GENESEE TOWNSHIP Patients and caregivers of medical marijuana can now learn more about the new
law and the plant at Oaksterdam University.
Some are calling it a lifesaver and a great alternative to addictive
prescription drugs.
Nearly 50 people filled the classroom at the Genesee County Compassion Club,
where the fifth Oaksterdam University Michigan seminar took place.
Classes are given to patients like Cindy Simerson, who says the plant helped her
heal her three forms of cancer. "It's really the only thing that helps with my
bladder spasms .... I have been doing the oil, the medibles .... trying to
prevent it from coming back."
Caregiver Jeffrey Hyder is taking the course because he sees the plant as a safe
alternative to prescription drugs. "What my patient does. He vaporizes marijuana
instead of taking the Vicodin that he used to take. Since he's done that, he
doesn't need the painkillers anymore."
Class facilitators say the classrooms aren't just filled with smokers.
"I have patients who don't smoke at all. They've never smoked in their life, so
I make them tinctures. I make them external tinctures that they can rub for
arthritis pain. I make internal tinctures, I make medibles for them to be able
to eat a half a cookie just for them to get the relief that they need," said
Genesee County Compassion Club Co-Founder Shyanne Goupil.
Dispelling ignorance around medical marijuana is what Hyder and Simerson say the
seminar is doing.
"Where else are you going to go to learn the things you need to know about the
laws, producing it, growing it, using it," explained Hyder.
"If everybody would just stop using prescription drugs and maybe vaporize some
marijuana, they'd be a lot better," added Simerson.
The seminar costs $250 to attend.
