Read on Twitter
Have I ever told you about the time I asked my GI doc about cannabis?
It took me years to find a good GI doc – one who doesn't gratuitously hurt me, who respects my autonomy, who is really fucking competent. I went through half a dozen utter jackasses before finding her...
It took me years to find a good GI doc – one who doesn't gratuitously hurt me, who respects my autonomy, who is really fucking competent. I went through half a dozen utter jackasses before finding her...
In 2012, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot measure to legalize medical cannabis (63% to 36%), at my next appointment with GI doc I asked something like, "do you think I should try medical cannabis?"
And she said "well, as we've talked about before, canna–"
I interrupted.
And she said "well, as we've talked about before, canna–"
I interrupted.
"We've never talked about this."
She looked very confused, "are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure. I've never asked you about weed. In fact, I've never used cannabis. Ever. Not even a little. Not even once."
She just stared at me.
She looked very confused, "are you sure?"
"Yes, I'm absolutely sure. I've never asked you about weed. In fact, I've never used cannabis. Ever. Not even a little. Not even once."
She just stared at me.
"It was illegal, I mean, it still is federally, but it was illegal and I needed to become a lawyer and there was already a chance they wouldn't license me because of my IBD."
She took a beat and then said, "you're probably the only patient I haven't talked about this with."
She took a beat and then said, "you're probably the only patient I haven't talked about this with."
Out of respect for her privacy, I won't disclose who my GI doc is, but it's important for this story that you understand that she's one of the top experts in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease in the U.S.
It's difficult to overstate how qualified & competent she is.
It's difficult to overstate how qualified & competent she is.
We talked. She knew she was telling me things I already knew – many IBD patients find that cannabis can be helpful for symptom management, but there was no evidence that it treated the underlying inflammatory process.
She explained that she'd have no objection to my trying cannabis for symptom management. I assured her I had no intention of abandoning treatment aimed at preventing my immune system from shredding my small intestine.
As we wrapped up, she said "you're sure we never talked about this?"
I replied, "I made a point of never asking. I wasn't sure how much of my chart I might have to turn over to the lawyer licensing authorities."
She nodded.
I replied, "I made a point of never asking. I wasn't sure how much of my chart I might have to turn over to the lawyer licensing authorities."
She nodded.
I have a Medical Use of Marijuana card, issued by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that I use to buy the cannabis products that help manage some of the symptoms of the fucking horrific course of IBD that I endure. The weed helps. Without it, my quality of life would tank.
Why this story, tonight? I won't be seeking a position inside the Biden-Harris administration. It's illegal for federal employees to use cannabis – even medical cannabis. I wouldn't even pass vetting.
People like me are locked out of those jobs because of our disability.
People like me are locked out of those jobs because of our disability.
Congress can, and should, fix this. Legislation already exists, e.g. the "Fairness in Federal Drug Testing Under State Laws Act." [I also think OPM has significant authority to fix this but 
] https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1687/text
] https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/1687/text
Yes, my name keeps getting forwarded to the transition
