LETTER: The many medicinal uses of marijuana

To the editor:

In response to “Wasilla pain doctor concerned about pot prop’s effect on patients”, the community should consider others health issues rather than their own selfish gain towards voting yes on Proposition B-1. Patients are suffering everyday due to nausea, chronic pain in cancer patients, severe peripheral neuropathy, sleep disorders, and even seizures. Voting No on B-1 will continue the treatments on helping people with chronic health issues. Marijuana is much more than just a drug; it has medicinal purposes as well. Regarding seizures, the Cannabidiol, or CBD does not cause psychoactive effects on the body. Instead it shows positive effects in treating the consistency of seizures.

“Epidiolex (a drug derived from cannabidiol or CBD), which is produced by a pharmaceutical company (GW Pharmaceuticals). Epidiolex is a purified, 99% oil-based extract of CBD that is produced to give known and consistent amounts in each dose.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given some epilepsy centers permission to use this drug as “compassionate use” for a limited number of people at each center. Such studies are ongoing for difficult epilepsies such as Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (in children and adults) and Dravet syndrome in children.” This according to the article Medical Marijuana and Epilepsy found at Epilepsy.com. Dr. Matthew Peterson agrees with this; he treats patients that deal with this pain on a daily basis. Even a family member whom was affected.

Marijuana reduced his affected family member’s seizures from a few times an hour, to once or twice a week. People typically are blind to what marijuana can really do, and only look at it as a drug that can “effect” their children. When really, this drug will be regulated, no different than alcohol, but will have positive side effects instead. Look past the stereotype of this plant, and focus on what it can really do to help the community.

— Lauryn Corder

Wasilla