Media's 'Reefer Madness' Sells Patients Short

"If there is a single common denominator uniting Medical Marijuana patients, it is chronic pain. Like 20-year-old Andrew, with a scar that goes more than halfway through his wrist, the result of work accident that severed five tendons. He's currently awaiting his third surgery on the wrist. Chronic pain keeps him up at night, so his doctor originally prescribed the painkiller Vicodin. Andrew quickly got strung out on the drug, which also causes nasty stomachaches. Since obtaining his medical marijuana recommendation, he can sleep at night.

So why is is so hard to get a fair shake from the media?

"For the past several weeks, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat has run a series of news stories and opinion pieces that have taken a decidedly negative slant on Santa Rosa's three medical marijuana dispensaries, more popularly known as cannabis clubs.