Pubdate: Wed, 3 Jun 2009
Source: Grand Forks Gazette (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Sterling Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.mapinc.org/media/525
Note: The newspaper does not have an active website.
Author: Joy Davies
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmjcn.htm (Marijuana - Medicinal - Canada)

MARIJUANA CAN BE SOLUTION TO PAIN

On May 12, the Minister of Veteran Affairs made a decision to pay for
the legal medical cannabis needed by our veterans. The letter below
requests the same for CPP recipients. On June 18 the City of Grand
Forks is hosting an educational forum on the facts of medical
cannabis. I encourage everyone to attend to have their questions answered.

An Open Letter to Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills
Development

Dear Honorable Minister:

I am Joy Davies. I am a 61 year old woman living in Grand Forks, BC.
I have been a recipient of CPP disability benefits since the year
2000. In the year 2002 my doctor signed papers for me to join the
British Columbia Compassion Club where I could access a high quality
supply of marijuana for medical use. As a result of my medical use of
marijuana, I have been able to greatly improve my quality of life .

Previous to my cannabis use I was totally disabled with the extreme
chronic pain, chronic fatigue and migraine headaches as well as many
other symptoms that come with fibromyalgia.  Now I am able to manage
these debilitating symptoms to the point where last year I opened a
little summertime concession on my property that faces a beautiful
little swimming hole that is used by the people of the neighbourhood &
some tourists. In the winter I organized a small antique store in my
home. I no longer feel the isolation that I previously felt as a
result of my debilitating disease. In November, 2008 I ran for the
office of City Council and was elected.

On Dec.1, 2008, the day I was inaugurated to City Council, my dearest
friend of 20 years committed suicide by overdosing on Methadone
prescribed by her specialist. She also was on CPP disability. She
suffered for 10 years with a rare neuropathic disease called
erythromelalgia - an excruciatingly painful disease which includes
symptoms of severe burning pain and skin redness associated with blood
vessel blockage. Her symptoms started in her feet and over the 10
years progressed to her whole body.  She had been an avid hiker, world
traveler, dietician and artist.  She was no longer able to go outside
on a sunny day as warmth would trigger the symptoms to an unbearable
degree.  She became isolated and desperately lonely.  Her specialists
tried everything. Methadone did not help and she could not cope with
its side effects. On top of all that, she went through 3 months of
withdrawal symptoms to clear herself of the Methadone.  She was given
a prescription for Sativex, a cannabis-based pharmaceutical, which was
totally ineffective.  Her doctor would not sign the paperwork to go
the Compassion Club where she could receive knowledgeable counseling
and the right type of cannabis to assist her.  Would it have worked
and she still be alive? Sadly we will never know.

On Dec. 2, I called her to share my excitement.  There was no answer.
I called again on Dec. 3. Getting no answer I had a friend in
Vancouver call the police.  They found her in her bathtub.  Her
bathroom was filled with candles and a note "Please remember me as I
was".

After recovering from the shock of her death, I became an advocate for
medical marijuana.

Most disabled people lose everything when they get sick, as I did.
Our wives/husbands and our incomes.  We do not want to deal with
street thugs in order to access our medicine, and I, for one, could
never afford to pay the $150 per 30 grams, plus GST that the federal
government sells its medical cannabis for (my understanding is that
the federal government, using our tax dollars, is marking up the cost
by 1,500 per cent).

I think that you can see there is something terribly wrong when only
2,800 people in Canada are federally licensed and there are over
400,000 people using cannabis medicinally, 15,000+ of whom are members
of Compassion Clubs across Canada.

I urge you to be part of the "solution" for the disabled.  Please
ensure that CPP covers the cost of medical cannabis as it does other
medicines. Please help us!
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake