The website I have resigned from

Hi @Decadian,

sorry to show my ignorance, but can you really have your services - like your driver, etc, taken away from you just for associating with people who advocate the use of medical marijuana???

That seems very extreme to me! I can hardly believe it. We live in a free country.

I mean there are people out there who even advocate euthanasia- and that is like actually taking someone's life... I mean, that is serious stuff! Could you have your services revoked for associating with the pro-euthanasia people, too?

In the U.S.A. it's legal to grow and distribute medical marijuana in some states. So why could you get in trouble for being on a web-site that advocates something that is perfectly legal?

I can hardly believe this and I really think your doctor is wrong.

Do you think I have compromised myself by voting for the Drug Reform Party in the senate at the election? I'm a bit worried because i have told a few people about it.

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@Decadian wrote:

I spoke to my doctor about this yesterday and he told me it was essential to get out of a site advocating MJ - this could risk my own medication - and today - I spoke to the organisation that is funded to take care of my domestic help and drivers - and she told me I could lose my funding if I was found to be involved with anything to do with the distribution or advertising of MJ

Surely this is blatent discrimination at it's worst?

Not that I would want to smoke marijuana personally, as I believe it would only make my anxiety worse. But if this drug has helped people - and there are qualified doctors and researchers out there who believe it has, then how can advocating it's controlled use under medical supervision be a bad thing?

I have no idea about the use of MJ in treating MI- this is something I have not heard of.

But I believe the results are promising in the use of MJ for uncontrolled pain in cancer sufferers.

@Sahara

This website is for the support of people with chronic pain - and in some states of America MMJ is legal - but only a few

And the website is promoting the use of MMJ without the medical qualifications to do so - people may be encouraged to use MJ without medical superivision - I don't know - people will do what people do

I know there have been trials in Australia - and I have more to read up on - but let's put it this way - my advisors are looking after my best interests and know I suppose - what might become a problem for me

However - I have contacts - and I can still read inside that website - and virtually nothing is happening there - However - even a year ago - even a few months ago - I would be working as a volunteer for 4 -5 hours a day and now it's hardly operating

And we were told - we are not to advise regarding any kind of medication - or treatment - just to support the people who are and certainly not to openly advocate the use of a product unless it was a useful device

It was a highly reputable website and I do not feel discrimated against when my advisors have told me these things - and in the past I have felt discrimination of different kinds so I know

I know this product - whether MMJ or MJ helps people with cancer and I have no argument with that - and certainly in Victoria MMJ has been legalised for children with epilespy - and has proven invaluable

No doubt things will change because they always do - but I have seen someone have a personality change and it broke my heart - and whatever happens - I do not plan to use it myself

And as you say - the use for people with MI could be dangerous - that is a concern of mine too

In this site Sane Forums - there are certain groups of letters that are red-lighted - even though the actual context of that group of letters may be harmless - in the website I was in we were told to report anyone talking about suicide or SH - and they risked being banned from the site - here people are able to discuss how they feel

It's different rules for different schools - I guess - I have not had a problem discussing emotionally sensitve issues with people and feel it is good to have the option to discuss anything necessary to help with our MI

And my post was for the the support I need myself - leaving that site has been long and difficult - now I am out and it feels like a breath of fresh air

And thanks for your comments @Sahara - since I started this it is getting to be an interesting topic - all sorts of issues are springing out of it - including yours on discimination

Decadian

I really don't know @Sahara

I only know what I was told

And until I know differently will keep myself as safe as I can

But here's the thing - it's not legal in every state in America - and it's not that I would be associating with someone who uses MJ - it's the problem with the website - and it reaches more deeply for me than the MJ problem - I was cut out of the discussion on everything and the manager told me to "go away and leave us alone" - which on it own has another story attached -

But still - people can be wrong - this I know - but I am sticking with my gut and what I was told

About voting for euthanasia - totally different subject - I am in favour of euthanasia - I don't remember what I voted for in the Senate - how about that waste of paper - wow - I don't think we are going to have a problem talking about euthanasia any more than we would have trouble talking about MJ - or an association with some who is a user - but what if they are a dealer? - that is entirely different and I have been there too and left the guy behind

In the case of the wesbite I left - my association with a website that is International could be detrimental - whatever people say I am looking after my own hide - I really don't care a whole lot what other people do until it impacts on my life

But I go back to my reason for posting yesterday - after my interaction with the site I was leaving - which was unpleasant - I posted this - we have freedom of speech - yes - but there is or can be a problem with consorting with certain people - for a website with international membership this could be a problem - and I am not risking it

But frankly - I am into looking after my own hide

Decadian

hey @Decadian @Sahara I do discriminate against the recreation use of marijuana if something can change your personality into someone who is angry and have little insight into their behavior and cause havoc and have family and friends worry about them. then yes I will discriminate. I think it might be my age talking but aren't we suppose to be wiser as we get older. until it becomes a medically proven drug. I will discriminate. accept the person, not their actions

I agree with that @hope77

Accept the person, not their actions

Decadian

Hi @Decadian,

thanks for explaining... I think I understand you. You have to follow your gut feelings. You trust your doctor and that is important.

And looking out for number one is the best idea! I believe I would never have suffered so badly from MI if I had always put myself and my best interests first, above all.

It's just that as women, we are never taught to look out for number one. But we should be.

If I were in your position and there was some risk of losing my services, then I think I would agree to publically declare whatever view they asked me to, be it anti-drug or whatever. (I mean, within reason!)

Privately, I would still maintain my own opinions but I would only share them with select people. I had to do a lot of that anyway, in the past.

You see, I used to work in a very conservative profession where a lot of my opinions were just not fashionable. I am sure I would have been discriminated againt in the work-place if people knew my political and personal beliefs. They would have thought I was completely crackers and I would have lost work because of it.

Strangely enough, I am probably am completely crackers in some ways.... but I am just so good at covering it up. I should have been a secret agent and joined ASIO.... I really am that good at keeping everything under wraps!

Ok, I am just being a bit silly, now.

But, anyway, it sounds like your public and private opinions are in total agreement, so it is all fine for you.

All the best with it.

Hi @Sahara

I think many people have both public and private opinions - and without either of them being wrong - after all - if we said exactly what we felt then there would be trouble everywhere - refraining from speech is not a lie - unless it is something we know we have to decare when standing up for something that is right against something that is wrong

And an example of this is the use or abuse of drugs - personally I would not feel safe about using them - I already take medication that is precribed under authority and this is for the best for me publically as well - eg my services - it's not worth risking anything

We need to teach out daughters to stand up for themselves and have a good opinion of themselves - I think my daughter and granddaughter do

And I am sure I am completely crackers - at times - I have a really wacky sense of humour and you're not silly

So I think I have covered my bases - publically and privately - I felt badly about the way I was treated by the management of that website - it brought a bad taste to my mouth - but that has gone now and I wake up relieved I don't have to go there everyday and watch it dying and having little else but a subject I do not agree with in my face

Decadian

Good call on leaving site. MJ for pain and such I understand. BUT it's my understanding it's very bad if you have mental illness.

In my youth and ignorance I used it and all it did was spike my bipolar one way or the other. But in my youth I was a "self medicator" as fellow patients have called it. I drank and took everything I could to counter my moods and in the long run just made them worse.

I haven't been drunk in over 4 years (and counting ) and haven't touched anything else for over 10 years and I'm so much better off for it.

I don't understand how anyone can recommend MJ for mental illness. Scarey stuff.