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TopNews United Kingdom (blog)District patients shouldn't expect legal sale of marijuana until early 2011Washington PostDistrict leaders say it will be months before the city begins allowing the sale of medical marijuana, even though the law authorizing up to ...Medical Marijuana Now Legal in DCDrug War ChronicleMedical Marijuana Dispensaries Already Exi […]
Kansas City StarObama Veterans Affairs Department joins California in allowing medical marijuanaExaminer.comThe US Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it will permit patients at its VA hospitals to use medical marijuana in the states that have ...Medical marijuana to be OK in some VA clinicsWashington PostVeterans agency eases penalties on medi […]
Many organizations are pushing for the legalization of Marijuana as a medical drug. Marijuana has many medical advantages which include it being a therapeutic drug for cancer and AIDS patients. Many other research and studies dedicated to Marijuana has shown early signs that it can also inhibit cancer cell growth in animals.
In spite of these recent findings, many other organizations have tried to block the legalization of Marijuana as a medical drug. These organizations cited that only some isolated elements of Marijuana can be regarded as medically helpful and that the practice of smoking it does not necessarily have to be done.
Organizations Lobbying For Legal Marijuana Use
Patients out of Time and Law Enforcement against Prohibition are just two of the numerous organizations asking the government to change its mind regarding the prohibition of Marijuana use. Patients out of Time is an organization that has dedicated itself to the education of health care professionals and the general public regarding the therapeutic use of cannabis. This organization believes that Marijuana can be utilized as a drug to help patients who are suffering from several various diseases and illnesses.
LEAP or Law Enforcement against Prohibition is an organization that consists of former and current officers of the law and other individuals who wish to point out the failure of many drug policies. They believe that having a systematic regulation and control of drugs can benefit the community more than prohibition.
Anti-Marijuana
There are other organizations that believe that legalizing marijuana is a good idea and others also want to veto these suggestions from the pro organizations. Other research studies have also pointed out that using Marijuana can adversely affect the brain and the body. These are lifelong effects that can manifest themselves long after an individual has given up using Marijuana. The anti-marijuana organizations stress that there are other products in the medical market that have the same positive effects of Marijuana with little or none of the negative side effects.
Researches regarding the use of Marijuana in some individuals who are already sick have shown that it can complicate the illness and add to the severity of it. Most of these organizations that are against the use of Marijuana as a medical drug urge the government for more extensive research to bring to light the effects of the plant.
As of the moment, the laws enacting the illegality of using and growing marijuana are still in place. The government has not budged regarding the many lobbyists who ask for the lifting of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In spite of the many advocates of pro-Marijuana use, the studies that have been done regarding the usefulness of the drug is still not enough to convince the government of its efficiency in the medical field. Some states in the United States of America have laws and regulations which are more lenient than other states. This is in lieu of sick people who wish to have release from pain and suffering caused by illnesses but there is a legal limit which needs to be followed.
The move to legalize the use and propagation of Marijuana will always have opposition since this plant is controversial. If the government does allow the use and propagation of Cannabis, there will always be a loophole which will be used by drug addicts and traffickers to be able to make money from the lifting of the ban.
It was made available to patients (with prescriptions from their doctors) in 1986. It has primarily been used as an anti-nausea drug for chemotherapy patients. It is also approved for the treatment of wasting syndrome associated with HIV/AIDS.
Many patients prefer natural cannabis to Marinol for a number of reasons. A main limitation of Marinol is that it is available only as a pill that is taken orally. If you have nausea and vomiting, trying to swallow a pill can be a challenge. If you do manage to keep the pill down, you have to wait up to four hours for the Marinol to reach its peak effect. And only 5 – 20% of the medication is absorbed into the bloodstream. Another limitation of Marinol is that it contains only one compound – THC. Natural cannabis contains 60 cannabinoids (THC is the main one) and it is the interaction of these compounds with each other that gives a good therapuetic effect. Marinol contains only THC so it has more psychoactive effects and less of the other medicinal effects that come from the other cannabinoids. Some Marinol patients describe hallucinations and other disturbing side effects. Marinol also is very expensive, costing about 0 – 00 for a month’s supply. One advantage of Marinol is that is it pure and does not contain any bacteria, fungi, or pesticides. You can avoid this problem not smoking the medication and choosing another method to take cannabis (vaporizer or tinctures).
