Medical Marijuana Blog

If Micheal Jackson had taken Medical Marijuana would he still be Alive?

2009-07-02T16:33:00.007+01:00

It now appears highly likely that powerful drugs that Michael Jacksons doctor(s) had given him, were a huge contributing factor towards his death. Now the LA police are investigating whether Michael Jacksons doctor(s) have a case to answer.

Rest in peace Michael, you are a fabulous entertainer.

One of Michaels main problems was that he found it difficult to get a full 8 hours of sleep each night, due to insomnia. Getting a proper nights sleep is important to maintain a healthy body and mind.

He lived in California, where medical marijuana is legal. But I think problem is that many doctors do not think about prescribing medical marijuana for someone who is having trouble sleeping, suffering from stress or depression. Michael was having trouble sleeping, depressed at times and was likely to be stressed considering he was about to perform at 50 sold out concerts in London.

The first thing that probably comes to doctors minds is to prescribe traditional medication. Unfortunately prescription medication is often more damaging on patients health, when compared to marijuana. Especially when cooking with marijuana or using a vaporizer.

They may think that Marijuana is not an affective treatment, perhaps medical marijuana could be the answer.

Many people suffer from insomnia and lack of sleep can cause huge health problems, especially for those who have a busy, stressful life.

Heath Ledger had insomnia, which led him to take an accidental overdose of prescription drugs, he never awoke from his sleep.

Also I know first hand that my uncle had trouble sleeping which contributed towards his mental health problems. In the end it appears he died from a heart attack caused by stress, mental illness and the medication.

Several months before he died, he asked me to get him some marijuana as he had trouble sleeping and was concerned that the prescription medication was doing too much damage too his health.

He smoked one bong and within minutes he said he felt sleepy and asked if I could leave as he wanted to go to bed. Later he told me that he had a wonderful nights sleep.

I think the problem is that he did not continue to use the marijuana, it was probably too much for him to handle with the heavy prescription, sleeping medication he was taking.

Do you think medical marijuana is being prescribed enough from GPs in areas where medical marijuana is legal? Or are their first thoughts to prescribe traditional drugs?

It would be great if we could hear from doctors or anyone who feels they can add to this discussion.

Why must Medical Marijuana be Legalized throughout America?

2009-06-26T16:54:00.005+01:00

There has been much brouhaha about the medicinal uses of marijuana or cannabis; on the one side we have proponents of the move who swear by the medicinal benefits that this drug can bring to people who suffer from chronic pain, loss of appetite, nervous disorders and mental illnesses, and on the other, we see law enforcement officers and officials questioning the right of people to possess this drug because of the potential for abuse.

Medical marijuana has mostly been leveraged as a way to manage the pain that is a constant part of chronic illnesses like cancer, to increase the appetite of cancer patients, cure alcoholism, calm patients with nervous disorders, and treat patients with a family history of degenerative brain diseases. It is said to promote neuron growth according to a Canadian study, which means it is helpful in staving off and minimizing the effects of Alzheimers and other diseases that affect the brain in their early stages.

It has been legalized in 14 states in the USA including Colorado, Hawaii, Alaska, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, California, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington and Vermont, and is available through dispensaries in California, New Mexico and Rhode Island. A few other states are considering its legalization, but even so, there are cases being brought to book against people who have marijuana in their possession for medicinal purposes.

Take the case of the couple from Madison Heights, Robert Redden and Tory Clark, while one could argue that they did not need to grow their own cannabis in order to generate enough pain medication for Clarks cancer and Reddens chronic hip pain, the fact is that possession of marijuana with a doctors certificate is allowed in the state of Michigan. And this is why the presiding drug dismissed the felony drug charges against the couple stating that the laws on possession and amount were ambiguous at best.

Also, with President Obama trying to keep his campaign promise not to interfere with state laws that permit state dispensaries to sell medical marijuana, Attorney General Eric Holder has said that the DEA would not shut down such dispensaries that were legally permitted by state laws. This is a sort of victory for proponents of medical marijuana, because the Bush administration closed down as many as 50 such dispensaries through the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The fact remains that people who wish to abuse the drug will do even when it is not available legally; so why punish those who are already dying and in a considerable amount of pain and deny them the ability to purchase marijuana through legal channels?

This article is written by Kat Sanders, who regularly blogs on the topic of pharmacy tech certificate at her blog The Pharm Tech Blog. She welcomes your comments and questions at her email address: katsanders25@gmail.com

Upsetting San Diego Medical Marijuana True Story

2009-06-23T10:29:00.009+01:00

The following is an upsetting email from one of our visitors.

