Medicinal Use of Marijuana Your Opinion.

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

I have always wondered about the medicinal use of marijuana and chronic pain.  When I used it many years ago I was not in pain! HAHA.  What do you all think of its use.  
Thanks!
Marcie!

[Fred]

i have been smoking pot occasionally for about a year. i have also been to a new doctor. i have blood tests and urine tests upcoming in about a week, partly because they have discovered a lump in my breast...i think it is gynecomastia, but not completely sure. paranoia has now set in. what are the doctor-patient confidentiality laws like? will my employer have access to my test results? i work in the human services field and enjoy things the way they are...know what i mean? anyone help me feel relieved?
thanks

[Brighty to Gene]

Thank you... I second the emotion !! Love and peace to you. Brighty

[tom to Gene]

regarding your comments on the incarceration of drug users with violent criminals: I couldn't have said it better or with more passion. Your words are the living truth.

Peace to you

[Gene to Joanne]

Hi Tom.  I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth regarding the legalization of pot & other recreationally used drugs.

I am definitely FOR the decriminalization of Pot & other drugs such as Cocaine, Heroin, Ecstacy, Crystal Meth, & various hallucinogens.  I am very much aware of the physical & mental ramifications of such a dramatic change in our country's drug laws.  However, I am extremely disturbed by the increasingly large numbers of people who are incarcerated due to so called "drug crimes".

I certainly don't want my commuter bus driver to be stoned or drunk or tripping as he drives crosstown!  Nor do I want the pilot of my airplane trip to my vacation to be doped up.  But I don't give a damn if my neighbor is home doing bong hits or snorting coke or tripping his brains out.  As long as his family is safe & sound.  Of course I don't want people driving their cars while under the influence of any mind altering substances.

I am no longer interested in getting high myself & I don't smoke or drink or snort anything at all.  But if anybody wants to do any of these things in a safe environment where they will not hurt themselves or others, then leave them the hell alone!

It's hard to believe how many non-violent people are in jail for getting caught with small amounts of drugs in their possession.  Maybe they have their monthly stash with them as they drive home from their dealer's house.  Or maybe they even sell small quantities of pot to their friends so they can all party together.  Whatever the case may be, the war on drugs is destroying many lives.  Use the money wasted on this lost war to educate & treat people who want help kicking their habits.  Heroin users should be able to go into a clinic & get their daily supply of their drug as well as clean needles so they don't have to rob & steal & prostitute themselves or others.  Not to mention the vast numbers of persons who get AIDS from sharing dirty needles.

This country's priorities are all screwed up.  But that's just my opinion.  So I will step off of my soapbox now.  I apologize to those who feel that this is an inappropriate topic for discussion on this forum.  They are probably right.

Once again, I am not advocating the use of mind altering substances.  I have seen in my life as well as those people I meet in AA & NA how much damage these substances can do to people.  The world might be a better place if we all were happy being sober and did not use drugs to change how we feel & numb all of the bad feelings.  But that's just a dream.

Thanks for listening.

[tom to Gene]

my experience exactly. I would use pot because of its anti-nausea qualities to make MDMA and crystal meth sex orgies rad. But it made me afraid if I used it in any other context -- even in the privacy of my own home. I'd smoke it, feel kinda good for a while, then start thinking about mortality, cops, bills -- all the really groovy aspects of life. Chronic use would really sap my energy and I couldn't get anything done. But I still say ALL chemo patients should get all the reefer they want. Mercy above all to anyone who suffers, any way they can get it.

[Gene to Joanne]

I smoked pot for 27 years and stopped 13 months ago.  I loved it at first but after a number of years I found that it made me anxious & sometimes paranoid.  To counteract those side effects, I started using Valium.  I was able to get Valium from my doctor for many many years so I kept on smoking.

I smoked because I didn't like the way I felt when I was sober.   I smoked before concerts, movies, parties, etc. etc.  I enjoyed it some of the time but the last 20 years ar so were spent trying to stop smoking it!  The high went from lasting for hours to no high at all, just anxiety, fatigue, hunger, depression.  I looked forward to smoking it all day every day.  But as soon as I smoked it, I wished I hadn't.  Pretty sick, huh?

So I finally stopped!  Best thing I ever did for myself!

Gene

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

When you all mean "Paranoid" what do you mean?  I know that the one time I did it after 20 or more years I was paranoid too. But I was stupid for not doing it at home not out at a damn craft show where I thought I KNEW everyone.  Where I thought I "SAW" all my kids friends parents.  Hell, I even freaked myself into thinking MY MOM was there and I am 39 years old! I proceeded to eat $50 worth of Friggin PEANUT BRITTLE (I hate peanut brittle).  Could not drive home someone else drove. I then went to bed for the rest of the day.  
I was just checking on you guys to see when you meant paranoid just what you meant.  I did do it some months later at home just me standing on the toilet blowing into the exhaust in the potty.  Gave me flashbacks of old Cheech and Chong movies! I think I was still waiting for my mom to walk in!  Ya just cant go back can ya!  Have a great day.
Marcie

[Airedog]

Hi Tom,

One of the reasons I started using other drugs back before my last detox was the paranoia that marijuana and hashish caused me. Out of all the years of use, I can probably count the number of times that smoking dope by itself was 'pleasurable' on both hands.