Many patients make the choice to use cannabis with a vaporizer or tincture to treat their symptoms instead of using Marinol. They feel that the natural form of the medication affords the best and most effective treatment of symptoms without the unwanted side effects of Marinol. And by using a vaporizer or tincture, the unwanted side effects of smoking are avoided.
Marijuana has been used for religious purposes for thousands of years. The Assyrians used marijuana as an incense in their temples for example. In India marijuana was considered to be “a gift of the gods” and anyone who accidentally stepped on the plant “would suffer harm or disaster.” Marijuana was used for medicinal uses as well, especially among the Chinese and medieval Europe, but in the Himalayas and Tibet it was considered a sacred plant for religious uses alone.
There are many ways the monks of India and Tibet prepare marijuana for use. “Bhang is a mild preparation: dried leaves or flowering shoots are pounded with spices into a paste and consumed as candy — known as _maajun_ — or in tea form. Ganja is made from the resin-rich dried pistillate flowering tops of cultivated plants which are pressed into a compacted mass and kept under pressure for several days to induce chemical changes; most Ganja is smoked, often with Tobacco. Charas consists of the resin itself, a brownish mass which is employed generally in smoking mixtures.” Those who grow marijuana in India must chant the word “Bhangi” over and over while sowing, weeding, and harvesting the plant.
The Tibetans considered marijuana sacred. A Mahayana Buddhist tradition maintains that during the six steps of asceticism leading to his enlightenment, Buddha lived on one Hemp seed a day. He is often depicted with “Soma leaves” in his begging bowl and the mysterious god-narcotic Soma has occasionally been identified with Hemp. In Tantric Buddhism of the Himalayas of Tibet, marijuana plays a very significant role in the meditative ritual used to facilitate deep meditation and heigten awareness. Both medicinal and recreational secular use of Hemp is likewise so common now in this region that the plant is taken from granted as an everyday necessity.
In Thebes, Hemp was made into a drink said to have opium-like properties. Galen reported that cakes with Hemp, if eaten to excess, were intoxicating. The use as an inebriant seems to have been spread east and west by barbarian hordes of central Asia, especially the Scythians, who had a profound cultural influence on early Greece and eastern Europe. And knowledge of the intoxicating effects of Hemp goes far back in Indian history, as indicated by the deep mythological and spiritual beliefs about the plant. One preparation, Bhang, was so sacred that it was thought to deter evil, bring luck, and cleanse man of sin.
If you’ve grown up in the United States, you may be surprised to learn that the use of Cannabis has quite a long and illustrious history. Many United States’ anti-marijuana “activists” might have you believe that cannabis-use is a vice limited to hippies, deadbeats or liberal-arts college kids; yet some of the world’s oldest cultures have a rich history of smoking and cooking cannabis.
Cannabis in Ancient China
Many historians agree that the first cultural evidence of Cannabis comes from China, about 6,500 years ago. The Yang-Shao (the oldest known Neolithic culture in China) harvested cannabis seeds to be used as grains. The seeds were ground into meal, roasted whole or cooked into porridge. The ancient tombs of China even had sacrificial vessels filled with hemp seed for the afterlife.
Though the ancient Chinese did not incorporate cannabis directly in spiritual rituals, the effects of the plant’s resinous leaves and flowers (or buds) did not go unnoticed. The world’s oldest known pharmacopoeia, the Pn-ts’ao Ching, states that the flowering tops of hemp, if taken “in excess” or over a long term “makes one communicate with spirits and lightens one’s body.” The document then goes on to prescribe marijuana preparations for such ailments as “malaria, constipation, rheumatic pains, absent-mindedness and female-disorders.”
