Pubdate: Wed, 02 Jun 2010 Source: Summit Daily News (CO) Copyright: 2010 Summit Daily News Contact: http://apps.summitdaily.com/forms/letter/index.php Website: http://www.summitdaily.com/home.php Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/587 Author: Todd Trenchard MARIJUANA HELPED THIS CANCER PATIENT I currently use medical marijuana in placement of traditional medicines. I have paid thousands of dollars over the years for prescriptions, many with negative side effects. I then I discovered that scientists at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston found that certain opioid analgesics - such as Percocet and Vicodin - can actually cause cancer. When cannabis became legal for Colorado residents with a history of medical issues, I decided to give it a try. I have found cannabis has thoroughly controlled my nausea and stifled my pain without loads of negative side effects. While receiving chemo, I rarely felt like eating. Thankfully, cannabis also helps stimulate the appetite. Most importantly, it has also possibly helped with the elimination of my tumors. My nurses and doctors are amazed at how well I am doing. I have been without prescription painkillers since using this. Decades of propaganda used to distort the truth about marijuana have prevented its use for those it can help medicinally Thankfully, recent government actions have allowed cancer patients, such as myself, new hope. One entity, www.amercamm.org is operated locally and offers cancer patients medicinal marijuana at no cost. It is put into foods, teas, tinctures, smoothies, etc. so one does not have to smoke it unless you want to. I hear and read about so many anti-medical marijuana politicians questioning why a doctor would prescribe something that has to be smoked. Again, the fact is, you don't have to smoke it. I don't. The stigma marijuana has for some people who are callous in prioritizing their beliefs and principles over the well-being of sick people, have potentially further reason to take a step back and reevaluate their over simplified stereotypes and acknowledge the benefits from this plant. Todd Trenchard Alma - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom