Given Choice, Patients Will Choose Cannabis Over Prescribed Opioids

Surprising that big pharma is an opponent to a readily-available natural substance outside the purview of patent protections. Quick, better enforce the federal ban.

Naive questions about this:

1. How many hours does MMJ control pain?

2. Does taking MMJ for chronic pain make you high all the time?

3. In California, most MMJ dispensaries are oriented towards recreational users. How do you go about this from a legitimately medical path, i.e. finding a doctor able and willing to provide sound medical advice, instead of just collecting the fee for a green card?

Reminds me of when Stephen Harper claimed Marijuana was worse than tobacco and the rather hilarious reaction by Canadians that followed his statement:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-pot-marijuana...

From the comments "hey Steve...smoke a blunt or two and mellow out." is the kind of sentiment that I heard a lot of in Toronto.

I get kidney stones pretty often (6 times in the last 8 years). I vomit from the pain, convulse on the floor, lose all sense of self as I just struggle to survive the sensation. It is intense. Usually I have to go to the emergency room for IV opioids. Then they give you some to take home after you pass the peak of the pain.

Last time it happened to me, I went home at around 6pm after going into the hospital that morning. At 3am, the pain was again intolerable. I had already taken the maximum dosage of the opioids. I knew taking more was dangerous, and was keenly afraid of getting addicted. But the pain was too much, so I went to get the bottle of pills.

As I stood up to go get the pills, it occurred to me that people say weed is good for pain and that I should try it before taking more opioids. I had weed (in cali, have a "medical" card) so I took some out and smoked.

I cannot describe to you how much more effective it was than the opioids. The pain wasn't gone, but it was just an interesting sensation now. Genuinely didn't bother me. I did yoga. I read. I enjoyed the night. And I was flabbergasted that no one I touched in the medical establishment had ever recommended it.

It feels like a genuinely corrupt world where something so clearly damaging to people and society is recommended before something relatively harmless and widely available.

I am still in awe of how effectively it handled my pain.

I don't really have any authority to really add anything but I will say my understanding of chronic is long lasting. Doesn't necessarily have to be severe pain, just long lasting. I have some chronic pains from a bad fall a few years ago. Unfortunately PA is moving like a turtle in it's medical marijuana roll out.

When I think of cannabis, I view it as safer. You don't hear about overdoes like you do with opioids. Add in a few famous celebrity deaths like Prince you quickly get a public image that views opioids with suspicion. In my opinion rightly so. Hopefully medical marijuana can be more accessible to more people sooner.