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Medical Marijuana

post #1 of 61
7/12/10 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 
  1. What are the laws in your state regarding medical marijuana?
  2. What steps, if any, have been taken to regulate the quality of the product as well as regulating the dispensories?
  3. Please see poll.
  4. Opinions on medical marijuana?

One more thing. How do you think medical marijuana should be dealt with in a work environment?
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post #2 of 61
7/12/10 at 3:50pm
It keeps getting re-classified over here, its illegal and in all honesty i dont think it will be legalised

If it really can ease pain dramatically then why cant it be used as a painkiller after all any drug can be addictive and harmful to you, but they really need to research it properly then research it some more

I dont condone the use of it just to get high, im only interested in medical benefits for those that are in need of a strong painkiller and relaxent
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post #3 of 61
7/12/10 at 4:33pm
It is illegal in my current state, it was legal as medical in California, my previous state. There are certain conditions that allows you to get a prescription for it, and you can get it from the government, or from stores, cafes, or even vending machines.
IMO it needs to be legalized, it is a big taboo and complete hypocrite that it is illegal...
It is not, IMO in any way shape or form worse than alcohol - on the contrary, Alcohol is addictive, marijuana is not.
Sure, you should not drive, perform machinery, or work while on it... the same way you should not while drunk.
If the government tax it, it will be a huge source of income. A LOT, LOT of people in this country smokes, everywhere and I can't believe we still have this taboo against it.
The only bad I can see it is that it makes you hungry as heck , and pretty dumb for a little while - so.... if you don't mean being fat and stupid..... by all means have your joint in peace!
I have seen a lot of drunk people fight in bars, on the streets.... have you ever seen a stoner get into a fight? No way!
I seriously don't get it.
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post #4 of 61
7/12/10 at 4:39pm
I voted that it's a valid medical option.
I think it should be legalized for recreational use as well, not just medical.
As far as the work environment, I think it depends on the job, I am sure there are some jobs that could be performed while stoned, and those who need it for medical reasons and have a doctor's prescription for it should continue working if the job allows it. If not, they should take a medical leave of absence.
I'm not sure about the laws here in GA regarding medical marijuana.
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post #5 of 61
7/12/10 at 4:41pm
Doesn't medical marijuana have the THC removed from it?

If it helps medical conditions such as MS, why not? If it can help my migraines, then hell, I would love to try it out!!!

I would like to see the scientific studies though, to see what kind of benefits it really has and how it would help various conditions.
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post #6 of 61
7/12/10 at 4:50pm
My friend was smoking it during her battle with cancer. It eased the pain and increased her appetite. I don't know what our laws are, but it's Indiana so I bet it's not legal here. I think that in some cases (cancer) it's should be legalized, but closely monitored.
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post #7 of 61
7/12/10 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwideus View Post
Doesn't medical marijuana have the THC removed from it?

If it helps medical conditions such as MS, why not? If it can help my migraines, then hell, I would love to try it out!!!

I would like to see the scientific studies though, to see what kind of benefits it really has and how it would help various conditions.
In some states it is legal for migrane - check out yours
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post #8 of 61
7/12/10 at 5:42pm
If it such a great cure-all, then why does it have to be smoked? Make it into a pill and regulate it just like vicodin or any other prescription medication. It has no place as a tobacco replacement.
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post #9 of 61
7/12/10 at 5:48pm
Canadians can legally obtain medical marijuana by applying for a MMAR license through Health Canada's Medical Marijuana Access Division (MMAD).

As long as the benefits outweigh the side effects I can't imagine why I would be against it. The majority of 'helpful' drugs aren't doing the same. I'm glad Canadians have the choice of using medical marijuana to find some relief from their illnesses.

Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb
What steps, if any, have been taken to regulate the quality of the product as well as regulating the dispensories?
Since the Canadian Government (Health Canada) runs the program, they regulate quality/availability/dispensing of product.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiwideus
I would like to see the scientific studies though, to see what kind of benefits it really has and how it would help various conditions.
Here's one source:

http://www.medicalmarihuana.ca/for-d...health-studies

Here is a link that compiles the numbers of people in Canada who are authorized to possess and cultivate marihuana for medical purposes.

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/dhp-mps/marih.../index-eng.php
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post #10 of 61
7/12/10 at 5:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
It has no place as a tobacco replacement.
It is not a tobacco replacement, there is no nicotine on it, one thing is one thing and the other is the other.
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post #11 of 61
7/12/10 at 6:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
It is not a tobacco replacement, there is no nicotine on it, one thing is one thing and the other is the other.
I KNOW that, but if it is such a great medicine, then why SMOKE it and risk damaging your lungs? Let the pharmaceutical companies make it into pill form and have DOCTORS prescribe it for a real illness or condition, just like they do other medications.

