Often I fantasize about a magical medicine that temporarily numbs the pain, like a novacaine shot for the legs. Something that puts body parts to sleep for a few hours at a time so rest is possible. Medicinal magic. Poof! I fantasize that there is a magic pill, unlike the pain meds that cause addiction and wild side effects. I fantasize that the state of Florida where she resides would legalize medical marijuana. More than half of the states in our country do now. Since 1972, marijuana has been classified as an illegal drug with no medicinal value, but that’s changing. There are many studies that show the medicinal effects—scientific data. A January 2010 ABC News poll showed that 81 percent of Americans believed that medical cannabis should be legal in the United States. The problem is—it still won’t be magical. The only magic that exists is preventative measures so the pain doesn’t reach the point of chronic and horrific. Besides, the saddest news of all is that I fear that my mom’s level of pain is way beyond what marijuana can medicate. If it were legal though, we’d be baking brownies together because anything that even just takes some of the edge off is worth a try.
