A few weeks ago, my whole family gathered for my uncle’s 60th birthday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Actually, my mother’s side of the family--northeastern liberals--gathered. My father’s side lives in Norway, and they are all pretty much like him: stubborn. They relish conflict, especially of the political variety, and my father is almost always spoiling for a spirited debate (read: an tirade about liberal media conspiracy).
Only this time, there were no hackles being raised. No voices gradually rising in volume and intensity. I found my dad out on the patio, sitting calmly and reflecting on the sunset.
"I heard your uncles talking about politics,” he said, "so I came out here instead."
Flabbergasted, I blinked my eyes and thought, "Who are you and where is Lars?”
But then he explained. A few minutes before, he had taken a steady pull off of my uncle’s vaporizer, and for the first time in months, the shooting nerve pains in his leg were leaving him alone, and his back felt less stiff. He was at peace, calm, and tranquil.
“But then he explained. A few minutes before, he had taken a steady pull off of my uncle’s vaporizer, and for the first time in months, the shooting nerve pains in his leg were leaving him alone, and his back felt less stiff. He was at peace, calm, and tranquil.”
Let me back up. My father does not smoke weed. He has always seen claims of medical marijuana as dubious excuses for people to abuse a recreational drug under the pretense of medicine. According to my mother, he had railed the day before about the dopers’ conspiracy. And yet here he was, living the actual benefits, seeing with fresh--if a bit bloodshot--eyes that there is real medicinal value in cannabis.
This year’s Florida ballot contains a proposal for Amendment 2, which would expand the use of medical marijuana in the state considerably. The proposed amendment does, however, make it very clear that marijuana is still a Schedule 1 narcotic, federally illegal, and that the potential Florida constitution change did not change those facts. Despite this, a further three states--North Dakota, Arkansas and Montana--will vote today on medical marijuana and five--California, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada--will vote on recreational legalization.
“The pros and cons of recreational cannabis are debatable, but there is consistent—if somewhat modest—evidence to suggest cannabis as an effective treatment for pain management, neuropathy, and certain types of cancers.”
The pros and cons of recreational cannabis are debatable, but there is consistent--if somewhat modest--evidence to suggest cannabis as an effective treatment for pain management, neuropathy, and certain types of cancers. But, it is nonetheless a federal schedule 1 drug, and there seems to be no motion on behalf of the DEA to loosen federal restrictions on cannabis. This would also likely mean that any potential public healthcare option floated by (please God) President Clinton would exclude a working treatment that has already attracted immense support.
A few states are already considering exercising the 1332 waiver, allowing them to opt out of certain mandatory features in the ACA in order to provide state-level innovation in healthcare delivery. A lingering question, then, is if states that already have medical marijuana will be allowed to reap any federal benefits or count on federal support for expansion of medical marijuana programs. The answer, likely, is no. Although, who really knows? The notion, though, that the federal government would stand in the way of a safe, efficacious, proven treatment for a host of chronic conditions--especially HIV and cancer-related pain and weight management--is preposterous, and stinks of grandstanding. It will be incumbent on my generation to divest the old guard of the myths of the distant past, and to push for more transparent, better funded, better controlled scientific research on the subject to drive the point home.
“A lingering question, then, is if states that already have medical marijuana will be allowed to reap any federal benefits or count on federal support for expansion of medical marijuana programs. The answer, likely, is no.”
My dad took another hefty drag from the little vaporizer on the table before we stood up to finish making the food for the party.
"I want to make something clear to you,” he said, "I’m not doing this because I like getting high. I’m not changing my mind because I like the euphoria.” He looked down at his legs: ashen, swollen, purple.
"I feel better than I’ve felt in a long, long time.” I smiled and hugged him, glad at the sea change in his attitude.
And if my doctor decides he wants to be a dick about it, there are other ways I can get it without his help.”
Just for the record, his doctor expressed his opinion thusly:
"Ask me two years ago I would have told you it’s all a scam. But today, I know patients from other states that say it’s changed their lives, and the evidence continues to mount.”
It’s a brave new world, dude.