I listened, as the 75 year old female emphatically shared with me that, since she started her Medical Marijuana usage, she not had experienced any of  the horrible symptoms of  COPD that had plagued her for years. I was awestruck by a 78 year old who could hardly contain her joy, as she shared how much Medical Marijuana had helped her with the crippling Rheumatory Arthritis that had slowly taken over joints. There are soldiers who come back from combat suffering from PTSD due to their experiences in combat; there are a myriad of sufferers of chronic pain who testify that Medical Marijuana has helped them regain their life and feel like themselves as they break the deadly Opiod addiction, cancer patients, children with seizures, various neurological disorders I could go on and on. I hear the most amazing stories every day, about how Medical Cannabis has improved the quality of their lives.
Previously, I believed (and still do) in the legalization of recreational cannabis.  But, when I began working in Medical Marijuana on a professional level, I began to  acquire so much more scientific knowledge about this complex and therapeutic plant.
The bottom line is that Medical Cannabis is a good thing. It is proven to help people who are suffering, without the harmful side effects like that of Opioids.

Frankly, it astounds me.  No, it angers me to see the inexcusable obstacles laid out by the opponents of Medical Cannabis. The Federal government still maintains its criminalization policy, the banking industry won't touch it, insurance companies refuse to coordinate with treatment, making even more difficult for people to afford its treatment benefits, and local politicians are still able to circumvent the will of 71% of the State's voters.

One thing I have learned is that greed and ignorance can be powerful allies against something as good as Medical Cannabis.

Gordon Smith