I made an appointment to see a doctor who prescribes marijuana for medical purposes. He's in Marin County, north of San Francisco. His office looked like storage space; piles of boxes covered with a marijuana-leaf-pattern blanket in the front room.
The doctor asked my name but did not check my ID. He wrote down my address and phone number. No Social Security Number.
He asked why I was there. I told him about my periodic leg pains. He marked "arthritis", "chronic pain" and "migraine" in the form. Did not do a check up or ask for medical records. I signed the form without reading it and he walked me over to the next-door office to pay for the $150 visit and look at the menu.
There were two small boards on the wall. The one on the left had names of various kinds of marijuana in different colors, organized by price. The top brand was called J-1. How cool and appropriate, I thought. I bought 1/8 ounce for $55.
The man behind the counter looked like Garth Algar from "Wayne's World". His chair was too low or the counter top was too high. He was soft-spoken and helpful. He explained the return policy: If I didn't like what I've purchased, I could return and exchange it with another kind.
The board on the right listed the cookies and candies made from marijuana butter or extract. I bought two brownies. Unnecessary. Holy Shit! Half of one literally put me to sleep for half a day.
***
I had heard how easy it was to get medical marijuana in California. Now I know. It is very easy. For all practical purposes, this is the legalization of pot. Amsterdam's coffeeshops were the testing grounds and now a bold step in the most influential state in the United States. Several other states have legalized medical marijuana as well.
For those who have been waiting to enjoy pot the same way others enjoy their beer, wine or whisky, this is a historic occasion.
Also let's hope this means in coming decades governments will stop the loss of countless lives and waste of billions of dollars in futile drug wars in Mexico, Colombia, Afghanistan and...
Drugs are bad for you. Alcohol is bad for you. Cigarettes are bad for you. Control them. Tax them. Educate the public on their negative effects. But do not make them illegal to adults. Banning drugs will not get rid of demand and criminals will become distributors.
Thank you California for getting it.
***
I heard this song on the radio last night. There aren't many this beautiful:
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Big J Javidsky
by SamSamIIII on Thu Mar 18, 2010 03:36 PM PDTThe happy nomad, may you be happified in your constant pursuit of groovy doood, dude ;:)
here is one of my favourite characters Big Lebofski with Big J bridges;
//blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/dude-walter2.jpg
//i149.photobucket.com/albums/s68/ansukka1/big_lebowski.jpg
//anyeventuality.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/lebowskibookcover.jpg
Noerooz pirooz!!!
Path of Kiaan Resurrection of True Iran Hoisting Drafshe Kaviaan //iranianidentity.blogspot.com //www.youtube.com/user/samsamsia
Damet Garm Jahanshah!
by Nur-i-Azal on Thu Mar 18, 2010 01:25 PM PDTInsha'Llah one day you come and we smoke a big doobie together for both our leg pains ;-)
BTW in some parts just south of the border from Californication the ganja (marijuana) is referred to as Santa Maria (St Mary). FYI
Ya NUR
Pot can be a life saver
by sima on Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:13 AM PDTI have a sister-in-law who is in a lot of pain from bone cancer and its treatments. The only thing that helps is pot. We are all so grateful that she can get medical MJ.
And then I know this shit of a "pain management" doctor -- George Bush republican, richer than any other doctor I know -- who is absolutely against it. "They all just want to get high," the fucker says. He says this of even his terminal patients. OK, suppose someone who is on the brink of death wants to get high -- what's it to you, you sanctimonious, bakhil a-hole?
All power to medical marijuana. All power to people to make their own decisions.
And I for one will vouch for JJ suffering from sciatica! I've seen him when he can barely walk. That said, judging from the giggle attack that another friend recently got from a gaaz of browny, nothing wrong with an afternnon of giggles either!
Excuse me sir
by amirkabear4u on Thu Mar 18, 2010 09:53 AM PDTI know NOW why you are cool and jolly.
However as a responsible member of society I need to disagree with you:
You said, "But do not make them illegal to adults. Banning drugs will not get rid of demand and criminals will become distributors."
This is like saying;
Do not fight IRI because getting ride of them makes them go underground and criminals joining them.
see how many of this site users agree with you! haha
At the moment some of the politicians are distributors, is it any better??
