As someone with a milder form of CP than the mother featured in the documentary, I'll say that smoking marijuana was most likely the best thing that happened to me.

The first time I smoked, I noticed a marked change in my physical state, as the dull ache in my left arm went away while the muscles in my left hand and forearm loosened up. My mind slowed down and I was better able to focus on one task at a time without feeling like everything was piling up every day.

Over time, my metabolism also slowed down enough that I was able to gain more weight eating the same foods I always ate, as I otherwise ate and could never move past being 115 pounds (I'm 5'7). As for my emotional and psychological well-being, I was much more sociable and personable, as I'm a natural introvert and more wound up personality-wise, which led to me making few friends unless we had interests in common.

Were I able to afford it, I'd move to either Colorado or California for easier access to weed, if it means I can live with CP without being miserable every day. But, I'm in Texas which has the harshest laws against it in the country. What Jacqueline is doing should be commended, because she found a real solution to living with her CP that most people with the condition don't have ready access to, at least not without significant legal risks.

It's bad enough people with CP have to go through miles of red tape just to get federal help (15 years of attempts in my case with no success), but to deny them alternative, effective treatment on the basis of a failed control policy is simply cruel and absurd.