It looks like he needs all the help he can get, so please comment on this post. You may actually help towards preventing a good man who fought for his country and helped people to cope with their illnesses, from unfairly going to jail:

My name is Eugene Davidovich and I have been a resident of San Diego for over 20 years, honourably discharged from the US Navy, and having completed an MBA, I built a successful career in Software Development Project Management. I also am a medical cannabis patient and operated a non profit collective here in San Diego until last February when my house was raided and I arrested in Operation Green Rx later announced by the District Attorney in a press conference as Operation Endless Summer.

In this operation a local San Diego Police Detective lied to his doctor about his identity and condition, obtained a valid recommendation for medical marijuana and joined the majority of the medical collectives and coops listed on the San Diego section of the CA NORML list.

The detective called me and joined the collective over the phone. Then after verifying his eligibility with his doctor I allowed him to join the collective. While pretending to be a sick patient, he requested that I deliver medical cannabis to him. Having seen him once and provided him with a quarter ounce of medical cannabis, I am now facing 4 felony charges, $65,000 bail, and permanent profoundly traumatic damage to my professional and personal life.

Here in California it has been over a decade since the Compassionate Use Act. Several years since SB420, and almost a year since the California Attorney General's guidelines. We even have had Congress urge the department of justice to clarify medical marijuana policy and stop the DEA raids.

However, here in San Diego we have the DAs Office saying there is no such thing as a legal collective or cooperative, and that anyone who engages in an attempt to cultivate and distribute collectively is obviously in it for profit, "why else would they get in to this activity".

There are many patients and collectives in San Diego who have gone above and beyond what is required in order to comply and stay within the law. Yet every attempt made to date by collectives and coops to follow the law in San Diego has resulted in long investigations, prosecutions, and collectives having to operate so deeply underground and under such intense daily fear and pressure, that the potential public benefit they could be bringing to the community and to patients is stifled by this environment of fear.

The DA has made it clear, San Diego is not a safe place for collectives, here patients are rounded up in drug sting operations, prosecuted, and forced into taking plea bargains.

Please visit my website which contains the actual footage of the undercover "delivery" of medicine to the detective, as well as many other details of my case. The Preliminary Hearing in my case is scheduled for 13 July, 2009 in Department 11 at 8:15am (220 W. Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101)

EugeneDavidovich.com or Sites.google.com/site/peoplevdavidovich/

Eugene Davidovich - eugene.davidovich@gmail.com

Realted News Stories:

San Diego News Network
District Attorney San Diego
San Diego 6
Sign On San Diego

Where can I buy Medical Marijuana in London?

2009-06-18T15:26:00.007+01:00

Today I received an interesting email from a visitor to our site.

In the USA it is getting easier to buy or grow legal medical marijuana as there are many medical marijuana dispensaries. However in many countries it is impossible to buy or grow legal medical marijuana.

The following is the true story:

I just moved to London from Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, I used medical marijuana to help appetite and queasy stomach due to my HIV medication.

I have a statement of diagnosis from my NHS trust doctor. Do you have any suggestions on how to find a dispensary in London? (UK) I was told to check out a holistic health centre near Kings Cross, and called to make an appointment for an "herbal consult", but was told that they are not doing that any more.

If you could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it. I'd rather do this as legit as possible instead of standing around a corner in Brixton.

On the Brixton streets there are many illegal drug dealers, therefore it is not a pleasent place to buy marijuana. It would be great to hear from anyone who knows where you can buy legal medical marijuana in London.

Medical Marijuana and Tardive Dyskinesia

2009-06-03T17:04:00.003+01:00

What is tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia is a neurological disorder that results in muscular dysfunction of the face and limbs. The disorder is caused by the long-term use of antipsychotic drugs, particularly older generation antipsychotic drugs.

How does a person get tardive dyskinesia?

Prolonged exposure to antipsychotic drugs is the primary reason why tardive dyskinesia occurs in a person, though some persons get it sooner than others. Primary risk factors include:

Duration of exposure to antipsychotic drugs

Older age

Alcoholism and/or substance abuse

Mental retardation

Post-menopausal females

Experiencing a lot of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) during the acute (early) stage of antipsychotic therapy

What are the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia is characterized by repetitive and involuntary movements of orofacial muscles, but can also include rapid movements of the arms, legs and trunk. Specific facial symptoms may include rapid eye blinking, tongue protrusion, lip smacking, pursing and puckering, or grimacing.

Is tardive dyskinesia reversible?

Tardive dyskinesia prognosis is complex. Some cases are tardive dyskinesia are mild and may be reversible, but this depends upon the patient and how long they were exposed to antipsychotic drugs. Specialists say with careful drug management, some tardive dyskinesia symptoms may improve or even fade away with time.

Is Medical Marijuana a valid treatment for Tardive Dyskinesia?

