Medicinal Marijuana Advocate Group

Alex’s Lack of Alternative Medication

Marijuana balances my lack of appetite, Insomnia, Panic Attacks, depression, and PTSD. Recently my supplier was unable to send my meds. I have now lost 30 pounds in roughly 2-3 weeks, get an average of 3-4 hrs of sleep a night. Three weeks ago, I weighed in at 168lbs. Today I weigh 135lbs. I am 6’1″ and this is what I look like without my Medicinal Cannabis Regiment:

Prescription drug users pay attention!
An Essay by: Rev. B. Baker

We have a major issue on our hands. This is due to the severe problems with medication abuse, overdose/deaths, and the poisoning of our body. Please seriously think about the following questions and facts. How many people do you know on prescriptions? The fact is 1 out of every 2 Americans are on at least one prescription (Health, United States, 2004. 1.)kay so we are told they are needed to lead a normal healthy life. Have you seen all the recalls or the drug fact sheet with every medication? Many may lead to other ailments and in some cases even more serious or life threatening health issues, just look at or listen to any prescription drug advertisement or recall and lawsuit commercial. Prescription drug overdoses are becoming more of an issue, threat, and concern than all illegal drugs, alcohol, or tobacco (LA Times, “Medical Marijuana”. 2.).
Now lets look at a substitute for many prescriptions, that can easily be grown in your back yard, cannabis. Have you heard or picked a side to the national debate about cannabis as medicine? Maybe you have seen some of the new medicinal cannabis news stories, commercials, or advertisements? How about the anti-cannabis ones? Stop and process all your information as you recall it. Now take the top three issues that arise against cannabis or MMJ (the new slang term coined to cannabis medicine). Now lets compare them to prescriptions in full spectrum.
The facts and information for both sides will prove MMJ as a safer and more effective, if not just as effective, treatment and substitute for prescriptions. MMJ can address respiratory, pain, inflammation, aging, eating, bowel, neurological, and honestly a few hundred other ailments, diseases, and disorders (US NEWS “Medical Claims for Marijuana or just Blowing Smoke” & “8 Facts You Might Not Know About Marijuana”. 3.). The evidence, examples, and facts presented will be towards the top three issues with both MMJ and Prescriptions. The first one being the safety in body functions, effects, and addiction. Next the evidence and facts on toxicity as well as overdose will be laid out. The last point to be compared is all the studies compiled on each in relevance to any contradiction and what information is released or not released to the media and then to the public. All this will be summarized into one factual conclusion…..

