Celeste Gallagher is all parts inspiring, kind, thoughtful, and oh so knowledgeable about cannabis. She has struggled with chronic illness for the most of her life. She’s technically disabled. She’s also the kind of person who won’t let anything stand in her way of living. Certainly not serious disease and disability.
I remember the first time we met. Celeste walked into the medical marijuana dispensary where I worked, assisted by two canes. She worked her way over to where I was standing and started to peruse the dispensary menu. She reviewed the menu with a slightly furrowed brow and struggled to balance enough to bring the menu close to her face. I offered to hold the menu for her, but then she carefully set the menu down and completely surprised me. All of a sudden this disabled lady’s face lit up as she requested her selections off the menu. Her excitement filled the space as she basically reviewed each product available on the menu. She explained that this strain is great for pain relief, that strain will be infused into coconut oil, this other one is great for creativity. She went further — CBD is great for anxiety, THC kills Lyme bacteria. Her enthusiasm for cannabis was evident, her knowledge about cannabis was impressive. I
found myself wanting to learn more about this remarkable person.
During our initial encounter, Celeste explained that she has multiple sclerosis (MS), that her knees are bone on bone, that she has Lyme disease, and that she’s been off all pharmaceutical medications for three years. I knew that I needed to sit down with Celeste to learn her more about her health history, and how she ended up medicating with cannabis to manage her chronic conditions. I knew that this incredible person had a great deal of information to share with people who were struggling with their own chronic conditions.
To this end, Celeste already helps people in our community. She assists people interested in medical cannabis by driving them to the recommending physician’s office so they can register as medical marijuana patients and gain access to the dispensaries. And then she’ll meet these cannabis newbies at the dispensary to help them make an informed product selection and purchase. And then she’ll help these people understand how to use cannabis in a therapeutic way. She’s a medical marijuana patient who advocates, supports, and empowers fellow medical marijuana patients.
Interviewing Celeste
Cannabis Patient - Fighter of Lyme Disease and Multiple Sclerosis
Interviewer: Marissa Fratoni
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