NY to Oregon

[fdish]

land of the free

land of the free

I am sure I could go with Northern Cal or southern Oregon. I chose Oregon after looking at NORML's web sites. It looks like they allow a caregiver to hold more than Cal. Part of the problem is the cost of land/houses is much higher out west. One thought would be to buy land ahead, get my doctor on board. Set up a tent or RV. I can prove I was run over by a drunk driver in '81 and spent 9 months in a body cast with a broken back. I would respect the laws if they are reasonable. I get a very small amount from SSDI but there is not enough for the medicine here. I was hoping to grow my own legally. It would be great to not have to look over your shoulder 24/7.

 

[igrowone]

fdish, just read through your thread, can empathize, living in NY myself
can't help you on Oregon info, but the NY situation may not be as bleak as you fear
reform was on the way here this year, then the state government went to hell after Spitzer self destructed
we'll see what happens in the new legislative session, don't want to create any false hope
but if there was a deal(and there was, just got side tracked), that deal can be redealt, question of when

 

[fdish]

yeah,
My attorney seems more hopeful than me. He was the only one listed for Rochester in NORML. I started outpatient today. Done it before and doubt I'll learn anything new. This was a very expensive lesson to learn. Still can't believe how stupid I was. I had just gotten out of the hospital a couple days earlier and was under the influence of hydromorphone. I would like to go out west and live in the mountains and stay away from most people. I know NY had just changed some of the drug laws the week I got popped. Nobody seems to know how the new laws will play out. In '87 I was held without bail for about 13 days before my attorney got the Judge to set bail at $75,000. Court dragged out for a year and a half then I plead guilty to 1st degree and got another 5 years probation. Now I am much older and may prefer doing a year and no probation. Then I could move to a free state and keep a small garden. Bail this time was only $15,000 and I was out the next day. They robbed my house and bank account very quickly. I made no statement then or now. I wonder if a doctors note from another state could help my medical arguement? I have relatives in Ca. and Or. I have one good thing to be thankful for. I had my gallbladder out last week and that got rid of a pain that I have been to 3 pain clinics for in the last year and a half. All the pain clinics just wanted to get me off opiates. They found I had many stones all this time. When you tell doctors you have bad back pain they tell you to stop opiates. When you tell them I had gall stones they say "I heard that is very painful."

 

[fdish]

gallbladder removed in Nov. and state turned case over to feds for review. not good...

 

[fdish]

still waiting to hear from my lawyer. I have not been indicted yet by the feds or state. I was told that the feds have the case and are reviewing it. I am also told that the first prosecutor makes a decision and if the choice is to keep in fed court three more people above him/her also have to review it and agree. At each step my lawyer steps in and tries to keep it local where drug court would be an option. Hurry up and wait. Money seems to be what they want the most.

 

[qdavid]

Fdish, just a few more posts and your golden on that PM thing.

I hear ya on that NY backasswards, harsh shit. Even if they do pass medical it's most likely going to be just like NJ's. Stupid and meaningless. I grew up in central NY. I got nicked twice for possession. Both stupid. Then I got out of there and did 20 years in the Air Force, got out, finished off a degree and taught some. Took a spill and hurt my back in Germany. It's gotten worse. Now I'm disabled and subsist on SS and military retirement. Only 54 and about done. SUCKS. Bought a house in rural northwest Florida thinking it might be good being halfway between my old folks in Pensacola and my daughter with my grandkids east of here. SUCKS though. Bible thumpin', redneck dumb-asses here. More like fuckin' southern Alabama than Florida.

I've always liked Oregon too. Specifically southern Oregon. I've done some reading about Ashland, Medford, Klamouth Falls, and Grants Pass. Sounds very cool. I have had two motorbikes too, but lost the endorsement on the lisence in TX when they just didn't put it on, after waiting a couple hours in line. Assholes.

