There are now twelve states in the US that have enacted Medical Marijuana laws: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ME, NM (just passed in 2007), NV, OR, RI, VT, and WA. Sadly, the state that I live in, Illinois, have not enacted medical marijuana laws as yet---the idea was recently rejected. October 2005 is when I became interested in the subject due to the following reasons: (a) I was diagnosed with a severe chronic pain illness known as Trigeminal Neuralgia in March, 2000; (b) all of the medical attention I've received since this diagnosis has been fruitless in helping me get past/deal with my pain effectively; (c) the numerous prescription drugs I had been prescribed (Neurontin, Methadone, Oxycodone, Baclofen, Tegretol/Carbamezipine) by various specialists never helped completely enough to where I could live a somewhat "normal" life.

          First, let me explain what Trigeminal Neuralgia is all about. In the later end of March 2000, I began having severe pain on the right side of my face. It felt as if someone was giving me an electrical shock that began in my inner right ear and radiated out to my right jaw, cheek & eye areas; it was almost always accompanied by very painful twitching in my right eye. The twitching in my eye also made the pain unbearable, adding fuel to the already fire-hot pain that I was experiencing. I couldn't face my daily routines anymore---cleaning house became a huge chore; working outside my home/having a job became next to impossible; all I could do was sit and cry. Upon advice from my other half, I went to the emergency room because the pain had gotten too extreme. After a few rounds of tests (blood, urine, etc.) and a thorough examination by the ER physician, he came back with the diagnosis: "you have a condition known as Trigeminal Neuralgia/Tic Deleroux. You are going to need to see a neurologist---here is a referral ".

          Second, I tried to seek help from the established medical community. For the first two years, I had consulted a neurologist; the next three years, a pain specialist; and, though they agreed with the initial diagnosis of Trigeminal Neuralgia---there was very little they, as professional doctors could do except for prescribe powerful medications to try to help me with the pain of this very rare condition. The neurologist, prescribed me Neurontin, Baclofen, Tegretol/Carbamezipine, & Vicodin: the Neurontin helped slightly by controlling the spasming of the nerve & very slightly with pain; baclofen was prescribed for severe muscle spasms (not related to the Trigeminal); Tegretol/Carbamezipine was also prescribed to control spasming of the nerve---yet, my liver wound up poisoned from the drug, and, the doctor had to quickly remove me from the drug therapy; and vicodin was prescribed for pain as well. My pain never went below a five (on the 10 point pain scale used in doctor's offices/hospitals). The pain "specialist" I began seeing in 2002---prescribed me the following: Neurontin, Methadone, Oxycodone, & Baclofen. Again, the neurontin helped only slightly; the Methadone & Oxycodone (although they are powerful drugs) only slightly helped with the pain, if at all (it mainly made me sleep---and I continued to "sleep" for three years); the Baclofen was prescribed for muscle spasms. When awake, my life was miserable---even though the pain specialist had me on very strong prescribed medications, my pain hardly ever went under 4-5 points. Sinking in despair after five years of powerful prescribed drug therapy (other than when I slept!), I began smoking marijuana more and more to relieve my pain because the prescribed drugs weren't helping the way I believed they should have. In August 2005, my pain specialist decided to do a random urinalysis---and, I knew as soon as I took the urinalysis, what the outcome was going to be: the pain specialist would stop my prescribed drug therapy because he would find thc in my test. I didn't care anymore; though I had enjoyed more sleep back then, I had lost five years of my life (and almost more) due to the powerful presribed drugs that I had been on. I was extremely tired of my situation: a chronic pain sufferer who was medicated to sleep, but, when awake, always in extreme unrelenting pain. At the end of August, 2005 I received a letter from my pain specialist stating that he would not see me on a professional basis any longer due to the results of my drug urinalysis.

          Between August and October of 2005, I weaned myself slowly of the powerful prescribed pain medications (WITHOUT A REHAB CENTER) the pain specialist had prescribed to me for almost three years. As I weaned myself off of the more powerful prescribed drugs, I began using marijuana on a daily basis to help me cope with my severe chronic pain, and, by the end of October 2005, I was completely weaned from the more powerful prescribed drugs to smoking marijuana & using aleve/ibuprofen to help me ease my pain. After all of my experience with chronic pain & helpless doctors who medicated me to sleep, I began to wake up from my presribed pain medication haze and began to enjoy my life again: household chores no longer seem impossible every day of the week, only part of the week now; I don't sleep constantly through out my days/weeks/months; and I have become a little more active as far as physically & socially.

          Finally, my "newer" therapy---marijuana coupled with Aleve/Ibuprofen doesn't affect my liver as badly as the presribed medications; it doesn't make me sleep all day/night/week; and I don't need a prescription. However, I am worried about the risks that I am taking: medical marijuana is not legally sanctioned by the state that I live in: should I ever be stopped (and searched) by law enforcement officials, I'm going to be facing drug charges---even though I am 43 years old, never run afoul of the law, and don't even drive anymore (due to uncontrollable leg spasms not related to the trigeminal neuralgia). I believe that it is quite unfair for our local, state, & federal governments to disapprove of the medical usage of marijuana based solely on "the abuse factor", outdated research, and quasi-religious etiquette that is just as outdated. If the local, state, & federal governments regulated medical marijuana similar to cigarettes, there would not be as much room for "abuse" as what one may think. Oh, I realize that minors still get away with buying cigarettes: I'm not dumb to that. However, there aren't AS MANY MINORS purchasing cigarettes the way it happened in the 70's & 80's. State laws have become tougher since then! So, why do our local, state, & federal governments resist change? Especially when it can help people as much as powerfully prescribed drugs?

          Since Illinois has not legally sanctioned the medical usage of marijuana, I do know that my residence in Illinois is going to be changing within the next eighteen months. As far as I can tell, I have my choice of twelve states to move to: my research is now beginning. May the best state win.

          Post script by author:  I do not advocate illegal drug usage/abuse nor do I advocate any illegal activity.  However, I DO ADVOCATE STRONG HEALTH CARE CHOICES FOR ADULTS AGE 21 AND OVER.

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