Pubdate: Mon, 16 Nov 2015
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2015 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: Lyndsay Winkley

POT EXPO CONNECTS PATIENTS WITH PROVIDERS

SAN DIEGO - Alicia Tucker's hand rested on her oxygen tank as she 
listened to a representative from Altai  a company that produces 
marijuana edibles  talk up a gourmet display of pot-infused bon bons 
at PotLuck, a medical cannabis expo.

Five years ago, Tucker, a 43-year-old Temecula resident, would have 
scoffed at the idea of using medical marijuana. But that was before 
her genetic lung condition progressed to chronic obstructive 
pulmonary disease, which makes her breathing difficult.

Her treatment originally included steroids, steroids and more 
steroids, she said. At one point, she was on 19 medications. Then a 
friend suggested she explore marijuana as an option.

"I said, 'No, I grew up around that, I don't want any part of that,' 
but they suggested I do my research, so I did," Tucker said. "I 
talked with my husband, I talked with my family, I talked with my 
kids. ... They told me to do what I needed to do to get healthy."

She started consuming the drug via edibles and the decision changed 
her life. "I'm down to six (medications) now. That's huge," she said.

It's patients like Tucker, said organizer Jonathan Ohana, that 
inspired him to put on Sunday's event, which was held at the Hyatt 
Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina. Ohana said he'd often hear from 
medical marijuana users about the positive impact the drug has made 
on their lives. They also told him about their struggle to find 
legitimate and consistent providers.

"The whole goal is to connect patients who have ailments, who depend 
on this medicine, with the best, most preferable caretakers that can 
provide the most effective medicine for them," he said.

Among dozens of booths, which included marijuana advocacy 
organizations, pot collectives, artists, weed dispensaries and 
delivery services, was the Southwest Patient Group, the third 
dispensary to be legalized in San Diego.

Pearl Ayon, who helps run the dispensary with her partner, Alex 
Scherer, said educating users about the medicinal benefits  and myths 
of marijuana is just as important as connecting patients with the 
product that's best for them. Their 3,500-square-foot retail space 
includes a variety of marijuana products, along with educational 
displays and kiosks.

Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Alaska and the District of Columbia 
allow pot to be sold for recreational and medicinal use. An 
additional 19 states, including California, allow the drug to be sold 
only for medicinal purposes. Despite state law, selling and using 
marijuana is still a federal crime.

One attendee, who has used pot sparingly since she first tried it as 
a teen, said she recently became a medical marijuana patient, in part 
to attend the expo. She said she spoke with her doctor about anxiety 
and sleeplessness, but she also wanted to be able to purchase and use 
marijuana legally.

Over the years, the 56-year-old Coronado resident said she has felt 
the stigma surrounding the drug lessen, and she's excited about the 
prospect of legalization. Despite that, she declined to be identified.

"I don't' like to feel like I've been earmarked as a druggie just 
because I prefer to have a hit of marijuana rather than a cocktail," 
she said. "I shouldn't have to feel bad about that."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom