MEDICAL MARIJUANA

A SURPRISING SOLUTION TO SEVERE MORNING SICKNESS

Like many young women's, my indulgence in recreational drugs, including
alcohol and caffeine, came to an abrupt halt when my husband and I
discovered we were pregnant with our first child.

To say we were ecstatic is an understatement. Doctors had told me we might
never conceive, yet here we were, expecting our first miracle. I closely
followed my doctor's recommendations. When I began to experience severe
morning sickness, I went to him for help. He ran all the standard tests,
then sent me home with the first of many prescription medicines.

Weeks passed, and as the nausea and vomiting increased, I began to lose weight.

I was diagnosed as having hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe and constant
form of morning sickness.

I started researching the condition, desperately searching for a solution.

I tried wristbands, herbs, yoga, pharmaceuticals, meditation everything I
could think of. Ultimately, after losing 20 pounds in middle pregnancy and
being hospitalized repeatedly for dehydration and migraines, I developed
preeclampsia and was told an emergency cesarean was necessary.

My dreams of a normal birth were shattered, but our baby boy, though
weighing only 4 pounds, 14 ounces and jaundiced from the perinatal
medications I'd been given, was relatively healthy.

When, six months later, I again found myself pregnant, I was even more
determined to have a healthy and enjoyable pregnancy, and sought out the
care of the best perinatologist in the area. At first, I was impressed.
This doctor assured me that he had all the answers and that, under his
expert care, my baby and I would never experience a moment of discomfort.
However, as my belly swelled, I grew more and more ill, and my faith in my
dream doctor began to falter. What convinced me to change healthcare
providers midstream was this doctor's honesty.

He admitted that, due to constraints imposed on him by his
malpractice-insurance company, I would have to undergo some routine
procedures that he knew to be harmful.

We left his office that day and never went back.

As I searched for a new doctor, I ran across information about midwifery
and homebirth.

At first, I thought this was simply crazy.

Have a baby at home, with no doctor?

No way! I thought.

But, as I began examining the statistics, I discovered an unexpected
pattern. In studies comparing planned home versus hospital births, planned
homebirths, with a midwife in attendance, have lower rates of neonatal
morbidity and mortality. Not only that, but midwives' rates of such
invasive procedures as amniotomy and episiotomy are much lower.

Everything I had believed about birth and medicine suddenly came into question.

I located a midwife and made an appointment to see her.

We were very impressed with this woman's education and experience, and we
were delighted to invite her into our home to share in our second birth.

She gave me many new ideas to try to abate the morning sickness, which
still plagued me. But despite her best efforts with herbs, homeopathic
remedies, and even chiropractic care, my illness remained intractable.

About this time, I ran into an old, dear friend from college. When Jenny
came to visit me one particularly awful day, we shared stories of the old
days, and I soon found myself laughing as I hadn't laughed in years.
Despite being interrupted by numerous trips to worship the porcelain god,
it felt wonderful to share some time with her. But when we began talking
about my burgeoning belly, I broke down in sobs. I told her about how I was
desperately afraid of what this malnutrition was doing to my baby. I
explained how my midwife had told me that preeclampsia appears to be a
nutritional disorder of pregnancy, and I didn't know how I could avoid it
if I couldn't eat.

Jenny listened and cried with me. Then, she tentatively produced a joint
from her jacket pocket.

I was shocked.

We had shared a lot of these in college, but I had no idea she still smoked.

Slowly, she began telling me that she knew some women who smoked marijuana
for morning sickness, and it really helped them. She hadn't known anyone
with as severe a form of the illness as I had, but she reasoned that if
marijuana works to quell the side effects of chemotherapy, it must work well.

Understandably, I was concerned about what kind of effect marijuana might
have on my baby. The only information I had ever heard on the subject was
that marijuana was a dangerous drug that should not be used

She was right.

I was 32 weeks along and had already lost 30 pounds.

I had experienced four days of vomiting tea, broth, crackers, and toast.

Nothing would stay down long. In an excited, giggly, reminiscing mood, I
told her to "Fire it up!" I took two puffs.

As it took effect, I felt my aches and nausea finally leave me. Jenny and I
reclined against my old beanbag, and I began sobbing again and
unintelligibly thanking herhere was the miracle I had prayed for. A few
minutes later, when I calmed down, we ordered a pizza.

That was the best pizza I had ever tasted and I kept down every bite.

It was sad that I had to discover the benefits of this medicine late in my
second pregnancy, through trial and error, and had not learned of them long
beforefrom my doctors.

