14 things you should know about the first medical cannabis conference in Bhubaneshwar
OVER 100 MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS GATHERED AT AIIMS-BHUBANESWAR TODAY TO LEARN ABOUT CANNABIS AS POTENT PAIN RELIEVER IN CHRONIC AND CANCER PAIN.
Indian-American Physician-Scientist To Collaborate With Local Medical Faculty In Pilot Clinical Research
BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA – 7th Aug, 2015 – AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and MCFI today co-hosted a “Seminar on Chronic Pain” in which Indian-American Physician-Scientist Sunil Kumar Aggarwal, M.D., Ph.D. was invited to give a keynote presentation on the use of cannabis in chronic and cancer pain.
Dr. Aggarwal, an Overseas Citizen of India, who lives in Seattle, Washington, U.S.A., has just completed clinical fellowship training in the National Institutes of Health-Clinical Center, the largest research hospital in the world, in the Pain and Palliative Care Service. Dr. Aggarwal is a leading cannabis researcher with major focus on Cannabinoid Integrative Medicine. He is a Palliative Medicine Physician and an Associate Hospice Medical Director at a hospital in Washington State. He was invited to deliver a keynote speech at the seminar today by Dr. Sukdev Nayak, Professor and Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology at AIIMS-Bhubaneswar.
Below are a few key points that Dr. Aggarwal emphasised, before concluding with a remarkable series of short videos documenting immediate improvement after patient self-administration of cannabis in movement disorders such as Parkinson’s, Tourette’s and Multiple Sclerosis:
Cannabis sativa archaeological evidence shows that it was first domesticated in South Asia by 16th century BCE (18 thousand years ago).
THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids, the key molecules produced in the resin made by the female flowers of the plant, likely evolved as a protective response to increasing UV radiation from sunlight at higher elevations it was exposed to during the geological uplift that created the Himalayas mountain ranges 50 million years ago.
Cannabis has a long history of use in Ayurveda, a very active traditional medical system in India and beyond, and was documented as utilised by the father of surgery Suśruta in the 6th-7th century BCE. The Government of India has entered “Cannabis Sativa” “known for 1,000 years” in their traditional knowledge digital library to protect it and medical knowledge of its many uses, such as pain relief, from international biopiracy, as the Neem plant (Margosa) once faced.
Cannabis use as an aide in spiritual development, such as meditation, has been part of Indian religious traditions for thousands of years and remains sacramental and closely associated with Hindu deities such as Lord Shiva and Kali Ma. The Hindu sacred text Atharva Veda (dated between 1400-2000 BCE) mentions plant 'bhang' as being provided for giving relief from distress or anxiety.
The integrated bioscientific study of how cannabis use affects human physiology and health has led to the discovery over the past few decades of a major molecular signaling system, widespread in the human body and present in 600 million living organisms. The system, known as the endocannabinoid signaling system, plays a critical homeostatic role in normal physiologic function, regulating mood, appetite, memory, inflammation, pain perception, movement, immunity, neuroprotection, bone formation, tumor suppression, and other functions.
Disorders and deficiencies in endocannabinoids and related components are thought to produce disease, and naturally occurring cannabis compounds (cannabinoids) have been shown to target this system.
The WHO has acknowledged the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids including antidepressant, appetite stimulant, anticonvulsant and anti-spasmodic, and identified cannabinoids as beneficial in the treatment of asthma, glaucoma, and nausea and vomiting related to illnesses such as cancer and AIDS.
Moreover, it has been found that an improved therapeutic effect occurs by the synergistic activity of cannabinoids when combined with the other therapeutically active natural chemicals in Cannabis flower resin, such as terpenoids (including myrcene and limonene, also found in mango and lime), flavonoids, and plant sterols. This is known as ‘the entourage effect’.
Cannabis, given in whole plant extract form, has been shown in randomised controlled clinical trials involving hundreds of patients to significantly reduce untreated pain in advanced cancer patients who were also maximally taking morphine-like pain medications. Many positive outcome randomised controlled trials have shown benefit of whole plant cannabis preparations in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes, such as those that occur due to damage and disruption of nerves.
The adverse effects of cannabis use are quite low when compared to other medications. There has been no recorded case of overdose in its thousands of years of documented use.
While morphine remains the gold-standard for pain treatment, it remains shocking available to less than 1% of those who need it. This despite the fact that 99% of global licit opium supply, from which pharmaceutical morphine is extracted, is produced domestically in India (580 tons in 2010). Use of cannabis has been shown in numerous clinical series to reduce the quantity and dosage of opioids that patients in pain need.
Sir Dr. W.B. O’Shaughnessy, an Irish doctor working in India, who co-founded Calcutta Medical College, is credited with first introducing cannabis as medicine to the West in 1838. He demonstrated with careful experiment the apparent utility of a locally produced cannabis plant extract made in Kolkata which he administered to patients suffering from rabies, cholera, tetanus, infantile convulsions, and painful rheumatological conditions.
In Jan-March 1961, at UN meeting in NYC, the Indian Delegate stated on record that: “India would not be able…to enforce prohibitions on the use of those substances [ganja and bhang], particularly in remote localities where, as inexpensive sedatives, they were used for medical and quasi-medical purposes”. They opposed placement of cannabis in the same category as heroin and were supported in this position by Ghana, Pakistan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Uruguay, and Burma, who lobbied that cannabis be at least as available as opium.
Now 40 American states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories of Guam and Puerto Rico allow patients to legally access medical cannabis in some form. National medical cannabis treatment and research programs are active in Israel, Canada, Uruguay, the Netherlands, and are being set-up in many other countries. A UN General Assembly Special Session on revising the international drug control treaty system is proposed in 2016 in New York with significant input for the first time from health and human rights NGOs.
