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WEBVTT SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JEBBRADLEY CALLING THE TESTIMONYEXTREMELY COMPELLINGIT'S A DISORDER THAT THOSEAFFLICTED WITH SAY PHYSICIANSOFTEN MISDIAGNOSE, BUT THE PAIFOR THOSE WITH EHLERS-DANLOSSYNDROME, OR EDS, IS SEVERE.>> CHRONIC BACK JOINT AND NECKPAIN VISION PROBLEMS, CONGENITALHEART VALVE DEFECTS, CONGENITALKIDNEY STRUCTURE DEFECT.>> I'VE HAD 16 SURGERIES BECAUSEOF EHLERS DANLOS SYNDROME.I HAVE PINS AND PLATES ANDSCREWS IN MY BODY BECAUSE OF ALLOF THE DISLOCATIONS AND TORNLIGAMENTS AND TENDONRAY: ACCORDING TO DOCTORS, EDSATTACKS THE BODY'S CONNECTIVETISSUE, AND THOSE WHO TESTIFIEDBEFORE A SENATE COMMITTEE SAIDTHE PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH ITNEVER GOES AWAY.THE ISSUE BEFORE THE SENATEHEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESCOMMITTEE, A BILL THAT WOULDALLOW THOSE THAT SUFFER FROM EDSTO USE MEDICAL MARIJUANAWHILE OPIODS CAN BE PRESCRIBEDTO DEAL WITH THE PAIN, LYNETTESTEBBINS TOLD THE COMMITTEE SHEIS AFRAID TO USE THEM.>> I HAVE WATCHED WHAT USINGPAIN MEDICATION HAS DONE TO SOMEOF THE ADDICTS IN MY FAMILY.RAY: THOSE AFFLICTED WITH THESYNDROME ALSO TOLD THE COMMITTEETHAT THEY OFTEN SUFFER FROMDEPRESSION, THINKING SUICIDALTHOUGHTS, AND THE MEDICALMARIJUANA CAN HELP ALLEVIATETHAT PROBLEM.BUT NOT EVERYONE WITH THEDISEASE AGREES.>> YOU DON'T NEED TO TASOMETHING.YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO HELPALLEVIATE THE PAIN.THERE ARE MANY STRATEGIES OUTTHERE.RA ALSO TESTIFYING AGAINST THEBILL, A MEMBER OF NEW FUTURES,WHICH IS DEEPLY INVOLVED INCOMBATING OPIOID ABUSE.THEY TOLD THE COMMITTEE THATTHERE NEEDS TO BE MORE STUDYBEFORE ANOTHER GROUP IS ALLOWEDACCESS TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA,INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF DRUGSIN SOCIETYWHILE THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE BILLWERE EXTREMELY HAPPY AFTER THEVOTE, THIS WAS JUST THE FIRSTSTEP.IT STILL HAS TO PASS THECOMPLETE SENATE, THE HOUSE, ANDTHEN IT IS ON TO THE GOVERNOR,WHO HAS TO SIGN IT BEFORE THE

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A state Senate committee voted Monday to expand the use of medical marijuana to cover a painful condition. The committee voted unanimously to recommend that the use of medical marijuana be allowed for people with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a group of disorders that affect the body's connective tissues. Committee chairman Sen. Jeb Bradley called the testimony extremely compelling, as people with EDS testified about the often severe that pain they experience. "Chronic back, joint and neck pain, vision problems, congenital heart valve defects, congenital kidney structure defects," said Lena Zerbinopoulos, who has EDS. "I've had 16 surgeries because of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome," Lynette Stebbins said in her testimony. "I have pins and plates and screws in my body because of all of the dislocations and torn ligaments and tendons." EDS attacks the body's connective tissues, and those who testified before the Senate Health and Human Services Committee said the pain associated with it never goes away. The committee considered a bill that would allow those with EDS to use medical marijuana. Although opioids can be prescribed, Stebbins told the committee that she is afraid to use them. "I have watched what using pain medication has done to some of the addicts in my family," she said. Those afflicted with the syndrome also told the committee that they often suffer from depression and have suicidal thoughts. They said medical marijuana can help alleviate that problem. But not everyone with the syndrome agreed with the bill. "You don't need to take something. You need to do something to help alleviate the pain," said Gretchen Gott, who has EDS. "There are many strategies out there." Also testifying against the bill was a member of New Futures, a nonpartisan advocacy group that is involved in combating opioid abuse. The group told the committee that there needs to be more study before another group is allowed access to medical marijuana. The bill will now head to the full Senate. If it passes there, it will be considered by the House.