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Stories of suffering eased by medical marijuana were shared one after the other yesterday during a public hearing for a bill that could legalize its use. Residents and senators shared how they or their loved ones suffered through various illnesses and how marijuana could have, or did, help them. Bill 215 would allow the use of medical marijuana for various illnesses, including cancer, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, among others.
Sens. Tina Muña Barnes, D-Mangilao, and Aline Yamashita, R-Tamuning, last month introduced the bill, also known as the Joaquin Concepcion Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013. The bill is named after the late Joaquin Concepcion, also known as KC Concepcion. Concepcion recently died of cancer. Before he died he used medical marijuana to help ease his pain, according to his wife, Emily Concepcion. She described how her husband suffered as he fought stage 4 stomach cancer and took many medications to feel better. She said the medications had many side effects and often made her husband feel worse.
The couple sought treatment in Washington, where medical marijuana is legal and KC Concepcion was able to use it. At the time, her husband lost a lot of weight from chemotherapy treatments and he had no appetite. By using marijuana, he was able to gain some weight and feel less pain, Emily Concepcion said, telling senators that it was regulated and was only given through medical professionals.
"It helped him a lot," she said. She urged senators to give Guam residents the option of using medical marijuana help them in their illnesses. KC Concepcion's father, Joaquin Concepcion, said he is deeply grateful that the bill was named after his son. But he said the bill isn't about his son, but about helping people who want to use medical marijuana to help them in their struggles.
"This is part of his legacy," he said. Vice Speaker Bejamin Cruz, D-Piti, said he watched a loved one also suffer from cancer and become skin and bones. He and his partner were in California, where medical marijuana was legal, and he said it was a big help in dealing with the illness. "He found relief in medical marijuana," Cruz said.
Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas urged senators to look at all the accurate data they can find and look at the bigger picture before they make their decisions. "Please base your decision on facts and science," Rapadas said. He said the legalization of medical marijuana is a complex issue and senators will need to look at restrictions based on federal law. For example, federal law doesn't allow the deposit of funds made from marijuana sales in banks.
"There are a lot of factors that you need to look into," Rapadas said. He said that alcohol and cigarettes, which are currently legal, already do harm and he's concerned marijuana would add to the problem. "Let's look at all the facts before we make such a sweeping change," he said. Rapadas recited statistics from states that have legalized marijuana, but senators asked him to look at statistics in states in which it was legalized only for medical use.
Marinalyn Hale, 28, from Merizo, said she suffers from systemic lupus and takes many medications to feel better. She said every day is a struggle because she has to deal with pain because of her illness. The side effects of all the drugs like nausea, headaches and sensitivity to the sun keeps her from being active. "I've seen how it (medical marijuana) could potentially help me," Hale said. "But I haven't been given the chance." She said it was important that this kind of treatment be available for other residents like her who deal with chronic illness.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Guampdn.com
Author: Jerick Sablan
Contact: Contact Us | Pacific Daily News | guampdn.com
Website: Marijuana bill supported: AG urges lawmakers to consider all issues | Pacific Daily News | guampdn.com
Sens. Tina Muña Barnes, D-Mangilao, and Aline Yamashita, R-Tamuning, last month introduced the bill, also known as the Joaquin Concepcion Compassionate Cannabis Use Act of 2013. The bill is named after the late Joaquin Concepcion, also known as KC Concepcion. Concepcion recently died of cancer. Before he died he used medical marijuana to help ease his pain, according to his wife, Emily Concepcion. She described how her husband suffered as he fought stage 4 stomach cancer and took many medications to feel better. She said the medications had many side effects and often made her husband feel worse.
The couple sought treatment in Washington, where medical marijuana is legal and KC Concepcion was able to use it. At the time, her husband lost a lot of weight from chemotherapy treatments and he had no appetite. By using marijuana, he was able to gain some weight and feel less pain, Emily Concepcion said, telling senators that it was regulated and was only given through medical professionals.
"It helped him a lot," she said. She urged senators to give Guam residents the option of using medical marijuana help them in their illnesses. KC Concepcion's father, Joaquin Concepcion, said he is deeply grateful that the bill was named after his son. But he said the bill isn't about his son, but about helping people who want to use medical marijuana to help them in their struggles.
"This is part of his legacy," he said. Vice Speaker Bejamin Cruz, D-Piti, said he watched a loved one also suffer from cancer and become skin and bones. He and his partner were in California, where medical marijuana was legal, and he said it was a big help in dealing with the illness. "He found relief in medical marijuana," Cruz said.
Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas urged senators to look at all the accurate data they can find and look at the bigger picture before they make their decisions. "Please base your decision on facts and science," Rapadas said. He said the legalization of medical marijuana is a complex issue and senators will need to look at restrictions based on federal law. For example, federal law doesn't allow the deposit of funds made from marijuana sales in banks.
"There are a lot of factors that you need to look into," Rapadas said. He said that alcohol and cigarettes, which are currently legal, already do harm and he's concerned marijuana would add to the problem. "Let's look at all the facts before we make such a sweeping change," he said. Rapadas recited statistics from states that have legalized marijuana, but senators asked him to look at statistics in states in which it was legalized only for medical use.
Marinalyn Hale, 28, from Merizo, said she suffers from systemic lupus and takes many medications to feel better. She said every day is a struggle because she has to deal with pain because of her illness. The side effects of all the drugs like nausea, headaches and sensitivity to the sun keeps her from being active. "I've seen how it (medical marijuana) could potentially help me," Hale said. "But I haven't been given the chance." She said it was important that this kind of treatment be available for other residents like her who deal with chronic illness.
News Moderator - The General @ 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: Guampdn.com
Author: Jerick Sablan
Contact: Contact Us | Pacific Daily News | guampdn.com
Website: Marijuana bill supported: AG urges lawmakers to consider all issues | Pacific Daily News | guampdn.com
