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New Study Highlights Marijuana Benefits for Patients with MS
The wonder plant marijuana is showing off its medical diversity again. Research has been discovering many potential medical uses for marijuana. This week a new research study has uncovered even more evidence that marijuana can be beneficial to a wide variety of ailments, including multiple sclerosis.
Researchers in the United Kingdom analyzed the results of over 300 participants across 22 medical facilities who were suffering from MS. The study was aimed specifically at relieving muscle stiffness, which impacts approximately 90% of those who have MS. The effects of MS are well documented and many who have it find themselves having trouble with mobility and leading their daily lives. Sleep deprivation is also commonly associated with MS and muscle stiffness.
The study results may give new hope for patients with MS who have not been responsive to traditional treatments. In the UK study, which will be published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, researchers gave one group of participants marijuana while giving another group placebo. After 12 weeks, 30 percent of those who were given marijuana reported improvements in pain and mobility. Only 16% of the placebo group reported improvements. The known side effects of marijuana, dizziness, confusion, fatigue etc. have been previously reported as negative side effects in past marijuana/MS studies. While those still occurred study researchers announced “No new safety concerns were observed.”
Treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, like many, have eluded scientists for decades. However, marijuana breakthroughs have been occurring regularly in recently with scientists also discovering that cannabis may be able to stop the metastasis of cancer, the spreading of HIV/AIDS, and many other difficult to treat conditions. The hope now is that mainstream media outlets and political leaders keep the issue on the forefront.
Growing Marijuana Helps Save Families Across the World
While much of our news coverage focuses on domestic issues and our own western culture, it is important that we do not lose sight of the marijuana movement worldwide. In recent months we have had encouraging news in Central and South America as Columbia, Mexico, Uruguay and other countries have now seriously discussed decriminalization and legalization plans.
Moving toward the rest of the world, we can see that the recession has an even greater impact on struggling countries. With no industry and help in sight, villagers in trouble have turned to a new way to make ends meet and feed their families. Several months ago many news outlets reported that Rasquera, a small village in Spain was considering renting out their fields to help pay off a large debt owed to the European Union. The small village has been growing concerned that its younger population is moving out, seeking jobs in larger metropolitan areas. Though the village voted to enact the plan, an official from the Spanish government said there was virtually no way this program would ever get started. Officials in Spain may be forced to think outside of the box as Spain is suffering from 23% unemployment (unemployment is considered a huge problem in the U.S. and is currently at 8.3%) with economists predicting another upcoming and prolonged recession.
While the Spanish government may be dragging their feet and standing in the way of villagers taking their own initiative, the New York Times recently reported on a grandmother in Swaziland who has become a cannabis grower as a way to support her 11 grandchildren. Khathazile, (she only provided her middle name to the Times reporter) has lost her 3 daughters who all died young and is growing the famous “Swazi Gold” strain as a way to take care of her motherless grandchildren. Marijuana was not necessarily her first choice to grow but traditional crops do not provide enough for the large family to survive. As Khathazile says “If you grow corn or cabbages, the baboons steal them.” Another local woman, Sibongile Nkosi, started to grow marijuana before her daughter died and was impressed with the ease of the grow. She described her first attempt by saying “I put the seeds in the ground, watered them, and it grew. I was able to feed my children.”
While these stories may seem controversial to some, it is easy to criticize the idea from more economically vibrant regions of the world, where we may not be faced with having to break the law in order to clothe and feed our children. HIV/AIDS has ravaged much of Africa with so many children becoming orphans at a young age. We can no longer afford ignorance, and the luxury of fear mongering and propaganda. Simply put, marijuana saves and improves lives both medically and economically. As men in pressed suits try to put their expensive western education to work and try to create elaborate economic recovery plans, Khathazile already has a sustainable low cost plan for pulling the world out of this recession.