I don't want to smell marijuana smoke any more than I want tobacco smoke around me.
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post #12 of 61
7/12/10 at 6:46pm
It is made into a little gel cap called Marisol if I remember correctly. If the THC was removed, it would be of no use, since that is the active ingredient. The laws in NC are ridiculous, and there is no use of medical marijuana. You can still get years in jail for a seed or a roach.
I completely agree with Carolina on this one. It is no worse than alcohol, and if taxed could raise billions of dollars.
The only problem I have with it is that it is illegal. As far as second hand smoke from it, smokers should be required to smoke away from non smokers, just like they do cigarettes now.
Legalizing it would also ease the burden on our prison systems. There are so may people being fed and housed for tiny amounts of marijuana when they could be doing something productive like working to buy it and paying taxes on it.
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post #13 of 61
7/12/10 at 7:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
I KNOW that, but if it is such a great medicine, then why SMOKE it and risk damaging your lungs? Let the pharmaceutical companies make it into pill form and have DOCTORS prescribe it for a real illness or condition, just like they do other medications.

I don't want to smell marijuana smoke any more than I want tobacco smoke around me.
Because a pill doesn't work. Because it works when you burn/heat it up - that is how you activate the THC.
If you don't want to smell it, you don't need to - you are free to remove yourself from the situation - nobody is locking you into a room where people are smoking. Legalizing doesn't mean there will be no rules. The same rules for cigarettes and alcohol can apply.
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post #14 of 61
7/12/10 at 7:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by krazy kat2 View Post
It is made into a little gel cap called Marisol if I remember correctly.
It's Marinol®

http://www.justice.gov/dea/ongoing/marinol.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrahy...nol#Dronabinol

Also:

Quote:
Marinol should be used with caution in patients with a history of substance abuse, including alcohol abuse or dependence, because they may be more prone to abuse Marinol as well. Multiple substance abuse is common and marijuana, which contains the same active compound, is a frequently abused substance.

Marinol should be used with caution and careful psychiatric monitoring in patients with mania, depression, or schizophrenia because Marinol may exacerbate these illnesses.

Marinol should be used with caution in patients receiving concomitant therapy with sedatives, hypnotics or other psychoactive drugs because of the potential for additive or synergistic CNS effects.

Marinol should be used with caution in pregnant patients, nursing mothers, or pediatric patients because it has not been studied in these patient populations.
Source: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/...l/marinol1.htm

Read these comments about first-hand experiences with Marinol®. First comment from October 2007. Most recent from March 2009. http://www.rxlist.com/script/main/rx...id=fdb9308_pem
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post #15 of 61
7/12/10 at 7:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
If it such a great cure-all, then why does it have to be smoked? Make it into a pill and regulate it just like vicodin or any other prescription medication. It has no place as a tobacco replacement.
Who said it is a cure all? It helps with a lot of symptoms for a lot of different conditions, no doubt about it - who in this thread, and where are you seeing such claims?

Also, there are plenty of pills out there with plenty of side effects. Pills that damage your liver, your kidneys your nervous system... much much worst that marijuana. My dad for example just became crippled as a side effect from cholesterol PILLS. It cut the electric connections to his extremities - I wish Marijuana worked for cholesterol, instead of that darn PILL that got him crippled.
Marijuana is a taboo... nothing but a taboo... legalize and pretty quickly people who was against it will be happily smoking their joints... as it were never ilegal before, IMO.
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post #16 of 61
7/12/10 at 10:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
If it such a great cure-all, then why does it have to be smoked? Make it into a pill and regulate it just like vicodin or any other prescription medication. It has no place as a tobacco replacement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
I KNOW that, but if it is such a great medicine, then why SMOKE it and risk damaging your lungs? Let the pharmaceutical companies make it into pill form and have DOCTORS prescribe it for a real illness or condition, just like they do other medications.

I don't want to smell marijuana smoke any more than I want tobacco smoke around me.
It's much healthier to ingest cannabis than to smoke it! All parts of the plant can be used for medicine, but they need to be heat-activated. The buds, stalks, and leaves can be toasted in the oven and ingested in capsules, or soaked in butter or oil to infuse the medicinal properties into something that can be cooked with or put into a gel capsule and swallowed. Cannabis is not water-soluable so that's why making tea doesn't work.

Eating cannabis is more of a body relaxer than a head high, especially if you use indica strains. You don't want to drive on it or operate heavy machinery, but that's pretty true of any drug that helps with with pain, nausea, and insomnia, and ingesting cannabis has doesn't have the long list of side-effects of many pharmaceuticals. Plus, it fights viruses, bacterial infections, even has anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflamatory properties!

Have you ever had extreme pain and been put on narcotics? The narcotics cancel out a lot of the pain and you might feel a slight euphoria, but mainly they cancel out the pain. If you take the narcotics while you are healthy, you'll be soaring high. It's similar with cannabis.

Cannabis can be used to replace almost any type of allopathic medicine, from diuretics to anti-depressants, ear oil; throat sprays and salves that reduce tumors. Extracts have been found to be effective on everything from bacteria and fungi, to the herpes virus and staphylococcus. Whether it is a male or female, kola, root or seed, all parts of the cannabis plant can be made into medicine. That the planet's most precious plant is still oppressed must be one of our society's greatest travesties.
Cannabis Buyer's Club of Canada

Canada government site on medical marijuana
diseases marijuana is known to benefit

God Bless Canada!
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post #17 of 61
7/13/10 at 5:10am
I have a couple comments from my own experiences. My dad was an alcoholic - I would gladly have had him stop drinking and start smoking MJ. The damage to his body would have been far less and he would probably not have been an angry drunk. My dad's death was alcohol related - I know he would not have died so young if he had smoked instead of drank.

Secondly, my daughter just had an operation on her shoulder that was so painful she was on Oxycontin for 18 months for the pain. After the operation the doctor was saying he would set her up in rehab - that is just crazy and scary. Fortunately she had the advice and help from my SIL who is a nurse and DD managed to get off the Oxycontin on her own with her fiance's support and understanding as well. IMO Oxycontin should never be prescribed by any caring doctor.

Thirdly, there are folks that say MJ is addictive. That indicates to me that they know nothing about MJ.

I refuse to take pills unless it is absolutely necessary even though the doctors tend to prescribe them so freely. I schedule an appointment with my doctor to discuss any new medication that he may want me to take and do enough research to ask relevant questions re side effects and the real necessity of taking prescription drugs.

There are many prescription drugs out there that are far worse than MJ as some others have said.
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post #18 of 61
7/13/10 at 5:26am
I, to an extent, agree with Carolina. It should be legalized and taxed..There is a lot of money to be made off legalizing pot. I suffer from chronic extremely painful migraines weekly if not daily, I dont know what would be worse smoking one joint a day to rid myself of the migraine or downing 4-6 Excedrin Migraine pills to hope it will make it go away and possibly destroying my stomach in the process because I live off that stuff and Ibprofen to manage the pain from it. The Drs I went to couldnt find a migraine pill that didnt completely knock me out within in 30 min of taking it and I didnt want to pop pain killers and turn into Dr. House.

In my experiance, it wasnt the pot that got me to try other drugs it was the drinking that did. When I smoked pot I wasnt running around from bar to bar driving irradically, I sat around my house and was able to relax. I would prefer alcohol be illegal and pot be legalized. IMO pot is a much safer drug. Oxycontin is more addictive than heroin and probably one of the most abused legal drugs on the market. However no matter which way it gets sliced drugs medical, or recreational are going to be a touchy subject for anyone, but my vote is to legalize it...Maybe it would fix the national debt lol.
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post #19 of 61
7/13/10 at 5:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by -_aj_- View Post
It keeps getting re-classified over here, its illegal and in all honesty i dont think it will be legalised
A few weeks ago though there was something on the news that they were growing it, and i think using the plant to be used in a new drug for pain sufferers. I've tried having a quick look online but can't find anything?.

For me if it takes away someones pain then legalise it, because these days no one should have to suffer
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post #20 of 61
7/13/10 at 11:16am
Medical marijuana is illegal in Kansas. That's a darn shame because I have a medical condition that would allow me to have it in states where it is legal.

It should be legalized not only for medical purposes, but for recreational purposes. My reasons:
1) the tax revenue would sure help out some of the states struggling right now
2) another cash crop for farmers. People in Montana are trying to get its growing for hemp products approved right now because of the potential income from growing it. A lot of the hemp is grown in Canada and it's a great source of income for folks over there.
3) takes the "illegality" out of it - think of all the drug smuggling that would stop between Mexico and the U.S. if it was legal. Think of the over crowded prisons from people in there for pot. And the argument that it leads to harder drugs is complete bunk. If you smoke pot, you are in an underground culture of illegal drugs. If it is legal, it removes you from that culture.
4) it doesn't kill you like alcohol does. Alcohol is physically addictive. Pot is not. I know of too many lives destroyed from alcohol addictions.

