Re: For all who want a card but.
If anyone deserves to have a permit to use mmj its you Sheenyboy!!!
Hello,
I thought I had posted to this topic, but it seems to not be here so I am going to try again. I am currently a resident in the State of Michigan, which as passed its Medical Marijuana Card program. Basically, in a paraphrased nutshell, the law allows a doctor to "recommend that the patient has an illness that could be benefited by the use of cannabis" . There is a list of qualifying illnesses and conditions that are "approved to utilize Marijuana has a part of their treatment"
That being said, I am currently a 22 yr Survivor of AIDS, my T-cell count has been below 200 for over 20 yrs. I also have Advanced Peripheral Neuropothay, a disorder that has caused the Mylar sheeting that covers nerve endings is dieing/dissolving. It cause the nerve endings to register a constant burning pain, that is accompanied by waves of severe pain that can last anyway from a few minutes to several hours.
I have been on Opiate pain management for the past 15yrs and a recent EMG showed a <90% loss of sensory nerve conduction and a <40% loss of my motor nerves in my legs. Currently I can walk with arm brace crutches, but I use an electric wheelchair when I have to travel more than teh length of the sidewalk to the car.
Another issue that I have been dealing with is nausea and weight loss. At 6'6" I currently weigh 183lbs, a weight that I maintain with the use of Human Growth Hormone IM and Topical Androgel.
For years I have taken a medication called Marinal/Drobinal, synthetic THC, taken to combat nausea and to stimulate appetite.
As you can see above I have several "qualifying illnesses" that are listed has candidates for the MM program. I started by approaching both my Primary Care Doctor and my HIV Specialist about the usage of MM for me. I did research and presented my case to them both and they were supportive and both thought that it would be something that I would possibly benefit from the use of. They both said that they would talk to their Partners/Employers in order to get approval to write the recommendation for me.
My Primary Doc called me latter that day and said that she was sorry, but here managing partner would not allow his office to become known as a group of drug dealers. This from a doctor that had been writing a Rx for 100 mg of time release MsContin 3 times a day and 15 mg instant release Mscontin per day for over 6 yrs. I can understand the trepidation of a small town doctor becoming involved in something that is legal only on the State level.
However when my HIV Specialist called me and told me that the State Health Department has forbidden their Doctors from making the recommendations for anyone regardless of the reason. I was blown away by this, because you would think that a state funded medical agency would be able to utilize the MM program, especially for a patient that had been receiving treatment by them for several of the qualifying illnesses for many years prior to the law being passed.
I contacted my Case Manager and she forwarded my paperwork to one of the MM recommending clinics. They called me about a month or so after receiving my medical records. The man I spoke with was very nice and reassuring that my records were in order and that the Doctor just needed to do a brief physical examination and I would be able to receive his recommendation. The problem was that I was up North in the boonies and their offices were in the Detroit area. Quickly I was informed that on several occasions throughout the year he holds clinics in towns around the state and that they would be contacting me to schedule an appointment. I waited about 2 months and called to check the status of upcoming clinics. They told me that there was going to be one the following week about 60 miles from me and the next weekend they would be seeing potential patients around 120 miles away. I asked for an appointment for the clinic 60 miles away and was put on hold. When they came back on the line I was informed that the clinic was full and that they had no more spaces available. That was the last I heard from them and it is almost 4 months since that call.
I nearly gave up the idea of pursuing this line of treatment when an opportunity to move to Lansing, the State capital. Surely I would be able to get a recommendation here but when I approached my new Dr about it he said that they too were not allowed to even accept the paperwork required to be filled out. I did some more checking and all I have been able to come up with is another clinic that charges $220 to write the recommendation.
I currently receive a little less than $800 per month on a Social Security Disability income. After normal living expenses I have very little left over for gas to drive my car right now, not to mention no clue of a way how I am gonna get the money to pay the clinics fee.
This is where I get to the point of my rambling. My insurance currently covers me to see has many Doctors as necessary for my continued treatment. I have no problem getting very expensive tests covered and my current Medical summaries state that they pay in excess of $65,000 for all of the medication I take a month (yes that's right I said per month). What I do not understand is that if my insurance is accepted by so many for so much, why can't I find a Doctor that writes the recommendations to do the same.
That is why I get angry when I hear that people that do not have legitimate qualifying illnesses, listed by the state, are attempting, and in some cases getting recommended for MM, when I can not even with a verifiable history of chronic illness which has been being treated for as long as I have.
Now please do not think that I am saying that I should and everyone else should not. That is far from the truth. I believe that Cannabis should be available to everyone, it is by far less harmful than alcohol and the only requirement for using it is a Birthday.
I know that there will be a long and slow acceptance for the medical profession to begin routinely recommending MM for Patients in general.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Does anyone have any suggestions for me? If so I would greatly appreciate the advice. It makes me so angry and depressed to know that there is something out there that would help me to deal with my illness and pain that I can not access simply because I do not make enough money.
I know that if I can get the recommendation I can produce the Marijuana myself, I have the growing equipment and have a previous background in commercial greenhouse management, not to mention the wealth of resources that are available to me via this site and it's members. It terrifies me that on the rare occasion that some currently comes my way I run the risk of being put in jail by using it.
Thank you oh so much for your time and consideration. For now I will continue to work toward getting a Grow Room set up and reaching out to find a way to get either the funds to cover the cost of the clinic, or an appointment with a Doctor that will accept my insurance for the visit. You guys are so awesome for taking the time to read this and I wish you all the success needed in the process.
If anyone deserves to have a permit to use mmj its you Sheenyboy!!!
Be strong you are a life educated inspiration to us all.
