It’s that time of year people. If you are a Connecticut MMP patient, you completely understand what we mean. It’s renewal time aka time for the ever so important MMP recertification process. We like to think of it as the annual monetary donation for the privilege to access a plant and all its medical benefits. Guess Connecticut needs the money more than we do.
It’s unfortunate that as patients we are forced to annually prove we have a condition, not to mention, required to pay for a state fee to gain access to purchase the “dangerous” herb. It’s a plant, first and foremost. It is not dangerous or life-threating. The earth has far more dangerous plants out there and lets not even mention tobacco. If you wonder what the heck we mean, here is a short list for some light reading (we hope you enjoy that rabbit hole). Cannabis is a plant and we all pay a fee to the state of Connecticut for the right to purchase and yet we are not able to grow for personal consumption.
Have you ever questioned why we, as patients, are required to pay an annual fee for access? It sounds unethical right, having to pay the government to get better. Why is it, when it comes to cannabis, people are never treated as responsible individuals. There are still so many negative stereotypes out there. Insurance doesn’t cover anything and the need to pay to access a plant seems so unnatural.
We have all heard the claim, just because you are able to do something, doesn’t mean you will. Growing a plant definitely fits into this framework of understanding. Just because we can all plant a seed, doesn’t mean it’s going to grow, let alone well. Home-cultivation is the only true foundation for a compassionate care program. Without a doubt, it is the missing key holding the program back from achieving a true impact.
The state still does not have an answer to combat the opiate crisis we are facing. Legislators this past session proposed a bill to add conditions to the help people gain access to the medical program, however, the bill died. When will leadership in Connecticut realize, people want change and we all need assistance. If our elected officials truly want to legalize cannabis, they should push to amend the medical bill to allow for patient home-cultivation for personal use now. It’s the only way the plant is truly legal.
Who knows… maybe the state medical program will grow instead of shrink.