Tardive dyskinesia treatment is limited, but there have been studies that have determined medical marijuana to be an option. If medical marijuana can help ease the pain and suffering of a TD victim then medical marijuana should be considered a viable treatment option. If the disorder arises while a patient is still being treated with antipsychotic drugs, the medication will be adjusted to the lowest possible dose and may be discontinued if possible. Discontinuing medication occurs on a gradual basis, lowering the doses in small increments over time to avoid adverse reactions. Replacing the antipsychotic drug with another one helps some patients and some benzodiazepines, adrenergic antagonists or dopamine antagonists are also known to help tardive dyskinesia. Vitamin E has also shown to be beneficial in some patients.

What should be done if you notice tardive dyskinesia symptoms in yourself or a family member?

If experiencing symptoms while still taking antipsychotic drugs, you should first inform the doctor that is prescribing the medication. If the disorder develops after stopping antipsychotic drugs, it would be ideal to talk with the doctor that prescribed them or make an appointment with a neurologist. For more information please visit TardiveDyskinesia.com or call (800) 584-661.

Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Los Angeles

2009-05-22T12:24:00.005+01:00

If you live in Los Angeles and are looking to obtain a medical marijuana card, you are in luck. There are many establishments you can go to that will give you one of these, and chances are there is one in your area. Ever since the state of California legalized medical marijuana, more and more people are creating clinics.

In order to get a medical marijuana recommendation, you have to know the process. As the law stands now, this medicine is only prescribed to patients who have particular illnesses that a state has decided can be helped by marijuana. This drug is still illegal by Federal law, no matter what.

Luckily, the California laws have directly specified particular illnesses one can get a card for, and they have also left it open to any other chronic or persistent medical symptom that limits a persons life activities or can cause serious harm to a persons physical or mental health (as stated in California SB 420).

Some of the serious medical conditions you can get a marijuana recommendation for are: AIDS, cancer, chronic pain, anorexia, cachexia, seizures, persistent muscle spasms, migraines, glaucoma, arthritis and severe nausea. This medicine has also been shown to help anxiety and several other mood disorders.

Once you haveone research and know that the ailment you have has proven to be helped by medical marijuana, you are ready to go to the doctor. You can either ask your primary care physician to recommend medical marijuana to you, or you can go to a medical marijuana clinic doctor who specializes in recommending this particular drug.

To find a clinic where you can get a medical marijuana card in Los Angeles, it is best to search the internet. Websites like NORML have lists of medical marijuana friendly doctors, and you can also search for a holistic medicine or alternative medicine clinic near you. Call them and ask if they have a doctor who specializes in medical marijuana. Because Los Angeles has a big market for this medicine, it should be easy to find a clinic in your area.

If you do not go to your normal doctor, bring your medical history with you when you see the doctor at the clinic. Tell the doctor what ailment you have and ask if he thinks medical marijuana would help you. If the doctor does, he will write you a marijuana recommendation. This is basically a piece of paper that says you’re a medical marijuana patient and you’re allowed to enter dispensaries and obtain the medicine or grow your own.

How you decide to get your marijuana is up to you. Lots of people like going to dispensaries because it saves you the trouble of growing the plants yourself, and usually dispensaries have a great variety of strands to choose from. A lot of these places also have edible goodies you can buy too, if you prefer to ingest the medicine instead of smoke it. There are lots of options at dispensaries, and there are lots of dispensaries to choose from in Los Angeles especially.

If you decide to grow your own plants, you will need to know how many plants your specific county allows you to have legally. In California, this is not specified by the state law. You can find this out online or you can ask someone from your county office when you go get your medical marijuana card. There are lots of good articles online about how to grow marijuana plants, what type of lights to use and how to take care of them.

A marijuana recommendation is all you need to be able to have medical marijuana legally, but California has taken it one step further and made cards as well. They’re statewide and provide an extra layer of protection from cops. These can be obtained through your county and are good for one year, just like your recommendation. You pay a fee and fill out an application to get a card.

This medicine has helped many people with serious ailments in California, and it can help you too. If you start the process now, you’ll be on your way to getting a medical marijuana card and be able to reap the benefits of this drug.

How to Find the Best Medical Marijuana Doctors

2009-04-15T10:48:00.009+01:00

Medical marijuana has been through a long road of controversy, and the field and study still have a long way to go. Currently about a fourth of US states allow patients to take medical marijuana legally for various medical conditions. The scientific evidence keeps piling up in favor of medicinal cannabis, and many patients are seeing vast improvement in their symptoms with this treatment.

Studies have shown that medical marijuana can aid in reducing symptoms of terminal illnesses such as AIDS and cancer, by helping pain and nausea from treatment and also increasing appetite. Some doctors and researchers also believe that cannabidol can help anxiety, glaucoma, depression, arthritis, convulsion and inflammation. Each new study that comes out finds new possible ways medicinal cannabis can help those who need it.

