergoing his second round of chemotherapy for recurrance.....

I don't even ask for donation to defray costs, and have refused offers of same. This is the problem with the dispensary setup.

[BreezyKiefAir]

hi WashougalWonder's,

It is caregivers like you who make it possible for patinets like me to survive. Thanks on behalf of your patients from someone who understands! My caregiver helps with some free meds, but nothing like what you have going. You are a great example for others.