Category: Lifestyle & Hobby

Following the lead of twenty-three other states, Pennsylvania’s Governor Tom Wolfe made history here on April 17 by signing The Medical Marijuana Act (SB3) into law. Two days later, he turned up in King of Prussia to tout the bi-partisan legislation before “jubilant” crowds, saying, “This is about helping peoples’ lives, about helping people that are going to be better, faster. They’re going to feel better and that is just such a rewarding thing.”

And he could just be right, as our law covers such conditions as:

• Crohn’s Disease
• Cancer
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• HIV
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

The law is set to go into effect next month, but it could take 18 to 24 months to establish all the regulations and get retailers up and running to sell us medical marijuana. The standards, though, are already set for tracking the plants, certifying physicians, and licensing growers, dispensaries, and physicians. Also decided: It will only be available in pill, oil, vapor, ointment, or liquid form. No smoking allowed, growing, either.

It’s all been a long time coming…

Our Jamestown settlers actually brought marijuana to our shores way back in 1611 when they established the first permanent English settlement here. By the 1890’s it was turning up in a variety of medications and was freely sold in pharmacies. Then in the 1920’s, Mexican immigrants introduced us to its recreational use, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Fast forward to 2016, and:

• Medical marijuana is legal in 24 states and D.C., with Pennsylvania the latest to sign on.
• Legalization of medical marijuana is currently pending in Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
• Marijuana is legal for adult and medical use in 4 states: Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska-and D.C., too, but accompanied there by strict restrictions.

Meanwhile, it’s one helluva money-maker, so no wonder budget-strapped states can’t seem to resist the lure. The numbers speak for themselves. Back in 2014, adult use amounted to $373.8 million; add in the total for medical marijuana sales and the figure comes in at a whopping $4.6 billion!

Plus, by 2020, it’s projected that adult use sales will amount to $12.1 billion, while medical sales will top $10.7 billion, for a total of $22.8 billion. Talk about filling the coffers!

So now it’s Pennsylvania’s turn at the trough. Indeed, although our law is brand new, marijuana entrepreneurs are already lining up. Says Doug Porter of the Cannabis Career Institute, “This is a prime time to start a marijuana business.” Indeed, folks in the know actually expect some 245,000 patients to sign on right away and sales to quickly top $100 million.

Adds Michael Bronstein, co-founder of the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp in Philadelphia: “Pennsylvania could be one of these robust states. There is a serious marketplace here.”

The only bumps in the road noted so far:

1. Not enough prescribing docs, as they must first take an online certification course and then opt-in to the program.
2. Along with the ban on smoking and growing, flowers and edibles are not allowed.

In time, restrictions may very well ease, however. After all, just take a look at what’s already happened in places like California. It all started there with legalizing the medicinal use of pot, and now celebrities are making names for themselves in the marijuana marketplace. For instance, while Snoop Dogg hawks his “DANK FROM THE DOGGFATHER HIMSELF,” Melissa Etheridge is offering up marijuana-infused wine-a double whammy if ever there were one.

At the same time, Willie Nelson has partnered with private equity investors to market his “Willie’s Reserve,” and, not to be left out of the boom, either, Whoopi Goldberg and partner Maya Elisabeth now offer women a balm, a tincture, a sipping chocolate, and a bath salt. Really.

All in favor raise your hands and say “Aye.”

One caveat, though: In 2014, the U.S. Addiction Rehab Industry brought in $35 billion a year with more than 14,000 centers nationwide treating some 2.5 million patients and counting…

Source by Carol Josel

Medical marijuana is proved to have certain valuable medical properties, which are witnessed and documented. Just to name a few of them, there are: improvement in patients that suffer nausea and vomiting, raise of appetite in patients that undergo chemotherapy or suffer AIDS, it also reduces intraocular pressure and possesses general pain relieving properties. Some studies as well confirmed marijuana to have benefits for a vast range of medical conditions, from disseminate sclerosis to depression and similar conditions. Synthetic THC (THC is the main active component of marijuana) is also available as a prescription drug, known as Marinol.

Marijuana effectively helps in a wide range of medical conditions and diseases, including muscle spasms, glaucoma, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, AIDS, HIV, diabetes, chronic pains, nausea, insomnia, seizure disorders, appetite loss, medium pains, spasticity, brain cancer, and lung cancer. Globally accepted by the medicinal society as an alternative treatment for patients, who suffer from a broad range of chronic diseases and medical conditions, medical has truly become one of a few treatments that are really effective. Of course, each patient has to first get a marijuana card.

Medical marijuana is most often used as an illegal substance or a recreational drug in other words, in a lot of developed nations. Medicinal researches have displayed that the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) – marijuana’s main active component – supplies essential medical benefits in a lot of patients. Voters of Arizona and California considered these benefits substantial and have approved regulations that allow the use of medical marijuana by any patient that has a medical marijuana card.

In order to be taken through marijuana treatment, each patient has to be approved for and issued a marijuana card by a trusted doctor that has a marijuana license. After this patients are permitted to go through medical marijuana treatment. If a patient doesn’t want to have troubles, they should register marijuana card of their own. One of the significant issues of being a marijuana card holder is that a patient is granted full legal protection of marijuana regulations and laws. Obtaining a medical card might be a tough thing to do, since it demands a reference from a physician that has a medical marijuana license. Make certain to visit one of your local medical marijuana dispensaries and proceed with the registration of your own marijuana card. But don’t forget to contact the Department of Health of your state to verify which papers you need to bring along with you for your MMJ card registration.

Although you could need to put up some additional efforts to become eligible for and acquire your medical card, you shouldn’t be scared of the time the process can take. The physicians will provide you a recommendation if they consider that you really need it for your medical condition. Marijuana can also be an injurious drug, but it can supply tons of benefits if it is employed only, when somebody’s health truly needs it.

Source by Pratap Ranjan

Colorado citizens voted to pass Amendment 20 in 2000 opening the door for an influx of new legal medical marijuana dispensaries. Over the past several years, the Colorado medical marijuana industry has become the fastest growing industry in the state. It was reported in 2010 that the number of Denver dispensaries has grown to outnumber the number of Starbucks in the city.

With this overwhelming number of new cannabis dispensaries opening across the state, it's hard to know where to start. So if you have your Colorado medical marijuana registry card and you're wondering how to find the best Colorado dispensaries, then keep reading for some handy tips …

The first step in locating a new medical marijuana dispensary is to identify all the dispensaries that are in close proximity to your location. Google maps is a great tool for this task because it will actually overlay location marks if you do a search for something like "Denver Dispensary".

Once you have a list of a few dispensaries in your area, you can start researching each by doing another Google search for their specific name and keywords. So search for something like "Denver dispassionary review" or just "the best Denver dispensaries" and you should get you the appropriate results. I recommend using the research from these results to further refine your list down to about 3 of the more interesting dispensaries.

You've done the proper research and read the reviews, now it's time to visit these top 3 medical marijuana dispensaries to see for yourself. One thing to keep in mind is that since this market is still so young there really is not an industry standard when it comes to how individual Colorado cannabis dispensaries operate. What this means for your is that every Colorado dispensary that you visit will be a unique experience!

While most Colorado medicinal marijuana dispensaries do not require appointments to access the medicine viewing rooms, it's probably a good idea to call ahead and see if there is going to be a wait to be seen. When making your personal assessment of a new Colorado cannabis dispensary, there are a few things you will want to pay close attention to on your initial visit.

Your first impression will usually be the waiting room area where you will need to provide your Colorado medical marijuana registry card to the person at the counter. After that, you will either be immediately taken to the bud room or you will have to wait until your call back. Wait times are generally very short, often only taking a few minutes. I've found many Denver dispensaries have no wait at all during none peak times.

The most important part of evaluating a new medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado is your experience in the bud viewing room. For many people, their first time walking into this room can be overwhelming. With row after row of glass jars packed with the finest Colorado grown medicinal cannabis, patients just do not know where to begin.

Well, here's my tips for dealing with this initial experience. Start with the best. Ask to see the A grade, top shelf, red dot or whatever they call their best cannabis strains. This will immediately give you an idea of ​​the best that they have to offer. Also, do not overlook the lower grades of bud … sometimes you can find the best value for your dollar here.

Also be sure to take note of their pricing structure. This can be a major determining factor when choosing a primary caregiver for the long run. Most Denver dispensaries offer separate pricing structures for members and nonmembers, so be sure to ask each for specific details.

