Thursday, March 31, 2011
Health Care House Committee Hears Emotional Testimony on Medical Marijuana
Posted by Josh Gross on Thu, Mar 31, 2011 at 12:00 PM
Speaking with the aid of a breathing tube, Shelly Vulgamore's voice quivered as she detailed a long and grisly list of ailments to the Idaho House Environment, Engineering and Technology Committee Wednesday in Boise. Up to 18 seizures a day. Her intestines re-routed. Heart attacks.
"I have a lump in my breast they're not even concerned about," said Vulgamore. "I can only eat a half a cup of food because nothing works right inside me."
Her ailments are the result of being hit by a car traveling at more than 50 mph. And the reason she was sharing them with the Legislature was to explain why Idaho needs to legalize medical marijuana, something she currently has to travel to Oregon to get and cannot legally possess in Idaho.
"The cannabis is the only thing that's gotten me to where I am. I'm not active, but at least I can get through the day," said Vulgamore.
Making medical marijuana legal would allow Vulgamore to easily purchase it in a variety of foods, such as butter, honey and baked goods, instead of just the smokeable variety sold illegally.
"You shouldn't have to go to a drug dealer to get medicine," she said. "It's degrading."
Cannabis replaced the 600 mg. of opium suppositories Vulgamore previously used for pain for what she called "stage-four end-of-life issues."
"I'm an Idahoan," said William James Esbensen of the 43rd Parallel Compassion Group. "I still own businesses in this state. I own houses in this state. But I had to move to Oregon so I wouldn't go to jail."
Their testimony was on House Bill 19, an effort to legalize medical marijuana dispensaries submitted by Rep. Tom Trail, a Moscow Republican. It's an issue Trail feels is especially important since Idaho is bordered by states that have legal medical marijuana.
"Over 300 families have relocated to Oregon to get legal relief to their pain," said Trail. "When they come back to Idaho, they live in the shadows of fear."
Trail quoted Texas representative and libertarian hero Ron Paul as saying that medical marijuana is really an issue of states' rights. Trail also said that of the 14 states that have legal medical marijuana, those that addressed the issue through the Legislature rather than with citizen referendums have had better outcomes. He also said FOX News commentator Glenn Beck is a supporter.
Vulgamore best summarized the feelings of all the speakers.
"We should not be afraid of being arrested because we use medical cannabis," she said.
The committee then adjourned until Monday, when they will hear more testimony on the issue.
Comments (8)
Showing 1-8 of 8
i've considered moving but i can't afford too. I have a nerves disease that effects my muscles & everyday i deal with stabbing pain in my feet & neck that shoots down my side. My legs & hands ache & i couldn't tell you the last time i slept the whole night threw. When i am able to get me a little Marijuana i have energy to do the things i love, the stabbing subsides & i can sleep a full night with out tossing & turning cuz my legs don't hurt. It would great if Idaho woke up & help the people who need this.
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Hemp is a very good industrial product, not just for medical and recreational use. Foods made from hemp with low TH content are high in essential fatty acids. Hemp can be used for oils, cooking and fuels. Hemp paper requires only a hydrogen peroxide bleaching, reducing the toxic chlorine-based chemicals needed for wood pulp, and it leaves the forests intact. Clothing made from hemp fibers are more durable than cotton.
The use of hemp across America can reduce our dependence on foreign oil and leave food crops for eating. Wakeu p America!
There's just no way Idahoans will allow medical cannabis because they just don't rate compassion too high up there on the charts, generally. Sorry neighbors, but when you look at demographics and voting history, Idahoans are fairly inhospitable compared with the rest of the nation, especially in the west. Just won't happen. Law enforcement would make the call, not the compassionate. Were there to be a national bill passed, Idaho would sue the feds.
Also, if there is a bill sponsored, it won't allow patients to grow their own medicine. This makes it a higher profile boutique therapy, effectively eliminating me from the scene. I cannot come up with $300-500/ ounce (yes an ounce!, not pound) for this fancy schmancy corporatized indoor plant(!). Nor can most of those who need it the most. Will medicare cover it? Insurance? No, it's purely cash.
I can just see it now as the HP/Micron engineer pulls up in his shiney new Beamer/Vette/Escalade and bounds in for his monthly treat-whilst the less fortunate get tossed into prison for a couple scrawny plants in the bedroom closet of their tiny apartment.
Why reinvent the wheel? Every state starts the process this way with testimony and arguements pro and con, but what the basic arguement boils down to is does the healthy and wealthy care enough about the poor and the ailing to overcome thier opinions and fears and try to help.
Considering the success Oregon has had with their bill that doesn't allow selling for profit and allows seasonal outdoor growing and generosity, why cannot we adopt their bill and just change the Oregons to Idahos and the Salems to Boises?
Why not? Because Idaho is full of Idahoans, not Oregonians.
Hey Izzy next hearingis on Monday 4/4/2011 at 9;00 am at the state capitol building
I have just had the pleasure of spending some real time with Shelly. She's a friend of a good friend of mine and has come to New York for a visit. Medical Marijuana has assisted her in this endeavor, simply by making it possible to function during the long journey by train from Idaho. Shelly is an incredible woman who has been through a living hell and yet she still can make people smile and laugh, and if you didn't know what her life is like, you'd think she was just like everyone else. She is able to present herself to the world as "normal" because she is using medical marijuana to dull the horrible pain she lives with day in and day out. I for one now know first hand how this herb has made her life bearable. It makes me sad to think some people are so narrow minded that they can't see the benefits of cannabis for the seriously ill.
Why would ill people want something that only helps themselves when you can effect everyone around you with cigerettes and alcohol. come on Idaho pull your head out of the sand there is so much medical benefit from cannabis its overwellming. I am a cancer survivor and I used cannabis and it helped me through Hell. Maybe the government and the police should pay more attention to real criminals . I know its more dangerous and doesnt pay as much but you are supposed to be public servents.
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