SparkMan

Three years ago I herniated a disc in my back. It is an extremely painful injury that no pain medicine seems to help with. I was not willing to undergo surgery as there was no guarantee of improvement and no guarantee that I would not have permanent persistant problems anyway. I was told by my physician that in time T-Cells would dissolve the particles that ruptured into my spinal chord. Doctors gave me all sorts of pain medication including Oxycontin and none of them helped so I stopped taking them. They just made me feel worse really. The last thing I need is to get hooked on prescription meds. I had heard from listening to Montel that some people do not respond to opiates due to their persol receptor makeups.
So I tried smoking pot to help with the pain and to help me be able to get some sleep. It is the only thing that really worked. Over the last 3 years and with physical therapy I have gotten 90% of the pain to go away. I feel I would have had a much worse time without this plant.
So here is my question. I live in VT and would like to get medical MJ legally. I do not like dealing with criminal elements to recieve. How do I go about petitioning my state to include people with spinal injuries to the list of those able to get it. It worked very well for me and I want others with me problem to be able to get it.
Thank you all for reading.

Buzzby

Communicate with your state representative and senators.

Write to your Governor.

Get your doctor to write a letter stating that marijuana is the only medication that brings you any relief from intractable pain and have him copy it to those elected officials.

Contact NORML and MPP and tell them that you want to broaden your state's medical marijuana law to include provisions for neuropathic and intractable pain. They're always willing to help people who want to further their agenda.

Write letters to the editors and op-ed pieces for all local and statewide newspapers. Find and organize other people who need medical marijuana and stage a protest outside your state legislature.

Governments rarely change their policies based on one person's appeals. Public exposure (newspapers, radio, television) and organized protests and appeals are the best approach for getting things changed.

Best of luck! You've come to the right place to find support and good ideas.

__________________

Sukhavati

Buzzby,

This is great advice. I have fought migraines, psoriasis, fibromyalgia and depression for the past thirty years, which means I was only just whelped when I entered into a world of pain.

For the past 20 years, I've done high-end advertising and marketing campaigns to promote healthcare across the nation. The major deterrent to me using pot today is that I don't want to risk my family's lives just because I don't want to live in acute pain on a day by day basis.

I have been considering going to my doctor, who has offered to put me on methadone, and ask if he will write just such a letter for me. I am glad to hear other people making the suggestion. It makes me think that maybe it's worth the effort.

Thanks,

Sukhavati