Tracey Spicer argues for use of medical marijuana

[grace]

Tracey Spicer says she regrets not getting marijuana for her dying mum

 

POLITICIANS enjoy beating their chests about "zero tolerance".

 

But what about zero tolerance for suffering?

 

As a society we allow our weakest - those with cancer, AIDS, chronic arthritis, fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis - to writhe in pain because they can't get the right drugs. Many are helpless, innocent children.

 

An AMA study out today reveals 84 per cent of cancer kids suffer "a lot" or "a great deal" of pain in the last month of their life.

 

Just stop for a minute to imagine what that's like. You know your beloved son or daughter is dying. You sit by their bedside and watch as the life ebbs from their body: the circles darken under their eyes; their bones protrude from their limbs; the colour saps from their skin. The nurse injects morphine but it doesn't cap the breakthrough pain.

 

 

Morphine is a terrible drug with nasty side effects. Many people are allergic to it. For some, it doesn't work at all. When my mum was dying of pancreatic cancer, she begged me to buy marijuana. The shooting pain that frayed every nerve ending was too much to bear. Ultimately, I was too much of a coward. It's a decision I regret to this day.

 

There's a growing body of research proving cannabis - either smoked or in a liquid - eases the excruciating pain of cancer patients, the spasms of MS sufferers and the crippling effects of arthritis. The active ingredient, THC, slows the progress of Alzheimer's, reduces tumour growth in lung cancers and inhibits the spread of breast cancer.

 

While proof of its efficacy is new, the use of medical marijuana is not. Since the 3rd Century AD, the Chinese have considered cannabis one of the 50 fundamental herbs in traditional medicine. It took 16 centuries for western medicine to catch on, using it as a pain reliever until aspirin came along.

 

Now, in 14 states in the US, Canada, Spain and the Netherlands, you can get a doctor's certificate to grow your own or buy a liquid version from a pharmacist. So where does that leave us? Back in the dark ages.

 

You wouldn't treat a dog the way we treat our terminally ill. Despite support from the Country Women's Association, Law Society, Cancer Council and medical community, our PM is out to prove he's tough on drugs.

 

"I've always had a very tough line on this stuff - really, really hard line," Mr Rudd once told Channel 9. "I'm in John Howard's camp on this one. We have a unity ticket."

 

The dangers of smoking marijuana are well documented: mental illness, cancer, heart attack and immune disorders. Clearly, it shouldn't be legalised. But it should be available to alleviate suffering.

 

Victorian doctors want to trial a cannabinoid mouth spray, Sativex, for patients with MS. They'll need the dexterity of Circus Oz to jump through all the hoops - all for a drug that's legal in the UK, Europe and US.

 

Back home, NSW's last attempt went up in smoke. In 2003 then-Premier Bob Carr announced a trial of medical cannabis after being moved by the suffering of Upper House MP Paul O'Grady. It didn't go ahead because of issues with drug importation.

 

In the meantime, thousands of ordinary Australians risk fines or jail trying to ease the suffering of their loved ones. When Jesus said, "suffer the little children", I don't think this is what he had in mind.

 

15 comments on this story

 

Author: Tracey Spicer

January 18, 2010

Source: News.com

http://www.news.com.au/opinion/tracey-spic...9-1225820679241

[hobbez]

Not a bad story, thanks grace

 

The dangers of smoking marijuana are well documented: mental illness, cancer, heart attack and immune disorders. Clearly, it shouldn't be legalised. But it should be available to alleviate suffering.

 

Love to see these documents.. Marijuana causing cancer, bullshit. Tell that to Rick Simspon...

 

Great article ruined by 2 lines of crap

Edited January 18, 2010 by hobbez

[nowonknows]

Rick Simpson is a twat, where is the evidence backing the hicks claims? Smoking anything isn't good for you, but that is why God invented Vaporizers

[sew850i]

definately a good read, i reckon we are very close to medical dispensaries...

 

although she's wrong on the suffer the little children part..

 

Mark 10:14: When Jesus noticed it, he was very angry and said, "Let the children come to me and don't stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.

[Crunchy]

Not a bad story, thanks grace

 

 

 

Love to see these documents.. Marijuana causing cancer, bullshit. Tell that to Rick Simspon...

 

Great article ruined by 2 lines of crap

 

good article, though i agree with hobbez, those two lines kinda ruined it. Its good that the author is pushing medical cannabis, and i support his/her cause all the way, but those two lines do a lot of damage, and people reading this not knowing much about cannabis are going to buy into the lies when they read a pro-cannabis article giving in to government propaganda.

[cybergenesis]

"The dangers of smoking marijuana are well documented: mental illness, cancer, heart attack and immune disorders."

 

Everything in this sentence is false. Also the word "dangers" is inappropriate yeah marijuana is such a dangerous drug.

 

Not a single one of my friends or family have a problem with me smoking pot, because they can't see any way which it has a negative effect on me. I would be stupid to stop using pot, and go join the alcoholics in this neighborhood which every night are fighting and screaming in their drunken states.

[ilegalalien]

gotta love a girl with a name like that!

[MongyMan]

Rick Simpson is a twat, where is the evidence backing the hicks claims? Smoking anything isn't good for you, but that is why God invented Vaporizers

 

 

Ummmm are you kidding? There is heaps of scientific evidence to back his claims if you look. It's not Rick who looks like the twat from where I'm sitting.

 

Personally I can't imagine someone dying from cancer or suffering other terminal or seriously debilitating diseased could give a toss about any risks associated with smoking. Besides that, eating it is the safest and best form of using it as a medicine not vaporizers which also have health risks (maby not as bad as smoking it) but that doesn't change the fact they still do.

 

Peace MongyMan

[Chronmasta]

yep a good read ....cheers grace n tracy

 

however...

The dangers of smoking marijuana are......

same go`s for smoke`n fuckn anything.....

mm hit the nail on the head.....eating it is the healiest option

tracy has just been brainwashed like the rest of the cunts ....im sure she would soon change her mind if she had some heri

 

 

[Grandma's Boy]

I can't really add anything in a discussion sense, but must admit i'm quite enjoying this "Marijauna News" subforum..

I've never really researched anything into the advantages and disadvantages of smoking in a medicinal sense.

Very interesting to know..

 

GB

Edited February 16, 2010 by Grandma's Boy