Why I advocate for medical marijuana: NORML Kim
First off, I want everyone to know that I am a mother to a wonderful girl. She is my pride and joy. That’s why the medical marijuana reform is so important to me. I want to be the mother every little girl deserves. The mother who runs and plays outside with her. The mother that chaperones every school event. The mother who isn’t too tired or sore or sick to do anything that little girl wants to do. At age 19, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Eythematosus.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body. People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that target tissues within their own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Because the antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation can affect tissues anywhere in the body, lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas. Sometimes lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. Ah yes, I am that lucky to have full Systemic Lupus. So, everything from my wrist joints, to my heart and lungs can be damaged. Since age 19 I have been hospitalized four times, had my gal bladder removed, developed the need for glasses, replaced 12 of my teeth, been unable to walk for days at a time, endured a miscarriage and countless numbers of pokes and prods from doctors all around the state. I will have this disease for the rest of my life. There is no cure.
What there is, is a number of wonderful medications and supplements I take daily. (Please read that last line with sarcasm). On a daily basis I take 12 pills. I detest nothing more in life than taking all these pills. My girlfriend hounds me on a daily basis to make sure I take them. It’s a wonderful little battle we have every morning. Alas, if I don’t take them my chances of becoming sick or even dying improve tremendously. What does all this have to do with medical marijuana you might ask? PLENTY. Besides controlling my daily pain, many studies are now showing that marijuana actually reduces joint swelling; something I suffer from. Even better news for me is that marijuana would eliminate some of the pills I currently take. No, not all of them, but my pill intake would be cut in almost half with that simple little leaf. Medical marijuana isn’t for everyone, I understand that. However, something proven to be so helpful to the physical and emotional wellness of so many shouldn’t be illegal. Medical marijuana has been proven to help cancer patients, individuals with bipolar disorder and severe depression, HIV and AIDS patients, and many more. How many of you know someone with one of these aliments? I am going to bet that everyone that reads this knows at least one person.
So, I encourage everyone out there to become educated on the benefits of medical marijuana. It might just save the life of someone you know or even your own. At least for me, I know it will help make me the mother that I have always dreamed of being. The one who isn’t too tired to help with homework, or prepare a home-cooked meal, or run and play with her outside; basically, the mother every little girl deserves.
NORML Kim