Iiiiii’m coming out. I want the world to knooow. I got to let it shooow.
February 17th, 2009Posted by Guest
In honor of ASA’s “Come Out of the Closet and Recruit your Community” event on Wednesday, February 18th, I’ve decided to come out to my parents about using medical cannabis.
I am a Freshman at UC Berkeley this year and have recently become involved in the fight against the Drug War through Students for Sensible Drug Policy and Americans for Safe Access. Considering I knew practically nothing about the drug war or medical cannabis only months ago, there have been many changes in my life. I was hesitant at first to inform my parents that I was involved in such organizations because I wasn’t sure how they’d react, but they’ve been supportive so far. What I’m especially scared to tell them, though, is that I recently received my medical cannabis card.
Depression runs in my family — all of my aunts and uncles on my father’s side of the family (he has 7 siblings) are on antidepressants and both my father’s father and my father’s brother commited suicide at fairly young ages. After being myself diagnosed with clinical depression I took Lexapro for about 4 years. The results were satisfactory, but I could tell I needed something different. Since I’ve started medicating with cannabis, I’ve experienced all of the same benefitial results that I did on Lexapro, but some of the drawbacks of Lexapro have been diminished. I have been able to fall asleep much easier (the Lexapro had made it difficult for me to fall asleep at night — I’d roll around in bed for hours before I could finally rest), and my appetite has been much steadier.
So one large problem with medical cannabis… is that telling my parents about it will be an obstacle. My parents have always been supportive of me and the things that I do, but they’ve never been advocates of medical marijuana use. I remember once they asked me to stop hanging out with a high school friend because his mother was a “pothead.” But when I “come out” to them tomorrow, I hope they’ll be accepting of my choice. I’m still unsure of how I’ll approach the situation, but I know that I will feel much better once I do. It may take time, but I know that after some discussion and thought on their part, they’ll realize that medical cannabis really has made a positive impact on my psyche and my life as a whole. My greatest hope is that my parents will support me in my choice to use the medicine that works best for me.
I hope the rest of you put some thought into this issue and join me by telling those close (or not so close) to you if you use medical cannabis.
Megan Sand
ASA Intern
February 17th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
Thanks for sharing this Megan. I operated a medical cannabis dispensing collective for years before telling my mother what I did. She thought I ran a coffee shop! I finally told her about the organization when she announced that she was visiting California. After touring the facility and meeting some members, she left convinced I was doing the right thing. She even said she wished it was legal in her home state!
February 17th, 2009 at 9:10 pm
you are a very brave person.
February 18th, 2009 at 3:05 am
A main point used to keep Cannabis illegal is that there already exists drugs that do what Cannabis can do. This is not true. I suffer from Diabetic Neuropathic Gastroparesis causing ‘delayed stomach emptying’ which causes chronic nausea, vomiting and wasting syndrome. There is no drug in today’s pharmacopoeia that safely controls chronic nausea and vomiting. Reglan/Metoclopramide is the most commonly prescribed drug for this condition. As my doctor handed me my Reglan prescription he said, “Do not take Reglan on a regular basis for it causes irreversible Parkinson like shakes and tremors (this is a proven fact.) In rarer cases Reglan use causes ‘Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome’ which is fatal, and this is legal??? Marinol is a huge waste for it is worthless. Marinol does nothing for nausea, vomiting or pain. Marinol is the most expensive placebo there is. It just does not work and I ought to know for I have been on it for years at a cost of over $800 a month to the state since I am on SSDI. I have to live in fear of arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, forfeiture of property, money and loss of government benefits simply by trying to control the chronic nausea and vomiting from Diabetic Neuropathic Gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach.) This should not be in the “Land Of The Free.” Now that Medical Marijuana is legal in Germany it looks like the Nazi’s have changed there ways and there country from a Nazi regime to a Democracy one. Whereas the USA seems to be turning more into a Nazi type state for locking up people just from using a proven safe herb, which has temporary psychoactive effects. OMG! Quick destroy it before man, who has no self control (which is why we need the government telling us what we can or cannot use/do,) finds out about Marijuana and administers Marijuana until death. Wait a minute that is impossible for Cannabis/Marijuana/Hemp is non-toxic to the body even if smoked. To deprive me of Cannabis for the control of chronic nausea and vomiting and leave me with only severly toxic drugs is tantamount to tortue. Now which country is it again that politically lives in the past forcing its people to suffer while witholding the only safe drug for the control of chronic nausea and vomiting? This should not be in the “Land Of The Free!” Legalize Cannabis today and save the worlds healthcare and ECONOMY!
