How do you follow up a post about the death of four children whom you actually know? Shouldn't there be a period of silence, of mourning?
Today, The New York Times published an article titled Marijuana-Based Drug Found to Reduce Epileptic Seizures. You see, the big guns at GW Pharmaceutical had been conducting studies, and these studies are confirming what we already know. Yeah, I think there need to be studies. I've got one going in my house and have been diligently studying for three years and seventeen years before that. One of the residual effects of dealing with all of this shit for so long is that I don't have even a fingernail's worth of trust in the system. And at risk of sounding like one of those crazy conspiracy people, I suspect all the big pharmaceutical companies are working their asses off to keep marijuana from being de-scheduled so that they can control the whole pie. Sorry about all the banalities, the pies and the fingernails, the houses of cards, but using trite language can be as effective and judicious as a good curse word.
I have learned that it's essential we talk about whole plant medicine. So, if you send me that article, I'm going to say, thanks, I saw it but I don't give a damn what GW Pharmaceuticals is doing. What I'm going to think is fu*k GW Pharmaceuticals and the horse it rode in on. Then I'm going to laugh my ass off over the big 'ole CDC announcing today that they are no longer recommending opiates for pain control.
Doctors Told to Avoid Prescribing Opiates for Chronic Pain
Meanwhile, I've had to halt the weaning process of the opiate that Sophie's been on for over eight years so I can give her a break from the agony.
What I do give a damn about is this story that I wrote for marijuana.com -- not my story, of course, but the story of brave and dogged people like Lindsay Rose Sledge.
A Passionate Mother's Reluctant Path to Lobbying.
Over and over again, you prove yourself to be my hero.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Moon. I hope I can live up to your expectations, but the feelings we have for one another are mutual!
DeleteDitto to Mary's comment. You are so right, all the time. (Regardless of what Tina says below.)
DeleteUGH. Fuck them and go YOU.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ramona. It was a bit of a rant, but what some things call for it.
DeleteDear Elizabeth, have you ever read any of Michel Foucault's work? A great theoretical framework to view all of this craziness from.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of him, but I'm very intimidated! Do you have any suggestions for what to read first?
DeleteI would probably start with The Foucault Effect, best read 'shaken and not stirred'. He is a great companion for those with a sense of the ridiculous.
DeleteLet's charge families 5000$ a month for something they can grow in their own back yard and cook into medicine in their own kitchen. For 60,000$ a year per child couldn't we just build a grow for an entire community of children. Yeah thanks GW. Meanwhile, the oils have better statistics. Of course no double blind blah blah blah
ReplyDeleteTrina Turk below appears to have all the answers, Allison. You sound very angry.
DeleteYou go Elizabeth. I am in 100% agreement with you.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne.
DeleteIt makes me nervous that big pharma is coming around. My trust in how they will play this is shredded.
ReplyDeleteYeah. Nervousness is an apt way to describe me, too.
DeleteI am a pharma rep and it really is not like that. You sound too angry and maybe you should help for that. Pharma has been ragged on too much, and it is not true. I feel sorry for you because that anger and bitterness is in your body and the only person you are hurting is yourself. I can see why some people in your family get upset with your rage.
ReplyDeleteThank for your comment, Tina. Please don't "feel sorry" for me as I have valid reasons to feel angry about the way the pharmaceutical company "conducts" business. As far as why some people in my family "get upset with your rage," unless you are part of my family, I'm not sure you're in a position to address that. And thank you for your concern about my body and health. I am very much aware of the effects of anger and bitterness on the soul and body. I try to meditate daily, have a pretty rigorous mindfulness practice, the support and love from countless friends and family to help. Life is difficult -- some days more than others. Anger is a good thing -- especially when used judiciously, which I try to do.
DeleteGood luck peddling pharms! And thank you again for your dissent. It's eye-opening.
Oh, and please elaborate and educate me on what it's really like. Good minds want to know.
DeleteOh Trina honey "I feel sorry for you" too babe
DeleteOh Tina dear one. It IS like that!
ReplyDelete