Paging Dr. Mary Jane

A few honks and hand waves were generated on Flaming Gorge Way by a group seeking legalization of marijuana for medical uses.

The group, Wyoming Cannabis Activists, were in both Green River and Rock Springs Monday to promote their views on medical marijuana. Holding signs on the sidewalk in front of Centennial Park, three members from the Casper-based organization, as well as a couple of county residents came out for the cause.

The Wyoming Cannabis Activists is a nonprofit organization seeking to educate and advocate legislation regarding medicinal marijuana and industrial uses for hemp.

Marcia Stuelpnagel, a co-founder of the organization, said she seeks legalization for medical uses for marijuana to help treat her ovarian cancer. Having already undergone a hysterectomy due to the cancer, she hopes to see medicinal legalization occur soon to keep her from having to undergo chemotherapy. She plans to use a hemp-based oil known as Rick Simpson Oil to treat and cure the cancer. Her dislike of chemotherapy comes from watching her mother battle her own cancer using traditional chemotherapy treatments, and not wanting to experience many of the side effects those treatments can create.

Beyond the cancer, Stuelpnagel also has bi-polar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder and believes marijuana helps manage symptoms of those illnesses as well.

According to the FDA, the agency has not approved marijuana as a safe and effective drug for any indication.

"The agency has, however, approved one drug containing a synthetic version of a substance that is present in the marijuana plant and one other drug containing a synthetic substance that acts similarly to compounds from marijuana but is not present in marijuana," the website states.

Both the American Cancer Society and FDA do support research on cannabinoid compounds, with the cancer society reporting some small studies have shown smoking marijuana can help treat nausea from chemotherapy.

Cody Brown, a founder and executive director of the organization, said the reason why he and Stuelpnagel started the organization is due to the number of stories people talk about regarding marijuana's health benefits. He wants to see marijuana completely decriminalized in Wyoming, and believes the day will come when it is. However, he sees the approval of medicinal usage being step toward gradual decriminalization.

"I think it will eventually happen," Brown said.

For Brown, decriminalization would have an additional benefit. Both he and Stuelpnagel served time for marijuana-related offenses. Brown served 18 months in prison and has difficulty finding employment. Decriminalization of marijuana would aid Brown and many like him who are felons and help them find work.

Local support of medical marijuana came from Michelle Irwin, who specifically held a sign regarding pills being a problem and marijuana a remedy. Irwin, who ran unsuccessfully as a Democrat for the Wyoming Legislature in House District 18, said she disagrees with statements made by her opponent, Rep. Fred Baldwin, R-Kemmerer, during their campaign. Baldwin, a physician's assistant, said he opposed medicinal marijuana during their debate, believing pharmaceutical drugs can alleviate the same problems medicinal marijuana is said to solve.

Irwin doesn't believe all man-made medicines are better than what's available from nature, saying treatment options available in pill form aren't always the same.

"It's about patients' rights," Irwin said. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."