Safety of the two subjects can first be compared by examining the effects on body functions. This is done easily since I am a test subject and recipient of both medicinal cannabis and multiple prescriptions. The first comprehensive study on MMJ was conducted by the Indian Hemp Drug Commission. They concluded that MMJ (or cannabis the scientific term) doesn’t depress or stimulate body functions, it actually does both simultaneously, thus regulating and or fixing many ailments caused by out of sync body functions (Drug Library “Indian Hemp Drug Commission”. 4.). Then lets take not of the facts that I cited earlier, that being there is now 1000s of different studies done on cannabis to date. Some facts gathered from these studies are the following. It is nontoxic to all body cells and organs. MMJ also does not depress the central nervous system in any way therefore its safety is “unparalleled by any prescription or over the counter medicine”. Do not forget the fact that 51% of the population has the opportunity to try cannabis and of that 43% go on to be users of cannabis (Preface to “The Impact of Marijuana Use”. Office of National Drug Control Policy. 5.). Keep this information in mind for when we address the “deadly” side effects of MMJ later.
Now lets look at driving as it is the deadliest act done by drugged people (illegal or legal drugs). In 1983 the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration started studying drivers on cannabis. They concluded the only effect on the driving performance was slower speeds. Their 1992 study found that marijuana was rarely a factor in any machine operating accidents unless combined with alcohol. This study was buried for six years then released under a bunch of misinformation in 1998. During this same year a study of theirs actually concluded that cannabis users were actually less likely to get in a wreck than sober drivers (National Government Agency Report, “SAMHSA Stoned Drivers”. 6.). Remember the Center for Disease Control reports 1 in 2 people are on prescriptions therefore half the sober drivers aren’t actually sober (first paragraph of this paper fourth sentence).
Next lets contrast that to prescription drugs’ safety on body function. Many prescriptions including amphetamines, benzodiazepines, and opiates have many effects on the brains systems and can impede driving. In fact many state very clearly in their warning’s not to operate machinery. Then when you combine in the factor and effects of misused or abused prescriptions it is threefold. In short driving on prescriptions is very risky and puts us all at jeopardy. Then looking at the amount of prescription drugs vs. cannabis (which stays in the body after the high weeks longer than any prescription substance) in people’s systems after accidents it is a 2:1 ratio for prescriptions. (National Government Agency Report, “NIDA Prescriptions and Driving Info & Facts”. 7.) All this from prescriptions, a substance that is more regulated and controlled than guns. Then take into consideration that the acting Drug Enforcement Administration’s Judge Francis Young declared MMJ, “In it’s natural form, the safest therapeutic substance known to man (DEA Judge Francis Young Recommendation. 8.). Then he added the fact that 10,000 people die from prescription drugs each year. Actually it is up to 27,000 in present time (National Government Agency Report, “SAMHSA Prescription Death Epidemic”. 9.), 3000 from caffeine mainly from OTC sleep aids, and even 500 from just Asprin (Drug War Fact, “Deaths related to Cannabis search”. 10.). The fact that opiate addiction (legal or illegal) is the biggest addiction threat to all men over 30 (“Heroin Abuse and Addiction.” Teen Decisions: Drugs. 11.) and the fact that every Medical group from the American Medical Association to the New England Journal of Medicine has all endorsed MMJ as a safer alternative to multiple prescriptions ends this area of the comparison (Memo from desk of Gov. of New Mexico, “Addressing All the Medical Marijuana Support”. 12.).
Now consider the fact that cannabis/MMJ is a schedule I narcotic, yes higher controlled and believed to be more deadly and less medicinal than cocaine (“Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Seriously Ill People” Opposing Viewpoints: Terminal Illness. 13.). We also know thanks to the many studies that MMJ controls pain modulation, MMJ’s role on body functions are multifaceted, MMJ can cause a mental addiction, but the withdrawals are much more mild than any pain reliever, psychotic medication, even tobacco or alcohol for that matter (“Examining the Scientific Research on Marijuana” Contemporary Issues Companion. 14.).

Next lets examine the toxicity contrasted to the overdose factor in deaths of the two subjects. MMJ is literally impossible to overdose and die from. In the plants over 3000 years of documented existence it has only 2 recorded deaths tagged to its self. One was due to allergic reaction and the other to heart complications, both victims were already terminal elderly people (10.). This is even with the fact that the US Federal government has been supplying MMJ patients since the sixties with an average of 30 joints (cannabis cigarettes), to 100s of patients at first, every week through the I. N. D. program. There is still 4 of the original patients alive and well thanks to their monthly government ran cannabis shipments. Therefore in the last 40 years it is prescription deaths well over 1 million to MMJ’s two. We currently also know that there is 20 million illicit drug users and 76% (around 15 million) are cannabis users (“Illicit Drug Users, Numbers in the News” Policy & Practice. 15.). This is a massive amount of people 12 and older consuming cannabis especially since many people are still closet users so the number I believe is much greater yet no severe accident or even a death report directly related to cannabis in almost 30 years.
Now looking at the fact that prescriptions, animal prescriptions drugs, and even legal/illegal plant substances deaths are over 100,000 in the last decade (TIME Magazine “Recreational Pharmaceuticals”. 16.) as well as the research done in 2003. Starting with pain killers like Opiates, a powerful pain relieving narcotic from the poppy plant. Emergency room visits room visits from 1998-2000 rose 48% for Vicodin, 108% for Oxycotin, and 68% for Methadone. 43% of the people admitted were for prescription misuse or accidental overdose (Mansfeld News Journal “Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Affects Us All. 17. ). Also in 2000 626 deaths from just 7 metropolitan cities were directly related to painkiller overdoses (7.). We know that despite all uncertainness the difference in the safety ratio is directly determined by the substances overdose potential and is ranked and fully depends on the substance’s potential for of acute lethality. This puts MMJ safer than caffeine, asprin and even water. This is due to the fact that too much water can actually drown every one of your cells (INTER SCIENCE “Comparison of Toxicity with Psychoactive Substances” 18.).
By looking at the facts it is plainly seen that MMJ is a safe non toxic treatment for nausea, MS, spastic, appetite, pain, and many other debilitating disorders. Also we know that MMJ smoke’s delivery of medicine cannot be matched as it is the most effective, quick, controlling, and safe way of delivering any medication besides vaporizing (heating the cannabis without actually burning the carbon based molecules) but only in contrast to the eating, digesting, and metabolizing prescription drugs synthetic and natural chemicals and compounds (“MMJ is Effective Medicine.” Opposing Viewpoints: Medicine. 19.). This wraps up the overdose and death comparison.

We will now put all the studies and information cited side by side to see how the information is released (or not) to the media then to the public. It will also be shown how and what is spun for each subject by the government as they control the Dept. Health and Human Services, DEA, NIDA, FDA, NHSDA, ONDCP, IND, NHTSA, CDC, and all but two cites from this paper. They control all the information and studies I cite throughout this whole paper. The only two studies and information cited they don’t control on the two subjects are my cites to the mountain of studies and information on MMJ. It will be shown were they contradict and use logical fallacies regularly in the information released. Also the issues with prescription deaths and abuse is growing daily as well as the lawsuits popping up will be visited, considering most of the agencies above are responsible for the safety, regulation, and released information on all prescriptions (19).
A few government studies showed that cannabis use peaked in the 70s and has declined every year since with mild fluctuations here or there. We also know that the use amongst teens has declined in the last ten years despite the fact that their agencies swore it would go up drastically with the implementation of state sanctioned MMJ. Actually they concluded every age group’s use has gone down. It has also been proved a number of times that cannabis use is proceeded by alcohol and/or tobacco therefore diminishing any possibility that it is “the gateway drug” (“Medical Marijuana.” Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. 20.). These all are from government agency studies and compiled by the NHSDA (“Marijuana is a Gateway Drug” Current Controversies: Drug Legalization. 21.).
Then these agencies release information saying more people are in treatment for cannabis use than ever and go on to say that 50% of them are forced into treatment through courts and jails. As a recovered prescription and illegal drug addict, gone NA and AA counselor I know that forced treatment cant be considered treatment. This is due to the fact that you must want to recover. Yet all kinds of new studies from the same agencies say and prove prescription drug issues are becoming more of an issue than all illegal drugs combined and even alcohol and tobacco in some states. These studies are concluded and conducted by the same NHSDA as stated just the opposite a paragraph before. The ONDCP (Office of National Drug Control Policy) tries to claim cannabis visits have surpassed legal and illegal opiate visits to the hospital. They do this by spinning the percentage cannabis visits double to ten while opiates only grew 68% to almost 10,000. This and the fact that the studies cited earlier prove that everything except cannabis has contributed to the growth of drug overdoses by illegal and legal drugs (5.). Then looking at a chart released by the white house we can see, in the last decade, the social costs due to all drug abuse. It has rose 40% which is consistent with the rise in prescription drug abuse minus the decline in other drug abuse like alcohol and tobacco. Remember the earlier facts and studies cited said tobacco isn’t a drug (“Direct Social Cost of Drug Abuse” [Table 24]. 22.).
Now lets look at the government entity that controls all these studies, reports, and information released. NIDA or National Institute of Drug Abuse was started in 1974 with the implementation of the Controlled Substance Act. This is the group who scheduled MMJ/cannabis as a schedule I narcotic, meaning it is more deadly, addictive, and has less medicinal value than cocaine. This entity controls all most all government studies, reports, funding of, and information released concerning all drugs legal or illegal. The NIDA even has it’s hands in with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These two’s combined problems with illegal and legal drug’s safety and effects can be blamed for every prescription drug death, recall, and side effects. This is due to the lack of information and masses of misinformation they release about them all. A great example is how they tell you cannabis is deadly and highly addictive. Then you try cannabis and find it isn’t at all deadly or addictive. So you believe all the other drugs are less harmful due to the way they are scheduled in the CSA. The NIDA and FDA are also to blame for the terrible fiasco known as “the war on drug” and every negative aspect of illegal and legal drugs connected to it.
The NIDA and FDA even control the Government’s IND program that has been dispensing 2 tons of cannabis yearly for the last 40 years and also had to stop taking recipients in 1992 due to the overwhelming demand for MMJ with the AIDS epidemic (Wikipedia “Compassionate I N D program”. 23.) & (PubMed, “National Government Agency Report, NIH”. 24.). With all this studying and researching going on they haven’t released one single bit of positive information or results of the studies to any one. The reason is as I stated in my previous paper, “To do so would be the greatest civil rights infringement since slavery!” Just last year they released some information saying they will be forming a committee to study all the new MMJ information to try and get on board with the science and facts to cover their butt’s for their major misinformation escapade since the 1960s (“NIDA” Federal Agency Profiles for Students. 25.). If this isn’t the biggest spin of information since the JFK assassination, then I don’t know what is.
Next lets see if they handle prescription drugs any more responsibly. We will examine three prescriptions I use and also substitute cannabis for. The prescriptions are Paxil, Ambilify, and Codiene.
Paxil commercials, which are approved by the NIDA and FDA, start out by describing depression and isolation and says it may help the anxiety and isolation. Depression, isolation, and anxiety are actually more social disorders and are usually caused from environment and social issues rather than chemical imbalances. This social disorder effects 40% of the population in the US with only the most severe being a chemical imbalance (McCornack, pages 251-81. 26.). Paxil is just one of the plethora of prescriptions available for this issue. With all the different depression medications out on the market, there are quite a few with even more serious and or deadly side effects than depression untreated. Many people can’t and WONT tolerate them. Paxil gives 26% of it’s users gastrointestinal disorders, 23% chance of falling asleep, 18% migraines, 13% insomnia, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and suicide. Many of those afflicted are turning solely to all natural remedies that are quite effective and have really no side effects to worry about. I am one of these sufferers (DRUG FACTS “Paxil”. 27.).
Next we examine Ambilify. It’s advertising always starts out asking if your regular depression medication isn’t working, then states to add Ambilify to help get better results. This takes 10 seconds and the rest of the minute is listing and describing its side effects of Dizziness, drowsiness, head ache, nausea, vomiting, severe allergic reaction, swelling of the head and face, abnormal thoughts, sore throat, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, suicide, hostility, muscle tremors, agitation, swelling of hands and feet, blood sugar problem, chest pains, shortness of breath, trouble walking, talking, eating, sleeping, going to sleep, and about 10 more (DRUG FACTS “Ambilify”. 28.). I personally experienced six symptoms from the list leading to my two physicians substituting MMJ for both. It has been five years and I am depression and side effect free!
Last we will examine Codeine it is in everything from cough syrup to painkillers. They don’t really advertise much except by asking if you have pain then it goes to list the side effects and warnings. Don’t take if you have drowsiness problems, or lung or breathing problems, or have diarrhea. Then they state not to take if pregnant, taking any prescriptions, allergies to medicines, heart problems, low blood pressure, seizures, stomach or intestine disorders, coughing problems, brain problems, and last but not least a drug addiction of any kind. These prescriptions have claimed the deaths of many stars from Michael Jackson to Heath Ledger due to their abuse and misuse, yet these government agencies seem to think the addiction effect is the least to worry about (DRUG FACTS “Codeine”. 29.).

