I hadn't heard of Cesamet (nabilone) previously, but in looking it up I find that it has been available in the US since 2006.

Does this agree with your experience?

Doc

Hi leo
 

I have a strong opinion about this. I am allowed Morphine, percocet, but not MJ? Now really, which drugs would cause the most damage?. I can't die from MJ and it may even help. However in my state is it not allowed. So, I involved myself with the legislation in this state, getting some petitions going. I am 61 and feel I most likely will be dead before it is approved in this state. Maybe for future progress this fight must go on. I would try this if it were legal and see for myself if it did me any good. Micro managing of our lives is getting pretty scary.
I'm a big girl now, and would make a choice based on my own experience. I have questioned my doctors, neither would approve of a script even if it was legal. There is a long way to go on this subject. Many many medications are derived from plants, so what is the beef with this one? Is it all about money and who gets it? I think that is part of the issue. Tax it and national debt would go right out the window! ginnie:grouphug:

Different issues—both political
 

I think at least some, if not most, might change their answers after it became a legal medical option. It depends partly on their personal politics and partly on keeping their opinions private in a hostile environment. ;)

Indubitably. It is perplexing, and while attitudes are changing as Boomers age, some changes take more time than others. According to my former college professors, societal change takes (on average) a generation (~30 years) to substantially realize. Of course some (like racism) take longer, and others take less. IMO organized activism makes a huge difference.

Now that 2 states have legalized marijuana, undoubtedly more will follow.
Doc

Thanks Doc.
 

I just hope that this issue gets onto a ballot. I wish this would happen in my lifetime, so that I have an opportunity to determine what is good for me. I think if a tomato plant showed some properties that the Gov. didn't like, they would make those against the law too!:eek:ginnie:grouphug::eek:

I was first prescribed 1 mg Cesamet/2 X daily in August of 2011. I was told by my pharmacist--and later verified by doctor after I brought it up--that it went off the market sometime in 2012 (I can't recall the exact date, but I do remember needing a Marinol 'fridge in my hotel room for my wedding in April 2012). That pharmacist proved to be an immoral jerk, but my doctor is a good "outside of the office" friend who wouldn't have lied to me. (He would also be very blunt if he thought I was abusing a medication.)

It appears, however, that the Internet says it's still available... I wonder what's up? My insurance website says that it costs $50 for my previous prescription, so I'll ask my doctor if something's changed! If it has, I have an immeasurable amount of gratitude towards you. :hug:

I can't edit my post because they're moderated due to my post count, but I also recall my doctor calling a pharmacist friend to ask him about the availability of Cesamet. (I was with him in his office, so I heard the call on speakerphone.) The pharmacist also looked it up and saw that it wasn't available. Could it have been/be related to my insurance--or perhaps my location? My doctor is in Kew Gardens, NYC and I live just south of Newark, NJ, if that helps. (Though I just looked at the FDA approval history and see no mention of any changes since 2008.)

"Unavailable" is different than "off the market" (not disbelieving what you say you were told! :)) I get "unavailable" quite often, and insurance companies do change what they'll cover and what they won't, and that's different still. Then again, DEA is different than FDA, and that regulation may have changed. From Cesamet's website:
Given nabilone's potential for neuropathic pain, it's too bad it isn't prescribed for that more often.

Doc