 WOWZA! Today was HUGE for me. I introduced a 90 year old woman to cannabis. Let me give you a bit of background:
I have known this woman for almost 20 years as her granddaughter and I are good friends. I spent many weekends at her house swimming in her pool that was the shape of a foot, skiing on her property, going on nature walks and eating her marvelous food. I call her my Gramcracker. We are not related but she's as family to me as it gets. She makes this salad dressing that I couldn't ever get enough of. Every meal she made for me included salad and that dressing. I would put more dressing in my salad bowl than vegetables. I swear it is the best salad dressing in the whole entire world, hands down! One year she shared that recipe with me along with a recipe for her mushroom dip (another fav of mine) To this day, I still eat this dressing and swear there is nothing better. I have a bottle in my fridge at home and one at work. Recently I started medicating it. Maybe I'll have to give her a sample...
I have been speaking with my friend about Gramcracker's health and how she could benefit from cannabis for a while now. My friend, let's call her Leigh, was scared. Gramcracker was her grandmother. She didn't want her grandma getting "high" and unable to function. I could understand her concerns. Gramcracker is almost 91, weighs about 75lbs and had never even held cannabis in her hands before. Leigh and I have had many conversations about the Canna Balm I make. I've told her how it has helped me and told her about testimonials others have sent me. She became much more interested in telling her grandma about the balm when she found out that Gramcracker would not have any head effects( "high") while using the balm - it works where she puts it. Early this week, Leigh called me and told me that she wanted balm for Gramcracker because she was in so much pain and the pills she was prescribed we knocking her out. I told her I could give it to a friend to get it to her but I would really like to go see Gramcracker so we can talk about her concerns and explain what she may be feeling once the medicine started kicking in. So that's exactly what we did.
Today I went up to visit. Gramcracker took a while to get downstairs as she needs assistance and also uses a walker to get around the house. I was in no hurry. I just wanted to see her as it had been months since I last did. She was excited to see me and I was super excited to see her! When she sat down at the table, I started explaining how cannabis helps alleviate pain. Pain is her #1 problem right now. She just wants to live in comfort and not spend her days in the same position to avoid the pain she feels when she moves. Within 20 minutes of talking, I asked her if she would like me to apply balm to her neck. She didn't hesitate and said yes. After applying the balm, I asked her if she would like to try the cookie. We started off with 1/8 of a cookie. She was unsure if she felt anything as she had never experienced cannabis before. She may have not noticed but her face was bright and she was smiling, looking more comfortable than earlier. I brought my Iolite along with me hoping that she would be interested in trying it out. She was interested. I showed her how to fill and medicate with the Iolite, I handed the devise to her. She inhaled a small amount of vapour and I finished the rest. She still wasn't sure if it was working - but I knew it was.
After an hour or so of chatting I asked Gramcracker if I could take a picture with her. She got up out of her chair quickly, well quicker than I had thought she would. There was light behind us so the person taking the picture asked us to move out of the light. Gramcracker walked over to the other end of the long table we were sitting at and we took the picture posted above. After the picture was taken, she casually walked back to her seat - SANS WALKER! I told her the cannabis must be doing something for that to happen. Before I left I made sure she was clear on dosages and storage of edibles. I told her to call me if she had any questions and that I would be calling her in a couple days to see how she's feeling.
♥ I encourage you (the reader) to talk to seniors about cannabis. Many do not know about the healing powers this plant has. The stigma attached to cannabis can be removed - we just need to educate! ♥
LOTSA LOVE,
Amy Anonymous
 Sometimes it's hard not to take your work home with you. I meet many ill people throughout the week. 2 in particular really stuck out in my mind this week.
I received a call from a doctor who had a patient with brain and lung cancer. The doctor had no interest in expanding her practice to include medical cannabis(?!) but wanted her patient to have access to the medicine. Immediately I tried to explain how simple the forms are for a doctor to fill out and that there was also a Release Form for Medical Practitioners to release her from any liability associated with her signing the forms. She was still reluctant and asked if I could refer her patient to a doctor to help. I said I would do my best but informed her that it could take a while for her to be seen and another couple months after that until she receives her license and can legally medicate with cannabis. I was doing all I could to pull on this doctors heart strings... she pulled mine, it was only fair! I reminded her again that CALM's forms did not include a prescription for cannabis, just a confirmation of diagnosis and that would give her patient immediate access to medicine. We chatted for a couple more minutes about the topic and shortly after I got off the phone with the doctor, I received a call from the same doctor's office, asking me if I had received the fax.. WOOT WOOT! As soon as I got off the phone with the doctor I called a friend of mine who works for a doctors office and told the patients the story .... The patient was booked for her appointment the same week :)
Before her appointment to make her cannabis use legal, I got the pleasure of meeting this girl. When I asked her if she knew the differences between sativas and indicas, she quietly told me she didn't use cannabis. She used it once or twice as a teen but not since then. Being a non smoker she was nervous about how to use the medicine and the effects it would have on her. We had a lengthy discussion on alternatives to smoking - edibles, tincture and oil. When I starting discussing oil treatment her face brightened. I told her I couldn't say the oil cures cancer but I definitely think it's worth a try! I showed her what the oil looked like and how to medicate with it. I also told her that it can be a very harsh treatment and she may feel very lethargic at first but DO NOT be discouraged as this is common with any new medication. Before she left, I gave her a little gift and told her to call me if she needed anything, even if it was just to talk for a bit after she medicates. I know how scary it can be and I didn't want her to feel discouraged or afraid to ask questions.