After visiting a few places you will start to see how the general decor and atmosphere of Colorado cannabis dispensaries can broadly vary place to place. Some dispensaries present a stark clinical environment that's similar to a doctor's office while others will feel more like you're walking into a friend's comfortable house. Whatever your preference, there's a Colorado medical marijuana dispensary that's right for you.

This article is not an endorsement for marijuana use. Cannabis is still a drug but it is extremely helpful in treating many people with various aliments. The medical marijuana world is rapidly changing so I strongly recommend reading the official Rules and Regulations for Medicinal use of Marijuana from the Colorado Department of Health before making any decisions regarding the medicinal use of cannabis. In the end the best decisions are informed decisions, so be sure to do thorough research on any topic involving your health before acting.

Source by Wesley Winston

The legalization of medical marijuana has become a hot debate in many states in America. This controversy also rages in other countries around the world. Many nations have recognized the medicinal properties and value in extracts of this plant while others have not. Canada, Spain, Germany, Austria, Netherlands, and Portugal are among the nations that have legally allowed the use of cannabis for health concerns. In the United States, several states have voted to allow its use for medically approved reasons as long as it's prescribed within a certain legal framework.

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about medical marijuana:

– Where does it come from?
This product is derived from the hemp plant and is referred to by a host of other nicknames, such as pot, grass, weed, and Mary Jane.

– What states have voted to make it legal?
So far, fourteen states and the District of Columbia have allowed cannabis to become legal – Washington State, Washington, DC, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Vermont, and Rhode Island . Six states now allow dispensaries to sell the plant, including Colorado, California, New Mexico, Montana, Rhode Island, and Maine. The state of Maryland does not consider it legally allowed, but if a person can prove that he or she is using it for health reasons, the repercussions of possession are not as severe.

– What illnesses and maladies does this product help with?
There are arrays of medicinal uses associated with medical cannabis. Some disturbing issues such as nausea, unexpected weight loss associated with illness or chemotherapy, premenstrual tension and pain, and insomnia have been successfully alleviated. Multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, and spastic problems have also responded well when treated with hemp medicinal byproducts. ADHD, otherwise known as attention deficit disorder, has shown improvement as well as Tourettes syndrome, Huntington's disease, glaucoma, and Alzheimer's.

– How is medical marijuana administered into the body?
It can be taken in a variety of forms, including pill form, liquid marinol, vaporized, cooked into food, or smoked.

– What kind of foods can this product be cooked into?
Many baked goods, such as banana bread, brownies, and cookies are excellent ways to ingest the substance in a tasty product.

– How does a patient obtain this drug?
A medical doctor must write a prescription and a patient must become a MM card holder. There are many websites with links to clinics and health care practitioners who are advocates of this medicine. In certain locations in states that have legalized this product, there are storefront operations working as dispensaries, such as along the boardwalk of Venice Beach, California.

– Growing one's own medication: Another way to obtain access to this substance is by growing your own plants. An MM card is one way to have legal permission to plant your own garden of cannabis.

Medical marijuana is becoming legal in various states in the USA and countries around the world. The debate concerning the pros and cons of legalization still continues.

Source by Andrew Stratton

Marijuana is a known dangerous drug that is kept illegal alongside other dangerous substances like cocaine, PCP and heroin. To some people, it should remain that way, however, there are some who strongly insist that marijuana should be legalized. This is because they believe that this herb brings no danger to one’s self or anyone. There are even groups of individuals pointing out the medical benefits of marijuana, which should not be denied to people. Still, there are some people who believe that marijuana should be further explored before making any actions.

As debates and arguments regarding medical cannabis continues to drag on, more and more researchers are continuing with their tests regarding the use of medical marijuana. Others have even come up with various strains of marijuana, which can help in treating certain illnesses. As more of these tests and researches provide scientific and credible results, more and more medical experts are seeing the potential of medical marijuana. In fact, many states today are supporting the use of it for medicinal purposes.

Indeed, every drug has a risk, including the most common ones that are found inside medicine cabinets. Medical experts and doctors would often balance the risks against the good these medicines would bring. It is now being done with cannabis as well. The truth is many researchers and experts have found out that marijuana has a lot of medical benefits. It can provide relief to ailments that has symptoms of chronic pain like cancer and severe arthritis. Moreover, it is said to provide relief to AIDS wasting syndrome as well as the nausea during chemotherapy sessions.

Science has also proven the risks of marijuana, but these risks are outweighed by the benefits for the risks are very small. According to several research, medical marijuana’s side-effects would be the euphoric mood swings, relaxed and/or impaired motor functions as well as increase in appetite. Compared to other medications that may provide the same results as medical marijuana, this herb doesn’t have long-term side-effects and has no risks of overdose.

With all the good talk about medical cannabis, doctors would still say that the danger of using cannabis is not gone. The main concern they have is the effect of cannabis smoke. This smoke has more harmful chemicals and tar as compared to a regular cigarette. Though, this is a proven thing, there’s no way you can smoke 20 sticks of marijuana per day. Moreover, many gadgets have been introduced in the market today, which vaporizes marijuana instead of smoking it.

Source by Joseph Su

Medical Cannabis in California is nothing all that new. Rather, this state has served as the basis for 14 other states in the union to proactively decriminalize marijuana for medicinal usages. Thanks to the progressive medical marijuana program in California, more and more people are starting to understand how many practical medical applications that California offers. For patients who are suffering, now they have another alternative healthcare option that many find to offer the relief that they are seeking but void of side effects, adverse reactions or interactions that are common with many prescription drugs.

Current Laws on California Medical Cannabis

The laws here can be difficult to understand if you are not a lawyer. However, they can be broken down to basic terms to make them easier to digress. The laws ensure that "seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes." They are designed to ensure "that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanctions of any kind."

Who Can Legally Use California Medical Cannabis?

As per the law, only patients and their state approved caregivers. According to California law, all patients must be registered with the medical program, which is managed by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). In order to qualify, patients must be examined by a doctor and written a recommendation for cannabis. Then they must submit an application to the health department with that recommendation to be issued a California medical cannabis card.

Where You Can Buy Medical Cannabis in California

Upon receiving your California Medical Cannabis card in the mail, you will be able to purchase cannabis from various dispensaries that are located throughout the state. The dispensaries only allow valid card holders to gain entrance and make purchases (or their primary caregivers who hold valid cards). Each county has its own laws regarding the amount of marijuana that a patient can purchase or possess at any given time.

Qualifying Medical Conditions for Cannabis in California

This state differs greatly from the other states that have legalized cannabis for medicinal usages. This is because Medical Cannabis in California hosts the most liberal medical marijuana program. Currently, there are 166 qualifying conditions. A few are added and removed each year by voters. A marijuana doctor can help you determine if you qualify under state law.

Source by John T Wise

This article aims to explain the basic physiology of the Colon, Rectum and Anus. The causes of hemorrhoids will be described. Treatment by pharmaceutical drugs and creams will be described. Natural relief from hemorrhoids has been used for many years and some of these will be described.

Basic Physiology Of The Colon, Rectum And Anus

The colon is basically a muscular hollow tube made up of seven parts. The Cecum follows on to the Ascending colon, this in turn goes to the Transverse colon, this in turn goes to the Descending colon. This then forms into the Sigmoid colon then the rectum and then the anal canal (anus).

Rectum: The rectum is a thick muscular tube that starts at the sigmoid colon and ends at the anal canal. The mucous lining of the rectum is basic Epithelium.

Anus: The anal canal is the last part of the digestive tract and is around 1 inch long. The anal canal begins at the rectum and ends at the anus. The anal canal has two bands of muscle the internal anal sphincter near the rectum, and the External anal sphincter at the anus.

Causes Of Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are caused by the swelling and inflammation of the hemorrhoidal veins. These veins supply the anal canal. However, the reasons for this swelling of the hemorrhoidal veins is not clear and somewhat anecdotel. Many theories have been made such has straining to have a bowel movement, constipation, and a low fibre diet. Pregnancy is one area where hemorrhoids are common. This is thought to caused by an increased blood flow to the hemorrhoidal veins supplying the anal canal.

Treatment Of Hemorrhoids By Pharmaceuticals

Hydrocortisone Supposiories: These are inserted into the anus (usually after a bowel movement) and relieve the inflammation. Hydrocortisone can cause many side effects, including thinning of the skin.

Proctosedyl: This is an ointment that is inserted into the anus with a perforated nozzle to enable the ointment to reach a large area. Proctosedyl contains hydrocortisone, a local anaesthetic Cinchocaine hydrochloride. Proctosedyl can have side effects including difficulty in breathing, difficulty swallowing, amongst others. There are many Ointments for hemorrhoids most treating the same symptoms of pain, bleeding and inflammation.

Hemorrhoids can, in severe cases, be treated by surgery. This article is not going to describe this.

The Treatment Of Hemorrhoids By Natural Means

Butchers Broom: Ruscus aculeatus helps decrease inflammation and strengthen blood vessels. It is usual o take it as a tea 3 times per day.

Dandelion: Taraxacum officinale when eating either the roots or young leaves acts as a mild laxative. This helps hemorrhoids because has shown earlier constipation may be a precursor to hemorrhoids.

Fluoride of Lime: Calcarea fluorica can be a remedy for bleeding hemorrhoids and skin cracks in the anus.

Ginkgo: Ginkgo biloba helps reduce inflammation and strengthen blood vessels. Ginkgo is usually taken in capsule form.

Horse Chestnut: Aesculus hippocastanum works primarily on the lower bowel and can help with hemorrhoids, pain, and bleeding.

Witch Hazel: Hamamelis virginiana is an astringent and can stop bleeding. This should be applied after each bowel movement, but should not be used internally.

Diet: It has been found that a high fibre diet can help hemorrhoids by reducing constipation and therefore straining for a bowel movement. Blackberries, Blueberries, and Cherries contain high levels of Proanthocyanidin and anthocyanidin and these have been found to help hemorrhoids heal and prevent future ones forming.

It would appear that having a well balanced diet containing whole grains, fruits, and vegetables will lower the chance of constipation, which may in turn reduce the chance of hemorrhoids.

Source by Jeffrey Rossini

Medicine is considered as one of the most important necessity to all of us. It is derived from the Latin words ars medicina meaning “the art of healing”. It is a branch of the health sciences and is the sector of public life concerned with maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, treatment and possible prevention of disease, injury and other damage to a body or mind.

It is both an area of knowledge, a science of body system and their diseases and treatment. This branch of science encompasses treatment by drugs, diet, exercise and other nonsurgical means. It is also used to maintain our health. An agent such as drug is used to treat disease or injury. There are different types of medicine, we have herbal medicine, which came from different kinds of plants, medicines treat in hospital and etc. Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to use of any plant’s seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Long practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalism is becoming more mainstreams as up-to-date analysis and research show their value in the treatment and prevention of disease. Some of us believe in herbal medicines, for it is pure came from plants and no other ingredients. Herbal medicine also uses for cough, fever, toothache and some other diseases that might catch from our environment. Herbalists treat many conditions such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and an irritable bowel syndrome among others. Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For most herbs, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients and it is likely that they work together to produce the desired medicinal effect

Some medicines may cause problems if you take them with other medicines. This is why it is important to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the medicines you are taking. And some medicines can cause problems, even if you take them correctly. Call your doctor or pharmacist if you think your medicine is making you feel worse. We take medicine to make us feel better when we are sick.

Source by Jennifer Alinio

There are reasons why people chose alternative medicine and reasons why they avoid it, preferring conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is safer than standard health treatments and usually works. It’s true that it can’t be used in severe conditions like car accidents or other severe emergencies, but be that as it may, there are enough situations in which alternative medicine is recommended. When it comes to emotional and spiritual needs, non-conventional medicine may come up with the solution. Furthermore, it’s better for preventing illnesses than standard medicine. More and more physicians nowadays agree upon the benefits of alternative medicine and also even advise their clients to choose the best natural treatment for them.

One of the advantages of alternative medicine is that it encompasses a broad range of therapies, treatments and products, thus the search for obtaining positive results doesn’t flow on a narrow path at all.

A pretty important disadvantage states the idea that, even though the expenses of using acupuncture or chiropractic are sometimes covered by health insurances, the majority of alternative treatments are not reimbursed.

There are certain risks that come along with the usage of natural remedies. Despite the use of herbs throughout the years and even ancient times, not all of them have been studied regarding their safety and efficiency. There are issues concerning their purity and their possible interaction with other substances related to conventional therapies. The majority of information regarding herbs have been perpetuated throughout history and with the help of tradition. Many people assume that herbal medicines are better than synthetic drugs simply because, well, they are natural and not synthetic, therefore present no risk. But they are not risk free; they can do more harm than good if taken without having the details of their effects over the body.

People might abuse of natural medicines the same way as they do it in the case of synthetic drugs. They have the misconception that if unconventional medicine consists of herbal products which are natural, then there is no harm done if they triple the dosage or more. This is totally wrong and can have serious consequences. Take vitamins for example. They are just vitamins, right? They can’t possibly do any damage inside the body. But they do. Vitamin overdosing or vitamin toxicity can lead to unpleasant effects depending on the vitamin that has been taken one too many times. Vitamin A over dosage can cause liver problems, osteoporosis, hair loss and other dangerous effects and Hypervitaminosis D leads to dehydration, vomiting, anorexia and even kidney stones.

An advantage of using herbal remedies concerns the effectiveness related with chronic health issues that don’t respond well or even at all to traditional medicines. If long term medication is needed, then herbs are pretty much safer than conventional drugs. The alternative medicine industry takes advantage from this and keeps evolving and developing due to the constant need for natural remedies.

Another advantage is the low cost of herbal products compared to synthetic drugs which are highly priced for the simple reason that researching and testing the products is expensive. Furthermore, herbal products can be bought without a prescription and are easy to procure. The availability of natural remedies is outstanding; chamomile for example can be easily picked out from a nearby field.

The advantages of using herbal medicines are numerous, but so are the disadvantages. The best idea would be to consider modern medicine according to the severity of the illness, to consult a physician upon the proper medication and dosage and if you do chose the alternative medicine, try to gather enough information upon both kinds of treatments, natural or synthetic, so you may reassure yourself that you took the right decision to balance your health situation.

Source by Peter Rosenblum

Enter any bar or public place and canvass opinions on cannabis and there will be a different opinion for each person canvassed. Some opinions will be well-informed from respectable sources while others will be just formed upon no basis at all. To be sure, research and conclusions based on the research is difficult given the long history of illegality. Nevertheless, there is a groundswell of opinion that cannabis is good and should be legalised. Many States in America and Australia have taken the path to legalise cannabis. Other countries are either following suit or considering options. So what is the position now? Is it good or not?

The National Academy of Sciences published a 487 page report this year (NAP Report) on the current state of evidence for the subject matter. Many government grants supported the work of the committee, an eminent collection of 16 professors. They were supported by 15 academic reviewers and some 700 relevant publications considered. Thus the report is seen as state of the art on medical as well as recreational use. This article draws heavily on this resource.

The term cannabis is used loosely here to represent cannabis and marijuana, the latter being sourced from a different part of the plant. More than 100 chemical compounds are found in cannabis, each potentially offering differing benefits or risk.

CLINICAL INDICATIONS

A person who is “stoned” on smoking cannabis might experience a euphoric state where time is irrelevant, music and colours take on a greater significance and the person might acquire the “nibblies”, wanting to eat sweet and fatty foods. This is often associated with impaired motor skills and perception. When high blood concentrations are achieved, paranoid thoughts, hallucinations and panic attacks may characterize his “trip”.

PURITY

In the vernacular, cannabis is often characterized as “good shit” and “bad shit”, alluding to widespread contamination practice. The contaminants may come from soil quality (eg pesticides & heavy metals) or added subsequently. Sometimes particles of lead or tiny beads of glass augment the weight sold.

THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS

A random selection of therapeutic effects appears here in context of their evidence status. Some of the effects will be shown as beneficial, while others carry risk. Some effects are barely distinguished from the placebos of the research.

• Cannabis in the treatment of epilepsy is inconclusive on account of insufficient evidence.
• Nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy can be ameliorated by oral cannabis.
• A reduction in the severity of pain in patients with chronic pain is a likely outcome for the use of cannabis.
• Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients was reported as improvements in symptoms.
• Increase in appetite and decrease in weight loss in HIV/ADS patients has been shown in limited evidence.
• According to limited evidence cannabis is ineffective in the treatment of glaucoma.
• On the basis of limited evidence, cannabis is effective in the treatment of Tourette syndrome.
• Post-traumatic disorder has been helped by cannabis in a single reported trial.
• Limited statistical evidence points to better outcomes for traumatic brain injury.
• There is insufficient evidence to claim that cannabis can help Parkinson’s disease.
• Limited evidence dashed hopes that cannabis could help improve the symptoms of dementia sufferers.
• Limited statistical evidence can be found to support an association between smoking cannabis and heart attack.
• On the basis of limited evidence cannabis is ineffective to treat depression
• The evidence for reduced risk of metabolic issues (diabetes etc) is limited and statistical.
• Social anxiety disorders can be helped by cannabis, although the evidence is limited. Asthma and cannabis use is not well supported by the evidence either for or against.
• Post-traumatic disorder has been helped by cannabis in a single reported trial.
• A conclusion that cannabis can help schizophrenia sufferers cannot be supported or refuted on the basis of the limited nature of the evidence.
• There is moderate evidence that better short-term sleep outcomes for disturbed sleep individuals.
• Pregnancy and smoking cannabis are correlated with reduced birth weight of the infant.
• The evidence for stroke caused by cannabis use is limited and statistical.
• Addiction to cannabis and gateway issues are complex, taking into account many variables that are beyond the scope of this article. These issues are fully discussed in the NAP report.

CANCER

The NAP report highlights the following findings on the issue of cancer:

• The evidence suggests that smoking cannabis does not increase the risk for certain cancers (i.e., lung, head and neck) in adults.
• There is modest evidence that cannabis use is associated with one subtype of testicular cancer.
• There is minimal evidence that parental cannabis use during pregnancy is associated with greater cancer risk in offspring.

RESPIRATORY DISEASE

The NAP report highlights the following findings on the issue of respiratory diseases:

• Smoking cannabis on a regular basis is associated with chronic cough and phlegm production.
• Quitting cannabis smoking is likely to reduce chronic cough and phlegm production.
• It is unclear whether cannabis use is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma, or worsened lung function.

IMMUNE SYSTEM

The NAP report highlights the following findings on the issue of the human immune system:

• There exists a paucity of data on the effects of cannabis or cannabinoid-based therapeutics on the human immune system.
• There is insufficient data to draw overarching conclusions concerning the effects of cannabis smoke or cannabinoids on immune competence.
• There is limited evidence to suggest that regular exposure to cannabis smoke may have anti-inflammatory activity.
• There is insufficient evidence to support or refute a statistical association between cannabis or cannabinoid use and adverse effects on immune status in individuals with HIV.

MORTALITY

The NAP report highlights the following findings on the issue of the increased risk of death or injury:

• Cannabis use prior to driving increases the risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident.
• In states where cannabis use is legal, there is increased risk of unintentional cannabis overdose injuries among children.
• It is unclear whether and how cannabis use is associated with all-cause mortality or with occupational injury.

BRAIN FUNCTION

The NAP report highlights the following findings on the issue of cognitive performance and mental health:

• Recent cannabis use impairs the performance in cognitive domains of learning, memory, and attention. Recent use may be defined as cannabis use within 24 hours of evaluation.
• A limited number of studies suggest that there are impairments in cognitive domains of learning, memory, and attention in individuals who have stopped smoking cannabis.
• Cannabis use during adolescence is related to impairments in subsequent academic achievement and education, employment and income, and social relationships and social roles.
• Cannabis use is likely to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses; the higher the use, the greater the risk.
• In individuals with schizophrenia and other psychoses, a history of cannabis use may be linked to better performance on learning and memory tasks.
• Cannabis use does not appear to increase the likelihood of developing depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder.
• For individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorders, near daily cannabis use may be linked to greater symptoms of bipolar disorder than for nonusers.
• Heavy cannabis users are more likely to report thoughts of suicide than are nonusers.
• Regular cannabis use is likely to increase the risk for developing social anxiety disorder.

It must be reasonably clear from the foregoing that cannabis is not the magic bullet for all health issues that some good-intentioned but ill-advised advocates of cannabis would have us believe. Yet the product offers much hope. Solid research can help to clarify the issues. The NAP report is a solid step in the right direction. Unfortunately, there are still many barriers to researching this amazing drug. In time the benefits and risks will be more fully understood. Confidence in the product will increase and many of the barriers, social and academic, will fall by the wayside.

Source by Dr Edward Brell PhD