February 18th, 2009 at 6:42 am
I came out of the “Green” closet this summer while visiting my family after sitting through the federal trial of Charles C. Lynch. During my visit home, I explained to my mother about all the injustices I witnessed in the courtroom and all the horror stories I had learned about. She says she supports me but she will not go out of her way to affect the cause.
Most everyone in my life know I’m a medical cannabis patient because I’m so open about my involvement in this movement. The only people who I do not discuss this with are my teachers or admins at school. I’m afraid the stereotypes of “potheads” will affect their interactions with me. And I risk losing my federal financial aid if I get a drug charge.
This week I’m wearing a green ribbon to help remind people of the importance of medical cannabis & safe access.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:39 am
Many of us know that cannabis can be a huge benefit in treating mental health disorders. Problem is, its one of those conditions that effect people who look like “healthy young men and women” (according to statements made by some law enforcement).
That stereotype, which is NOT based on any science, is prevalent. Its hard being labeled a “pot head” or “drug addict” just because you find cannabis manages your condition better than any pharmaceutical drug. It’s even harder when those who know nothing about the science – most often law enforcement) claim that you’re “taking advantage of the law” – even though your doctor encourages your cannabis treatment.
Thanks Megan, for sharing this.
February 18th, 2009 at 11:03 am
I came out to my parents the day after Thanksgiving, while putting up our Christmas tree! I’d started educating them on medical cannabis when I first started working at ASA, sending them copies of the medical reports on our website, talking about the amazing scientific properties of cannabis and how safe it is to use. While one was more supportive than the other, it was an incredibly freeing experience to come out and no longer have to keep such a big part of myself a secret any longer!
February 18th, 2009 at 12:34 pm
I came out a few years ago to my family, parents and co-workers. In fact, the year I moved out to California temporarily, like Don, I took my mother on a tour of a local dispensing collective. It was owned and operated by people who looked and spoke like her…and it was the very first time my mother had ever seen cannabis buds. She was impressed by the selection, the education she got about strain selection, and she absolutely loved the alternative forms of ingestion including cannabis-based food items. It provided her with a different way of thinking about medicating without smoking!
Since then, my mother has been an advocate for reform in her own right — mentioning to her coworkers, friends, and neighbors the awesome benefits cannabis offers as an alternative form of therapy.
Dad’s a different story, but I never miss an opportunity to educate! He’s coming around…and is at least open to the idea that regulation is a necessary first step to ending the prohibition on medical cannabis across the nation.
February 21st, 2009 at 11:31 am
I just need to tell ASA this: I’m a student in the bay area and yesterday I had my medical marijuana taken from me at the beach by a federal narcotics officers. He treated me like a dog and made me sit on the ground even though I told him I just had back surgery and it really wasn’t good for me to sit like that. He twisted all my words and said I was threatening him, when I clearly wasn’t and all the by standers knew it. Feeling really uncomfortable on the ground, I made a movement in order to readjust myself to get in a better position and WAM 3 officers SLAM me on the ground, cuffing me and telling me not to resist even though I wasn’t at all. Today I am bruised, confused, and in need of my medicine. I felt like these officers treated me unfairly, inhumanely and I am deeply saddened that there is nothing I can do about any of it because of the simple fact that medical marijuana is illegal on a federal level even though the bay area is tolerant and the voters decided it should be legal in the state of CA.