TO POT OR NOT: THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA DEBATE

When I disclosed my various health issues in THE BEAST WITHIN ME or when I revealed my angst regarding the pain I experience in THE TRUTH IS A VIRUS, I should have taken those opportunities to start a discussion regarding medical marijuana. As they always say..."better late than never!"

Twenty states now have laws making the use of medicinal marijuana legal as long as it's prescribed by a licensed physician. Unfortunately I don't live in any of those states so I can't try it out unless I do it illegally at the present time.  At my age, risky behavior has lost its appeal. Florida and a few other states have medical marijuana amendments on their November 2014 ballots.  Since I reside in Florida, I thought it's time to become better informed.  I've read many articles about all the studies and research done regarding medical marijuana and its uses, but I think I need more than that.  I need the personal touch of having an actual discussion/debate to be able to better weigh its possible benefits.  

I know the opposition still regards marijuana as nothing more than gateway drug and sees it as having no real value to treat any medical condition, but from what I've read lately the majority of the medical community considers medical marijuana as a viable option to treat many health problems. Perhaps, after going down the road of trying various types of narcotic pain killers, having several surgeries and trying alternative methods of pain management (massage therapy, aquatic therapy, internal and external neurostimulators and chiropractors) to help ease my chronic pain and to help improve the quality of my life by making it easier for me to function, I'm more than ready to try something I can benefit from for the long haul! 

Yes, medical marijuana is becoming a hot topic, but I know many people are hesitant to discuss it and whether it should be legal or not, but let's face it, the times they are a changing! For those of you who aren't afraid to speak out, I'd really like to read your opinions on the subject both pro and con.  Do you know anyone who lives in a state where medical marijuana is legal and benefits from its use?  If so, what's the medical condition that it's used to treat?  And if you had one of the many conditions medical marijuana is supposed to help, would you consider using it as a viable treatment rather than taking a man made pharmaceutical with potential harmful side effects or subjecting yourself to repeated surgeries that don't help?  Is medical marijuana just a stoner's ultimate pipe dream or should I look into this treatment if it becomes legal?

PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT

The 36th annual National NORML Conference was held on Friday, October 12 and Saturday, October 13 in Universal City, California. This video features Irv Rosenfeld explaining why the government grows marijuana for him:

Recently, I watched Senator Christopher Dodd speak out in favor of decriminalizing marijuana. Perhaps, this wasn’t the smartest political move he could have made, but I felt it took a certain amount of courage to come forward and address an issue many feel is political suicide to tackle. I know this topic is far from being a critical issue, but it does however effect the lives of many Americans from both a legal and moral standpoint.

What better place to kick around some candid discussion than right here on the internet? Does anyone care to step up to the "podium" like Senator Dodd did and share their views on this issue? Should marijuana be decrimalized? Is it really the "gateway" drug it’s always been accused of being? Does it have any actual medicinal value? Should it eventually be legalized and taxed by the government like tobacco and alcohol? Finally, would you vote for someone who was in favor of the decriminalization and eventual legalization of marijuana? Do you know what the current laws of your state are regarding this issue? If not, click here and then let’s hear from you.