GeorgeAEdwardsMD

Summary

• After 35 years I've retired from a very busy Pain Management practice. Now, with the passage of medical marijuana in Missouri, I'm going to participate in the certification process for patients seeking to obtain a Medical Marijuana card. I hope to utilize my experience from a chronic pain practice to help patients find an appropriate use of medical cannabis in their treatment regimen.
  
  Now, after ten months in my new role, the personal stories that I'm hearing from my patients are very interesting. 70% of the patients that I've seen are using Cannabis either daily or several times per week. They all relate a positive outcome from the use of Cannabis and feel that it provides better relief from from back pain, joint pain, chemotherapy side effects, diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia and anxiety than the prescription medication that they have been prescribed for years. Many have significantly reduced or have eliminated the amounts of opioids that they use. I'm seeing patient from all walks of life and socioeconomic classes. The common perception that the only people wanting medical marijuana are potheads and junkies is entirely false. I'm learning a lot from my patients.