What if one drop of cannabis oil could transform a lifetime of tremors into moments of calm, right before your eyes?
That’s the heart-stopping reality captured in a viral video resurfacing this summer, showing retired police captain Larry Smith confronting Parkinson’s disease head-on with medical marijuana. Smith, from Vermillion, South Dakota, had battled the progressive neurological disorder since his diagnosis at age 46 in the early 1990s.
For two decades, he relied on standard treatments like levodopa, but side effects such as uncontrollable twitches, or dyskinesia, only worsened his daily struggles with speech, mobility, and simple grip. In 2012, during a grueling 300-mile bike ride across his state to spotlight Parkinson’s awareness, Smith decided to test cannabis oil, then illegal in South Dakota.
The footage, from the documentary Ride with Larry, starts with Smith admitting to a tough week, his hands shaking as he speaks in a strained whisper. A friend places a single drop under his tongue, advising him to hold it there for quick absorption. Within seconds, the change hits: his tremors fade, his voice steadies, and he lifts steady hands with a relieved smile.
“I feel like this,”
Smith says clearly, demonstrating the stillness.
A voiceover in the clip ties it to science, noting how the body’s endocannabinoid system helps regulate motor control, often thrown off in Parkinson’s. This system, experts say, responds to cannabinoids in marijuana, potentially easing symptoms by shielding brain cells and tweaking dopamine flow.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Smith’s moment feels even more urgent as fresh studies build on his experience. A double-blind trial earlier this year found sublingual CBD safe for Parkinson’s patients, with no hits to motor skills or mood over 12 weeks. Another report highlighted THC-CBD blends improving sleep in those with the disease, a common hidden burden. Low-dose cannabis extracts also showed quick wins against insomnia after just 60 days in a February study.
These findings come amid growing patient interest; up to 10% now use cannabis for relief, per foundation surveys. The video’s latest wave hit platforms in May, drawing over 90,000 views on X in one post alone, with users sharing it as proof of untapped potential. Smith channeled his trial into action, completing that trike ride despite his challenges and pushing for legalization until he died in 2020 at age 76.
South Dakota finally greenlit medical marijuana in 2021, a win he fought for. Watch the full story in the documentary Ride with Larry, available on streaming sites.
