Medical Marijuana and the future of legalization in Massachusetts

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Medical Marijuana and the future of legalization in Massachusetts

Fran Cuhtahlatah, a 55-year-old woman from Washington state, smokes marijuana to help alleviate intense pain in her feet, legs and mid-spine due to arthritis. According to Cuhtahlatah, the pain in her spine feels like being beaten across her back with a baseball bat. Cuhtahlatah said her arthritis was caused from strenuous work environments including a job at a frozen food plant.

“My doctor said that she has seen a lot of people with the similar kind of spinal arthritis of people who worked in a frozen food plant,” said Cuhtahlatah.

“I couldn’t look for work. I couldn’t work. I had to almost re-accommodate myself to my own home. Everything I do now takes longer. Things I could do in three or four hours now takes eight,” said Cuhtahlatah.

Cuhtahlatah lives on very limited supply of funds. The social security office, where she gets her food and medical stamps, are cutting her monthly allotment. Within a month, Cuhtahlatah must live on less than $600 a month. She has $78 taken away from her income because of Medicare premiums. In addition, she only receives $76 for food.

She is also limited on the places where she can receive medical care. Doctors who accept medical stamps from the government are the only doctors that can help her. Sometimes she must wait several months in order to obtain an appointment.

“I did a lot of social service activities on the food stamp rules and regulations. I started a couple of statewide food stamp networks. Educating legislatures of the effects of what this is,” said Cuhtahlatah.

Cuhtahlatah does not drive a car. In order to get anywhere she needs to find a ride or walk. When she walks, the closest town is a mile or two away and she says she must rest for a day and a half after because of the immense pain.

“I’ve tried numerous arthritis medications,” said Cuhtahlatah. “I am always afraid when I purchase [marijuana] that I could lose my home. I am afraid to even almost grow my own because I was arrested a long time ago.”

Cuhtahlatah says that it is a good she owns her own home because otherwise she would be out on the street with nowhere to live.

“I feel that state’s rights are being trampled on by the federal government, and that the federal government should butt out,” said Cuhtahlatah.

Cuhtahlatah would like to see marijuana confiscated by drug dealers be brought to the health department so that ill patients can benefit from the medication.

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