Now taking all this evidence and facts into consideration, it is easily proven that prescriptions are full of toxic substances and compounds. They are deadly to the people prescribed them wether they take them as recommended or abuse them. Not to mention the problems they pose to any baby, child, adult or senior citizen that lays their hands on them to which they weren’t prescribed. Just a few pills can kill anyone through allergies, overdose, misuse, or combining with the wrong food, drink, or other prescription. Every bit of these facts are published and known, yet the prescriptions are pushed on society at a rate of one prescription at least for 50% of the population. This is all done at the expense of our pocket book and health. Yet cannabis/MMJ is proven thousands of times to be more safe, nontoxic, and at least as effective for any prescription it can be substituted for. This is to any age, gender, or prescription you may have to mix with it. Yes, MMJ may be intoxicating but isn’t in any way toxic. What an awesome substitute MMJ is to legal drugs or illegal ones for that matter. Due to the fact of all the problems and issues society as a whole has to face concerning the misuse, costs, and overdose/deaths related to legal and illegal drugs. This can all be prevented by an all natural, organic, and non-lethal natural remedy. Thus giving the factual standing to declare Cannabis/MMJ as the best substitute possible for any prescription which it can address the ailments.

Works Cited

1. Health, United States, 2004, With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans. 513 pp. (PHS) 2004-1232. GPO stock number is 017-022-01575-7) Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/04news/hus04.htm.]
2. LA TIMES, February 18, 2010 “Medical Marijuana”. Retrieved July 3, 2010 from [http://articles.latimes.com/2010/feb/18/local/la-me-medical-marijuana18-2010feb18.]
3. US NEWS, June 30, 2010 “Medical Claims for Marijuana or just Blowing Smoke” & “Facts You Might Not Know About Marijuana” Retrieved June 30, 2010 from [http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/cancer/articles/2010/06/30/medical-claims-for-marijuana--just-blowing-smoke.html?s_cid=related-links:TOP.] & [http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/cancer/articles/2010/06/30/8-facts-you-might-not-know-about-medical-marijuana.html.]
4. DRUG LIBRARY, “Indian Hemp Drug Commission” Retrieved June 24, 2010 from [http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/inhemp/ihmenu.htm.]
5. Preface to “The Impact of Marijuana Use”. Office of National Drug Control Policy. Contemporary Issues Companion: Marijuana. Ed. Joseph Tardiff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
6. National Government Agency Report, “SAMHSA Stoned Drivers” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.nhtsa.gov/people/injury/research/job185drugs/cannabis.htm.]
7. National Government Agency Report, “NIDA Prescriptions and Driving Info & Facts” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/driving.html.]
8. Rescheduling Marijuana “Issues Related to DEA Judge Francis’s Recommendation” Rick Dublin 2001 Retrieved June 14, 2010 from [http:// www.drugtext.org/library/articles/901405.html.]
9. National Government Agency Report, “SAMHSA Prescription Death Epidemic” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/prevalert/v6/4.aspx.]
10. Drug War Fact, “Deaths related to Cannabis search” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm.]
11. “Heroin Abuse and Addiction.” Teen Decisions: Drugs. William Dudley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
12. Memo from desk of Gov. of New Mexico, “Governor Addresses All the Medical Marijuana Support” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http:// hubpages.com/hub/Medical-Marijuana-in-New-Mexico.]
13. “Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Seriously Ill People.” Opposing Viewpoints: Terminal Illness. Andrea C. Nakaya. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
14. “Examining the Scientific Research on Medical Marijuana.”Contemporary Issues Companion: Marijuana. Louise I. Gerdes. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2002. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
15. “Illicit drug users.(numbers in the news).” Policy & Practice 68.1 (February 2010): 42(1). Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
16. TIME Magazine, January 15, 2001 “Recreational Pharmaceuticals” Retrieved July 3, 2010 from [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/ 0,9171,998980,00.html.]
17. Mansfeld News Journal, Jun 20, 2010 “Prescription Drug Abuse Epidemic Affects Us All” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20100620/OPINION02/6200323/Prescription-drug-abuse-epidemic-affects-us-all.]
18. INTERSCIENCE, February 12, 2004 “Comparison of Toxicity with Psychoactive Substances” Retrieved July 2, 2010 from [http:// www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118795878/abstract?/ CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0.]
19. “Medical Marijuana Is an Effective Medicine.”Opposing Viewpoints: Medicine. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
20. “Medical Marijuana.” Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
21. “Marijuana Is a Gateway Drug.”Current Controversies: Drug Legalization. Karen F. Balkin. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
22. “Direct societal costs of drug abuse, 1992-2002.”(“Table 24. Estimated Direct Costs to Society of Drug Abuse, 1992-2002,” in National Drug Control Strategy: Data Supplement, The White House, March 2004, Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/policy/ndcs04/data_suppl_2004.pdf.]
23. Wikipedia, “Compassionate I N D program” Retrieved June 14, 2010 from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compassionate_Investigational_New_Drug_program.]
24. PubMed, “National Government Agency Report, N.I.H.” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10189130.]
25. “National Institute on Drug Abuse.”Federal Agency Profiles for Students. Kelle S. Sisung. Detroit: Gale Group, 1999. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center.
26. McCornack S. (2010). Reflect & Relate: 2010 Second Edition. Bedford: Boston, MA. pages 251-81
27. DRUG FACTS, “Paxil” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.drugs.com/search.php?searchterm=Paxil&is_main_search=1&type=0.]
28. DRUG FACTS, “Ambilify” Retrieved July 1, 2010 from [http://www.drugs.com/sfx/abilify-side-effects.html#ixzz0sapc0EAi.]
29. DRUG FACTS, “Codeine” Retrieved July1, 2010 from [http://www.drugs.com/codeine.html.]