I think you'd like it. Go for it. Good luck, man. I get the impression you're a kindred spirit. I just grow my own organic weed and am very quiet about it now. I tell NO ONE. Only speak of it here. Good luck. Rock on, dude.

 

[Zealious]

Wow you oregon ppl seem very friendly. Ive always wanted to move to oregon, even before MJ, it looks so damn beautiful. I have always heard that there is a very big music scene in oregon.. or is this mainly around portland?

 

[fdish]

still waiting

still waiting

5 months into a rehab that looks at mental health and addiction called harm reduction. They are fairly open minded compared to the regular drug and alcohol rehabs I have been to. One reason I did not get into a regular drug and alcohol rehab is because I have not drank any alcohol since 1992. I decided that alcohol was poison for me and it got me 3 DWI's and several other stupid arrests. In the one size fits all programs they don't think this can be done. I recently went 3 weeks without pain meds to make sure I still could. The problem is tolerance. I now take hydromorphone and am taking 4X what I started with and get less of the effect. I am trying not to take it until my pain level gets to about 7 or 8 out of 10. I took a couple last Friday. For a while I was snorting and then IV. I am back to eating them because I have to watch myself. I got a letter about a month ago saying my case was going to be presented to the state grand jury where I would be able to go to drug court instead of federal. The DEA still has my money and that is a federal civil case where I have filed two demand letters for the return. I have receipts that show this money was borrowed from a home equity loan. The lawyer said even with receipts they will negotiate for a percentage. They want to steal your money. They get away with it all the time. The time I have spent in this rehab 5X a week does not begin to count until I start drug court. It took me 3.5 months to get the bud out of my piss. I was told I should get indicted within 2 weeks of the letter but still nothing. They only hand up the indictments on Thursdays and Fridays so I would like to get started. I am very concerned that they may back down on allowing me to take pain meds while in drug court even though my lawyer said the DA was OK with it as long as I have a script. I refuse to tell them who my new doctor is because the other rehab sent a letter to my doctor telling him not to write me any more narcotics. He sent me a certified letter telling me to get a new doctor and that he refuses to see me again. These doctors are scared to death that the government will pull their license if they treat people with long term pain. It was very hard to find a new doctor and he has no idea I am in rehab. None of these doctors has been in severe pain for 30 years.

 

[Zealious]

I feel you man. Ur really smart to play along with there dirty little game they set up for ppl.. The nicer you play along the nicer ur going to end up in the end. Had to learn that the hard way.. I still have a very hard time even smiling at a cop. as soon as they talk to me like im a criminal i talk to them like they are the fucking hiltler gastopo.

I feel you on the pain meds. Impressive u could quit for the 3 weeks there.. truly.
I have bad carpal tunnel... well im sure its airthritis by now, im just in denial. I was on pain meds for 2 years.. then I quit taking them.. and man I had no idea what i was in for.. Yea the initial WD sucks but even after that... for months I had to fight terrible depression.. I would just start crying for no reason and shit.. man it sucked.

But now the pain is back =(
You cant win.

I just refilled my scrip and took it for a month.. I just stoped taking them.. didnt think I would have a hard time.. it hasent been years like last time... I feel like utter shitte. completely miserable.

But still probly nowhere near as bad as what ur going through.. Good luck to you brother.

 

[fdish]

I had my back broken by a drunk driver almost 30 years ago and have learned that I can't take a pain pill every time I want to. I tell myself "take the pain" for as long as I can. After about a week of pain bad I give in and take a couple. The next day I rethink my pain level and try to go without again if possible. I know that if I take to many they won't help at all very quickly. The dose goes up and IV seems to be the only choice. I don't suggest that to anyone. It's real easy to get used to doing that. Tolerance to pain meds is scarey and fast. I don't know what the hospital will give me when the hydromorphone no longer helps. When I tell them I need at least 4X what an average human needs they look at me like "drug seeking behavior". I know the game. They learned all about this in school. They would love to see me go to a "pain psychologist" who should be able to talk me out of my pain. I have refused so far, they can stick that idea and the so-called pain clinics that should be renamed "rehabs".

