A few cannabis buds spilled out of a glass container against a colorful background.

Alleviating suffering with cannabis

By Rena McCain

Hello! Happy Weedsday, everyone! Every day I hear stories from people from all walks of life about how cannabis has changed their lives — and for the better, too! I love to hear and share them all as they help to break the stigma that has been against this beautiful plant for far too long. These stories bring hope for a better quality of life for all of us.

Who has heard of Rick Simpson or how he influenced the cannabis community? Simpson became known as an activist who cured his own cancer with his own concocted cannabis oil. It worked, by the way.

Corrie Yelland found out about Simpson, too. What a brave lady and an inspiration Yelland is! It’s hard to stop doing what your doctor tells you to do since they have been revered as having our best interests in mind. However, Yelland’s story proves that they don’t know it all.

In July 2011, Yelland was diagnosed with anal canal cancer and was given two to four months to live. Her sister told her to watch the movie Run From the Cure: A Rick Simpson Story. She decided to treat her cancer with Simpson’s cannabis oil instead of chemo and radiation therapy prescribed by her doctor. In September 2012, her doctor declared her cancer free. She had a chance to tell her story during an interview with a local radio station in Nanaimo, British Columbia back in January 2013.

Cannabis is not fully understood yet, I’ll concede to that. It sure is amazing, though. I hear and read about all these survivors out there in this big, bad world and cannabis seems to be the common denominator between life and death for many people. The ones that choose cannabis over chemo and radiation and some of the more so-called “traditional†medicines seem to be faring so much better, and in less time, as well.

Cannabis was and is instrumental in the story of Landon Riddle. While his mother isn’t a doctor, she theorizes that while the chemo initially cleared her son’s cancer, it’s the cannabis that has kept his disease from coming back. Oncologists who treat pediatric patients often tell families that when the five-year mark passes, their child is in the clear. It’s been nearly five years since Ms. Riddle sat in that conference room meeting. Her son is still cancer-free. Ms. Riddle says that once he hits the five-year mark this fall, he’ll set a precedent for pediatric leukemia patients in the United States, and maybe even worldwide.

Most parents wouldn’t dream of giving their child marijuana. But an Oregon couple says it’s the only thing that’s been able to help their 11-year-old autistic son.

Young Alex Echols suffers from tuberous sclerosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes unregulated growth of tissue in the organs. Growths in Alex’s brain have led to seizures and autism. His parents had tried everything under the sun to help their son but nothing worked until cannabis.
I love to share these stories because the parents are upfront and real and acknowledge that although cannabis doesn’t totally remediate all health conditions, it helps significantly.

These stories are gut wrenching, for sure. But it warms the heart, too, to know that this plant is able to help these families so much.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of the MONTROSE STAR.
Rena McCain is a co-founder of the Cannabis Open Carry Walks. Find her on Facebook at GanjaGrrl420, or via Twitter @sassikatt24 and Instagram at ganja_grrl420. Listen to Conversations with Ganja Grrl & 420 News HQ, McCain’s broadcast on MixLR.com every Sunday morning, 11 a.m. ’til 2 p.m. CST on the MountainHighX station. To listen, download the MIXLR app for Android or Apple. Make an account. Search for and follow MountainHigh.

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