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Stephen Keenan’s Story

Here is my story. I’ve used marijuana all my life and been told that it’s so bad for me. So I listened and stopped. I only wish i were smoking a joint the night I wrapped my car around a tree. Police and doctors said i shouldn’t have been driving while being 5 times over the legal alcohol limit. I woke up 6 months later to find out I don’t know anyone, and I was paralyzed from waist down (proper diagnoses was T.B.I. W/T12 Burst fracture). It has been 13 years of a new life of doctors, medication, and health which I’ve been healing myself of many problems i have to deal with on a daily basis like muscle spasms, severe pain, depression, headaches, anger, and arthritis just to name a few ailments that the doctors will not prescribe me medication for; I tried for a while. So I smartened up, nearly going bankrupt in the process, and starting healing myself with the plant known as cannabis from our mother Earth. Being a botanist at heart, it depresses me that I cannot grow my own medication without getting some trumped up charge like “manufacturing” or “intent to distribute”. I have had to result to meeting shady drug dealers in dark alleys and corners to get an unregulated medication, putting my safety at risk. Today my life is great. I know who my family is. I’ve been medicating myself with marijuana for over 10 years now. I’ve been married for 7 years and got my TDL, which I was told I would never get. I’m working for the first time in 13 years, and i love it. As long as I medicate once in the morning and once at night, I feel alright. So if this is not enough proof that it works better than certain pharmaceuticals for some people, we’re going to do it. If this nation’s government smartens up, they will tax and regulate Cannabis. It has been used widely as medicine throughout history and will continue to be around as long as, we the people, want it. I am a living witness to the fact that medical marijuana is only the right way for alternative health lifestyle.
Respectfully Blessings,
Stephen Keenan Houston,TX 77066

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n2000/a03.html
Mon, 29 Dec 2003
CRUSADER FOR POT DIES AFTER MS FIGHT

Londoner Lynn Harichy, whose efforts helped to legalize medicinal marijuana use in Canada, died Christmas Day after a lengthy battle with multiple sclerosis. She was 42. As part of a national network of lobbyists, Harichy was a longtime crusader for the legalization of pot for medicinal uses. She once lit up a joint on the steps of London police station, an act that led to her arrest.
Two years ago, following the efforts of pot crusaders like Harichy across Canada, the federal government eased the law on pot use for those suffering from serious illnesses.
The Office of Cannabis Medical Access was established to regulate use of medicinal marijuana in cases where it would have some medical benefit
Harichy’s efforts to that end leave a proud legacy, says her brother, Wayne Fortnum. “A lot of people when they go, they didn’t leave anything behind. She has something. I’m proud that she did what she thought she needed to do.”
Harichy ran the Cannabis Compassion Club, which supplied pot to sick people. She served more than 600 people who suffered from such diseases as MS, AIDS, cancer, epilepsy and chronic pain.
As the rules began loosening around marijuana use for the seriously ill, Harichy once told The Free Press why she started the club.
“The people who bought from us just couldn’t go out on the street,” she said. “It would have been too dangerous for them.”
Despite the criminal charges it caused her, and the social embarrassment she once admitted to feeling, Harichy continued pushing the cause until her MS began to take its harsh toll over the past year, her brother noted.
“She was dedicated to her cause,” Fortnum said. “When she got her mind ( set ) to do something, she did it.”