Fairness and Equality in Justice
Be your own doctor,
by Rea on Thu Mar 18, 2010 05:02 AM PDT....... grow your own plants. :o)
Legal Implications
by DW Duke on Thu Mar 18, 2010 04:51 AM PDTOne aspect of the medical marijuana plan is that under federal law it is still illegal despite legalization for medical purposes within the state. Even though no state law is being broken, a record is being kept of each "patient" at each clinic. During the Bush adminstration the DEA was raiding clinics and confiscating patient information and as a result, medical marijuana patients' names were being catalogued by the DEA for who knows what purpose. Under the Obama adminstration these raids have stopped and the Obama position is that if the state allows it the feds won't interfere. The legislation that has been proposed in California would actually make it a crime to assist in the arrest of anyone for using marijuana for medical purposes or for recreational purposes. This would include DEA agents who are obtaining information about patient usage. Thus, a DEA agent collecting information in California about people using marijuana would be violating California law.
only people who enjoy it are....and my personal experience
by Monarchy_Forever on Thu Mar 18, 2010 04:44 AM PDTindividuals who grew up smoking it especially since high school and early college because they initially smoked it due to peep pressure- to fit in. Little by little, they developed a tolerance.
Most people who luckily never were suckered into this actually hate the feeling it gives them because they miss out of a whole day of work. They never developed a tolerance therefore its really hard for them and they Hate it.
On the other hand, alcohol up to say 5 drinks provides a buzz which many people enjoy because it makes them merry and giddy while at the same time engaging and social.
Weed though to non tolerant people makes them look for a comfy corner and lay down and sleep. The weirdest part is when two guys smoke, one is tolerant and the other is inolerant.
THis is a personal experience: I am not tolerant to weed. Bought smoke weed, had friend roll it into a blunt. Smoked it while alone on my house to make sure I don't get into trouble on my first time. REalized that my whole body was going numb. Noticed I was touching my private part in a weird way. Realized that because I felt numb, I could do anything because I felt no feeling. If i had a gun in the house, I might have shot at an object just to see what happens. I might have even shot at myself too because I was feeling numb.
I recovered a day later. I really hated the feeling. It seemed time passed by soooo slooowly. Gawd..
I decided to keep the rest of the blunts in a zip bag.
Months later when I was about to sleep with a hot Salvadorian girl (who barely smoke English) THis girl was the crown, I love making love to her. It was one night and she was honest to GOD a 10. THe hottest girl I have seen and the hottest I have ever dated in my whole life. Honestly a 10.
Well, I wanted to make sure that she likes it. So I reserved a hotel room, bought the champagne, brought a nice Hollywood video, and ofcourse the blunts. We talked , watched the movie. I then offered "Queres mota?" - do want want to smoke weed? Ofcourse like most Latinas, she said yes. I gave her one of my blunts to smoke while I had a Garcia Vega lookalike cigar. I smoked on tobacco only, while she smoked the blunt. It was magical that evening. Unfotunately, she had to leave by 2 am because her babysitter was gonna leave.
To this date, I do not regret making love to this girl. I can honestly say if I see her again, I would propose in a heart beat. It just so that I was really stupid back then and thought I was on top of the world and can have any girl I wanted. Ahhh, how stupid I was ..lost opportunity...
Yedesh be khair, my beautiful Josselyn from El Salvador....how I miss you
I used condom that night because I wanted ito, somtimes I wonder, maybe I shouldn't have, maybe I would have had a kid with her to keep us connected forever....
JJ Simpson Act II
by MeyBokhor_Manbarbesuzan on Thu Mar 18, 2010 03:07 AM PDTWeekend At Burnsies, ACT TWO:
(At the hospital, Dr. Hibbert stitches Homer's eyes.)
DR. HIBBERT: Well, there is medication, although it is a little... controversial.
HOMER: Does it go in the butt?
DR. HIBBERT: I'm talking about medicinal marijuana. Prescription pot. Texas THC.
HOMER: Look man, I don't do drugs.
DR. HIBBERT: Homer, for your eyes, the best tonic is chronic. You're not afraid, are you?.....
HOMER: But isn't marijuana, or "dope", illegal?
DR. HIBBERT: Only for those who enjoy it. Medical use of marijuana is legal in this state. We'll also provide you with a prescription bong. (chuckling) Do you want the wizard, or the skull?