If you would like to be evaluated by a doctor to see if medical marijuana would help you, ask your current doctor for an evaluation. If you have a condition where this medicine has been used as a treatment, your doctor may give you a recommendation to try medical cannabis.

In the states that have laws deeming this practice legal, there may also be medical marijuana doctors who have a specialty in seeing patients interested in obtaining treatment. Many argue that these doctors are the best ones to go to, if this treatment is what you seek. When researching doctors, look for those that are medical cannabis specialists—though before you go see one, you should already have a diagnosis and medical records from your regular doctor.

To find the best medical marijuana doctor in your area, look to a trusted source for recommendations. The WeedMaps.com website has a list of trustworthy cannabis doctors in California. The Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center also has a list of doctors at their seven Southern California locations.

If you do not have a Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center clinic in your area, specialty wellness clinics may also have medical cannabis specialists at their offices. Look for the words holistic, wellness, or natural care in the office name. These types of clinics often participate in non-traditional treatments for their patients and may be able to help you with a consultation.

The patient card is becoming the favored form of identification for medical marijuana patients, as it is much smaller and easier to carry around than the recommendation letter. This more discreet form of ID can be shown at medicinal clinics to obtain medicine and has all the information necessary on it, including your photo and an expiration date.

To obtain a patient card from somewhere other than a clinic, you can go through the state. You will need to fill out an application in most cases and pay a fee check with your local county office to see what kind of identification is needed to fill out the application and obtain the medical marijuana card. Usually you will want to contact the local Public Health office in your county.

As more scientific studies keep being published, we will most likely see more and more doctors recommending the use of medical cannabis to reduce symptoms of many painful diseases. The controversy of medical marijuana as a treatment will decrease with time, as it often does with new treatments.

Using the internet to find a medical marijuana doctor is still the most common way. Directory listings may not give much information, but seeing which doctors trusted cannabis foundations like the Marijuana Medicine Evaluation Center recommend can narrow the list down. Call to make your consultation appointment, and you can be on your way to receiving treatment.

Please let us know your thoughts on having a specialist medical marijuana doctor, treat your medical conditions.

Top Five Reasons To Get a Medical Marijuana Card

2009-03-22T07:08:00.007Z

1) Legal Protection - If you're already using cannabis without a medical marijuana card, you are breaking both state and federal law and as such are subject to the ridiculously harsh penalties many states impose on marijuana users. Even if you're using cannabis as a legitimate treatment of disease, you are still breaking state law if you don't have a medical marijuana prescription from a licensed doctor.

One of the best parts about being a card-carrying MMJ patient is that you are afforded full legal protection under the states medical marijuana laws. This means when you get pulled over for a routine speeding ticket and the cops ask you to search your car, you can allow them to search with no fear of being taken to jail or having your valuable medicine being confiscated. The law is on your side now, but only if you have a medical marijuana card!

2) Marijuana is an extremely effective medicine - At this point, its hard to dispute the medicinal value of cannabis. It seems to be the only substance on Earth that can cure the painful nausea caused by chemotherapy, greatly retard the onset of blindness from glaucoma and relieve depression without destroying your bodies chemical balance - all with zero negative long-term side effects. Marijuana is a wonder drug that's been used as an effective medicine dating back at least 6,000 years.

3) The golden ticket into medical marijuana dispensaries - Another incredibly cool thing about having your medical marijuana card is that it allows you access into medical marijuana dispensaries (aka cannabis clubs). In California alone, there are over five hundred medical marijuana dispensaries eager to serve the needs of its patients.

Going into a medical marijuana dispensary in California is almost like going to a coffeeshop in Amsterdam. Many retailers have dozens of cannabis strains to choose from, ranging from high end buds like White Widow, AK-47 and Northern Lights to mid-range chronic, all the way down to $35 for an eighth ounce schwag. Some even offer rooms with Volcano vaporizers in them, so you can safely medicate with fellow patients.

4) You can grow you're own - With your medical marijuana card, not only can you legally buy medical cannabis, concentrates like bubble hash and hash oil, delicious edibles, tinctures and crazy tainted sodas but you can also legally grow your own pot!

The State of California allows any valid medical marijuana patient to have up to six mature plants growing at one time. This amount is fairly generous, considering that up to 4 lbs of dried flower can be harvested from a single 6' outdoor cannabis indica plant.

Growing your own medical cannabis is not only fun, but also a good way to save money on medicine in this current economic recession.

5) It's good enough for Johnny Drama, so isn't it good enough for you?

How to get a medical marijuana card in California?
The best way to obtain a medical marijuana card is to through the Medical Marijuana Evaluation Center (MMEC) in Southern California. With six+ location in So Cal, they are, by far and wide, the largest and most reputable provider of medical cannabis ID cards in California. Unlike some other shady places, all their doctors are pre-screened and hold valid permits to practice medicine in the state of California. In addition, MMEC offers the highest quality medical patient ID cards, so you don't have to carry around your prescription on a lamented piece of paper like most other doctors give out.

Where to find medical marijuana in California?
The best place to find cannabis clubs and medical marijuana dispensaries is via the non-commercial Web site, WeedMaps.com. WeedMaps.com features Google Map integration (for driving directions) with reviews and a social networking community of over two thousand medical marijuana patients.

Does Marijuana Kill People?

2009-03-22T05:08:00.007Z

It has never been proven that marijuana has killed anyone, although smoking herbs can cause cancer. So if you like marijuana or use it for medical reasons, it is a good idea to consume marijuana in a healthy way. Therefore cooking with marijuana or using a vaporizer makes sense.

The following are the annual causes of death in the USA:

Tobacco	435,000
Poor Diet and Physical Inactivity	365,000
Alcohol	85,000
Microbial Agents	75,000
Toxic Agents	55,000
Motor Vehicle Crashes	26,347
Adverse Reactions to Prescription Drugs	32,000
Suicide	30,622
Incidents Involving Firearms	29,000
Homicide	20,308
Sexual Behaviors	20,000
All Illicit Drug Use, Direct and Indirect	17,000
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Such As Aspirin	7,600
Marijuana	0

But marijuana still has a bad reputation with many people and alcohol is accepted in most societies. This may be due to the fact that most people refer to marijuana as a drug and alchol not as a drug.

The following is a true story, which demonstrates marijuana has a bad reputation:

Recently I was at a party in London and asked the host whether it was ok if I smoked a joint, she was happy for me to do so. After have a couple of drags I offered a girl a smoke of the spliff, she said marijuana was evil and therefore she did not want a toke.

It does not bother me if people choose not to smoke marijuana, but I was curious as to why she was so anti marijuana, so I asked her why she heated cannabis.

I was then surprised when she then told me that a friend of hers who used to smoke quite a bit of pot had died from smoking marijuana.

She explained that her female friend had died from a brain haemorrhage. She believed that THC had built up so much that a clot formed in her brain which subsdequently killed her. Unfortunately peope die from brain haemorrhages but it has nothing to do with smoking marijuana.

I explained to her that I owned MedicalMarijuanaBlog.com and that it has never been proven that anyone has died as a direct result of using marijuana. She was no prepared to have a debate, so I let it go as I did not want to upset her.

Why do you think marijuana has such a bad reputation?

History of Cannabis - A Light Hearted Look

2009-03-19T11:58:00.008Z

Although cannabis has been used in Eastern medical traditions for several thousand years, it was the mid-nineteenth century before it came into regular pharmacological use in the west; in fact, the Victorian era saw the publication of over one-hundred learned papers extolling its use for various ailments.Prior to this scientific interest, though, marijuana was used by a whole embarrassment of well-known names.

Shakespeare and the Noted Weed

According to South African scientists, a study of several 17th-century smoking pipes, including several found in the grounds of Shakespeares house in Stratford-upon-Avon, revealed traces of cannabis. The study, published in the South African Journal of Science, was initiated by Francis Thackeray, a palaeontologist from the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, who was intrigued by references in one of Shakespeares sonnets to the noted weed. Read Sonnet 76 for yourself and see what you think to assist you, the clues have been highlighted.

Sonnet 76

Why is my verse so barren of new pride,
So far from variation or quick change?
Why with the time do I not glance aside
To new-found methods and to compounds strange?
Why write I still all one, ever the same,
And keep invention in a noted weed,
That every word doth almost tell my name,
Showing their birth, and where they did proceed?
O know, sweet love, I always write of you,
And you and love are still my argument.
So all my best is dressing old words new,
Spending again what is already spent:
For as the sun is daily new and old,
So is my love still telling what is told.

To be honest, we have no way of knowing that pipes found in Shakespeares old garden were actually used by him but it does make a good story.

Do you think Shakespeare would have smoked cannabis?

Marijuana Uses - Marijuana as Medicine

2009-03-12T05:32:00.008Z

There are pioneers in every field, including the Marijuana field (pun intended!), and the earliest record of cannabis being used as a treatment goes back to China in 28 BC. Emperor Shen-Nung prescribed cannabis for: beriberi, constipation, female weakness, gout, malaria, rheumatism, and absent-mindedness.

Further historical uses include:

Eight-hundred years later, in Ancient Egypt, we have records suggesting that cannabis was used to treat sore eyes.

In the tenth century BC, a cannabis preparation known as bhang was used as an anaesthetic in India.