Dr. Aggarwal is planning to collaborate with Dr. Nayak and other faculty members to design a pilot study integrating Ayurvedic and Allopathic systems using locally produced cannabis in India formulated for safe and measured dosing for empiric treatment and data collection in patients with cancer and others with pain treatment and palliative care needs. The Medical Cannabis Foundation of India is working with officials to find ways in which this research and traditional medicine treatment program can be moved forward.
(Dr.Sunil Kumar Aggarwal is an M.D., Ph.D. Palliative Medicine Physician, Associate Hospice Medical Director, and Independent Medical Geography Scholar. He is a cannabis doctor and can be reached at www.cannabinologist.org. You can mail him at: [email protected] .
The conference was held by MCFI – Medicinal Cannabis Foundation of India, in association with AIIMS – All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, WHO – World Health Organization)
The Cannabis Conference in pictures
Dr. Sunil Aggarwal addressing a group of doctors, students, patients, scientists and researchers at AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar
Dr. Sunil Aggarwal receiving a memento from MCFI (Medicinal Cannabis Foundation of India) and AIIMS
As India starts taking baby steps towards marijuana legalisation, it makes us think what policies will impact this law in India. The biggest challenge India might face lies in regulating the disorganised supply of cannabis throughout the country. Most of the cannabis is grown by tribal farmers in India who are neck deep in poverty. The cannabis plantations are deep inside inaccessible forests and it will only be difficult to regulate these farmers and their crop. Since cannabis still remains illegal in India, these farmers supply their produce through a few middle men of drug kingpins, who then sell it through agents like taxi drivers, shopkeepers in shady areas of the cities, etc.
As cannabis enthusiasts, we need to understand that cannabis use is a 12,000-year-old tradition. One of the ways to see how a move towards legalisation would work is by observing the laws that govern cannabis in Uruguay and Colarado, where recreational marijuana is legal.
Uruguay
2013 was the year and Uruguay was the country. It was under President ‘Pepe’ Mujica’s government when cannabis was legalised for recreational, medicinal and research purposes. However, the laws are not as liberal as they sound and this has everything to do with the intentions to legalise marijuana in the first place.
Uruguay had a massive drug trafficking problem. In 2012, Mujica announced that he backs the legalisation bill to fight drug related crimes, organised crimes and addiction problems. Which means, the federal government oversees everything. They chose six private companies that control the supply of cannabis in the country. Only five varieties of cannabis are allowed. All cannabis users are meant to be registered in a formal directory, something like an identity card. The legal age is 18 and the quantity you can buy per month should not exceed 40 grams. Pharmacies and registered suppliers sell cannabis for 20-22 pesos per gram. You can grow six plants at any time once you’re registered. If you’re a cannabis community of 15-45 individuals, you can grow up to 99 plants. The limit of THC is also capped at 15%. Any new variety apart from the listed 5 will need to be registered in order to track its supply in the country. The worst part is, if you’re tourist you’re not allowed to buy cannabis. You have to be an Uruguan to buy it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t smoke it. Personal use is legal in Uruguay since 1974. So, if a friend offers you a doobie, don’t worry, you can smoke it legally.
Finally, what’s not legal: driving, smoking in workplaces which also includes smoking in cafés and restaurants. But you can step out and smoke, just how you would smoke tobacco in your country.
Colorado
Colorado chose to do things differently. 2014 was the year of pot, when this American state legalised it. Cannabis consumption, selling and buying is legal in Colorado for recreational purposes on a state level. However, the federal government still considers marijuana to be a schedule I drug “with no medicinal value’’. But the good news is that the feds are not going to interfere with state’s cannabis policy so long as you don’t drive stoned, don’t pass it to a minor, or smoke it on lands owned by the federal government.
If you’re 21, you can buy cannabis from any licensed cannabis store in Colorado. The maximum limit is set to an ounce (28.34 grams). If you own a medical marijuana card, the maximum limit is capped at 2 ounces. The best part is even foreigners and non-residents can buy cannabis here. Only the limit is set to a quarter of an ounce per visit. So, if you’re thinking of a cannabis tour, Colorado is one of the places to go. But beware, it’s not like Uruguay where you can smoke in public. Colorado has strictly banned cannabis use in public places. This includes parks, streets, cafes – almost every public place there is. Even pot stores don’t allow smoking weed on site. But private use is totally legal. In fact, you should take some inspiration from Hunter S Thompson’s and company who organised a big fat house party to celebrate cannabis legalisation in Colorado.
Colorado also has some cool B&Bs (read Bud & Breakfast) places too – pot friendly accommodations especially meant for cannabis tourism. Finally, growing your own pot is allowed up to 6 plants per home. And what’s not legal? Transporting cannabis outside Colorado, passing your puffs to a minor, using cannabis on federal land, smoking weed in public places, stoned driving and marijuana possession on federal properties.
Where will India head...
Now that we know the big picture of cannabis laws in the two most popular cannabis-friendly destinations, we can begin to map our way forward using a bit of wisdom and a lot of common sense.
Should we allow buying and selling of cannabis in our country? And if yes, should the government regulate who sells and how much is sold/ supplied? How will we get rid of cannabis smugglers and kingpins? How many plants should be allowed to be grown personally? Should smoking be allowed in public places? How much tax are we willing to pay on cannabis? And where will this tax money go? Should we allow the best of our oncologists and other doctors to carry out independent research on marijuana as a medicine? Can we provide medical marijuana access at cheaper prices for those in need? We need deep, critical thinking to answer these questions.
