Lyrica was an IQ disaster for me. It helped for awhile and for a bit side effects seemed worth it. While all of our symptoms vary in scope I am sure we can all agree we have accepted some side effects that we never would have believed prior to this issue.

Short term testing as I have only visited a legal state, I found marijuana delightful. For me. I yearn for reclassification so solid testing can take place and we can be better informed. That sounds great.

Maybe people believe it is benign, the same way the small fry from McDonalds is benign, but that argument can flow everywhere. I need relief.

My "good" two week period of work meant I was present there 85% of the time but my 3 3/4 year old and 9 year old were putting me bed before 7 most nights because I was shot. Just shot.

So when NY legalizes, if my physicians are of the mind, I want it in my bag of measures. If half a chew/edible/a few vapes gets me a few hours of Candyland and some family tine during the week so be it.

I have kind of accepted that this is a slope at the moment. A crummy slope. My family has too, though it pains them all. Anything that can bring a measure of relief is welcome. Even if Dad is moving the pot brownie piece two purple for the win in Candyland. (trying to lighten it up)

Anyway, comfort is so wonderful and so often not present...

When I smoke in the evening, my mood is changed for the better and my pain is greatly reduced. I wake up fresh after sleeping all night. Nothing else comes close to getting me through another painful day. (Btw, 2 new studies out this week that changes a lot of previous beliefs)

Like many of you I am in two minds about the benefits versus risks of marijuana for pain relief.

I've read the reports about permanent long term side effects but really don't need them to know it definitely happens. I just have to look around my own community, and even closer at my own brother, to know that chronic mj use is permanently harmful.

The fact that it comes from a plant (ie a 'natural' drug) is irrelevant - oleander is a 'natural' plant - would you eat or smoke that? It's whatever processing is done to the raw plant material that affects the medicinal quality of it. There is strong evidence that some extracts from the plant can provide temporary relief from pain.

Unfortunately due to conservative political bias and the historical (or hysterical ) stigma attached, cannabis has for too long been relegated to the back bench of serious research as a medicinal compound. The sooner it comes off the black market, and is researched, standardized and made available as an effective medical therapy, the better.

It is a wonderful tool to have around. It does not cure but it does help many of us with chronic pain.