The laws about pot are completely archaic, and were implemented around the time where the alcohol lobbyists were stronger than farming lobbyists. Making pot illegal made a lot of alcohol producers rich. I don't see any point in those laws today.
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post #21 of 61
7/13/10 at 11:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carolina View Post
Who said it is a cure all? It helps with a lot of symptoms for a lot of different conditions, no doubt about it - who in this thread, and where are you seeing such claims?

Also, there are plenty of pills out there with plenty of side effects. Pills that damage your liver, your kidneys your nervous system... much much worst that marijuana. My dad for example just became crippled as a side effect from cholesterol PILLS. It cut the electric connections to his extremities - I wish Marijuana worked for cholesterol, instead of that darn PILL that got him crippled.
Marijuana is a taboo... nothing but a taboo... legalize and pretty quickly people who was against it will be happily smoking their joints... as it were never ilegal before, IMO.
I don't like SMOKING anything! Have nothing against the weed, but just don't SMOKE it and claim that is healthy!
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post #22 of 61
7/13/10 at 12:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
If it such a great cure-all, then why does it have to be smoked? Make it into a pill and regulate it just like vicodin or any other prescription medication. It has no place as a tobacco replacement.
It has to be smoked to get you high Believe me, I've been deluging my brain with MJ info, since we are a public defender's office. And, IMO, it's not nearly as innocuous as most people think. We are getting more DUI's coming in, as well as burgaries, etc. where the drug of choice is MJ, genetically altered and hyponically grown. It is SO NOT the MJ of the '70s. The Australians did a great study on it.
Marinol, the subliminal, has the THC removed, and many people get the benefits, esp. cancer patients, but without the high.
I do think it should be legalized! We have adequate laws addressing the problems, such as DUI. And in a free-will employment state, employers can release anyone without cause, so if MJ use causes problems, the bad employees can be let go.
Many (I'd say most, if not all) of our "frequent flyers" violate their probation after a period of sobriety because they started smoking again, and the next thing, they're either getting sloshed or high on something stronger. or they've have a hit-n-run with a snowstake, etc, while high. There's this myth that everything else is taboo, but a little medical [mj] is okay - which it is, till the cops get involved.
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post #23 of 61
7/13/10 at 1:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsknowme View Post
Marinol, the subliminal, has the THC removed, and many people get the benefits, esp. cancer patients, but without the high.
Now I'm confused. I thought Marinol is synthetic THC. Meaning it can be made in a lab without any help from the cannabis plant.
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post #24 of 61
7/13/10 at 2:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsknowme View Post
It has to be smoked to get you high
As I've already stated, that's just not true. Cannabis has to be heated to be activated, but then it can be ingested and that definitely can get you high.
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post #25 of 61
7/13/10 at 2:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by c1atsite View Post
Now I'm confused. I thought Marinol is synthetic THC. Meaning it can be made in a lab without any help from the cannabis plant.
It is synthetic. The pharmaceutical companies wanted to get in on the profits being made from medical marijuana - by trying to produce a replica of something that's already fine the way it is.
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post #26 of 61
7/13/10 at 2:25pm
My hubby has been taking Marinol for years for nausea (brought on by other drugs which he has to take to keep him alive) and he does NOT get high from it. Our neighbor smokes it for pain relief, and says it's the only thing that helps him. (he's almost 80!!)

AZ voted to legalize Marijuana for legal purposes years ago, and the then governor vetoed it (why did we bother to vote is what I want to know!), but I understand it will be on the ballot again this year. Yeah!!

I think it should be legalized and taxed, just like cigarettes. Not just for medical reasons, but for anyone over the age of 21 because it would be a great way to balance the budget, and I think it's less harmful than alcohol.
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post #27 of 61
7/13/10 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
I knew there would be a hearty discussion on this one!