Chinese Extract Hemp-Seed Oil and Cannabis Oil
As new technologies developed, the ancient Chinese learned to mill, heat and wedge-press Cannabis seeds to extract the valuable hemp-seed oil , a technique still used in the western world in the twentieth century. These pressed cannabis seeds yielded almost 20 percent oil by weight.
Cannabis oil has a number of uses, though we’re most concerned with its applications in cooking. After oil extraction, the residue or “hemp cake” still contained nutritious oils and proteins, which became a healthy feed for domesticated animals. Thus, the ancient Chinese likely became the first to discover, harvest and cook with cannabis.
Cannabis in Ancient India
About 2,500 years later, the wandering Aryans (a nomadic Indo-Persian tribe) brought Cannabis to India, where it was quickly embraced for both its practical applications (hemp-fiber and nutrition, for example) and for its assistance in religious rituals (with its psychoactive effects). Ancient Indians worshipped the spirits of plants and animals, and marijuana began to play an active role in their rituals, as well as becoming an object of worship itself.
Marijuana became sacred, and its spirit, named the “bhangas spirit” was worshiped and appealed too “for freedom of distress and as a reliever of anxiety. The ancient Indians viewed the plant as a gift from the gods – hailing it as a magical herb that “lowered fevers, fostered sleep, relieved dysentery, stimulated appetite, prolonged life, quickened the mind, and improved judgement.”
Ancient Indians Create Cannabis Infused Ghee Butter and Bhang
Like the Chinese, the ancient Indians used the seeds as grain for cooking, but unlike their predecessors, the Indians also sought to harness the unique pharmacological effects of marijuana by cooking the flowers, leaves and stems into Ghee butter to be used in a myriad of recipes.
Ghee, a common ingredient in modern Indian food, is a delicious clarified butter that can be stored for long periods of time without refrigeration, provided that it is stored in an airtight container. Cannabis infused ghee can be substituted wherever regular ghee is called for, as long as it will not be cooked at temperatures over 401 degrees Fahrenheit, at which point THC begins to break down and lose its potency.
In addition to Cannabis Ghee, ancient Indians also blended marijuana with other spices (including poppy seed, pepper, ginger, caraway seeds, cloves, cardamon, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar and milk) in a drink called “Bhang.” To this day, Bhang is commonly enjoyed in India – much the way alcohol and wines are used in the west.
Cannabis Moves Across Europe
Eventually Marijuana moved through the eastern countries like Babylonia, Palestine and Egypt where hemp was used in fabrics and as grains. It moved to Greece and may have been referenced in Homer’s great epic, the Odyssey. The Greeks and Romans made no notice of the plant’s intoxicant properties, but used cannabis hemp in fibers to make clothing and rugs.
Cooking With Cannabis in the US
With increased trade and travel, Cannabis seed was brought into all parts of the known world. When the first settlers came to the Americas, they brought cannabis with them. As far as the History of Cooking With Cannabis in the United States goes, the record is rocky, but certainly had its renaissance in the 60’s and 70’s with the strong Indian influence on the “hippie” generation.
Today, cooking with cannabis has come back into vogue; especially with the decriminalization of marijuana in several states and the ever-present medicinal marijuana prescriptions permeating suburbia. Cooking with cannabis is a great way to experience both the nutritional and physiological effects of the plant.
Criminal Law – California Marijuana Crime Charges and Defense
This article provides a brief overview of common marijuana charges in California. It is critical that anyone charged with a marijuana crime understand the charge and potential defenses to it.
Marijuana crimes are generally divided into three categories: (1) possession, (2) possession for sale and (3) sales. Because these are separate criminal charges with different punishments and defenses it is necessary to examine each charge separately.
Possession of marijuana (Health & Safety Code 11357) is charged when a person possesses marijuana for personal use and not for sale. Possession of a small amount of marijuana, usually less than 1oz., is a misdemeanor punishable by no more than a 0 fine. Other marijuana possession charges are misdemeanors, with the exception of possession of hash which can be charged as a felony. In most cases, people charged with marijuana possession qualify for “drug diversion” which is a drug education program. If the program is completed the marijuana possession charge is usually dismissed!
