Pubdate: Mon, 05 May 2014
Source: Tampa Tribune (FL)
Copyright: 2014 The Tribune Co.
Contact: http://tbo.com/list/news-opinion-letters/
Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446
Author: Ralph Gerber
Page: Views, p.3, Letter of the Day
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n382/a02.html
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n375/a06.html

'LET HER HAVE A SHOT AT A SEMI-NORMAL LIFE'

I am the husband of a woman who has fought against severe 
fibromyalgia, scoliosis, sciatic nerve pain, degenerative arthritis, 
diabetes and episodes of congestive heart failure (CHF) for many 
years. Although she has been able to control her diabetes and CHF, 
the debilitating pain of her fibro, scoliosis and sciatica makes her 
life a fight against the odds each day. She can't stand for more than 
a few minutes at a time, even with her walker. She can't sit in one 
position for more than a few minutes, despite the comfort of a 
recliner. Many times I have seen her rocking back and forth, crying 
uncontrollably with the pain.

The third "patient" of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the suicide doctor, had 
been suffering from severe fibromyalgia. That is pain!

Percocet, Norco and Robaxin help to take a little of the "edge" off 
her pain - but not nearly enough for relief. Car and shopping trips 
are out of the question. I've been doing the grocery shopping for 
years despite my own physical handicaps. She has been a prisoner in 
her home for as long as I can remember; even the short walk to an 
outside bench proves to be too much pain for her to bear. At night, 
the simple act of moving her legs in her sleep (when she is able to 
sleep) produces so much pain that she screams out involuntarily 
several times per night. This is no way to live.

The "Don't Let Florida Go to Pot" campaign is very misleading. The 
benefits that my wife could utilize through medicinal marijuana would 
be best in pill form, as smoking destroys most of the pain-relieving 
oils in the plant. Such a prescription would be held to the same 
standards as Oxycodone and other controlled substances available 
through the pharmacist - signature and ID required, no more than one 
month's supply to be dispensed, and a doctor's prescription required 
to obtain further doses. After all, doesn't Florida have a "master 
list" of controlled-substance prescriptions available now to curb 
doctor shopping?

Worries concerning unauthorized use are not strictly limited to pot 
but extend to the controlled substances listed above as well. Misuse? 
Of course, there will probably be some instances. But to deny urgent 
pain-relieving treatment to the deserving many based on the actions 
of a few is without excuse. My wife does not desire to go out dancing 
in the park while smoking a joint, Colorado-style. She simply needs 
the pain relief and rest that her body must have to fight off the 
effects of her medical conditions.

Keeping the young, impressionable and chronically addicted away from 
such substances is a most noteworthy endeavor, one which I totally 
support - but please keep in mind those who truly need such an 
option. We'll gladly overcome the procedural hurdles necessary to 
obtain this medicine.

All I'm asking the Florida Sheriffs Association to do is to refrain 
from this blanket condemnation. Who knows, it may not be the complete 
answer to her pain, but to the 63 Florida sheriffs who support a 
resolution opposing the legalization of marijuana out of 67 in the 
state, I ask them to let her have a shot at a semi-normal life. Please.

RALPH GERBER, TAMPA
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom