Jacqueline Patterson was born with cerebral palsy, a congenital disorder that affects her motor functions. As a result of her condition, she suffers from a severe stutter and major pain and weakness on her right side. This video showcases the amazing effect of cannabis on her condition.

Cerebal Palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement - Wikipedia

At some point very early in life, either while a baby is still growing in the womb, during birth or shortly after, something happens to interfere with the normal development of the brain or to injure the brain tissues. This abnormal development or injury disrupts the nerve signals between the brain and the muscles, leading to problems with movement, posture and coordination as the child grows up. While some people are severely affected, others have only minor disruption, depending on which parts of the brain are not functioning properly. It's estimated that as many as 1 in every 400 children may have cerebral palsy. - BBC Health

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Jacqueline Patterson, a Missouri mother of 4, has been in the media spotlight ever since she shared her story with the world in the 2007 documentary, In Pot We Trust. Patterson has suffered from cerebral palsy from a young age, a debilitating neuro-muscular disorder that has set the stage for her lifetime of struggles. Fortunately, this all changed after Patterson started smoking pot.

Patterson's diagnosis found her with painful muscle stiffness, as well as a severe speech impediment which restricted the pronunciation of her words to the point where they would literally seem stuck at the tip of her tongue. The condition normally affects body movement, muscle control, muscle coordination, muscle tone, reflex, posture and balance. People with cerebral palsy may also experience visual, learning, hearing, speech, epilepsy and intellectual impairments.

Jacqueline Patterson, mother of 4, says medical cannabis saved her and children's lives. Patterson believes that without it, she wouldn't be half the mother she is today.
Jacqueline Patterson, mother of 4, says medical cannabis saved her and children's lives. Patterson believes that without it, she wouldn't be half the mother she is today.
"I hate my speech so much," she said at her marijuana possession trial hearing in Missouri, The Pitch reports. "I drrr- … I dr- … I drove my husband to suicide, you know." The widow believes their arguments and her inability to forgive him for making fun of her stutter is what caused him to hang himself in their basement.

In 2007, Patterson almost lost custody of her children due to marijuana possession. In retaliation Patterson headed to California, where medical cannabis is legal, to plead her case with successful avail.  Patterson says that marijuana has changed her life.

"I — I — I smoked cannabis for the first time when I was 14," Patterson said to the Pitch. "For the first time, my muscles were not tense. And words slid from my mouth, from gggghhh — from me at a fluid pace instead of sssss-stuck on my tongue like a g-ghh — like a train wreck."

Patterson says her medical smoking habit is mainly for her kids, so that she can be the mother they deserve her to be.

"I'd be half the mother I am without [marijuana] because I'd be in too much pain," she said. "I smoke to be the mother to my children that they deserve."

The video below showcases the powerful suppressing ability of medical cannabis on Patterson's cerebral palsy. Within seconds of smoking,  her speech impediment drastically improves.

The fact that someone suffering from a debilitating condition ever has to face challenges treating their symptoms with cannabis is completely backwards. Any government willing to take someone's kids away for smoking a naturally occurring plant absolutely needs a re-evaluation from its people.

Today Patterson spends her time as a medical cannabis advocate living out of California. "It's been nice ... to not worry that I'm going to get a knock on the door for Child Protective Services," she said to legislators. "It's nice to not be treated like a criminal."

Although Patterson now lives without worry of losing her own children for her marijuana use, she knows this isn't yet the case for many others suffering from debilitating conditions across the U.S. and other parts of the world. Patterson continues to push for the extended legalization of medical cannabis with high hopes.

Do you know of anyone who has treated their cerebral palsy or debilitating condition with medical cannabis? Share your story with us below!

Source: collective-evolution