It is thought that the religious use of the plant predated the medical use. In fact, cannabis is still used in Hindu and Sikh temples, as well as at Mohammedan shrines, to aid meditation. In rituals where food and water are disallowed, it is also used to overcome hunger and thirst, although how this squares with the well-documented munchies is difficult to say.

Back to China, but fast forward to the 2nd century AD, and we find that cannabis was used as an analgesic in surgical procedures.

There are many more historical incidences of marijuana use but to list them all might have you clicking off to another site! Suffice it say that weed, pot, or whatever else you wish to call it, has historically been used in the treatment of:

tetanus

rabies

delirium tremens (DTs)

infantile convulsions

nerve pain

cholera,

very heavy periods

rheumatism

hay fever

asthma

skin diseases

prolonged labour in childbirth

Astoundingly, despite the hoard of cannabis detractors, tests were undertaken in the mid-20th century (so about 40 years ago), which proved that cannabis sativa is effective as an antibiotic for local infections. Given the crisis in hospital acquired infections that are resistant to current antibiotics, surely, this use of the evil weed is one worth exploring.

The following list of ailments against which cannabis is thought to be effective was published in a House of Lords report, The Therapeutic Uses of Cannabis - Second Report, 2001:

AIDS Wasting Syndrome

Arthritis

Brain Injury/Stroke

Multiple Sclerosis

Nausea associated with cancer Chemotherapy

Anti-Tumour Effects

Asthma

Epilepsy

Glaucoma

Schizophrenia

General Pain

Migraine

Eating Disorders

Please let us know whether you have used marijuana to improve your health.

Medical Marijuana History

2009-03-05T11:25:00.006Z

Plants have always been used as a source of medicine, so why not use medical marijuana to help patients?

If we are honest, most of us think of marijuana or weed, ganja, chillums, cannabis, pot, skunk, and any number of alternative names (see marijuana slang) as a drug that induces feelings of happy tranquillity. The truth is that the most active constituent of marijuana, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), has some very useful medicinal effects.

For instance, its ability to inhibit vomiting makes it extremely useful for treating patients receiving chemotherapy, while its tendency to increase appetite bestows great potential in the treatment of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa.

Considering that cannabis contains over 60 psychoactive compounds, it ia a little wonder that some of those will be potentially useful in the treatment of various medical ailments.

In fact, you could argue that it would be negligent not to investigate the plants potential to make medicine, do not forget that many of our most effective medicines are plant based, aspirins chemical name is salicylic acid, and it was discovered after noting that many ancient cultures chewed willow bark for pain relief; the cardiac drug, Digoxin, was discovered over 200 years ago when English physician, William Withering, noted that the foxglove plant could help patients suffering from dropsy (fluid retention).

Legalalizing Marijuana

Why do you think society has been so anti medical marijuana, yet many other plants have been used for medical reasons?

Legal Medical Marijuana in New Jersey

2009-02-27T14:11:00.007Z

Recently there has been some terrific news, it is now legal to smoke medical marijuana in New Jersey, you can now smoke legal medical marijuana in 13 states. I am sure more and more US states will follow as it is high time that the government helps its citizens who are in medical need.

New Jersey is that latest US state to recognise the huge value of medical marijuana. For both seriously ill patients and people who are trying to mimise the affects of various illnesses.

The debate against medical marijuana is that the medicine could fall into the hands of recreational users. Fortunately the majority of the New Jersey senate realised that there was more good than harm from passing this law.

Many people with illnesses such as AIDS, Glaucoma and cancer could reap the benefits of medical marijuana. Sure a few extra recreational smokers may get their hands on some of the medical marijuana but this is a small price to pay.

Fortunately it looks like the USA is leading the way by encouraging other countries to legalise medical marijuana.

We would like to hear from anyone who is using legal medical marijuana. How has using legal medical marijuana changed your life?

Legalzing Marijuana

Medical Marijuana Grower in San Francisco Imprisoned

2009-01-18T13:10:00.005Z

There still seems to be a lot of confusion with growing medical marijuana in the states, the growing laws seem to vary significantly.

To make things more confusing we need to consider state and federal law as well.

San Francisco was considered to be a safe state for medical marijuana growers. Unfortunately Stephanie Lander has been sentenced to 41 months for growing medical marijuana in San Francisco.

Stephanie was under the impression she had approval from the police to grow medical marijuana in San Fransisco, to help people with a range of illnesses.

Please watch the following growing medical marijuana video which reviews the plight of Stephanie Lander.

Do you think it is fair that she has been jailed and medical marijuana patients miss out on superb medication?

Marijuana Growing

Can Legal Drug Abuse be Controlled?

2008-12-24T22:15:00.004Z

Much has been said about drugs like cocaine and marijuana and how they’re being abused by people of all ages. Although these drugs have legitimate medical uses, they’re mainly dealt with in the black market and on the streets and advertised as mood elevators. Addiction sets in and there’s no going back from the vicious whirlpool of craving and depravation that you’re dragged into.

But if you thought that the drug problem began and ended with the use and abuse of illegal substances, you’re sadly mistaken. A greater market for abuse lies in legal drugs, both the ones that are prescribed for certain medical conditions and the ones that are available over the counter. Painkillers like Percodan, Vicodin, Oxycontin and Percocet are some of the most commonly abused drugs, followed by cough syrups that contain codeine and dextromethorphan, both of which are psychoactive narcotics that are extremely addictive. Sedatives like Seconal and Amytal and tranquilizers like Ativan, Valium and Librium prescribed for those with insomnia are also available easily and are used without valid prescriptions or beyond the time period set by physicians.

While pot and coke were the scourge of the hippie age and alcohol and nicotine followed all through the 80s and 90s, the new generation is hooked on drugs that are legal and available through prescriptions. Unlike the trafficking industry which can be controlled through rules and regulations to some extent, legal drugs must be made available for those who really need them. So the only way to stop them being misused is through a campaign that educates and increases awareness of the dangers of legal drug abuse.

Negative advertising have helped to control smoking and consumption of alcohol to an extent – with the price of cigarettes becoming dearer and the adverse effects of too much alcohol and tobacco in one’s system – liver failure and cancer to start with – have made people, especially teens, aware of the dangers of addiction to these substances.

The same tactic must be used to address the abuse of legal drugs – the situation of misuse has come about as a result of not enough awareness and education on the subject. People must be told of the negative effects on the system if they use painkillers, sedatives and tranquilizers without any medical reason whatsoever. While the change may not happen overnight, people, if they are smart enough and want to make a positive difference in their lives, will be willing to effect the change.

This article is contributed by Sarah Scrafford, who regularly writes on the topic of Becoming an Ultrasound Technician. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com.

Cancer Treatment with Marijuana

2008-09-13T16:53:00.011+01:00

Unfortunately cancer is part of life and it is vital that the cancer treatment is of the highest level.

One of the side affects of chemotherapy is nausea and many people say that marijuana is great for an upset stomach.

The problem is that doctors are often have no option but to prescribe heavy medication, which often has undesirable side affects. The reason being is that it is still illegal for doctors in many places in the world to prescribe medical marijuana.

Should medical marijuana be used in cancer treatment? Please share your thoughts as it would be great to help cancer patients across the world. Hopefully law makers will read this post and decide to legalize medical marijuana for treating cancer.

Cancer Treatment News

Marijuana DVD

2008-04-22T11:20:00.010+01:00

Today I thought we talk about a really cool marijuana DVD that has recently been released. After all comedy is healthy for the heart.

The following is a short description on the marijuana movie:

Totally Baked is a stoner comedy – executive produced by AC/DC’s Brian Johnson. Brian Johnson also wrote three new songs for the film soundtrack which is a big highlight of this marijuana DVD! In addition, 10% of all direct sales through the website will be donated to NORML (The National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws).

Please see the following trailer for this cult marijuana DVD, we would appreciate if you could comment on the film.

Buy Totally Baked DVD

Medical Marijuana Vending Machines

2008-03-15T12:30:00.006Z

I have given a writer the opportunity to practise her craft by writing an article. So please share your thoughts on medical marijuana vending machines:

Although it sounds like something out of a satirical cartoon (I can definitely see Homer Simpson using it), marijuana vending machines are now a reality. The first one appeared at the Herbal Nutrition Center (HNC) in Los Angeles. The HNC is a popular medical cannabis dispensary that strives to bring a positive service to the Los Angeles community.

This Prescription Vending Machine (PVM), which is being casually referred to "the marijuana ATM," will only be available to those with a legitimate subscription. Those who register with the program will be given a prepaid credit card with all of their personal information on it. This card is simply used on the PVM, just like an automated bank teller.

Patients will be able to receive their prescriptions day or night, even if the dispensary it is located in is closed. The machine is located in a secure, isolated room and a guard will also be on hand 24 hours a day, which answers people's concern about the safety of the machine. Further measures have been taken in the machine's design, as it is armored and locked.

Just what is the purpose of a marijuana vending machine? Convenience is obviously the main concern, but owner Vincent Mehdizadeh also says the machine was designed to offer lower prices and anonymity. It seems that there are still patients who feel marginalized for their use of medical marijuana. Perhaps this simple, isolate machine will allow them to access their medication without any embarrassment or fear.

Since the first PVM was installed in Los Angeles' HNC, two other machines containing marijuana have been installed. Also, a similar machine was recently erected at a domicile on the USC campus. Although the latter machine does not offer marijuana, it does contain other medications, in addition to prophylactics.

