Life as a marijuana refugee

[Separation]

I'll start by telling yall a bit about myself. I did 20 physically gruelling years in the military. I am %100 disabled due to injuries. I currently live with my family in Tn. However, for the last 3 months my wife, son and I had to go to California to help out with my wife's elderly mother who ended up in the hospital.

While out there, my wife who is my rock and advocate, suggested that I try marijuana since it's completely legal in California. To say that there ever is a magic button in life that fixes something, this was it. My life after my injuries and retirement left me in 180 degrees of where I was before. I was the unit fitness coordinator, in good health, very active physically both in work and at home. I ended up in a major depression, suffer from PTSD, and could now barely walk to my mailbox due to the amount of chronic pain that I am in.

It was an immediate effect, almost to the point of me questioning if it was real because I was high. My pain relief was not %100 but it was good enough that I was not in constant pain. This had immediate effect on my psyche as well. My wife said she was seeing a person who she has not seen in almost 5 years.

While in California I had to fly home for a pain management appointment. Little to my surprise, the pain clinic I went to called Comprehensive Pain Management CEO was under investigation for taking kickbacks by Medicaid. They told me that their doors were closing in 10 days and I would need to find another Dr. Imagine my horror! I live in a small rural town and there just arent pain management clinics around here.

So I fly back to California and go see a new pain management Dr. I tell him that an electrical stimulator implant that CPS put in me was not working. I told the new Dr. that I had complained of this to CPS and they did nothing. He immediately sends me to go for an xray (because the implant CPS put in me is not MRI compatible, even though they had one that they could have put in me that was). Imagine to mysurprise, my new Dr tells me that the leads for the stimulator are not where they should be! It was like 8 months of me saying it wasnt working to my old Dr just been vindicated.

I told my new pain Dr (in California) that I have tried marijuana and how well it reacted to it. I also told him that my end goal is to get off of the multitude of pain meds that I'm currently on. He agreed with my goal.

So the 3 months of us taking care of my wife's mother is over. We have returned to Tn, but have put our house up for sale. The medical care here is nowhere near what I need, or for my son that is a special needs child for that matter. I now have to choose to either take a risk in getting caught buying weed and thereby losing all of my VA benefits, or go back to the way i was.

Since i would rather eat a bullet then go back to how i was before. I need help! I dont want money or a GoFundMe. What I need is advice. I want to write a book but have no experiance in doing so (other than the wall of text here). I'd like to know if there are any resources that I should be tapping into. Any other people who have had to go through this for morale support etc..

There are a lot of moving parts going on.

[NBachers]

1. All I can do is kick, acknowledge, and empathize. If California's too expensive, is there another

marijuana-friendly location you could move to, since you're putting your house up for sale?

Also, is the stimulator working now? If so, is that helping? If not, what would it take to get it working?

[Separation]

2. Thanks for the reply.

Currently my new pain management Dr has recommended that I have the entire thing replaced. Stimulator leads, battery pack et. because there is one that has a much better success rate and is also MRI compatible.

I have told him that I want to go through with this, however with everything in such flux I will want to wait a month or two. I still have to fly out to California to see him just to get my pain meds and follow up.

The reason why California is on my radar is because I have family there. My father, and my wife's mother are both living out there. To be honest I dont have a clue where to end up living as I dont know many other states law on marijuana. I know Tn. is in the Dark Ages and not count on living long enough to see it. I also know that Florida has a farce of a medicinal marijuana law. To be honest, if I'm moving it's going to be to a fully legal state so I dont have to worry about being arrested and losing my VA benefits which plus social security is my families only income.

I know Colorado is fully legal and I think Washington state is as well, but I'm not sure. So if I was being truly honest with myself and family, we need to move to a marijuana friendly state, that also has my other needs for a specialist for my special needs son (which is thouroghly lacking here as well). Seeing how SS and my VA is my only income, cost is also another factor.

Lots of moving parts.

[NBachers]

3. Sounds like California is your optimal choice, at this point- family, medical support, & medication.

Could you afford to set yourself up there?

If your family is way up north in California, Oregon also has marijuana laws that will be good for you -

https://potguide.com/oregon/marijuana-laws/

[Separation]

4. I do believe we can swing it.

Its gonna be tight, but who isnt these days? I would have the support of my dad, plenty of services for my son and myself. My wife's mom lives in Irvine (Orange County), and my dad near Ocean Side.

Hell, the only way I'm doing all this flying back and forth is because my wife's mother is able to help financially. So we are probably gonna end up somewhere in that vicinity. Unless the clouds open up and shine it somewhere else, but that's probably not gonna happen.

I probably need to do a few google searches in the next few days. Marijuana friendly states + Zillow + good mental health care. At least that definitely narrows the states down to democratic friendly. 😂

[NBachers]

5. Well, Tennessee's loss will be California's gain. I'm in Northern California, and I welcome you.

[Separation]

6. Thanks again

Just being able to talk about it, and have another person respond means a lot. To the point of being therapeutic. 😀

At least our family will be leaving with a parting democratic vote in November. That is if we are still around.

[deek]

16. I have found CA to be fantastic for families who have children with special needs

My daughter is an adult now and it still provides us with supportive services to keep her at home where she belongs. We have had all her complicated medical care covered, as well as her medications and home medical equipment/incontinent/enteral feeding supplies.

However, in our particular area, the educational system had a lot to be desired, despite my advocacy and involvement.

[GWC58]

17. Maybe Colorado, maybe Washington State?

I’ve heard nice things about both places. Seems to me states that have legalized are, generally, happier places. At any rate good luck to you in your endeavors. 👍🏻

[NBachers]

7. Yes, your vote will mean more in Tennessee.

Keep us posted on what's happening.

