Politicizing Pain
Posted April 28th, 2008 by freedom1776
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Ron Paul, M.D. | Texas Straight Talk
K.K. Forss does not claim medical marijuana solves all his problems. His pain from a ruptured disc in his neck is debilitating. He is unable to go to work or to the First Baptist Church he used to attend because of the pain and muscle spasms. Taxpayers through Medicare spend over $18,000 a year on his various medications. Half of those drugs are strong narcotics. The other half address the various side-effects brought on by the first half, such as nausea, heartburn, heart palpitations, difficulty sleeping, and muscle spasms.
No, marijuana would not completely address all his pain, but it made a tremendous difference in the quality of his life when he tried it for over a year. It helped him regain 38 pounds he had lost. It calmed his muscle spasms and helped him sleep. In short, it alleviated many side effects and greatly reduced his need for other expensive medications. Mr. Forss estimates that being allowed to use medical marijuana would save taxpayers at least $12,000 a year in medications he would no longer need. He would also be able to work occasionally and attend some church services.
Scientists at the University of California at Davis recently completed a study that backs up Mr. Forss’s experience, finding that cannabis demonstrates significant relief of neuropathic pain. Many in government call for more studies while people like K.K. Forss suffer. More studies will not change what many patients already know, and that is for some, medical marijuana helps their pain. But over-reaching government gets in the way.
K.K. Forss lived in constant fear of federal and state officials so he eventually stopped taking medical marijuana and switched to his more rigorous and expensive pill regimen. Presently, twelve states have passed legislation allowing marijuana, under certain conditions, to be prescribed legally by doctors for patients who could benefit from it. K.K. Forss lives in Minnesota, where it is not yet legal. However, even if it is legalized by the state, Mr. Forss will still have plenty to fear from the Federal government, as cannabis dispensaries and clinics that operate under these state laws are still under fire from the Drug Enforcement Administration.
In other words, the federal government sees fit to use our tax dollars to raid state sanctioned healthcare clinics, to imprison and fine patients and operators, in order to compel people like Mr. Forss to be bedridden and overmedicated at great taxpayer expense every single day.
The Federal government should recognize that states have the authority to decide these issues. This affords all states the opportunity to see which policies are most beneficial. As a Congressman and a physician, I strongly advocate that healthcare decisions should be made by doctors and patients, not politicians or federal agents, which is why I am an original co-sponsor of the recently introduced “Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act” which would bar the Federal government from intervening in such doctor/patient relationships that violate no state law.
The bottom line is that K.K. Forss should be treated as a free American. Mr. Forss is one of many who would like to use marijuana medicinally because it helps him. Politicians and bureaucrats have no right to interfere.
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Can such an extreme position really be lived up to? Of course: it's called "being civilized." And most of us do live up to that standard in our daily lives; those who don’t are likely to be arrested for coercion of some sort, be it rape or robbery or even "coercion" by name (last year I was on the jury in the trial of someone accused of exactly that). Busybodies and those who insist on often telling others what to do are reminders that we are far from the levels of love and freedom necessary for a healthy society, but even most such people refrain from using force to impose their views and desires on others – except for the political process, the single weapon against human rights that has the full sanction of the State.
Unbelievable . . .
I suffer from MS. If I didn't smoke I would get excruciating muscle spasms. The marijuana helps keep all the random aches and pains away, and I can sleep.
I don't even know if its legal to prescribe it in my state, but all of my doctors know I smoke and none have warned me against it. They will harp on me for the cigarettes though.
I have a friend who also has a neuropathic disease. His neurologist told him to start smoking. When my friend asked where he was supposed to get it, the doctor gave him some right there on the spot, under the understanding that it never happened, of course.
I think that once the government figures out how to make as much money with it legal as they make with it being illegal, then we'll see changes in the law. Right now the "war on drugs" is such a big industry that to take the top money maker and make it legal, would cost millions. If they only understood that by growing it themselves and classifying it through the FDA they would make so much more. It would push the price up to par with the regulated medications pushed by big Pharm. today. Granted, you'd still have the black market. But again, they could continue their "war" on marijuana by pursueing those who grow it illegally, therefore continuing to make money on that end.
Respectfully,
The money is under-the-table . . .
Enough people IN the government and behind the scenes outside of government (but with influence) are making money on illegal drugs (e.g., see links below re: CIA jet that crashed with TONS of cocaine) that legalizing drugs to any extent is strongly opposed by the powers that be.
Also, the DrugWar creates the rationale for an extreme police state, it provides for huge bureaucratic empires, and lots of other things.
Bottom line: they don't care about the huge cost of the DrugWar. They don't care about the lost tax revenue. They care about money and power, and the DrugWar gives it to them.
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woops! duplicate
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YA!!
I knew Ron Paul was the only candidate to stick to his guns on this contentious issue. This is why I love him so. Thanks Dr Paul for introducing legislation protecting patients in states that have legalized medical! Everyone please call your local congressman/woman to support and co-sponsor this very important legislation. Thank you,
Legalisation works better in more ways.
Of course I fully agree with Dr. Paul again. Here in the Netherlands it is legal to use marijuana. And my experience is that in the Netherlands not so much people use marijuana, certainly not as much as in other countries where it is forbidden. Don't know exactly why.
Still, with the almost forced upcoming European unity, freedoms like these may erode more quickly. Here (in the Netherlands and France) we all voted against the European constitution, but they are changing the word "constitution" into something less hefty sounding like "treaty" so our current president can make it done without our official consent.
When Ron Paul becomes president, the US will be a very important example for the rest of the world. And maybe disastrous things like a Europe under one (not so people friendly) constitution will be prevented.
Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act
thank you freedom1776.
it's good to see this on the front page!
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