My Medical Marijuana History

I see it as the Queen of all herbs, with euphoria-inducing and life-preserving qualities... and need “euphoria” be a bad thing?

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - When Medical Marijuana passed in Oregon in November of 1998, I became a patient as soon as I was able to find a doctor who would sign my application. My motivation for becoming a patient was to become legal to use a medicine, namely Cannabis, or marijuana, which, I had found, through experimentation, to help me with my physical, mental, and neurological health, as well as to provide a profound sense of peace of mind.

To address my pre-medical cannabis history: I received a minor brain concussion when I was about seven, having been thrown by bullies head-first against a stone building wall; I never received medical treatment for this occurrence, although I still have a scar right on top of my head to show for it.

In November 1977 I had a severe nervous breakdown, which led, a few months later, to my seeing a psychiatrist regularly, and to beginning a life-long regimen of psychiatric medications. In 1986 I was diagnosed as bipolar (manic/depressive), and begin taking lithium carbonate as treatment for the condition.

I continued taking lithium and other psychiatric medications until 2004, while still an OMMP patient, despite unignorable side-effects, such as: severe nausea and vomiting, severe gastric pain, indigestion, and lack of appetite. In one way or another, marijuana helped me with all of these symptoms.

In late January of 2004, my wife was very concerned about my health because, not only was I vomiting up all attempts at consuming solid food and liquids, but I couldn’t even keep my medications down. Also, I was sleeping almost all the time.

My wife took me to see my medical doctor ASAP, but was disappointed when he only diagnosed me with ‘flu and sent me home with a prescription for Vycodin, as she smelled deeper trouble than that. Within a day or two, she took me to the emergency room at McKenzie/Willamette hospital in Springfield, where sufficient tests were done to determine that I had a 1” aneurysm in my brain; I was then rushed to Sacred Heart hospital in Eugene, where I was admitted and put on a life-support system.

Due largely to the presence of my brain aneurysm, all my bodily functions were haywire, with all my health monitor indicators jumping around “like a pinball machine,” to quote my wife. Since I was already a Medical Marijuana patient at that time, and despite the hospital’s “No Smoking” policy, the Sacred Heart hospitalist agreed to let my wife feed me cannabis cake, as I hadn’t had food, drink, cannabis, or medications in several days.

The results were miraculous: as soon as my wife would hand-feed me the cake, my body monitor levels would level out to normal almost immediately; in fact, it proved such an effective calmant that Sacred Heart’s doctors would call my wife in Springfield to beg her to bring me more cake.

The long and the short of it is that Cannabis saved my life! Although my brain aneurysm “popped” (usually the point at which a patient immediately dies) before surgery was possible, I survived the popping of the aneurysm, and my body levels were calm enough for me to undergo brain surgery on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, 2004. Apparently, the operation was a success.

On a final note, in this troubled 21st century, I would like to acknowledge that cannabis use in America is a very controversial subject--so much so that many parents dread the very thought of “their children smoking marijuana,” or even worse, the thought of their (D.A.R.E.-educated) children catching them smoking it in their garage.

For me to claim that cannabis is safe and harmless strikes me as an understatement; rather, I see it as the Queen of all herbs, with euphoria-inducing and life-preserving qualities . . . and need “euphoria” be a bad thing?

People smoke tobacco and drink themselves blind to achieve it, only becoming violent and physically ill in many cases. Why not ingest something that calms you down and puts a smile on your face? Bottom line: pot saved my life, and should not be illegal. Have a hempy day!

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bitter July 13, 2011 3:43 pm (Pacific time)

I am an ommp patient and cannot eat without my med. marijuana. No one is FORCING anyone to be on this program any more than any one is FORCED to go drink in a bar. so why do people not on the program think what I do is ANY of their business? here is a little made up scenario to put it all in prospective--your child is hurt and possibly dying, you have 2 choices of rides to the hospital, one person who drank a bottle of vodka, or one person who smoked a gram of marijuana, EVERYONE will pick the person who smoked marijuana---so give it a rest, ok? lets worry about REAL problems like our economy.

bitter July 13, 2011 3:42 pm (Pacific time)

Pot Byrne September 13, 2010 7:55 pm (Pacific time)

