Staff Blog
Medical Marijuana Stories, PLUS Rally for HB 1393 This Saturday
 |
Irvin Rosenfeld smokes marijuana ten times a day, but he doesn’t get high.
The Virginia stockbroker suffers from a rare condition that causes bone tumors to grow sporadically, often into the muscle and veins, which could potentially kill him. But it hasn’t — in fact, he has’t had a tumor for 33 years — and Rosenfeld credits medical marijuana, supplied directly by the National Institutes of Health. He’s America’s longest-surviving federal cannabis patient.
“Smoking is the only way to really get the medicine. The cannabis is the best thing that worked for me,†he says.
Every 25 days, he picks up a tin of 300 pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes. The “marijuanettes†are grown under NIH contract by the University of Mississippi. Scientists believe he doesn’t get high because his cannabinoid receptors, which include millions of tiny fibers spread throughout humans’ bodies that allow us to ‘get high,’ are deformed.
Rosenfeld fights for the legalization of medical cannabis for patients not as fortunate as himself. “When you have a disorder, it sucks,†he says. “I was lucky enough that I was able to discover the right medicine for me. I just can’t sit back and not try to help others.â€
Others are joining him. A candlelight vigil for patients who have died waiting for medical marijuana will be held this Saturday, July 11 at the Independence Mall visitor center. The vigil will also serve as a rally for HB1393, a bill that would create Pennsylvania’s first legalized medical marijuana program. It will be from 8:30 to 10 p.m.
Introduced by State Representative Mark B. Cohen (D-Philadelphia) and endorsed by the National Lawyers Guild Philadelphia Chapter, the bill has been referred to the House Health and Human Services Committee with public hearings expected this summer.
Rep. Cohen believes that, aside from helping suffering patients, legalizing medical marijuana could increase the state’s revenue by at least $25 million in taxes. If the bill passes, PA could become the 14th state to allow medical marijuana.
Under HB 1393, Pennsylvanians would not only be permitted to be prescribed medical cannabis, but also grow it. This would be of particular interest to Bradley D. Walter, a Scranton native and HIV patient.* Walter uses marijuana to ease the side effects of his antiviral medication, which are, on some days “debilitating,†he says. He takes it in the form of Marinol, a synthetic THC pill.
“The pills are the only medication I found that allows me to live a normal life,†he says, “and removes most of my side effects,†which include intense stomach pains, extreme hunger and nausea.
But at $60 a pill, Marinol costs him an astronomical $1,297 a month. He suggests that for a few bucks, he could grow marijuana in his basement and eliminate a lot of his costs.
He continues to fight for access to the whole-plant cannabis, and will fly in from Florida to testify at Pennsylvania’s public hearings this summer.
*This post has been changed. It originally said Mr. Walter lives in Florida, but he is a Pennsylvania resident.
Simultaneous candlelight vigils will be held in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh at 8:30 PM Saturday, with a Harrisburg march from the Capitol to Market Square at 2 PM. See the websites of The Medical Movement (www.MedicalMovement.com) and Pennsylvanians for Medical Marijuana (www.PA4MMJ.org). Thanks for all you do.
Hiya, I’m Bradley Walter, the person mentioned in the article. Just a correction, my partner and I are both taxpaying residents of Pennsylvania, we don’t live in Florida.
Thank You! Great article!
Great article, just one correction - Irv Rosenfeld lives and practices in Florida. He is the one who is coming up to testify in PA’s hearings - Brad will also be there hopefully but as he said he lives in PA already.
A candlelight vigil for patients who have died waiting for medical marijuana will be held this Saturday, July 11 at the Independence Mall visitor center(6th and Market St.)
The vigil will also serve as a rally for HB1393, a bill that would create Pennsylvania’s first legalized medical marijuana program.
It will be from 8:30 to 10 p.m.
Numerous healthcare organizations support access to therapeutic cannabis. See the list compiled by Patients Out of Time at: http://www.medicalcannabis.com/Grouplist.htm
Some of the most rigorous studies, studies using the gold standard of scientific research—the double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, have established the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana.
Not only science, but logic, common sense, and compassion all support medical marijuana. Logic says that doctors prescribe far more dangerous and addicting drugs than marijuana; common sense says that this issue ought to be decided in the doctor-patient relationship, in the best interest of the patient; and compassion says that no patient should suffer needlessly.
The Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey has public meetings on the second Tuesday of every month at the Lawrence Twp. (Mercer County) library. All are invited.
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director
Coalition for Medical Marijuana New Jersey, Inc.
844 Spruce St.
Trenton, NJ 08648
609.394.2137
http://www.cmmnj.org
ohamkrw@aol.com
I’m really interested in what people think of this issue!
This is a great issue! The last comment posted says it all. I am part of AMC in Washington state. We have medical marijuana laws in place, but there seems to be constant friction between patients trying to establish safe access & local police officials. We’re making out way in this state, but it is slow going. I welcoome any comments or questions personally: elizabeth.a.moffitt@live.com
Great article! I moved to PA several years ago. An accident left me disabled and have had several surgeries. I have severe, constsnt pain.I don’t tolerate narcotic pain meds well and, as a result, can’t take them. I’ve tried them all including fentanyl patches and suffer stomach upset and vomiting.
Medical marijuana may just be the thing for me; it is something I would like to try anyway. Does anyone know when this debate will take place in PA? or when a vote is expected? I’ve looked all over the net, but can’t seem to find any info on when this bill will be brought; all I can find is “this summer.” It’s already mid July. Thanks
Q: “Does anyone know when this debate will take place in PA? or when a vote is expected?”
A: Chuck Homan talked with House Health and Human Services Co-chair Frank Oliver on July 13, and he said the public hearing will be at the top of the list when the Assembly reconvenes on September 2.
Citizens, patients, physicians and others who want to be heard on this issue should attend the hearing and testify to make a strong legislative record for the bill. Watch http://www.MedicalMovement.com and http://www.PA4MMJ.org for continuing news. Thanks for all you do.
Jeff Spangler, for The Medical Movement and Chuck Homan
The hearing date confirmed by House leadership is Wednesday, September 2 at 10 AM in the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th and Market Streets in Philadelphia. Two panels of the House Majority Policy Committee will consider drug policy generally, then HB 1393 Compassionate Use. Written testimony may be submitted with exhibits. See http://www.MedicalMovement.com, and thanks for all you do.
I am living with schizoaffective disorder - a combination of severe bipolar and mild schizophrenia. I started smoking marijuana a year ago when I had a psychotic breakdown. In the year that has passed, while my life’s stresses have only become greater, I have found that my schiziphrenic, as well as my bipolar symptoms, have lessened to a degree that I have been able to not only to survive my mental illness, but to actually enjoy my life again. As a patient who relies on marijuana for mental balance. While, naturally, I can’t speak for all of the mentally ill men and women out there, I can certainly say with certainty that it’s helped make my life more than tolerable. It has changed my overall outlook on life, and has improved relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.
I am living with schizoaffective disorder - a combination of severe bipolar and mild schizophrenia. I started smoking marijuana a year ago when I had a psychotic breakdown. In the year that has passed, while my life’s stresses have only become greater, I have found that my schizophrenic, as well as my bipolar symptoms, have lessened to a degree that I have been able to not only to survive my mental illness, but to actually enjoy my life again. As a patient who relies on marijuana for mental balance. While, naturally, I can’t speak for all of the mentally ill men and women out there, I can certainly say with certainty that it’s helped make my life more than tolerable. It has changed my overall outlook on life, and has improved relationships with family, friends, and coworkers.