Sometimes my patients have interesting requests. I can’t always grant them.
On the oncology wards, we often have patients admitted for pain control. It’s not that these patients are drug seeking- their pain might be worse because of their treatments or because their disease is spreading. While this can often be done as an outpatient, sometimes it is just easier to bring someone in, try out a different pain drug or different doses, and see if we can send them home with less pain.
However, as I said, I can’t prescribe everything.
For this particular patient, I walked in the room, introduced myself, and asked the patient what his goals were for this particular visit (some patients are fine living with some degree of pain if it means they’re more awake, while others are fine with the sedating effects of certain medications if it means all of their pain is gone).
Patient (in a very eager voice): Look at the board!
And there, on the whiteboard under “patient goals,” was written very clearly in large black letters….
THC.
Me: Uhm, sir, I’m fairly confident that I cannot legally write you a script for medical marijuana in this state.
Patient: Well what about illegally writing me a script?
Me: I’m pretty sure I can’t do that, either.
Patient: But what if smoking pot helps my pain?
Me: I’m not saying that smoking pot doesn’t help your pain- I’m just saying that I cannot write you a script for medical marijuana. And you also can’t smoke pot you buy on the street here in your hospital room.
Patient: Really? Are you sure?
Me: Pretty sure it’s against the building code.
Patient: Damn. Guess I’ll take the morphine then.
Got the Munchies Gluten Free Brownies
no pot required…these are decadently addictive
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2 cups packed brown sugar
- 1 c vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 1 1/4 c cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp instant espresso powder
- 1/2 c rice flour (can use regular flour too if you don’t want these gluten-free)
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Cooking spray
How-to
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, mix together eggs, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla until mixture is slightly lightened.
- Add in cocoa powder, espresso powder, flour, and salt.
- Stir in chocolate chips.
- Spray a 9×13 in glass baking dish with cooking spray (if desired, line first with parchment paper- it makes it easier to take the brownies out- and then spray). Pour in brownie batter.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- These are super rich brownies, so cut into 32 pieces once cool.
I never said these were healthy…but cut into small pieces, they won’t kill your diet if you can attempt to limit yourself. Though that might be a big “if.”
These brownies also ship very well!
domestic diva, M.D. 
lol great story! Love that these are gluten free! Look Yummy 🙂
Me too!! ~Jen
Wonderful story. THC great pain relief, but tell that to the politicians!
Loved the segue from cannibis to munched to brownies 🙂
They looked very nice.
I was on Morphine, Lyrica and Percoset at the same time and hated the vivid nightmares. Had a bad reaction to steroids for asthma and developed asceptic osteo necrosis. Lost my left him and around fourteen inches of bone. Took them four years to find the cause.
Not sure pot would have done much for me. Pot brownies are kind of a spiral, you eat, they make you hungry, you eat more, you get more munchies. Probably would have just made me gain weight. Instead I have lost 80 pounds this year. For people in hospice or chemo, radiation or dying, I think it should be legal to let them do whatever they want at that point.
Thanks for the great post.
hip not him btw…
Yeah if you have something terminal I don’t really care what you eat or do…
Great story! The brownies look delicious!
At least he was honest! I wonder how many more patients hope for that script but don’t ask outright??
my brother is in constant pain each day, but i have never considered pot, i guess because it is illegal, therefore never enters my mind. i do wish there was a medication to help him though. the doctors say they have him on the strongest he can take here at home, but the Parkinson’s is stronger than the pain meds. your brownies look oh so yummy, and thank goodness there is no pot in them, hehe
I tried a version of gluten free brownies last week – only there was no four at all they were made with black beans. I was sceptical before I tried them but they were amazing and a no-brainer to make.
cute
I love your patient’s tenacity!
Great story and love your patient’s tenacity!
Cookies and cake have traditionally been a great way to enjoy ‘pot’ is you don’t like/can’t tolerate tobacco … the brownies look great 🙂 I actually think it’s hard to make a really, really good brownie but I’d definitely like the look of yours!
That’s one thing about us here in Canada. We are a bit more liberal in our thinking where pot is concerned. Some do get a prescription for “legal” pot. All though I have heard it’s not near as good as the illegal stuff 😉 The brownies are great!
I’ve been told the legal stuff in Michigan is supposed to be pretty good by my mom’s best friend (ovarian cancer).
I myself never liked it. I didn’t know it was prescribed anywhere in the states. Must not happen to much? Or do I need to read more? lol
I’m glad you brought this up, because I’ve been meaning to have this conversation with you. See, I’ve been reading your blog long enough that I feel like I know you; that we’re pals. So as one pal to another, you think you could send me a handful of blank scripts? You know just so I can get myself something fun whenever it strikes my fancy. Thank you in advance friend.
Fantastic story! These brownies look great, too!
P.A. working for my oncologist suggested that some ahem alternative meds were quite beneficial for appetite stimulation. I wasn’t much interested in that… the stuff makes me paranoid. But I wondered where the conversation would have gone if I *had* been interested.
Awesome information, and gluten free as well!
Yummy, can’t wait to try them! You’ve inspired me to brainstorm a post on one of my favorite ‘just as good without the THC’ baked goodies: chocolate zucchini bread!!!
Great post. I’ll definitely be trying the brownies – if it’s chocolate my family loves it!
Oohhhh! I am a chocoholic and I will definitely try this recipe out.
And I loved your patient’s response to not getting any pot and having to take morphine instead. Love it. That cracked me up 🙂
Thanks for the recipe. A friend who is gluten intolerant will surly enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by one of my blogs and choosing to follow it.
Wait, are you saying that if you wrote a script for marijuana, that this guy couldn’t have just taken it to his local dealer and just paid his copay?
What reputable drug dealer doesn’t take insurance though?
I love your stories, and really, the recipe connections are always hysterical.
Personally I would have loved to see him give a script to his local dealer…
I’d rather see his insurance company accept it from the dealer!
…. this with pot and no pot .. Against pain, is a big thing and wide debate – in Amsterdam you can get it in some special café’s – called brown cafes – my I don’t think the put it their brownies. Love yours “doctor patient” stories. Brilliant. The browneis look good enough to eat.
haha, great story! I myself can attest to the wonders of Marinol (a pill version) that is legal in NY, I didn’t take it for pain but for nausea during the chemo I had 5 yrs ago. Now if only I had these brownies to help w/the munchies afterwards 🙂
Always witty. My girlfriend and I ready your bog out loud to each other. Keep on Truckin’!
Haha thanks!!!
Brownies look delicious. 🙂
Here in Malaysia, marijuana is illegal as well,
though I have had some patients requesting for it too.
The brownies look wonderful!
LOL!! Are you serious? Medical marijuana, huh? Your brownies look delicious. I still can’t believe someone would actually ask a doctor that! Oh, the things you must endure.
Settling for morphine, poor guy… 😉 These brownies look amazing!
You’ve been awarded the “One Lovely Blog” Award! ^,.,^
Always enjoy reading the great posts.
Tons of Love Bites,
Izzy
Why thank you!
^,.,^ You’re very welcome!
Thanks for following! I just had a good look around here, I really like your style! I shall follow you too 🙂
HAH! I am a very active member of my state’s (Alabama, yeah, I know “good luck with that”) Medical Cannabis Advocacy group, so of course this was hilarious to me. Anyhoo, I’m Amy. . .thanks for the “follow” looking forward to reading more from you. 🙂
Thanks for visiting and following my blog. MD’s always have the best stories when it does not involve a fatal tragedy. I will be following your blog as well. I could go into details of my past that relate to pot but I will keep those for my blog.
Just sent this one to my sister who has a wheat allergy. She always appreciates gluten free recipes!
That is funny! But I love brownie recipes so will definitely be trying this one!
Although my family is not on any special diet, several friends I bake for are and this recipe is both gluten and dairy free for them. Great! Thanks for sharing. I will tuck this away on my pinterest board for safe keeping.
I could totally veganize this recipe as it looks amazing and my mouth is fully watering right now! Very funny story too!
Loved your recipe so much I blogged about it:) here is my blog post … http://theperkypoppy.com/2012/09/11/magical-beanstalk-brownies/
I changed a few things:) Thank you 🙂
I’ll most definitely try this recipe, looks wonderful!
As for the Cannabis, I don’t have cancer BUT I do have many digestive disorders with gastro paresis being one of them. Nausea has been an issue as well as issues with gluten. Cannabis edibles have helped me tremendously however only in edibles and tinctures. I think there’s a lot of folks out there who abuse it or use it for an excuse. I make a conscience effort to stay away from pharmaceuticals, the side effects are far too great. There is a problem in our society with pharmaceutical narcotics. I know of many individuals who are quick to see their physician for the meds that mask their pain, they’re now addicted to these meds.
Cannabis is really not a bad thing, our government has labeled it a no no because they can’t control or tax it. For one, I’m a pretty straight laced girl but using what mother nature has provided has been a miracle. I now have a natural cure for nausea and help sleeping at night, in fact it’s been the best sleep I’ve had in years and I can thank the cannabis for that. I don’t abuse it, it’s there on an “as needed basis” and it’s pure & natural.
Did you know that a lot of our ancestors were tobacco and cannabis farmers? Alcohol is FAR worse than cannabis in my opionon. It’s funny, I walk out into my garden and colorfully growing under the bright California sun are my Echinacea flowers, I can legally grow my own flowers to make a tea that helps my immune system but oddly our Government limits another plant (cannabis) that miraculously heals.
I’ll be making the brownies but naked (without the weed).
*Living naturally
Thank you for sharing =o)
heya I’m barbara I’m such a blonde but I still particularly appreciated your blog
Hi there 🙂
Firstly, those brownies look good and considering I am crap at brownies, I will be giving those a go! I’ll have to get back to you on how I go with them because I am currently homeless in a new country.
I have always tried to make brownies but often they come out like cake or like pure slabs of chocolate so it’s very hit and miss. I once made blondies and everyone at work declared them to be the “Best white chocolate cake slices” they’d ever had! Failure much?
Your blog is incredibly interesting. I’ve found quite a few posts that have inspired me so far…well inspired me to buy the store made version until we have a kitchen.
I hope the blogging is going well for you, especially with the long hours you’re pulling. If I could suggest one thing, it would be a few more pictures? I’d love to see a brownie on a plate on its own to judge the texture? That would be uber helpful when looking at consistency and trying to replicate your recipe. Medicine doesn’t leave much time for anything else, I imagine but I hope you’ll have time for some more photos.
Thanks so much 🙂 and thanks for favouriting my post the other day! Much appreciated.
Samantha
Next time I make them I’ll update the picture. 🙂 These ones are delightfully fudgy- I’m not a fan of cake-like brownies.
Yay! I’d like to do some picture drooling…maybe a few more to get my mouth watering? 😛
I am not a cake brownie fan at all. I’m down with the fudgy-ness!
We will have a kitchen in three weeks so these are first on the list.
Love the brownies. Great matchup, Pot and brownies. I wonder could I get my doctor to write a script for brownies