Four patients from around New Castle say they have experienced challenges and triumphs since beginning their use of medical marijuana.
“[Medical marijuana] has been a miracle for me,” said Katherine, 35, who has been a medical marijuana patient since February. Katherine spoke out on the issue but has chosen to remain anonymous due to potential repercussions at her job.
Katherine became certified to participate in the program by Dr. Amy Shannon of Evolution Care LLC in New Castle after it was concluded she was suffering from a multiple number of the approved ailments including chronic pain, opioid use disorder and PTSD.
“(My goal) is to get off as many (pills) as I can, and manage as many of my ailments as possible with herbal remedies where I’m not putting this garbage and filth (prescription pills) in my body,” Katherine said.
She primarily uses a vape pen and ingests pills to take medical marijuana. She said she occasionally uses dry flower for headaches.
Victoria, 62, whose card has recently expired, said she had high hopes when marijuana was legalized for medical purposes.
“When it first came out as medicine, I thought, ‘Wow! This is going to be great. I’m going to be cured, but it was a big let down,’ ” she said.
She says when the approved practitioners she visited explained specific types of medical marijuana that would be available at the dispensary, she was confused.
“You walk in there (dispensary), and you don’t know what you’re doing at all,” Victoria said. “I don’t know if these people are pharmacists that are talking to me. I doubt it. They went through some training, but how much do they…? They don’t know me like my doctor does. So why are they telling me what to get?”
She said she bought all of the products that were recommended to her when she visited CY+ Dispensary in Butler, which included a tincture, which is an herbal extract.
“I just don’t know if it helped me,” said Victoria. “I just don’t know if it did or not. I don’t think so.”
Because there are so many different strains and forms of medical marijuana, patients go through a trial-and-error period to determine which strain and form is right for them.
“That’s a lot of trial-and-error. It’s a lot of wasted money,” said Christian, an employee of a medical marijuana business and whose mother is pursuing medical marijuana card.
“When you’re on a fixed income, it’s very hard to spend $200,” Victoria said, who thinks there also should be discounts.
“I like Indica because it helped me control my anger. It helps me with reason,” said Jaime Hernandez, 43, a marine who was deployed in Afghanistan who recently began using the treatment.
Hernandez became entirely disabled when he was diagnosed with PTSD due to his service.
According the Department of Health, insurance companies can cover doctors appointments in the event patients visit their regular doctor to become approved. The appointment will be covered like any other doctor within a health insurance plan. However, if a patient’s insurance only covers a primary doctor, then the patient has to pay out of pocket.
“It does cost more, but to be happier in life, I’m fine with it,” Katherine said.
“Military members have fixed incomes … They got to understand when you’re paid once a month,” Hernandez said.
“I have to go at the beginning of then month to get my (medicine). It’s a little complicated with that,” said Hernandez, who said taking prescription pills would potentially be cheaper, but prefers marijuana because it’s natural.
Insurance companies, at this time, will not to cover medication that isn’t FDA approved. Medical marijuana isn’t FDA approved because studies cannot be conducted on its efficacy due to it’s Schedule 1 classification under federal law.
Stigmas surrounding marijuana for medical purposes also remain in the public’s’ mind.
“You know it’s not a bunch of THC sitting around. It’s not just a bunch of weed,” Dr. Shannon said. “Some people have that stigma that’s what it is, but it’s not at all.”
Although her boss and supervisor are aware of her participation in the program, Katherine has had issues with co-workers surrounding her use that have almost cost her job.
“It (use of medical marijuana) was a constant issue all because they (co-workers) wanted to get me fired,” said Katherine. “What I do is legal, and if you would sit down with me for five minutes, I’d explain it: CBD. I told them (coworkers) that, and they just don’t care.”
CBD is the non-psychoactive element in marijuana and therefore provides pain relief without having the feeling of being high.
When a potential patient begins the process of becoming certified to participate in the program, they must first gather their previous doctor’s records and schedule an appointment with a certified practitioner.
Christian’s mom, Cindi, 63, has had neuropathy in her feet for about two years since was diagnosed with diabetes. She currently is in the process of obtaining a medical marijuana card for the chronic pain she suffers because of it.
“When you have neuropathy in your feet, it hurts you to walk from here to that door,” said Cindi. “It’s very painful. Nothing helps it. The pain pills didn’t help, so why be on them?”
According to the Mayo Clinic’s website, “Depending on the affected nerves, symptoms of diabetic neuropathy can range from pain and numbness in your legs and feet … Some people have mild symptoms. But for others, diabetic neuropathy can be quite painful and disabling … Diabetic neuropathy is a common and serious complication of diabetes.”
Cindi has been on multiple medications throughout her life, but her goal in possibly beginning use of medical marijuana is to cease use of most of them.
Christian thinks a lotion applied directly to Cindi’s feet and an RSO (Rick Simpson Oil) capsule will be the best option in order to help with her pain and difficulties sleeping due to pain.
“I’ve tried pain pills. I’ve gone to pain clinics, and I just didn’t want that,” said Cindi. “My children, my family are all for it (medical marijuana). We’ve seen the destruction that pills can do, and I don’t want that.”
Christian scheduled an appointment with Dr. Shannon to begin the process of applying for her medical card on in late September.
According to the Department, there are over 131,000 medical marijuana cardholders in Pennsylvania.
“This life of being at peace is attainable,” said Hernandez on educating his fellow veterans on the benefits he has seen in beginning use. “There is no more, ‘What am I going to do today? Now you (veterans) have an outlet, and it’s a good one.”