My name is Mickey Martin and I just saw Susan Axelrod on MSNBC speaking about her involvement in seeking a cure for epilepsy.  I appreciate this effort and can sympathize with the cause, as I have two very close friends who suffer from epilepsy.  This is a subject that touches the lives of many people in this world and it is important to bring it to the forefront of the American dialogue.  You should be very proud of your work in the community and I wish you the best of luck in finding the cure to this disorder in the future.

 

In my own experiences with my two friends I am aware that they have found relief in the use of cannabis-based medicines and have been able to function and live more full lives as a result.  I was wondering if any of your research may involve the effects of cannabinoids and their influence on the symptoms of epilepsy?  I have seen firsthand the benefits of this natural therapy in my friends' lives and wanted to share with you this experience.  Although cannabis remains illegal under federal law, the ability for them to acquire these types of medicines safely in California has given them the ability to live a fuller life without feeling as if they are criminals.  I highly encourage your organization to explore these benefits and encourage that public policy be changed to reflect the truth about the benefits of cannabis therapeutics.  I would strongly urge your organization to help bring this research to the forefront of the push for a cure and encourage the DEA to lift the monopoly on the research of cannabis so that better medicinal samples can be available to researchers who choose to explore these avenues of possibilities.

 

I understand that there have been years of misinformation about the benefits of cannabis medicines that have seriously misguided the medical and scientific communities to look elsewhere for therapies that are less safe and more toxic for their users.  These policies, that are the product of big business lobbying groups in Washington, need to be changed for the benefit of the community and the many people who suffer daily from ailments in which cannabis may be beneficial. 

 

I truly appreciate your passion for this cause and hope that in the future there will be less suffering as a result of your fine work.  I would hope that you would be open to looking more deeply into the unexplored world of cannabinoids effects on people who suffer from epilepsy and begin to truly seek the cure you desire in a more open and transparent manner, without the interference of governmental groups that know little about medical issues.  I thank you for your time.  Below are some links to some sites that have more detailed information on the benefits of cannabis in treating the symptoms of epilepsy:

 

A testimonial from a family dealing with the struggle of epilepsy:

http://rxmarijuana.com/epilepsy.htm

 

A testimonial from a man whose wife has found the relief without the side effects of other medications:

http://www.epilepsy.com/blogentry/960990

 

A NYT article where a Doctor in this field expresses his concern about recommending cannabis because there is no "evidence of efficacy."  Why has there been no reliable studies done if many patients express relief from this medicine?

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/29/health/policy/29mari.html

 

A US News article calling for more research to be done in this area:

http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/briefs/alternativemedicine/hb041206.htm

 

An article on the benefits of cannabis relating to epilepsy:

http://www.cannabismd.net/epilepsy/

 

Some polled results from actual patients dealing with epilepsy who find cannabis beneficial:

http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments/rating/marijuana-cannabis-sativa-indica-for-epilepsy

 

These are some of the many resources available.  I strongly encourage you to look more deeply into this area of emerging research and help to encourage cannabis medicines be more thoroughly tested for benefits and relief in dealing with epilepsy.  It would be a real shame that if the lies and misinformation surrounding cannabis could inhibit finding the cure you so desperately seek.  I thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Mickey Martin