Legalize medical marijuana
Dennis Acton
Fosters Daily Democrat, Dover (NH)
About 10 years ago, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer. As a healthy 32- year-old, I was shocked that I could have cancer but luckily it was caught early. I had to undergo painful surgery, then three weeks of radiation treatment. The effects of the huge doses of radiation I received were cumulative. Each day I felt sicker until the point where I couldn't eat or go to work. I was given a prescription for an antinausea medication that cost $1,600 for a two-week supply but that was ineffective. I sought the advise of other cancer survivors who mentioned that medicinal marijuana might help.
At this point I was forced to illegally obtain a small amount of marijuana, but I was glad I did. The effects were immediate. I quickly regained my appetite, the nausea I felt all day long subsided, and I was able to return to a normal life for the rest of my treatment period. In fact during the final week of my treatments when I should have been very ill, I felt as if I wasn't even being treated with radiation. I mentioned this to my doctors and nurses and they agreed that marijuana works the best but they couldn't tell me about this for fear of losing their licenses.
It is difficult to go public with my story for fear of being judged by those with closed minds and prejudices against this type of natural treatment. All I can say is that my expensive prescription didn't work while I effectively treated myself with a naturally growing plant that for some reason is outlawed. We have the opportunity to change this law right now here in New Hampshire and I urge our lawmakers to have the courage to stand up for what is right and legalize medicinal marijuana!
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