As we’ve mentioned before–here and here–conflicting medical marijuana laws and ambivalent local officials have made things complicated for related businesses and law enforcement. But no one is in a bigger pickle than the patient.

I recently spoke with a Long Beach resident who regularly uses medical marijuana to treat the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. His name is Bob–not Bob Foster, just Bob. I asked him about the closure of Long Beach Compassionate Caregivers, and a few other things: What is it like to need a substance that is simultaneously criminal and decriminalized? Why not just get the traditional, FDA-approved remedies from the hospital? Is having a chronic illness like one long frat party?

First question: what do you know about last year’s raid at LBCC?

Long Beach Compassionate Caregivers? Well, I’m not surprised that they shut that one down. The first time I went in there I didn’t really like it. You had to actually walk down into the basement [of the building], and that’s not very good for people who have disabilities. And it was hot in there, which is bad for me because I’ve got MS. When I walked in—well, I don’t want to judge a book by it’s cover, but I swear those guys were just stoned out of their minds. Most of them looked like gang-bangers: the pants that hang low, white knee-socks. Or else they were like nasty looking bouncers. Just these tough guys. And you see some of the clientele, and I don’t know what their malady is, but I can’t help thinking “You fucking assholes. How dare you? You guys just want to get this shit and get high. I actually need [this place], so that I can pay $65 for an eighth of something [that will keep me from having] to go to the emergency room to get a $2,000 shot of Demerol in my ass.” I was really happy to get the prescription when I did last year, but when I went to the prescribing doctor’s office [I saw] a couple of kids in the waiting room and I thought, “If you are even out of high school I’m going to be so damn surprised.”

I know that there are plenty of places that are on the up-and-up, because I’ve gone to them and they look just like any store on Broadway or whatever. I really like the place in Naples. You do have to walk upstairs, which is bad if you have trouble walking. I also really liked the place on Broadway near Cherry. You had to make an appointment to go, and the guy—well, it’s not like he was being a doctor, but he counseled you: “How are you feeling?” or “I suggest this type,” or “I know other people who happen to have Multiple Sclerosis and they really like this type; why don’t you try it and get back to me.” And he ended up getting kicked out, losing his lease because the feds called the owner of the building and threatened him or something like that. So he just left.

How did you get your prescription for medical marijuana?

I have a GP, a urologist, and a neurologist, and I told all three of them that I wanted to try [medical marijuana] because of the pain. And my neurologist said, “I know it works. I’m sorry, but I just can’t give you an prescription.” But he agreed that it worked, and so I went to [another] doctor for the prescription—that’s all that she does—and I had to write on a piece of paper who my doctor was so that they could call and verify the diagnosis. I was worried that I was going to have to prove to her [that I needed it], but she had spoken with my doctor, so it was fine. She recommended 5 grams a month. But I don’t think any of the dispensaries really pay attention to [the recommendation]. Then again, I don’t think I’ve ever used that much, so I’ve never tried to purchase more than that. I got the prescription, which is an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of parchment paper that says it’s good for a year. You can pay an extra $10 for a photo ID card with your name on it, but it’s not necessary; none of the dispensaries require it.

Any brushes with the law?

Well, for a while I had two plants, because according to California law you’re allowed to grow 12 plants for your own use. But only six of them can be flowering at one time. (I don’t know how you keep the other six from not flowering; they don’t seem to flower at different times.) Anyway, I had two plants in the backyard. At the time I was putting native plants in the front, and I got a letter from the city saying that there was a violation for debris in my front yard. There wasn’t any debris; there just wasn’t a manicured lawn. I called the city and spoke with the guy at Code Enforcement, and explained that I was planting California natives—they have to be planted in the fall, and it was summertime. Also that I have MS, and it’s very hard for me to be gardening outside in the heat. He said, “Don’t worry about it; it usually takes the guys about 2 months to get out there.” Two days later I get a knock on the door, and the guy has a badge, and he said that he wanted to come into my back yard to take a look. I explained the native plant situation, and mentioned the MS, and he said, “Oh! Oh, ok, don’t worry” and left. But a friend and I just went back there and hacked them down. Anyway, according to state law the plants are legal, but my spouse is really worried about the conflict with federal law, and she’s worried that our house could get taken away from us. It’s paranoia, but I don’t want to be the example. The last thing that I want to do is paint a bull’s-eye on my back.

I’m really discreet. The house doesn’t smell like [marijuana]; I even went and bought one of those vaporizers. It heats up the air so that the THC comes off of the plant and fills up a plastic bag, so that you can carry it around with you as you do your chores. Or save it for when the pain gets too intense. You don’t have to inhale smoke, just vapor.

Did you use marijuana medicinally before obtaining the prescription?

I did try using marijuana for the pain before I got the prescription, just once or twice, and I didn’t really have great results with it. But when you go to dispensary with a knowledgeable staff, they can really help you out. I didn’t even know that there are two strains: Indica and Cohiba. Cohiba keeps your mind working, so that you can get things done during the day. Indica is a nighttime strain, and it really relaxes you. But if you use the same variety, your body gets used to it. Each time I go I try something new. There’s one guy I go to who actually remembers what I’ve had in the past and why I liked it, and he can say “Try this this time.” When you do have pain, you take one hit and its gone. And you don’t feel like you’re high or anything like that. You just feel the cessation of pain.

Are we talking about generalized muscle and joint pain?

No. The pain from MS is the weirdest thing. For me it feels like my upper arm bone, the humorus, is collapsing in on itself. And then the pain gets into my right hand and wrist. It starts as an ache, but becomes so intense that I get nauseous. So my choices are medical marijuana, which doesn’t impair my thinking, or major opiates. The last time I went to the emergency room they gave me a shot of Demerol. I was so loopy that I walked out of the emergency room and walked into the main lobby, and the nurse had to come get me. And after something like [Demerol] I’ll get an exacerbation. The pain is gone—that’s great—but my foot will go numb. Or the back of my head will go numb. An exacerbation isn’t just a side effect, it’s any time when you really feel the effects of MS, whatever they may be. Maybe your bowel and bladder muscles won’t work. But that doesn’t happen with marijuana. In fact, part of my MS is that my bladder muscle—the one that holds in the urine—it doesn’t like to let go. It doesn’t let me empty my bladder. It used to be that I had to try a lot of things: I’d meditate and try to relax, all just to try to go to the bathroom. But the marijuana works.

So the shady stuff upsets me, because I really need medical marijuana. I remember once going to Venice Beach and seeing this guy yelling on the boardwalk, “Medical marijuana prescriptions! Get them now!” And I was so ticked off at him.

Tags: Long Beach, medical marijuana, multiple sclerosis, Prop. 215, SB 420