Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Minneapolis - Minnesota's medical cannabis program turned one year old Friday, on the same day eligibility expanded to a new group of patients. Early proponents celebrated the anniversary by sharing success stories with the media.
"It’s meant so much to our family because we literally have been able to see our daughter emerge before our eyes," Beth Hundley of Golden Valley told reporters.
Her four-year-old daughter Harlow has Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy causing constant seizures which lead to developmental issues. The child and her mother became familiar faces in 2014 as parents lobbied tirelessly at the legislature in support of legalized medical cannabis.
Hundley said the frequency and severity of Harlow's seizures have been reduced by the cannabis oil the family buys at Minnesota Medical Solutions, or MinnMed, which runs the Minneapolis medical marijuana dispensary.
The girl has been able to stop taking the prescription drug benzodiazepines, which came with serious side effects. Harlow's not verbal yet, but is communicating through an iPad and gestures.
"To see her enjoying life more, be able to engage with people and toys like a typical four-year-old, has been an absolute miracle," Hundley explained.
Patrick McClellan of Burnsville, who was often seen carrying signs at the State Capitol during the push for legalization, says the cannabis medicine has eased the severe muscle spasms he experiences because of muscular dystrophy. He too has been freed from some of his prescription meds.
"I’ve been able to get off of two of the most addictive and toxic medications completely, and reduce two others by 50 percent," McClellan said.
He said that the retail cost of the products remains a barrier for many, but he's hoping the prices will go down as a new category of patients -- those with intractable pain -- enter the system in August. Intractable pain in generally described as pain that can't be removed or treated safely with the consent of the patient.
Kim Kelsey also had glowing reviews of how the cannabis treatments had worked for her 20-year-old son Alec, who suffers from severe epilepsy and has struggled with seizures throughout his life.
"We have seen improvement with him cognitively, faster processing, more engaged and present," Kelsey said of her son.
She said he plays seven sports through Special Olympics, and was able to get through an entire weekend of a basketball tournament without have a seizure. That's something that never happened before he started taking the medical cannabis.
"We saw this Alec, just more of our Alec, and with no side effects. It's amazing!"
Results promising
The Minnesota Department of Health issued report in June, based on a survey of hundreds of the enrollees in the state's fledgling program. Overall 87 percent of drug users who responded to the survey reported some benefit from the drugs.
An overwhelming percentage of health care providers who answered the survey also reported positive results, and benefits.
"A full two-thirds of those are people are having significant relief of their symptoms, and this spans epilepsy, pain patients, muscle spasm pain patients, patients at the end of life," Dr. Kyle Kingsley, the CEO of MinnMed, said Friday.
"It’s pretty remarkable as a physician to see such success."
As of July 1 people who suffer from intractable pain can ask their physicians to certify them as having that condition, and that certification will make them eligible to buy medical cannabis beginning Aug. 1.
For more on how the Minn. Dept. of Health's defines intractable pain, go to this link on the MDH website.
During the first year of it's existence the program was limited to the following conditions: ALS, cancer, Crohn's Disease, seizures, HIV/AIDS, terminal illness, Tourette Syndrome, muscle spasms and glaucoma.
Minnesota's other medical marijuana provider, Leafline Labs, now has dispensaries in Eagan, St. Paul, St. Cloud and Hibbing.
In addition to the Minneapolis location, MinnMed has locations in Bloomington, Rochester and Moorhead.
The Medical Cannabis bill passed in 2014 limits the state to eight total dispensaries, with one in each congressional district. All of the marijuana plants that are used in production of the drugs must be grown within the state's borders.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota Marks Medical Marijuana Milestone
Author: John Croman
Contact: (763) 546-1111
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: KARE 11
"It’s meant so much to our family because we literally have been able to see our daughter emerge before our eyes," Beth Hundley of Golden Valley told reporters.
Her four-year-old daughter Harlow has Dravet Syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy causing constant seizures which lead to developmental issues. The child and her mother became familiar faces in 2014 as parents lobbied tirelessly at the legislature in support of legalized medical cannabis.
Hundley said the frequency and severity of Harlow's seizures have been reduced by the cannabis oil the family buys at Minnesota Medical Solutions, or MinnMed, which runs the Minneapolis medical marijuana dispensary.
The girl has been able to stop taking the prescription drug benzodiazepines, which came with serious side effects. Harlow's not verbal yet, but is communicating through an iPad and gestures.
"To see her enjoying life more, be able to engage with people and toys like a typical four-year-old, has been an absolute miracle," Hundley explained.
Patrick McClellan of Burnsville, who was often seen carrying signs at the State Capitol during the push for legalization, says the cannabis medicine has eased the severe muscle spasms he experiences because of muscular dystrophy. He too has been freed from some of his prescription meds.
"I’ve been able to get off of two of the most addictive and toxic medications completely, and reduce two others by 50 percent," McClellan said.
He said that the retail cost of the products remains a barrier for many, but he's hoping the prices will go down as a new category of patients -- those with intractable pain -- enter the system in August. Intractable pain in generally described as pain that can't be removed or treated safely with the consent of the patient.
Kim Kelsey also had glowing reviews of how the cannabis treatments had worked for her 20-year-old son Alec, who suffers from severe epilepsy and has struggled with seizures throughout his life.
"We have seen improvement with him cognitively, faster processing, more engaged and present," Kelsey said of her son.
She said he plays seven sports through Special Olympics, and was able to get through an entire weekend of a basketball tournament without have a seizure. That's something that never happened before he started taking the medical cannabis.
"We saw this Alec, just more of our Alec, and with no side effects. It's amazing!"
Results promising
The Minnesota Department of Health issued report in June, based on a survey of hundreds of the enrollees in the state's fledgling program. Overall 87 percent of drug users who responded to the survey reported some benefit from the drugs.
An overwhelming percentage of health care providers who answered the survey also reported positive results, and benefits.
"A full two-thirds of those are people are having significant relief of their symptoms, and this spans epilepsy, pain patients, muscle spasm pain patients, patients at the end of life," Dr. Kyle Kingsley, the CEO of MinnMed, said Friday.
"It’s pretty remarkable as a physician to see such success."
As of July 1 people who suffer from intractable pain can ask their physicians to certify them as having that condition, and that certification will make them eligible to buy medical cannabis beginning Aug. 1.
For more on how the Minn. Dept. of Health's defines intractable pain, go to this link on the MDH website.
During the first year of it's existence the program was limited to the following conditions: ALS, cancer, Crohn's Disease, seizures, HIV/AIDS, terminal illness, Tourette Syndrome, muscle spasms and glaucoma.
Minnesota's other medical marijuana provider, Leafline Labs, now has dispensaries in Eagan, St. Paul, St. Cloud and Hibbing.
In addition to the Minneapolis location, MinnMed has locations in Bloomington, Rochester and Moorhead.
The Medical Cannabis bill passed in 2014 limits the state to eight total dispensaries, with one in each congressional district. All of the marijuana plants that are used in production of the drugs must be grown within the state's borders.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Minnesota Marks Medical Marijuana Milestone
Author: John Croman
Contact: (763) 546-1111
Photo Credit: None Found
Website: KARE 11
