Pubdate: Mon, 07 Nov 2011
Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2011 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www2.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html
Website: http://www.calgaryherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66
Author: Ryan Magnussen
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n644/a09.html?1143

LIFE SAVER

Re: "Paranoid on pot," Editorial, Nov. 1.

I've been a patient with access since 2007. The program is very good
and the marijuana is very effective in pain control, nausea and
increasing your appetite. I don't believe there are any real
short-term or longterm side-effects of the drug. I have battled
chronic pain for 25 years and had to be on horrendous dosages of
narcotic pain medication.

I have used marijuana during those 25 years and legally since 2007. I
have no side-effects or concerns. I have a complicated medical history
of ankylosing spondylitis, Crohn's disease, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia
and heart problems, and I can guarantee the pot helped.

A sudden accident broke my neck two weeks ago. After I was put in a
halo vest, my old pain went away. In one day, I came off my narcotics
and I can't even smoke a full marijuana cigarette, because my body
doesn't want the pain med or the pot anymore. Amazing.

Ryan Magnussen

Calgary
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr.