Medical Marijuana - negates prescription for opiates?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Medical Marijuana - negates prescription for opiates?

Posted: 6/1/2017 9:02:43 PM EDT

The wife unit has chronic pain from back issues. Not imaginary they can be seen in X-Rays and other scans. She has been on Hydrocodone for years, She hates drugs and limits her intake. And stays active. I thought maybe medical marijuana would be a benefit to her as she is also underweight and lacks appetite. And perhaps would reduce the amount of hydrocodone she needed.

Today at her pain doc that prescribes her opiate meds she asked about it. The doc said if she gets a medical marijuana prescription she will no longer prescribe the opiates for her. She indicated this was a state law.

Is anyone familiar with this? We can't risk her trying the medical marijuana and it failing to work and then her not being able to get the hydrocodone. And she might need some of the hydrocodone even if the MM helps.

It feels like some law big Pharma passed to fight alternative therapy. Anyone familiar with this? Or is this total BS?

Posted: 6/1/2017 11:13:58 PM EDT

[#1]

It depends on who you ask and what you read. Your wife comes first but also look into the repercussions on you. Idk how The Law deals with a prohibited possessor( federally she would be a PP if she got her Medical MJ card) living in a house with guns. Locally I don't think it's much of an issue as she is abiding by state law.

Ymmv.

Posted: 6/1/2017 11:57:17 PM EDT

[#2]

Kind of true but not an absolute. If she goes to one of those places that just grant mmj cards all day even they will pull up her prescriptions in the state database and if they see opiods they wont give her the card without a pretty good argument.They will want medical records etc showing exactly the reason for those scripts and justify it.

You can have both with a good reason. It is doctor discretion and they lean towards no though. They don't want to risk getting in trouble just so your wife can get weed.

I am not a doctor nor a pothead. I think there are some conditions such as nausea that mmj is very helpful for but its benifits can also be overblown by people who just want to get high. I have no idea if it will help your wife or not but I do hope she can find some relief from her pain.

Posted: 6/2/2017 12:54:07 AM EDT

[#3]

Has she looked into an epidural for her back pain? I had back pain for years along with prescriptions for opiates, muscle relaxers etc. Doc suggested trying an epidural and it worked wonders. Been years since needing more than a day or two of pain killers.

Posted: 6/2/2017 1:12:34 AM EDT

[#4]

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't thought about the mix of drug and gun laws. And she has had several epidurals as well as nerve block injections. Basically she has had the gamut of treatments excepting actual surgery which she is afraid to do. Might need it at some point to avoid becoming a cripple but after my issues the last two years arising from a simple gall bladder operation I can't blame her for being cautious.

I agree the benefits of "medical" marijuana are probably overstated. Well IMO anyway. But any aid in reducing pain and creating a sense of well being and added appetite are good for her. I thought it would be good for her to have a small amount of it with a reduced amount of the opiates. Sounds like not gonna happen.

But I'm feeling that until the country gets a clue that it isn't just for potheads she will have to continue with the opiates. Shame. She doesn't like them. Unlike me who was on them for 3 months and really liked them she hates to take them. I only stopped because I liked them too much and the pain was fading and I didn't want to be a junky to anything. Hard to believe she has been taking them this long and hasn't really upped the dose. I know she is in pain every day.

Posted: 6/2/2017 9:55:28 AM EDT

[#5]

Only one way to find out if MJ will be of any use to the Mrs. If I were in your situation I would look for a way to get a "few doses" and see if it helps her. Based on the results then decide if it's worth the battle with your Doc or getting a new Doc to get a MJ card.

Posted: 6/2/2017 10:25:28 AM EDT

[#6]

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Only one way to find out if MJ will be of any use to the Mrs. If I were in your situation I would look for a way to get a "few doses" and see if it helps her. Based on the results then decide if it's worth the battle with your Doc or getting a new Doc to get a MJ card.

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Not sure how to do that without risking her losing her current prescription. Or buying illegally which I'm not about to do. Really sad. People voted to legalize it and yet the roadblocks are still there.

Posted: 6/2/2017 1:03:47 PM EDT

[#7]

California is a short ride away and a few day vacation may do her wonders.
Hotel + beach + legalized MJ = relaxation with the possibility of reduced pain for the Mrs.