Should we allow subsidies to poor farmers who are willing to grow hemp? We think yes, because we believe hemp can reduce farmer suicides. It can also be used as a cheaper medicine for cancer, heart and lifestyle diseases. And ultimately, hemp will heal our environment problems.
We think it’s high time Indian government should amend the law that was dictated by the US propaganda in the 80s and Harry Anslinger in the 20s. But we also think that as cannabis enthusiasts, we must ask ourselves these questions before we vote for our herb.
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Related: India’s first pro-cannabis PIL and 10 questions we need to ask
Are you in pain and need sleep? CBN in cannabis is your doctor
A report by Gooey Rabinski in the International Cannabis Community provides yet another important reason as to why cannabis should be used widely across the globe.
The report states that stale THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) helps patients or those in pain sleep. This effect is created by cannabinol, which is known as CBN.
Among one of the 100 cannabinoids found in marijuana, it helps regulate the human body because of the way these chemicals mimic the body’s naturally occurring endocannabinoids.
When it combines with specialised receptors throughout the brain and the nervous system, cannabinoids help the body’s endocannabinoids and create the much desired state of homeostasis or balance. This allows patients to fight diseases like cancer, Parkinson’s Disease and epilepsy.
The good news for those who are not looking for a high is that CBN has a far lower psychoactive level compared to THC. While on CBN, you may feel a bit groggy and confused, but the positives far outweigh these side effects.
Your sleeping beauty
First of, CBN is a strong sleeping aid. When consumed in sufficient quantities, it acts like a pharma sedative. However, the dose is still far smaller.
Your antibacterial
CBN also has antibacterial properties and provides relief if there is inflammation. That is especially effective in Crohn’s Disease.
Natural analgesic
It is also a great immune system booster and performs as a natural analgesic or pain killer, which means it comes without the long term side effects of pharma painkillers.
Goodbye seizures
It is well known that cannabis helps glaucoma patients. CBN is also crucial in aiding glaucoma sufferers as it lowers intraocular pressure in the eye. Besides that, it is an anti-convulsive, and helps arrests severe seizures.
Need to know
While researchers know that cannabinoids have great therapeutic effects, there is still a lot of mystery surrounding how they function.
What we know now is that THC, which is the main psychoactive compound, is stored in an acidic form in the cannabis plant as THC-A which, incidentally, has no ‘high’ to it. Only when heat is applied to THC-A, it gives the euphoric high.
Similarly, THC-A produces CBN after a degradation process. Which is why patients keep their medicine in air-tight jars as cannabis may lose potency if kept outside (in contact with air) for long periods of time. As it stales, THC turns into CBN, which is not as psychoactive.
In fact, a study done in 1999 by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime found that THC dropped to half its potency in 4 years. As THC oxidises, it turns into CBN. This has an important implication if you are looking for good weed: if cannabis is stored improperly, it will have high CBN levels.
The good news is that CBN’s medical uses are unfolding slowly. With deeper research, we shall be able to figure out what strains of marijuana are best for what kind of ailments.
The controversial ‘lost child’ of the cannabis family
You have heard about Cannabis Indica. Sativa you probably love. So, what about Cannabis ruderalis?
This is apparently a lesser known species of the cannabis family (ruderaliscomes from ruderal which means root), though there are a few debates that it’s only a descendant of Indica.
Ruderalis is a tough plant as its survival involved coping with harsh conditions, of both weather and human habitation. Found in Asia, Russia and Central/ Eastern Europe, the Ruderalis has a short flowering cycle of 21 to 30 days. The flowering does not depend on the light cycle, unlike Sativa and Indica. And this is the reason many growers love it: its ability to ‘autoflower’.
Once thought to be a wild cousin, in recent times there have been some growers who have used it to create new hybrids.
This autoflowering strain is short – just 1 to 2.5 feet at harvest time. It is a very robust plant with a more improvisational growth pattern with wide leaves that are light green in colour.
While the buds are smaller than usual, they have body and are held on by sturdy stems.
Ruderalis genes offer the ability for breeders to create an autoflowering hybrid with the advanced potency and flavour profile from its genetic partner.
While the general view is that Ruderalis has low THC content, there are people who think otherwise.
Jordan Stojanov had this to say about Ruderalis, replying to a report on Leafly that spoke about the low THC content: “We have Ruderalis here in Macedonia that are very potent: 23% THC content. They are old, from the Turkish occupation time when they used the land to grow opium and cannabis for 500 years.”
There are others who believe that Ruderalis is nothing more than the usual hemp.
While we are still to sample cannabis ruderalis, we are happy to see that the cannabis family has one more member, albeit bit contentious one.
Even as the echo of the World Environment Day fades, it is important that we reiterate what we have been saying here all along: hemp will lead to a greener world.
Hemp for food, shelter and energy
Hemp is a versatile crop. Almost everything we need on a daily basis can be made from it – food to fuel to hempcrete (to build homes) etc. This implies that growing this wonder weed will dramatically reduce mining, drilling and cutting of trees, hence lessen the burden on the environment.
Related: Why hemp is the Indian farmer’s savior
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Hemp as organic fertiliser
Since hemp is a weed, it is a robust plant and does not require pesticides to grow. To top that, we can actually make organic fertiliser from hemp. Whichever way you look at it, hemp seems to make ecological and economic sense on many fronts.
Hemp as fuel
Use of fossil fuel has led to serious destruction of our ecology. While nuclear fuel was thought to be clean, disasters in Chernobyl and Fukushima brought out the dark side of this fuel source. Also, the question of nuclear waste is another area of serious concern: where do you dispose them safely?
If you have read about hemp a bit, you will know that the father of the motorcar, Henry Ford, actually made a car that ran on hemp fuel. If hemp fuel is brought back into circulation, the damage that fossil fuels have done can be at least arrested, if not reversed.