Marijuana May be Able to Help Weight Loss and Diabetes
New study findings are constantly providing us with surprising news regarding the potential of medical marijuana. The question we have to start asking is why are we still shocked to hear about these developments. No other treatment available has demonstrated such a wide variety of applications. Marijuana is producing results in areas that have baffled doctors and scientists. Recently we learned that cannabis appears to posses the potential to help combat the spreading of the AIDS virus. Additionally, new information is showing much promise for marijuana helping victims of PTSD and schizophrenia, two conditions where research has not been able to yield quality treatments. This of course, is beautifully combined with the older and more well known applications of medical marijuana such as pain and nausea.
New research actually shows that marijuana may be helpful in an area that could seem silly if only analyzed from the surface. While smoked cannabis is known for appetite stimulation (or the munchies as its more commonly referred as) GW Pharmaceuticals has found that two specific cannabinoids may be useful in appetite suppression and weight loss. Cannabidiol (more commonly referred to as CBD) and THCV (a homologue of THC) could help burn calories and reduce hunger. In tests, GW Pharmaceuticals found that animals introduced to the two cannabinoids displayed a boost in metabolic rates and fat burning. Professor Mike Cawthorne, who has been conducting the trials and director of metabolic research at the University of Buckingham said “Overall, it seems these molecules increase energy expenditure in the cells of the body by increasing the metabolism.”
This research builds on previous findings that the two cannabinoids were also effective in treating animals with type 2 diabetes. The two studies provide hope for a new avenue of treatment for heart disease, stroke and other conditions that can result from weight gain and a breakdown of the metabolism. Dr. Steph Wright, director of Research and Development at GW Pharmaceuticals agreed and recently said “We are interested in how these drugs effect the fat distribution and utilization in the body as a treatment for metabolic diseases.”
The pursuit of a magic weight loss pill has seemed as daunting as discovering the fountain of youth or spotting a unicorn. However this quest is usually undertaken for cosmetic reasons and not always to improve health. In either case, America’s obesity epidemic has reached dangerous levels with new and younger generations already dependent upon processed and unhealthy foods. New research is confirming that cannabis is not taking lives, but may hold the potential for saving lives.
CBD in Marijuana found to Treat Schizophrenia with few Side Effects
Within a matter of weeks the United States Supreme Court will issue a ruling on the controversial “Obamacare” program. In particular, the mandate that requires Americans to carry health insurance has drawn the most scrutiny and is being challenged on its constitutionality. Combining that with Mitt Romney’s campaign going national after winning the GOP nomination, the healthcare reform battle should be front and center as both Romney and Obama (often considered very similar plans) have enacted sweeping health care changes.
Luckily in the meantime we have less partisan political healthcare updates to lift our spirits. This week researchers at The University of Cologne in Germany have found that CBD (a cannabinoid found in marijuana) looks to have excellent potential in treating schizophrenia symptoms. Of the 39 patients who participated in the study, 20 were treated with CBD while the others were treated with amisulpride, a drug not legal in the U.S. but similar to medications used in America. Daniel Piomelli, co-author of the study was pleased with the results and said “The results were amazing. Not only was CBD as effective as standard antipsychotics, but it was also essentially free of the typical side effects seen with antipsychotic drugs.”
This development builds on many of the recent studies that have linked health and quality of life to marijuana. Soldiers have often reported that marijuana use has helped with their PTSD symptoms. Recently, marijuana.net reported on a study that showed cannabis relieved patient’s painful MS symptoms. Additionally, marijuana has been linked to help patients suffering from cancer, AIDS, Glaucoma, chronic pain, muscular dystrophy, migraines, and of course so many other ailments. We encourage readers in our comment section to share stories about these or other medical issues marijuana aids.
Schizophrenia has baffled medical professionals for centuries and perhaps even thousands of years. Egyptians have described ancient ailments over two thousand years ago that sound very much like what we call schizophrenia today. Treatments in the middle ages included exorcisms and even drilling holes in the head in order to draw out the “evil spirits”. In the modern times scientists came up with a new method that was not much more sophisticated. The lobotomy may indeed treat schizophrenia, with a major side effect being that the patient is turned into a zombie. Let us not forget that shock therapy which is still used today even as scientists have not been able to fully determine why it produces results, or often does not. These extreme treatments only highlight just how incredible the German discovery is for patients suffering from this long misunderstood condition.
The hope is that research such as this will also be conducted in the United States. Healthcare is still a prevailing issue in the United States with our country seeming like they are reserved to second class care. The president’s plan has increased coverage but is not as far reaching as initially thought on the campaign trail. This may not be his fault entirely as the GOP and economy presented major roadblocks. Either way, this marijuana research is encouraging and could provide patients with relief immediately with far less economic cost than the typical big pharmaceutical treatments. As the complexity of the health care arguments plays itself out in the media, let us keep in mind that there is one simple source for so much healing.
A Tribute to Peter McWilliams
“Stubbornness is also determination. It’s simply a matter of shifting from “won’t power” to “will power.”
? Peter McWilliams
The brightest minds are not bound to one area of expertise. True genius transcends departmentalized intelligence and spreads its branches out far and wide. Unfortunately our society seems to have placed an emphasis on the narrow minded expert. We want our athletes to play ball, our entertainers to dance, and our social commentators to discuss single topics.
Perhaps not a household name, Peter McWilliams has inspired people from all walks of life. He was raised outside of Detroit in Allen Park, Michigan. After attending Eastern Michigan University he found inspiration in Paul Krassner and his publication “The Realist”, which was regarded as one of the premiere counter culture publications of modern times.
Peter would quickly become an established writer himself and his diverse skill set was on display even in his early works. Already publishing many works including insightful poetry , in 1974 he wrote, directed, and produced the religious satire movie originally called “The Greatest Story Overtold” under the name Peter Alexander. The movie has since been re-released as “The Thorn”. In 1975 he and Denise Denniston released “The Transcendental Meditation TM Book”, which enjoyed a three week stay on top of the New York Times best sellers list. He would go on to have 5 books in total to make it to the prestigious best seller list. Another early highlight was How To Survive the Loss of a Love which he wrote with Harold H. Bloomfield in 1976 and expanded upon an earlier version Peter wrote in 1971. Already displaying his varied expertise in satire, human emotions and meditation, Peter McWilliams decided to share his proficiency of computers during a period of time where distrust and a lack of user knowledge in how to use computers was at an all time high. In 1982 he released the “The Personal Computer Book” and “The Word Processing Book”.
In 1990, Peter McWilliams returned to the subject matter that may distinguish him the most, his understanding of humanity, emotion, and coping with pain. “Life 101: Everything We Wished We Had Learned About Life in School but Didn’t” received great reviews and is still available on Amazon.com. True to his nature, the book has been heralded as deep, philosophical and yet easily accessible with a style that resembles conversation instead of condescension.
His next work would be a smooth transition into the political and social commentary realm. The 1993 book titled “Ain’t Nobody’s Business if You Do: The Absurdity of Consensual Crimes in Our Free Country” was released and still receives positive reviews. The book examines what Mr. McWilliams categorizes as “victimless crimes” and how people have been hurt tremendously by consensual crimes throughout history. Another major point of the book is that over regulating social behavior produces an environment that is ripe for black markets and organized crime. The book resonated with many, including libertarians who appreciated his views on personal freedoms.
The book makes commentary on marijuana, a victimless crime according to Peter. Coincidentally, this point would hit closer to home than perhaps he had envisioned. In 1996, Peter McWilliams was diagnosed with both AIDS and cancer. Conventional treatments produced extreme nausea for him and Peter found relief with the use of marijuana. Two years later he would give a nationally televised speech at the 1998 Libertarian National Convention. The speech was inspirational for many defenders of civil liberties, including those scared to embrace their sexuality. Fourteen years ago was still a difficult period to admit to being gay, but Mr. McWilliams courageously revealed this during his iconic speech.
