As a concerned citizen, I have been keeping a close eye on the progression of the legalization of medical marijuana for Wisconsin AKA JRMMA. I have been suffering from a spinal injuries, arthritis and multiple other ailments following an accident where a vehicle I was in was struck by a city bus. I have been prescribed one form of an opioid or another for fourteen years and I am twenty-six. Furthermore, I have been completely disabled, forfeiting my home, my career and my social life after complications following an emergency surgery.
I believe that the statements made in the below referrenced article is quite simply hogwash. Opioids, muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory medications are known to cause addiction. For example, look at Brett Favre after several injuries was admitted to rehab. And that is only one example. That does not include the thousands of patients every year that have developed addictions from currently approved pharmaceutical pain medications. Those that may not be "addicted" can also develop tolerance levels and climb their way up the pain med ladder from Vicodin to Morphine.
I fear climbing that ladder and suffer pain beyond the capabilities of my medications so that I may delay the next step. For a while, I did use marijuana to assist my pain medications. Low and behold, my Vicodin intake went from 5 tablets per day to 2-3 tablets per day. I did not smoke much, unless one considers a third of a joint per day excessive. The marijuana helped my pain threshold extend from four hours to eight to ten hours. I regained my appetite and the constant constipation sometimes leading to partial bowel obstructions caused by my approved pain medications alleviated itself. I did not influence those around me to smoke. Rather, I kept my habit to myself knowing the consequences of my actions. I am not a thief. I am not a murderer or a rapist. I am not an addict. So I do not believe that my actions constituted me to be labled as such. When my pain management clinic proposed a random drug screening I advised them of my activity before I took the test. I am not a liar. When given the standard lecture and choice - marijuana or professional medical treatment, I chose the clinic and quit smoking marijuana as an aid. Since then, the constipation, anxiety, increased pain levels, depression, libido loss, fogginess and many other known side effects have returned. If only this natural aid could be managed by my medical professionals.
Marijuana passes through the liver in 3-6 weeks. One tablet of Vicodin passes through the liver in 51 months. That is longer than my first car note. People say that marijuana is a gate way drug and this is a step towards the legalization of recreational marijuana. I would like to say to those people, if your kid is an addict, your kid is an addict. It is not the drugs fault. It is nature, it is terrible events that happen that people try to escape, it is going to happen at some point. It may begin when an appendix ruptures or wisdom teeth are pulled and they enjoy the intoxication of the Vicodin or Oxycontin. It may begin the first time you leave town and do not lock the liquor cabinet. Or it could begin at their first college party. As a parent it is your job to educate your child the risks that are involved with any drug, legal AND illegal. It is not the school's responsibility, the state's responsibility, the doctor's responsibility - it is THE PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY! It may take a village to raise a child, but that whole time the child is looking at their mother and father to lead the way.
God put every plant and animal on this earth with a purpose. Yes, marijuana is used recreationally, but it has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes until politics said otherwise. Men have been trying to duplicate the wonders of nature to increase the effectiveness of these God given gifts. It is how we discovered morphine, aspirin, warfarin and many other medications that not only help, but hurt so many people. Sometimes, using what we have, as it comes in nature, is the best way to administer medicine. It does not always require the need to be prescribed in a pill, syrup or syringe.
I urge people to write in support of medicinal marijuana. People suffering from cancer, spinal injuries, PTSD, nervous disorders, eating disorders are not trying to deal drugs to children. That is what is happening in the streets right now - with drug dealers who may be your next door neighbor, your child's best friend or teacher. The people who support this bill are asking for support to allow the doctors to provide them with relief that aids current medications and their side effects in a safe and legal fashion. We are people who wish to have pain relief, an appetite, calmness, relaxation, and sometimes just a bowel movement (as sad as that sounds constipation is a major side effect of many of the medications that are used to treat the people this bill will effect and that is sometimes more painful than what ails you in the first place). We know that you know someone who is suffering that may find relief by the ingestion or smoking of a natural herb. We also believe that this may put financial relief on the medical system as marijuana can be produced at a lesser dollar than the cost of current prescriptions and their required research by the FDA. Many people may be able to cancel or lessen their benefits of the Social Security Disability and Medicaid system and return to the workforce and once again become a productive member of society.
Personally, I am one who believes that those involved in big business fear the legalization of medical marijuana as it has the potential to greatly effect the pharmaceutical industry. Everyone knows that industry and politics go hand in hand. Please listen to the people. So many of which are afraid to speak out as they do not want their name on a list, yet studies show 80% of Wisconsinites privately support this bill. Our state motto is, "FORWARD". Let us do what our fore-father's wanted. Not become slaves to industry controlling politics, but move forward.
Courtney E. McMillan
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I am posting this letter hoping that someone reads it. I fear that this law, that will help so many patients and wonderful people, will be rejected. As one can tell I am passionate about this issue and have been for thirteen years. Every current events report that I did in school was for the legalization of marijuana, particularly in medicinal instances. Please, if you support this bill, I am begging you to write your assembly person, your senator, someone who is going to vote on this bill and help make a difference in the lives of over 200,000 Wisconsinites! WE NEED YOUR HELP!