Possession of marijuana for sale (Health & Safety Code 11359) is a more serious charge than simple possession. It is a felony punishable by 16 months, 2 or 3 years in state prison. “How do the cops and D.A. prove that marijuana was possessed for sale and not for personal use?” They typically rely on the following types of evidence: defendant has marijuana and baggies or a scale; defendant has marijuana and significant cash; and there is more marijuana than expected for personal use. Possession for sales charges must be vigorously defended against. Successful defenses may include (1) insufficient evidence of intent to sell, (2) illegal search and seizure – it is not uncommon for the cops to find marijuana through an illegal search, and (3) showing that even a large quantity of marijuana may be for personal use.
Marijuana sales (Health & Safety Code 11360) is charged when a defendant allegedly sells or transports to sell marijuana or simply offers to do so. Marijuana sales is generally a felony punishable by a 2, 3 or 4 year prison sentence. Marijuana sales may be charged from direct evidence of sales – for example a stake out or sting operation – or based on indirect evidence such as a large quantity of marijuana and frequent visitors to a suspected sales premises. A strong defense must be mounted against any marijuana sales charges. If a an offer to sell was made under duress, as a result of entrapment, based on an illegal search or seizure, or there is otherwise insufficient evidence of actual sales, theses defenses must be raised to challenge the prosecution’s sales charges.
I hope this article has been helpful.
Sincerely,
Garret Weinrieb, Esq.
Valerio | Weinrieb Criminal Defense Attorneys
(note: Information contained within this article is intended for general information purposes only and is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information contained within this article is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship and use of this article, and any information contained herein, does not constitute such a relationship.)
VALERIO | WEINRIEB is a Los Angeles Criminal Defense Law Firm that handles a variety of criminal cases including theft crimes, DUI charges, assault, domestic violence and drug crimes. If you happen to be looking for a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney or Van Nuys Criminal Defense Attorney please feel free to call (877) 766-3833
Marijuana has been consumed for its medicinal uses since ancient times, as archeological finds from many countries prove. For example in Germany hemp seeds or akenes have been found dating around 500 B.C. In China the emperor Shen-Nung recommended marijuana to cure “malaria, beri-beri, constipation, rheumatic pains, absent-mindedness, and female disorders.” Clearly marijuana was thought to be a medicinal plant for early medicine. The Chinese herbalist, Hoa-Glio used a mixture of marijuana and wine “as an analgesic during surgery.”
“The value of marijuana in folk medicine has often been closely tied with its euphoric and hallucinogenic properties, knowledge of which may be as old as its use as a source of fiber. Primitive man, trying all sorts of plant materials as food, must have known the ecstatic hallucinatory effects of Hemp, an intoxication introducing him to an other-worldly plant leading to religious beliefs. Thus the plant early was viewed as a special gift of the gods, a sacred medium for communion with the spirit world.”
The African people often used marijuana to cure dysentery, malaria, anthrax, and fevers. Sotho tribal woman would ease the pain of childbirth by smoking marijuana, while the Hotentots and Mfengu people’s claim it can cure snake bites. In India marijuana had an almost god-like status; being used to treat almost every illness from control of dandruff and relief of headache to whooping cough and tuberculosis and believed to “quicken the mind, prolong life, and improve judgment.” Indian doctors believed it was more effective than other medicines because of its psychoactive properties. Around 1600 AD the medical work Bharaprakasha claimed that marijuana was “antiphlegmatic, digestive, bile affecting, pungent, and astringent, prescribing it to stimulate the appetite, improve digestion, and better the voice.” Another contemporary Indian work claimed it could cure leprosy.
Marijuana was valued for its medicinal use in medieval Europe as well. Medieval herbalists distinguished “manured hempe” (cultivated) from “bastard hempe” (weedy), recommending the latter “against nodes and wennes and other hard tumors,” the former for a host of uses from curing cough to jaundice. They cautioned, however, that in excess it might cause sterility, that “it drieth up… the seeds of generation” in men “and the milke of women’s breasts.” An interesting use in the sixteenth century — source of the name Angler’s Weed in England — was locally important: “poured into the holes of earthworms [it] will draw them forth and…fisherman and anglers have use this feate to baite their hooks.” The ancient physicians Dioscorides and Galen both mentioned marijuana in their writings.