Hemp pulp is rich in cellulose and this can be used to produce fuel. “Biomass” energy can be a greener alternative to nuclear power and fossil fuels. It will not only put less pressure on oil reserves, it will also reduce the trade deficit.
When processed with a pyrolitic converter, hemp can meet our energy needs: charcoal for coal; methane gas for natural gas; methanol and gasoline for petroleum; etc. By burning them, electricity can be generated. Biomass fuel can actually turn oil shortage into a minor issue.
Also, hemp fuel does not contain sulphur like fossil fuels – the main cause of acid rain.
Hemp restores oxygen
Also, cultivating hemp on a large scale will see more oxygen production as during the growing season, plant photosynthesis turns carbon dioxide back into oxygen. Which is why, hemp biofuel is a serious ecological necessity. That hemp cultivation will cut tree felling by 50 percent is itself a good enough reason to start an alternate revolution now.
Hemp plastic is biodegradable
Add the fact that hemp pulp and fibre can be used to make biodegradable plastic, it almost seems to be a no-contest scenario here. After all, we all know the damage that petro-plastics cause.
The time is now!
The point is governments must see the economic and ecological wisdom in using hemp commercially. We don’t have time to soft-pedal on the issue of environment degradation.
Which is why we say: ‘Use hemp. Save the environment’. This isn’t just a slogan anymore. It is wisdom.
Conservative politician cites the Bible, says marijuana should be legal
As the legalisation movement goes mainstream and marijuana is seen more as a healing angel weed than a devil weed, even conservative politicians are waking up and smelling the coffee.
Just recently Texas State Representative David Simpson, who is a serious Tea Party member (yes, they played a big part in the Republican party), said in an interview to the Daily Beast that it was actually evangelical to legalise marijuana totally.
He backed his evangelical argument for total legalisation of marijuana by citing the Bible, more specifically Timothy 4:4. This psalm clearly states that “everything God created is good.” And Simpson’s logic is that since marijuana is God’s creation, there is no justification in seeing it as evil. In fact, it is an expression of God and, therefore, good.
We agree with him absolutely. To put this is newer perspective, let us use this example. Would anyone, in their right mind, ban hyenas because they are predators who are not as handsome as lions?
This argument was further fortified by Stewart Felker, a renowned scholar of Judaism and Christianity. He said that Simpson’s religious argument for legalising marijuana held scriptural water. This is what he told the news site: “Christianity itself was not born out of a hyper-puritanical mindset.”
Anybody who has read the Bible knows that it does not denounce alcohol, though it sees excessive indulgence in it negatively. Moderation is what the Bible propounds. This logic, Felker said, is the “groundwork” for interpreting how marijuana should be treated. While the Bible refers to the ‘herb’, it does not explicitly talk about cannabis. This could be for many reasons.
In fact, the Bible has nothing in it that has a whiff of prohibition of alcohol. The New Testament, Felker added, speaks positively about wine. He says this is an analogy enough to see marijuana, a plant, in the same light. It can become an ethical theory that will, eventually, have an impact on legal theory.
This reminds us of a meme that has done the round on social media: God made marijuana, man made alcohol. Who do you trust?
Women who use cannabis are pretty likeable. There are many reasons for it. To begin with, cannabis and chilling out go hand in hand. And nothing is more beautiful than a girl who is relaxed and takes the world a little slower, a little more patiently, and with a little more empathy that pot seems to bring to the mind.
Today’s women have many challenges, which is why we have the supermom concept – a woman who must multi-task, juggle her career with homemaking. While the concept is appears admirable, it has its share of pitfalls. A schedule that is constantly about go-getting can turn into a sea of stress. As Willie Nelson famously said that stress is the biggest killer because it brings on other diseases, fighting it is paramount for good health. And nothing fights stress as well as marijuana does. A relaxed woman is a happy woman, and who does not like a happy woman.
Many men have to face the wrath of that womanly condition that they don’t really understand – pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS. There are countless jokes about this condition because humour is needed to cope with situations that are beyond a man’s understanding. However, it does not have to be that way. There are many women today who use cannabis to combat PMS. During this difficult time, when hormones are on overdrive and can cause severe mood swings, women who use cannabis seem to deal with PMS issues with greater ease.
While the health benefit for this is important, it also results in mental well-being of a couple. A woman who is not being pestered by PMS is calmer and her mood is more stable. This keeps small issues from affecting her psyche, keeping her relationship happier.
While alcohol may also help in unwinding, it comes with its share of dangers. Studies have shown that women are affected by smaller quantities of alcohol and, often, are more prone to being hooked to it. This is not only a health risk, but it also pushes up stress levels. That is the reason why cannabis is a much better relaxant for women, especially because it’s less addictive than caffeine.
Also, on a more practical note, a woman who is drunk is in a greater danger of facing violent crime because her drunken state is more visible. However, on cannabis she is stable and her sense of judgement is not affected as much as it does on alcohol. In fact, this is also true for a man.
Studies have shown that cannabis users are far less likely to drive dangerously than those using alcohol. And who does not like a safe woman driver? This might sound a bit funny, but the fact is it works out well for her, as it does for men.
Finally, it’s more fun to hang out or date a girl who prefers cannabis. They laugh more, they seem to see wit clearly and are able to make those absurdly associative jokes that cannabis seems to bring forth. She can not only be one of the guys, but she can also be herself. And that’s just lovely. Smoke a doobie together and you can chill on the sofa. She probably won’t want to go shopping. Perfect, right?
4 THINGS POT CHANGED ABOUT THE WAY WE LOOK AT EDUCATION AND JOBS
2014 may have been the year of pot. But what’s happening now will make you really think, and smile.
