How Tommy Chong Beat Cancer with Homegrown Cannabis Medicine
How Tommy Chong Beat Cancer with Homegrown Cannabis Medicine
By Alex Pietrowski
Source: Waking Times
As the movement for the liberation of cannabis gains momentum, and attitudes toward this relaxing and healing plant evolve, we are witnessing an explosion in innovation around how cannabis is used, both as a medicine and for recreational purposes. Finally overcoming its reputation as a mind-bending, psychoactive drug that makes you stoned, lazy and useless,…
Neurogical diseases are usually degenerative and painful but recent medical studies have shown that medicinal cannabis can arrest the progress of the disease and relieve its symptoms.
These neuro-degenerative diseases are Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Multiple Sclerosis is a lingering infection of the central nervous system that leaves it inflammed. Motor coordination is lost and there is weakness of the muscles. It often affects people who are 20 to 40 years old leaving them permanently disabled and shortened life expectancy. Inhaling medicinal cannabis have shown to reduce throbbing pain, weakness and depression. It was also noted that the progression of the disease was arrested.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is characterized by selective loss of the neurons affecting movement that is found in the spinal cord, motor cortex and brain stem. It is often fatal with those affected by the disease dying after two years of the onset of the disease. Expermentation with medical cannabis has shown that the ALS development was delayed while the manifestation of the disease like pain, loss of appetite, depression and drolling was reduced. The studies concluded therefore that medicinal cannabis can prolong life expectancy of people suffering ALS and making the symptoms tolerable for them.
Another neurological illness is Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). It is manifested by loss of memory and learned behavior. People who are on the road to experiencing AD get depressed and has loss of appetite. Theraphy with cannabis plant has also shown that the progress of the disease was arrested while the emotional symptoms like depression, anxiety and appetite loss were alleviated.
Medicinal cannabis was more effective in treating neurological ailments compared with synthetic dosage that is traditionally given by doctors. Medicinal cannabis has therefore became the alternative choice to cure neurological diseases. For additional information, click the link. Sta. Monica, CA
Utah is the latest 'red' state to consider medical marijuana. Yesterday, Utah's Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would allow for the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The bill is expected to go to the Senate floor early next week.
Senate Bill 259 from Sen. Mark B. Madsen would create a state registry of medical marijuana patients who could possess and use marijuana. The bill would also direct the state of Utah to issue licenses for cultivators, processors, and dispensaries to qualified patients.
Lab rats get put through some pretty inhumane conditions, but at least scientists are able to gather useful information from them. In order to study morphine dependence, researchers deprive baby rats of their mothers at a young age, a stressful situation that makes them more susceptible to becoming addicted to opiates later in life. I feel sorry for the little guys, but their plight may one day help save a few humans; at least, that’s what the hope is.
As you may have read or heard already, cannabis is being explored as a possible treatment for those suffering from some pretty rough addictions. Hit to link to learn more about this study. The rats appear to be very grateful for this relief.
Good news for marijuana activists! A bill to make legal the use of medicinal marijuana in North Carolina passed its first reading in the General assembly. The bill, created to benefit ill patients, received support from the public and policymakers. The bill opens up people suffering from anorexia, Chron’s and cancer to the option of …
That's right, fellow North Carolinians... from okaying CBD oil to medical. Big steps here. Let's make sure this medical program succeeds and expands to covering other ailments such a anxiety disorders.
Check out what the Marijuana Policy Project has to say about it here in Raleigh, NC.
Throughout the decades since cannabis prohibition began in 1937, its use by humans has been largely misunderstood due to a lack of research, funding and legality. This has left us guessing as to why certain species – or, more accurately, different strains – of the same plant elicit varying effects when consumed. Many hypotheses have been put forward over the years with most centering upon either differences between species (indica vs. sativa) or cannabinoid content and ratios.
Here is a fresh take on the effects of cannabis indica and sativa, from cannabinoids to terpenoids and how they work together. Great article.
Diagrams such as this make visualizing the strain fingerprint easy.
Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) have introduced two bills to Congress pertaining to the legalization and taxation of cannabis at the federal level.
H.R. 1013, Polis' bill, is known as the Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Act. It seeks to remove cannabis from its current schedule under the Controlled Substances Act and place oversight of cannabis with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives rather than with the DEA.
