Spring Break
Medical marijuana care-giver role is to be redefined
Emily Johnson
Issue date: 4/20/09 Section: News
Though the issue of medical Marijuana continues to be a point of political and moral debate, there's a new emerging trend among care-givers that's helping to legitimize their role in patient care.
"It's not just about growing a bunch of weed because we can," Tina Valenti said.
Valenti is a medical marijuana care-giver in Fort Collins. By law, she's allowed to grow marijuana and distribute it to registered medical marijuana patients in Colorado.
While there are restrictions on the amount of marijuana that care-givers and patients can grow and posses according to Amendment 20, there are no clear guidelines that define a care-giver's role.
"Right now, anyone can be a care-giver," Valenti said.
Care-givers must be at least 18 years of age, but there is no requirement that they have medical training or background.
CSU students who feel they might qualify for medical marijuana privileges face more restrictions than the general public.
"It's not a free pass," Kathy Harward, Director of Student Legal Services, said. While there's no law against possessing a medical marijuana card, it is against school policy to "medicate" on campus. It is also illegal to grow marijuana on campus.
"It's still illegal under federal law so there are risks involved in for students relying on the card to protect them," Harward said.
Calvin Gordon, a Fort Collins resident is interested in becoming a care-giver after seeing first-hand the effects of medical marijuana.
"My mother was dying of breast cancer and had no appetite. No matter what I bought from the store, she wouldn't eat. She was wasting away," Gordon said.
Desperate for something to revive her, he illegally obtained some marijuana and administered it to her via vaporizer. The effects were immediate.
"She grabbed my arm asked me to make her something to eat." Within days Gordon's mother had regained a healthy appetite.
"I firmly believe that using marijuana medicinally added several more months to her life," Gordon said.
"It's not just about growing a bunch of weed because we can," Tina Valenti said.
Valenti is a medical marijuana care-giver in Fort Collins. By law, she's allowed to grow marijuana and distribute it to registered medical marijuana patients in Colorado.
While there are restrictions on the amount of marijuana that care-givers and patients can grow and posses according to Amendment 20, there are no clear guidelines that define a care-giver's role.
"Right now, anyone can be a care-giver," Valenti said.
Care-givers must be at least 18 years of age, but there is no requirement that they have medical training or background.
CSU students who feel they might qualify for medical marijuana privileges face more restrictions than the general public.
"It's not a free pass," Kathy Harward, Director of Student Legal Services, said. While there's no law against possessing a medical marijuana card, it is against school policy to "medicate" on campus. It is also illegal to grow marijuana on campus.
"It's still illegal under federal law so there are risks involved in for students relying on the card to protect them," Harward said.
Calvin Gordon, a Fort Collins resident is interested in becoming a care-giver after seeing first-hand the effects of medical marijuana.
"My mother was dying of breast cancer and had no appetite. No matter what I bought from the store, she wouldn't eat. She was wasting away," Gordon said.
Desperate for something to revive her, he illegally obtained some marijuana and administered it to her via vaporizer. The effects were immediate.
"She grabbed my arm asked me to make her something to eat." Within days Gordon's mother had regained a healthy appetite.
"I firmly believe that using marijuana medicinally added several more months to her life," Gordon said.
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Oregon Dream Child
posted 4/24/09 @ 8:24 AM MST
I could really could go for some Reese's peanut buttter cups right about now!
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