Democracy Now!

Carlos Bazante

Soc. Movements MW

Democracy Now! (5-9-2014)

Marijuana Refugee and As Marijuana Refugees Flock Colorado, Will Medical Community Force Rewriting of U.S. Drug Laws

               One of the stories on Democracy Now informed the audience about the growing number of people moving into Colorado seeking effective legal medical treatment.  Dara Lightle, a mother caring for a child with epilepsy, moved to Colorado after doctors told her that a brain surgery was needed to decrease the hundreds of seizures Madeline (child) was having each day.  Instead of staying in Virginia and going through with brain surgery, Dara left to Colorado to treat her daughter with cannabis oil due to its effectiveness.  It is illegal to consume cannabis in Virginia as well as a federal crime.  However, some states, such as Colorado, have made cannabis use legal.   Dara Lightle informs the public about the effectiveness of cannabis oil in treating her child's seizures.  She claims that it dramatically decreased her child's seizures.  The cannabis oil had other unexpected benefits as well.  Madeline (child) was beginning to gain an interest in learning and her addition became accurate.

The next story continues with Dave Philipps, an investigative reporter, on the Marijuana treatment topic.  Dave Philipps claims that there are thousands of people in the United States that have tried many treatments to treat their medical condition but have not been effective.  He states that people have turned to cannabis treatment because it's the only known treatment that can effectively treat their medical condition.  Dr. Margaret Gedde states how drugs created are only made to make a profit and there are other treatments that are more beneficial than mainstream drugs.  Dr. Margaret Gedde claims that out of the children she treated about 25% experience dramatic results and 50% experience cognitive benefits.  Similar results have led many people to pressure their legislators.  These political actions have helped some states legalize cannabis for medical use purposes.  Dr. Gupta, a prominent doctor, states that we have been systematically misled which is why we are informed about the medical benefits of cannabis.