SparklyUnicorn Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 I know someone who is using medical marijuana. Insurance companies generally don't pay for it. They also don't pay for the required evaluations to get approved for it (which cost the person I know $300...and they only take cash/debit...no credit cards). The cost of it is substantially higher than buying it off the street and again they only take cash. The one plus is you can get it in various forms so no need to smoke it. This was a good option for this person who has struggled with addiction to pain killers. YET, as I said, insurance will not pay for it. It is kind of in the early stages of this concept. So maybe that'll eventually change. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Medical is a start, but I would prefer the Colorado option. Cheaper and less red tape, without making oneself a criminal. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 It's also good for certain siezure disorders that do not respond to the usual meds. Some people really need options. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 The cost from a dispensary is higher but the product is safer than what one could get off the streets. No one in my family has a legitimate medical reason to use cannabis, but if God forbid I were going through chemotherapy or something like that, I would absolutely try it to see if it helped. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 The cost from a dispensary is higher but the product is safer than what one could get off the streets. I’m not sure where you got that information, but that is not true here in Colorado. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 15, 2018 Author Share Posted February 15, 2018 I’m not sure where you got that information, but that is not true here in Colorado. I assume she meant there would be no (or low) risk in tampering with the product. Someone selling on the street might mix it with something else. I assume this sort of thing. I still think it stinks that it would be more expensive. It's not like there aren't middle men in terms of buying it off the street. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 An acquaintance with a disability who is a medical cannabis user was very concerned about our state legalizing recreational pot. She needs medical grade that is guaranteed to have a certain % of whatever the active ingredient that works on her symptoms. The dispensary can provide that to her, but what if it can't compete in the new marketplace and goes out of business? She'd be stuck buying a product that may vary in potency and possibly be adulterated with cheap fillers. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SeaConquest Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 The cost from a dispensary is higher but the product is safer than what one could get off the streets. No one in my family has a legitimate medical reason to use cannabis, but if God forbid I were going through chemotherapy or something like that, I would absolutely try it to see if it helped. It definitely helped my sister during chemo. She handled it like a champ. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Because of the federal laws, it is an all cash business. The dispensaries (medical) cannot even put the money in the banks since they are federally regulated. It is a mess. John Oliver actually had a great piece that explained it well. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katy Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 An acquaintance with a disability who is a medical cannabis user was very concerned about our state legalizing recreational pot. She needs medical grade that is guaranteed to have a certain % of whatever the active ingredient that works on her symptoms. The dispensary can provide that to her, but what if it can't compete in the new marketplace and goes out of business? She'd be stuck buying a product that may vary in potency and possibly be adulterated with cheap fillers. Why would she assume the dispensary would close? Why wouldn't they just do what happened in other countries, and widen their customer base while still providing the same quality product (possibly cheaper, since less red tape)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ailaena Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 I assume she meant there would be no (or low) risk in tampering with the product. Someone selling on the street might mix it with something else. I assume this sort of thing. I still think it stinks that it would be more expensive. It's not like there aren't middle men in terms of buying it off the street. That’s what I mean. There is no oversight here and just because a dispensary says whatever it’s saying doesn’t mean it’s true. Some are legit, some are not but many source from the same grow sources and many of the grow houses use chemicals that are... bad. You can’t really mix marijuana (buds) with things, but you can grow it poorly. And many grow houses here do that. So “street†marijuana here is often less laced with chemicals. And when you talk about oils, waxes, foods, and other derivatives, there are very few places I would trust to make those things properly. Don’t get me wrong, I just hate what it’s become on the backside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Why would she assume the dispensary would close? Why wouldn't they just do what happened in other countries, and widen their customer base while still providing the same quality product (possibly cheaper, since less red tape)? Only a subset of the people who held a medical card prior to legalization of recreational pot actually need medical grade cannabis. Most of them were recreational smokers taking advantage of the easy availability of medical certification (if you had the cash to pay the doctor's fee, you could find somebody willing to prescribe you pot for "anxiety" or "back pain" or some other not-objectively-verifiable disorder). The recreational users aren't going to want to pay a premium for medical grade cannabis, leaving the dispensaries with a much smaller customer base. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Yes, medical grade marijuana normally has very low THC but high in some of the other components that actually help with pain management, epilepsy, etc. My state only has CBD oil and only for very, very limited circumstances. I would welcome low THC medical marijuana sales here. I wish the federal government would stop labeling it as a drug with no medical benefits. It obviously has a few including epilepsy, glaucoma, pain management, appetite booster (that is what cancer patients usually need). And if you aren't smoking it, I really can not see the difference between taking it for legitimate medical purposes and taking a lot of other prescription, non-prescription or herbal remedies. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 It's not like there are no studies either. They've been studying it in Israel for donkey's years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 From what I read the other day in a local newspaper, it's about $1000 to get started using medical marijuana in my state. The new governor is trying to make it easier and cheaper. I would qualify if I wanted to navigate all the red tape, but I don't feel I need it at this time. I don't know if I could afford it with the current laws, so hopefully they will make some changes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Here in Colorado, medical marijuana (and for that matter recreational) is much cheaper than street marijuana used to be. Medical is also siginificantly cheaper than recreational; many people get a medical card so that they can save money on what is essentially (for them) recreational weed. I don't know how much medical costs exactly, but even recreational weed in the most expensive location, sun-grown organic marijuana outside Colorado Springs (where the demand is huge because it's not legal to sell recreational in the Springs, a city of 500k or so, so everyone goes to the small town outside with legalized recreational), it's still not hugely expensive. I don't know how you could spend more than a few hundred a month if you were smoking constantly, top of the line stuff, and it were recreational prices. If you smoked less constantly and medical, it would be a lot less. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawz4me Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 I know very little about medical marijuana, but on the cancer board I belong to cannabis oil seems to be far and away the preferred form. Not smoking it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laundrycrisis Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 Because of the federal laws, it is an all cash business. The dispensaries (medical) cannot even put the money in the banks since they are federally regulated. It is a mess. John Oliver actually had a great piece that explained it well. IMO it's way past time for the federal govt to leave cannabis regulation to the states. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 16, 2018 Share Posted February 16, 2018 IMO it's way past time for the federal govt to leave cannabis regulation to the states. Or at least move it from totally banned to just a controlled substance like opioids and stimulant ADHD medications. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frances Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I assume she meant there would be no (or low) risk in tampering with the product. Someone selling on the street might mix it with something else. I assume this sort of thing. I still think it stinks that it would be more expensive. It's not like there aren't middle men in terms of buying it off the street. In OR testing is required of all products sold. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eternalsummer Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 I know very little about medical marijuana, but on the cancer board I belong to cannabis oil seems to be far and away the preferred form. Not smoking it. Ah, I have no idea what the prices are for things other than just striaght marijuana - edibles or oils or whatever. That is something I'd be worried about buying non-regulated anyway, from a guy off the street, just because you can't see what you're getting. With weed, it's pretty obvious whether it is or isn't weed. With a candy or an oil or something, though, it seems like it would be very easy to tamper with it or sell you something not-real. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hypatia. Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 It's been a huge help for my neuralgia. My prescription history reads like a pharmaceutical sales manual, I've had 12+ years of Botox injections to try to control the constant pain, and several radiofrequency nerve ablations. This was a better option (for me personally) to try before more involved surgeries or implants. I live in a state that has medical and, as of 2012, recreational marijuana available. I've been able to find a wide variety of strains and intake methods (not sure how to phrase that, but I've never been a smoker) available with knowledgeable staff to assist me. If anyone has any more specific questions then you are welcome to PM me. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted February 17, 2018 Share Posted February 17, 2018 Interestingly, when DH met with the bone marrow transplant specialist today, they made a point to tell him that marijuana has a high fungal content that could be problematic for those with compromised immune systems. (Like those undergoing chemo.) I have no idea re: oil. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I've been curious about this for my 19yo. We are hoping to try a new pain management protocol using low dose naltrexone. Unfortunately, medical marijuana still isn't possible in Texas unless you have intractable epilepsy. It is not approved for pain management. My 19yo isn't willing to try opioids because of the risk of addiction and I support that decision. https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2013/08/28/mecfs-doc-asserts-low-dose-naltrexone-becoming-standard-treatment-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-fibromyalgia/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melmichigan Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 I've been curious about this for my 19yo. We are hoping to try a new pain management protocol using low dose naltrexone. Unfortunately, medical marijuana still isn't possible in Texas unless you have intractable epilepsy. It is not approved for pain management. My 19yo isn't willing to try opioids because of the risk of addiction and I support that decision. https://www.healthrising.org/blog/2013/08/28/mecfs-doc-asserts-low-dose-naltrexone-becoming-standard-treatment-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-fibromyalgia/ My neurologist predicts that there will LDN available without compounding within the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Canada is heading for full legalization this summer. Medical exemptions have been avail for years. I've been considering it during chemo. I haven't looked into prices yet but given how many dispensaries we have here I'm guessing the prices are competitive. https://weedmaps.com/earth/ca/bc/vancouver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Interestingly, when DH met with the bone marrow transplant specialist today, they made a point to tell him that marijuana has a high fungal content that could be problematic for those with compromised immune systems. (Like those undergoing chemo.) I have no idea re: oil. you might want to read through this https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq most people seem to be using oils. Either CBD plain or with a bit of THC. I'm looking at a certified organic supplier who is specializing in medical use. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AngieW in Texas Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 My neurologist predicts that there will LDN available without compounding within the year. We have a great compounding pharmacy just 15 minutes away and my 19yo already gets one medication there, so that part won't be a problem at least. I just hope that it will help. So far the only thing that has helped much at all has been massage. That's one hour every two weeks. We really can't afford it more often than every 2 weeks except when the pain is exceptionally bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gaillardia Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 A friend has one of her children using the oil. It works for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 Interestingly, when DH met with the bone marrow transplant specialist today, they made a point to tell him that marijuana has a high fungal content that could be problematic for those with compromised immune systems. (Like those undergoing chemo.) I have no idea re: oil. A family member who obtained it to vape (not legally) during chemo was told the same thing. We were both surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 18, 2018 Share Posted February 18, 2018 So it seems there is a risk of pulmonary fungal infection in the immunocompromised patient ... I went on a pubmed hunt for info. I only scrolled through a few studies before I got bored but I thought this was interesting. You need an academic subscription for full acess unfortunately ... but a) it appears that the risk can me mitigated through use of certain forms & suppliers who sterilize properly and b) the primary evidence is a small number of case reports. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00520-014-2429-3Every drug and treatment will have a risk benefit profile so it's always a balance of course. One of my chemo drugs is great at killing breast cancer but a percentage of recipients develop leukemia from it. Another can cause congestive heart failure years down the road. :willy_nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Hornblower said: Every drug and treatment will have a risk benefit profile so it's always a balance of course. One of my chemo drugs is great at killing breast cancer but a percentage of recipients develop leukemia from it. Another can cause congestive heart failure years down the road. :willy_nilly: Total Truth. I am in 3 Facebook groups and a message board too for different illnesses I have (RA, Lupus, Sjogrens) and that is what I have to tell newbies who have those illnesses a lot. Others do too. And yes, a lot of medications or treatments have some side effects that aren't major but there are big risks that are statistically much less likely to happen but sometimes they do. (and I am continuing to pray for your complete recovery and for none of these bad outcomes to happen.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 There are many formats available (other than oils): https://www.thehealingcorner.com/home-wide/shop/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alisoncooks Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 So it seems there is a risk of pulmonary fungal infection in the immunocompromised patient ... I went on a pubmed hunt for info. I only scrolled through a few studies before I got bored but I thought this was interesting. You need an academic subscription for full acess unfortunately ... but a) it appears that the risk can me mitigated through use of certain forms & suppliers who sterilize properly and b) the primary evidence is a small number of case reports. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00520-014-2429-3 Every drug and treatment will have a risk benefit profile so it's always a balance of course. One of my chemo drugs is great at killing breast cancer but a percentage of recipients develop leukemia from it. Another can cause congestive heart failure years down the road. :willy_nilly: Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. And yes to the risks. After 3 years of fighting and beating lymphoma (ALL), DH's now diagnosed with a more agressive cancer caused by chemo (MDS with monosomy 7). It sucks but we look at it this way - he would have died 3 years ago if not for chemo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. And yes to the risks. After 3 years of fighting and beating lymphoma (ALL), DH's now diagnosed with a more agressive cancer caused by chemo (MDS with monosomy 7). It sucks but we look at it this way - he would have died 3 years ago if not for chemo. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: Sending prayers/good vibes to your family. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Don't they have a Rx version of the active ingredient that IS covered by insurance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Very interesting. Thanks for sharing. And yes to the risks. After 3 years of fighting and beating lymphoma (ALL), DH's now diagnosed with a more agressive cancer caused by chemo (MDS with monosomy 7). It sucks but we look at it this way - he would have died 3 years ago if not for chemo. you guys were dealt a shitty hand. (I think I'm in anger phase right now so I'm easily super angry about everyone's circumstances....) sometimes it seems all we do is buy time, but omg, is time ever precious :grouphug: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Don't they have a Rx version of the active ingredient that IS covered by insurance? yup, Dronabinol (aka Marinol) I think it's mostly used for appetite boost but I'm not sure. Since Canada was getting super easy for years with the real thing, it didn't take off much here afaik. I think the thing with mj as a whole is that it has so many things and pharmaceutical effects that we don't have a full profile yet of what it does or how.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparklyUnicorn Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 Don't they have a Rx version of the active ingredient that IS covered by insurance? There was no form covered by insurance (referring to the person I know of). And this person has top notch insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hornblower Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 https://www.goodrx.com/cannabinoids holy cow - some of that stuff is expensive! one thing I didn't realize until getting prescribed an expensive drug that even our great Cdn insurance didn't cover is that many of the companies have compassionate access programs. I think they count the drugs as donations and get a deduction on their taxes. So just an fyi for everyone, if there's something you need but can't figure out how to get the insurance &/or insurance denies it, call the manufacturer and see if there is compassionate access. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TravelingChris Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 Don't they have a Rx version of the active ingredient that IS covered by insurance?They do have one that is for glaucoma. I do not believe that it would help for any other conditions and it is not fda approved for other conditions, I believe. Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimom Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 (edited) Correct me if I am wrong but Marinol is synthetic THC, or at least it was when it was first developed. My mother was one of a very, very small handful in the US who was prescribed Marinol (THC) pills in 1981 when she was on chemo for 2 years. It really made a difference with her nausea and vomiting. I remember it was sent to our local hospital to her. Marinol did not receive FDA approval until 1985. I think most medical marijuana focuses more on CBD which doesn't have the 'high' of THC, right? As Hornblower stated, many meds have significant side effects. Her chemo caused known heart damage, and we weren't told at the time but guessing maybe the one Hornblower mentioned with leukemia.... several years later she was diagnosed with leukemia and succumbed to heart failure just a few years later. But at least she had five more years. In my previous state, our local representative was instrumental in getting medical marijuana passed. The problem is that it can still not be grown or brought into the state. If I understand it correctly, the MM 'shows up' at his office and he distributes it to the patients that need it. He is very public about it, trying to get the laws to change, and at this point, the sheriff, etc is not going to bother him. This is an interesting article that describes some of the issues/difficulties with the medical marijuana laws even after passed: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/georgia-lawmaker-delivers-cannabis-oil-while-dodging-felony-charges-n752386 Edited February 20, 2018 by zimom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kassia Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 And yes to the risks. After 3 years of fighting and beating lymphoma (ALL), DH's now diagnosed with a more agressive cancer caused by chemo (MDS with monosomy 7). It sucks but we look at it this way - he would have died 3 years ago if not for chemo. I'm so sorry. That's awful. :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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