Crohn’s Disease
New Jersey Shows that the Wheels of Progression Cannot Be Stopped
Despite the best efforts of Governor Chris Christie, state legislators, and local townships, New Jersey’s medical marijuana program is moving along. Patients have clearly stated that they are in favor of the program that was passed several years ago only to see bureaucratic delays on every level. However as marijuana becomes widely accepted and research confirms its medical usefulness and lack of side effects, those trying to slow the unstoppable force of progression seem to be accepting the futility of such action.
Other states have deployed similar political tactics to delay the start of their marijuana program. Arizona’s governor Jan Brewer has tried several times to prevent dispensaries from serving patients. The result has created a rift between voters and the governor. Looking to avoid such tension New Jersey has given approval for patients to register and receive their medical marijuana identification cards. Patients with terminal cancer, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, MS, and other qualifying conditions will have the opportunity to apply for the ID card. Patients can go to the New Jersey Department of Health Website to register or call 609-292-0424. A registration card costs $200 and will be valid for 2 years.
Patients in New Jersey may still have to wait a bit for their medication as only 6 dispensaries have been approved and only one seems close to opening its doors. Greenleaf Compassion Center has previously stated that it would have a crop available to distribute by September. However they still have not yet received the final approval to dispense marijuana. While there still may be time before the program is serving patients around the state, it seems to finally be moving on the right track. There are over 150 doctors have registered to be a part of the program. State Assemblyman Assemblyman Reed Gusciora also felt the program was moving in the right direction and recently said “The opening of a patient registry is a crucial and welcome step. . . . This represents the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Our elected officials often forget they are expected to work for the people. New Jersey officials have finally gotten the message but were close to facing lawsuits. Democracy is all about abiding by the will of the people and right now the people are expecting progress. Trying to stop that is as pointless as trying to stop the ocean currents.
Rick Simpson’s Phoenix Tears
For thousands of years man has used the hemp plant for medicinal purposes. This was until the early 20th century. At this time, the US government, and many others after it, made hemp products illegal. Part of the criminalization of cannabis included banning all medical uses for the plant. Now that doctors were no longer allowed to use an established and favored medicine, they had find new ways to treat diseases. Over the last century, those “new ways” have blossomed into the modern pharmaceutical industry, commonly called Big Pharma. Big Pharma is great at researching and offering treatments, but often they do not seemed focused on curing ailments. One man who is trying to make a cure is Rick Simpson. Mr. Simpson is shooting for the stars; he wants to cure cancer by using Phoenix Tears. Phoenix Tears is an oil derived from the hemp plant. Using a straightforward, but risky method, Rick has produced a cannabinoid-laced hemp oil that he claims can cure many ailments including cancer.
Rick is from a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada and over the years has been baffled by the rise and proliferation of cancer in people. He is also frustrated by the lack of success in Big Pharma’s efforts to help cure cancer. He is most emphatically against chemotherapy and radiation treatments. How does one cure cancer by killing off healthy cells and organs? In his film “Run From the Cure,” Rick details his successes and struggles to help his neighbors with their infirmities. The oil he produces, Phoenix Tears, has many uses. It can be ingested orally, inhaled with the use of a vaporizer, or used topically. He started using it himself when diagnosed with skin cancers on his chest and face. Doctors had removed one of his skin carcinomas, but it would not heal. So, after creating his first batch he applied it to his cancer spots, and within a short period of time, they disappeared. He had his doctor verify it, and he is cancer free today.
After this first success, Mr. Simpson realized that he had something that had great potential to help mankind. He has tried, with very little success, to spread the word and knowledge of his medicine. In the ten years he has been working to aid humanity he has faced numerous obstacles. One-on-one he has had success. But each time he has faced an institution he has been rebuffed. The Canadian medical institutions have rebuffed his attempts to have doctors and experts look into Phoenix Tears and see what it is that makes it work. He has been arrested and harassed by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police). They have conducted numerous raids on his property, seizing and destroying the plants he cultivates to create the hemp oil (FYI, it takes one pound of high-quality cannabis to create just two ounces of Phoenix Tears oil). Legislators in the Canadian government refuse to heed his call to change the laws. Many politicians are in the pocket of Big Pharma (just as they are in the USA) and refuse to help him out. Even the Canadian Legion has shut its doors to him and those who believe in him. Other obstacles take the form of con men and scam artists. As word has spread about the potency of Phoenix tears, many greedy individuals and groups have tried to cash in on his name and product, selling substandard (if not entirely fake) concoctions to patients and stealing their money. To date, Rick has not taken one dollar from anyone he has helped. How can law enforcement claim this man is a drug dealer if he isn’t selling anything?
He claims, and has the anecdotal evidence, to have cured cancer in several patients. Some had lung cancer, others skin cancers and brain cancers. The topical applications are especially potent against open sores from skin cancers and diabetic ulcers. It also helps people with migraines, nausea, chronic back pain, intestinal disorders (Crohn’s disease, IBS), glaucoma and many other disorders that cannabis has been known to aid. As great as this is, there needs to be more research done. But, as Rick has found out, the medical community won’t come anywhere near him. Marijuana is still illegal, so they won’t touch it. Politicians say the same thing and they’re the ones who make the laws. It’s a merry-go-round of misery and the only people who are working against it are the ones who are trying not to die.
Marijuana contributes to Patients’ Quality of Existence
A primary reason medicinal marijuana is heralded has related to its positive impact on the patients’ quality of existence. We are not talking about the “high” and “buzz” nor shall we be speaking about how exactly it inspires creativeness in artists. The medical advantages of discomfort relief are enormous. Traditional remedies for extreme discomfort sufferers include drugs and opium-derived medicines. Although individuals are frequently effective types of discomfort relief, they’ve unwanted effects that may be crippling unwanted effects including sedation, respiratory system depression, and constipation. Drugs cause physical and mental dependency which have destroyed 1000’s of lives. Also, as tolerance accumulates to individuals drugs, bigger doses are needed. So when someone is finally completed with them, they face withdrawal syndrome which could frequently be as debilitating because the initial illness these were dealing with.
As new strains of marijuana happen to be developed, concentrating on high CBD content minimizing THC, marijuana’s medical benefits have jumped. Patients are now able to self-medicate and carry on living a usual daily life after they have discovered the very best strain for his or her condition. We request ourselves, isn’t that the purpose of medicine, to deal with disease and permit patients to operate in society? The number of pharmaceutical drugs have side-effect lists which are worse compared to illnesses? A current medical study including marijuana from Tel Aviv, Israel has proven huge enhancements for patients quality of existence. A investigator was cited as saying “After three months’ treatment patients reported improvement generally health perception, social functioning, capability to work, physical discomfort and depression.” For individuals who are suffering from IBD and Crohn’s the mental respite from symptom reduction is enormous. Suppose every single day you awaken and also have to organize your entire day around being not able to manage your bowels. It’s a debilitating fear to reside with, that certain moment you may be on an outing and all of a sudden you’ll need access immediately to some bathroom. Furthermore, patients seek privacy and hygiene too. IBD (Irritable Bowel Disease) could be crippling inside a world where public bathrooms frequently don’t meed public demand.
Medicinal marijuana provides relief with this and a whole lot. People are feeling better and can go enjoy existence. They are able to get away from home and choose a hike, or visit the beach. Patients can bask on a sunny day and do not need to worry. Discomfort is relieved, anxiety reduced and there’s generally a large grin evidently of patients. Even large information mill being attentive to the life-style enhancements that is included with medicinal marijuana use. Cheeba Chews, those who win from the Colorado Cannabis Cup (food items category), are thinking about sponsoring a snowboard team. This straightforward corporate move demonstrates several positive factors. For just one, clearly the organization supplying medicine for thus many does well financially. Furthermore, if your sponsorship of snowboarders does develop it might shows a conditioning of anti marijuana sentiments. Cheba Chews may likely get their title the main attraction of major competitions. This may lead to more education and knowledge of the existence patients live.