I have a few different reasons for asking about this.
  1. This has been a HOT topic in Colorado recently, as in the past 6 months - 1 year or so. We passed the legalization on medical marijuana in 2000, but the big debate has been on dispensarys. See section 2 for more on this.
  2. As most of you know, I have MS. I do pretty good overall, but especially in the extreme heat and cold my muscles don't particularly like me, nor do I like them. The pain can be horrible and even though I take various pills 4x per day for various symptoms (fatigue, spasticity (tightening of the muscles), 2 for pain (both chronic muscle/joint pain and nerve pain), 1 for depression and nerve pain (it works for both!)), it just isn't enough sometimes. And you should see the lists of potential side effects!! While I do believe that MMJ is a viable option, I also want the studies to back it up. (Thank you for those who have posted links to those!)
  3. My husband and I have differing opinions on this topic. He wants studies with irrefutible evidence (I don't know that there is such a thing!) that it works, and feels that it is being marketed as a cure-all. To a point he is correct. It is far from just for the cancer / AIDS / glaucoma patients that it once was - now it's everything from migraines (chronic pain) to anxiety disorders. There is a group petitioning the VA to authorize and prescribe MMJ for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) for those returning from combat.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The biggest issue that has happened recently in Colorado is that with the passage of the law in late 2000 there was a boon in dispensaries popping up everywhere. Enough to make your head spin! There were even news reports of dispensaries having "doctors" on staff or in an adjacent suite so people could visit the "doctor" and get a prescription right then and there by answering a few questions. Then they would submit all the paperwork for you with your fee and you just had to wait for the card in the mail. Made a total joke of the system. And of course those who weren't sure about it to begin with had even more reason to question the legitimacy of it.

They recently passed some rather strict regulations for the dispensaries; from the basic "you can't be a felon", "not next door to a school", and "the doctor has to have a Colorado license to practice medicine and be in good standing" to regulations saying that cities and counties can choose not to allow dispensaries at all, as well as on the minimum and maximum levels of THC that need to be in it to make it theraputic. It's not just a matter of growing some weeds and making huge bank on it anymore, being little more than a drug dealer with a storefront. They are even requiring ALL dispensary owners to take a set of courses on the regulations, growing, measuring (THC content, not ounces), etc. So I was wondering if Colorado is on the cutting edge as far as that part goes or if we were taking the lead from other states.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
I don't like SMOKING anything! Have nothing against the weed, but just don't SMOKE it and claim that is healthy!
You would be absolutely amazed at how many forms you can get it in! I know I was! It's a lot more than just joints, bongs and brownies. One of the most unexpected I've seen is marijuana infused honey in a variety of flavors. Just a short search and I found this "menu" of various edible options from one dispensary.

For me, as someone considering this option, it is very important to me that I can get it in non-smoking forms. Since I live in a townhome, I can't smoke outside since it would be in plain view of the public, i.e. either faciung the street or the common green area (which is illegal; also cannot harm the wellbeing of any other person ). I will not smoke inside because of the cats.
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post #28 of 61
7/13/10 at 4:02pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by catsknowme View Post
It has to be smoked to get you high Believe me, I've been deluging my brain with MJ info, since we are a public defender's office. And, IMO, it's not nearly as innocuous as most people think. We are getting more DUI's coming in, as well as burgaries, etc. where the drug of choice is MJ, genetically altered and hyponically grown.
This really should go into the other thread, but it can really be an issue for both recreational and medical users.

Are there tests to show how much THC is in the blood, as there is with alcohol, or is it the "I can smell it on him/her" since it is mainly smoked by those who aren't using it therapeutically? Obviously driving under the influence of marijuana can have the same deadly result as drinking and driving, and definitely needs to be regulated. I've always wondered about that, and since it is legal medicinally in some states if there should be a limit to the amount of THC can be in a person's system for driving.
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post #29 of 61
7/13/10 at 4:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by valanhb View Post
This really should go into the other thread, but it can really be an issue for both recreational and medical users.

Are there tests to show how much THC is in the blood, as there is with alcohol, or is it the "I can smell it on him/her" since it is mainly smoked by those who aren't using it therapeutically? Obviously driving under the influence of marijuana can have the same deadly result as drinking and driving, and definitely needs to be regulated. I've always wondered about that, and since it is legal medicinally in some states if there should be a limit to the amount of THC can be in a person's system for driving.
Good point Heidi.

Here in NZ, they have started testing drivers for drugs as well as alcohol. http://www.transport.govt.nz/legisla...rivinglaw.aspx

Here is information about detecting THC http://www.idmu.co.uk/drugtestcan.htm
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post #30 of 61
7/13/10 at 4:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
I don't like SMOKING anything! Have nothing against the weed, but just don't SMOKE it and claim that is healthy!
Gee... DON'T SMOKE THEN! I can't imagine someone with a gun to your head telling you to do so
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