If you Google cannabis, here’s what happens. Yes, Mary Jane is pretty famous these days.
As marijuana becomes more and more mainstream, people are looking at how to manage this $ 2.7 billion industry. The ArcView group said marijuana is the number one industry among all the fast-growing industries of the world. In 2015, it is expected to grow by 32%. You can only imagine how many people with what kind of skills might be required to manage an industry like this. So has pot changed our mindsets?
Yes, very much. Not only that, cannabis has broken several myths about cannabis users too. Here are the three most important ones:
1. Cannabis users can be well-educated and have a great job
Believe it or not, most cannabis enthusiasts who are now organising medical cannabis conferences and supporting the movement in their own little ways are well-educated youngsters, doctors, lawyers, writers, ayurveda practitioners, yoga experts, audio engineers and so on. These are the people (not exceptions) in the pot world who break ‘the jobless stoner’ stereotype. They are ambitious about their projects and they can make things happen.
2. Cannabis connoisseurs are not poor. Very soon there will be a club of bud millionaires
Meet Privateer Holdings – an investment firm that knows its niche the way James Franco knows where Afgan Kush comes from in Pineapple Express. Privateer recently invested a whopping $75 million in marijuana-based ventures. That’s the most expensive deal cracked in the pot industry so far. Privateer now manages a trifecta of marijuana companies – a Canadian pot growing facility Tilray, Leafly (needs no introduction) and even Marley Natural.
So, if you’re one of those guys who knows how to grow marijuana and which strains are the best in the world you could give a shot at becoming a Ganjapreneur – the cannabis entrepreneur. Your love for cannabis + an expert level proficiency + *add a groundbreaking idea here* = A successful Ganjapreneur with a long list of investors. You have very little time to think it over and get off the ground. By 2018, it is expected that legal marijuana sales could generate more than $10 billion a year.
3. The school dropouts who smoke pot can now have a certified degree in cannabis cooking / dispensary management / marijuana therapy etc.
Fret not if you don’t like your education system. Most cannabis users don’t. You really don’t have to choose those subjects that suck the life out of you when there are institutions like THC University and Cannabis University of Colorado. From basics of growing marijuana to a certificate degree in budtending and cannabis business, these universities offer a plethora of cannabis education programs. In fact, the THC University offers an online program too, so you don’t have to be physically present in Colorado for your classes. Then there’s also Cannabis Career Institute that offers classes in cannacooking, apart from the usual dispensary management and cannabis business management courses.
4. Don’t like your job? Become a Budtender.
Are you bored of the same old 9 to 6 job? Or stuck with a boss who never lets you get ahead? Break out and ditch that meaningless job and do something better for yourself. You deserve it. Go to 420careers.com or thcjobs.com and see for yourself. By the end of 2015, more than 75,000 jobs will be created for people in the cannabis industry. Even the entry-level people are expected to get $15 per hour. Sounds like a great career plan? Well, go for it ‘cause you might just end up becoming a part of the highest paying industry in the world!
When I first wrote that munchies may hold a key to weight loss based purely on my personal experience, I was kind of right. Just that I didn’t know anything about THCV— an appetite-suppressing chemical found in marijuana — and what its implications on marijuana-infused food could be like.
As you must have already read, cannabis is made of numerous cannabinoids like CBD, CBC, THC etc. But it also contains a close cousin of THC called THCV which is more psychoactive than THC. Its high feels like a lot of energy. The high is stronger but shorter than THC. That is why researchers lovingly call it ‘The Sports Car’ of cannabinoids.
THCV has proved to be one of the best healers of psychological ailments like anxiety and PTSD. It can even block panic attacks. It does not suppress any emotions. It only acts on suppressing the ‘ability’ to panic.
This unique cannabinoid helps treating osteoporosis and similar ailments as it promotes bone cell growth and prevents loss of bone mass. THCV is also a promising agent in treating motor-ailment diseases like Parkinson’s as well.
The point is really that THCV is yet another wonder chemical found in cannabis.
But why does it prove me right about weight loss and munchies?
A recent European RIO study found that THCV blocks the THC receptors that cause hunger. I know that’s a wee bit confusing because THC was supposed to be the ‘high’. But that’s why THC and THCV highs have such different natures. The physical effects they have differ.
Let me explain:
The study concluded that some positive changes induced by blocking CB1 receptors (the receptor that THC activates in the brain which makes you hungry) include positive changes in body weight, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, adiponectin, fasting insulin and insulin resistance. Because of the ‘munchies’ effect on the endocannabinoid system, cannabis consumption has been associated with weight gain. That ‘fact’ is probably a myth now.
Here’s the jaw-dropping fact: Several studies have now found that cannabis users are actually less fat than their counterparts.
A study in the American Journal of Medicine entitled The Impact of Marijuana Use on Glucose, Insulin, and Insulin Resistance among US Adults, found that marijuana users are less obese and less diabetic that non-users. Their waists tend to be smaller, and they were found to have better glucose and insulin levels.
In fact back in 2007, GW Pharmaceuticals even announced that they were starting to research on THCV as a potential treatment for obesity and related disorders.
So, where can you find THCV-loaded strains?
Try to look for African strains. Durban Poison is supposed to have an average of 0.5 % THCV (a THC-dominant plant). The THC-THCV ratio in such plants can be more than 20:1.
Earlier there was no proper research and breeding. Yet several years ago breeders developed a strain called Pineapple Purps with THC:THCV 3:1 ratio. It contains 12% THC and 4% THCV and it still is rare. However, last year or so Doug’s Varin, this THCV bomb, was developed. Its THC-THCV ratio is 6:7 and it’s supposed to be the first strain to have a higher THCV content than THC.
