A Toke a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

Alone in her Birmingham, England home, a woman stirs a half teaspoon of cannabis into her hot tea. By seeking relief from pain and spasms caused by multiple sclerosis in this way she is, in the eyes of the law, a criminal.

She doesn’t take this action lightly and is not out for a recreational high. She simply wants a reprieve from the relentless pain that plagues her and, after sipping her tea, generally experiences about three hours of relief. Only those who live in chronic pain can fully understand her anguish.

Speaking of her predicament she says, “I want politicians to be nice to me… I’m sick.” One cannot put it more simply than that. (You can read the rest of her story and view the heartbreaking video on BBC News.)

Medical marijuana enjoys legal status in many parts of the world, where it is recognized as an effective treatment for chronic pain or nausea caused by conditions like multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, arthritis, and cancer. Canada, Chile, and the Netherlands have decriminalized or legalized it, and Australia and Belgium are conducting trials on its benefits.

Patients report that use of medical marijuana provides relief from spasticity, nerve pain, tremors, sleeping disorders, nausea, and depression, greatly improving quality of life.

In the United States and some other countries, social stigma and stereotypes twist the issue into a moral argument rather than a purely medical one.

Ironically, if you watch television for a few hours, you’ll be bombarded with ads for powerful prescription medications with lengthy lists of potential side-effects up to and including death, but they are perfectly legal… and encouraged.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Nicole L.

5:11AM PST on Mar 4, 2011

Great article and I couldn't agree more.

send a green star

Sherry H.

7:52AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

It's been an on going battle here in Texas, I understand, for 10 yrs. now. It's time they got off their non willing to learn the truth attitude versus their going with what they've been told to believe attitude, and start caring about the people of Texas, and take the time to learn the truth.

Debra B.

6:26AM PST on Feb 23, 2011

I think that the full legalization and taxation of marijuana would greatly help the U.S

5:16AM PDT on Oct 16, 2010

Maybe California will be a stepping stone for people in other states to at least be able to get it medicinally, Brian.-Like TX where I now live. One can hope.

Brian M.

12:24PM PDT on Oct 14, 2010

Marijuana is one of the safest herbs ever discovered by humanity. Best of all, it need not be smoked: it can be ingested in food, as a liquid in tinctures, or in the mist form from vaporizers. Marijuana can only successfully be controlled if it is carefully regulated and taxed. In other words, responsible adults should have access to this medicinal herb if they wish it. After all, no one in their right mind would ever make ginseng illegal.

11:04AM PDT on Aug 22, 2010

If more people would but listen to the videos of LEAP officers, they would discover why it is and has been a waste of time, Debbie, and will never get better. It needs to stop. The self-righteous unwilling to learn the truth people, are the ones who will keep suppliers prosperpous and dangerous as long as they continue to support a non winning, dangerous 'War on drugs.' In truth, they just make it worse. They need to listen to LEAP officers, and doctors who can specifically show them the benefits of MJ. The videos are out there. I myself would much rather smoke a little mj, non addicting, than take a sleeping pill, which I sometimes have to do, or I won't sleep. No, I don't abuse them, far from it, but because I don't, I don't always get the sleep I need. The ones I have, work well for me, where others have not at all, but some doctors won't prescribe them. Why shouldn't I feel better about what I put in my body, since emotional well being is a huge part of physical healing? It helps for many conditions, and people, politicians, the pharmaceutical company, present administration, all who claim to be concerned about our health, need to start proving it!

Dianne P.

5:17PM PDT on Aug 21, 2010

It is very rewarding for me to read all your comments on this issue. I myself commented on the story at the beginning.

Most of you agree about medical marijuana being a safe and better alternative to drugs for medical use. The few that still hold to the illegal view of marijuana are at least reading the comments to find that the majority of comments are in favour of it's use under these conditions. Once people actually try it and discover how safe it can be...they will be in a better position to question the illegality that many of us questioned years ago and continue to question. My personal view is that governments spend copious amounts of money on it's war against drugs, particularly marijuana, keeping the criminals who supply mj prosperous and dangerous. It is time to question this practice. The cost far outways successes and in the case of mj, is simply foolish to boot. Drugs made by chemical means, legal or illegal are far far more dangerous overall.

I am against legal drugs, preferring alternative medicines and therapies unless I am in need of antibiotics...however that is simply need. I am talking excess here. We are a nation being prescribed drugs far too easily. When I read that children may be prescribed statin drugs.... that turned my stomach. These are lifestyle problems and ought to be treated as such. Legal drugs are in our waters affecting fish in very strange ways. Does that tell you something?

Time to wake up!

9:50AM PDT on Aug 21, 2010

Yes, it would, Deb. In fact, in that case, coffee should be illegal. It can give you the jitters. What about sugar that makes kids hyper? There is NO HONEST REASON, that it should not be legalized. It is as though, if something is good for us, it won't be legalized, but if it has the potential to be harmful, you can bet your ass it will.
Thanks for your stance on this Margo. I did inhome care a few years back, and a Christian lady I worked for was the epitome of Christianity of anyone I had ever known. She had a friend who had terminal cancer, who's boys were getting it for her, and they did not use it either. The reason they got it for her is because it really helped her nausea, and helped her to be able to eat a little more, and to feel better. The lady I worked for knew wholeheartedly that it should be legalized. Our FDA is a joke, our government is a joke, too many of our reps are a joke, the alcohol and pharmaceutical companies are a joke. The almighty dollar is worth more to them than our health.

Debbie G.

9:31PM PDT on Aug 20, 2010

OK, Ashley, that would rule out alcohol, of course, most pain meds, some antihistamines, some decongestants, cough syrup (even those not containing alcohol), many anti-depressants, mood stabilizers, sleeping pills, some forms of chemotherapy and I'm sure there are many more. What do you propose be done about this?

Jenny A.

9:24PM PDT on Aug 20, 2010

Its "high" time the the government takes the exploration of legalizing medicinal marijuana seriously. I am appalled at the fact that the govt gets 2 dictact what ill ppl put in their bodies as use of treatment. Due to the fact that the govt is owned by the pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies and these agencies are major donors in high profile campaigns, the govt is turning their backs on whats right and allowing our country 2 become a pill popping nation which for years has proven time and time again to be a fatal consequence. May the higher officials never have to experience the pain that some ppl do and have the door shut in there face as soon as they find a herbal natural remedy thats harmless and that helps them cope!