Any medical marijuana sucess stories?

[LeeE]

Here's an example I thought you might enjoy reading.

<http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v11/n132/a01.html>
Pubdate: Sat, 26 Feb 2011
Source: Journal Tribune (ME)
Copyright: 2011 Journal Tribune
Author: Dina Mendros


LEAF OF RELIEF

Biddeford's Medical Marijuana Dispensary Set to Open in March

BIDDEFORD - Bill Harnden's life has been one of almost constant pain. He was born with degenerative disc disease and has chronic, intractable back pain from the five fused discs along his spine. He also had a non-malignant tumor on his brain stem removed, which has caused significant pain in his neck. Although the 60-year-old man from Auburn had worked in financial management, he had to give up his job in 2007 because of his condition.

To manager his pain, Harnden was taking eight doses of the painkiller Tramadol every day, which left him feeling sedated most of the time.

That was until June, when Harnden began using marijuana to ease his pain.

"It worked, nothing short of miraculously," said Harnden. "It's given me a new lease on life. Thanks to the medical marijuana, I'm more energetic. I lost 55 pounds."

Harnden has also cut down his dosage to one pain pill a day and eventually plans to cut out Tramadol completely.

"I encourage those, if they think it could help, to give it a try," he said of medical marijuana.

Harnden said he became interested in the drug from the publicity surrounding setting up new dispensary system in Maine after voters approved a referendum in November 2009..."