Final verdict: Can THCV be used as the secret to weight-loss?
For starters, it’s 100% organic and completely safe to consume. It also keeps glucose, cholesterol insulin levels in check which is a boon for all those who, by weight loss, mean fitness. So, if you’re a cannabis user planning on losing weight you can definitely switch to one of these high-THCV African strains. But don’t starve! Eat breakfast on time and keep your dinners light. Make regular exercise a must. Drink plenty of water. Once you’re done with this regime, roll a big blunt of Jack The Ripper, another high THCV strain, and surrender your body to the GodHerb.
Finally, as a sign off here’s some celeb cannabis news: The Willie Nelson strain is also high on THCV.
(Avanika Mote is a cannabis enthusiast and blogger since 2009)
REEFERLUTION: 7 Indian headlines that point to cannabis legalisation
When I first started blogging about marijuana in 2009, my friends (mostly drinkers and occasional marijuana smokers) did not even know how cannabis (the plant) looks like. They thought it was a drug and, obviously, never associated it with medicine. This was the scene in India where ‘Americanisation’ of the 1980s had led most people to believe that cannabis is a drug and that it’s bad for you. Yes, the #WarOnDrugs, which has failed miserably.
Come 2015 and things have changed so significantly that when I move around my city, I often overhear young adults talking about cannabis or that they support some legalisation group. One of my earlier neighbours even knocked my door one day to ask where I ‘score’ from? On asking why she thought about me, she said ‘I could hear psytrance music playing and thought you guys were smoking’. While many of these new stoners are not fully aware of what marijuana does and how it can be a great medicine, a lot is happening in India right now and cannabis is making its way into the Indian newspapers. So, take a look at how the Indian youth is bringing about revolutionary changes in the cannabis culture of India.
1. The first Indian hemp conference of 2014
While this conference rarely got any media coverage, the IIHA, who organised it in November 2014, witnessed almost 170 participants. It was held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi. The event had several international and national dignitaries speak about hemp and its industrial uses. Many hemp products like hemp oil and seeds, hemp teeshirts, etc. were showcased and for the first time, and people got a ‘touch and feel’ of these products made of industrial hemp.
2. Oncologists from Bengaluru call for lifting the ban on marijuana
Just after IIHA’s hemp conference happened to Delhi, an accomplished oncologist from India’s Silicon Valley, Dr Vishal Rao, took the marijuana legalisation movement to the next level. It was almost groundbreaking to see the headline in The Times of India in January 2015. Many doctors like Rao urged on the need for medical research on cannabis. In fact, Dr B S Ajai Kumar, chairman, HCG Enterprises, revealed that they would be approaching the government with a proposal to legalise medical marijuana in India.
3. The first Indian medical cannabis conference happens in Bangalore
The urban Indian guy has attended several bong sessions with his friends and probably has some dreadlocks too. He may even have read a few Indian bloggers who tried to spread marijuana awareness in India. But the first ever real thing that happened to the Indian cannabis scene was GLM’s (Great Legalisation Movement) medical cannabis conference in Bangalore . The story behind this great leap is interesting. A guy named Viki Varuora, a cannabis enthusiast from Bangalore, met Leela a stomach cancer patient who had given up on chemotherapy. On Leela’s consent, Viki and his ayurvedic doctor friend extracted oil from the cannabis plant and treated Leela. Today, her cancer is in remission. One thing led to another and Viki got in touch with none other than the man behind cannabis extract oil, Rick Simpson. Apparently, he’s still in India and conferences have been planned in Mumbai, Pune and Delhi. So, stay tuned and try not to miss this remarkable conference, because once marijuana gets legalised we would need more people like you to ask policy-related questions.
4. Aditya Barthakur, an Indian lawyer, files a pro-cannabis PIL in Bombay High Court
By far our most favourite piece of news this year has been this one. I guess the law of attraction really works when you think too much about a cause. Aditya Barthakur, a 34-year old lawyer from Mumbai, recently filed a public interest litigation (PIL) that questions the ban on cannabis in India and says it’s not backed by scientific evidence. The better news is that his PIL has been taken seriously by the Bombay High Court. The HC has now issued notices to the State and Central government. You can read more about it here.
5. Marijuana and hemp businesses germinate in India
Since 2014, a couple of entrepreneurs have been launching their socially and environmentally conscious hemp start-ups in India. They are educating Indians on how hemp can be the best alternative to food, clothing and even shelter! What’s more interesting is that most youngsters in India who are aware of cannabis and use it recreationally, seem pretty keen on not only trying out hemp products but also propagating the use of hemp as an alternative to everything. I guess it all started with Bombay Hemp Company (BOHECO). And then came Be Hemp – India – yet another hemp shop from India. And soon you’re going to have Hempcann’s exclusive online hemp shop. Exciting times, huh?
6. Tathagata Satpathy, a politician from Odisha advocates cannabis use and calls the ban ‘elitist’
I know that politics and pot don’t go well together. I know we never thought a politician from India would stand up and do the right thing. But I think the power of the God Herb is such that it can open the most rigid of minds. Our intrepid politician in this case is Tathagata Satpathy, who candidly admitted in the media that he had tried cannabis in his youth. And since then his opinion has gone viral. He also called the ban ‘elitist’ and said he supports cannabis legalisation.
7. The textile ministry recognises hemp
Back in 2010, the Textile Ministry of India did something good for the planet but nobody really talked about it. The ministry’s natural fibres policy identified hemp fibre as one that demanded attention. Not only that, the Ministry also estimated that industrial hemp could earn India INR 240 million per year. It then declared Uttaranchal as the nodal state for hemp cultivation in India.
