Oct. 23--For medical marijuana patients, mounting evidence continues to validate the assertion that cannabis deserves an honored place in their medicine cabinet.
In 1974, a National Institute of Health study found THC slowed the growth of three types of cancers in mice. Local growers are tracking emerging research and developing cannabis strains containing greater amounts of disease-specific chemical components.
Medical marijuana supporters point out that while many lawmakers and the American Medical Association deny the medicinal value of cannabis, pharmaceutical companies and the U.S. government quietly apply for and receive patents that will undoubtedly result in future production of cannabis-based medicine.
Medical abstracts archived in the U.S. National Library of Medicine, not exactly "High Times" magazine, assert chemical and molecular systems present in cannabis "appear to control pain, muscle tone, mood state, appetite and inflammation."
Maria Brook is disabled, dependent upon a wheelchair and legally blind.
She is not a grower. Moving to Mendocino County in 1972, Brook was a medical professional until she fell ill in 1990. Her first contact with cannabis was in the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute, where she observed returning Vietnam veterans being successfully treated.
"Edward," an inland Mendocino County resident, suffers from hepatitis C, diabetes, arthritis, Lyme disease and a rare shoulder condition called adhesive capsullitis. Prior to
his hepatitis diagnosis, he used alcohol to relieve stress.
"I became ill five years ago. I knew nothing about the marijuana scene. I was a lifetime competitive shooter and member of the NRA. I've never taken government assistance. I qualify for disability and have never accepted it," Edward notes.
His wariness of the pharmaceutical industry led him to cannabis, which he purchased through a dispensary until he received one batch that was clearly contaminated with pesticide.
"I was poisoned. This led me to growing my own," he said. Edward uses cannabis-infused liniments, salves and edibles to treat his conditions. "Medical marijuana is one of the most useful medicines for relieving stress," he points out.
"Sandra" discovered cannabis when her mother-in-law was dying of cancer. "She was depressed and not eating." A local oncologist "suggested she try medical marijuana."
Sandra and her husband -- also inland Mendocino County residents -- grew a single plant and made cannabis Rice Krispy treats. "She would eat very tiny bites. It really helped her. She was not so gloomy and anxious," Sandra notes.
Little did Sandra know that she would soon face her own struggle with Stage 4 uterine cancer. During her lengthy treatment, she used nothing but cannabis for her nausea. Injections to stimulate the production of blood cells in her bone marrow caused excruciating pain, for which she utilized cannabis smoked from a vaporizing pipe to garner immediate pain relief. "It seemed to go right where the pain was," she explains.
Today Sandra makes "green drinks" or teas from the fresh green leaves of cannabis.
"They produce no high' or other psychotropic effects," she said. Sandra's fear of judgment by her church congregation is the only reason she has chosen to remain anonymous.
For non-growers like Brook, cannabis costs can be prohibitive. "Some people are what I call generous givers,' and some dispensaries have discount programs," Brook notes.
She urges readers not to equate patient growers with "industrial, for-profit grows and out-of-state, out-of-country cartels."
Sandra agrees the stigmas and generalizations must end.
"Before my family's exposure to medical marijuana, I believed it was just a loophole or stepping stone toward legalization. Today I know how wrong I was. During my chemotherapy, I don't know how I would have gotten through without medical cannabis," notes Sandra.
Fear of raids haunts every patient grower, according to Edward. "We're always concerned about visits from law enforcement. Every patient has heard of rogue deputies that steal medicine, cash and property." He feels there has been a tragic "disconnect" by some employees of the Sheriff's Office regarding the distinction between medical and outlaw marijuana growers.
Brook and others are designing a patient's bill of rights. The document addresses the need for a means to assure and certify the provision of pure, safe, pesticide-free medicine.
"We would like to see environmental protections and the ability for our medicine to be covered by private insurance or Medicare," says Brook.
Other proposals include the guarantee of a cost benefit to the county, access to medical marijuana for patients in nursing homes and tax-supported research and development.
Brook's dreams include a repeal of federal drug laws, standard regulations between states and counties, and grower adoption of California Certified Organic Farm and Community Supported Agriculture models, as dispensaries phase out and closed-circle co-ops phase in.
"Farmers should be funded by patients. Tax dollars should fund research and development," notes Brook.
"Mendocino is the point of the spear of a major sociological shift," says Brook. "Let's move beyond intolerance and support patients with their very personal choices."
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