JJ simpson
by MeyBokhor_Manbarbesuzan on Thu Mar 18, 2010 02:53 AM PDT//www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8LXiHg-rBc
My hat is off to you JJ
by Mamane-Omid on Wed Mar 17, 2010 05:37 PM PDTFor your honesty and trying to stay as close to "nothing is sacred" as possible, from the begining.
Only thing I may disagree with is "....bad for you. Control them. Tax them."
It should be free for anybody to cultivate for themselves, be it with some age restrictions.
Now, where exactley was this place, again?
Mamane-Omid.
Did you check to make sure he was a doctor?
by divaneh on Wed Mar 17, 2010 04:56 PM PDTI mean did it not strike you as strange that he knew what was good for you before you sat down? Yeah man, you puff this and it ache no more.
Anyway, try some Oregano in your roll, Maziar swears by it.
.
by timothyfloyd on Wed May 12, 2010 09:54 PM PDT.
you had me at....medical
by Hovakhshatare on Wed Mar 17, 2010 04:24 PM PDTVery informative :) and educational (:) article. I hope your medical problem is addressed by this prescription in time for Norooz and you fly safely into the new year.
Enjoy but be kind and share my friend. Share. there is not enough sharing going on in this world.
I'd like 2 try those brownies2! Or cookies or anything edible!
by Anonymouse on Wed Mar 17, 2010 02:40 PM PDTEverything is sacred.
This is the most ridiculous law
by I Have a Crush on Alex Trebek on Wed Mar 17, 2010 01:51 PM PDTFirst of all, even in states where they get their acts together to legalize "medicinal" marijuana, the federal police will come and stop it. Big Pharma will not tolerate alternative anything. They have their claws in the US medical system, and they won't let them out.
The raids will continue. The states will stand up but with the economy the way it is, there's not much they can do. Amazing how there's always money for war on this and that, right?
Duuuude...
by anonymous111.2 on Wed Mar 17, 2010 01:15 PM PDTduuuude...
JJ send us the address please.
by cyclicforward on Wed Mar 17, 2010 12:23 PM PDTI have been looking for this for such a long time.
$55 for an 1/8?
by Cost-of-Progress on Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:51 AM PDTHoly crap! inflation sucks. I remember the days when an ounce went for a mere $40. If you wanted Thai, or other exotic types, they were a bit more.
I totally agree with legalization, but I doubt it'll happen. Too many palms are getting greased with it being "illegal". Too much loss to those who have a stake in keeping it illegal.
I truly could use some myself; chronic lower back and neck pains (for real), but I have no "doctor" I could rely on and it has proven very hard to buy this stuff by proxy!
I wonder how much of the office visits at $150 a pop is documented for tax purposes....
____________
IRAN FIRST
____________
Baba JJ Jaan Boro Amsterdam Khialetoh Rahat Kohn ...
by Darius Kadivar on Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:32 AM PDTNot Only You will have all the marijuana and Whores you want without medical prescription and don't even risk to be arrested.
And more importantly you will end up by appreciating the benefits of a Constitutional Monarchy ...
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvrfhfVlVyQ&feature=related
LOL
.....
by yolanda on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:54 AM PDTOMG! What a rip-off! It sounds like a joke! LOL! I did not know they have marijuana cookies, brownies, and candies! Very "creative"!
my provider ;-)
by capt_ayhab on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:48 AM PDTMy provider is not called a doctor and does not ask any question, deals in green back only with NO return policy.
His shop[car] always open, 24/7, only in one ounce increments doesn't use the traditional[spit seal] bags, only zip lock bags of best quality, and always a free pack of rolling paper.
-YT
JJ Jan
by minadadvar on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:37 AM PDTI hope, whatever your medical problem is, you fully enjoy the nonmedical effect of your medecine. Happy Newrooz.
JJ,
by Proud_To_Be_Anonymous on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:30 AM PDTDoes that mean you are moving back to Californina?
Holy Cow!
by Latina on Wed Mar 17, 2010 10:21 AM PDTI am sooo not telling my sons. LOL
VinoRojo,
Tu vives en otro pais donde hay mucha mas libertad. :o)
No me sorprende.
...
by Red Wine on Wed Mar 17, 2010 09:55 AM PDTmedical use only.. ? yeah .. me too amigo ..
//i33.photobucket.com/albums/d82/ImHiFucU/Pippi_Friends_smoking.jpg