Showing posts with label Medicinal Marijuana. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Medicinal Marijuana. Show all posts

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Healthy Haven for Habitual Highs


For those who are on the threshold of death, Los Angeles offers a heavenly demise. And there seems to be many who flock to this state to inhale a doctor prescribed and legally obtainable medication that would make this passing an exhilarating delight. But the treatment apparently extends the life span of the patients beyond what pharmaceutical companies can compete with in terms of efficacy, and the patients have experienced a prolonged ecstatic state full of colorful dreams and harmonious existence. Such are the wonders and benefits of medicinal marijuana.

Between 1978 and 1997, 35 states and the District of Columbia passed legislation recognizing marijuana's medicinal value. Since 1996, 12 states have legalized medicinal marijuana use. Federal and state organizations of lawyers, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and even churches have endorsed medical access to marijuana. However, its restrictions in usage have been circumvented, making it available to those who simply want to get a hallucinogenic fix even if they are not qualified by law. According to the rules, one has to be almost at death's gates from bouts with cancer, Aids, or multiple sclerosis or chronic pain to qualify. Yet perfectly healthy and normal people can walk in on any of these authorized clinics (called 420 Evaluation Centers) in Los Angeles and get a prescription valid for one year; all within 10 to 15 minutes.

There are websites based in LA that even provide pre-qualification online, providing doctor approved authorization process to ensure completely confidential medicinal marijuana recommendation and pre-screening services. The Los Angeles County Public Health office even advertises on these sites about granting state mandated Medicinal Marijuana ID cards. Reports of doctors deliberately recording unstated symptoms from robust looking "patients" in the prescribed questionnaire, to allow them to qualify for the medical prescription are rampant. The $100 fee for consultation is even discounted by $25 for first time "patients". Thus, moving from one clinic to the next after one year will always make a patient a first timer and be granted the $25 discount. But this is not the biggest treat. The best part is that no dosage is recommended, and no limit on the volume of the purchase is imposed.

On top of this, a menu of varieties are available depending on one's personal preference, like selecting from a bounty of ingredients for toppings to a pizza. The varieties come in exotic names but are generally of three major categories: Hybrids, cross bred strains of sativa and indica for a customized essence; Sativa, a dynamic high to lift you and make you happy; Indica, a mental lift with an intoxicating body high that is flavored from savory to fruity, to get you floored. Each major category has about 10 to 12 types under each, so the menu is broad enough to guarantee continuous patronage. And, to serve customers 24/7, several "clinics" have installed vending machines to serve out of hours customers.

There are more than 200 dispensaries in Los Angeles alone and all are operating legally. This has succeeded in obliterating the street vendors and organized gangs of illegal distributors from the county. But it has made cannabis very affordable and its use widespread in uncontrollable ways, where access can be obtained by anyone from the ages of 10 to 75 years old. The state is happy because it collects taxes from the implementation of this law, but the spurious ailments of "patients" combined with the unscrupulous practice of medical personnel is converting the county into a haven for addicted marijuana users.

The rule says only those dying are entitled, but these users are not even close. Well some are so addicted that they have become zombies but they're not yet dead. Perhaps the rule should be changed to qualify those who want to die happy, and be in perpetual state of peace for the rest of their lives. No matter how short that would be.

Haaaarrrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!