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Bob Crouse

Patient Name:
Bob Crouse
Age:
63
Condition/Illness:
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Home:
Colorado Springs
Using medical cannabis since:
2009

1. WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA? 

I started using medical cannabis for symptomatic relief for my condition, and after doing research and evaluating self medication I fou

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Patient Name:

Bob Crouse

Age:

63

Condition/Illness:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Home:

Colorado Springs

Using medical cannabis since:

2009


1. WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA? 

I started using medical cannabis for symptomatic relief for my condition, and after doing research and evaluating self medication I found a medicine known as Phoenix Tears that is now the sole treatment I use in conjunction with other alternative methods for my diagnosis. Obtaining a injury from an incident with a ladder in 2007, I was rushed to the hospital with five broken ribs and a punctured lung—to later have them find out and diagnose me with cancer. I walked myself from the ER after recovery to the oncology department after being diagnosed. I not only use it to treat my cancer, but to also alleviate physical and mental stress, pains and anxiety.

 

2. DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA? 

Yes and no. I have not gone into the acute stages of my diagnosis, and for the time being they can only monitor my condition due to financial and legal stresses that currently [prevent] me from receiving adequate treatment. Using over-the-counter medications and prescription pain medication in the past, however, I have been able to completely replace those regimes with medical cannabis. I can safely say that I have been following a more “holistic” path in my treatment, using things like periwinkle flower or chlorella concentrate in conjunction with extreme [amounts of] cannabis concentrate (upwards of 500mg doses) has been my first method of treatment for my diagnosis.

 

3. WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS IN COLORADO?

I spent some time thinking about this because it is quite difficult to give one answer, especially with all of the constant legal struggles throughout the state. The number one issue for Coloradans that I believe most greatly affects them at this point in time is education. The importance of educating the patients is so crucial and still lacking in many aspects. So many people don’t ever realize or even find out about the potential medical applications of cannabis and how it not only helps the severely ill and disabled, but it also helps those with common life symptoms like arthritis or severe pain or countless other ailments that affect the individual.


4. WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE?

I usually introduce myself as a patient who is being prosecuted for trying to survive a life-threatening disease with an alternative, less accepted means of medical treatment. (Chris O’Keefe)

 

Our “Profiles in Courage” features are intended to highlight the problems—and solutions—that Colorado’s medical marijuana patients face every day.

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