The second person was somebody else I met and introduced to using cannabis as medicine, particularly baked goods. While I was at work this week a colleague came upstairs to my office and told me somebody had came in and asked to speak with me. I went downstairs to see what was up and I asked her how I could help her. She looked at me with a smile that took up her whole face and I already thought I was gonna cry... it felt like it was gonna be an emotional moment. She told me she wanted to thank me for everything I have done for her and that my cookies saved her life - HOLD BACK THE WATERWORKS AMY - I hugged her and told her that it wasn't me... it was the cannabis.
Everybody that entered the "Win an Amy Anonymous Gift Basket" or " Win 4 HEMPFEST Tickets" was put in this draw for a blue Zig Zag bong..... I will post more tomorrow about all of the fundraising events that have taken place over the last week.
 Yesterday I started an online auction for 2 different items. The first item was donated by a man named Robert Neron. He generously gave 2 tickets to Hempfest 2011 which is held in Poplar Dale, Ontario in August. The other item was a gift basket that I personally made and donated. The funds raised are going towards getting a friend and canna activist, here to Toronto for the 2nd Annual Treating Yourself Expo, happening June 3rd-5th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. I put lots of goodies in the basket and included a limited edition "I smell Like Cake" Balm, hoping to increase bids. I really want to raise as much as we can. This money will not only help Tamara, but hopefully help a couple other MMAR card holders with accommodations during the expo. These are your everyday people, who like many of us, live cheque to cheque and cannot afford to come to our city for 3 days. These are also the same people you see on your local News speaking about the flaws in Health Canada's MMAR programme and the injustices our community faces because of our medicine. These are the people leading chants at protests. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT SHOULD GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND (I feel) - so I really did the basket up :) The bidding started at $20. Around dinner time I checked it out and it was at $200. I couldn't believe it!! I knew it would get bid on but $200 really shocked me. Before I went to bed it rose to $301. It was so hard for me to go to sleep because I couldn't stop wondering if somebody else had outbid the $301 bid. When I woke up I saw that I had received an anonymous bid for $325 (Well... Not so anonymous. I know who he is. You may too - but HE wanted to remain anonymous) What a way to start my day! After confirming the anonymous bidder was certain he wanted to place the bid, I put his bid in for him. Two hours later he was outbid. The anonymous bidder bid again ... I think we may have a bidding war on our hands :) At about 10:00pm a whopping $400 dollar bid was placed. That is over half of the airfare to get Tamara here. A comment was left that the bidder really wanted the balm.. I am SO glad I put that balm in there! I am floored at the generosity being shown on this page. There are many times when our community is divided but this auction is proof that we can all come together for a good cause. Unity in the community - LOVE IT!!! It's now 11:30pm and I need to go medicate and get some sleep. I want to thank everybody that has placed a bid. Your love is making waves... Let's turn it into a Tsunami!!! The voting ends Friday May 22nd 2011 at 4:00pm EST. To view or bid please go to: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=510622901#!/event.php?eid=225326937481252
 FUN TIMES at GMM 2011 Saturday May 7th, 2011 Four days ago 25 000 people came to Queen's Park to celebrate Toronto's Global Marijuana March. I was getting ready for the event for what felt like forever but arrived at the park at 10:30 to help set up CALM's tent. GMM WAS FINALLY HERE! People were coming to the tent in swarms to get information on cannabis and how it could help their condition. I love cannabis related events because one of my favourite things to do is educate.... so educate I did :) Georgia from Georgia Toons stopped by the tent and gave me a rockin tank top and introduced me to her new pup, Hope. So I spent a couple minutes squishing her dog up (in a loving manner, lol)
At about 1:30pm I started getting ready for the march. I already had my CALM shirt on so I grabbed a CALM flag, my Iolite, lots of pre rolled joints and a bunch of my friends and headed off to the the beginning of the march. Jodie Emery was there is style, leading the march. It was amazing to see all the people come out of stores we were walking past cheering and showing acceptance. When the march ended for me (I was at the front), I just stood at the entrance to the park for a second and stared at all the other marchers entering the park. It was like a sea of people with no end... FANTASTIC!!!