There is a lot of information available online and much of it is contradictory depending on whether you support or disagree with the drug’s use. However, almost all proponents of the drug agree that marijuana, like alcohol and tobacco should not be used by children. Here are some of the common myths about marijuana and how they relate to children.
MYTH: Marijuana is harmless.
While no one have ever died of a marijuana overdose, that does not make marijuana a “safe” drug for children to experiment with. The problem with marijuana is the frequency with which people combine it with other drugs and alcohol. This makes it very difficult to determine just how dangerous marijuana really is. With children and teen’s bodies and minds still developing, marijuana can have a significantly negative effect which can permanently affect their health. “According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University, teens who use drugs are five times more likely to have sex than teens who do not use drugs. Getting high also contributes to general apathy, irresponsible behavior, and risky choices.”
MYTH: Young kids won’t be exposed to marijuana.
Almost half of all twelve year olds in this country have tried marijuana. That alone should tell you how prevalent the drug is. Many children who try marijuana are introduced to it by friends or family that they trust. “Between 1991 and 2001, the number of 8th graders who used marijuana doubled from one in ten to one in five.”
MYTH: You can’t get addicted to marijuana.
Marijuana is an addictive drug. Even proponents of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes acknowledge that it should be a regulated industry like tobacco and alcohol and not be given to children. “In 2004, more than 298,317 people entering drug treatment programs reported marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, showing they needed help to stop using.” Children and teens are especially susceptible to becoming addicted because of their developing bodies.
MYTH: There’s not much parents can do to stop their kids from “experimenting” with marijuana.
This is a ridiculous argument. If someone told you “your fourteen year old daughter is going to try and get pregnant this week” would you simply shrug and say “kids will be kids, I can’t do anything about it?” Of course not. Parent’s are a huge influence on their children’s behavior and beliefs and telling your children about the dangers of marijuana and how you don’t want them hurting themselves can have much more impact on your child’s life than you imagine.
States’ Battle over Legitimacy of Medical Cannabis
As laws have becoming somewhat lax about the consumption and propagation of cannabis, the famous singer Bob Marley could have been very pleased to reside in America if he still lives right now. Marley and his religion – Rastafarian – allowed the consumption of cannabis for religious and ritualistic purposes. The only difficulty he might get is the parameter that this type of drug can only be used for medical purposes. But regardless of this, just like the usual he can still get past of the white medical uniforms requirement and still get a dose of one of the most controversial drug in the country. That’s all if he’s still alive.
Cannabis which is widely known as marijuana and known also as ganja, hemp and many other nomenclatures comes from a species of plant that contains a drug and is considered in most countries as illegal like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc. Its account of usage for the treatment of various illnesses can be traced back to 2,737 B.C. Most commonly used as analgesic or for cure of nausea. But despite the claims on the medical usage of marijuana, this drug is still controversial and is still in dispute by many nations, practitioners, pharmacists and has the disapproval of anti-drug societies and groups.
In US alone, the federal government forbade the use of marijuana in whatever purpose and the decision whether to allow this type of drug as a medical intervention has been given to the states. Legislations on the use of cannabis are different according to the respective state and indicate specifics on the implementation of the drug as well as the propagation of the plant. Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington are the only states out of the 50 that have their own ruling about the use of cannabis for medical use. Another 17 states have pending legislations on the use of marijuana and an additional 2 more have petitions to have at least one. The 17 states include Alabama, Arizona, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland (allows a medical-use defense in court), Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, and Virginia while South Dakota and Florida are the 2 states that has drives for legalization.
On the 14 states the main suggestion in most of the legislation that has existed contains some strict rules about the number of dosage and specific illness that it the dose can intervene. All these 14 states only offer the cannabis as medicine only on prescription. So basically, cannabis cannot be used solely for recreation.
