Marla James
Marla James discusses what it was like to be addicted to OxyContin and how medical marijuana helped her create a better quality of life for herself.
Transcription: My name is Marla James. I am the president of Orange County ASA, Americans for Safe Access, and I am a medical marijuana patient.
In December of 1999, I came down with Necrotizing fasciitis, which is flesh-eating bacteria. I got it from somebody who had the flu. It is that easy to get.
In order to get rid of Necrotizing fasciitis, they had to cut parts of me out. I lost my lower abdomen, the abdominal regions, and other body parts. It was very painful. And when I got out of the hospital, the doctors put me on high doses of OxyContin, and all the hydrocodone I wanted in between. I eventually became addicted to oxycontin. I could not function in my life.
I asked the doctor when I could get off the oxycontin, and he looked at me and said why would you want to be in pain the rest of your life?
I fired the pain doctor. I went to another doctor who slowly got me off OxyContin; I used medical marijuana to help me. Because every day you would wake up, you’d be sick from oxycontin withdrawal – but the medical marijuana helped with the pain. Eventually, I was totally off the OxyContin with the help of cannabis.
I do still take cannabis. I am a type 1 diabetic, I have peripheral neuropathy, and cannabis really helps with the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy. I use cannabis now for the occasional pains I get. I don’t have to have it all the time, but when I do have pain, cannabis helps me function. I’m able to preside over Orange County ASA, go to city council meetings and supervisor meetings. I’m able to be and advocate for medical marijuana.
