MEDICAL MARIJUANA USER SEEKING RELIEF, NOT HIGH

I read the Feb. 20 letters to the editor and would like to present an
opinion from a medical marijuana user. Yes, I do have a permit from
the state of Hawaii.

I have degenerating disks in my neck and am in heavy pain 24/7. I was
diagnosed with this condition in June 2009. Every physician consulted
had no feasible remedy for this problem, and I was told that surgery
was not advisable. I have been prescribed Oxycontin, and although it
affords some relief, it also causes constipation and concerns about
addiction.

Although I have never been a smoker - pot or otherwise - I was willing
to try anything to abate the pain. I legally obtained a permit and am
using it. I tried smoking and it very quickly eased the pain but, as a
nonsmoker, I found it unpleasant. Friends in California helped me
check on different solutions and I experimented with marijuana
cookies. Happily, they were a solution.

As for having a high, that is not for me. It eases the pain - one a
day is more than adequate - and that is all I need. It takes a while
before the pain releases but it does make you much more
comfortable.

By the way, my brain is functioning just fine.

June Raymond

Lahaina