Liz Kucinich Talks Drug Reform With 22-Year-Old MD Patient

[Peace Candidate]

Elizabeth Kucinich sat and listened for what seemed like an hour as Clayton told her his story. He said that although he only weighs 79 pounds, he is actually six feet, two inches tall. His genetic disorder, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, manifested itself in early childhood and robbed him of his ability to walk at age 10.

Losing the ability to walk had one positive consequence for Clayton: his stepfather stopped beating him and started ignoring him. As if his medical problems weren't enough, he describes his home life as "screwed up" and says he never had a real friend until he was 14 or 15.

Clayton first experienced serious painkillers at age 16 when his wheelchair was struck by a car. The doctors gave him Vicodin. "I blacked out for a day and a half, and I don't remember any of it," he explained.

Since then, Clayton says he has been prescribed every type of painkiller in existence. "They change who you are," he said. Since he is unable to use marijuana at the retirement home (he'd be exposing his caretakers to possible arrest), he has to use Oxycontin, but went without it Tuesday in order to be lucid for his expected meeting with the Congressman. "It makes me feel angry for no reason at all... I don't like being around people when I'm on it," he told the congressman's wife, echoing concerns voiced by chronic pain patients all over the country.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tag/medical-marijuana

[Alexander]

1. Most Democrats are on the same page with medical MJ...

With the exception of Joe Biden, who thankfully won't win anything anyway.

[truedelphi]

2. When will we get Medical Marijuana in place at the Federal Level??

Under a Kucinich Presidency - that's when.

[stellanoir]

3. And reports of those who try the pharmaceutical concentrated form of THC

(Marinol (sp?)) say it's so unbelievably potent that they are rendered unable to function, so they go back to the black market because if they smoke it they can self regulate appropriate dosage.

Our corporately controlled health care system is such a travesty.

There are plenty of people like me who eschew and don't respond well to western medicine and use alternative medicine.

If any of these mandatory health insurance plans fly and don't include alternative provisions, a lot of people will be screwed.

[Peace Candidate]

4. in a 'free country' we should be allowed the medicine we prefer

n/t

[Peace Candidate]

5. Which candidates support medical marijuana?

Does anyone besides Kucinich?