Notwithstanding claims about a number of diseases that medical cannabis can cure, there are no specific actions about this from the government. Even the practitioners in medical scrubs and nursing uniforms are not so much vigorous of advancing loosening down the strict policies that affects this drug. In the upcoming years on the other hand, advocates are hoping that the ruling will somehow be loosen. However it is good that the slackening should only serve the medical part of the story and not to propagate it for recreational use.
Penelope Rock is a product consultant for medical scrubs like lab coats, Cherokee scrubs and other branded medical uniforms at Pulse Uniform which ships throughout the US, Canada and internationally.
The Washington State Senate has passed a bill expanding who can authorize the usage of medical marijuana. That bill now awaits Governor Gregoire’s signature to make it a law. KXLY4’s McKay Allen reports.
Did you know that Arthritis affects 1 in 7 Canadians? Half of those Canadians are only between the ages of 30 and 50 years old.
Pain, swelling and stiffness are common symptoms of this irritating condition. In most cases, the symptoms are usually mild, but in some cases, they can be brutally crippling.
There are now over 100 different types of medications and drugs used in the treatment of arthritis. Some side effects from some of these drugs include:
- Upset stomach and nausea - Stomach ulcers - Insomnia - Dry mouth - Mouth ulcers - Dizziness - Chest pain - Vomiting - Diarrhea - Heartburn - Constipation - Increased risk of heart attack or stroke - Headache - Convulsions - Urinary tract bleeding - Increased risk of cancer - High blood pressure - Kidney problems - Infertility
Do these side effects make taking the drug actually worth it? Do you really want to give up your chance to have kids in exchange for an arthritis treatment? But what other option do you have?
Many people suffering from arthritis have now turned to marijuana as a treatment, especially as it can be taken orally by eating it instead of smoking it. Acting as an anti-inflammatory, marijuana has been known to help in many cases. Marijuana is also known as a successful sleeping aid, helping reduce pain and improve the quality of sleep. Unlike other conventional arthritis treatments, marijuana is natural, making the side effects a lot less harmful, some of them including:
More and more are seeking natural health alternatives, and medical cannabis seems to be one of those alternatives. It seems like an easy choice when one compares the side effects.
Marijuana Scientifically Proven To Reduce Stress?
When someone is all stressed out and you connect them to a waveform or EEG machine the results show what is called beta waves and this is experienced as worry or fear. When someone is in a state of well being, the machine will show what is called alpha waves. When someone smokes or ingests marijuana, the machine also responds with alpha waves.
Does this mean that marijuana actually puts you onto a good or positive vibration? Some do report laughter as a side effect of ingesting or inhaling marijuana
Now, with this information, should we all not take a little closer look at marijuana and what it can actually do for stress? When someone is stressed or fixated on a subject that they perceive as negative, marijuana allows one to readjust their mindset. In a nutshell pulling you from a bad vibe to a good vibe.
Now with these machines lowering in price as years go on, maybe we will see more of these test popping up and leaving us with physical proof and no doubt that marijuana actually does reduce stress.
Ulcerative Colitis Sufferers Are Amazed by the Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana
Ulcerative colitis, one of the most well known irritable bowel diseases, can cause severe fatigue, urgent diarrhea, pain, loss of appetite and unhealthy weight loss. Many of the traditional medicinal treatments have side effects much like ulcerative colitis itself, with severe side effects from long-term use.
Most patients with ulcerative colitis (and their doctors for that matter), believed they were stuck with traditional medication treatments. The side effects were just one more issue on top of a severe medical problem with no final solution or cure. The same can be said for several diseases: multiple sclerosis, cancer and other patients believed that, to have a better quality of life, they needed the traditional treatments – even if those treatments were sometimes worse than the actual disease.
As medicinal marijuana laws change, however, another treatment is being bandied about – not by the medical profession, but by those patients using cannabis as a way to relieve symptoms and reduce (or omit) the need for pharmaceutical medication. Ulcerative colitis sufferers are no different.
