Will some doctor write this prescription?
02 Apr 2011
Were the judges right or wrong? A man suffered spinal injuries in a car accident leaving him with chronic pain only relieved by marijuana. His insurance company refused to pay for this medication. But Quebec judges believed that "personal experience" must be considered when deciding if a patient is helped by medication. They ruled his company must pay $5,000 so he could grow his own marijuana. When I wrote about this I asked for your opinion.
DJ from Sherbrooke, Quebec, responded, "Congratulations for bringing this matter to the public’s attention. My father is dying of cancer and this is the one remedy that helps to control his pain and nausea. It’s ludicrous he has to obtain this illegally, but there is so much red tape to get it legally. It seems that the government and drug companies would sooner have him addicted to painkillers such as oxycodone."
From Toronto, "I wonder why the government promotes alcohol, but throws people in jail for having marijuana in their pocket to relieve pain and anxiety. It’s not just patients with cancer who need this medication. Too many tax dollars are spent on controlling something that cannot be controlled."
A reader from Winnipeg says, "It’s good to see some commonsense thinking about the medical use of marijuana. My son suffers from Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. We have found that after trying other remedies, smoking marijuana offers the most relief from his anxiety and pain."
Another from Calgary reports, "My mother has metastatic cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. Doctors have prescribed several drugs to counteract the nausea, but marijuana is far superior."
From Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, "I enjoyed reading your article on the need for weed. I have rods and bolts in my spine following a car accident years ago. I have been in chronic pain which affects my entire life. For years I required large doses of morphine, but marijuana has eased the pain and I can finally sleep through the night."
The most tragic response was from a reader in Lethbridge, Alberta. During a hysterectomy, her urinary bladder was severely injured. Since this complication she has undergone 22 bladder operations, resulting in scar tissue and pain. Finally, the entire bladder was removed with all unpleasant consequences. She says her only help is marijuana, but the doctor who prescribed it has since retired. Now she’s unable to find another physician willing to write a prescription for this medication. She pleads for help.
I’d write it if I were practicing in Lethbridge. But surely, there must be a physician in that city who has the compassion to do so. If there is, contact me. I’ll send her name. Just imagine living day after day with this inconvenience and daily pain. All she asks for is marijuana, a legal request.
From St. Catharines, Ontario, "My 29-year-old son has suffered from obsessive compulsive disease since age 15. Traditional medicines have not helped his fear of germs, nor coped with his anxiety. One of his tics is spitting, which makes him a social outcast. Marijuana helps this problem by keeping his mouth dry. Enjoy the column and keep up the good work."
Many readers mentioned that they suffered from depression, anxiety and/or stress and had been prescribed increasing doses of antidepressants that made them feel funny or suicidal. Marijuana was the only medication that eased their nerves, calmed the stomach, helped them to concentrate and be happy.
Ninety-five percent of readers applauded the Quebec judges. Others believed increased use of marijuana would lead to other problems. One man remarked, "If a doctor prescribes marijuana, he should also be in a position to cancel their driving license. I don’t want to have my family injured by some pot smoking driver."
My recent column on diagnosing colon cancer by stool sniffing dogs also resulted in many e-mails. Readers asked where they could send stool samples in order to bypass colonoscopy. But these dogs were part of research studies, and to my knowledge, no commercial testing by dogs is available.