Peter McWilliams suffered greatly for his open views on medical marijuana. Shortly after his address to the Libertarian party, he was arrested for growing marijuana plants that he says he planned to give to caregivers in order to provide relief for patients. He believed he was targeted specifically because of how effectively he was conveying social change and the benefits of medical marijuana. At the time he was helping Todd McCormick write a book titled “How to Grow Medical Marijuana”. Both men were arrested by federal authorities. A judge ruled that Peter McWilliams could not mention his terminal illness or that he believed that medical marijuana was saving his life during the trial proceedings. He was required to cease using marijuana or his mother would lose her house, which was used as collateral for his bail bond. His extreme nausea returned and although not officially confirmed, it is believed that Peter McWilliams died from choking on excess vomit.
This tragic ending was not befitting of such brilliance. Peter McWilliams had a golden touch with just about anything he encountered. That is why it is so confusing that we can applaud intelligence in one field but then disregard it in another. This was not a lazy man trying to abuse marijuana for recreational pleasure. He embodied the diversity of the marijuana community with such insight and compassion. Peter McWilliams’ mind would not be confined to one area of focus and almost 12 years after his death, his influence is still strong. We were able to speak with Julia who maintains www.petermcwilliams.org, a site dedicated to remembering the great activist. She mentions, as many others have, about Peter’s inviting writing style and that he had a way of directly talking to people as if he knew the reader. When asked how to describe the influence he has had she said “The fact that 12 years after someone died, it should mean something that people are being touched by his life and still reading his books.” The site has much to offer including a description of Peter’s works including books, photography and other entries not covered in this article. Additionally, the site includes quotes from Peter and many of his well established peers that include Paul Krassner, Gary Johnson and Dennis Peron. There is also a video tribute by Julia and much more.
Mt. Sinai Doctors Discover that Medical Marijuana May Stop Spread of HIV in the Body
There are countless testimonials from patients who feel that cannabis has provided them with a quality of life that would otherwise not be possible as they combat symptoms of HIV/AIDS. Marijuana has been known to stimulate appetite and drastically reduce pain for suffering HIV/AIDS patients. Many of us have read these stories only to hear detractors in our government say “there is not enough scientific research” and that all the evidence is anecdotal.
Researchers at New York’s Mt. Sinai Hospital have now uncovered a scientific breakthrough in HIV/AIDS treatments, which have been quite rare to come by for decades. A new discovery by scientists is not anecdotal and may highlight just how miraculous marijuana can be to the medical world. Cannabinoid receptors have been found to have an effect on the spreading of the disease. Specifically, cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 seem to have this ability. Since triggering CB1 can cause a “high” feeling, researchers are focusing their work on CB2. In a laboratory the Mt. Sinai researchers took healthy immune cells and infected them with HIV. Next, they treated these infected cells with a chemical that triggers CB2. This is referred to as an agonist.
Those conducting the study were pleased with the breakthrough. Study author, Cristina Costantino, PhD, said “We knew that cannabinoid drugs like marijuana can have a therapeutic effect in AIDS patients, but did not understand how they influence the spread of the virus itself.” Lakshmi Devi, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology and Systems Therapeutics at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Benjamin Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases led the research study. They are seeking to take the research to the next step will hopefully be able to emulate these results using lab mice in the future.
Whether or not members of the federal government are moved by this research remains to be seen. Calls for marijuana reclassification have been loud and clear and even echoed by high profile governors. This disease which attacks the immune system has thrived for far too long and we hope patients will find relief soon. Marijuana.net will report any updates on the research from Mount Sinai.
Study Shows Medical Marijuana States have Reduced Suicides
As study after study confirms the medicinal qualities of marijuana, we should probably stop being surprised. However, there are times when new benefits are discovered that are so groundbreaking, even advocates have to take a step back and breathe a sigh of relief.
While many medical marijuana advocates focus on physical pain relief from HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, MS, Nausea, and chronic pain, the psyche also benefits greatly from cannabis. New research has demonstrated a link between PTSD relief and marijuana use as many returning soldiers say it is the only way they can relieve their symptoms. Now it appears another significant link between the psyche and marijuana has been discovered. According to a research paper entitled “High on Life? Medical Marijuana Laws and Suicide”, states that have legalized marijuana have seen a significant drop in suicides. The paper was written by D. Mark Anderson, Daniel I. Rees, and Joseph J. Sabia.