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Darcy’s Testimony

I was first introduced to the healing benefits of cannabis root healing 14 years ago, when in one quick fall I; dislocated my ankle, shattered 3″ of leg bone, shredded my tendons and severed the nerves.
Yet a year after surgery, my ankle was still swollen, I was in constant pain, Couldn’t walk for more than five minutes and my foot was still numb.
The doctor’s only suggestion was that “I should get use to using a cane” and to take cortisone shots for the swelling!
This concerned me, since cortisone has been linked to cancer.
Like many in the world today, I had lost my confidence in modern medicine.
In my travels, I have met many, who suffer from the wrong diagnosis and harmful medications. people who have suffered long enough, are reaching out for more traditional Earth bound based medicines and are drawn to find alternative ways to heal and prevent illness. And I am one of many.
For over 30 years, I have been learning the Ancient ways of healing herbs and using them to make salves for my family’s minor aches and pains, from the herbs that I have grown in my garden.
So I was motivated into researching the right herbs that would heal my injuries. And I started with some tried and true herbs like comfrey.
Comfrey works well for muscle rebuilding and strengthening. And for mending wounds and broken bones.
Sage has always been another first choice for me, for it is also a powerful herb for soothing muscles.
While continuing to formulate a cream that I could massage in, I spoke with Bonnie Metcalf, who was the owner/operator of the Yuba County Cannabis Coalition.
She asked if I had ever tried using cannabis root. She said she read that cannabis root reduces swelling and ease pain.
I was intrigued.
Looking for information, I became aware that, although the stem, flower, seeds, and leaves have received an enormous amount of attention, Almost nothing, so far, had been published about the roots!
Much of the information that I did find, was a casual mention in Ancient History. For example, I found that some appalachian remedies for arthritis and pain, included hemp root.
so I thought I’d give it a try and added the hemp root,making a 9 herbs formula.
I was amazed. The cream started soothing me right away, simply from a topical skin application.
After a mere two months, my swelling was gone and the pain was less frequent. Within a year, I had gained full movement of my ankle, I had feeling down to my toes, and the nerve pain was gone!
My family and friends were so amazed at my recovery that they wanted to try the cream too.
People started reporting a feeling of relief from Arthritis and sore muscles, eczema and rosacea. And they encouraged friends and family to try it.
Everyone encouraged me to put it on the market.
But I wanted to be sure that these experiences were solid, and not just occasional happenings.
So I began a series of test marketing for three years, with volunteers from across the country. We offered it to Arthritis suffers, chemo patients, people with old injuries and new.
They reported that our cream relieved; painful scare tissue, sprains, broken toes, psoriasis and fibromyalgia. It healed infected tattoos, restless leg syndrome and more. At one point, I was told that the cream healed diaper rash in an hour!
It was after all this testing that we finally decided to name the famous cream,
Hemp-EaZe, for healing at the root of the problem.
Along the way, I discovered that, unlike the inhaled or ingested form, it’s legal to possess Hemp-EaZe without a doctor’s recommendation due to a court ruling in 1973 ( People Vs. Vargas). Because it’s suspended in oils and waxes, the intoxicants can not be consumed, therefore, it’s exempt from control by the Federal Substance Abuse Act.
In June 2008, I was contacted by a Miss Blair Van Pelt, a research student at the University of Idaho. Blair told me that while she was testing cannabis root, two years previous, she saw positive results while using cannabis root to treat staph infection!
She wish to use Hemp-EaZe in her research, stating the Hemp-EaZe was the only product she had found that contained Hemp Root.
The study concluded, the exciting news,that there was no THC in cannabis root.
To further validate the conclusion;
In July 2009, Samples of Hemp-EaZe Therapy Cream was confiscated in a raid conducted by the Australian Federal Police. After 4 months of scrutinized testing, the Feds deemed that the Cannabis root healing cream, was negative of THC and returned the personal supply of Hemp-EaZe back to it’s rightful owner.
Hemp EaZe 1, Feds 0!
During the court proceedings, the Assistant to the Speaker of the House of the Australian Legislative Assembly, was very intrigued about the Hemp-EaZe testimonial that was presented and asked to sample some of the cream, to try on her swollen knees. She said it started to work right away.
Nearly 5 months later her boss, “the Speaker of the house“, began using the cannabis root cream too.
This is a great! This is a significant step forward for Australia and cannabis activism in their country.
And another victory for Hemp-EaZe.
Currently, we are working with Chico Holistic Center in California. They work with neuropathy patients and diabetics. They apply Hemp-EaZe in their treatments, because of it’s success to reducing edema, breaking up the bruising and rejuvenating the circulation.
Recently, a new patient came in to the clinic and his doctor told him that the next step for his severely ulcerated feet was amputation.
Feeling he had nothing to lose, he obliged to give the Holistic Center a try. Within three weeks of treatments, his ulcers were gone. This was due to a combination of electrolytes and regular applications of Hemp-EaZe. Healing at the ROOT of the Problem!
Because of an accident, I have begun this remarkable journey of healing and helping others, to understand what the medicinal root truly has to offer.
The hemp root can do so many things, and we barely scratched the surface of understanding it’s healing capabilities. It has shown us it’s power to save people from amputation!
In the past 30 years, more then 10,000 scientific papers have been published about the cannabis plant. Still they continually leave out the root in their studies.
We must try to lift the restrictions off of hemp root, so that more studies and research can be implemented.
It is time to reinstate the lowly little root back to it’s formidable position, as a primary healing herb……..and I am leading the way!
Thank You.

Peace and Hempy Healing
Darcy

“Healing at the ROOT of the Problem”
www.hemp-eaze.com

http://myforum.hemp-eaze.com

www.myspace.com/hempeaze
www.facebook.com/Darcy Stoddard
www.jumptags.com/my/hemp-eaze
www.hemp-eaze.livejournal.com/