Is It Bad To Be Registered As A Medical Marijuana User?

There are few subjects that can stir up stronger emotions among doctors, scientists, researchers, policy makers, and the public than medical marijuana. Is it rubber? Should it be legal? Decriminalized? Has its effectiveness been proven? What conditions is it useful for? Is it addictive? How do we keep it out of the hands of teenagers? Is it really the "wonder drug" that people merits information technology is? Is medical marijuana simply a ploy to legalize marijuana in full general?

These are merely a few of the fantabulous questions around this bailiwick, questions that I am going to studiously avert so nosotros tin focus on 2 specific areas: why do patients find it useful, and how tin they discuss information technology with their doctor?

Marijuana is currently legal, on the state level, in 29 states, and in Washington, DC. It is still illegal from the federal regime'south perspective. The Obama administration did not make prosecuting medical marijuana even a minor priority. President Donald Trump promised not to interfere with people who apply medical marijuana, though his administration is currently threatening to reverse this policy. Well-nigh 85% of Americans support legalizing medical marijuana, and it is estimated that at to the lowest degree several million Americans currently apply information technology.

Marijuana without the high

Least controversial is the extract from the hemp constitute known every bit CBD (which stands for cannabidiol) because this component of marijuana has footling, if any, exhilarant backdrop. Marijuana itself has more than 100 active components. THC (which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemic that causes the "high" that goes along with marijuana consumption. CBD-dominant strains have trivial or no THC, then patients report very little if whatsoever alteration in consciousness.

Patients do, still, written report many benefits of CBD, from relieving insomnia, anxiety, spasticity, and pain to treating potentially life-threatening conditions such equally epilepsy. One particular class of childhood epilepsy called Dravet syndrome is near impossible to command merely responds dramatically to a CBD-dominant strain of marijuana chosen Charlotte'south Web. The videos of this are dramatic.

Uses of medical marijuana

The most common use for medical marijuana in the United States is for pain control. While marijuana isn't strong enough for severe pain (for example, postal service-surgical pain or a broken bone), it is quite effective for the chronic hurting that plagues millions of Americans, especially as they historic period. Part of its allure is that it is clearly safer than opiates (it is impossible to overdose on and far less addictive) and it can take the identify of NSAIDs such as Advil or Aleve, if people tin't take them due to problems with their kidneys or ulcers or GERD.

In particular, marijuana appears to ease the hurting of multiple sclerosis, and nerve pain in general. This is an area where few other options be, and those that do, such as Neurontin, Lyrica, or opiates are highly sedating. Patients claim that marijuana allows them to resume their previous activities without feeling completely out of information technology and disengaged.

Forth these lines, marijuana is said to be a fantastic muscle relaxant, and people swear by its ability to lessen tremors in Parkinson'due south disease. I take also heard of its use quite successfully for fibromyalgia, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and near other conditions where the last mutual pathway is chronic pain.

Marijuana is also used to manage nausea and weight loss and can be used to treat glaucoma. A highly promising area of research is its utilise for PTSD in veterans who are returning from gainsay zones. Many veterans and their therapists report desperate improvement and bedlam for more studies, and for a loosening of governmental restrictions on its report. Medical marijuana is also reported to help patients suffering from hurting and wasting syndrome associated with HIV, too as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn'due south affliction.

This is not intended to be an inclusive list, but rather to give a cursory survey of the types of atmospheric condition for which medical marijuana can provide relief. As with all remedies, claims of effectiveness should be critically evaluated and treated with caution.

Talking with your doc

Many patients detect themselves in the situation of wanting to learn more about medical marijuana, just feel embarrassed to bring this up with their medico. This is in part because the medical community has been, as a whole, overly dismissive of this upshot. Doctors are now playing grab-up and trying to go along alee of their patients' knowledge on this consequence. Other patients are already using medical marijuana, but don't know how to tell their doctors well-nigh this for fright of being chided or criticized.

My advice for patients is to exist entirely open and honest with your physicians and to have high expectations of them. Tell them that yous consider this to be function of your care and that you expect them to exist educated about it, and to be able to at least point you in the management of the information y'all need.

My communication for doctors is that whether you lot are pro, neutral, or against medical marijuana, patients are embracing it, and although we don't take rigorous studies and "gilded standard" proof of the benefits and risks of medical marijuana, we demand to larn almost it, be open up-minded, and above all, exist non-judgmental. Otherwise, our patients will seek out other, less reliable sources of information; they volition proceed to use it, they just won't tell us, and at that place will exist that much less trust and strength in our doctor-patient relationship. I often hear complaints from other doctors that at that place isn't adequate testify to recommend medical marijuana, only there is even less scientific evidence for sticking our heads in the sand.

Image: robotboot/Getty Images

Brian Harrison

March 13, 2018

Very interesting post, may be worth noting that there is no real demand for the THC element within the medical products, studies have shown that THC and CBD combined at a 1:1 ratio is beneficial towards pain, however it has also been discovered that THC can modify our brains functions, making it hard for some people to keep with specific jobs.

Cbd Has been discovered to exist effective for hurting without the utilise of THC, this is one of many reasons why it hit the world market place with a tempest, it allowed a person to salvage themselfs (at a fiscal cost) from pain merely without the psychedelic side furnishings of the THC.

At that place is a big study happening in the UK at the moment, its still relatively new but its full supported by a big company the CBD Medical and Health Research is a very good read besides, based on real human subjects.

The study linked to a higher place shows that THC is non needed for the effects that people look for when using CBD, information technology is THC that is truly illegal in most places around the world, and it is THC that is used to go a high, remove this element and the drug is far less likely to be abused, CBD is too known for helping with drug addictions and hold naught addictive backdrop.

Beloved this article and the best part is the author giving his peers advice to keep an open mind and to educate themselves and then they can talk with their patients and assistance them. Brian, I encourage y'all to keep an open up mind. Your response portrays a person bias towards cannabis. I encourage yous to open your mind and so your research. Check out The Sacred Establish Docuseries. Too would you mind supplying links to back your comments on THC having no benefits as well equally any resource or scientific report that shows CBD can supply the same benefits every bit THC. As a user and abet of the Sacred Plant, I tin can share the health benefits from my ain personal use. My husband only got diagnosed with Colon cancer when this weblog was posted. We are eternally grateful to have access to Cannabis and the cognition in making his medicine. Give thanks God for Rick Simpson and his oil discovery. I also wait to history as our all-time and wisest teacher. Do you khow long Cannabis has provided medical relief benefits to millions of humans suffering. Finally, as a believer in God knowing He created hemp and cannabis and made both for our benefit, I expect forward to the much needed studies that man prevented. Man made it bad and now that millions are dying of disease homo is rethinking his deportment. Hemp with its CBDs is amazing but so is Cannabis with its THC. THC does alter our thinking and for the better. Did you know cannabis consumption causes neurogenesis in adults? Did you know people have cured cancer ingesting Cannabis oil? Practise you know all the ailments cannabis treats? Do y'all have any friends who have benefited from cannabis? Is the CBD oil explosion a health trend or fad? How many companies will make billions selling fake CBD oil because of this fad or tendency? Some questions to ponder since the media controls the marketplace.

Doug Rice, President, Epilepsy Assn of Utah

March 14, 2018

The points regarding no need for THC are not entirely accurate. Our daughter had great results using CBD oil to reduce epileptic seizures. But nosotros saw full control by adding small doses of THC.
In that location are methods available to minimize the issue of impairment with cannabis. THCa, the raw component in the plant, does non get a patient high. THC needs to be decarboxylated (usually by applying estrus over 180F) before it becomes psychoactive. CBD also attenuates the effect of THC, so some of the psychoactivity is subdued past having the combination of CBD and THC.

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Audrey Domreis

March one, 2018

i really enjoyed this article. I am 17 and have been using medical for near 2 years (not smoking, only oil and making smoothies with the dominicus leaves) and refuse to take prescription medication from the hospital, it has helped a LOT with my anxiety and depression, i deceit fifty-fifty explicate how much. information technology has also helped with my articulation hurting and helps me sleep. Ii years ago my grandmother was diagnosed with a glioblastoma the size of a baseball game, she started using the oil and started juicing to help compress the tumor. She started that and completely inverse her diet, last twelvemonth around August the doctor couldn't find the tumor anymore and information technology was not bad, she could finally talk and text and write and recall things. Although this year equally presently as she stopped, the cancer came right back and she is in the hospital once again at present. Before this I had a pet rat and didn't realize she could get stomach cancer from feeding her corn, i put her on a unlike diet and constantly made cannabis save and oil for her. I ran out of it for a week at some point though and the cancer came back within a 24-hour interval and had killed her 🙁
This amazing plant has over 20,000 uses and i would Love to study it 1 mean solar day more i already practise on my own. i hope people educate themselves on this topic more and actually understand what it tin can do, because earlier it became illegal we had used information technology for thousands of years. it really is an amazing establish.

Hullo Dr. Grinspoon,

I am really dislocated virtually this study. I read lots of commodity which it says Marijuana have bad effect on brain in long term and some article says opposite. Doesn't it effect on lungs like when you smoke cigarette as well? does information technology brand you addicted?
Could y'all introduce a reliable website I tin read about Marijuana more?
Thank you!

Peter Grinspoon, MD

Feb 27, 2018

Try this, it'due south long but excellent, from National University of Sciences:
https://www.nap.edu/catalog/24625/the-wellness-furnishings-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids-the-electric current-state

Neva Morgan

February 26, 2018

Hi Peter. My husband has been taking Xarelto AND Pletal (every bit prescribed by a dr. despite pharmacists filling the prescriptions with a bit of daze and stating they should non be taken together) since he had a DVT in his thigh. This happened after knee surgery in Jan 2013, flying xiii hours in March 2013 totally unaware or warned by our doctor that this was dangerous after surgery. The DVT in the back of his thigh threw a large clot and put him in ICU on life back up in the Philippines, with a Pulmonary Embolism. He was inches from death for approx 6 days and then 10 days induced coma total in ICU, ane month in hospital recovering (thankfully) learning to walk again etc. Since so he has been on 10mg Xarelto (night dose) and 100mg Pletal (morn dose) and we have been likewise terrified to reduce the dose in any way even though the docs in Philippines said continue life long Xeralto so wean off Pletal after three months, because the doctor in Spain when we came back here said, leave it as information technology is. Its now nearly 5 years later and he's still on both drugs. Approx 7 months ago he and I started taking 3 micro doses of THC FECO per day, mainly equally a cancer preventative. Since and then my husband and I have both lost weight. Ive lost over 40lbs and even so losing as I was obese and am still overweight just its just naturally slowly coming off. (so unexpected, but proficient side event) My husband vi'2″ was never overweight, in fact he has always been fit and muscular, and he has lost approx 20lbs which on his frame makes him wait like he's been locked up somewhere and starved, but it appears to be muscle mass, its definitely musculus mass and despite working out and beingness a very fit active man (68 yrs and fitter than most thirty somethings) his musculus loss is not changing, he has managed to put on merely 2lbs (as well taking ISO Protein but no thought if thats helping or not). We are wondering if it is the cannabis' blood thinning capabilities, in addition to the thinning meds he is on that is causing muscle loss and if as a result we could finally wean off some of the chemical thinners if merely by a percent, or mayhap remove one completely and keep the other while maintaining the FCO which we plan to take in tiny maintenance doses for the remainder of our lives. Nosotros are in Spain and the docs here seem to pass up to "decide" re the blood thinners, they almost cover their eyes when we ask the question "philippine docs said to wean off Pletal.. you lot accept done new tests.. practice we wean of Pletal? They will not respond! While its legal here to use medical cannabis, the lack of knowledge by doctors here including a Dutch doc, make it difficult to consult on the interaction and the possibility of what we desire, which is to cut down on his Xarelto and Pletal, even if its just incremental, i.e. trimming 20% off each pill. We plan on seeing our doc tomorrow for the starting time time since starting on the FECO for blood tests to find out if his claret is now mayhap "likewise thin" which in a fashion would be good as it would be a sign we could reduce i or both of the chemical blood thinners while maintaining the cannabis dose and then become him tested monthly as he weans off under md supervision. This is our hope, merely nosotros are on our own as far every bit knowledge of the two sides i.e. cannabis/western medicine, and nosotros are aware that we will accept to make a decision on our own after the blood examination results. If we find out his blood is "thin" and then I imagine the cod might propose a dose reduction but he has been loath to change anything in the by. Information technology will be we who decide IF to wean, which drug to wean off, or a scrap of both, or all of one .. this is terrifying, but thats how it is.
So finally to my question
Whats the question? I'm not sure??
If his blood work comes back that all is ok re blood texture clotting etc, and then weaning off is bad? Why the musculus loss? Is at that place any data ANYWHERE that suggests either Xarelto or Pletal affect muscle mass over the long term? (five years) It would seem possible that over thin blood would affect muscles but what do I know? He has also experienced some dizziness (light headed) this last twelvemonth which over again, timing wise, ties into the addition of FECO to his diet but Im not blaming the FECO, Im hoping the FECO is acting every bit a blood thinner and that we can reduce the Chem meds which according to studies Ive read with tears streaming down my face, accept multiple side effects.
Our desire, aim, promise, is to reduce the chemic meds, if not completely, then proportionately wiht monthly testing to evaluate the claret "texture'
Yep that question was both more than than one and barely a question at the same time. Since the incident in 2013 Ive suffered from PTSD and my sincerest wish is to if not accept closure on this, to after v years, adjust his medication and see some sort of forward progress in that expanse. The idea of him taking this the remainder of his life when it may be unnecessary is horrific.
Nosotros do not have admission to a medical doctor who is also familiar with cannabis, so Peter I enquire of y'all with your background and your pedagogy and family history with your grandfather, do y'all feel we are on the right track? Any communication?
My hubby seems healthy but his muscle loss over the last 7 months is dramatically visible and it frightens me (him too quietly but he doesnt say much) and he is tired a lot just at the same time very agile. This is an ex rugby player, full of energy who moves and is busy all day. He should not be losing muscle mass. No one tin respond our questions or even nudge us in the right direction.
A nudge from yous would be very much appreciated.
Without info from professionals or the highly educated, we accept almost decided to have the self decision to trim a tiny bit off each of his two daily pills, say 10% and then come across where that goes, merely how to know? When accept we crossed a line? He needs that muscle mass to have him through the rest of his life, his musculus mass at the time of the incident in 2013 is what saved his life without doubt.. he was strong and that & his fettle was in my opinion the reason he lived when 7 bloody specialists told me daily to gear up for his imminent death. Should the aforementioned thing happen today I know I would lose him. Maybe information technology wont happen again, there was a knee surgery and so a long international flight and a synergy of events that pb to the incident in 2013, perchance we are treating for something that just wont happen again but the two drugs he is taking are in his system and maybe don't need to be. Whatsoever thought delight xx

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February 26, 2018

Hi Neva, Thank you for your comment. You state of affairs is actually complicated! I'grand not sure if there is whatsoever specific study which has been done that can answer your questions. I would definitely consult with a Hematologist, ideally one who is comfy with cannabis therapeutics, so they can run across this upshot from all sides. This might be hard to detect but hopefully you tin can connect with i. I don't have a proper name to give you. Best of luck!

What about Cardiovascular furnishings of Marijuana? There so many unlike opinions and contradictions in research online i dont even know what to listen to. And because its and so politically polarized with politicians and special interest (Big Pharma?) i dont fifty-fifty know which inquiry to believe.

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February 23, 2018

According to the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, "At that place is no bear witness to support or refute a statistical association betwixt chronic effects of cannabis use and the take chances of acute myocardial infarction." I recommend that you read whatsoever literature that purports to show any such claims very carefully because, as yous alluded to in your question, this event has become very politicized. For example, some studies may imply cannabis causes some or other ill consequence but, if you really read the report carefully, the cannabis and the ill consequence are but randomly associated, and have no causal relationship to each other whatsoever, and may even be caused by the same root causes. The science on both sides of this issue needs to amend, and the federal government needs to elevator restrictions on studying it'southward medical utility.

Plantelys

February 21, 2018

Thank yous very much for sharing this great article almost Medical Cannabis. Y'all are well-nigh welcome to take a expect at this article, almost the aforementioned topic: https://www.nyttigbras.dk/nyttigbras-blog/groudstyr-til-medicinsk-cannabis

KATHRYN M MILLIGAN

Feb 18, 2018

Give thanks yous for this blog. Information technology is interesting as well as informative.
When a person is prescribed past her Doctor marijuana for let's say for hurting.
Does one go to the chemist's shop to pick up your med?

What where are the companies that brand and dispense
This drug?

Peter Grinspoon, Md

February nineteen, 2018

Once certified by a physician, patients typically go to a dispensary to selection up their medical cannabis. Unfortunately, it usually isn't covered (nonetheless) by wellness insurance.

Muriel Zimmer

February 18, 2018

Thank you for this wonderful article.

Please inform me of any relevant inquiry supporting pain control of osteo arthritis and/or chronic musculus pain due to traumatic injuries using cannabis based medical products. I'd like to avoid intoxicating aspects of cannabis as it increases my anxiety.

As a Canadian I am pleased to study the legality of using cannabis is confidently striding into the nearly future. Keep the pressure on in the USA to legalize this institute's utilise.

Thank you.

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February 19, 2018

CBD predominant strains are less likely to be anxiety producing than high THC strains. Practiced luck!

George G. de Vera

February 12, 2018

Hello Peter,

How well-nigh marijuana to cure diabetes? Can this lower our sugar level in our body?

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February 13, 2018

There is some interesting testify along these lines, for instance:https://world wide web.healthline.com/wellness-news/policy-marijuana-apply-helps-with-blood-sugar-control-and-bmi-051613

As per the beneath article "research shows it is beneficial indeed for those already diagnosed with either blazon i or two, and especially for those who suffer complications."
https://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/treating_diabet#2

khadijah tribble

February 9, 2018

I really appreciate this slice. I'm working on the policy side over at the Kennedy Schoolhouse. As a SICI fellow my focus is on solving the problem of misinformation and missing information and anarchy of regulating a highly politicized controlled substance. At that place are huge gaps in our knowledge and credible analysis of the information that is available.
We need responsible and equitable cannabis regulations that aren't castigating to patients and consumers but doesn't restrict the market while as well mitigating the economic devastation caused past 'war on drugs'. I've been looking for counterparts in at the Harvard Med Schoolhouse or Chan Schoolhouse of Public Health to be a role of the Marijuana Policy Trust call back thank. Practise y'all have whatsoever suggestions of who I should achieve out to? My email is kht672@student.hks.harvard.edu

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February eleven, 2018

I can aid but not via mechanism of response to comments on blog; please reach out to me via my website petergrinspoon.com and I will email yous dorsum. Thanks.

Hello Peter, I am currently writing a inquiry paper on the benefits of medical marijuana and was wondering if you could provide me with a few reliable sources, or mayhap a list of benefits?

Peter Grinspoon, MD

Feb eight, 2018

Hi Roberto, this is a good resource:
http://nationalacademies.org/hmd/Reports/2017/health-effects-of-cannabis-and-cannabinoids.aspx

Daniele Merkov

Feb 7, 2018

Is it true that marijuana can actually help to loss weight? I've been hearing people talk about this lately in some forum i deceit remember what forum that is but i was pretty curious about they're topic. I have been reading this marijuana strain hither in and all it says that it tin help you relax and chill yous physically and mentally. Some of them might even help you lot with depression and feet just this issue regarding losing weight when using marijuana is just fascinating. Tin can you enlighten me with some new data about this?

Peter Grinspoon, Md

February 7, 2018

There is some research forth those lines. This article sums it up.https://www.menshealth.com/weight-loss/marijuana-for-weight-loss-does-it-actually-work

Neva Morgan

February 26, 2018

Hi Daniele, Simply to offer my feel. I started taking Full Excerpt Cannabis Oil 9 months agone (this has THC merely the psychoactive effects can be avoided by weaning on very slowly, very very very slowly with tiny tiny micro doses) I hate the psychoactive effects.
I am 58 and take been obese for well-nigh x years. I didn't have the Cannabis oil for weight loss as I was completely unaware of that attribute, I am taking information technology equally an overall health help and preventative and for balance in my endocannabinoid system. 3 tiny doses per day every twenty-four hour period, for the last 9 months
I have lost over 40lbs during that time. Slowly gently but relentlessly downwards. I was not even aware of the weight loss as I wasn't weighing myself, Id given upwards after every diet on earth, good bad and fad. One twenty-four hour period my pants literally fell down, lucky I was at home 🙂 I realised Id lost weight, and so I weighed myself and at that time about 5 months in, Id lost 15lbs. I still today cant believe it because i had genuinely given up, 58 years sometime and very fatty with sore knees and nil I did (diligently might I add) changed a affair, in fact everything I tried resulted in an increased weight after the fact.
Cannabis has made me lose a huge amount of weight and I am still consistently gently heading downwards.
Please note, I researched strains and studied for months and months before taking the oil, I grew my own plants and made my own Full Extract Oil with a clean solvent (ethanol) using the Rick Simpson method which is safest for home makers, except for his solvents which are not clean, and then I used his method with rice cooker but I used my own choice of a clean solvent which is ethanol food grade. If yous are contemplating taking this oil y'all need to self educate, you demand to understand that the oil has THC in it and yous need to wean on super slowly to use it without the horrible psychoactive feelings that the THC bring if you lot have not weaned on slowly, and y'all need to exist patient in one case you starting time. But it works, it did for me and I wasn't even trying. Might I suggest that you start with a tincture as I did until I was no longer scared of it, tincture is non every bit potent and is a practiced prelude to starting on the oil. Yous need to grow your own so y'all know what you are taking.. buying from a recreational user volition not solve annihilation as they apply all sorts of bad chemic nutrients and you wont know the strain nor volition the guy selling information technology to you. You demand to command what you are taking from beginning to end. I suggest an Indica, not Sativa as the Sativas can have an feet event, well it did with me while the Indica strains are more relaxing, but the dose needs to start and remain tiny, yous are not trying to treat cancer, you are not increasing your dose, you are just feeding your endocannabinoid receptors with a steady micro dose 3 times a twenty-four hours and your body will practice the rest. Jorge Cervantes wrote a Medical Cannabis book that will assist in yous growing your own indoors or out, everything from beginning to end. About 4 plants should do information technology, discover a rubber place to grow them indoors under lite or outdoors if you lot take a secluded spot. Cervantes also gives recipes for tincture and other edibles, merely somewhen you should progress to the oil using the rice cooker method EXACTLY equally Rick Simpson says but with a clean solvent. I take not however stopped taking BP medication but I've reduced my dose under doc guidance and Id guess near xv more pounds and Ill be off them. My doc is unaware of my cannabis taken orally merely very impressed with my weight loss which he thinks is downwardly to diet and exercise. My knees don't anguish any more.. so many things are coming back that in my obesity Id forgotten id even lost out on. bending, tying shoes, more free energy, the list goes on. I accidentally lost weight by taking Full Extract Cannabis Oil with THC and Im absolutely thrilled, while at the same time waiting for something to go "ah gotcha", and the weight loss disappear, but it hasn't and it wont because the cannabis has had an result on my system and restored a residue in some manner I don't understand just appreciate beyond measure. x
Y'all need to research and report and put in the attempt to acquire most this topic and if y'all practice you will exist rewarded with an element of control and knowledge about why, what to do & what not to do when it comes to consuming cannabis. PS Smoking does not achieve annihilation, we are talking tincture or full extract oil taken orally 20

Holly Martin

Feb 6, 2018

How can the top Universities and colleges in the United States teach about the therapeutic, medicinal benefits of cannabis if it's classified every bit schedule 1? The US government is adamant that in that location are none. If you, Harvard, are saying that there are benefits, how is it legal to keep the classification the same?
What is going on here?

Peter Grinspoon, MD

February vi, 2018

"Harvard" has many different faculty members who likely hold many unlike views on medical marijuana; this blog doesn't attempt or purport to speak for all of them. That said, you are right that in that location is a dichotomy between the the government's classification of marijuana every bit having "no medical benefit" and this article which cites about a dozen areas where marijuana has been demonstrated to be beneficial. Unfortunately, our regime's policy is vastly out of footstep with the reality that millions of patients are experiencing, and with modern scientific prove. It needs to change. (The history of our nation's "War on Marijuana" is fascinating to read nigh; it is generally based on racism too as politics against the anti-Vietnam left…long story!).

FredyJohnSmith

February six, 2018

A complete comprehensive article I will say. Looking at the benefits it tin offer, it should be legalised. Thanks for the share.

Peter Grinspoon, Medico

February 11, 2018

You are welcome!

Michelle

February 4, 2018

I am 46 and take suffered from migraines for near 25 years. They take become less frequent ( a few per calendar month instead of a few per week), but harder to control with rescue medications such as relpax. For 2 months in a row now I accept had to take a steroid to get rid of the headache which had lasted for more than 5 days. I have tried several preventative medications over the years (lyrica, topomax, Elavil, botox, Effexor, occipital nerve block injections etc), with fleeting success. I as well suffer from chronic cervix tension and pain resulting from disc bulges acquired past a previous accident which exacerbates the headaches.

I live in Florida and accept been told that I automatically qualify for a medical marijuana card every bit I am a breast cancer survivor (3 years in remission). Yet, I am worried nearly the stigma and potential political/social complications of a marijuana prescription. I piece of work full-time, have 2 small children, and am pursuing my MBA. I need to be fully performance. Menses. I am Nearly concerned near whatever contraindications that information technology might take on Tamoxifen that I have been prescribed to take for vii more years. Not sure that I tin can handle the feet of wondering, what if…

Any suggestions that you lot accept or research that you can share would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much.

Jože Skrbinek

Jan 29, 2018

howdy, my best friend take ALS affliction. Do you lot have whatever experiance with this affliction, medical CANABIS-ALS. He is 55 years old.
PLEASE Aid!
Thanks for answer.

all-time regards from Slovenia
Jože

Peter Grinspoon, MD

January 29, 2018

There is some scientific evidence for this do good, such every bit the post-obit article:

https://alsnewstoday.com/2017/02/28/tin can-cannabinoids-exist-a-potential-therapeutic-tool-in-amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis/

There is a huge corporeality of anecdotal bear witness that it helps people, certainly with their symptoms, but it actually needs to be studied more rigorously.

Lisa M Kaelin

Jan 29, 2018

I'm 58 years and accept been contesting brain inflammatory disease. 20 years of autoimmune diseases, surgeries, every type of inflammatory disease and many prescriptions. Finally plenty bullshit!!! I took my life in my ain hands cold turkey off twenty years of pills. Possibly non the smartest affair to practise however with weed I did it. I can't believe how functional I accept go. Not cured but I can manage my life with weed and probiotics. I have my encephalon back. My pain is way down. I don't cry anymore about beingness sick. I'm not in a fetal position from pain. No one needs to suffer…it's non like they will requite you a medal for it. Weed is life irresolute and healing and hopeful!!

Peter Grinspoon, Medico

January 29, 2018

Glad that you plant relief from your symptoms. Certainly, you are not alone, which is why doctors and patients demand to get meliorate educated on this topic, and more research needs to be done!

P L Burr

January 23, 2018

Isn't smoking Whatever substance but for your lungs?

Peter Grinspoon, Physician

January 23, 2018

There are many different means to swallow medical marijuana: drops under the tongue, edibles, tinctures, vaporizing it, topical treatments; information technology is not recommended (at least past doctors…) that people fume it (though, interestingly, it hasn't been linked to lung cancer in the studies I've seen).

Elizabeth Pallett

January 22, 2018

OK lets begin by removing a couple of things, the medical/recreational and more importantly go rid of the marijuana prohibition term, use the plants correct name and then perhaps patients might non be and then dislocated, its name is Cannabis.

All Cannabis should be grown organically, never have the males removed and the object is to gain every bit many of the 140 cannabinoids as possible to bring about whole health.

How the oils and tinctures are made are very important and given the Us is getting information technology completely wrong and are now years backside what we in the Cannabis compassion suppliers are finding and now know.

The enquiry is being washed, information technology is simply not being washed by big pharma or governments.

There is absolutely no health or safety chance using Cannabis from formulation to the grave. Anyone and everyone should be able to abound the plant and use it equally they delight as y'all should any other herb or vegetable, it should not be on a drugs listing and information technology should not be nether the control of drug companies or the medical profession.

Time to end the war on a establish and heal the planet.

Peter Grinspoon, Doctor

January 22, 2018

My father is Dr. Lester Grinspoon, the "grandfather" of medical marijuana (a.thousand.a. cannabis), who has been fighting to legalize this ever since his volume 'Marihuana Reconsidered' [sic] came out in 1971, so I'yard not unsympathetic to your position. 🙂

Sonny Chandler

January 22, 2018

If THC is removed, is at that place pain relief? In other words — is in that location pain relief and PTSD help etc. etc when the THC chemic that makes people high removed from medical marihuana ?

Peter Grinspoon, Md

Jan 22, 2018

In that location are many compounds in marijuana so THC isn't everything only, that said, I believe that it is a fairly important component in hurting control. CBD, another cannabinoid, does have pain decision-making effects as well, without the psychoactive furnishings.

Justin Escher Alpert

January 22, 2018

"We can only hope that within the next decade the effects of the "war on drugs" will start to fade and give way to a more comprehensive and fact-based understanding of all bioactive substances. So whether you accomplish for the medicine bottle or the lighter, yous'll sympathise simply how each dose volition bear on yous, the benefits and risks of consumption, and the potential for abuse—and, however you choose to employ these substances, you'll have greater assistance from our health care organisation and a more open-minded society to support your choices." – https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/when-legal-drugs-damage-and-illegal-drugs-help/

Peter Grinspoon, Physician

January 22, 2018

Well said! Concur the "War on Drugs" is 100% counterproductive. Thanks for the interesting article.

Hi Peter,

It is a very emotive subject area. Equally I see equally Governments etc tin make money from medical marijuana and then they will take it on board. It is a nonsense that the large pharma countries are legally killing people and it is only recently that many of u.s. are waking up to natural medicine. Have the large booze manufacturers, lover the earth over by Governments and their paymasters every bit it generates and then much revenue for them. This is despite the devastation that this drug causes to some many families the world over.

#soberwatersretreat

Peter Grinspoon, MD

January 22, 2018

Hello Joe, thank y'all for your comments. I agree that marijuana is safer than alcohol!

True cat Motors

January 19, 2018

Howdy Peter!
Tell me please, is in that location whatever statistics on how the number of traffic accidents has inverse subsequently some states of the U.s.a. have allowed the use of marijuana? Information technology would exist interesting to know statistics on cars and motorcycles. Nosotros stay in Chiang Mai (Thailand), and sometime have are heated discussions and disputes about this amongst rental owners =)

Peter Grinspoon, Dr.

Jan nineteen, 2018

People shouldn't bulldoze when they have used ANY medicine or substance with psychoactive furnishings including cannabis. This study from NIH (National Found of Health) shows impairment but not equally dangerous as alcohol (which is a good summary of marijuana in general…)
https://world wide web.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/manufactures/PMC2722956/

Sara Scotti

January xx, 2018

At that place are studies on this verbal topic! This is a contempo article looking at two studies. I find more weight in the study conducted by AJPH, in office because it is more extensive. Of course driving impaired is not to be condoned and this is a topic worth researching. https://washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/06/26/what-marijuana-legalization-did-to-car-blow-rates/

Valerie Tikhonoff

January 18, 2018

Data on drugs interaction are rare. Exercise you know the intersections with new oral anticoagulants such as Apixaban? One of my patient with ALS got a recurrent pulmonary embolism on treatment with apixaban and oil cannabis.

Peter Grinspoon, MD

January 18, 2018

This needs to exist studied and is exactly why the government needs to take marijuana off of "schedule one" and then that it can exist studied. Given how new the oral anticoagulants are, I don't think it's been studied all the same. The case you cite could just exist treatment failure and take nothing to practice with the cannabis…

Mimi Conners

January 27, 2018

https://www.marijuanadoctors.com/blog/using-medical-marijuana-with-blood-thinners-what-to-know/

I merely found this. It seems relatively upwards to date.

Cannabis oil extraction is advancing quite dramatically as well. The cannabinoids and terpenes tin can be extracted in a number of means including ethanol/hydrocarbon soak, distillation, even a press (similar to a t-shirt press) using heat and pressure to literally squeeze the oils out of the cured flowers. The healing properties of these oils tin even be recombined to specifically treat unlike types of ailments. What is needed, is more information to identify which compound from the establish that is aiding their specific ailment. Even if someone has not had a beneficial experience with ane of the strains they have chosen to use, there is a myriad of other strains with different ratios/percentages of terpenes/cannabinoids. Genetic profiles of strains are fifty-fifty being mapped to aid researchers in identifying which may best be helpful to patients in the future.

Peter Grinspoon, MD

January 17, 2018

Cheers for your interesting comment!

Harry Conroy

February 8, 2018

To Alfonso and others interested,
What about Rick Simpson Oil ( R.S.O. ) ?
I reference the life experience of Canadian entertainer Alan Park
( Royal Canadian Air Farce sketch comedy ensemble, pop national Canadian comedy television receiver show ).
He used RSO in a suppository form and purportedly reduced his
psa blood test from around 700 to close to zero, over maybe a 5
month menstruum !
He was diagnosed at stage four prostate cancer afterward going to the
Doctor for an unrelated complaint, and subsequent diagnostic tests
revealed his totally unsuspected, and late phase, prostate cancer.
He apparently could not exist offered whatever conventional treatment
per the assessment of his Doctor due to the advanced stage
of his prostate cancer condition.
The Dr. gave him about iii months to live. He has historic
three years of survival since that initial cancer diagnosis.
Rick Simpson is a Canadian citizen that evidently has been nether
legal duress associated with his total marijuana plant conversion
to oil concentrate of some sort. Alan Park uses the RSO in suppository
class.
Alan Park has an online pod cast called, GREEN Beat out, which
is related to marijuana bug, medical marijuana, and his
personal experiences.
If his health story journey is accurate, and positively in support of prostate cancer
treatment in a genuinely efficacious and measurably evidenced
based mode, we should get our involvement directed in this expanse
of inquiry, virtually ricky ticky !
It certainly sounds compelling to me, at least on the face of his
narrative of his very unconventional personal experience and
testimony.

SAM Activeness

January 16, 2018

Doctors are the leading cause of Opioid addiction in America. They continue to prescribe Oxycontin like information technology was candy and then after the prescription runs out, their patients turn to the merely available alternative; Transitional islamic state of afghanistan grown US Military protected Heroin. The greatest threat to American youth is the ignorance and arrogance of the AMA and a Federal Government that refuses to consider Marijuana equally an adjuvant for pain mitigation.

Shame on us for tolerating a corrupt alcohol-based institution and perpetuating the 1937 Nazi-era marijuana prohibition laws.

Rona Clayton

January 16, 2018

I concur fortunately I never took opiates until I was legally prescribed them in 2004 after a MRI and my diagnosis for dorsum hurting and in my town we don't have heroin and yes I was on oxycontin years agone and when I had to detox off of them due to unfortunate circumstances I idea I was dying I never desire to experience that again

Craig Gillette

January 15, 2018

I've been using DC medical marijuana for four years now, to treat my fibromyalgia, other wellness issues, and even my addiction recovery. Marijuana is non-toxic and safe to utilize every twenty-four hours, and I'k having great success with it. And then are millions of others of people. Pills impale, cannabis heals. I've been smoking cannabis for four decades, I don't need no scientist or Dr. to tell me the magic that it contains. They need to convince and educate themselves. They demand to remember the Hippocratic oath to commencement exercise no harm, and death pills are killing people every 15 minutes in America. Stop with the pills already !!!!!!

Peter Grinspoon, MD

January xv, 2018

Glad yous establish the treatment that works for you!

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