PAIN, MUSCLE SPASM -- Tom is a 43-year-old man with a severe degenerative form of arthritis association with a childhood diagnosis of scoliosis. He wore a back brace for three years before the doctors determined that his condition was worsening.
"Surgery was the next step, involving spinal fusion with a six-inch rod between my vertebra. I had two months in the hospital and nine months in a body cast.
"I have multiple ailments requiring several different types of drugs. I take diazepam, cyclobenzaprine, hydrocodone, carisoprodyl, darvocet, trazodone, hydrochlorot, ultracett, celebrex, and vioxx. I take 10 to 14 pills a day, at a cost of $15 to $95 for each prescription, if I use generic.
"I learned that if I used a little marijuana, I didn't have to take so many pills. It helped me to relax and eased the chronic muscle spasms in my back, neck, and spinal column.
"I was able to go back to school in 2000 and maintained a 3.8 grade point. I'm not a lazy person and I would certainly rather be working today. The doctors have me on their so-called miracle drugs - and some of them are dependable and have few side effects. But others are not so good and are a blatant rip-off especially for a person like me who has to be treated with several different types of drugs. If I could grow a few marijuana plants without being afraid of arrest, my life would be a lot better." Mar 2003