I know that I have mentioned this in a previous blog…but it seems worth going back over it. It is becoming more and more clear to me that society’s perception of medical marijuana patients has to change before we are going to get the traction to change the law. The subject of this article, published by CBS this morning, is the legalization of marijuana in California – and not just for medical purposes. According to the article, 56 percent of California voters polled said marijuana should be legalized and taxed, and the governor is open to debating the issue, and discusses the pros and cons of legalization in Californa.
Though interesting and worth the read, the main issue I wanted to call out in the article is that the media still makes comments on the use of medical marijuana that are deragatory and used to sensationalize. For example, when the reporter asks (referring to the medical marijuana dispensary), “So these aren’t just druggies in there?”
It is extremely offensive, that in this day and age, with all of the research to support the importance of medical marijuana in helping patients, that an influential and respected news provider such as CBS would refer to them as druggies.
A shame.
We posted this comment (some of the text may sound familar!):
The main issue that we wanted to call out in this article is that John Blackstone, when referring to the medical marijuana dispensary, says, “So these aren’t just druggies in there?”
It is extremely upsetting that in this day and age, with all of the research to support the importance of medical marijuana in helping patients, that an influential and respected news provider such as CBS would refer to them as druggies.
For patients with qualifying debilitating medical conditions who are unable to ease their suffering through the use of traditional medicine, medical marijuana provides not only a medical benefit, but enables them to experience a better quality of life.
Scientific studies have consistently proven that medical use of marijuana may mitigate the symptoms and effects of chronically ill patients. Do we not want to work together as a society to ensure that medical marijuana is available to assist people in need to alleviate suffering, ease chronic pain and discomfort, and enable them to experience life in the best manner possible?
Medical marijuana patients may be suffering from conditions such as AIDS, cancer, and multiple sclerosis. Many are experiencing such a high level of chronic pain that traditional medicine will not work, and they must use medical marijuana to ease it. It is a shame that these patients, who are already in such need, would be so carelessly referred to in this article as druggies.
Please consider retracting that portion of the story, and do your part to increase compassion for others, to foster increased understanding and acceptance for those in need, and to encourage tolerance in our society as a whole.