News (Media Awareness Project) - US MI: Signup for Medical Marijuana Usage Begins Monday |
| Title: | US MI: Signup for Medical Marijuana Usage Begins Monday |
| Published On: | 2009-04-04 |
| Source: | Kalamazoo Gazette (MI) |
| Fetched On: | 2009-04-07 01:22:08 |
SIGNUP FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA USAGE BEGINS MONDAY
KALAMAZOO -- In his quest to quell chronic back pain, 19-year-old Jon
Dunbar has been prescribed several opiate narcotics during the past two years.
Vicodin, he said, wasn't strong enough. Morphine and fentanyl had too
many negative side effects and all of the drugs, including the
Percocet he takes now, are highly addictive.
With all that in mind, Dunbar, a Gobles native whose back pain is
caused by a spinal injury and neuropathy, plans to submit his
application next week to have his name placed on Michigan's Medical
Marijuana Registry. The registry is part of the state's medical
marijuana law that was passed by voters in November and takes effect today.
The Michigan Department of Community Health will begin receiving
applications on Monday. Residents whose applications are approved
will receive a registry identification card by mail.
Dunbar said the medical marijuana will offer him a less-addictive
option for pain relief, and he is hopeful that using it will help him
to lessen the amount of opiates he takes daily.
"The nice thing (is), if there is (any chance of addiction to the
medical marijuana), it's so small it's not even known," he said. "If
I can take one less pill a day, it's beneficial to me."
Dunbar said he plans to grow his own marijuana. The Michigan Medical
Marijuana Act allows for a registered person or a registered primary
caregiver to possess 2.5 ounces of useable marijuana or 12 marijuana plants.
To qualify for the program, the Department of Community Health Web
site says an applicant must have a qualifying debilitating medical
condition, such as glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS.
The state's Medical Marijuana Act, however, does not provide
guidelines on where to obtain marijuana seeds or starter plants and
there is no place in the state to legally purchase medical marijuana.
For more information on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program, where
to send an application and to download printable applications for the
program, go to www.michigan.gov/mmp.
KALAMAZOO -- In his quest to quell chronic back pain, 19-year-old Jon
Dunbar has been prescribed several opiate narcotics during the past two years.
Vicodin, he said, wasn't strong enough. Morphine and fentanyl had too
many negative side effects and all of the drugs, including the
Percocet he takes now, are highly addictive.
With all that in mind, Dunbar, a Gobles native whose back pain is
caused by a spinal injury and neuropathy, plans to submit his
application next week to have his name placed on Michigan's Medical
Marijuana Registry. The registry is part of the state's medical
marijuana law that was passed by voters in November and takes effect today.
The Michigan Department of Community Health will begin receiving
applications on Monday. Residents whose applications are approved
will receive a registry identification card by mail.
Dunbar said the medical marijuana will offer him a less-addictive
option for pain relief, and he is hopeful that using it will help him
to lessen the amount of opiates he takes daily.
"The nice thing (is), if there is (any chance of addiction to the
medical marijuana), it's so small it's not even known," he said. "If
I can take one less pill a day, it's beneficial to me."
Dunbar said he plans to grow his own marijuana. The Michigan Medical
Marijuana Act allows for a registered person or a registered primary
caregiver to possess 2.5 ounces of useable marijuana or 12 marijuana plants.
To qualify for the program, the Department of Community Health Web
site says an applicant must have a qualifying debilitating medical
condition, such as glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS.
The state's Medical Marijuana Act, however, does not provide
guidelines on where to obtain marijuana seeds or starter plants and
there is no place in the state to legally purchase medical marijuana.
For more information on the Michigan Medical Marijuana Program, where
to send an application and to download printable applications for the
program, go to www.michigan.gov/mmp.
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