This experience launched a much safer and more intelligent investigation
into the use of cannabis during pregnancy.

I spent hour after hour poring over library books that contained references
to medical marijuana and marijuana in pregnancy.

Most of what I found was either a reference to the legal or political
status of marijuana in medicine, or medical references that simply said
that doctors discourage the use of any "recreational drug" during pregnancy.

This was before I discovered the Internet, so my resources were limited.
The little I could find claimed that a mother's smoking cannabis had little
to no detectable effect on the fetus, but as this area was relatively
unstudied, it would be unethical to call it "safe." I later discovered that
midwives had safely given their patients marijuana in pregnancy and birth
for thousands of years.

Old doctors' tales to the contrary, this herb was far safer than any of the
pharmaceuticals prescribed for me by my doctors to treat the same condition.

I confidently continued my use of marijuana, knowing that, among all
options available to me, it was the safest, wisest choice.

Ten weeks after my first dose, I had gained 17 pounds over my pre-pregnancy
weight.

I gave beautiful and joyous birth to a 9-pound, 2-ounce baby boy in the bed
in which he'd been conceived.

I know that using marijuana saved us both from many of the terrible dangers
associated with malnutrition in pregnancy. Soon after giving birth, I told
my husband I wanted to do it again.

Not one to deny himself or his wife the pleasures of conception, my husband
agreed that we would not actively try to prevent a pregnancy, and nine
months after the birth of our second son, I was pregnant with our third child.

This time, I had my routine down. At the first sign of nausea, I called
Jenny, who brought me my medicine.

In my third, fourth, and fifth pregnancies, I gained an average of 25
pounds with each child.

I had healthy, pink, chubby little angels, with lusty first cries.

Their weights ranged from 8 to 9 1/2 pounds.

Marijuana completely transformed very dangerous pregnancies into more
enjoyable, safer, and healthier gestations.

But I was caught in a catch-22. Because my providers of perinatal health
care were not doctors, they had no authority to issue me a recommendation
for marijuana. In addition, I chose not to tell them I used cannabis for
fear they could refuse me care. Finally, even if I could get a
recommendation, I knew of no compassion clubs (medical marijuana
cooperatives or dispensaries) in my area. I had to take whatever my friends
could find from street dealers.

Many times I would go hungry, waiting four or more days for someone in town
to find marijuana.

I became so desperate for relief that I would contemplate driving to a
large city like New York and walking the streets until I could find something.

Fortunately, each time I almost reached that point, some kind soul would
show up with something to get me through.

What else is a sick person supposed to do when the only medicine that
helps, and is potentially life-saving for her baby, is unavailable? I would
much rather go to a store and purchase a product wrapped in a package
secured with the seal of the state in which I live than buy from some guy
on the street.

Along the way, I discovered the benefits of using marijuana to treat other
disorders.

At times, I have been plagued by migraines so severe I would wind up in the
emergency room. I would receive up to 250 milligrams of Demerol and
sometimes, when Demerol failed, even shots of Dilaudid. Thanks to my
sporadic use of marijuana and a careful dosing regimen, I have not been to
an emergency room in more than three years. [In September 1999, the Food
and Drug Administration approved an application for a rigorous study
designed to investigate the medical efficacy of marijuana on migraine
headaches.Ed.] In addition, I was diagnosed as having Crohn's disease.

After months of tests and treatments for my symptoms, I began using a
dosing method similar to what I'd used for migraines, and I found that,
once again, marijuana provided more relief than anything else. All in all,
I've been prescribed more than 30 truly dangerous drugs, yet the only one
that has provided relief without the associated risks is one many doctors
won't even discuss, much less recommend.

My history with medicine and with marijuana has been more extensive than
average.

It is my sincere belief that if the American public were told the truth
about marijuana, they could not help but support an immediate end to
cannabis prohibition. Even I believed it was dangerous, until I began
researching the issue. What I discovered is that not one person has ever
died from smoking marijuana.

The same cannot be said for the results of the misuse of some of our most
commonly used substances, such as caffeine, aspirin, or vitamin A. In
addition, marijuana is no more a "gateway drug" to other substances than is
caffeine or alcohol.

Most kids try these things long before they experiment with cannabis. And
finally, unlike such legal drugs as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol,
marijuana is not addictive. As with Twinkies or sex, a user can come to
psychologically depend on marijuana's mood-altering effects; however, no
physical addiction is associated with cannabis.

Now I find myself mother to five beautiful, intelligent, creative children
for whom I would lay down my life in an instant.

I have been blessed with the challenge of helping them grow into
responsible, hardworking, and loving adults.