When the march was over, I went for a quick visit to the V.I.P. section to say HIGH to some friends and see if the crew from the 420 Radio Show made it... THEY DID :) A friend came and surprised me with a fab gift - an apron. It said Keep Calm and Carry On... How fitting! Could my day get any better?! Before I went back to the tent, I went to the front of the stage where security was standing. I was truly awed by all the different walks of life, uniting to celebrate cannabis and freedom together. That was definitely a Kodak moment for me.
Back at the tent, it was booming. Lots of questions being asked an answered and many people walking away with a huge smile knowing that there is help out there and that they ARE entitled to cannabis as medicine. 4:00 hit and it was time to go back to the stage area and get ready for the countdown. With A-List cannabis celebs on stage, Jodie Emery counted down the second till 4:20. The crowd filled the air with a blanket of smoke. It was so kewl to watch the air above the audiences heads go from clear to looking like there was a 3 alarm fire. The crowd was rockin! The park was full of positive vibes, cannabis and unity, some of my most favourite things.
On my way back to the tent I stopped at a few booths to check out the merchandise and say HIGH to friends at work. I was on a mission to finally meet Kelly from NORML face to face. We have had many conversations but had yet to actually meet... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! Love , love, LOVE her!! Met up with a couple other friends to medicate and take a picture or 2 and then back to work at the tent for me. When the event was winding down, I helped pack up the CALM tent and enjoyed what was left of the Toronto Freedom Festival.
I had an amazing day and it wasn't over yet. 2 great comedy shows at 2 different places. I went to Clandestiny for the 9:00pm show and was hoping to get to Vapor Central to catch Howard Dover's 10:30 show - Didn't happen. I was drained. I had been up most of the night before making baked goods and trying to figure out what I was forgetting, lol. So I went home and KO'd.
The next day I had some pink CALM shirts to get made for our cities lady guests from BC. So I left my cozy couch and went downtown to the T-shirt store. Done and done! I brought them over to CALM and waited for the BC crew to arrive. After everybody arrived, we gave them a tour of the shop. We had lots of great conversation, meds and a bit of a sweet tooth. Everybody decided to go for cake. It was delicious. I had a piece of chocolate brownie cake covered in caramel with 2 scoops of ice cream YUM! It was time for me to go home as I had to work the next day so I said my good-byes, gave a bunch of hugs and went home to make some cookies.
GMM 2011 was by far the best GMM for me. I can't wait till next year! :) <3
I have spent much of the last few weeks asking, informing and in some cases, begging people to vote. This election was HUGE for the cannabis community. A Conservative majority means mandatory minimums and super prisons - all part of the Conservatives tough on crime legislation.
I woke up today in disbelief! Last night Canadians elected the Cons to run our country. This means that within 100 days, our government will pass its outstanding crime bills. This has put the cannabis community into a tailspin. Where do we stand? What will we do? Will the MMAR program be abolished by the Cons?.. and if so, when? These are questions I have been asked all day today. I don't have the answers to these questions.... I don't think anybody does at this point in time but the threat is REAL! Mandatory minimums WILL happen!
This makes me think of one person in particular. I recently met a woman that was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. Her doctor told her that her only option was to have a large piece of skin on her face removed. She read about using hemp oil as a cure and decided she was going to try cannabis as medicine. Never having used cannabis before, she is not licensed and was not even aware of the program until we spoke. Will she go to a new super prison for trying to cure her cancer? Sadly, she may. If she is caught using a concentrate she will face 12-18 months in jail for it. Her husband will lose a wife and her children, a mother for up to 18 months. For others, they may not have that long to live. Could you imagine spending the rest of your life in jail for trying to prolong your life??? That's crazy talk!
I guess all I can really say right now is I will not live in fear! I will not stop eating cannabis! I will not stop medicating with concentrates! THESE ARE MY MEDS!!!!!!!! Cannabis saved me and I just can't turn my back on that! :)
This is me voting yesterday ***PLEASE NOTE*** I meant to say I got in big trouble for recording this NOT voting this, lol. It was a crazy morning...as you can see here
 If ya caught a whiff of passion on my home page, hold on to your hats ... you're about to be smothered with it! Mrs. Amy here - your friendly Toronto activist/advocate. I'm fond of fighting injustices against myself and others who are effected by the current laws and stigma attached to cannabis. I am a member of the Notorious 9 from the CALM raid - CHARGES STAYED! (thank you Ron Marzel) I assist people who thought they couldn't be helped by educating them on Health Canada's Marihuana Medical Access Regulations and all things related to cannabis use. I voice what others can't say or don't know who to tell. You may have seen me on the news, in the papers or at a local protest or event but wherever you see me, I'm always spreading the same message - WE ARE ENTITLED TO USE CANNABIS.
'nuff said... until the next ...... :) <3
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