Just to follow up on our forum here, I'd like to offer a quote from Jim Page's song "Righteous:" "Love it or hate it, however you relate it, I'll leave that up to you!" And thanks to all for your responses, positive or negative. 8^P

Pot Byrne September 10, 2010 11:43 am (Pacific time)

Dear Peggy, Please read Malcolm Kyle's submission on 9/7 containing statistical proof that Medical Marijuana in many states curbs pot abuse by adolescents, rather than "mak(ing) it easier for young people to get," as you suggest. Also, studies have shown that "stoned" drivers are generally safer than "straight" drivers, being less tense. Marinol is virtually ineffective and useless, from reports that I have heard. As for my "drug nick-name," it was bestowed upon me by musician friends in Berkeley many years ago, and I wear it proudly, being a huge fan of David Byrne. By the way, what laws do you think I break? I pride myself on being a law-abiding citizen. I, too, grow for myself. And who told you that I "share or sit around smoking all day . . .?" Do I know you? I never complained of migraines. Just as you suggest, (cannabis) "Should not be legal," just as, one of these days, nay-sayers like you will say that "oxygen should not be legal," for your own inexplicable reasons, of course. And thank you for "be(ing) fair her (sic) on all sides." Have a hempy day.

Peggy September 8, 2010 10:56 am (Pacific time)

Lets be fair her on all sides. They havr had marijuana in pill form for years.Also read medical effects on adolescents...people I know on liget medical marijuana.dont have drug nick names,nor associate or break the laws. They have a care person and grow for themselves.They dont share or sit around smoking all day or use it to seek a high. It takes very little to stop migranes.Should not be legal...anything legal makes it easier for young people to get...And should not be able to drive with this card....

MsDuffgirl September 7, 2010 11:38 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you, Mr. Charles, for sharing your touching success story. I believe that marijuana is a miracle because I don't get migraines anymore. I always theorized that it was because it helps me deal with stress. Oregon voters should also know there is a flaw in the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program that requires a patient to know a grower, or grow for themselves when so many patients physically can not. It is not legal to sell marijuana, just legal to reimburse a grower for supplies and utilities. Rent for a dispensary and reimbursement for labor are not legally reimbursed so many patients can not get marijuana until, at best, 3 months after getting their card. So people turn to the black market, or go without. There is some charity for patients by patients in Oregon, but it is not enough. If you think people like Mr. Charles should not have to go to the black market then vote to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries by voting yes on Measure 74 November 2nd. Non profit dispensaries will create jobs, and raise millions for the state.

Malcolm Kyle September 7, 2010 10:03 pm (Pacific time)

Here are some extracts from "MARIJUANA USE BY YOUNG PEOPLE: THE IMPACT OF STATE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS By Karen O’Keefe, Esq. Legislative Analyst Marijuana Policy Project and Mitch Earleywine, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology University at Albany, State University of New York: Overall, the trends in states with medical marijuana laws are slightly more favorable than the trends nationwide. California, Washington, and Colorado have all seen much greater drops in marijuana usage than have occurred nationwide. When states consider proposals to allow the medical use of marijuana under state law, the concern often arises that such laws might “send the wrong message” and therefore cause an increase in marijuana use among young people. The available evidence strongly suggests that this hypothesis is incorrect and that enactment of state medical marijuana laws has not increased adolescent marijuana use. Consequently, legislators should evaluate medical marijuana proposals based on their own merits — without regard for the speculative and unsupported assertions about the bills sending the “wrong message.” In California — which has the longest-term, most detailed data available — the number of ninth graders reporting marijuana use in the last 30 days declined by 47% from 1996 (when the state’s medical marijuana law passed) to 2004. An analysis commissioned by the California Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs found “no evidence supporting that the passage of Proposition 215 increased marijuana use during this period.” In Washington state, sixth graders’ current and lifetime marijuana use has dropped by at least 50% since the 1998 enactment of the state’s medical marijuana law. All other surveyed grade levels have seen both lifetime and current marijuana use drop by between 25% and 50%. In Hawaii, youth marijuana use has decreased among all surveyed grade levels — by as much as 38% — since the 2000 passage of the state’s medical marijuana law. Data from Maine suggest a modest decline since the 1999 passage of its law. Data from Nevada (whose law was passed in 2000) and Alaska (whose law was passed in 1998) show overall decreases in marijuana use, with a modest increase in a few individual grade levels.

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