Polis is quoted as saying,
"Over the past year, Colorado has demonstrated that regulating marijuana like alcohol takes money away from criminals and cartels, grows our economy, and keeps marijuana out of the hands of children. [...] It is time for us to replace the failed prohibition with a regulatory system that works and let states and municipalities decide for themselves if they want, or don’t want, to have legal marijuana within their borders.”
H.R. 1014, submitted by Blumenauer is the Marijuana Tax Revenue Act. This bill would have a federal excise tax on retail cannabis sales along with an occupational tax for cannabis businesses. As seen in states with recreational cannabis and medical marijuana, medical marijuana would be exempt from this tax. Following the lead of the tobacco industry, this bill would establish civil and criminal penalties for compliance failures. Additionally, the bill outlines the IRS' role in drafting studies of the cannabis industry and providing them along with recommendations to Congress.
Blumenauer is quoted as saying,
"It’s time for the federal government to chart a new path forward for marijuana. Together these bills create a federal framework to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana, much like we treat alcohol and tobacco. The federal prohibition of marijuana has been a failure, wasting tax dollars and ruining countless lives. As more states move to legalize marijuana as Oregon, Colorado, Washington and Alaska have done, it’s imperative the federal government become a full partner in building a workable and safe framework.”
As always, let's contact our representatives in Congress and let them know how their constituents feel about these bills.
In a 188 page report, Colorado examines the health effects of cannabis. Bearing in mind that these correlations do not necessarily have causation, rather they have association, here is an outline of the findings.
Exposure During Pregnancy, with Children and Adolescents
Moderate evidence of marijuana use during pregnancy being associated with a decreased academic ability, cognitive function, and attention span in child. However, this may not show up until adolescence. Remember, association. This could be due to any genetic, parenting, or other pre-natal exposures.
Moderate evidence that marijuana use during pregnancy is associated with decreased growth.
Substantial evidence that cannabis use in adolescents and in young adults being associated with future addictions as well as an increased risk of developing psychotic disorders. Here I would like to point out that most psychotic disorders do not emerge until young adulthood anyway. And according to the study, this does not prove a "gateway effect" as there are many other factors that would play into creating an addictive tendency.
Moderate association between cannabis use and short-term cognitive and memory impairment.
Dose Response
Consumption of 10 mg of THC or more impaired a person's driving abilities, particularly in occasional users.
Edibles can take up to four hours or so to reach their peak and thus the wait time for impairment to decrease is increased.
And for everyone who has ever had a paranoid friend around - secondhand marijuana smoke is unlikely to cause that person to fail a drug test.
Neurological, Cognitive and Mental Health
Of course, the study found that cannabis use impairs memory and cognition - for up to seven days.
Cannabis use potentially doubles the risk of car collision or injury.
Respiratory Effects
Surprise! Marijuana smoke contains many of the same carcinogens as those found in tobacco smoke.
Moderate associations between marijuana smoking and mild airway obstruction.
Substantial association between heavy marijuana smoking use and lesions in airways.
These highlights hardly touch the report itself. Click the link at the top to view the 188 page study.
As you may have heard, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser defied Congress' threats, as she said she would back in November, and has delivered on legalizing marijuana. Thanks to her and her team, recreation can abound.
Congress had made threats to arrest Bowser and her allies. Well, thus far they have not been arrested - which is great!
DC has had medical marijuana in place for years, but not by very much. This move in defiance of Congress' bad parenting tactics is good, in my opinion. If the District feels this strongly in opposition to an opinion of Congress, showing it and standing alongside the rest of the movement is all around uplifting to say, an advocate such as myself.
States have rights. DC does not? Well, they have recreational cannabis, so let's keep up our efforts and get this prohibition off of our backs - for good.
Alaska Becomes the 3rd Recreational Cannabis State!
Congratulations, Alaska! Leading the wave of change for the better as the third US state to legalize marijuana for recreational purposes. With a 52 percent vote, the Alaskan public has voted in legal private recreational use of cannabis to be regulated like alcohol.
While the state's government has been setting up for cannabis's legal debut, there are no recreational shops in place. This is due to a one year moratorium on recreational shops.
