(This piece was originally posted on July 16, 2013)
Monday I made a home visit for two signatures. This might seem silly, but, these two signatures are just as important as the next, and possibly more. They affirmed my belief that I’m where I’m supposed to be right now, and I’m fighting for something I truly believe in. That what I’m doing can and will make a difference. That with enough hard work, we can come together to restore Ohioans' rights to cannabis, as other states before us have done.
As the Portage County Captain, I was notified that there was a woman in my area who reached out to sign our petition. She has no internet access, and only learned of the Ohio Rights Group through an article in the paper. I've not seen the article, but apparently, there was a surprising lack of contact information available. She called the library, where someone there had to do some digging to find the contact information. An email was sent to the group, leaving her name and phone number, and this was forwarded to me for follow-up.
I followed up with her about a week ago, and she told me it was of a great importance to her to sign this petition. She said her husband would be signing as well. I could hear in her voice, a struggle to breathe and obvious pain. I wasn't sure what this woman was afflicted by, but the sound of this struggle was genuine, and the malady was of no matter. I was determined to get these signatures. I offered her any option that would be easy for and convenient for her. I told her to choose any time and place, and I would be there. She said she'd get back to me once they had figured something out.
I received a call from her Sunday telling me she had a doctor's appointment Monday, and asked if I could meet her there with the petition. I gladly agreed. Monday morning rolled around, and my anticipation was already building. I didn't know what to expect. I could hear the desperation in her voice each time we talked, and I wasn't sure if I'd be meeting a cancer patient, someone who was obviously ill with another debilitating disease, or if her affliction couldn't be seen from the outside, yet was still very much there. I tend to be a bit of a bleeding heart for this type of thing, and sometimes my emotions can get the best of me. My phone rang Monday morning, and this time, it was her husband telling me her appointment was cancelled, and asked if I would please come to their home instead. Again, I gladly agreed.
Now the emotions really started to churn. Again, I had no idea what to expect. Would I be walking into a scary scenario? I don't mean scary as a safety issue, I mean scary as in would this be an unsettling scene? How ill is this woman? Will she be on machines? The emotions then took over, and I had a small crying session on the phone with my mom on the way to their house. I told my mom THESE are just one of the type of people I'm fighting so hard for. People who can't fight for themselves in this battle. People who know the benefits of cannabis, but have no safe access to this medication, and live in fear of prosecution should they attempt to obtain it themselves. She told me she was proud of me, and I managed to pull it together before I arrived.
I was greeted at the door by a kindly older gentleman (her husband) and led into her bedroom. Thankfully (for everyone) there were no machines. It wasn't scary. I knew I'd be able to keep myself in check emotionally. I asked how everyone was doing, and she told me it was not one of her good days, and she was thankful the appointment was cancelled. I took a seat in the chair next to the bed, and we made our introductions. We started by talking about the group, how she found us, why she needs access to this medicine and about the amendment itself. We talked about some of the numerous benefits of cannabis not only in a medical application, but with industrial hemp as well. I knew this couple didn’t need convincing, but we talked about it nonetheless.
She told me she suffers from spinal and carotid artery stenosis. I don't have much knowledge of these, so I made notes to do some research when I could. She told me she previously lived in California, and was a medical marijuana patient there. And when she was able to have access to her medicine, she walked without pain, without a cane, and was generally healthier and happier than she had been in a very long time, and definitely since she left. Her days of being relegated to the bed were few and far between when she had access to her meds. Sadly, she had to move back to Ohio to care for her mother who was dying of cancer and has not had access to her medicine since.
We chatted for close to an hour before I left, the entire time she was unable to get out of bed. By the time I left, I knew I had done everything I could to convince her and her husband I will fight for her right to live her life without unnecessary suffering. To fight for her husband's right to see his wife live a pain free life. So they could enjoy life together as they once did. She offered to help where and when she could by making phone calls and giving out information. I left her with several voter registration forms for family members she knew wanted to sign, but weren't registered to vote. I also left several amendment highlight information sheets and small flyers I made up for the Portage area with our contact info. I wrote my name on each flyer along with my number. I told her to call me any time, and that'd we'd definitely be in touch.
I don’t know the progression of her disease, or medications she’s taking (I did see several prescription bottles near the bed), but I assure you, should she be able to access medical marijuana, the effects would be positive, with none of the potential side effects of the medication needed to manage just the pain she deals with on a daily basis. The risk of stroke could be lowered. Her life, their life, could resume with little interruption from this disease. My hope is her disease doesn’t progress to the point where she is unable to see this become a reality. One of her greatest fears, as she expressed to me, is the chance we will not be able to accomplish this task.
These two signatures may be small in number, but the brief time I spent with this lovely couple will grow those numbers exponentially. They will spread the word, and those people will spread the word and so on. I urge you to never underestimate the power of something so seemingly small. Get the word out there any way you can. Provide as much contact information as possible, so everyone can get involved. Whether it be by donation, volunteering, or just signing a petition, every little thing will count! I cannot do this alone. We cannot do this without help. I urge you to keep an open mind, and consider the possibilities of bringing medical cannabis and industrial hemp to our great state. If not for yourself and your loved ones, but for your neighbor who could be suffering from disease, or cancer, or a child you may or may not know who has tumors and is suffering the effects of harmful man made medications, or by bringing the ability for the farmers who feed us to grow hemp on American soil once again. Please consider helping in some way, even if it seems small to you, or an impossible task, it just might mean the world to someone else.
Christina Eldredge
Portage County Captain
orgportage@outlook.com
www.facebook.com/orgportage