Patient Feature ►
John ’ s Story ,
Addiction and Recovery
by Alexandria Stith , contributing writer
It is the responsibility of all consumers to understand that while the benefits of cannabis are far and wide , there is still work to be done to truly change the world ’ s perspective — starting with how we view people who have had nonviolent convictions in relation to cannabis . The detriment has the power to not only shift the trajectory of one ’ s life , but it has the power to continue to do so . All the while being medically and recreationally legal in states they could live .
This month ’ s story comes from an MMJ patient whose story was not only inspiring but a cautionary tale that regards both the benefits and the drawbacks of not being properly educated about the world of cannabis . His story will also speak to the journey that led down the road to restoring his connection to his spiritual beliefs and practices . The patient ’ s name has been changed to “ John ” to preserve the intimate details he shared about his life .
“ John ’ s ” story begins in somewhat familiar territory , the church . Growing up , John was , as he proclaimed , “ A Pastor ’ s Kid ,” heavily involved in the church with his family , never experimenting with drugs or alcohol . That changed when he turned 18 and experimented for the first time . However , his first experience with cannabis wasn ’ t the experience he remembered , “ Looking back , I just remember not enjoying it that much because it just put me down . It wasn ’ t until I was able to understand what it was that I was smoking did things really start to improve and impact my day .”
Things started to take a turn in John ’ s life after he was kicked out of Bible college and forced
46 September 2022 to move back home . His experimenting went to new heights when he started using heroin , which took over the course of his life for most of his twenties . One important note that John realized was the connection between his experimenting with cannabis and then heroin . With a better perspective , he vehemently believed that the connection wasn ’ t between the “ illicit ” drugs but rather the influence of the “ people in his life .”
Things would only hit their breaking point , and his life would come to a crossroads on November 12 , 2012 . After being sentenced to long-term treatment in Ozark County , John remembers his lawyer offering his life one final ultimatum , “ I remember him telling me that this was it . If I didn ’ t get it together now , then I would be going away [ to prison ] for 15 to 20 years .” John had a chance to change his life , and as he remembers , his sentencing date was also the last time he would ever touch heroin . This marked a new chapter in John ’ s life that he hoped would be a fresh start .
However , remnants of John ’ s past still lingered as he fought for his sobriety in longterm treatment . A month before sentencing , in October 2012 , he and a friend had been pulled over and arrested for possession ; however , his possession charge was different . The arresting officer found marijuana shake on John , and due to his prior convictions and already on his third strike , he was charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana . According to Missouri Law , “ Possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana is generally a class D misdemeanor . However , if a defendant has previously been found guilty of a drug crime in Missouri or other state , a second possession charge for 10 grams or less will be charged as a class A misdemeanor .”
This made things difficult for John , as he was currently awaiting sentencing and now had a new misdemeanor charge that was proving very hard to eliminate . Once he entered the treatment facility , his mother worked diligently to help clear her son ’ s name . The courts continued the issue as his mother tried at the very least to get time served while he was away , this proved futile , and the case dragged on in Ferguson , MO .
While he was in drug treatment for St . Charles County , Ferguson County continued with the charges . The case ended up being moved to St . Louis County , accepting a fine in January 2014 . Usually , in most cases , once a person is released from treatment , they are subject to receive a lump sum based on time served and their bond . He received neither , being forced to plead guilty and paid a hefty fine . The painful truth he learned in prison was the state ’ s strategic and malicious way to continue the cycle of repeat offenders . He shared , “ If you get put on probation , they can ’ t give you more than five years of probation at a time in the state of Missouri ; however , they are able to violate you in the amount of that time and start it all over .”
Once released in 2014 , John quickly assessed what would set him and his past apart — his daily routine . When he was at the treatment center , a daily routine was not only a requirement but a necessity to truly rehabilitate . For the next two years , John ’ s life underwent a complete transformation that started to put him on a new path of spirituality and education . He quit drinking , started exercising vigorously , completed his GED , and formed a new relationship with his spirituality . When he was in prison , he reconnected with God , and he reconnected with his faith ,