Michigan Proposal 1

In 2008, I was released from the hospital weighing only 98 lb.’s and unable to walk. My family was concerned I would not make it to my little sister’s wedding scheduled out of state and less than two months away.

However, the day I was released from the hospital in 2008 has become a defining moment in my life. My husband helped me walk into the house and I sat down with my father at the kitchen table. He handed me the joint I will forever refer to as the breathe of life. With the first hit my life changed.

That first hit of marijuana after a month and a half in the hospital restored me. It made me want to eat something; I had struggled with eating since waking up from surgery. In that moment of relief it was clear to me the power of cannabis. The need to share my story became evident. Not only did I gain 25 lb.’s in less than two months, I was also able to walk and stand for my sister’s wedding which nobody thought would happen.

Obtaining the right to grow, in Michigan, in 2008 was a huge deal! I am extremely serious, when it comes to human rights issues, and to me this was a human rights issue, a religious freedom issue, and a natural rights issue. Not having children was a major part of my decision to go public; I don’t think it was have been as easy to speak publicly had I been a mother.

Having a life filled with education, experience, and personal knowledge I felt obligated to step forth and share my truth. Cannabis is a defining staple in my life much as others choose coffee or Diet Coke as a daily pleasure needed to lift the spirits and restore inner harmony. However, it’s healthier and much more expensive due to the stigma and laws.

One of the biggest messages I had then and now is that our government needs to do away with the “politics” and get things right for THE PEOPLE. The FDA, at that time, said marijuana had no medical value; yet, the key component is found in an FDA approved medication. What are they saying today?

Telling my story was much easier in 2008 when it was only a one page biography. Unfortunately, the website listing patients supporting and affected by Michigan’s 2008 Proposal 1 which legalized medical marijuana in Michigan has been taken offline along with the information about Marinol (Delta-9-THC) which I used in many college presentations from 2007 through 2009.

Being involved in the 2008 proposal one and actually winning the right to grow marijuana in our home was huge. It is a defining moment in my life. A time I’ll never forget. I bonded with my father over many grow cycles and it was great to learn from him.