Only four patients receive medical marijuana from the federal government's secretive Compassionate IND program. Glaucoma sufferer Elvy Musikka is one of them.

CelebStoner's Steve Bloom interviewed and photographed Musikka during her recent visit to New York.

Where do you see things going right now in the whole medical-marijuana movement?
If we are wise and take advantage of the new administration and make sure the information gets to the right departments I think we stand a good chance of changing a lot of laws regarding the prohibition of marijuana, whether it’s for medical or otherwise. The cat’s out of the bag. There are 13 states and several others that are trying to become legal. When you poll anyone anywhere in this country, most people want to end this hideous prohibition - especially for the patients. No patients should ever suffer without their medicine.

Do you think Obama should expand the IND program?
Quite frankly, we’ve gone so far beyond that. The federal program should not be expanded. It’s just inept. The way they treat the marijuana - chop it all up with leaf, seeds, stems. I picked up marijuana this March that was manufactured in 1995! The THC level is no longer there. But there are solutions to any problem anyone throws my way, so I moved to Oregon and joined the state marijuana program there. I am allowed to smoke very good marijuana, which works incredibly well with one other pharmaceutical drop in my eye once a day. I eat all the other (federal) marijuana as well. I cook it and concentrate it. I use all the forms, they all work for me, not only for my glaucoma, but for arthritis, scoliosis and oesteoporosis. My intraocular pressures have been so incredibly under control - my doctor couldn’t believe it.

How does the medical program work in Oregon?
The initiative allows patients to grow their own or pick a caregiver. That person is allowed to grow six plants and supply you with medicine. It’s been extremely successful. People are really kind and compassionate in Oregon. There are at least 10,000 growers who have registered (as caregivers) and at least 25,000 registered patients. You’re allowed to have six mature plants and six seedlings at one time. Caregivers can provide for four patients.

Why aren’t there any dispensaries in Oregon?
Voter Power is working on a dispensary initiative for 2010. I'm on the board of advisors.

You consume a large amount of THC. Is it ever too much or too strong? How do you deal with constantly being high?
The euphoric state is very natural to me. The high can be too intense perhaps if you eat a little too much of it. I suggest anyone that’s going to use edibles, at least at the beginning, have a friend to guide them through that. The first time I ate marijuana I stuck a big bud inside of an apple - I took the core out and I baked it. Nothing happened. I went to sleep very disappointed. I woke up the next morning and the room was totally spinning around me. I ended up having to go to work. You talk about paranoia? I thought I had a huge sign in front of my forehead that said She Smokes Marijuana! It never worked like that again.

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