Teri Heede, pictured, is one of Hawaii's 12,000 registered medical marijuana patients. Marijuana keeps me walking and keeps me moving, said Heede. Heede has suffered from muscular scoliosis for more than twenty years. One day, the debilitating condition stopped her in her tracks. I fell at work, and I literally could not get back up, said Heede. After tiring of taking multiple medications and injections, Heede turned to marijuana for relief. I traded all my pills and needles for pot. If you had a choice, would you rather eat a cookie or take a shot? asked Heede. Like most other marijuana patients, Heede has to grow her own medicine. She said her seven allowed plants are sometimes not enough. With only seven plants you're going to have to go to the black market to buy more, because you're not able to grow enough on your own, stated Heede. Hawaii is one of 20 states and districts that allow medical marijuana, but one of the only ones without a dispensary for patients to buy their pot. A dispensary is really a crying need. Many of the more than 10,000 patients are asking for it as their number one concern, said Pamela Lichty with the Drug Policy Forum of Hawaii. Providing marijuana to patients is one of the issues expected to be brought before the state legislature in the New Year. - ABC TV Honolulu