The paper analyzed data from 1990-2007 and found an overall reduction by 5% in overall suicides. Males aged 20-29 saw an 11% drop in suicides. In states that do not permit legalized marijuana, suicide rates actually rose during this time period. While suicide does not garner the attention of many other causes of death, it is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States. The authors mentioned above believe that legalizing marijuana may “lead to an improvement in the psychological well-being of young adult males, an improvement that is reflected in fewer suicides.” They also went on to say “The strong association between alcohol consumption and suicide-related outcomes found by previous researchers raises the possibility that medical marijuana laws reduce the risk of suicide by decreasing alcohol consumption.”
While lawmakers still drag their feet and state that marijuana is extremely dangerous, advocates are concentrating on how we can treat the a top ten leading cause of death in the United States. While this may sound naïve in this day and age, we are expected to look up to our government officials. How can we do that? How can we seek help from those who will not even pass a congressional insider trading bill, or allow Super Pacs to influence an election. For the time being, both physical and mental relief are in direct violation of federal law.
For the full research paper including additional statistics from the study click here
Colorado Legislation to permit Banking for Shops Fails but Momentum for Reform Accumulates in Alabama
While there absolutely are developments which should lift the spirits of patients, regrettably you will find still obstacles when it comes to a really compassionate health care system. Besides organizations which are only worried about a fast profit at the expense of patient care, advocates experienced a legitimate defeat .
Of course, it’s most likely a much better idea to begin with unhealthy news. Because the Washington Publish reported, an invoice that will have allowed medicinal marijuana shops to get access to accounts unsuccessful to outlive the legislative process in Colorado. The balance might have setup organizations much like lending institutions, that shops would in a position to utilize. Presently, no banks are prepared to conduct business with marijuana collectives because they don’t want to stay in breach of federal law. Obviously, everyone knows that keeping piles of money and marijuana available offers a lot of possibility of criminal activity. Furthermore, backers from the law believe that dispensary use of banking provides an essential paper trail to make sure a legally run operation. Political figures don’t appear to become lined facing a smart method of marijuana finance. However, such as the banks, they seem to be scared of federal penalties. Democratic Sen. Pat Steadman stated “I’m unsure this can be a problem the condition can solve.”
Obviously now we are able to start more beneficial news. Medical and legalisation efforts happen to be released from coast to coast and could increase the already 16 states (and D.C.) that enable some type of legalized marijuana. Alabama might be searching to become listed on the growing list. Repetition. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham is supporting an invoice that will see Alabama enact its very own medicinal marijuana program. Repetition. Todd is mainly trying to provide relief for individuals struggling with Aids/Helps, but regrettably observed her similar proposal fail formerly. However, another politician is joining her cause. Repetition. K.L. Brown, (R-The city of jacksonville) has additionally introduced legislation that will allow patients to own as much as 8 oz . of marijuana. This news is exciting to advocates as this signifies bi-partisan support and may possibly bring people of both Republican and Democratic parties towards the table. Alabama joins other states within the south and 17 overall which are thinking about legislation that will legalize medicinal marijuana.
We are keeping an eye on these developments. Weight loss states make an effort to seriously alter marijuana laws and regulations, deficiencies in an economic structure for shops might not be tolerated. Possibly someone will propose an innovative approach which will satisfy advocates and political figures. Meanwhile, we are able to still hang our hat on the truth that medicinal marijuana is clearly not disappearing, the concept has become thriving in places we weren’t aware of.
Breathe deeply: Study Shows Marijuana Doesn’t Impact Long-term Breathing
We at marijuana.internet had high hopes entering this year. Nevertheless the news continues to be much more positive than we anticipated. Earlier within the week we reported that new research outlined marijuana’s effectiveness in assisting patients struggling with Aids/Helps. On the more surprising and myth busting note, new research implies that marijuana might not have any effect on long-term breathing.
