ALS Patient Treated with Medical Marijuana Outlives Anti-Marijuana Doctors

Over thirty years ago, a woman named Cathy Jordan was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In 1986 she was given 3 to 5 years to live. At a time when marijuana was in no way recognized as a valid medical treatment, and with no other treatments to rely on, she put her hope in marijuana. Every doctor she spoke with was outraged with this decision. Today Cathy is alive and thriving while most of the doctors with whom she spoke are not.

“All my docs are retiring or dead. I’ve outlived 5 support groups and 4 neurologists,” Cathy told Americans for Safe Access’ Jahan Marcu.

ALS is characterized by the death of motor neurons leading to loss of limb control, breathing, swallowing, speech and widespread cellular dysfunction. “Most people start using a feeding tube because they are afraid of choking to death”, says Cathy. Mrs. Jordan began using cannabis from a Florida grower to treat her ALS in the late 80’s. “Donny Clark provided my medicine, grown in the Myakka River Valley… he was busted and sentenced to life in prison, and that strain of cannabis was lost.”

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This was back in a time when growing a plant that saves lives was still punishable by 20 years in prison and had to be cultivated in secret like a common criminal. Donny was treated as such and remained in prison until the year 2000 when pardoned by former President Clinton.

Outliving her doctor issued expiration date caused a problem for Cathy, causing her to lose her social security benefits. The state of Florida actually said her ID and regular documentation was not good enough to prove that she was alive. She had to ask a neurologist to fill out paperwork to prove to these non believers that cannabis had actually saved her life. Back in the 80’s there was no concentrate and no purely CBD strains to use. This was good old-fashioned marijuana that was saving her life, and smoking it none the less. Even today most people don’t want to believe that cannabis has benefits to be received simply by smoking it.

At first doctors wouldn’t accept that cannabis was the reason she was still alive. Most doctors thought that smoking anything would impair her lung function. These doctors where so blinded by the classic anti-marijuana propaganda (like most Americans at the time) that they even threatened to have her committed solely on the fact that she thought cannabis was actually helping her.

“I visited a neurologist at Duke University. When I told him that I was smoking Cannabis, he didn’t know what to do with me. He was afraid. He wouldn’t even take my blood pressure because I was using an illegal drug. I asked my docs if they would take a drug if it was neuroprotective, an antioxidant and an anti-inflammatory. They say ‘yes’ and ask me if I know of one. Cannabis, I tell them.”

Over three decades later, despite the government’s best efforts, the science is finally catching up with what most cannabis enthusiasts, as well as Cathy, have known for thirty years; this miracle plant saves lives. Scientists have created a mouse with ALS and the corresponding study essentially proves what Cathy has been claiming for a very long time: the research shows that THC and other cannabinoids successfully treat the mice, prolonging their lives and halting the progression of the disease.

This has began to change the attitudes of doctors still resisting the potential of cannabis. Prominent researchers have recently called for ALS clinical trials with cannabis and cannabinoids. Researchers think cannabis may help ALS patients relieving pain, spasticity, drooling, appetite loss and has minimal drug to drug interactions and toxicity.

“There are ALS patients associations that fight for the right of patients to die with dignity. But what about my right to life?” asks Cathy. “Keeping my medicine illegal removes my right to life.”

“They all agree today that I should smoke Cannabis,” says Cathy. Twenty six years later, my original neurologist fought to make sure Cannabis is legal for patients in Delaware.”

It is unfortunate to think of all the others that could have been saved if the truth of this plant would have been released before now. The negligence of knowing the truth and keeping it secret is unconscionable, and still affecting people today. Despite the 34 states and Washington D.C. that have legalized cannabis in some fashion, many still regrettably put their belief in the government’s claim that cannabis is deadly and should be illegal.

There are many like Brittany Maynard (who chose to end her own life under the “Death with Dignity Act” in Oregon) who could have used cannabis to treat an illness that modern medicine had no answer for. The very same cancer Brittany had was in fact cured in the documented case of Alysa Erwin with absolutely zero coverage by mainstream media.

The truth is out. The lies are revealed, and within them the truth of the Fed’s intentions are uncovered. Do not let the greed and personal ambition of a few, along with the purely evil intentions of major pharmaceutical companies, allow the reality of this world altering plant to be swept under the rug of control and manipulation. End the conspiracy by spreading this and other truth based articles to all who need their minds opened to the present reality of this county. The more that are awakened to the true intentions of those stifling the medical growth of cannabis, the closer we become to a breaking point, and it all begins with awareness.

Follow the change. Be the change.

About the author:

Driven by a desire for accuracy, chef and alternative news stalwart Ryan Cristián has a passion for the Truth. As founder and Editor-in-chief of The Last American Vagabond, he understands that Americans want their news to be transparent, devoid of the opulence frothed out by today’s Corporate Media. A cultured and insightful man with a worldly sense, Ryan’s unjaded approach offers common sense to the individual racked by the ambiguous news cycle – a vicious and manipulative merry-go-round that keeps trenchant minds at a manageable distance from the truth. Avid writer and editor by day, Truth seeker by night, Ryan’s reality defines what it means to be current.

“Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.” – John Lennon

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