Everything seems to be going well for the vending machine program, though it may not last for long. DEA Special Agent Jose Martinez recently told the Associated Press, "Somebody owns (it), it's on a property and somebody fills it. Once we find out where it's at, we'll look into it and see if they're violating laws."

Hopefully, there won't be any legal problems for the owner of the vending machines, as it really does look like it's a successful way to provide medication for those that: a) can't make it to their local dispensary during work hours, b) are in too much pain to stand in long lines or c) are too hesitant to openly pick up their prescription in front of a large crowd.

By-line Susan Jacobs is a part-time teacher, as well as a regular contributor for NOEDb, a site for learning about and selecting an online nursing degree program. Susan invites your comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address susan.jacobs45@gmail.com

Breast Cancer and Medical Marijuana

2008-02-10T19:44:00.002Z

Thought this might be of interest to you; one of the top health columnist / bloggers wrote about the new cannabis study suggesting that a particular compound may be effective at taming metastasizing breast cancer cells with low toxicity.

Please read this breast cancer blog post.

Then we would like to hear your thoughts as to whether medical marijuana can be used to fight breast cancer?

Breast Cancer

Heath Ledger found Dead!

2008-01-24T19:38:00.002Z

Was saddened when I heard Heath Ledger had died from what appears to be a drug overdose. This overdose seems to have been fuelled by insomnia and depression. I am an Australian and Heath Ledger was a brilliant, down to earth Australian celebrity.

It turns out that Heath Ledger had prescription and non prescription drugs in his apartment. Also Naomi Campbell’s former assistant said she saw Heath taking cocaine and ecstasy. Taking hard drugs seems to be pretty normal in the celebrity world.

Insomnia is quite common for people, especially those that have intense jobs, working long hours. Deep sleep is vital, but many drugs can be harmful especially when you are sick. Maybe medical marijuana would have been a better option for Heath Ledger.

If you have problems sleeping, do you think it would be best to take medical marijuana, instead of sleeping tablets?

Heath Ledger News Heath Ledger Videos

Heath Ledger Search Heath Ledger Blog Posts

Herbal Vaporizer Review

2008-01-13T20:46:00.002Z

Herbal vaporizers provide a healthy way for users to inhale marijuana. Vapor is proven to be far less harsh on your throat and lungs, compared to smoking. Hence it is much healthier to use a vaporizer.

There are now hundreds of different vaporizers on the market. Some are brilliant and others just dont work well enough.

What your thoughts on herbal vaporizers, please make specific mention to the different vaporizer models?

Volcano Vaporizer

Alternative Health - Vaporizer

2007-12-07T17:13:00.001Z

Today I am going to make a post based on an email I received from one of our visitors, in relation to alternative health.

The reason I started this site was mainly to help people. So it would be great if medical marijuana community could help this person in need.

The following is the almost the exact email I received:

My father had a heart attack yesterday. He is only sixty. He has smoked doobies for the past 45 years, and he has also smoked cigarettes, although the latter he has tried quitting numerous times. I'm sure that this time it will stick, since he has really no other choice.

I live in Taiwan (my family lives in Canada), and according to phone conversations with my brother, he says that dad will have to quit smoking all substances altogether. I'm sure that this is a huge disappointment to him, since he usually smokes five or six a day. And my mum has said that she's going to change her lifestyle to accommodate his. This all sounds fine while he's recovering, but once things return to normal, they're going to want to have a smoke after a long day.

So it donned on me yesterday that dad needs a vaporizer. Christmas is coming up, and so i could order and have one at the house by the time I get home.

Do you guys feel that a vaporizer is a safe way of smoking in order to reduce risk after heart disease is already set in. Is the vaporizer an alternative health solution for my dear ol' dad?

Medical Marijuana Patients

2007-05-15T13:37:00.001+01:00

Medical marijuana is used by many patients across the world.

Some do this legally and others are forced to obtain marijuana illegally to help cope with their symptoms form their illness.

I would like to hear from patients who smoke medical marijuana. Has the marijuana been an affective treatment for your illness?

Medical Marijuana Patients

Medical Marijuana Laws in the USA

2007-04-05T13:10:00.002+01:00

I strongly believe that Medical Marijuana has many beneficial uses for coping with illness.

Finally there appears to be more support for medical marijuana in America. Medical marijuana is legal in more than 12 of the states.

New Mexico recently announced that they are passing a law which legalizes the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

Do you think it is positive that more and more states in the USA are legalizing medical marijuana?

Legalize Marijuana

Buy Medical Marijuana

2007-01-19T14:17:00.002Z

Do you think it there should be more medical marijuana clinics across the world?

Or would this unnecessarily promote smoking marijuana to everyone?

We especially would like to hear from medical marijuana patients, who have been given permission to buy medical marijuana from legal marijuana clinics.

Grow Marijuana