Local view: Facts support medical marijuana

I applaud Rep. Carly Melin for introducing House File 1818 to legalize medical marijuana in Minnesota.
As a parent of a son with a debilitating seizure disorder, this treatment might just be the successful treatment after more than 27 years of suffering. My son had a severe reaction to his infant vaccine (DPT, a legal drug) at 3 months old, and no medication to date successfully has curbed his seizure activity.
He has suffered an average of dozens of seizures per day his whole life.
He has had two brain surgeries, been the subject of several drug trials, and has ingested tens of thousands of pills and potions, none of which have worked and all of which have damaged his liver and will significantly shorten his life.

Upon being informed of the potential for medical marijuana, I did some digging and found marijuana has been a safe and viable treatment for a wide variety of health and medical aliments for several thousand years.
I feel there are several reasons for resistance to the legalization of medical marijuana, the most onerous being greed. Mega pharmaceutical companies make billions of dollars each year selling drugs; and marijuana, a simple plant, stands to cut into their profit margins.

Another reason seems to be fear created by misinformation and misunderstanding. I can guarantee my son will not suddenly turn to a nefarious life of crime and drug abuse if allowed to try this potentially promising seizure treatment. The seizures and existing prescription seizure drugs have rendered him nonverbal, incontinent, mobility challenged and pretty darn nonthreatening.
To compare medical marijuana to the “bath salts” peddled at Last Place on Earth and elsewhere is like comparing orange juice to Jack Daniels. They have nothing in common other than they are both liquids. A very poor analogy all the way around — a simple plant vs. rat poison and drain cleaner — only feeds the unnecessary fear and paranoia.

There are several other documentable reasons for resistance to medical marijuana, but I want to keep this brief.
For perspective: This is the opinion section of the newspaper. The News Tribune has offered its opinion, some law-enforcement folks have offered theirs, families and patients and those suffering theirs, and now mine. So if you are confused, please take the time to research this issue yourself. There is a lot of print on the subject. I suggest starting with, “The Great Book of Hemp,” by Rowan Robinson. It will give you a lot of facts.

I just want another option for my son, a doctor-prescribed option just like any other regulated medicine.
So get the facts on the issue and please support Rep. Melin and others in this fight. There are a lot of folks suffering, and the clock is ticking.

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