Since I was first informed of the possibility of having M.S. I have done a lot of reading on the subject. There is a lot of information available due to the nature of the disease. One day while browsing I found Montel Williams site. He has M.S. and has started a foundation to raise funds for research. In reading the information I found that he is an advocate and user of medical marijuana. Mr. Williams says that he has been prescribed several drugs and Marijuana is the only thing that has eased spasticity and pain. There are a number of muscle relaxants and even things like Botox and clonidine that are regularly prescribed.
There have been some studies on Marijuana and M.S. and the ones I have seen show that there is evidence that it helps with spasticity. The problem is most of the evidence is subjective, meaning the patient feels better but there is no scientific way to measure it. In science, you cannot take a person at their word.
I have asked several medical professionals what their thoughts on medical marijuana and none that I have spoken to were against it. One doctor said, “There are no deleterious effects in regard to M.S. The only problems with marijuana are, it is smoking, and it’s illegal.”
The M.S. society estimates that fifteen percent of patients use marijuana. Consider that these folks are not only breaking the law they are also limiting their employment options. I have a close friend who recently had to take a drug test to get a job as a timeshare salesman. That’s right, timeshare sales not paramedic or commercial pilot, timeshare.
I truly do not understand the stigma we have attached to medical marijuana. There is no moral high ground in denying a person relief even if it is temporary.
C.D. Update
The Trouble Ain’t Over C.D.s have been completely re-manufactured and the glitches are gone. We received them today and have shipped new copies to all who have ordered thus far. Thanks again for your patience.
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Tags: M.S., medical marijuana, Multiple Sclerosis
Jayne d'Arcy wrote,
I’ve recently spoken to a few Lupus patients who have found relief from both pain symptoms and drug side effects from their use of medicinal marijuana. Considering what I’m going through right now, as much as I dislike smoking (for myself, that is) I’d use it if it offered me relief. Though I wouldn’t lose a job, I would lose my disability and thus my only medical insurance, Medicare.
Link | August 16th, 2006 at 11:54 pm
jafabrit wrote,
You are on Dr. John’s list today for blogs to visit, so hi from a geordie artist in ohio.
I don’t understand the inflexibility with medical use of m, which is mild compared to some of the legal meds the docs prescribe. I would hope there isn’t a day I would need it, but if there was I would probably use it.
Enjoyed visiting your blog and reading some of your posts.
good luck with your cd’s and music.
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Chana wrote,
i can just imagine how scary this time is for you. i wish you the best. it might help some to know that alot of people live with MS in good health and good lives. i have a blogger friend who has it (http://myjourneywithms.blogspot.com/)..she is young and is living with it. i too have been diagnosed with a label…it is hard to live with but i do. my daughter too who is about to be 9 too…it is possible. life does change but not at all for the bad alone.
good luck my sweet. Dr. John made you the link of the day and i’m grateful…
take care. don’t be afraid. the road ahead might be more curvy than expected but it’s ongoing and God won’t leave you alone for a second.
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 6:03 am
Margie wrote,
Montel has done wonders with MedMJ. 9 states allow it although Federally it remains illegal. A few more states will have it up on their ballots this November. Personally, I smoked it in my younger years for all the wrong reasons. I stopped for a good 14 years but needed it medically 4 years ago. I was in a terrible accident while 23 weeks pregnant. The remainder of my pregnancy was terribly painful, my muscles wouldn’t heal as my tummy grew, my ribs were broken, etc. I couldn’t take Muscle relaxers because of dangers involved. The other drugs that they gave me were equal to Heroin!! (Hydrocodone, Oxycotin, etc.) Granted I would had been using these for pain management but my baby who was healthy would have become addicted!! I went to a Chiropractor for the remaining of my term and he suggested MJ (although couldn’t subscribe it or provide it.) I got some, scared out of my mind because it was illegal but relieved because it worked wonderfully and my Baby would be so much safer. MedMJ is also great because you can control your pain management. Often a pill at 500mgs can be too much and you feel “stoned”. With MJ you take a few tokes, put it out and wait to see how you feel. If you need a few more or maybe not - you are the judge. The effects were relaxing and the spasms left, I wasn’t high but functional and it really worked well for me. After I delivered I felt so much better and haven’t used it since.
Of course, I pray that this isn’t MS and that your MRI’s come out clean and that you get better. First and foremost. My hugs go out to you in the meantime. Take care. (Yep, sent via Dr. John although I already know ya!)
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 6:52 am
Crazy Object B wrote,
hi from dr.johns blog.music cool
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 7:34 am
Stacy wrote,
Also here from Dr. John’s.
Tough topic. I honestly don’t know how I feel about medicinal mj. I can’t say I know how I’d act if I or someone I loved was desperate enough to consider it. I hope I never have to find out. My heart goes out to those who are there.
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 7:41 am
lorilinna wrote,
Sent by Dr. John, a guy who randomly selects blogs for his readers to enjoy in his effort to take over the world.
I do not know what to think about using marijuana as a pain relief. I am a stauch advocate of not doing things that are illegal but I have never been in thekids of pain where I wanted relief so bad I would break the law. However, when I had contractions while giving birth, the labor pains were so bad I wanted my husband to punch my lights out so I would be unconscious…but he never listens to me.
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 2:12 pm
Cindy wrote,
I don’t know what I think of it either, maybe it’s one of those things that you can’t really honestly decide without being in a situation where it affects you personally. Dr. John sent me, too…
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 4:01 pm
Kristin wrote,
I certainly hope that it turns out that you do not have MS and that the Lord would heal you entirely. If it is for medicinal purposes, I don’t really see how it is different than any narcotic
Dr John sent me
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 4:42 pm
Jo wrote,
Hello! I’m here from Dr. John’s. I’m so sorry to hear of your health problems. Personally, I don’t see a problem with MJ if it’s prescribed by a Dr. I don’t see how that different from any other medications that have side effects. Good luck!
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 6:06 pm
Catch wrote,
HI..Im from Dr Johns……I think if MJ helps you should be able to use it. All you should need is a dr. prescription
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
Catch wrote,
HI Im froom dr johns
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 6:53 pm
nea wrote,
We take drugs everyday that would illegal if they weren’t by prescription. I see nothing wrong with marijuana being prescribed for whatever it helps. I have never felt it is any worse than smoking and alcohol. But they won’t make legal what they can’t tax. And everone could just grow there own, so it isn’t going to legalized anytime soon, too much money to be made keeping it illegal.
I know little about MS, except that several people I know has it, and none of them talk much about it. I guess it isn’t something they want to talk about.
Dr. John sent me….
Link | August 17th, 2006 at 9:26 pm