MEDICAL MARIJUANA GIVES PATIENTS THEIR LIVES BACK

My name is Jason Brander. I am a medical marijuana
patient.

I am a type 1 diabetic with severe neuropathy in my lower extremities
and I am starting to get it in my hands. I was on 2,400 mg of
Nuerontin three times a day for pain, 25 mg of Reglan three times a
day for diabetic gastroperesis, 10 mg of Percocet three times a day
for pain, Ropinerole for RLS in my legs so my legs won't cramp at
night, 60 mg of Adderall XR for ADD, numerous depression medications,
Ambien 10 mg to help me sleep and 10 mg of Metropotol two times a day
for my heart condition, SVT. I am also on an insulin pump for my
diabetes which uses Novalog insulin.

I am disabled, so I am on Medicaid. These prescriptions cost nearly
$3,000 per month.

I had a doctor in Arizona who told me about medical cannabis and that
he thought I could really benefit from it. But it was not available in
Arizona at the time. My quality of life was very bad and I had to do
something. I sold everything so I had to get enough money to move back
to my home state of Montana because of the medical marijuana laws.

When I left Phoenix three years ago, I was unable to walk around the
grocery store and had to use an electric cart. I am a father of two
and felt my kids need to have me around for a while and at this rate I
won't be able to leave the house in five years. My life was falling
apart.

Since moving back to Montana, my life has changed for the better. Due
to having marijuana for medicine, I have nearly cut out every
prescription drug I was taking in Arizona. I now smoke marijuana every
three to four hours and the only drugs that I currently take are
Metropotol for my heart condition, 7.5 mg Loratab two times per day
for pain. I owe this to that little green plant!

Today I am able to walk around three miles, doesn't sound like much,
but I was damn near in a wheelchair three years ago. I am able to do
more things with my kids and life is good.

Please don't take away my medicine and the medicine for many others
that have similar stories to me. Marijuana is the only thing that
works for 80 percent of the things I have, My quality of life is great
now. If you take our medical marijuana away, you will turn me back in
to a pill-taking zombie with absolutely no quality of life and all the
taxpayers will be paying Walgreens $3,000 a month for my drugs once
again.

Jason Brander,

Missoula