The 2009 week is a result of the research were launched through the Journal from the Ama. The research spanned two decades and is among the longest ever to evaluate health results of marijuana. The research would be a collaborative effort with scientists from College of California (Bay Area) and College of Alabama (Birmingham) adding. The research started way in 1985 and it is an uncommon marijuana study to savor federal funding in the National Institute on Substance Abuse. The research chose 5115 participants, both males and ladies from Birmingham, Concord, Ontario, and Chicago.
Most professionals think that smoking marijuana involves much deeper inhales which can lead to a strengthening from the lung tissue. Researchers are warning more research must be done, however for medical cannabis advocates this news is welcomed. The research comes at any given time where competitors of medicinal marijuana continue to be flexing their muscles within the mirror following the federal raids last fall. The brand new information is a blow to detractors as recent news of increasing prescription abuse and the introduction of pure hydrocodone have worried many authorities and also the public. Although researchers informed the study didn’t concentrate on cancer particularly, previous studies haven’t created a hyperlink between marijuana use and cancer. Furthermore, scientists are wishing to evaluate the results of long-term marijuana use for individuals with heavier intake, even though this study implies that clearly cigarettes is much more dangerous in the long run.
The usual understanding on marijuana formally transformed now since many held the fact that ANY breathed in smoke was harmful towards the lung area. This seems to become simply incorrect and advocates are now able to see among the longest held counter arguments to medicinal marijuana finally be offer relaxation. Although this is tremendous news for that scientific community, many patients have moved beyond fretting about breathing in smoke as advocates have recognized for years that techniques for example vaporizing and dental ingestion (food items) happen to be viable options. Overall these answers are encouraging and really should hopefully signal the requirement for future research to ensure that us to know the entire potential from the marijuana plant.
Medicinal Marijuana Study Shows Benefits for Aids and Helps Patients
This past year would be a very productive one for scientists analyzing medical marijuana’s potential. One of many benefits they found incorporated Post traumatic stress disorder treatment and discomfort relief for individuals in chemotherapy treatment. This youthful year has already been shaping as much as contain more medical updates as new research implies that marijuana works well in assisting patients with Aids/Helps.
Lately, research was carried out in the College of California in North Park which demonstrated marijuana to work in stimulating appetite for patients struggling with Aids/Helps. Although a lot of already assumed the bond between THC and appetite, this research directly examined and demonstrated the hyperlink between THC and also the body’s the body’s hormones that create hunger. Online, People in america for Safe Access showcase most of the previous Aids/Helps marijuana studies. Also incorporated would be the conclusions by most of the world’s most exclusive medical organizations. The Institute of drugs have formerly mentioned their position on medicinal marijuana for Aids/Helps patients by saying “For patients for example individuals with Helps or who’re going through chemotherapy and who are suffering concurrently from severe discomfort, nausea, and appetite loss, cannabinoid drugs might offer broad-spectrum relief not present in every other single medication.”
Supplying regular updates about this existence threatening disease is essential. Aids/Helps continues to be effecting millions even while it appears we here less about this when it required our media and a focus by storm within the late 80’s and 90’s. Based on avert.org, this year there have been 34 million people coping with Aids/Helps and 1.8 million deaths connected using the disease. In 1990, under ten million were infected.
Any positive news on strategy to Aids and Helps is encouraging. For roughly 3 decades the amount of recorded cases continues to be climbing. Although it was not understood and ignored by many people as only having the ability to effect homosexuals, Aids/Helps has proven its endurance. Together with cancer, it signifies our greatest failures in medicine. Many doctors have moved course from getting a cure to stretching the lifespan of individuals infected. One significant problem using the philosophy change is the fact that many all over the world do not need treatment and medicine. However, a current New You are able to Occasions article does highlight the reason why we are able to still expect a remedy. Meanwhile, marijuana seems a lot more than in a position to provide relief for patients because they wait for a cure.