Something tells me that this wasn't Melissa's first experience...
Come to Melissa Etheridge's and you might smell something funny.
In an interview with NBC's Dateline airing this weekend, the rocker opens up about her high-profile battle with breast cancer and admits for the first time to smoking medical marijuana to help her cope with the side effects of her chemotherapy treatment.
"Instead of taking five or six of the prescriptions, I decided to go to a natural route and smoke marijuana," Etheridge told anchor Stone Phillips during the sit-down, which airs Sunday at 7 p.m. ET/PT. The segment also features Etheridge performing two songs.
Prescription-obtained pot is legal in California and nine other states. Doctors say the drug helps to relieve the chronic pain many cancer patients endure as they undergo radiation and chemo. However, federal law has yet to embrace medical marijuana and the Supreme Court ruled in June that those who smoke it can be prosecuted for violating federal drug laws.
When Phillips asked her whether or not her doctors approved of her toking up, Etheridge replied: "Every single one was, 'Oh, yeah. That's the best help for the effects of chemotherapy.' "
Etheridge announced she had been diagnosed with the disease last October and underwent a successful lumpectomy a week later.
My friend Marybeth had it in a pill form. She wanted to get some to smoke, but was worried about her kids finding it, or the housekeeper- I hope that eventually she did anyway. I don't know...I didn't pursue the issue with her. It's a shame that people in pain are denied help. Maybe one day we will put the bullshit behind us...
Go get 'em Melissa!