‘Medical cannabis is about quality of life for patients, it’s not about having fun or having a party,’ spokesman says
Eric Crawford could not stand to show support Friday at a rally for the legalization of medical marijuana, saying he is bound to a wheelchair because of a medical condition of his spine.
Crawford said he suffers from a spinal disease, an eye condition so bad that doctors predict he will become blind in three years and his kidneys do not function properly. Crawford has tried different medications prescribed to him by doctors, but he says that none of them work.
“The only thing that works is medical cannabis,” Crawford said.
His story is one many in support of legalizing medical cannabis have rallied around.
Kentucky is one of many states that has not yet legalized the use of medical cannabis.
State Senator John Schickel (R—Union) hosted a hearing Friday morning before his Licensing and Occupations committee to discuss changing that.
Prior to the hearing, supporters gathered at 9 a.m. in the Capitol Rotunda to make their voices heard.
Among some of the supporters who rallied together Friday morning was Senator Perry Clark (D—Louisville), the Kentucky Nurses Association (KNA), Kentuckians for Medicinal Marijuana (KY4MM), Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) and the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA).
Supporters said they want Kentucky to move forward with medical cannabis legalization like many other states already have done. They said they are tired of waiting and watching people suffer with no other alternative to deal with their sickness and pain that they may be dealing with. They want their side to be heard.
Executive Director of KY4MM Jaime Montalvo spoke at the rally on Friday explaining their position on the legalization of medical marijuana.
“Medical cannabis is about quality of life for patients. It’s not about having fun or having a party,” Montalvo said.
As he held a bag of prescription pill bottles in his arms he explained that if Kentucky were to legalize medical cannabis then people would not have to be on multiple prescription pills a day.
“There have been studies that have shown the use of cannabis reduce in pharmaceutical use, and beyond the pharmaceutical use is has helped them reduce their opioid use. In states with medical cannabis they have reduced almost 25 percent of the overdoses across those states. So that’s what we are here for, we are here for the quality of life and not a party,” Montalvo added.
Clark also showed his support with a statement at the rally on Friday.
“We know the time has come, we know our patients are in need, and we know the time is now,” Clark said.
Executive Director of KNA Maureen Keenan was also in attendance to show the support of the KNA.
“The KNA represents registered nurses of all variety across the state, and we are committed to the protection and the safety and healthy benefits for the patients across the state,” Keenan said. “For us the issue of medical cannabis is not a issue that is a social issue or a moral issue in the way that most think that it is. For us it is a moral issue because of refusing to recognize the benefits of the necessity of medical cannabis.”
Tim Simpson, a supporter at the rally, said he supports the effort of legalizing medical cannabis to give others alternate treatment options.
“I am tired of seeing people die of cancer because they cannot experiment with no other alternative,” said Simpson.
By Amber Booth
The State Journal
