We originally had tickets to a 2 day outdoor concert event bought back in 2019 for 2020. Covid canceled that. So they agreed to honor the tickets for 2021 when they were able to hold it again. They had it last year but as the border was still closed, they realized that many canadians who held tickets would not be able to make it so they offered to honor the 2020 tickets this year. So we drove down for the event. It's only a 4.5hr drive across the border.
This trip has made me come to the realization that I will most likely never be able to handle extended travel in the states or anywhere else internationally again until laws change and politicians (both American and Canadian) dig their heads out of their asses and make universal laws regarding prescription medications.
I have chronic back pain from a severe accident. I was on oxycodone for pain meds which did absolutely nothing for pain but left me a zoned out zombie all day. That was perfectly safe and fine for me to take across the border where I can sell each individual pill for $20 a pop. I switched to lyrica which did absolutely nothing for pain but caused rapid weight gain. But hey, still safe to travel across the border with that.
I switched from that to medical marijuana prescribed and monitored by a medical professional. It works for my nerve pain. I went from being restricted to a mobility scooter for moving around any more than 50 feet to being able to do 10 mile hikes only using a cane. I went from sleeping 2hrs and waking up in pain to sleeping throughout the night. BUT, despite being legal in both ontario Canada and in the neighboring state, is NOT legal at the border. Therefore I cannot travel in the states with my prescribed pain medication. I barely made it through the concert and here I am laying wide awake at 3am back on fire barely able to move after only 2 days. Not to mention that it reduced me to relying on a mobility scooter to get around as I'm back to being unable to walk more than 50 feet. I informed my wife that I can no longer travel down to the states for anything requiring an overnight stay. We were hoping to travel to the east coast next summer with the fifth wheel and planned originally on taking the northern states one way and Canada returning. Now, it will be strictly in Canada where I can take my prescription medication with me. I take it in pill form in the morning accompanied by vaping throughput the day as needed. I went from barely being able to sit in a vehicle for an hour to traveling 6+ hrs and still being able to function. It doesn't give me any side effects other than reducing pain.
This brings me to another point. From a disability standpoint, Canada is about 10 years ahead of the good ole us of a, the supposedly greatest nation on earth. We still have a ways to go but when a disabled person driving a mobility scooter or any other motorized device can not enter a mall as they can't even get the door open or make it to the door, there's a problem. Every place I went to, I had to get assistance to hold the doors to open for me. Even at the concert we went to, sure they had a nice big section roped off for disabled parking. BUT, to access the sidewalk to get in to the concert, there was a lovely 90 degree concrete curb surrounding the perimeter. Not an issue if you can walk but if you're in a scooter or wheelchair, good luck. It's like businesses down in the states will say they're inclusive to people with mobility issues as long as they can walk and open the door themselves. Something many people don't think of until they're put in that position.
End of 3am rant.
This trip has made me come to the realization that I will most likely never be able to handle extended travel in the states or anywhere else internationally again until laws change and politicians (both American and Canadian) dig their heads out of their asses and make universal laws regarding prescription medications.
I have chronic back pain from a severe accident. I was on oxycodone for pain meds which did absolutely nothing for pain but left me a zoned out zombie all day. That was perfectly safe and fine for me to take across the border where I can sell each individual pill for $20 a pop. I switched to lyrica which did absolutely nothing for pain but caused rapid weight gain. But hey, still safe to travel across the border with that.
I switched from that to medical marijuana prescribed and monitored by a medical professional. It works for my nerve pain. I went from being restricted to a mobility scooter for moving around any more than 50 feet to being able to do 10 mile hikes only using a cane. I went from sleeping 2hrs and waking up in pain to sleeping throughout the night. BUT, despite being legal in both ontario Canada and in the neighboring state, is NOT legal at the border. Therefore I cannot travel in the states with my prescribed pain medication. I barely made it through the concert and here I am laying wide awake at 3am back on fire barely able to move after only 2 days. Not to mention that it reduced me to relying on a mobility scooter to get around as I'm back to being unable to walk more than 50 feet. I informed my wife that I can no longer travel down to the states for anything requiring an overnight stay. We were hoping to travel to the east coast next summer with the fifth wheel and planned originally on taking the northern states one way and Canada returning. Now, it will be strictly in Canada where I can take my prescription medication with me. I take it in pill form in the morning accompanied by vaping throughput the day as needed. I went from barely being able to sit in a vehicle for an hour to traveling 6+ hrs and still being able to function. It doesn't give me any side effects other than reducing pain.
This brings me to another point. From a disability standpoint, Canada is about 10 years ahead of the good ole us of a, the supposedly greatest nation on earth. We still have a ways to go but when a disabled person driving a mobility scooter or any other motorized device can not enter a mall as they can't even get the door open or make it to the door, there's a problem. Every place I went to, I had to get assistance to hold the doors to open for me. Even at the concert we went to, sure they had a nice big section roped off for disabled parking. BUT, to access the sidewalk to get in to the concert, there was a lovely 90 degree concrete curb surrounding the perimeter. Not an issue if you can walk but if you're in a scooter or wheelchair, good luck. It's like businesses down in the states will say they're inclusive to people with mobility issues as long as they can walk and open the door themselves. Something many people don't think of until they're put in that position.
End of 3am rant.
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