 

[fdish]

court at last

court at last

Well,
Sorry I have not updated this lately. A lot has happened in the last month or so but I have been very unsure how it was going from day to day so I figured I would wait a while so I did not update inaccurately. What I thought was drug court is not. It is a NEWER NYS FELONY DIVERSION court that is handled much differently than drug court but isn't that much different. It is much more strict. I have been thrown out before I officially got started due to my pain medication. My attorney tried to customize the program to fit a disabled American that got run over on my motorcycle by a drunk driver in 1981. The program is inFACT a "ONE SIZE FITS ALL PROGRAM". They refuse to hear anything about pain or anxiety medication. Go to AA and NA and count days and thank God for your sobriety. I have heard that crap before and don't buy into it. They don't want any thinkers and especially not deep thinkers. The so-called case "manager" is a MORON with a degree and certificate. I have abstained from alcohol since 1992 and have taken pain medication as needed for many years and used medical marijuana while doing so contrary to their thoughts of ADDICTION. I quit Cannabis last October to try to get my charges erased if successful. I was finally indicted for 3 charges. a)1st degree possession C- Felony (over 10 pounds). b) Unlawful growing A- Misdemeanor. c) possession controlled substance Misdemeanor for 56 pain pills in my bedroom not in their proper container. They were willing to drop the later charge if I plead guilty to the first two. Maximum sentence would be 1-5.5 years in State prison. The lawyer explained that in reality the worse case would end up 1-3. My prior felony would not be held against me for sentencing because it was over 10 years ago. Otherwise it would be worse. My attorney advised me not to sign the required contract because they were setting me up for failure knowing my pain history. The program is intended to last at least 18 months and up to many years depending on your progress. If you mess up too much you end up in prison. They only allow for 4 graduations per year. I have been in outpatient rehab since last October, pissing clean for Cannabis. The pain medication (Hydromorphone) has increased. Although I have not done it everyday I began to use more and in different ways considered abusive on days that I did use. After being thrown out of Diversion court I was told that if things did not work out in the regular court I can possibly re-apply for Diversion court. I take that as if you don't want to suffer in prison without medication and change your mind about "taking the pain" at home you will have no other choice. At the same time the case manager claims she does not want me to lay in pain and suffering. She even suggested Ibuprofen for pain and I wanted to show her what pain is all about. They also demand that I can only go to an OASIS certified rehab and the one I am in is not. I am going today for an intake interview with my second such rehab. The only difference I have seen is the certification. The co-pays are much worse. I am currently on a sliding scale at a very good rehab with the best counselor I have ever had. She is open minded and understands that humans are individuals that don't all play by the one size fits all. I have decided to cry "UNCLE" and go without the pain medicine, go on (SUBUTEX) which has no pain killing effect and makes you sick as hell if you take any opiates. The courts love this, and maybe they will reconsider the diversion program where I can end up without any conviction. If I go to prison my wife and son would lose my disability check and become homeless. The only other practical choice is suicide which I have considered daily for a long while. I have death insurance (for over 2 years by law in NY required to pay on suicide) and she would be able to save the house. The diversion court is much better than the regular court but don't expect any deviations. In the regular drug court for misdemeanors they do allow pain medication if a doctor signs saying you medically need it. Even the court doctor I went to prescribed the medication I was taking after talking and reading my hospital records and comparing the scars with the papers he was reading. The case manager flipped out screaming at me for not insisting that he not prescribe medication he saw fit because I did not first tell him I am an ADDICT and therefore at risk for abuse. She then called the doctor and threatened him and he quickly changed his mind. She told me she was going to tell the Judge and if she gets her way I will be thrown out. Exactly what happened. Today I will tell the new rehab I am addicted to opiates and please save me.