While these seven headlines sum up the current scenario, we know for sure that this list will keep getting longer. The truth has the power to reveal itself in mysterious ways.
(Avanika Mote is a cannabis enthusiast and has been blogging about it since 2009)
Taking prescription drugs? Here’s a ‘memory loss’ alert
It is a well known fact that prescription drugs are not all safe. In fact, they come with a host of side-effects that are unpleasant. For instance, if you use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), your digestive system can go out of whack. With regular use, the body’s resistance to NSAIDs increases and dosage has to be increased accordingly. It starts out as a good thing but progressively turns a patient into a drug addict.
What is scary is that prescription drugs are behind 100,000 plus deaths annually. Over 1.9 million people experience side-effects that are so severe that they have to go back to the hospital. It can turn into a never-ending cycle of being treated. In fact, in the United States adverse drug reactions are now the fourth leading cause of death.
Prescription drugs are also notorious for long term problems like memory loss. Many researchers say memory loss is an all too common a side-effect.
If you are taking any pharma drug that starts with the word ‘anti’, the odds are that it will cause some cognitive decline. Take all of them: antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antibiotics, antispasmodics, or antihypertensives.
These drugs adversely affect your acetylcholine levels, which is the primary neurotransmitter that facilitates better memory function and learning.
If you cannot recollect a name or an address that you are sort of familiar with (that “I always knew this” or that “I know it but can’t say it” feeling), it means your acetylcholine levels are down. Maybe, if you take any of these “anti” drugs, you must consider reducing your dosage and go for a natural remedy for pain which have lesser side-effects like cannabis. Acetylcholine is associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Anticholinergic are the group of drugs that inhibit action of acetylcholine in the body. These drugs may also cause side-effects like confusion, blurry vision, constipation, dry mouth, light-headedness, urinary issues, incontinence etc. They could also cause brain fog and hallucinations.
If you are having trouble sleeping and are resorting to sleeping pills, you have a real problem. These pills have been known for years now to wreak havoc on memory. For instance, the widely popular sedative called Ambien is also known as the “the amnesia drug.”
Excessive use of sleeping pills can also cause severe anxiety, terror, somnambulism (sleep-walking) and hallucinations. It could put you in that “passed out” state, like you are drunk or comatose. Such drugs actually do not give you the restorative sleep that your brain needs.
Statins are another group of drugs that are linked to memory loss. If you want to know how dangerous statins could be, refer to The Great Cholesterol Myth, a book by doctors Bowden and Sinatra. According to them, these drugs are one of the most dangerous drugs for the brain. In fact, the labels on such drugs are now compulsorily required to state ‘memory loss’ as a side-effect.
So how does this work? It is simple: statins lower cholesterol and a quarter of the brain is all cholesterol, which keeps memory, learning, and fast thinking well greased. Naturally, if you are taking something that lowers cholesterol, memory loss is inevitable.
While you may have to take some of these drugs in situations that demand it, they should not be a part of your lifestyle. If you have issues sleeping, exercise and a light diet help. Also, consuming cannabis oil or inhaling cannabis with a vaporiser (if you are not a smoker) could be the best natural remedy for sleep disorders. It is accepted by many researchers and doctors that cannabis is a far safer bet for pain relief. There are countless anecdotal evidences as well that this naturally occurring weed is probably the best medicine there is for a variety of problems, including pain. The benefits of medical marijuana are many and it has no recorded overdose till date (it is technically impossible to OD on marijuana). It is not addictive or very mildly addictive like caffeine (unlike NSAIDs) and works wonders. It also reduces anxiety and stress.
It is time we look at this plant more seriously in India and take it to the lab to research on its properties. Incidentally, Indians who have been using the cannabis plant already know its many benefits that science is still to take up, simply because the plant is a problem since our government decided to make it illegal in an impulsive rage of ignorance and political pressure from the US.
(Santanu Borah is a writer and cannabis enthusiast)
In the light of the tragic death of farmer Gajendra Singh, many issues plaguing the small farmer have come to the fore. The main reason why the farmer from Rajasthan hung himself from a tree at an Aam Aadmi Party rally in New Delhi was that he had been thrown out of his home by his father because his crop had failed.
While the political blame game will not end soon, what it does not do is provide a real solution. The smaller farmer is hardest hit by failed crops and a lack of a seamless selling system of grains.
This is a good time to think about crops that are easier to grow and require lesser financial and natural input in terms of water, fertilisers, herbicides etc.
At HempCann we believe that if the smaller farmer grows hemp, it will be a real leap of wisdom for a variety of reasons:
1. It is the kind of crop that has multiple uses, like coconut, for instance. Seeds make oil, food and medicine. The fibre can be turned into paper, fabrics, ropes… basically, hemp is an all rounder. It could be really profitable for a farmer to grow hemp.
2. One acre of hemp produces at least twice the amount of fibre compared to cotton. We have already said this in other blogposts on Cannabeings.
3. It is not a water-intensive crop. It’s far easier to grow in areas where water availability is low.
4. It does not pull out nutrients from the soil like many other crops, keeping it fertile.
5. Since it is a weed, it does not require special care, herbicides etc. It is a far more cost-effective crop.
6. It is rarely attacked by pests and even weather. It is a robust plant and chances of crop failure are low.
If the government issues licences for hemp cultivation, it could be the panacea for many woes of the farmers. It is time we let wisdom in, by allowing a crop that George Washington and Henry Ford found exciting. Plus, it is far more environment friendly.
We think the smaller farmer deserves to cultivate a plant that occurs naturally everywhere and has great benefits, from fiscal to physical. Growing hemp will not only boost agriculture but also all other ancillary industries like textiles and food, for instance. Everybody deserves a crop that keeps the farmer and the world in a secure place.