The Endocannabinoid System
The Endocannabinoid System
Today we take time to inspect the Endocannabinoid system (ECS). Whuh? Yes, after many years of research around the Cannabis plant, researchers recognized that the body (really most vertebrates or even a couple of invertebrates too) come with an organs and circulatory system that creates chemicals similar in structure and effect as individuals based in the world’s most versatile plant. In 1964, ?9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was isolated and thought as the active chemical in marijuana that triggers individuals to get high. Ever since then, discoveries in chemistry and biology have brought to several breakthroughs about intricacies from the human body and mind. Actually, you could reason that marijuana itself has spurred a larger knowledge of ourselves. It works out that endocannabinoids are complex molecules that act at intercellular level on most of the body’s systems. They’re transmitters that act on receptors in your body, “Endocannabinoid receptors are highly expressed within the brain, and also have been also present in organs and tissue from the body involved with energy homeostasis, for example adipose tissue, liver, intestinal tract, and skeletal muscle.” We began off considering nerve effects also it works out they’re type in energy regulation, body fat storage, memory and discomfort management and can also have an affect on fertility. You will find several established cannabinoids and scientists are finding brand new ones his or her projects continue. Although researchers have been studying cannabinoids for several years, the very first endocannabinoid wasn’t discovered and isolated before the early 1990’s, Anandimide (arachidonoyl ethanolamide, AEA). Another chemical 2-Arachindonoylglycerol (2-AG) was referred to in 1994.
AEA’s effects could be observed in the mind in addition to peripheral systems, whereas 2-AG exists in high levels within the nervous system. Presently the are three other recognized endogenous cannabinoids 2-arachidonyl glyceryl ether (noladin ether), virodhamine, along with the lately-discovered N-arachidonoyl-dopamine (NADA). These chemicals float around our physiques, launched as necessary and do something about receptor sites CB1 and CB2. The body is really a remarkably complex system that relays signals throughout itself using a number of techniques. Basically, the body is a huge sodium pump that utilizes electrochemical stimulation to effect changes based on stimuli. Some signals are relayed over nerves, firing electric. Others depend on these chemicals known as chemicals to complete the job. To be able to keep your chaos low, a number of these chemicals act only in specific sites. Think about it as being a number of locks and secrets. To be able to prevent AEA from leading to responses inside your brain and stomach and toes simultaneously, it may only open doorways to particular areas like CB1 and CB2 sites. The neurochemicals are furnished with some secrets that unlock specific doorways.
CB1 receptors are based in the brain, adipose (fatty tissue), liver, muscles, GI tract and pancreas. Studies have proven that it’s integral to energy management and food and calorie consumption. It accounts for impacting on hunger and appetite urges (munchies) and hunger satiety and palatability. So, the activation of CB1 can trigger individuals urges for sweets while intoxicated by marijuana. Additionally, it may incite hunger in patients whose illnesses cause appetite loss, or it may negate hunger and assist with weight reduction. Focusing on how these chemicals operate in our physiques can result in doctors dealing with an array of illnesses from weight problems, anorexia, diabetes, and help chemotherapy patients. New research has says adipose tissue is integral to energy management and putting on weight/loss. Future remedies may benefit individuals with (or who’re vulnerable to) diabetes and weight problems.
CB2 receptor sites are located in high concentration within the brain and peripheral nervous systems, intestinal and natureal defenses. By learning cannabinoids trigger reactions within scalping strategies we’ll have the ability to treat many troublesome illnesses. Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are a couple of very debilitating GI illnesses which have basis in immune response. To put it simply, your body responds adversely to a lot of stimuli and attacks itself, leading to massive inflammation and attacking your personal organs. By unleashing the strategies of these chemicals doctors will have the ability to treat these awful conditions and return quality of existence to suffering patients.
Case a newbie as to the science can perform once we gain further knowledge of these chemicals and our physiques. It’s amazing to consider that many of these fields of research were opened up up through the cannabis plant. The majority of it’s because of the efforts from the medicinal marijuana movement. 1000’s of doctors, researchers and scientists have devoted themselves to growing our understanding. With the aid of countless active supporters pushing for brand new laws and regulations and grants or loans we are able to continue this effort. You never know what enlightenment is going to be based in the a long time?
Medicinal Marijuana Industry News August first, 2011
Study finds Medicinal Marijuana utilized by patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An worldwide team of scientists from Canada and also the Uk have came to the conclusion that lots of patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (Compact disc) are utilizing medical cannabis to deal with their signs and symptoms (abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and reduced appetite). The research is scheduled to …continue reading through