[secondwind]

8. Welcome to California! You will love it here!

We live in the Bay Area. San Francisco. Very Democrat, very tolerant, and not inexpensive. But we love it.

[NightWatcher]

9. I too am/was a refugee.

I've got lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and other mixed connective tissue disorders. Cannabis saved my life.

I smoked back in school 20+ years ago and was told to try some when I had an immediate bad reaction to my weekly oral chemo pills a few years ago.

I lived in a state where it was not legal.

I got some through a jazz musician friend of mine ( stereotypical I know). It did wonders. I still switched chemo meds but the cannabis alleviated all the side effects from the new meds. It also helps with my inflammation and pain. I don't know how but it also helps with muscle deterioration that I get from my myositis. I sleep like a log now too and I am in a much better frame of mind now as well.

I was able to go back to work and I have not had a flare up in 3+ years. I consume daily.

I obtain high grade product to this day through different means (DM if curious about methods or just for support from someone who has been right where you are)

Florida has recently passed medicinal cannabis laws but is being super slow in implementing the process by which you get the card. I will probably get a card soon, but will definitely continue to be a refugee until then.

Cannabis saves lives and I'm glad it works for you.

[Callmecrazy]

10. Nevada has legal weed. Recreational weed too...

You can get a medical card to purchase more than a recreational user, but that card could mess with your benefits from the VA. You can get smokables, concentrates, and edibles there. Las Vegas is only a 5 hour drive to LA. And the cost of living is lower. No state income tax, Variable climates, no hassles from The Man.

[Maine-i-acs]

11. Move to Maine? (or MA, NH, CO?)

Legal here, decriminalized elsewhere.
Cheaper to live in ME than CA.
We'll forgive ya for a southern accent

[Voltaire2]

12. Move to a state with a good medical pot law.

Some states you need to be dead to qualify, so do your research first. Or Colorado California Oregon Washington Nevada now, Massachusetts real soon and Maine next year. All legal.

[GWC58]

19. I live in Maryland.

I’ve been trying to get a card from the state. I get to the last part, choosing a password. Five times it shot it back saying “a strong password is needed.” What the hell is “a strong password?” Frustrating!!! 😠😡

[Separation]

22. Try this

https://passwordsgenerator.net/

This is the website that I use whenever I have to change many of my passwords. I like the fact that it has the option of "not sending over the internet", but to be honest I'm not %100 positive what that even means. All I know is that I haven't had any issues yet. Knock on wood.

[marble falls]

13. Pot works for me. I haven't used opiate medication in years, and have had ...

four bladder surgeries and a half a colon removed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis_by_U.S._jurisdiction

[GWC58]

18. Idaho, South Dakota, Nebraska & Kansas

All under Republican control and the last four total prohibition holdouts. States I wouldn’t want to live in, nor even visit. Not even for a day, hour, minute or second. Sorry to anyone living in those regressive, repressive states. Maybe Idaho & Kansas can elect a Democratic governor this year.🤔

[Separation]

23. This is what I hate about "medicinal use law"

Tennessee has a note that CBD oil possession allowed as of May 4, 2015, if suffering seizures or epilepsy with the recommendation of a doctor.

CBD oil!!

To me, that is not a friendly state, and to have to live in constant fear of being arrested if I were ever to choose to buy any CBD or pot scares the piss out of me. To the point of us putting our house up for sale and moving to a more friendly state. Hell, even Kansas has CBD oil exempted from the definition of marijuana.

[marble falls]

24. We have stupid rules for CBD here in Texas, too. Can only be prescribed for ...

seizures. I understand this law was written for a connected Texas family with a daughter with seizures. At the same time the way the law is written you can buy CBD oil from health food stores.

Austin doesn't arrest for pot under an ounce, but cross Parmer Rd and the Williamson county authorities hold you at least overnight on a roach and a $1000 fine.

Here in my county the Sheriff, an otherwise OK guy for a Sheriff - I voted for him - says he will treat pot like it was heroin, that medical use is hoooey.

But I haven't lived anywhere - Connecticut, Ohio, Iowa, Arizona, Nebraska, Illinois, Texas - it hasn't been very easy to buy good reefer.

[mountain grammy]

14. We're legal here in Colorado

My husbands VA doc has no problem with him using cannabis. Good luck to you. The ignorance that’s still out there is appalling.

[GWC58]

20. And, sadly, much of it is

intentional ignorance! They rejoice, it seems, in the misery of others. Take pleasure in it, get off on it! 👿

[Separation]

15. Thank you all!

I'd like to thank everyone for their support and tips. I'm not sure how to convey that in just an internet post. When you fall into the pits of depression as I have (from being in constant pain. not being able to move around. just feeling bad about myself. etc, etc.) it means everything to hear words of encouragement and tips.

[samnsara]

21. you could move from Tn..like ppl who move to Arizona during the winter for health reasons..

..my dtr used to live in Gallatin and when she her kids and hubby moved back to Seattle after 10 years they felt really liberated and free from some of the cultural restraints. When they moved 3 yrs ago, Tn was JUST THEN letting grocery stores sell wine! Wash state was the first state to allow legal pot. Yes..i know all about Colorado..... but we had legal pot six days before Colorado....even tho they both voted to legalize it the same night. Colorado sold it legally a month before we did but possession was legal here before any other state.

So for your health and your peace of mind you may want to consider one of the states where pot is legal and you can walk to the corner store and get your meds.

I know what you mean about wanting to a manual..kind of like the Dummies Guide we can buy for for everything. When I cared for my aging parents, I wished there had been a Dummies manual for me!...and all the VA stuff I had to learn about.