Marijuana, medicine and miracles

By Gerry Palacios Hemley

MY fellow brothers and sisters. Have you ever lost a loved one to cancer or some other disease?  Have you ever wished that there was something you could have done to help them live longer, and still be with you today?

Just the thought of fighting and surviving such a deadly disease is nothing short of a miracle. Cancer does not discriminate. Its main mission in life is to take lives. 

First, here are some facts: We have one of the highest rates of cancers and other debilitating cases per capita, with cancer, heart attack and stroke being the top 3 of the 5 leading causes of death in the CNMI. In 2005, there were 256 cancer-related cases. Cancer is responsible for nearly 12 percent of deaths in 2005 and is the 3rd leading cause of death among CNMI men and 2nd for women. 

The fatalities among women is also double that of men. According to a public health official, “every seven weeks a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer.” In 2007, there were 565 medical referrals for off-island treatment, with cancer-related cases totaling 183 or 32 percent of referrals. According to a source, we now have about 300 active cancer-related cases, but the numbers could be more as there are those that are not registered. The statistics are not only alarming, but very disturbing. 

However, I do find it encouraging seeing family and friends do what they can to help a loved one for their off-island treatment. Some will have fundraisers and roadside solicitations or even mortgage their homes or sell their land to raise money. What is disheartening is when the patient falls short to pay for their first treatment, and even worse, when the patient has to go back for another round of treatment but has more difficulty to be properly taken care of due to the painful treatment process with chemo and lack of money to be treated effectively. 

With the rise in cancer cases and other life-threatening diseases in the CNMI, including the high cost of conventional treatment or the lack of treatment itself, we are further challenged and obligated as a society to reduce the pain and to find alternative solutions in taking care our loved ones, just so they may be able to be with us a little longer. There are those that continue to march against cancer. And there are patients that have survived and are fighting cancer in a very painful battle. Together, we must unite for a mission to treat and kill diseases, and ultimately, to kill cancer head on with medical marijuana.

Now, we have an opportunity to address a very important issue that focuses on those who are suffering and terminally ill through the medical marijuana bill proposed by the senate. The senate bill states, “medicinal marijuana can be beneficial to those who suffer from illnesses such as cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy among other illnesses.” Let us also not forget that marijuana is used to treat chronic pain, arthritis, autism, stroke victims, Parkinson’s and Crohn’s disease, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD — a disease that seriously affects many of our returning soldiers from battle, or even ALS — remember the ice bucket challenge? 

This is a bill of compassion as it ONLY involves the sick and it should be treated as a medical matter alone and not as a social-economical issue as others may expect, perceive or make it out to be. We simply cannot be ignorant to the matter. All the patients in the CNMI will not be able to generate millions of dollars in revenue to justify an economical standpoint. In fact, there are many that are currently struggling with making ends meet, especially when it involves treatment. 

A sick and dying person could care less about money when their life is at stake, especially when TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE and TIME IS WHAT THEY DO NOT HAVE. The main goal of the medical marijuana bill is realistic and logical as it focuses on its intent: to offer an alternative (safer, accessible and effective) option for treatment (with medical marijuana) and to make sure that those who will provide and use the treatment will be protected (from arrest). Nothing more. Nothing less. 

The global scientific and medical community, and ultimately, the medical marijuana patients themselves keep testifying in favor of the potential benefits of marijuana which has gained widespread acceptance in other countries and with more U.S. states passing medical marijuana laws. Public support of marijuana as a medicine is rapidly growing as evidenced by the 24 U.S. states, Washington, D.C. and Guam and continues to grow by 2016 with even more states supporting medical marijuana initiatives.

You may be surprised to know that the federal government continues to grow and supply medical marijuana to a select number of patients for the past 37 years through the Federal Compassionate Use Investigative New Drug program. By this program alone, they have acknowledged marijuana’s medical value. Marijuana has a very low toxicity level and is non-fatal. In fact, marijuana is considered “to be the safest therapeutic substance known to man” to alleviate pain and treat those suffering from serious medical conditions with little to no side effects. It is with this evidence that we must take a chance on making a positive difference in the lives of the sick.

Fortunately, we will have a chance to speak at the public hearings on Rota, Tinian and Saipan. Before the hearings, it is best we educate ourselves a little on how marijuana is related to the sick to gain a better understanding of the medical marijuana bill being proposed and its purpose. This will allow us to ask the better questions or to state our case. Please, Google “cannabinoids and cancer” and the “endocannabinoid system” and you will SEE the research and findings of what marijuana can do to treat a person’s suffering, and possibly cure, not just cancer, but other serious medical conditions. 

In fact, our bodies create cannabinoids through the endocannabinoid system which strengthens and regulates our immune system to fight infections and diseases. Cannabinoids is what we use to heal and restore balance. However, environmental factors and today’s lifestyle has greatly contributed to the pollution and weakening of our system to heal itself quickly, which is why people fall victim to life-threatening diseases. It is also a fact that MARIJUANA IS THE ONLY PLANT IN THE WORLD THAT PRODUCES CANNABINOIDS. Cannabinoids is what our bodies and our lives depend on. It is with this evidence that we must use this knowledge and apply it to our livelihood, especially to treat the sick and dying.

I always ask people who are confused about medical marijuana: If costly and painful modern treatment and medicine does little to nothing to help your loved one’s pain and suffering, and you were given an option that is safer and beneficial, and that may possibly “cure” their disease, what would you really do? Would you base your decision on your belief or medical science? Would you deny them their wish to live a healthier, longer and happier life? If we simply deny them this wish, then we are ultimately granting them a death sentence. We should not allow this to happen. We will not allow this to happen. We can NEVER allow this to happen.

As a compassionate society, we must help end the suffering and save lives. By doing so, we will have our loved ones around longer - to live, laugh and love. Isn’t this what we wish for after all? Let us not only think with our minds but to give with our hearts in granting the sick and dying patients their God-given right to life. With medical marijuana, let us grant them their wish for a second chance to live again. Biba Marianas!