I have also been blessed with the challenge of protecting them from a world
fraught with dangers.

There are those who believe that in order to protect my children from drug
abuse, I must lie to them; I must tell them that marijuana is dangerous,
with no redeeming qualities. Some say I should go so far as to tell them
that it couldn't possibly be used as a medicine.

Then there are those who would say that if I ever find out that my child
has experimented with marijuana, I should turn him or her over to expert
authorities in order to impart a lesson.

While this approach does send a message to the child, it is not the message
I want to send.

What I teach my children, ages nine and under, about drugs is that medicine
comes in many forms, and that children should never touch any medicine
(categorized broadly as a pill, liquid, herb, or even caffeinated beverage)
unless it is given to them by a trusted adult. My cabinets are full of
herbs, such as red raspberry leaves and rosemary, which I use in cooking
and as medicines.

I have things such as comfrey, which I use externally, that could be
dangerous if taken internally. Like all responsible parents, my husband and
I keep all medicines, cleaning products, and age-inappropriate items, such
as small buttons, out of the reach of our kids and safely locked away.

However, I am aware that the day may come when my kids figure out the trick
to the lock, so I add an extra measure of safety by educating them about
the honest dangers of using medicines that are not needed.

In addition, by sharing my views about the politics behind the issues, I am
teaching them another, equally important lesson.

As Santa Clara University School of Law professor Gerald Uelmen stated last
year at the medical marijuana giveaway at City Hall in Santa Cruz,
California, "We are teaching our children compassion for the sick and
dying; only a twisted and perverted federal bureaucrat could call that the
wrong message."

I have also tried to instill in my children a deep respect for natural healing.

By using cool compresses and acupressure for headaches before grabbing a
pharmaceutical such as acetaminophen, I've taught them the importance of
avoiding dependence on drugs.

I have also shown them the benefits of the wise and careful use of
pharmaceuticals by using them when they are my best choice.

I try to instill in my children a sense of reason and resourcefulness by
honestly presenting the answers to their questions and admitting what I do
not know, but searching until I find the answer.

When our oldest child overheard my husband and me discussing marijuana
prohibition, it opened up a wonderful line of communication about the subject.

I gave my son a very basic explanation: that marijuana is a plant that can
be used as a medicine.

I explained that it could be overused and abused, as well. Then I told him
that possession of this plant is illegal, and that people who are found
with marijuana can go to jail. The question from him I found myself
floundering to answer, however, was, "Why would the police put someone in
jail for using medicine?"

Parents must stand up and take notice of the abuses being leveled on our
children by well-intentioned but misinformed governing officials.

We need honest and responsible drug education that treats children as
intelligent pre-adults who are learning how to live full and healthy lives
in a dangerous world.

They need every shred of information we can give them, so that they do not
choose to huff butane or snort heroin simply because they survived smoking
the joint we told them was dangerous, and they therefore assume we must be
lying about the rest. We need to provide an open line of communication so
that if they ever have to face areas of ambiguity or situations we have
neglected to discuss, they will feel comfortable coming to us, and not
friends or the Internet, to advise them when they need it most. In order to
do this, we must first educate ourselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bolton, Sanford, PhD, and Gary Null, MS. "Caffeine: Psychological Effects,
Use and Abuse." Orthomolecular Psychiatry 10, no. 3 (Third Quarter 1981):
202211.

Campbell, Fiona A. et al. "Are Cannabinoids an Effective and Safe Treatment
Option in the Management of Pain? A Qualitative Systematic Review." British
Medical Journal 323, no. 7303 (7 July 2001): 13-16.

Conrad, Chris. Hemp for Health. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1997.

Department of Health, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Rota.
"The Safety of Home Birth: The Farm Study." American Journal of Public
Health 82, no. 3 (March 1992): 450453.

Duran, A. M., Dreher, Melanie C., PhD, et al. "Prenatal Marijuana Exposure
and Neonatal Outcomes in Jamaica: An Ethnographic Study." Pediatrics 93,
no. 2 (February 1994): 254-260.

Grinspoon, Lester, MD, and James B. Bakalar. Marihuana: The Forbidden
Medicine, rev. ed. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1997.

Hall, W. et al. The Health and Psychological Consequences of Cannabis Use.
National Drug Strategy Monograph Series 25. Canberra: Australian Government
Publishing Service, 1994.

House of Lords, Select Committee on Science and Technology. "CannabisThe
Scientific and Medical Evidence." London, England: Stationery Office,
Parliament (1998). Cited in Iversen, Leslie L., PhD, FRS. The Science of
Marijuana. London, England: Oxford University Press, 2000: 178.

