In Harmony Wellness offers alternatives for pain relief


By Ryan Vogler • For the Beacon • July 2, 2009


While the debate about medical cannabis may be a heated topic, there is
one group of individuals in Windsor who are here to help those seeking
information and the actual medicine itself.

In Harmony Wellness is the only medicinal cannabis clinic in Windsor.
Although it has just opened last Monday in the Westgate shopping center
(Suite 12), it already has 60 registered patients.

"My goal is to be someone that people can listen to and be educated
by," said Tina Valenti, Managing Partner for In Harmony Wellness.

"I think that marijuana is one of the most misunderstood medications
out there."

Currently, state and federal laws disagree regarding the use of
medicinal cannabis.

There are only 13 states that have legalized it as a medicine in various
forms. The federal government has refused to interfere as long as
dispensaries are following state laws.

"When 25 percent of the states have already legalized it, I think
that the federal government will have to evolve to the idea,"
Valenti said.

In Harmony Wellness set up shop in Windsor following a series of
informational seminars held five times a week and after an advertising
campaign in local newspapers. Although the business just recently
opened, it has been serving many people and setting up appointments
during these early stages.

"The phones were ringing off the hook," Valenti said. "A lot
of people were really interested in us and wanted to find out more
information."

A misconception about these clinics is that it only sells one form of
marijuana: the kind that is smoked as a joint.

Like at a restaurant, there is a menu of different forms of the herb
that can be purchased from suckers, brownies, liquid and even to lip
balm.

Each form gives different benefits, affects different parts of the body
and relieves different kinds of pain in different ways. Uses aren't
just limited to pain. Patients can also receive it for anxiety, ADHD and
other psychological ailments.

Erin Flow, a legal patient at In Harmony Wellness, has been treated for
her arthritis that has restricted her from moving her thumbs.

"It makes the pain go down and I am able to move my hands
completely," Flow said. "The man-made, chemical narcotics from
doctors were hard on my body and didn't work. Those painkiller pills
made it difficult to live. Marijuana rids (me) of my pain without any of
the nasty side effects of standard narcotics."

While a main concern for people may be that the marijuana can be abused
for recreation or can affect patient's work life, Flow assures that
it doesn't work like that.
"There is no recreation," she said. "You learn to be
responsible. There are certain medications that just relieve the pain
and don't make you giggly and uncontrollable."
At this point, the Windsor community hasn't taken any stands against
the organization or shown any discontent towards their efforts.

"I would recommend that anyone come by to ask any questions,"
Valenti said. "We want people to come by so we can open eyes and
minds to an alternative medicine."
While medicinal marijuana may not be for everyone, Flow says that it is
better than any pill she has ever taken and that it really is a
legitimate therapy.

"Come with non-judgment and open your mind to the medication,"
she said. "This has been a god send in helping me manage my pain.
When all else isn't working, we know that this will. It is one thing
that can cover what ten pills can. It is the one-cure-all."


http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20090702/WINDSORBEACON03/90701030/1133