Called “anecdotal evidence”, testimonials from ulcerative colitis patients, cancer patients and more have been filling medical articles. As well, were one to search IBD and medicinal marijuana online, they would find much “anecdotal evidence”. Those afraid to share their stories due to the illegal nature of cannabis are now eager to share the benefits they’ve found from the use of medicinal marijuana. Unfortunately, many are still unwilling to share their real names, but the surprise and pleasure they’ve found in relief from symptoms is unmistakable.
“In my short experience with medicating with marijuana to treat my Crohn’s disease I’ve found that in general it seems to stabilize my digestive system even when I’m not high. Many times I get severe cramps after eating, and even when I’m sober if I medicate at least once a day I don’t get those cramps, or if I do it’s not nearly as bad. Marijuana helps with inflammation in your digestive system, it doesn’t just help when you are high, it helps 24/7.”
In an online Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis support group, a member asked if anyone had used medicinal marijuana to help relieve symptoms. Although most answered no, due to the illegal nature, a few gave a resounding yes:
“Yes! After only two weeks, I have gone from 20 to 25 bathroom trips/day to 2 trips per day. I was smoking (2 to 3 hits, is all) every night just before bedtime. I’m now trying to do it only every other night. We’ll see how/if my symptoms return.”
“It’s been right at 2 months since my doc recommended medical MJ. I am only smoking it every three or four days and my symptoms are still in total remission. I can’t believe how well I feel. I have my life back! Those of you in states where it is still forbidden need to lobby your representatives for a compassionate use bill. THEN, the feds need to get on board!”
“There’s another huge thread discussing MMJ in the forums already. I read through it in my research about medical MJ. I can tell you that since i got the recommendation, i have had much success with it. It immediately stops symptoms and lets you relax. In my personal experiences i find it to be more useful in maintaining remission than causing it, but this is because i cannot use it as often as some suggest. Once at night every other day or so is my usual regiment.”
The high level of anecdotal evidence, such as the above, has caused more than ulcerative colitis patients to take note. Scientists and medical researchers are now trying to answer the question of whether medicinal marijuana may actually help in the disease or if it only covers up the symptoms. Several reports have pointed to the distinct potential application of medicinal marijuana in ulcerative colitis patients, but have yet to give a definitive answer.
For ulcerative colitis patients, however, the answer is already there. Although many face the possibility of arrest because they either don’t live in an area where medicinal marijuana is legal or because their doctor won’t give them a prescription, the resounding sentiment is summed up by this last commentator:
“Marijuana has helped me live without flare-ups when nothing else seemed to work. I am a law abiding Christian and I sometimes second guess myself for using an illegal drug to treat my UC. That feeling only lasts until I stop using marijuana, then have a flare! It’s pretty simple: smoke a little pot and don’t have cramps and/or bloody stool or don’t smoke and be miserable.
Marijuana has helped me LIVE with this chronic disease. In fact, a couple of puffs a night have put my disease in remission. I hate breaking the law, and don’t consider myself a criminal but I know that this works for me.”
Most agree that there are ways to used medicinal marijuana other than smoking, such as baking or using a vaporizer. Most also agree that the possibility of medicinal marijuana helping everyone is unlikely. As well, even though they are neither medical doctors nor law enforcement, many point out that it is best to know where the cannabis is coming from and what strain it is. However, all agree – in varying states of shock, surprise and relief – that they have benefited from the use of medicinal marijuana to help control their ulcerative colitis symptoms, if not put them into remission.
About The Author: Bonnie Pranger promotes the Health Canada Medical Marijuana Program through Medicinal-Marijuana.ca by helping connect qualified patients with designated growers across Canada. We provide information, support and resources to all Canadians who would like to access the medical marijuana program of Canada. Visit online today.
Lewis County eyed location for medical marijuana dispensary TheNewsTribune.com As the medical marijuana movement increases in size and scope, Lewis County is being eyed as a potential location for a dispensary, according to an Olympia ...
Regional news: ACLU to fight ordinances on marijuana Detroit Free Press More than 50 Michigan cities, townships and counties have passed laws to regulate medical marijuana, but Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills are "the first ones ...
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