Patient:
Victor Hussar
Age:
29
Condition/Illness:
Insomnia, seasonal allergies
Home:
Rancho Cucamonga
Using medical cannabis since:
2010
WHY DID YOU START USING MEDICAL MARIJUANA?
I’ve always had horrible insomnia, and would usually end up sleeping only four to five hours a night. This made life very difficult, and I often had a hard time concentrating or dealing with others. I also had really bad seasonal allergies. Anyone who has had them knows how it’s like have a cold from the face up. You just drip, wheeze and sneeze. Cannabis fixed both of those issues.
DID YOU TRY OTHER METHODS OR TREATMENTS BEFORE MARIJUANA?
It was very hard dealing with insomnia, so to cope I’d take sleeping pills or have a few drinks to help me sleep, which wasn’t very healthy. I’d take Benadryl for my allergies, but it always seemed to wear off halfway through the season. I tried Zyrtec-D, but it started to really damage my liver, and it was very expensive.
WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE OR PROBLEM FACING MEDICAL MARIJUANA PATIENTS IN CALIFORNIA?
The biggest threat is a concentrated effort that is being made by the federal government to keep an all-natural herbal cure that has been used by mankind for thousands of years illegal. Marijuana is a cheap, healthy alternative, and the federal government is misusing tax dollars in its assault on rights of patients, collectives and small business owners.
WHAT DO YOU SAY TO FOLKS WHO ARE SKEPTICAL ABOUT MARIJUANA AS MEDICINE?
Cannabis has been used as an all-natural cure since the dawn of civilization. As far back as 4,000 years ago, cultures around the world smoked cannabis for a multitude of reasons. Cannabis is far less harmful than alcohol. If legalized and taxed, it could just about single-handedly bring America’s horrific economy back from the brink of collapse, especially if we consider the multitude of uses for hemp products. The legalization issue appeals to both political parties. Democrats can appreciate it because it’s a big part of improving American health care, and Republicans can appreciate the issue because it is tied to both states’ rights and invigorating small business growth.
Our “Profiles in Courage” features are intended to highlight the problems—and solutions—that medical marijuana patients face every day.