Joy, Janet E., et al. "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base."
Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Research, Institute of Medicine,
National Academy of Sciences. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1999.

Munch, S. "Women's Experiences with a Pregnancy Complication: Causal
Explanations of Hyperemesis Gravidarum." Social Work and Health Care 36,
no. 1 (2002): 5976.

Nettis, E., et al. "Update on Sensitivity to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory
Drugs." Current drug targets: Immune, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders 1,
no. 3 (November 2001): 233240.

Randall, Robert C., and Alice M. O'Leary. Marijuana Rx: The Patients' Fight
for Medicinal Pot. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1998.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, US Dept. of
Health and Human Services, "National Household Survey on Drug Abuse 2000."
Washington, DC: SAMHSA, 2001).

Tramer, M.R. et al. "Cannabinoids for Control of Chemotherapy Induced
Nausea and Vomiting: A Quantitative Systematic Review." British Medical
Journal 323, no. 7303 (7 July 2001): 16-21.

US Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration. "In the Matter
of Marijuana Rescheduling Petition." Docket 86-22 (6 September 1988): 57.

"Vitamin A Toxicity." The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, Sec. 1,
Ch. 3, "Vitamin Deficiency, Dependency and Toxicity."
www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual/section1/chapter3/3c.htm.

Woodcock, H. C. et al. "A Matched Cohort Study of Planned Home and Hospital
Births in Western Australia 19811987." Midwifery 10, no. 3 (September
1994): 125135.

Zimmer, Lynn, PhD, and John P. Morgan, MD. Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts:
A Review of the Scientific Evidence. New York: Lindesmith Center, 1997.

Zimmerman, Bill, PhD, et al. Is Marijuana the Right Medicine for You? New
Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, 1998.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Americans for Safe Access; www.SafeAccessNow.org.

Coalition for Medical Marijuana; www.MedicalMJ.org.

Drug War Facts; www.DrugWarFacts.org.

Marijuana Policy Project; www.mpp.org.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws; www.norml.org.

For more information about nausea or marijuana, see the following articles
in past issues of Mothering: "Nausea During Pregnancy," no. 52; "Marijuana
in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding," no.42; and "Coping with Nausea in
Pregnancy," no.30.

Erin Hildebrandt is a writer and an activist. Her website is
www.parentsendingprohibition.org.

[Sidebar:]

CANNABIS AND THE LAW

Marijuana, in all its forms, has enjoyed thousands of years of safe and
effective medical use. Physicians in the US were enthusiastic about its use
up until the time of its prohibition in 1937. When the Marijuana Tax Act of
1937 was instituted, a nationwide effort was undertaken to remove
references to the use of cannabis in medicine, and a sweeping campaign
based on fear and propaganda was instituted to demonize the cannabis plant
and its users.

The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (P.L.
91-513) established the current US practice of scheduling drugs and
mandated the inclusion of marijuana and tetrahydrocannabinol, in Schedule I
along with heroin and PCP. Drugs such as cocaine, amphetamine,
methamphetamine, and most opiates were scheduled in less restrictive
categories and thus were considered by law to be less dangerous than marijuana.

Under California Proposition 215, an individual can grow marijuana for his
or her own medical use. In addition, clinics and medical cannabis
cooperatives can dispense marijuana.

Recently, however, federal officials have stepped up arrests.

In 2002, Bryan Epis was convicted by federal authorities for providing
medical marijuana to a dispensary in California and is serving a mandatory
minimum sentence of ten years in a federal prison.

During his trial, the jury was not permitted to hear any mention of medical
marijuana by the defense, despite the existence of state laws permitting
his actions. His 11-year-old daughter, Ashley, has seen her dad only twice
since he was imprisoned.

Because of injuries suffered years earlier, and despite the narcotics
prescribed to ease his suffering, Mr. Epis was unable to live without
excruciating pain until he began using cannabis for its analgesic
properties. Once his pain was dramatically reduced, he was able to complete
several degrees and begin his family.

However, his promising future was cut short because he chose to use, and
provide other suffering people with, an herbal remedy.

Despite overwhelming support for medical marijuana, only ten states --
Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Nevada,
Oregon, and Washington -- currently have laws that permit its use. (See
http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID391 for details of each state's
medical marijuana statutes.) Nowhere in the US is marijuana legal to
possess under federal law, and federal agents continue to target medical
marijuana dispensaries even when such organizations are protected by state
laws.