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Tamara Netzel testifies in front of Virginia Senate
subcommittee in January, 2018 for cannabis oil
law expansion (Va HB1251). Standing next to
Tamara is Va Senator Siobhan Dunnavant.
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by Tamara Netzel
Cannabis in any form was not even on my radar before my hospitalization for my MS immunosuppressant drug causing severe liver injury and chronic pain afterwards. I have two sons who are young adults and did my job as a mom to warn them of dangers of drugs and thought smoking pot was for losers. But, it took a nearly desperate personal need for relief from the pain and trying all the doctors suggested unsuccessfully to be willing to try it. I justified that I was not smoking it and if it was just a snake oil, then at least I could say I tried it. The pain relief is life changing. I don't claim that cannabis in any form is a cure for anything, nor is it right for everybody. I still take FDA approved drugs for my MS, but I have been able to give up 6 medications that all have dangerous side effects. Some of these 6 drugs were to try to help the side effects of another.
Cannabis in any form was not even on my radar before my hospitalization for my MS immunosuppressant drug causing severe liver injury and chronic pain afterwards. I have two sons who are young adults and did my job as a mom to warn them of dangers of drugs and thought smoking pot was for losers. But, it took a nearly desperate personal need for relief from the pain and trying all the doctors suggested unsuccessfully to be willing to try it. I justified that I was not smoking it and if it was just a snake oil, then at least I could say I tried it. The pain relief is life changing. I don't claim that cannabis in any form is a cure for anything, nor is it right for everybody. I still take FDA approved drugs for my MS, but I have been able to give up 6 medications that all have dangerous side effects. Some of these 6 drugs were to try to help the side effects of another.
I've had to start taking another FDA drug for the side effects of another drug that may have triggered Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia and my left vocal cord to be partially paralyzed. This is why there needs to be more research done on cannabis. It may be that one of the other 100 plus chemicals in the plant I do not have access to in a certain ratio would be better than the drug I am taking to help the GPN now, but I don't have the ability to know. It just doesn't make sense to me that something that helps so many people is illegal and can't be researched.
When I joined a group of advocates in Richmond, Va, I knew I wanted to help any way that I could and really thought that would mean passing out pamphlets or something. I didn't know I would be asked to speak in front of legislators that day, but I surprised even myself. I was not nervous at all. When Beth Collins asked me literally as we were walking to lunch that day if I would speak, I said yes. Then, she asked if I was sure. I confidently said, "I got this! I was a teacher for 16 years" while I was screaming in my mind, "Nooo! What did you just do?" Nevertheless, I pulled it off because all I had to do was tell my story. That was easy. They must have liked what I said, because the advocate group asked me to come back and speak to the House of Delegates.
When I joined a group of advocates in Richmond, Va, I knew I wanted to help any way that I could and really thought that would mean passing out pamphlets or something. I didn't know I would be asked to speak in front of legislators that day, but I surprised even myself. I was not nervous at all. When Beth Collins asked me literally as we were walking to lunch that day if I would speak, I said yes. Then, she asked if I was sure. I confidently said, "I got this! I was a teacher for 16 years" while I was screaming in my mind, "Nooo! What did you just do?" Nevertheless, I pulled it off because all I had to do was tell my story. That was easy. They must have liked what I said, because the advocate group asked me to come back and speak to the House of Delegates.
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| Medical cannabis advocates working in Richmond, Va. - L to R: Karen Baker, Teresa Brogan, Me - Tamara Netzel, Beth Collins, Lisa Smith, Jennifer Collins. Front row: Haley Smith |
To my amazement, this led to my being asked to join the advocate group in a follow up episode of Dateline on NBC documenting our journey to expanding the Virginia law from cannabis oils for Epilepsy patients to all other illnesses with permission from their doctor that would include MS.
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| Standing with advocacy group in the balcony of the Virginia General Assembly when HB1251 was unanimously voted in favor. |
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| The crew from NBC visited my home in February, 2018 to tape the interview with Harry Smith. |
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