Pubdate: Thu, 03 May 2007 Source: Barrington Times (RI) Copyright: 2007 Barrington Times Contact: http://www.barringtonri.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1814 Author: Kelly Powers Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) MEDICAL MARIJUANA A BLESSING FOR ME To the editor: I am 32-year-old mother of two and currently a patient in Rhode Island's medical marijuana program. My life was normal and happy until a couple of years ago. Since then I have be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, fibromyagia, and anxiety disorders. As a result, chronic intramuscular pain, weakness, pins and needles, neuropathy pain, cognitive difficulties, tremors and painful spasms have become a daily struggle for me -- physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. To be so young, managing a household, raising my children, and having to fight these illness every day is just so incredibly hard. Prescription drugs left me unable to be a productive mother and homemaker. These powerful drugs were turning me into a person I did not like. I did not even feel human. Being in the medical marijuana program gave back a lot of what pills were taking away from me. Just to feel human again is amazing, but to have most of my neurological symptoms subsided is something I used to only dream about. Today I can enjoy my life and be involved in my family's activities. I am able to attend church each Sunday. To be able to have the little things back gives my family hope. To have this law approved will change my family's and other patients' lives forever. Not to have to take all of those painkillers and muscle relaxers is such a relief me. I want to live my life, not be totally numb to life. As our legislators consider whether to make our medical marijuana law permanent or let it die in June, please remember: My health and my ability to care for my children and share my family's joys all depend on that decision. Kelly Powers Warwick - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman