Benefits of marijuana

Jeannette - posted on 11/08/2011

@Jenny, Hey girl!
I read through the article and I agree with "kate" and "tom". They are even mindful that though it should be legal, it isn't and try to keep their kids from knowing. I wonder how successful they are with that, our kids tend to know more about what is going on than they let on.
The people around me (most older than 40 and 50) would like to see it legalized. 1. They themselves have used it in the past and do not think it is as bad as alcohol. 2. A couple of them want to use it again for pain they are experiencing.
Want to put a dent in prison population? Legalize it.

Jenny - posted on 11/07/2011

Good to see you around Jeanette.



I would loathe that too. It would be a shame to see our high quality, flavourful strains available in BC be bastardized into something commercial. This is the marijuana use that I know http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/83978...

Jeannette - posted on 11/07/2011

I know this is an older topic, but I love it! I'm opposed to "medical marijuana" because I believe marijuana should be legal. I would vote for all drugs to be legal, but for certain it is absurd to keep marijuana illegal. The reason I oppose medical marijuana specifically is because I loathe the idea of pharmaceutical companies getting their hands in the pot and making it even more costly to those who really do need it. Also, the pharmaceutical companies are likely to add chemicals or grow it in such a way that it is a mutant hybrid of what it should be.
Recently, the Obama administration has been 'cracking down' on medicinal marijuana 'clinics' in Cali, which is insane! We have spent enough on the "war on drugs". It is a war we are not winning, there are casualties every day, and quite honestly it is a morality law - which I oppose. It should be legal.

Charlie - posted on 12/14/2010

What business is it to anyone how the THC is administered ? you're either for it or against it .

Liz - posted on 12/14/2010

My cousin was prescribed a pill form of THC and it didn't do anything (he has Crohns disease). He has his card now because its way more effective through a vaporizer, ingested with edibles, or smoked. The effect is easier to control through a vaporizer or smoke because it hits you right away. Edibles are harder to control because everyone will metabolize things differently.

http://www.phoenixtearsplus.com/cannabin...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/08/0...

I doubt a terminally ill person wants another injection or another pill to force down.

C. - posted on 12/14/2010

Quoting Sal Geere: "that would seem a little more genuine to me i guess, in the same way a morpine injection by a dr is more palatable than someone shooting up herion."

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have no words, but !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Charlie - posted on 12/14/2010

I would hate to be the bearer of bad news but more people abuse prescription drugs and legal drugs than illegal drugs .

Sal - posted on 12/14/2010

opium dens and smoking were legal too and are a wonderful pain killer but i doubt anyone could argue that herion should be legal as the good out weighs the bad, i also don't think it is the actual taking of the drug medicinaly that troubles people, it is the abuse of the system by those who don;t need it just want it. I have grown up in areas where the abuse of pot was rife and am pretty much totally against illegal drugs, or the illegal use of drugs, and living with a pot head is not a lot of fun unless you are stoned too (which i have never been). I also have a question, as i honesstly don;t understand this point, does it have to be smoked? can the same (alledged) benifits be obtained from a pill form or medicine? that would seem a little more genuine to me i guess, in the same way a morpine injection by a dr is more palatable than someone shooting up herion.

Krista - posted on 12/14/2010

Pot is no more a gateway drug to harder drugs than kissing is a gateway to sadomasochistic sex.

Yes, many people who use hard drugs did try pot at one point. However, there are many, many, many people who smoke(d) pot who never had any desire to go anywhere near a harder drug. I've smoked pot on many an occasion, and not once have I ever been even mildly curious about other drugs.

The gateway theory is utterly illogical. Heck, I'm sure that at one point in their lives, every crack addict has ingested sugar. So are we now to say that sugar is a gateway drug to crack? Of course not.

Liz - posted on 12/14/2010

Francesca- If thats how you have seen people act while smoking then that is your experience.
I am the one who said it doesn't make you paranoid because when I was a total pothead I never got paranoid. And if it's legal for medicinal use why would anyone who has been given a card have a reason to be paranoid. If people have that problem its because they are smoking illegally, but like I said I never got paranoid and neither did any of my pothead friends and we sure as hell weren't legal.

Nikkole - posted on 12/14/2010

In my opinion Alchol is WORSE than marijuana i know a lot of people who do both and i would rather be around the smokers than the drinkers! Most of the ones i know who smoke marijuana are just more relaxed (they can get paranoid) but they aren't so inebriated that they cant remember things or do stupid things they can still walk,talk, and think clearly maybe a little slower but i can't really tell they have been doing ANY kind of drug!! For my self i HATE the stuff but i dont smoke period it makes my eyes get all puffy and water so i stay away from all smoke when i can! I mean marijuana is natural it grows from the ground just like tobacco isn't it the same? Now they sell this crap called SPICE in gas stations its legal and gives the same effect as marijuana but i have heard it has REALLY bad effects so i would rather smoke something from the ground than man made i mean cigarette wouldn't be as bad as they are if they cigarette companies didn't add all that crap way back when they didn't add anything to it! And i would def agree to marijuana for medical use!

Amanda - posted on 12/14/2010

the statement that marijuana is the gateway drug is definately questionable. yes, i know we have all heard it but what the gateway theory presents as a causal explanation is a statistic association between common and uncommon drugs, an association that changes over time as different drugs increase and decrease in prevalence. Marijuana is the most popular illegal drug in the United States today. Therefore, people who have used less popular drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and LSD, are likely to have also used marijuana... it's easy for opponents of the legalization or even the decriminalization of marijuana to twist statistics to fit the gateway drug theory

C. - posted on 12/14/2010

Francesca Bird wrote: "Of course it makes you paranoid, i've seen it on many people. This Drug was once made legal but they changed it soon after. why is that?? It might not be as strong as other drugs,but its the start of trying class a."

BRAVO!!!!! You hit the nail on the head!

Charlie - posted on 12/14/2010

I am all for medicinal marijuana .

I would much rather people use this then chemical derived medications that incapacitate them and reduce quality of life .

Krista said : The way I see it is this: if some poor bugger is dying of cancer and is in agony, and absolutely NOTHING is working to ease his pain, and it turns out that marijuana is the sole thing that does work, then why not let him have it?


Absolutely and pain is just one aspect there is also the fact that chemo and other drugs reduce the desire to eat drastically in some cases the desire to eat is gone this is yet another use marijuana , also chemo and other drugs make the patient feel nauseated for which they are prescribed more chemical laden drugs to counter it AGAIN Marijuana is known to settle this .

This is a drug that solves more than one issue in one hit and is totally natural , the fact is ALL drugs affect people differently , in all cases there will be a minority that will be affected negatively regardless of whether its chemical or natural , Would I rather take 3-4 different chemical derived drugs or just one natural derived drug , absolutely the marijuana !

Krista - posted on 12/14/2010

Exactly Jodi. The way I see it is this: if some poor bugger is dying of cancer and is in agony, and absolutely NOTHING is working to ease his pain, and it turns out that marijuana is the sole thing that does work, then why not let him have it?

The strongest drug out there for cancer pain is Fentanyl. That's what my friend's father was on -- it wasn't working anymore. So he was supposed to suffer because of this arbitrary moral stance we have against marijuana? It's morally okay to pump someone full of the strongest chemicals on the market, but it's horrible and immoral for them to ingest part of a plant? That's crap, in my opinion.

Francesca - posted on 12/14/2010

I also wanted to add, and I don't remember who said it, but weed does not make you paranoid, it make you laugh a lot, eat a lot, sleep a lot, and people come up with some of the best stupid human tricks when they are stoned:)

Of course it makes you paranoid, i've seen it on many people. This Drug was once made legal but they changed it soon after. why is that?? It might not be as strong as other drugs,but its the start of trying class a.

Jodi - posted on 12/13/2010

"Krista, people are supposed to alternate between medications so they DON'T build up a resistance to them. If their doctors aren't doing that, then they should switch doctors. "

So what, we just alternate them off morphine?????

Katherine - posted on 12/13/2010

For some people who are dying or suffering from illness or disease, it is a matter of balancing quality of life and comfort during their remaining time.

Amen.

Fiona - posted on 12/13/2010

For some people who are dying or suffering from illness or disease, it is a matter of balancing quality of life and comfort during their remaining time. They may not wish to have to attend hospital or to be under medical surveillance or have to have nurses attending them just to receive effective pain relief (such as morphine) when they have limited time left. Or they may just not want to have to experience the often debilitating side effects of some medications or have to take other/more medications to counteract the side effects of some medications. There may not be "hundreds, if not thousands of other LEGAL substances they can get their hands on" that are effective or even indicated for their use. They may have reactions to some of those legal substances, some of those substances may interact with other medications they are on, they may have horrific side effects, they may not provide effective relief, etc etc. there are a multitude of reasons why treatment options should be as varied and as available as possible. And medicinal marijuana should be seen as just another legal option. I don't understand the opposition to further developing our medical capacity to treat and manage illness and symptoms with products just because they are currently illegal or controlled substances. Many medications available now are synthesised or produced from substances also considered DRUGS (like opiods/opiates, cocaine, ketamine, amphetamines).



Just because I have smoked marijuana and am likely to do so again doesn't mean that is my sole or even main reason for advocating for medicinal marijuana or even legalisation of recreational marijuana use. I would still use even if it was illegal, I have used in the past despite it being illegal; the threat of legal consequences does not diminish its effectiveness or appeal it just drives it underground and increases the more unsavoury elements and risks involved in growing, distributing and using. Sure, it would make life easier for some pot smokers if it was legal or even decriminalised. But, more importantly legalisation (of either medical or recreational) opens doors to safer use, education and valuable research as well as providing options for those who will benefit most from having legally available treatment options.

Amanda - posted on 12/13/2010

one of the reasons it is not legal yet is because research on the benefits, side effects, etc... is still fairly new said research is also restricted due to federal regulations....
when i really think about it, i feel it should be legalized for terminally ill but also for others who are suffering severe pain and could benefit from it. I look at a woman i know who cannot function in daily life because she is so hopped up on (and addicted) to pain pills for her back (which is severely messed up), because of this her kids suffer, they don't have a mom.... i honestly beleive that if she smoked pot she may be better off.
also, it's a natural substance.... wouldn't you rather put a natural substance into your body rather than synthetics with a butt load of side effects?

Liz - posted on 12/13/2010

Christina- I know quite a few people who have been using medicinal marijuana for a while now and they have been able to cut out pills completely or close to it. They are happier and healthier because they aren't taking 5 different things for one ailment. I have a hard time with someone telling me take this and you'll feel better but you need to take this to control your blood sugar that is out of control because of your other medication and this for your thyroid which is also out of control now.

I also wanted to add, and I don't remember who said it, but weed does not make you paranoid, it make you laugh a lot, eat a lot, sleep a lot, and people come up with some of the best stupid human tricks when they are stoned:)

C. - posted on 12/13/2010

Krista, people are supposed to alternate between medications so they DON'T build up a resistance to them. If their doctors aren't doing that, then they should switch doctors.



I stand by my answer. I don't think it's necessary for 'medicinal' purposes..

Rosie - posted on 12/13/2010

i actually can't stand pot for myself christina. it makes me want to puke and get sleepy. i just don't see what's wrong with it. why is it illegal?? why is alcohol LEGAL?? (not that i wish that to be illegal, but just sayin) . i just don't get the freak out about pot. it does nothing to earn it's bad rep.

Liz - posted on 12/13/2010

All the cannabinoids in marijuana are beneficial not just THC which is what gets you high. Over the years the THC level has been raised and some other beneficial parts have been cut down to a very minimal amount.

I watched a video "What If Cannabis Cured Cancer" and I thought it was a great approach that has been taken to study this "drug". I don't smoke weed but I am not in any way against it because it is very beneficial in many ways.

I also think if alcohol is legal then why not pot? Alcohol is way more dangerous and has been linked to how many health problems and how many deaths but they have yet to link pot to any health problems. They only suspect it to be linked but have no concrete proof.

Jodi - posted on 12/13/2010

" think it's just for the people that aren't terminally ill and want to get high legally that are pushing for it."

Nope, I don't touch the shit. But I strongly advocate medicinal use.

Krista - posted on 12/13/2010

Christina, sometimes those other, legal substances no longer work. People build up a resistance to them after awhile.

By saying that the only people pushing for this are recreational users, you're completely minimizing the very real battle fought every day by people with either terminal illness, or with chronic, debilitating illnesses like Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson's.

Jenny - posted on 12/13/2010

If someone is dying, why do they HAVE to take cannabis? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other LEGAL substances they can get their hands on. There's just no need to legalize. I think it's just for the people that aren't terminally ill and want to get high legally that are pushing for it. But that's just my itty-bitty opinion.

It's very simple. It's very effective and has fewer side effects. What other reason could one need?

Julianne - posted on 12/13/2010

Paranoia and other adverse effects are from abusing the substance, everything in moderation. Plus with the lists of side effects these prescription pills have, i would rather take my chances with the weed.

Tara - posted on 12/13/2010

My ex fil had parkinsons disease and toward his death also had prostate cancer.
His doctor recommended pot to ease his parkinsons symptoms. The research done on parkinsons is amazing stuff to watch I know there was a study done years ago regarding a huge reduction in the shaking and tremors associated with Parkinsons.

C. - posted on 12/13/2010

If someone is dying, why do they HAVE to take cannabis? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other LEGAL substances they can get their hands on. There's just no need to legalize. I think it's just for the people that aren't terminally ill and want to get high legally that are pushing for it. But that's just my itty-bitty opinion.

Krista - posted on 12/13/2010

Yes, because someone dying of terminal cancer should really be concerned about becoming paranoid or developing asthma....

Corinne - posted on 12/13/2010

Hmmm... somebody didn't read the link.

Francesca - posted on 12/13/2010

personally i don't agree with taking this drug. its illegal for a reason. I've seen plenty of people messed up on this drug. The risks Top Even hardcore smokers can become anxious, panicky, suspicious or paranoid.
Cannabis affects your coordination, which is one of the reasons why drug driving is just as illegal as drink driving.
Some people think cannabis is harmless just because it’s a plant – but it isn’t harmless. Cannabis, like tobacco, has lots of chemical 'nasties', which can cause lung disease and possibly cancer with long-term or heavy use, especially as it is often mixed with tobacco and smoked without a filter. It can also make asthma worse, and cause wheezing in non-asthma sufferers.
Cannabis itself can affect many different systems in the body, including the heart: It increases the heart rate and can affect blood pressure.
If you’ve a history of mental health problems, then taking cannabis is not a good idea: It can cause paranoia in the short term, but in those with a pre-existing psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, it can contribute to relapse.
If you use cannabis and have a family background of mental illness, such as schizophrenia, you may be at increased risk of developing a psychotic illness.
It is reported that frequent use of cannabis can cut a man's sperm count, reduce sperm motility, and can suppress ovulation in women and so may affect fertility.
If you’re pregnant, smoking cannabis frequently may have some association with the risk of the baby being born smaller than expected.
Regular, heavy use makes it difficult to learn and concentrate. Some people begin to feel tired all the time and can't seem to get motivated.
Some users may want to buy strong herbal cannabis to get ‘a bigger high’ but unpleasant reactions can be more powerful when you use strong cannabis, and it is possible that using strong cannabis repeatedly could lead in time to more users experiencing harmful effects such as dependence or being more at risk of developing the mental health effects.

Jenny - posted on 12/13/2010

There has been some fascinating benefits seen with autism as well.

Kathy - posted on 12/12/2010

Marijuana has anticonvulsant properties, and has long been used by those with epilepsy or similar. Medical research has been inconclusive on this issue, and i don't know whether it's actually prescribed by a doctor or used as the individual thinks fit. I've spoken to some people who feel that marijuana has helped in combination with more conventional treatments.
I can imagine that if it were to become legal, the big drug companies would have a field day ans it would suddenly become far more expensive than growing it in your back yard!

Rosie - posted on 12/12/2010

actually sarah all the studies on it i've seen say smoking it doesn't cause lung problems. http://www.webmd.com/lung-cancer/news/20...

Jodi - posted on 12/12/2010

That's what I was addressing, was simply the myth that it causes it. I actually wasn't pointing at anyone in particular anyway. I don't think anyone was.

Katherine - posted on 12/12/2010

Is this the study in question?

Cannabis Use and the Course of Schizophrenia: 10-Year Follow-Up After First Hospitalization
Daniel J. Foti, M.A., Roman Kotov, Ph.D., Lin T. Guey, Ph.D., and Evelyn J. Bromet, Ph.D.

Objective: The authors examined the relationship between cannabis use and the course of illness in schizophrenia over 10 years of follow-up after first psychiatric hospitalization.

Method: The authors assessed 229 patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder five times: during the first admission and 6 months, 2 years, 4 years, and 10 years later. Ratings of cannabis use and psychiatric symptoms (psychotic, negative, disorganized, and depressive) were made at each assessment.

Results: The lifetime rate of cannabis use was 66.2%, and survival analysis revealed that lifetime use was associated with an earlier onset of psychosis. The rates of current use ranged from 10% to 18% across assessments. Cannabis status was moderately stable, with tetrachoric correlation coefficients between waves ranging from 0.48 to 0.78. Mixed-effects logistic regression revealed that changes in cannabis use were associated with changes in psychotic symptoms over time even after gender, age, socioeconomic status, other drug use, antipsychotic medication use, and other symptoms were controlled for. Structural equation modeling indicated that the association with psychotic symptoms was bidirectional.

Conclusions: Cannabis use is associated with an adverse course of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia, and vice versa, even after taking into account other clinical, substance use, and demographic variables.

Katherine - posted on 12/12/2010

Off to google....

Julianne - posted on 12/12/2010

Nope, I said I have heard/read that it causes schizophrenia in some people, but disagree with it. You just brought up the possibility of a link between the two.

Jodi - posted on 12/12/2010

No Jenn, you didn't say it causes it. Julianne used the word cause :)

Julianne - posted on 12/12/2010

yea its still illegal in other parts of the world.

edit** they tend to lump the two together.

Hemp is beneficial for health too, by eating it. I eat hulled hemp seed in my oats. Its right nutty and an excellent source of omega 3s

Jenn - posted on 12/12/2010

Julianne - making paper from hemp - not marijuana - is an economical and environmentally friendly choice and is legal to the best of my knowledge in Canada - but you can't get high from smoking hemp.

Jenn - posted on 12/12/2010

I didn't say that it caused it, did I?

Amanda - posted on 12/12/2010

Personally I am all for it. I have a grandma who gets nausea because of treatment for her breast cancer. If she were able to take medical marijuana she would. My fiances brother has psoriasis and his joints ache constantly he would opt for it as well. So in my opinion if it's going to help people than I'm all for it. I can see both the pros and the cons. I smoked it for a short time after I graduated, and than stopped. It didn't really appeal to me, and I would much rather be a sober mom. But yes I agree not to do it and than drive. It is dangerous. But if it's going to benefit those who need it than they might as well allow it. I mean they've already made it legal in numerous states, they might as well make it worldwide. I think it would actually cut down on a lot of crime, and smuggling of the drug into the US. But that's my opinion! :)

Jenny - posted on 12/12/2010

Well there you go, the link is on page 3. I hope everyone watches it.

Julianne - posted on 12/12/2010

lol didn't i post that video here already????





edit i did :) its on page 3

Jenny - posted on 12/12/2010

Yes, racism was a big part of marijuana becoming prohibited. The main is reason attempts to legalise are currently failing are due to fear campaigns and billions of dollars from the medical and alcohol industries as seen in California recently. They are doing their best to keep the competition illegal.

Check out The Union: The Business Behind Getting High for a great perspective on marijauna. It is available for free, in full, on Google Video.

Kate CP - posted on 12/12/2010

Uhm...I watched a documentary on it once and it eluded that it was prohibited because primarily (black) jazz musicians smoked it and they didn't want them to be aggressive or seduce white women.

The idea that pot makes a person aggressive is rather comical, I think.

Minnie - posted on 12/12/2010

I wouldn't use it but I don't understand why it is illegal. Maybe someone else knows better than me?



Alcohol causes so much damage. Emotional, physical, property...and they tried to make it illegal at one point... that didn't last.



So what's the big deal? Does anyone know the history behind it?



Cigarettes are legal. And I feel like I'm dying when I smell cigarette smoke around me.