By: Stacey Kaiser
s.kaiser@krdo.com
Follow me on Twitter at www.twitter.com/staceykaiser
COLORADO SPRINGS - In a story last week, we told you how it took a Denver patient with an earache just 8 minutes to obtain a medical marijuana license. But a Colorado Springs couple says it was not so quick and easy for them.
Mary and Paul Zapata have been through an 8-year struggle with Paul's health. The only relief has been since August when Paul started using medical marijuana at Pikes Peak Alternative Health. "After 3 years of waiting, he put his arms around me and held me for about 15 minutes and that was the greatest feeling in the world," said Mary Zapata.
Her husband Paul Zapata was diagnosed with Active 3rd Stage Hepatitis C 8 years ago. He got a liver transplant after being on the waiting list for 6 years, and then developed Pancreatic Cancer. "All he basically was was a zombie in a chair or in bed constantly. The weight loss was over 100 lbs in 6 months," said Zapata.
Paul was taking 60 pills a day; most of them were pain medications. Since using medical marijuana, Paul is down to 20 pills daily. His caregivers say it is the illegal users that could ruin this for people who really need it. "It's on the aspect of drug dealing more or less. You're giving somebody the permission to schedule 1 narcotic that's legal in our state for medical purpose only," said Pikes Peak Alternative Health Owner and Caregiver Tony Carmendy.
They say it takes time to do the proper checks, much longer than 8 minutes. "I go over those records and review that they are legitimate. I need current records and some history to back that diagnosis up," said Pikes Peak Alternative Health Medical Assistant Carrie Carmendy.
"People should have the right to go to them legally with the records in a controlled atmosphere," said Zapata. Carrie and Tony Carmendy say there is a 3 weeks wait to get into their clinic because of the lengthy record checks.