I pray that if I ever need it medicinally that it will not carry the same paranoia factor. Mind you I seem to be having some strange side effects from my opiate medications.

Dave

[tom asking about pot and paranoia]

first of all, to add to the thread, pot's effects are mercy itself to anyone doing chemo or any number of other treatments, but why is it that pot made me so happy in my 20's and now just makes me paranoid if I smoke it now? My wife and I loved to use it before sex but the paranoia aspect has caused us to stop using it. Anyone else with a similar experience? Is it the pot or us?

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

Have a great holiday. I know this one will be extra special.  Tell you daughter that I am proud of her I know she does not know me but I feel as if I know her!  Brighty like I have told you before I hope that I can be the wonderful supportive parent that you are.  I pray that I can be such a positive force like you have been in your daughters life. You really are an amazing woman Brighty. My kids are such little things but even now everyday is such an adventure! Take Care Brighty!
XO
Marcie!

[Brighty]

I am 100% for the legalization of marijuana, medical and otherwise..... everyone has the right to healing and if a doctor tells us there is nothing more he/she can do to help pain, cure the illness or alleviate the symptons,then we should have the right to pursue any avenues availabe without fear of punitive action. I worked with AIDS patients long before the drugs that are available now.... many of those who were sick used marijuana to stop the shakes and other horrible things associated with the later stages of the disease. The rx marinol( synthetic form of marijuana) had nasty side effects. This was when I realized that medical science is only one path to healing and without all the answers. The government needs to butt out of our personal lives but unfortunately they are controlling it more and more. Love, Brighty..... Merry Christmas to all !!!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

What's all this about being a Godless drug fiend?  We know it's not true!  Maybe that's what the government thinks of us but they are the Godless ones.  Hang in there, brother!

[From Aunt Lindy to Mariah]

Before things get to busy I just want to tell you fine people to have a great holiday.  Let's keep checking in on one another to see if anyone needs any extra help.  I thank god I found this site (I know I keep saying it all the time) but I really mean it! To my special girlfriends Vicky, Neena, Brighty, Vic Gurl, and all my buds I did not mention you all are very special to me.  I just wanted you to know that.  Even though I have never seen you or spoken to you persay I feel like I have a special circle of friends within this group.  Everyone hang in there.  I really hope that one day we can put together a chat.  Or even have a standing day and time where we know we can "talk" once a week or so if we wanted.  It is so hard sometimes when I am on this site and would love to "talk" with someone but I do not know who is "on".  Some of the writings AMAZING! It helps me so much to read what you have taken so much time to put into words.
XO
Marcie!

[J.B. to Brian and Vicky]

I've never been fond of marijuana myself but I know people who swear by it.  I've heard stories about how it helped with arthritis, chemotherapy symptoms, glaucoma, alcohol abuse and the list goes on.  I don't understand why it should even be a Schedule I drug.  I can understand cocaine and heroine, but marijuana?  Must be the politicians attitudes. I'd vote for legalizing and taxing it like tobacco.

[tom to JB]

Once upon a time, Wiliam Randolph Hearst invested heavily in timber and paper mills. Hemp growers were his competitors. The Hearst media machine mounted a crusade to demonize marijuana to cause the outlawing of hemp growing. Scratch one competitor in the paper business. I haven't researched this stuff but have heard the story told a number of times. I suspect there is some truth to it, but I'm a bit pre-occupied these days fulfilling my many responsibilities as a godless drug fiend. It shouldn't be too hard to research now that the net's here.

[Gloria]

Marcie,
Today, Canada's Health Ministry awarded a multi-million dollar contract to a firm in Northern Canada that will grow marijuana for medicinal purposes.  In the article announcing the contract, it was stated that "research has shown the drug to be effective in alleviating symptoms of debilitating diseases such as cancer and multiple sclerosis...Canadians are allowed to apply to the Health Minister for an exemption from the possession laws."  Prior to this firm's approval to "supply a steady supply of standardized-quality marijuana," there was no legal way to obtain marijuana.  The article further stated, "Canada is acting compassionately by allowing the use of marijuana by people that are suffering from grave and debilitating illness."  It would be nice if America followed suit and provided marijuana for those people that truly would benefit from its use; especially, the terminally ill.  What harm would come to those that obtained relief from the excrutiating pain of some cancers?  Since some Canadians come to America for improved-quality healthcare, maybe we could send some of America's sickest patients to Canada for legitimate pain relief.

[Andrew]

I suffer from severe chronic pain due to a complicated eye condition, I find that cannabis is very useful in reducing my pain.

It is stupid that it is not leagle for medicinal use. I almost got cought today smoking the stuff. I find that is almost as effective ass all my other pain meds put together (including Dihydrocodeine and Morphine) and it is not addictive like narcotics

The sooner it is leagleized the better.
(sorry about my spelling)

Happy Christmas