Medical Marijuana Update

It's easy to close your eyes if you or your loved ones aren't suffering from painful, deadly diseases that give them one option-ever increasing amounts of narcotics that will get stronger the rest of your life. It's just ignorant to have lethal drugs legal when a plant can do the job better, and make the patient feel happy-some hope when you get to the point where you don't look forward to a long life-just hope you get it over with. When I lived in CO my doctor reccomended a kind with less THC, but more cannabinoids for pain, anti-inflamitory, and sleep promoting qualities using a vaporizer- no smoke or smell. I was sceptical, but on one of my bad days when the opioids didn't work, I tried it. I got instant releaf from the pain and the anxiety associated with my diagnosis. After just three months I had grown bone where before bone was being destroyed. I actually felt hope for the first time in years. As this is all due to a birth defect, I never thought I could have such a change in the quality of my life. I ate healthier food because I was able to cook healthy meals instead of whatever I could eat in bed after a quick grab in the kitchen. I now live in AR. I inherited my father's house, where I grew up, after he lost his fight with camcer,but after I found the drastic difference in my life and well-being, I'd rented it out. A flood caused so much damage to the floors I lost my renter, and couldn't afford to fix it, and pay my rent in CO. This last year was lived full of hope I could keep the house I'd grown up in, be close to family and friends, keep good Dr's I'd been so lucky to find, but that means narcotics only. No marijuana. The opposition was so ruthless in the lies and false allegations that people who didn't know better, or do their own research quickly believed the scare tactics and propaganda. It makes me wonder if the opposition had financial gain in the failure of this law. It was close, 49% for, 51% against. I believe it would have passed if the truth were told, if news media were reporting both sides fairly, and such big money was not used to beat this proposition at any cost. I'm now at my mother's to visit her one last time before I have to sell my house in this awful economy, but I lost $800 for breaking my lease in CO last time. I just can't do that again. I endured untold pain to try to volunteer for this worthy cause, not just for me, but for the many just like me I met during the last year. I'm lucky, I can move, I have a house to sell and retirement income along with total disability. So many are stuck in this poverty-ridden state. I know of one suicide personally. I doubt it is the only one. How many have to suffer to the point of choosing death over 24/7 pain and misery? All over a drug safer than Tylenol, Alcohol, or Tobacco? It makes no sense, and shows how backward and ignorant some Arkansans are. Sad. Thank you to all the brave doctors, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and patients who stood up bravely for the truth. Thank you to 49% of Arkansans who educated themselves and worked so hard to educate others while the news ignored them, and only spread half-truths and outright lies. I pray for you all. I'll miss you mom, my grown children, and my dear grandchildren. I say goodbye with sorrow, but it is not sweet. I'm so very sad. I spent 23 years here teaching children to read, learn to love to learn, and to be kind to others. I hope you all grow up to be the leaders AR needs. Leaders who stand for what is right, leaders who care about the suffering of innocent people. I will never forget you. Goodbye my loved ones. Goodbye sweet, beautiful Arkansas.