Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
The national opioid crisis might open the door for medical marijuana in Tennessee.
Cannabis is already allowed in 29 other states. Dean and Debra Young of Old Hickory hope approval comes sooner than later.
Debra takes a long list of powerful medication everyday including morphine to treat a series of ailments which include multiple sclerosis, colon cancer and a painful spine condition.
"It would be nice if we could funnel that down and get rid of some of those things," said Dean Young.
Debra said while she needs help to fight her ailments, the daily drug cocktail she takes leaves her feeling groggy and disconnected.
"It's a toss-up," Debra said. "Do you want to be sleepy, or do you want to do the things that are bad for you...you wish you had an option? I wish I had an option."
The option she's talking about is derived from marijuana plants. In states where it's legal, thousands of people like Young use pills, ointments, tinctures and in some cases food containing cannabis to treat a variety of debilitating conditions with virtually no dangerous side effects.
Doctor Steve Dickerson is a pain management specialist. He's also a state senator and co-sponsor of Tennessee's medical cannabis bill. Dickerson believes medical marijuana is a viable alternative to opioids and could help reduce the alarming number of overdose deaths.
"Our prospects are better this year than they were last year, and I'm optimistic," Dickerson said. "I'd say it's greater than a 50-50 chance we'll get it passed this year."
For the past three years, Dickerson and a handful of other lawmakers have been educating their colleagues at hearings at legislative plaza. Dr. Sue Sisley, nationally-recognized cannabis expert, is among those who've testified.
"Typical pharmaceuticals are one molecule targeting one receptor in the body, whereas the cannabis plant is able to target multiple receptors," Sisley said.
Evidence pointing to the medical benefits of cannabis is strong.
In January, a report by the national academy of sciences concludes cannabis is a medicine, and after years of resistance, the national institute on drug abuse now acknowledges cannabis as a viable alternative to opioids to treat pain. Small studies suggest the smokable form is also effective for treating post-traumatic stress.
Disabled marine veteran Roberto Pickering told lawmakers he used to take 13-pills a day.
"Through cannabis, I've been able to get off all these medicines and live a normal life," Pickering said.
Cecily Shamim is the founder of the Tennessee Cannabis Coalition. She said she's been pushing for this bill's passage behind the scenes for years.
"It shouldn't be a political football," Shamim said. "We should be looking at the science and the facts behind medical cannabis. They're there, and they support the use of this plant as medicine."
Critics say there isn't enough compelling evidence on the benefits of medical cannabis. Proponents argue that's because for decades the government only funded studies looking for problems.
What's clear is no one has ever died from using cannabis, which gives hope to people like Dean and Debra Young, average people with debilitating illnesses and desperate for an alternative.
"I would just like to see use of a product that grows from the earth, that's natural and see if we can't make something of it," Dean Young said.
Senator Dickerson's bill would only make cannabis available to a relatively small group of people, the sickest Tennesseans. This bill's fate may be linked to its ability to help reduce opioid deaths, which has been confirmed in the 23 states that have fully operational cannabis programs right now.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Some Tennesseans hope for medical marijuana amid national opioid crisis | WZTV
Author: Scott Couch
Contact: Nashville Contact | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: Nashville News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Cannabis is already allowed in 29 other states. Dean and Debra Young of Old Hickory hope approval comes sooner than later.
Debra takes a long list of powerful medication everyday including morphine to treat a series of ailments which include multiple sclerosis, colon cancer and a painful spine condition.
"It would be nice if we could funnel that down and get rid of some of those things," said Dean Young.
Debra said while she needs help to fight her ailments, the daily drug cocktail she takes leaves her feeling groggy and disconnected.
"It's a toss-up," Debra said. "Do you want to be sleepy, or do you want to do the things that are bad for you...you wish you had an option? I wish I had an option."
The option she's talking about is derived from marijuana plants. In states where it's legal, thousands of people like Young use pills, ointments, tinctures and in some cases food containing cannabis to treat a variety of debilitating conditions with virtually no dangerous side effects.
Doctor Steve Dickerson is a pain management specialist. He's also a state senator and co-sponsor of Tennessee's medical cannabis bill. Dickerson believes medical marijuana is a viable alternative to opioids and could help reduce the alarming number of overdose deaths.
"Our prospects are better this year than they were last year, and I'm optimistic," Dickerson said. "I'd say it's greater than a 50-50 chance we'll get it passed this year."
For the past three years, Dickerson and a handful of other lawmakers have been educating their colleagues at hearings at legislative plaza. Dr. Sue Sisley, nationally-recognized cannabis expert, is among those who've testified.
"Typical pharmaceuticals are one molecule targeting one receptor in the body, whereas the cannabis plant is able to target multiple receptors," Sisley said.
Evidence pointing to the medical benefits of cannabis is strong.
In January, a report by the national academy of sciences concludes cannabis is a medicine, and after years of resistance, the national institute on drug abuse now acknowledges cannabis as a viable alternative to opioids to treat pain. Small studies suggest the smokable form is also effective for treating post-traumatic stress.
Disabled marine veteran Roberto Pickering told lawmakers he used to take 13-pills a day.
"Through cannabis, I've been able to get off all these medicines and live a normal life," Pickering said.
Cecily Shamim is the founder of the Tennessee Cannabis Coalition. She said she's been pushing for this bill's passage behind the scenes for years.
"It shouldn't be a political football," Shamim said. "We should be looking at the science and the facts behind medical cannabis. They're there, and they support the use of this plant as medicine."
Critics say there isn't enough compelling evidence on the benefits of medical cannabis. Proponents argue that's because for decades the government only funded studies looking for problems.
What's clear is no one has ever died from using cannabis, which gives hope to people like Dean and Debra Young, average people with debilitating illnesses and desperate for an alternative.
"I would just like to see use of a product that grows from the earth, that's natural and see if we can't make something of it," Dean Young said.
Senator Dickerson's bill would only make cannabis available to a relatively small group of people, the sickest Tennesseans. This bill's fate may be linked to its ability to help reduce opioid deaths, which has been confirmed in the 23 states that have fully operational cannabis programs right now.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Some Tennesseans hope for medical marijuana amid national opioid crisis | WZTV
Author: Scott Couch
Contact: Nashville Contact | News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
Photo Credit: Getty
Website: Nashville News, Weather, Sports, Breaking News | WZTV
