Renee Wolfe was born in 1960. She is amother of four proud children ages 12 to 25, and a role model for medical marijuana activist. Renee has been using marijuana for over thirty years. She calls herself Grandma Marijuana”. Ann Arbor has been her residence for the last eight years. She is a member of NORML and CALM (Coalition Advocating Legal Marijuana).
Renee has battled muscular sclerosis since 1979. With MS, every case is unique. She was diagnosed with chronic pain initially, but it did progress. After being diagnosed, Renee started smoking marijuana to escape the reality that was her life. She realized immediately that marijuana helped her symptoms. She stated “I can walk better when I smoke”. Renee is able to move, because when she doesn’t have medication, she cannot move at all. Renee was previously a homemaker raising her children prior to MS. With two teenagers living in the house, MS affects her ability to care for them. She has help. She had to get divorced to full Social Security benefits, but she and her former husband are still together.” You do what you have to do”. She also is able to receive Medicare after the divorce. She can now take care of herself although her ex-husband does the cleaning and the cooking. The only downfall of smoking marijuana was the police. Never one to hide her opinion, Renee was arrested in 1985 for smoking a joint in the face of law enforcement. She was sentenced to fifty hours of community service and now has a felony on her record.
More trouble came when her youngest child became nauseas and she gave him marijuana. The state heard about that and she lost custody of her son. Her ex-husband, who is still with her, hascustody.
Renee was a key member in the push to get medical marijuana on the ballot. She spoke in front of the House of Representatives to help pass the marijuana law. She attends every march and rally that she can and refers to her fellow protesters as “brothers”. Renee Wolfe was at the head of the line at the state Department of Community Health in Lansing, making her the first patient to receive a medical marijuana card in the state. As she rolled in her wheelchair up to the counter, a round of applause echoed through the room. No one could have been happier.
Renee does not need a wheelchair anymore but she still uses a scooter to get around. Marijuana has stabilized the progression of her MS. Her future wishes for Michigan: she would like to see the people get their medicine at an affordable rate and free is the best rate she can think of. She believes we should all grow our own. Eliminate the middle man. Take the black market out of the
picture.
by Erikush Growski
Check out out website.
