It’s time to legalize marijuana for pain control
Enough is enough. It’s time to allow people legal, safe, and fast access to marijuana if it helps relieve their pain or effects from chronic illnesses.
People with chronic pain or nausea due to chronic illness deserve that much. We have the knowledge, why are we denying them this comfort and relief?
It is argued that we can’t allow the drugs to be loose and easy to obtain. Places will be robbed, people will be hurt. My answer to that? When I worked as a nurse, I handled morphine, even opium and belladonna. Those drugs are a heck of a lot more powerful than a few puffs of marijuana!
Other arguments include that the effects can’t be controlled - and while this may be true, there’s nothing stopping our scientists and researchers from finding out how to do that. They did that for codeine, for morphine and for all the other “bad” drugs out there that make life bearable for many.
Canada sort of legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. I say sort of because the government has managed to legalize it but throw up so many road blocks that it’s not easy to get. When I speak to my US friends, they’re amazed that we’re “allowed” to use pot. Well, yes, we can, if we’re well enough to jump through all the hoops.
Some states in the United States have legalized marijuana’s medicinal use, but this is useless and doesn’t prevent raids from federal law enforcement because the federal government doesn’t recognize the state legality.
A coworker brought this article to my attention: Vending Machines Dispense Pot in LA. It’s a start but, there is the ever present threat of a raid.
The fight against drugs should not be affecting people who need medications that allow them to live a decent quality of life. If we can allow the use of very potent narcotics, then we can - and should - allow the use of marijuana.
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Technorati Tags: marijuana for pain control,chronic pain,legalize medicinal marijuana
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POSTED IN: Chronic Pain, Pain Management
18 opinions for It’s time to legalize marijuana for pain control
Grace
Jan 31, 2008 at 1:10 am
the thing is, right now it’s not legalized in other states, but in California as it were, like any powerful pain killer, marijuano should be under prescription (and not give out cards authorizing its use). and its use should be tightly monitored. any drug has potential for abuse, and this one more than many others, as it’s already used for something else. I don’t think vending machines are the place to store this.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Jan 31, 2008 at 2:34 am
I don’t know why marijuana wasn’t legalized ages ago.
Kristen King
Jan 31, 2008 at 1:51 pm
It sounds like the nation really needs to get on board with this idea rather than individual states. Those who would really benefit from it and are just taking advantage of the privileges allowed by their state, but are being victimized by inconsistent federal laws in addition to still being in pain.
Will we EVER be on the same page under human government? I personally do not think so.
Kristen
Marijke Durning, RN
Jan 31, 2008 at 6:14 pm
So, the question becomes, what can we do about it?
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Jan 31, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Revolt! Haha, just kidding.
Until something “official” is done like making it legal, you can bet - and safely - that those who illegally use marijuana for medical purposes (and not just for recreation) will continue to do so. I know if I were in severe pain, and pot helped, I would. (And I don’t even like the junk.)
Claire Alexander
Feb 1, 2008 at 12:37 pm
It always amazes me when something so obvious to me is not obvious to all. Especially when the objections (too dangerous) don’t hold water, as in the example of other controlled substances that are more hazardous, yet allowed by prescription. Can we blame big pharma? Do they have anything to lose if marijuana by prescriptionis legalized ? Is it still the knee jerk reflex against “drugs”? I know there are groups lobbying for legalization–why are they not being heard? Do we not yet have a critical mass? If we know what is pushing the forces against legalization, perhaps we can come up with a solution.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 1, 2008 at 7:21 pm
“If we know what is pushing the forces against legalization, perhaps we can come up with a solution.”
Good point, Claire. I’ve heard theories, the same ones everyone’s probably heard. Pharmas losing out. States/Feds wanting to be able to tax it. And, of course, the age old “too dangerous.”
Kristen King
Feb 1, 2008 at 7:26 pm
Sounds like we need to have a public showing of that 1937 campy cult classic Reefer Madness. I own copy that I purchased in the last 5 years or so, Marijke, so I’m sure you could get one. How about giving it away in a contest? ;)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefer_Madness
Kristen
Marijke Durning, RN
Feb 1, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Claire, you make an argument I’d not thought of.
I try not to think of pharma as the big bad giants, much of what they do does benefit me in terms of my health and my livelihood; but sometimes we do have to stop and wonder though.
Kristen - I’ll have to think about that! LOL
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 1, 2008 at 8:43 pm
And, if we want to lean toward the whole “laughter is the best medicine” thing, let’s not forget Dazed and Confused and Half Baked, lol.
Claire Alexander
Feb 2, 2008 at 1:02 am
Alicia
I don’t understand. You sound like the feds/states wanting to tax marijuana is an argument against legalization…wouldn’t it be an argument for it? What am I missing?
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 2, 2008 at 5:31 am
Hey Claire - not really an argument for or against, but more of a…kind of a “reason,” I guess is the right word, or “excuse” (maybe?) as to why it hasn’t been legalized (yet, or, period). That taxing it may be something they (states or feds) would want to do, but haven’t set up a system for yet. I don’t know anything about how that (taxing things, setting up rules for taxing things, etc.) works, so that “theory” could be just that - speculation, talk - but it’s just something I’ve heard.
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Feb 2, 2008 at 9:09 am
[…] It’s time to legalize marijuana for pain control. Registered nurse and b5media blogger Marijke Durning is discussing the benefits of hitting the ol’ bong to help manage pain. What do you think of her points in relation to former Mental Health Notes discussion about cannabis and schizophrenia? […]
Rei Hagakure
Feb 2, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Having taken enough opioids daily to kill a horse, for over 9 years, and then simply stopped, I’ve found 2 safe methods for pain control… laughing like a maniac all day, and a bit o’ the killer weed when someone is kind enough to share. Why hooch isn’t legal is a long story, an old story, a story that holds no water. Thousands of people suffer pain daily, but because of politics and ignorance, we will continue to suffer. This proves the govt. and the medical community (generally speaking) don’t give a fig for me, how can I respect such a ridiculous set of laws that only egg on the ‘drug war’? It’s beyond ridiculous, especially since pot is a proven analgesic.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 2, 2008 at 5:48 pm
“…how can I respect such a ridiculous set of laws…”
I often find myself asking that question. Though I don’t have any painful condition that marijuana would help, I still often find myself asking that question in regards to this and similar topics.
Marijke Durning, RN
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I feel very frustrated by the ignorance of those who make and support these laws. I believe that if they knew what it was like to experience the intense nausea or the pain that some people have and for whom marijuana would help, they wouldn’t be so against it any more.
Alicia Sparks, NAMI Affiliation Leader
Feb 4, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Oh, I definitely agree. Folks seem to change their tunes once the tables are turned.
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Feb 8, 2008 at 5:01 pm
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