MUSCLE SPASM, SEIZURES, PAIN -- "My husband Danny is 45, totally disabled, and homebound. His primary illness is Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a peripheral nerve disease. He has also suffered two strokes and is prone to seizures. Prior to his arrest for possession in '99 he used marijuana. Since then his doctors have had to add an additional four medications and his condition has worsened greatly. I have not worked outside the home since '99 and we live on his disability check. I receive help through Alternatives in caring for him at home. Since he is still paying child support, we have $403.00 a month to live on. Thank God for Medicaid, although it would be better if taxpayers didn't have to pay for additional medication.
"When Danny was arrested in '99, he was in Texas. After 39 days in jail during which they had to make two trips to the emergency room, he was released on a two-year adjunct probation. No fines to pay, just restitution of $881.25. The courts deemed he was obviously a medical user and sent him home. What makes this case remarkable is that he was caught with three pounds, enough to last a year. "Marijuana not only helped with his pain and muscle spasms, but also his seizures. Currently Medicaid is paying for: Clonazepam 0.5mg 3x/day began in '98 for anxiety induced seizures; Zoloft 100mg/day began in '97 for depression; Risperdal 3mg 2x/day began in '99 to replace cannabis - anger management; Vicoprofen 7.5/200 2x/daily began in '99 to replace cannabis - pain management; Methocarbamol 1500mg 3x/daily began in '99 to replace cannabis - muscle relaxant; Trileptal 300mg 3x/day began in '02 additional seizure medication---lack of cannabis." Feb 2003