So far, Senate Bill 60 has been introduced to create the Marijuana Control Board to be housed under the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. Senate Bill 30 would remove cannabis from the list of controlled substances under Alaska's statutes. However, thus far this is only a proposal.
Let’s take a closer look at some prominent elected officials who have the chance to make a difference for their state when it comes to cannabis legislation.
Here are six unexpected politicians who support marijuana legalization...
Although there is a great deal of controversy surrounding the issue of driving stoned, a new federal study, which concludes that smoking weed before getting behind the wheel does not lead to an increased risk for car crashes, could force lawmakers to reexamine policies for drugged driving.
President Obama released his budget for 2016 this week and there have been reports that he renewed the War on Drugs, a Reagan-era concept that has been largely regarded a failure.
Leafly couldn't have said this better:
"When examining Obama’s new budget carefully, it is true – there's still funding for the Office of National Drug Policy and their program for “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas.” However, their budget has been cut by more than $50 million, with an extra $27 million being routed to prevention and enforcement, indicating a shift in the administration’s focus from drug policy as a criminal matter to a public health issue.Yes, President Obama continued funding the War on Drugs, but he significantly slashed the budget and appropriated funds towards drug treatment, prevention, and enforcement, instead. Don't forget that Obama also included a rider to implement Washington D.C.'s retail cannabis program. We all want an end to the War on Drugs, but baby steps are better than no steps at all."
The High Times Cannabis Cup in San Bernardino concluded over the weekend. Here’s a list of the champions and their winning cannabis strains, concentrates, and hashes.
And don't we all wish we could go to one of these... Here are the 2015 SoCal Cannabis Cup winners, courtesy of Leafly.
Best Sativa Flower-
1st Place | Mango Tango by Elemental Seeds
2nd Place | Loud Berry Flower by Loud Seeds SL
3rd Place | Tangie by Dr. Greenthumb
Best Indica Flower-
1st Place | Kosher Kush by Greenwolf LA and Kush Company
2nd Place | Lorax OG by Lorax Labs from CannaSutra Collective
3rd Place | Dr. K's Paris OG Kush by Cali Natural Collective
Best Hybrid Flower-
1st Place | Wellness OG from the W.E.E.D. in Studio City
2nd Place | Orange Cookies from TLC Collective
3rd Place | 2010 Grizzly Genetics from Grizzly Genetics and Patients Premium Collective
Best CBD Flower-
1st Place | V.C.D.C. from Moxie Seeds & Extracts
2nd Place | Vitamin CBD from Growers Guild
3rd Place | Vegan Buddha Milagro from Greenwolf LA and Vegan Buddha
Best Sativa Concentrate-
1st Place | Red Dragon from Dabblicious Extracts
2nd Place | Space Jack from Apothecary Collective and Imperial Extracts
3rd Place | Pineapple Lemonade from Greenwolf LA, Loud Pack Extractions, and Dabblicious
Best Indica Concentrate-
1st Place | Lemon Walker OG from Gold Coast Extracts
2nd Place | Lemon Walker OG from Gold Coast Collection
3rd Place | Crown OG from Pissing Excellence
Best Hybrid Concentrate-
1st Place | Lemon Bananas from Dabblicious Extracts
2nd Place | Banangie Kosher from Greenwolf LA and Dabblicious
3rd Place | Lemon Cookies from Moxie Seeds & Extracts
Best CBD Concentrate-
1st Place | Ringo's Gift from POP Naturals and WCHC
2nd Place | Ringo's Gift #3 from Greenwolf LA and Loud Pack Extracts
3rd Place | CBD Simple CO2 from CannaVest
Best Non-Solvent Hash-
1st Place | Blissful Wizard from Incognigrow Farms
2nd Place | Cookies and Cream Cubantech Drysift from Exotic Genetix
3rd Place | Gluekie Monster from Trichome Heavy Extracts and the Source Genetics
The Jamaican Cabinet introduced a bill that would decriminalize cannabis. This means that up to two ounces under a person's possession would not be placed on the individual's criminal record.
Jamaica has its eyes on medical marijuana and establishing a cannabis licensing authority to deal with the regulations needed to cultivate, sell and distribute cannabis for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes.
Step by step, the Caribbean island marches toward legalization.
