By Thomas McKinless and Stephenie Akin

D.C. resident Meredith Bower was an occasional recreational marijuana user until the car accident 10 years ago that almost killed her. Her recovery left her with titanium throughout her body, an amputated lower leg and the chronic sensation that her missing foot is being crushed. Medical marijuana helps more than narcotics and has allowed her to cut her opioid use in half, she said. But it is not covered by insurance and costs exponentially more. See the full story .