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Physician advocates for benefits of medical marijuana

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This Mississippi doctor could use medical marijuana. So could many of her patients.

Talyr Hall, a 30-year-old Brookhaven native and resident physician at Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2016 while she was in medical school.

Her since then has been a painful cycle of intensive treatments and medications that have life-altering side effects. One of the most painful symptoms of multiple sclerosis is spasticity, or abnormal muscle tightness due to prolonged contraction. Spasticity was not fixed by a stem cell transplant she had in 2018, and the side effects were not completely alleviated through powerful prescription medicines.

โ€œA lot of have side effects (of medication) that most people don’t want to deal with,โ€ Hall said. โ€œSome of the side effects are worse than the treatment.โ€

While taking an immunosuppressant medication, Hall was sick every week for about three months. She said that she contracted every contagious illness that her patients had.ย 

โ€œI didn’t have an immune system to fight off anything, so that was frustrating,โ€ she said. Hall also had a slow heart rate as a side effect to the medication โ€” her heart rate never went over 50, which made her physically weak.

But after Mississippi lawmakers legalized in February, Hall sees some promise both for herself and for many of her patients.

Hall says that she would be a medical marijuana patient if it weren’t for her job, which currently prohibits use of the drug. She sees the benefit of the plant and how it can her patients.ย 

โ€œAs a physician, I have patients that would benefit from it,โ€ Hall said. โ€œI do have a where medical marijuana would help, but I’d rather be an advocate for other people.โ€

According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, studies have generally shown that some medical marijuana products help with symptoms of pain and spasticity, but more research is needed.

Medical marijuana is often compared to other medications that are pushed by pharmaceutical companies. But Hall sees the need for both and rejects the stigmas of medical marijuana.ย 

โ€œIt’s a naturally occurring substance,โ€ she said. โ€œI do know of people, not personally, but I’ve heard and I’ve had patients tell me that they go and buy it from the street which is terrifying because you don’t know what’s in it. I think it’s just like any other medicine. We prescribe medicine that has side effects all the time, and people take those because it is marketed as a medicine, whereas (medical marijuana) is not chemically modified and it grows naturally.โ€

During her experience, she has seen several patients take multiple medications to combat the side effects of other medications.ย 

โ€œThere is still use for pharmaceuticals, but I think there are some things that we could use instead,โ€ Hall said. โ€œWe deal with a lot of polypharmacy, especially in elderly patients who are on different medications. I think medical marijuana could help with this.โ€

When Gov. Tate Reeves signed the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act in February, the governor said that medical marijuana could potentially to increased recreational marijuana use and less people working.ย 

Hall’s perspective of the new is different.ย 

โ€œThere will always be people who take advantage the system, but you have to do what the people who would benefit from it,โ€ Hall said. โ€œYou shouldn’t punish the ones who will benefit from it just because there are people who can’t play by the rules.โ€

This article first appeared on Mississippi Today and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

Mississippi News

Danver’s celebrates forty seven years of continued success

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www.wcbi.com – Allie Martin – 2024-11-01 19:01:00

SUMMARY: Danver’s restaurant in , Mississippi, recently celebrated its 47th anniversary, maintaining a loyal customer base since its opening in 1977. General Larry Wade, who started as a cook, emphasized the restaurant’s focus on consistency, quality, and customer service. Despite economic challenges, Danver’s has thrived due to its enduring values and community connections, which patrons appreciate. Regular customers, like Tom Robinson, value the reasonable prices and consistent quality. The restaurant aims to continue this legacy, looking forward to its 50th anniversary in three years as it remains a cherished community staple.

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Mississippi News

Creator Studio at MUW expands opportunities for students

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www.wcbi.com – Grace Brister – 2024-11-01 18:57:00

SUMMARY: The new Creator Studio at the Mississippi for Women aims to enhance student creativity by providing a dedicated for production, podcasting, and audio work. Located in Fant Memorial Library, the studio offers essential equipment and software, lighting, microphones, and green screens. Dr. Bary Smith emphasizes that it enables from various majors to bring their ideas to without the burden of investing in expensive gear. Students can reserve the studio for projects, fostering valuable skills applicable across industries, particularly in effective communication and branding. Reservations can be made online or through the library.

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Mississippi News

New month same temperatures

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www.wcbi.com – Ashleigh Bryant – 2024-11-01 17:33:00

SUMMARY: COLUMBUS, Mississippi will experience a return to warmer weather after a brief dip, with highs in the 80s over the next few days. Friday night will be humid, dropping to the low 60s, with possible patchy fog. Saturday will be mostly cloudy but rain chances are reduced, while Sunday will see a mix of clouds and sunshine, with lows in the 60s. Next starts dry with temperatures in the upper 70s to middle 80s; however, scattered showers are possible on Election Day Tuesday, so should prepare with rain gear.

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