“The truth is, we don’t always know how most medicines are going to work with patients until we prescribe it to them.” This is according to Dr. Lynn Webster, who formerly helped patients with pain management.
But what prompted Dr. Webster’s remarks, you ask? A new patient initiative in Utah supporting the legalization of medical marijuana. Last year, a bill proposed by Senator Mark Madsen (R), failed to pass by one vote. In January, a group of patients gathered in the Capitol rotunda to encourage lawmakers to reconsider.
“It would be unwise,” says Dr. B. Dee Allred, “to begin using medical cannabis without real clinical and empirical evidence for beneficial use.”
Well, doc, there have been plenty of stories about the benefits of marijuana to treat health conditions such as epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis (to name a few). And if you want something a little more immediate, you need only look to Candy Wagner.
Five years ago, a brain tumor was discovered on Wagner’s son that has caused him to experience regular seizures. According to Wagner, their family tried everything for him with no effect. Faced with the possibility of an experimental surgery, the family decided instead to head to Colorado and give medical marijuana a try. Now, the seizures have all but stopped.
And, of course, if medical marijuana is legalized in Utah then those who are already using it (like Enedina Stanger) wouldn’t need to fear jail time. Stanger has smoked marijuana to combat the nerve pain associated with her Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. But that use led to a charge of third-degree endangerment of a child.
