The world lost someone truly special when 73-year-old Olivia Newton-John succumbed to cancer in early August 2022. Newton-John was very public about her disease and treatments. We could all learn a lot from her and the bravery she showed over many years of being ill. In particular, the cannabis community can learn a lot from her example.
Olivia Newton-John became a household name after starring alongside John Travolta in the 1978 musical Grease. She was also a Grammy award-winning singer with tons of hits. But in 1992, Newton-John was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her remission lasted until 2013, when the cancer returned in her shoulder. It eventually found its way to her spine.
Cancer pain can be debilitating to some people. So it’s no surprise that in 2018, Newton-John made public the fact that she was using Medical Cannabis to treat her cancer pain. Back then, she called cannabis a “magical, miracle plant” that helped her manage daily pain.
You probably already know that chronic pain is a qualifying condition for Medical Cannabis in Utah. So is cancer. So between the two, patients suffering similar to how Newton-John suffered are eligible to get Medical Cannabis Cards in the Beehive State.
We also reported earlier this year that state lawmakers added acute pain to the qualifying conditions list. This is pretty big, especially for medical providers and patients who would otherwise settle on opioid painkillers following a surgery, some sort of accident, etc.
Knowing what we know about Olivia Newton-John’s battle with cancer, she would probably encourage Utah patients suffering from cancer or chronic pain to get their Medical Cannabis Cards. She was the living embodiment of the principle of not letting physical health fully dictate one’s life.
Newton-John was not ashamed of using Medical Cannabis to manage cancer pain. She was open and honest about it. She also made it clear that it was her husband who introduced her to the idea. Thankfully, he wasn’t afraid to share his knowledge on cannabis with his wife.
We sincerely hope that you aren’t avoiding getting a Medical Cannabis Card because you associate negative thoughts or emotions with cannabis. Medical Cannabis patients have nothing to be ashamed of. Their medicines are no different to any other prescription medications.
If you are dealing with cancer and the pain that comes with it, you have enough to worry about. You need relief from pain that is just making it harder for you to deal with cancer and its treatment. Medical Cannabis could work very well for you. At least talk to your medical provider about it.
Should you decide to get a Medical Cannabis Card, the process isn’t difficult. You create an account on the state website and initiate the process by filling out your portion of the card application. Then you visit with your provider. They complete the other half of the application, you pay your fee, and then wait for your card to arrive electronically.
If you are still unsure, learn a little bit more about Olivia Newton-John and her brave battle against cancer. Being a cancer patient for some 30 years, she had plenty of insight to offer. We could all learn from her inspiring story.
Olivia Newton-John’s passing has had a profound impact on a lot of people. Those of us in the cannabis community can draw inspiration from her story and example. Her life was proof that Medical Cannabis is something to be celebrated rather than kept hidden in the shadows.
