How Can Medical Marijuana Improve My Quality Of Life

Demographic Study of People Seeking Cannabis Treatment
Information from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML):
Thursday August 4th, 2011
This is a copy from NORML News, issued today, 8/4/11. Santa Cruz, CA: Patients in California with a physician's recommendation are predominantly using cannabis to treat symptoms of pain, insomnia, and anxiety, according to population data published in the present issue of the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs...

Medical Marijuana and Alzheimer’s disease
Published Studies Show Promising Results
Tuesday August 2nd, 2011
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder with no known cause. It is characterized by a progressive deterioration of memory and overall cognitive functioning. Many patients have aggressive behavior, agitation, appetite loss, depression and difficulty walking...

Compound in Marijuana Prevents Chemotherapy Side Effect
Yet another study shows the tremendous medicinal benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD)
Tuesday July 26th, 2011
Researchers at the Temple University School of Pharmacy reported that nerve pain that results as a side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel can be prevented by cannabidiol, a compound in the marijuana plant...

New Study Explains Marijuana Tolerance
Reversible decrease in receptors explains tolerance and dependence
Monday July 18th, 2011
A new study from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains the mechanism of action for tolerance and dependence with marijuana use. In order to understand this, you must first understand that the medicines in marijuana, called cannabinoids, attach to the body's cells through a receptor, similar to how a key fits to a lock...

Migraine Headaches and Opioid Medication
Short-acting Opioids Not Appropriate for Chronic Long-term Use
Friday July 8th, 2011
Many migraine sufferers are often prescribed short-acting opioids. such as hydrocodone, for their pain. A headache expert reports that this may not be a good long-term solution and that these types of medications may cause side effects that promote more unfavorable outcomes...

Chronic Pain affects 116 million Americans
Institute of Medicine reports on pain as a public health problem
Wednesday July 6th, 2011
The Institute of Medicine reported this week that an estimated 116 million Americans suffer with chronic pain and are dealing with a health care system that is poorly prepared to treat them. Chronic pain patients are often treated, "with some prejudice, a lot of judgment and unfortunately not a lot of informed fact," according to Dr...

The Endocannabinoid System
Understanding the Science behind Cannabis
Thursday May 26th, 2011
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years, both recreationally and medically. People all over the world know the effects of cannabis, yet until 20 years ago, no one knew how it worked within our bodies...

Fibromyalgia Pain responds to Medical Cannabis treatment
Recent study shows reduction in pain and stiffness and increased relaxation and sense of well-being
Monday May 16th, 2011
A clinical study was conducted at the Institut de Recerca Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain, to investigate effects of cannabis on symptoms and quality of life for 56 fibromyalgia patients. Half of the patients were cannabis users and 28 were non-users...

Vaporizer Studies - Take a look at the Science
No One should be smoking, Vaporizers save your lungs
Friday April 22nd, 2011
Here is a summary of three scientific studies that show that vaporization is the healthiest way to inhale your medication. Everything about vaporizing is better than smoking. If you find no effect from a vaporizer, it is possible that you have developed high tolerance and it would serve you well to take some time off (7-14 days)...

Venice Beach Medical Marijuana Doctors Raided
Why quality and price do matter
Wednesday April 20th, 2011
On Wednesday 4/20/11, three medical marijuana doctors' offices in Venice Beach were raided and closed. (Link below) The LA Times reported that the warrant was sealed so information on why the offices were raided is unknown at this time...

National Cancer Institute Acknowledges Benefits of Medical Cannabis for Cancer Patients
Tuesday April 12th, 2011
The National Cancer Institute for the first time gives information on its website on cannabis and cannabinoids (the active medicines in the cannabis plant). They report: "The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep...

Marijuana and Your Lungs – What is the real deal?
Saturday January 22nd, 2011
Is marijuana smoke really bad for the lungs? What about lung cancer? You can find out the answer to these questions by going to the link below. Dr. Donald Tashkin, Professor of Pulmonology at UCLA’s Geffen School of Medicine, gives an excellent summary of what he has found over many years of researching the effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs...

What is the California State or County Card?
Wednesday November 10th, 2010
Proposition 215, passed in 1996, allows a physician to recommend cannabis to a patient with a serious and chronic medical condition. This law only provides patients with a legal defense for possession and cultivation...

Medical Marijuana and Lung Disease
Monday April 12th, 2010
A recent study was done to determine the combined and independent effects of tobacco and marijuana smoking on respiratory symptoms and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the general population...

Medical Marijuana and Multiple Sclerosis
Tuesday April 6th, 2010
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic progressive neuro-degenerative disease where the brain and spinal cord are damaged by the gradual destruction of myelin, which is the tissue that covers and protects the brain and spinal cord...

Can I get addicted to Marijuana?
Sunday January 17th, 2010
Marijuana is not physically addictive. Marijuana users can use it regularly, even multiple times daily, without any problem giving it up. However some people do experience withdrawal, similar to caffeine withdrawal...

Medical Marijuana and Depression
Sunday January 10th, 2010
Clinical depression is a very serious illness. People with this condition have long-term, often debilitating feelings of sadness and low self-esteem. There can be suicidal thoughts. Depression makes ordinary tasks such as going to work, cooking, cleaning, even personal hygiene, very difficult...

Medical Marijuana and Spinal Cord Injuries
Sunday January 10th, 2010
Patients with spinal cord injuries with paralysis of their legs and/or arms, often have severe chronic pain and muscle spasms. The conventional treatment for these symptoms is synthetic medications, including high dose opiates, tranquilizers, and sedatives...

Medical Marijuana: First Time Use
Sunday January 10th, 2010
The first time use of cannabis is unique. Although no one yet understands why, many people don’t feel anything the first time they use cannabis. They do feel it the second or third time. At times the first time users are noted by the people around them to be acting differently but they themselves don’t notice it...

Medical Marijuana and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Thursday December 17th, 2009
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that’s triggered by a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. Post-traumatic stress disorder can develop after someone experiences or witnesses an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror...

Medical Marijuana and Tourette’s Syndrome
Tuesday December 15th, 2009
Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder that is characterized by involuntary tics. The cause of this disorder is unknown. Some patients with TS have small tics and others have debilitating tics...

Medical Marijuana and Sleep Apnea
Sunday December 13th, 2009
Sleep apnea is a medical condition characterized by frequent interruptions in breathing of up to 10 second or more during sleep. There are three types of sleep apnea: obstructive, central and mixed...

Medical Marijuana and Lung Cancer
Thursday November 19th, 2009
The big question about marijuana smoke has always been, “Will it cause cancer?” A review of the scientific literature still does not give a definitive answer but it appears that a leading and well known pulmonologist (lung specialist) from UCLA has found that marijuana is unlikely to cause cancer...

The Cost of Alcohol, Tobacco and Cannabis
Tuesday November 17th, 2009
A report published in the British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Journal (Canada) stated that tobacco-related health costs are over $800 per user, alcohol-related costs are about $165 per user and cannabis-related health costs are about $20 per user...

Medical Marijuana and Fibromyalgia
Monday November 9th, 2009
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by diffuse pain in the muscles, ligaments and tendons, with associated fatigue and multiple tender points (places on the body where slight touch causes pain)...

How do I choose which kind of medical marijuana to use?
Monday November 9th, 2009
Many medical marijuana patients are finding natural relief of a variety of medical conditions with this amazing plant. But there are so many strains that it can be overwhelming to find which strain or plant will be helpful for certain conditions...

Medical Marijuana and ADHD
Sunday November 1st, 2009
Many people diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have turned to medical marijuana for treatment of their symptoms with positive results and minimal side effects. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is also known as hyperactivity or attention deficit disorder (ADD)...

Medical Marijuana and IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
Wednesday October 28th, 2009
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common syndrome that affects the large intestine. The most common symptoms are cramping, abdominal pain, bloating gas, constipation and diarrhea. Although the symptoms can be severe, there appears to be no long term permanent damage to the bowel...

Medical Marijuana and Migraine Headaches
Monday August 3rd, 2009
Migraine headaches can be extremely severe and debilitating. Scientists and doctors are not sure exactly why some people get migraines but it appears that genetics and environmental factors both play a role...

Medical Marijuana: Safer than Prescription and OTC Drugs
Sunday July 12th, 2009
With the recent death of Michael Jackson, and last year’s death of Heath Ledger, both due to prescription drugs, more and more patients are examining their pill bottles and wondering what their future holds...

Medical Marijuana and Arthritis
Monday July 6th, 2009
Over 30 million Americans suffer from arthritis. There are many different kinds of arthritis – osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, infectious arthritis, gouty arthritis are just a few. In general arthritis occurs when there is swelling and pain in the joints with subsequent limitation of movement...

Medical Marijuana And Chronic Back Pain
Tuesday June 30th, 2009
Chronic Back Pain is one of the most common illnesses seen by physicians. Almost everyone has back pain at some time in their adult life. Back pain occurs most commonly between the ages of 30 and 50 due to the aging process and due to a more sedentary lifestyle that begins in this age group...

Medical Marijuana Tinctures
Tuesday June 23rd, 2009
Many medical marijuana patients are happy to learn about tinctures of cannabis. A tincture is an alcohol-based liquid mixture. It is like a concentrated extract. Currently there are tinctures of cannabis made with alcohol, oil or glycerin...

Medical Marijuana and Insomnia
Tuesday June 23rd, 2009
Are you one of the millions of Americans that is suffering from sleeplessness or insomnia? It is estimated that one-third of all adults have insomnia. Some people have difficulty falling asleep, some have difficulty staying asleep, and some have both...

Medical Marijuana: Inhalation vs. Edibles – Why is it so different?
Monday June 22nd, 2009
You have a choice as to how you want to take medical marijuana. You can inhale marijuana either through smoking it or through a vaporizer. Of course the healthier option is the vaporizer as there is no irritating smoke...

Anxiety, Panic Attacks, and Medical Marijuana
Saturday June 20th, 2009
Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Panic Attacks are common illnesses affecting many people. How do you know if you have anxiety disorder? Symptoms include excessive and persistent worrying that interferes with everyday functioning...

Fibromyalgia and Medical Marijuana
Saturday June 20th, 2009
Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that is difficult to diagnose and whose cause is unknown. Patients have symptoms of musculoskeletal pain, chronic fatigue, and tender spots in the neck, spine, shoulders and hips...

Sacramento Bee enjoy's "Elevated" Ad Sales; Thanks Medical Marijuana!

Now that the Sacramento Bee has begun publishing medical marijuana collective advertisements the weekly paper has reported much "higher" profits... as I understand it the Sac Bee could charge a medical cannabis dispensary as much as $3,000 for a full page, color ad in the Ticket section.


Just three months ago, the Sacramento News and Review began printing 30 pages of ads in a special medical marijuana 420 section.

According to Jeff vonKaenel, the CEO and President of the free alternative weekly newspaper, the section includes ads from nearly 50 dispensaries. A full page ad goes for about $2,000.

"It has been very lucrative," vonKaenel said. "We've been making tens of thousands of dollars a week on that. At a time when many newspapers are scaling back staff, The Sacramento News and Review said it was able to hire more reporters and expand its distribution largely because of medical marijuana ad sales.

(Source)

Hempfest Hoax! Seattle Times Reporter MMJ Curious?

King douche Seattle Times reporter Jonathan Martin fools WA state mmj doctor! Get's medical authorization to possess cannabis for medical purposes in Washington state.

WA State law limits medical-marijuana use to patients with such debilitating conditions as AIDS-related wasting syndrome and multiple sclerosis. Intractable pain is defined as not easily managed, relieved or cured by other treatments.

He states that he did not embellish, although, with no medical records on hand, nothing would have prevented it. He went on to describe a four-year problem, "treated by physical therapy, prescription and over-the-counter pain remedies, with weekly flare-ups ranging from slight to severe. Most of my male friends and family have similar complaints."

Although Department of Health's (DOH) professional boards can discipline doctors and others for violating the medical-marijuana law, none has been cited, according to DOH records.

Nursing regulators recently looked into a complaint involving two Spokane nurses for allegedly improperly signing medical-marijuana authorizations, but did not take action. In March, the Medical Quality Assurance Commission, which regulates doctors, open and quickly closed an ethics complaint against a Seattle-area physician involving an advertisement promising authorizations that would "stand up in court."

Moyer, the DOH spokesman, said the department has not had a test case from a patient claiming to be inappropriately authorized for medical marijuana. Without such a complaint, regulators have treated authorizations akin to a second opinion, giving wide latitude for professional judgment.

"It's very hard to involve the regulatory authority in the patient-physician relationship," he said.

At the 4Evergreen tent, prospective patients began to queue up in the late afternoon. A 54-year-old woman, who gave her name only as Sharon, said she suffered from diverticulitis, a painful swelling of the colon. She hoped cannabis would halt her weight loss. "I'm past the point of trying anything," she said, but added that she was nervous about the process.

(source)

Genome of Marijuana Sequenced and Published

A Netherlands-based company called Medicinal Genomics has just announced the successful genetic sequencing of Cannabis sativa, the highly regulated annual plant that has been widely consumed for centuries as an intoxicant and a medicine. The plant, known in the vernacular as grass, tea, or marijuana, has been legalized in 16 U.S. states for use as a medical treatment for various disorders over the last decade, and according to Medicinal Genomics' Kevin McKernan, the legal market for the substance is currently growing by 50 percent every year.

The genetic sequence has been published only in its raw state, not yet assembled into a more usable form. When the process is completed, though, it should be possible to isolate the genes responsible for the creation of the pharmaceutically active compounds by the plant, including THC, CBD, and some 60 other cannabinoids. Understanding these genes and their expression will make possible a fine degree of control over the production of these compounds, with significant implications for both the medical and recreational users of the drug. Particular drug-producing genes could be isolated and concentrated in particular strains of the plant, or even inserted in other species.

WeedMaps To Attened Seattle Hempfest This Weekend!

WeedMaps will be in attendance at the Seattle Hempfest held this weekend. The next Seattle Hempfest is almost here... August 19-20-21, 2011. It's open to the public on Friday from 12 noon to 8 pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 8 pm. mission to Seattle Hempfest is free.

The event spans three Seattle waterfront parks: Centennial Park, formerly Elliott Bay Park (North Entrance), Myrtle Edwards Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park (South Entrance).



Hey Medical Marijuana Community come check out the Weedmaps both and register to win one of the two free iPads WeedMaps.com is giving away. (Details at Booth)

Stay Legal, Stay Safe, Keep Your MMJ Recommendation On You At All Times!

Will it be bigger than 4/20/2011 in CO?

This One May Be Hard To Defend! 58 Pounds and a suspended license!

Another case of ... Dude what were you thinking? An L.A. based man was arrested early this morning after Tehama County sheriff’s deputies pulled over his car for not having a front license plate, as if the cops could actually see the license plate, and found 58 bags each containing approximately one pound of cannabis.

Mr Dixon, 23, stated to the sheriff’s deputies that the marijuana was for his "personal use".

Dixon was arrested on suspicion of possession and transportation of marijuana for sale and driving on a suspended license. He was booked into Tehama County jail in lieu of $101,140 bail.

Stay safe, legal, and free by getting your medical marijuana recommendation today

(source)

Elevated 8,200 feet "high" in the Rockies ...most heavily regulated marijuana industry in America

Elevated to more than 8,200 feet in the Rockies, state regulation arrived in this famously mellow, pot-friendly town after Colorado passed landmark legislation over the past two years to tax, license and govern the state's wild, for-profit medical marijuana trade.

Colorado now has the most heavily regulated medical cannabis industry in America. Even Nederland's Board of Trustees imposed a $5,000 local fee on new cannabis stores, hoping to cash in on pot prosperity.

But it has meant heartache for this hamlet of 1,400 people.

In 2010, Nederland voters passed a symbolic measure, declaring all marijuana legal in the hippie haven and former silver town renowned for its high-grade cannabis. In practice, the town already had permitted seven medical marijuana stores. As many as 14 were said to be operating – one for every 100 residents.

Now Nederland has three marijuana stores left. A bonanza in local sales taxes is drying up, and the town's marijuana growers are fed up.

Rather than pay state licensing fees and hefty costs for video security and other state mandates for selling medical marijuana, Chippi closed the doors of her Nederland store last year.

(Source)

Kern County "High" On Hope!

Professional signature collectors are on their way to Kern County to drum up more than 17,000 names needed before the ordinance to ban medical marijuana collectives goes into effect September 9th.!

Why? ... Well On Tuesday, the Kern County Board of Clowns... I mean Supervisors had its say, passing an ordinance that bans medical marijuana cooperatives in Kern County. It was a controversial vote that created quite a buzz about town, now advocates of medical marijuana are launching a referendum to stop the ordinance.

"We want to see an ordinance that works for everybody," Craig Beresh, Pres. California Cannabis Coalition, said. "That regulates it, gets taxed and is beneficial for Kern County as well as the collectives."

Don't miss the opportunity to have your voice heard. All registered voters in the county are eligible to sign the referendum.


(Source)
Stay Safe and Legal Get your Medical Marijuana Recommendation, follow state laws, live without fear of consuming God's medicine!

DEA denies request: Marijuana stuck at schedule 1

The Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis submitted its request to the Drug Enforcement Administration to reschedule marijuana nine years ago.

"They felt as though there was some sort of evidence, there was some sort of scientific evidence, that suggested that marijuana could be used as medicine," says Dawn Dearden, DEA Spokesperson.

At the end of last month, the DEA denied this request-leaving marijuana in the same drug category as heroin. DEA listed marijuana as a Schedule I drug, meaning it's not considered legitimate for medical use and has high potential for abuse.

"There's like eight factors that we look at, when we look at scheduling a drug. Its potential for abuse, the scientific evidence of any sort of pharmacological affects that it might have, any sort of scientific knowledge regarding whether the drug can be used safely for any sort of medicine or anything like that. The history and pattern of abuse-I mean there's a whole litany of [the factors DEA looks at]," Dearden said.

So in this case, DEA studied marijuana and found it didn't have any medicinal use. The Food and Drug Administration also studied it and determined the same thing.

"There is a high potential for abuse for marijuana. We know that the science isn't there to back it up-that marijuana can be used as medicine. We know that, the FDA has said that and as far as we're concerned, nothing really has changed regarding marijuana's potential for abuse-either before this petition was filed or after it. It's still a Schedule I drug, it's still illegal under federal law," Dearden said.

The Buckeye State Is Going To "Pot"....

And yet another group that wants to legalize medical marijuana… this time in the middle of America, in Ohio of all places. Ohio-n’s have turned over of a petition “loaded” with signatures from good solid U.S citizens (such as yourself) for what they say is their initial assault on ignorance by putting the issue before the voters in Nov. ‘12.

A quick preview of the sanity to come with the proposed "Ohio Alternative Treatment Amendment" and how it would modify the state constitution to allow caregivers to give patients with qualifying ailments up to 3.5 ounces in pot .

“Backers of the measure last week submitted a petition that summarized that amendment with 2,143 signatures to Attorney General Mike DeWine.

Secretary of State Jon Husted, Ohio's top elections official, said the next step in the process is validating 1,000 signatures and passing the language of the petition in a review process. If the proposal makes it through the review process, its supporters will need to collect at least another 385,245 valid signatures to win the amendment a spot on the ballot next year.”

Researchers at the Temple University School of Pharmacy reported that nerve pain that results as a side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel can be prevented by cannabidiol, a compound in the marijuana plant.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most commonly occurring compound in the cannabinoid family (the group of medicinal compounds in the cannabis plant). Cannabidiol has many proven medical benefits, including anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, anti-convulsant, and anti-psychotic properties. It also has been shown to reduce muscle spasms, promotes sleep and helps to relieve pain. It is non-psychoactive, that is, it does not contribute to the "high" that one experiences with the use of cannabis that is due to the compound THC.

In a recent study published in the July issue of the journal Anesthesia and Analgesia, investigators studied the effect that CBD had on a particularly difficult side effect of the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel (brand name Taxol or Abraxane). Paclitaxel is used to treat patients with lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer and advanced forms of Kaposi's sarcoma. A common side effect of paclitaxel (in up to two-thirds of patients receiving it) is peripheral neuropathy, damage to the nerves in the body that causes pain, numbness, tingling, sensitivity to touch and/or muscle weakness. Often when this side effect occurs, paclitaxel doses must be lowered or it must be stopped altogether, interfering with the cancer treatment.

In this study, it was shown that female mice (who appeared to be more sensitive to this side effect than male mice) who received treatment with cannabidiol did not develop paclitaxel-induced nerve pain. Let's hope that this research continues and that CBD can be tested in humans. It is amazing that a well-known side effect can be PREVENTED (not just treated after it happens!) with a natural medicine in marijuana. All of those opposed to marijuana and marijuana research need to open their eyes to the SCIENCE of cannabis!

CBD is currently studied in labs all over the world, as it is recognized as a medicinal compound with tremendous potential. Unfortunately, much of the cannabis that is available for medical marijuana patients in legal states is low in its content of CBD. As more people become aware of the medicinal properties of CBD, plants with higher CBD content will hopefully be more available.

Study citation: Ward SJ, Ramirez MD, Neelakantan H, et al. Cannabidiol Prevents the Development of Cold and Mechanical Allodynia in Paclitaxel-Treated Female C57Bl6 Mice. Anesth Analg 2011 Jul 7.

Washington D.C. the capital of the United States, as well as 16 additional states have at present legalized medical cannabis: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.