September 1, 2009 - 2:22pm
Does anyone else have have doctors prescriptions for medical marijuana AND have a pain management doctor?
I was wondering if so, if they have told their doctors about the medical marijuana, etc. I have medical marijuana, which actually reduces my chronic pain, and enables me to reduce my total daily opiate dosage. I no longer live in the US, but will likely move back one day. I was wondering how I would bring this up with my pain management physician. Technically, it is a legal prescription, so I would guess it would be ok. But I would assume it depends on the doctor. I have heard of others in PM that actually use marijuana without a prescription, and some of their PM docs do not seem to mind. For others it is an absolute NoNo. But with a prescription, I would think they should allow it. Any thoughts?
September 1, 2009 - 8:06pm
#2
Michigan has recentlty
Michigan has recentlty allowed medical marijuana since the legislation passed last november by something like 69%. However since marijuana is not a prescription medication according to the FDA, doctors cannot give you a prescription for it. They can give you a letter recommending marijuana as a treatment to your illness this is called "Physician Certification" and is a form filled out by your doctor basically stating that you have a chronic illness that would benefit from the use of marijuana. This letter/form is given to the michigan dept. of community health. They will inturn approve or deny you and grant you a medical marijuana card which allows you to have in possesion 2 ounces and upto 5 female plants growing in a locked location, you are also allowed to designate one person as your "caretaker" who acts as your grower and this ensures the state will not procecute your grower. At this time and until the Surgeon General finds marijuana to be a medication the federal government can prosecute either the patient or there caretaker because marijuana is against federal law for all uses including medical. The new attorney general Eric Holder who is in charge at the Dept. of Justice has said that the DEA is longer at this time going to come after medical marijuana patients like they used to though. Im not sure if he also said they arent going to target authorized growers or the pot shops like in CA, but he deffinately said patients are longer going to be targets.
FYI I supported this legislation in Michigan and voted for it. Also as far as not being able to give you a prescription but instead a letter of recomendation/certification should technically be the legal stand point in all states however Im not sure how other states legislation is worded only Michigans.
September 1, 2009 - 10:34pm
#3
As far as I know, New Mexico
As far as I know, New Mexico is the only state that allows for medical marijuanna and actually is in control of the growing and distributing of it. In other states they license out the ability to grow to growers.
September 3, 2009 - 9:25pm
#4
california grandaddy
I am a medical marijuana patient and have been in P.M. since i was 26. my PM DR. actually writes scripts for marijuana and is more than able to work with you to find a good combo of meds that can be safely taken with your pills and patches. his nickname is Doctor Feelgood....lol i've even told him that and he laughed for a good 5 min. In california we can grow our own medication and have up to a half pound on us or in our car at anytime. i can grow 6 plants at a time in flower and 12 in vegetative. I love my weed as it helps me a whole lot! any other questions go to www.norml.org or www.canorml.org they have all the states and laws that are current.
September 3, 2009 - 11:54pm
#5
In addition to my usual pain
In addition to my usual pain issues, I've been having some digestive problems and stomach pain lately. Part of me is tempted to drive to California and smoke some cannabis. When I used to smoke it I would find it helped alot with stomach problems and digestive issues...Its not worth it to get a UA or worse yet, to be arrested so I'll guess I'll stick with all these other meds that don't seem to help...
September 4, 2009 - 6:43pm
#6
None of my docs
mind that I smoke marijuana...I've been honest and they all know.
September 6, 2009 - 11:21am
#7
Seems like that would be the
Seems like that would be the exception rather than the rule.
September 6, 2009 - 5:18pm
#8
I watched a extremely good
I watched a extremely good documentary on Showtime about legalizing MJ. I just looked up the info to post here. The doc was "In pot we trust". Whether you are for it or against it, watch it. The feds grow MJ and send the cigs to patients. They show patients that suffer from variety of illnesses that benefit from smoking MJ. You can go to www.patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2009/05/18/in-pot-we-trust/ and watch it online. Take care, htmom
September 6, 2009 - 5:01pm
#9
ht mom
I watched that documentary "In Pot We Trust" and i thought it was great. It gave exellent examples of how marijuana could be used for mudicinal purposes. Its crazy, that one women i think she had touretts, she took one hit and it was like she was totally cured. Im a strong supporter of medical marijuana and hope that it is legalized in the very near future. It could benefit our country in many ways some may disagree but thats my opinion. One love. Pce.
September 7, 2009 - 12:24am
#10
I have that vid here
September 7, 2009 - 8:19pm
#11
Isn't the number of patients
Isn't the number of patients that the Feds grow and Send "The Medication" to seven folks?
September 7, 2009 - 10:53pm
#12
The Iroquois Indian Tribe
This North American tribe would use the devils weed after a member had went through a period of sickness which they felt as if they were not yet over. A rough translation would be " This gets you going"
AmishPharmer --Ethnobotanical Specialist Ohio State
September 8, 2009 - 12:37am
#13
I personally find that
I personally find that marijuana does little to nothing directly in the treatment of my actual pain. I.e., I do not experience analgesic affects from it. However, it helps immensely in dealing with the side effects of the massivve number of pain-treating pharmaceuticals I'm on, particularly GI affairs. I think it certainly has a place in medicine, however specific and limited.
Phil
September 8, 2009 - 3:33am
#14
Exactly, phil.See post #5 for
Exactly, phil.
See post #5 for my view of it...I ended up succombing to the temptation to smoke this weekend. It got to a point where I was barely eating cuz it made my stomach hurt so bad. I smoked about .05g and had a nice big meal then a delightful night of peaceful sleep. It did not decrease my pain though, as I have read it does for others. It didnt seem to potentiate the pain meds either but it did help my spasming muscles to relax and improve my attitude for a few hours...that alone can be worth the irritation of inhaling burning plant material.
September 9, 2009 - 10:43pm
#15
I had a medical marijuana
I had a medical marijuana card while living in California. It definitely helped enhance my pain medication and I did get better sleep. I am sure getting better sleep and relaxing does have a positive impact for people suffering from pain. When I started going to pain management the doctor told me to quit so I did. He also was surprised a licensed doctor recommended cannabis therapy prior to going to pain management. I think cannabis is by far safer than any pill out there and never heard of anyone destroying their liver or overdosing. I was surprised at this doctors lack of knowledge since it had been legal for medical purposes for 13 years in California, which was the state he practiced medicine in.
It all depends on the doctor. You never know what you are going to get until you meet them. I have been trying to get an American doctor since I had my car accident. I thought I finally was getting one when I moved back to Texas and the receptionist said my appointment will be with "Dr. McHendrew". Of course with my luck, when I go to my first appointment, "Dr. Viveek Mahendru" was there to prescribe me methadone and antidepressants without any reguard to my previous prescriptions of MS Contin and Norco which helped me manage my pain while averaging a 3.5 gpa in college.
Just to recap, try and find a friend that can recommend a good doctor from experience. Oh, and ask the receptionist to spell the doctors name before you book the appointment.
You're exactly right, it depends on the doctors. I've heard different things all across the board. Some doctors will passively encourage patients to smoke weed, even in a state where it is a felony offense. Ofcourse they don't outright say it but its implied. On the other end of it I've heard of CP patients with a legitimate, legal prescription for medical marijuana who have been threatened with discharge from the PM program if they do not quit smoking...
You'll find that certain states are more likely to be friendly regarding this simply because some states allow for medical marijuana. The two main states that I know of are California and Oregon.
Can anyone list other US states that allow for medica marijuana?