Stories
Do you have a story of a vulnerable Maryland Medical Cannabis patient you would like to share?
Please email us a story and a photo so that we can post.
We can be reached for questions or comments at [email protected].
Please email us a story and a photo so that we can post.
We can be reached for questions or comments at [email protected].
Raina
Raina is a 4 year old in Washington County. She uses medical cannabis to control her seizures and as a rescue medicine during a seizure. When cannabis was first available, Raina used a CBD tincture but eventually it was determined that she has better seizure control and a marked increase in developmental and cognitive abilities with a tincture that is a combination of both CBD and THC. While she was offered a preschool setting as her least restrictive environment (LRE), the school system will not allow her to have her life saving medicine at school. As this is a FIRST LINE rescue medication, she cannot BE in school without access to it. Her pharmaceutical rescue causes profound delays in development and loss of motor skills.
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Virginia
Virginia, a retired nurse,began using medical cannabis after being diagnosed with cancer. She found that cannabis helped her to sleep and made her feel better overall. During the end of her life, she was in a rehabilitation facility but the facility could not legally hold and dispense cannabis despite it being a more effective medication for her than any of her prescribed pharmaceuticals. While her family (legal cannabis caregivers) could administer, if they were unable to come to the facility, she did not have access to her medicine.
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Mimi
Mimi is a teenager with a seizure disorder, lung disease and many other health impairments. She has been using medical cannabis in oil form since 2014. Since stopping many of her pharmaceuticals and beginning medical cannabis, Mimi regained some of her eye sight. Recently, based on research that shows that THC is a bronchodilator, her family began using inhaled cannabis as part of her treatment and they have been able to avoid hospitalization for asthma since then. Mimi receives her education at home via Home and Hospital Instruction and receives personal support services from DDA. She is unable to access her medical cannabis through the Maryland Department of Health- DDA wavier services.
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Max
Max is a young adult with a seizure disorder. He has been using medical cannabis in oil form since 2014. Medical cannabis helps his seizure disorder and his family has noticed that he has gained a lot of skills since he stopped pharmaceutical medications and began medical cannabis. Max receives his education at home via Home and Hospital Instruction and receives personal support services from DDA. He is unable to access his medical cannabis through the Maryland Department of Health- DDA wavier services.
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Paisley
Paisley is a 3rd grader and perinatal stroke survivor with a diagnosis of hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy. Paisley utilizes topicals to relieve muscle spasms and tightness. After gastric lengthing surgery her opioid prescription was filled but only she only utilized CBD products during recovery. She additionally uses CBN patches to help promote restful sleep.
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Noah
When you become a parent, all your priorities change and the most important thing to you is the health, happiness and wellbeing of your child.
At age ten our son was diagnosed with a form of manic depression and anxiety. He was aggressive, sad constantly and the pain that he faced everyday we all felt. We tried many different things to overcome his obstacles but it came at a standstill. When diagnosed there was talk of using psychiatric pharmaceuticals. We have first hand seen the trials and tribulations that these drugs that are supposed to help can cause. From increased anxiety, depression, suicidal tendencies as well as physical affects on the body. This was a decision that we didn't want to take lightly. From our research we knew that the endocannabinoid system in our bodies played an important role in our well being, and we thought, maybe, just maybe we could save Noah. A year ago, we started Noah on straight 5mg THC tablets, and within days we saw a difference, at times a break down would stop in literally a span of 4 minutes. Noah is now dosing twice a day regularly and has officially found happiness and health. Noah has now been graduated from the state special education program for IED's and is excelling not only at school but personally as well. He is a fantastic baseball player, team mate, friend, brother, son. This boy who knew nothing but sadness and anger now thrives and seeks the quiet peace of being content and happy. We are truly blessed that Noah was able to become a medical cannabis patient because truly, he has found exactly what he needed to live his life to be happy and healthy. #Nature4Noah |
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Zion
Meet Zion!
I love his goofy self and so many things about him. It has been a battle to get where we are today. He has autism, ehlers-danlos syndrome, sensory processing disorder, anxiety, seizures and unlimited medical issues/conditions. He has a wheelchair and was in it A LOT! He also had leg braces and was on liquid narcotics to control the unbearable pain. Not to mention he would never sleep so he was also on over the counter meds to help him sleep. No good!!! This kid has overcome heaps and bounds, which I will tell you about shortly. I remember when he couldn’t talk. When he could, yet no one could understand him. When he couldn’t even leave the house. When we did it was horrifying because of the meltdowns. Let face it; it wasn’t the meltdown that was a problem it was society’s response. But anyway.. Autism is with us 24:7. I’ve heard it all, I’ve been told ridiculous things...
There are countless things that he didn’t comprehend. Or that his conversations are memorized and really wasn’t “knowing” what he’s saying in response to things. Well, things have changed for the good and I am here to tell you.... In July of 2019, we finally decided to go with medical cannabis. Relax, not in the traditional stigma you are used to. Yes he’s legal!- We got him a patient card so that he was legal and also get his meds from the dispensary. He takes CBD with THC in the form of oil, tablets, chewables, or gummies. Very deceit and doable for a child. This was hands down LIFE CHANGING! No seizures, almost no pain and even if he does get pain I can control it with the CBD. He is able to walk fine, never uses the wheelchair anymore. He is always out playing! He is an honor roll student in school. He is processing things, his behavior is gone! He is able to change things and adjust way better than before and his anxiety is very rare anymore. It is such a blessing to look back and see how far he has come. To see how hard he has worked and fought to get where he are. It is from this “non traditional” medication that has saved his life. |
Hal
Hal was diagnosed with glioblastoma in February of 2018. With a short life expectancy, and with the research available on Cancer.gov, he opted to allow cannabis to be added to his treatment program. By the summer of 2018, he was in hospice at home. Strong THC drops alleviated pain and irritation related to shingles as well as the primary brain tumor. His wife, was unable to leave him and his home health agency had not registered to be able to help with giving him his medical cannabis.
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