It’s time to Chamba! The strain that’s gotta be on your bucket list
Anybody who has dreamt of Africa has dreamt about its beautiful animals and tribes and their vibrant colours. Many who have visited rural Africa have stayed back for good, for a good reason: they are connected to the planet.
Of course, Africa has a dark side and has seen a lot of political upheavals. However, the poetry of Africa never ceases. If you are a cannabis aficionado, Africa has a lot to offer. Starting withchamba.
If you want to sample some cult stuff, this is one marijuana strain that should be on your bucket list. Known as Malawi Gold, its home is the little nation of Malawi – the land-locked country from where Madonna adopted a child and faced a bit of flak.
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Related: Holi, Bhang and the history of spiritual toking in India
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Across the globe, wherever there are cannabis enthusiasts, it would not be hard to find an individual who wishes to make an acquaintance with this legendary strain that grows in central and northern regions of Malawi.
Even the World Bank is happy with this superb sativa strain. It has called it one of the best and finest marijuana strains in the world. In fact, the strain is so good that Malawi’s marijuana tourist industry is bubbling today because of this psychoactive African sativa. Despite it not being legal, it is not policed due to the cultural connect with the plant. The funny thing is, it is Malawi’s third biggest export. While Malawi does not make headlines for its economy, it is interesting to note that chamba is seen as one of the Big Cs of the nation’s exports: chambo, which is the Tilapia fish, chombe, which is tea and, finally, chamba or Malawi gold. Now, that is respect.
If you are looking to buy some of the best chamba, you need to visit Nkhotakota district and go to the banks of the river Lupache. Here’s it is very easy to lay your hands on this powerful plant. Today, Malawi produces at least 70,000-80,000 kilograms of cannabis annually. These wonder buds are grown by women and sold by men. The buds are packed real tight with banana or maize leaves and then cured. Later, they are sold in units called ‘cobs’.
Even South Africa is basking in the glory of Malawi Gold, as it attracting a lot of marijuana tourists. This superb weed is sold near the border. In fact, countries like Kenya and Tanzania are also seeing similar effects.
Now for the biggie: Chamba trade equals 0.2% of the GDP of Malawi. Since it is illegal and almost all of it is exported, it has resulted in unfair trade (especially with international cartels) and Malawi farmers are getting peanuts for growing this awesome strain. It would be much wiser to legalise and regulate this trade for the farmer. It is no secret that Malawi has a lot of naturally growing cannabis and makes no sense to hide one’s head in the sand and pretend chamba does not exist.
Finally, total legalisation is the only way to go as chamba is intimately connected with the religious life of the nation. Malawi Rastafari use the herb to find spiritual direction and connect with the higher realm of consciousness. Also, many regular Malawians, who may not be Rastifari, still use it as they feel it helps them unwind, relax and concentrate.
With so much business, religion and health benefits associated with Malawi Gold, it is time to release the plant from the clutches of a legal system that is clearly outdated and ignorant. Despite police raids, chamba’s use is ubiquitous and cultural. It is time for Malawi’s government to come to terms with this in a realistic way.
India’s first pro-cannabis PIL and 10 questions Indian govt should ask itself
First of all, the HempCann team would like to congratulate Advocate Aditya Barthakur for starting the cannabis debate in a powerful manner.
While now his public interest litigation (PIL) has created a buzz on social media, it is interesting to note that this lawyer has been quietly active since last year on the cannabis issue. He had filed a petition under the Right To Information Act (RTI) to various government agencies asking a simple question: “Why is cannabis banned?”
His PIL is indepth and highlights all the benefits of cannabis. Right from the Attharva Veda to current medical developments to no evidence of any death, it’s all there. The best part is that the Bombay High Court (HC) has taken the PIL seriously, and has issued notices to both the state and central governments.
We can now safely say what we have been saying all along on this blog: cannabis is illegal because of ignorance and nothing more.
All the government agencies he sent his RTI to had no clue as to why they considered cannabis to be harmful. The best reply to this query was from the legislative department of the law ministry. It simply replied: “NIL”. Now, what does that really mean?
All the other departments showed their lack of awareness and reason by forwarding the query to other departments. The department of nutrition went to the extent of lifting a paragraph from New Jersey’s highway traffic safety department as their thoughtful reply. They did not even consider the fact that the marijuana debate in America has reached a point where all the old “wisdom” is being challenged successfully. The American administration is beginning to understand their myopic decision on marijuana.
The ignorant replies and pussy-footing by various government departments in India is a clear indication that very soon they will have to refresh themselves on Indian culture. Probably then they will have an answer that actually makes sense.
What we think is that all the governments since 1985 have been lazy. After following America like a blind bat and passing the NDPS Act, governments never asked simple questions. So, here are 10 questions they must ask now:
1. Why are cannabis laws largely un-enforced in India?
2. Does the law actually fight drug abuse?
3. Why are cigarettes and alcohol okay, when there is enough evidence to show that they kill more people worldwide than cannabis ever has?
4. Why is hemp not used as fibre, food, oil etc. when it is one of the richest sources of a lot of beneficial stuff?
5. Why do we allow bhang during Holi?
6. Why is Shiva’s favourite plant shunned by India?
7. Why are we ashamed of a plant that has been a part of our culture and the Atharva Veda clearly mentions it?
8. Why are we disregarding modern developments in cannabis medical research?
9. Why don’t we want to fight organised crime?
10. Do we even know what cannabis really is? Does it make millions who use it, including sadhus who we revere, criminals?
(Santanu Borah is a writer and a cannabis enthusiast)
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