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Memorial Day in Munhall Pa. and medical marijuana for chronic pain PA House Bill 1393

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The emptiness of Kennedy Park feels intimidating, even on this spectacular sunny afternoon.  

Flags and wreaths decorate the park and World War monument.  Where are the children, the families, the picnics?  Even the old time gazebo is empty.  Do I have enough courage to get out of the car and photograph this monument?

Relief…. One lone fellow sits on a park bench.  Very friendly.  Wind moves a wreath out of place. He puts it back in place for my Examiner.com photo.

“Why aren’t you at a picnic?” I inquire.

“I’m in too much pain today,” he says.  

Turns out the poor fellow has been in chronic pain for 7 years.  “I had pneumonia and went back and forth to Braddock Hospital 3 times.  Finally I went to Mercy Hospital for an operation.  Ever since then I’ve been in chronic pain.”

“And now for the past 4-5 years my hips are falling apart so I’m in a lot of pain and on a lot of medication.  Friends have told me marijuana would help but I’m afraid to try it because it’s illegal.”

Last month, Representative Mark B. Cohen Dem. 202nd District Philadelphia County introduced PA. House Bill 1393 which would allow for the medical use of marijuana in Pennsylvania.

To read the proposed Bill click here.

According to Rep. Cohen, there is support throughout the rest of the state of Pennsylvania. But Allegheny County has been very quiet on the issue of HB1393.  The bill will most likely not come up for a vote until there is support in Western Pennsylvania.

I ask my new friend why he thinks that Pittsburghers are so soft-spoken on this issue.  “It’s a small county with so many different police departments and people are afraid of the police and afraid of their doctors.  They don’t want to go to jail and they don’t want their doctors to say see you later. Hit the bricks”

He’s even afraid to give me his name for this article.

As a reporter I have tried to cover this story for my readers.  I’ve left messages with numerous pain clinics, hospices and doctors to see if they would like to make a statement - pro or con regarding HB1393. None have returned my emails or telephone calls.

I challenge my readers - go to any gathering of your closest friends Ask what they think of this bill.

According to Rep. Cohen, all that has to happen is for the people of Allegheny County to stop being so quiet on the medical marijuana issue.