cannabisnews.com: Local Doc Gearing Up for Marijuana Registration





Local Doc Gearing Up for Marijuana Registration
Posted by FoM on April 02, 2001 at 13:35:17 PT
By Jane Stebbins
Source: Summit Daily News
Dr. Craig “PJ” Perrinjaquet recognizes that the medical field can’t cure everything — but he knows it can make life easier.That’s why he’s waiting patiently for the Colorado Legislature to put in place the means by which people can register to legally smoke pot to ease the pain that comes with certain diseases and injuries.
“I think it will be good,” he said of the law voters approved in November that will allow people to use marijuana to alleviate symptoms of various illnesses. “It’ll add one more way to help people feel better.”He imagines a couple of dozen people will consult him and request he register them at the state level. But it’s not as easy as strolling into your local clinic and asking for a prescription for pot, either. PJ expects he will request a letter from a specialist — an oncologist for cancer patients or a neurologist for those in chronic pain — before endorsing a patient’s registration.“For now I tell them ‘I can’t recommend it, I can’t prescribe it, but in their place, I think your condition will benefit from medical marijuana,’” he said. “A lot of people have been using it clandestinely for years; they’d like to be able to use it without the fear of being arrested.”The Patients:Fred Hopson is one of them.The Park County man fell in 1996, fracturing his skull in 27 places.“Flight for Life said he was going to die in the helicopter on the way to the hospital,” said Alison Palmer, a relative of Hopson’s. “Then they said he wouldn’t make it through the night. Then they said he’d never walk again. It’s amazing what the brain can take. And it’s amazing how well it can come back.”Today, Hopson is alive and well, except for some memory loss — and the excruciating, chronic headaches, for which he smokes marijuana to alleviate the pain.“It’s a constant headache,” Hopson said last year. “And marijuana really, really does help.”Thus the pot in the cellar. And thus the drug bust.Because the bust occurred before voters approved the medical marijuana initiative in November, Hopson said the district attorney believes his case will proceed under the old law. However, Hopson hopes the charges will be dropped on other technicalities.In the meantime, he suffers with his pain and waits for the law to go into effect.“I’m having some really tough times with these headaches; they’ve been kind of bad lately,” he said. “Maybe a little marijuana might help it. It’s (the initiative) something that’s needed. Hopefully it will really help me.”Hopson’s court case has been postponed until May 7.Marijuana has been used for thousands of years as both a fibrous crop — hemp — and for medical uses. It is known by many physicians to alleviate side effects associated with cancer treatment, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, chronic pain and spasms.“We can’t cure everything,” PJ said. “And this certainly is not a panacea.”Like narcotics, he said, the drug won’t help everyone. There are different levels of effectiveness, ranging from pain relief and calming properties to paranoia, anxiety and confusion.Since his bust Aug. 4, 2000, Hopson has been prescribed muscle relaxants to alleviate his pain. He takes them as needed, but tries to avoid them.“I can’t take those anymore; I don’t like taking them,” he said. “I’m just dealing with it (the pain.)”Colorado’s Law:Medical marijuana is being debated in Denver, as the initiative encompassed two issues — possession and distribution — and by state law, it can only address one. PJ imagines state legislators will outline the possession portion of the law.“It’s not talked about very much,” he said. “People will have to be on their own. Since the governor and legislature were so against it, I don’t know. They’ll either think ‘The people were behind it and we have to do something,’ or don’t allow it.”Additionally, state officials are watching a case in California that could affect how law here is written. If the court issues a narrow decision regarding medical marijuana, it could outlaw clubs or cooperatives where marijuana could be obtained. A wider interpretation of the law could question the validity of Colorado’s initiative.If the court decides against clubs or cooperatives, such as the Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative in California, it could be the people who, with good intentions, provide pot to patients who wind up breaking the law.Complete Title: Local Doc Gearing Up for Medical Marijuana RegistrationJane Stebbins covers Breckenridge, the county, open space and issues concerning the Upper Blue River Valley.Newshawk: The GCWSource: Summit Daily News (CO)Author: Jane StebbinsPublished: April 2, 2001Copyright: 2001 Summit Daily NewsContact: amiller summitdaily.comWebsite: http://www.summitdaily.com/Related Articles & Web Site:Coloradans For Medical Rights http://www.medicalmarijuana.com/Marijuana Use Rules Spelled Out http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9202.shtmlState Eyes Pot Casehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9201.shtml
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on April 03, 2001 at 12:17:59 PT
We Will Win Because It's Right
Thanks Dopey, That's a cute name. And they say we aren't creative! I've learn a lot from doing news. I didn't have any idea how news was connected but slowly we all are learning. The Internet has been great for letting us know that we aren't alone in how we feel.
FreedomToExhale
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Comment #2 posted by DOPEY GILLIS on April 03, 2001 at 11:52:23 PT
TELL ME WHY
I cant grow a weed thats been around longer than man-I feel like im living in some communist dictater land when it comes to these barbaric laws dealing with mj-Thanks to you FoM for all of the information you post on this subject-I enjoy reading your post and checking out all of the links you put up!I have learned a great deal about our struggle to overturn these crazy laws we have-Hopefully someday sitting on the porch and smokng a j after a hard day wont be a federal crime-peace
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Comment #1 posted by MegaStoner on April 03, 2001 at 02:35:40 PT
When E.F. Weed talks....People listen
The smart money will indeed be in on the ground floor Marijuana distribution.But the problem remains.It is the main problem the government has about easingup on the wierd Marijuana laws.   That "problem",is the simple fact that anyonecan grow Marijuana.It's different from alcohol prohibition in that way.  It's way easier to grow a plant,than it is to set up a still.
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