Posted: 6/2/2017 2:51:40 PM EDT

[#8]

Can anyone just walk into a liquor store and buy MJ in CA?

Posted: 6/2/2017 9:59:40 PM EDT

[#9]

I don't know about CA, but you can in Colorado.

Posted: 6/2/2017 11:01:24 PM EDT

[#10]

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Can anyone just walk into a liquor store and buy MJ in CA?

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Not yet. You will be able to in the next 6-12 months. Same thing with Nevada/Vegas.

Marijuana is illegal on a Federal level. There are still some states where a roach in the ashtray is a felony, as in lose your rights. Make it illegal for everyone or legalize it for everyone. The current system is bullshit, akin to an AR magazine being legal here and a crime in a different state.

There is no law preventing the doctor from prescribing opiates to a medical MJ patient. Doctors are under a microscope from the DEA and she is just covering her own ass.

The marijuana doctor will give her a card. They don't stay in business by not doing so. In fact, there's a guy spinning a "marijuana doctor" sign on my drive home every day.

Posted: 6/2/2017 11:28:13 PM EDT

[#11]

My understanding there is also a risk management component. The prescribing physicans do not want to have prescribed an opiate to a know MMJ user and be on the hook if the is an unforseen medical event that gets blamed on their prescription without fully understanding and disclosing the interactions. And the possible interactions have not thoroughly studied.

Posted: 6/3/2017 12:50:30 AM EDT

[#12]

Go to see a MMJ doc and just don't tell her regular doc. Shouldn't be a problem.

Posted: 6/3/2017 8:42:53 AM EDT

[#13]

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Quoted:
Go to see a MMJ doc and just don't tell her regular doc. Shouldn't be a problem.

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Concerned if there is some record of prescriptions shared by the docs. Or if part of the urine test she has to take regularly looks for THC. It is a large risk.

Posted: 6/3/2017 9:19:36 AM EDT

[#14]

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Quoted:
Go to see a MMJ doc and just don't tell her regular doc. Shouldn't be a problem.

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And now you see the problem. The doctor prescribing a powerful medication is expecting honesty from the patient so he can give competent medical advise and protect the patient. The doctor will be legally responsible for any negative interactions between the various medications being used, including the MMJ. The physician does not expect his life to be financially ruined because his patients are lying to him about the various drugs the patient is taking. Apparently using marijuana secretly is more important than protecting your own health by giving the prescribing physician accurate information.. there is also total disregard for the professional livelihood of the physician.

Posted: 6/3/2017 10:34:00 AM EDT

[#15]

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Concerned if there is some record of prescriptions shared by the docs. Or if part of the urine test she has to take regularly looks for THC. It is a large risk.

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You need to find a sympathetic Doc who is OK with trying to add MJ at the same time reducing the opioid. Best chance is to talk to a few Docs that prescribe MJ.
Good luck

Posted: 6/3/2017 10:49:47 AM EDT

[#16]

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You need to find a sympathetic Doc who is OK with trying to add MJ at the same time reducing the opioid. Best chance is to talk to a few Docs that prescribe MJ.
Good luck

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The wife won't be leaving her current doctor so I can't go that route. It seems until MJ is better accepted she won't be trying it.

Posted: 6/4/2017 5:13:01 PM EDT

[#17]

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Not sure how to do that without risking her losing her current prescription. Or buying illegally which I'm not about to do. Really sad. People voted to legalize it and yet the roadblocks are still there.

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Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Only one way to find out if MJ will be of any use to the Mrs. If I were in your situation I would look for a way to get a "few doses" and see if it helps her. Based on the results then decide if it's worth the battle with your Doc or getting a new Doc to get a MJ card.

Not sure how to do that without risking her losing her current prescription. Or buying illegally which I'm not about to do. Really sad. People voted to legalize it and yet the roadblocks are still there.

The road blocks are still there because big pharmaceuticals don't want marijuana legalized.

Posted: 6/4/2017 6:30:52 PM EDT

[#18]

I don't know if it has been suggested yet but ask the Doc about Marinol. It is the prescription version of weed.

20

Posted: 6/4/2017 8:41:33 PM EDT

[#19]

Sounds like you need to visit a new doc . Maybe get a fresh set of eyes on the back pain.

Posted: 6/9/2017 6:29:29 PM EDT

[#20]

Thanks. Yes, her current doc has already told her she needs surgery. it's only a question of when. Until then she uses hydrocodone. She fears surgery and I don't blame her. She has had a few other types and almost watched me die from complications arising from a gall bladder operation in 2015.

Posted: 6/10/2017 2:02:30 AM EDT

[#21]

If she chooses to get a card she will be placed into a database. Can't keep firearms in the house with her. Also, I don't know if this was discussed but if it's against company policy to smoke it and she uses the card line they can still fire her due to company policy. Your best option is to travel and try it or buy a gram illegally (or not use it, but my best friend claims it cured his back pain)

Posted: 6/10/2017 2:06:49 AM EDT

[#22]

Are people here, on a public forum, really telling the OP to buy some marijuana illegally if his wife can't obtain it legally?

Posted: 6/11/2017 10:12:25 AM EDT

[#23]

Marijuana does not act as an analgesic or anti inflammatory. It doesn't stop pain, it just makes it funnier.

Increased food consumption will usually cause weight gain which is usually not great for back issues.

Marijuana will not negatively interact with prescription pain meds.

Posted: 6/11/2017 10:24:38 AM EDT

[#24]

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Marijuana does not act as an analgesic or anti inflammatory. It doesn't stop pain, it just makes it funnier.

Increased food consumption will usually cause weight gain which is usually not great for back issues.

Marijuana will not negatively interact with prescription pain meds.

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IMO combining the MM with her opiates would result in the perception of less pain. I really don't care if it is actually less pain, And I was pretty sure it didn't interact with the opiates.

As to weight gain that is usually a problem in USA. My wife however struggles to stay over 100 pounds and adding some weight would be good for her so that is a plus.

Posted: 6/20/2017 11:45:15 AM EDT

[#25]

Quote History

Quoted:
Only one way to find out if MJ will be of any use to the Mrs. If I were in your situation I would look for a way to get a "few doses" and see if it helps her. Based on the results then decide if it's worth the battle with your Doc or getting a new Doc to get a MJ card.

View Quote

It's not impossible to get both just difficult. I have severe back pain. As in my entire spine is metal pretty much.

I could get both but I worry about 4473's so I don't.

And I'm going to be honest, I love weed. Way better than alcohol. But it doesn't work on my pain. At least not all ny itself.

A lot of people swear it does. Imo it works if you don't have severe pain.

Quite frankly it's bullshit we have to beg for this stuff. Punish everyone because a few can't handle it. Welcome to third grade.

Posted: 6/20/2017 6:09:53 PM EDT

[#26]

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It's not impossible to get both just difficult. I have severe back pain. As in my entire spine is metal pretty much.

I could get both but I worry about 4473's so I don't.

And I'm going to be honest, I love weed. Way better than alcohol. But it doesn't work on my pain. At least not all ny itself.

A lot of people swear it does. Imo it works if you don't have severe pain.

Quite frankly it's bullshit we have to beg for this stuff. Punish everyone because a few can't handle it. Welcome to third grade.

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Pretty much decided it isn't going to happen. Wife unit wasn't really bullish on it anyway. I don't buy that it works like opiates to control pain. I do buy that it makes having pain somewhat more bearable so that people can take fewer opiates. And in her case enhancing her appetite would be a win.

And personally I think it is beyond stupid that it is regulated any more than alcohol.

Posted: 7/3/2017 4:15:04 AM EDT

[#27]

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If she chooses to get a card she will be placed into a database. Can't keep firearms in the house with her.

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Citation needed for that one.

Posted: 7/5/2017 12:32:25 AM EDT

[#28]

As of July 1st, you can walk in to a dispensary in Las Vegas and was out with MJ. Up to 1oz. For personal use, no card needed. Cant smoke on the strip or in a casino. I give it 1, or at the more 2 more years before AZ passes legal MJ.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Medical Marijuana - negates prescription for opiates?

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