Cannitrol – Cannabis Control Agent

Marijuana news from around the world

Marinol

The Sandman and the Greenman

sedative

“Mr. Sandman bring me a dream…”  Sometimes it’s not that easy.  According to the NIH 10-15% of adults complain of chronic insomnia, with as many as 40% suffering in the short term throughout the year.  This is no laughing matter.  Sleep is a very important bodily function.  It allows the body to relax and recuperate from the stresses that make up daily life.  It is necessary also to keep the mind healthy.  Insomnia can lead to many neurological disorders including hallucinations, memory failure, psychotic episodes and many more.  “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.” Stay awake long enough and that will happen sooner rather than later.

For those who suffer from sleep disorders, there are many treatments available.  Some problems can be solved with a change of diet or behavior.  Other people benefit from meditation and relaxation techniques.  For many others, the only solace lies in a doctor’s prescription.  Many narcotics, such as Valium, are derived from opiates.  They are effective, but do have their drawbacks.  Most sleeping medications, like Lunesta, Ambien, Rozerem, and Halcion can be habit forming and need to be carefully regulated.  And a common problem with any drug, taken over extended periods is tolerance.  As the body grows used to it, more and more of the drug is necessary to achieve the desired effect.  On a long enough time scale, or at high enough doses, all of these drugs can be lethal or can cause dire withdrawal symptoms.

There is a natural alternative to these pharmaceuticals, and that alternative is Marijuana.  Actually, there are many other naturally-found sleep aids available, such as Melatonin, but today let us discuss the wonder plant cannabis.  Many patients prefer cannabis because it not only has sedative properties and causes drowsiness, but because it helps stimulate a sense of personal well-being.  Many people’s insomnia is partially due to anxiety, and this reduces that feeling while also bringing on sleep.  But how does it work? Luckily, this is a time where science is bringing all its tools together and our understanding of the plant is growing in leaps and bounds.  The chemicals in marijuana, amongst them cannabinoids and terpenes, are numerous but many studies are underway to gain further knowledge of them.  Terpenes are lipophilic (from latin “fat” + “love” so they work well with fats, just like cannabinoids) compounds found in almost every plant.  They are the essential oils that are responsible for the odors we smell, such as pine, citrus and marijuana’s unique fragrance.

THC, the most famous of marijuana’s active compounds, has been shown to cause anxiety in some patients, but when it works in synergy with the many other compounds has sedative effects.  When combined with the terpene Myrcene, THC can be sedating and acts as a muscle relaxant; Also, studies show it to “potentiate sleep time,” helping people to stay asleep. Some users refer to this as “couch-lock,” the feeling that they are melting into the couch, which is generally enjoyed by the cannabis crowd, and decried by its many detractors.  Two other terpenes enjoy the “entourage effect” (synergy) of THC; they are Nerolidol and Linalool (also found in lavender).  These are not the only interactions scientists have found.  Limonene (found highly in lemons) works with CBD (cannabidiol) as an anti-anxiety compound to counter THC’s anxiety causing effects.  And Nerolidol (also found in oranges) combine with THC and CBN (cannabinol) to augment the sedative qualities.  CBD also works to counter the accelerated heartbeat that many users feel when smoking, an effect of the THC.

These are just a few of the 300+ chemicals and compounds found in marijuana. They work in conjunction to create the many effects that people feel when they medicate with cannabis.  This is why many patients did not warm up to Marinol (Big Pharma’s pill) when it was released in the 1980’s.  THC is not the only thing going on in that plant which helps so many people.  One patient’s testimony, “I used to take Ambien for sleep, but I’d wind up sleepwalking. And in the morning, I’d be so groggy I could barely function.  When I vape a little before bed, I feel peaceful and sleep well.  Sometimes I am a bit foggy when I wake, but as soon as I get moving, the fog lifts and the day awaits.  Before that, I slept poorly for years. I wish I could get a prescription for it where I lived.”  With proper, regular sleep many of the little aches and pains that bother people from day to day vanish.  When the Greenman meets the Sandman, people sleep at night and prosper in the day.

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Marijuana Worldwide

Marijuana worldwide grass globe

When people talk about legal developments in marijuana, they’re usually talking about the United States or the Netherlands. It’s also famous in Jamaica and a few other countries.  But there is a whole world out there where cannabis is grown and consumed.  What about those other places? From Canada to Peru, Australia, Korea, Thailand and more, what do they have going on? Most of the countries of the world have laws against growing, selling and possessing marijuana.  Why is that? Well, thanks to dependence on foreign aid, and big countries throwing their weight around, it can be pretty difficult to find decent herb. In some countries it is illegal but overlooked, others have minimal policing efforts (read: bribes are OK) and in some countries the penalties include harsh jail times or even execution.  All that for a weed that, if left unchecked, will grow just about anywhere.

How did this happen?  Until the early 20th century, hemp and cannabis were grown throughout the world for industrial and medicinal purposes. Some countries even had laws requiring farmers to grow it so they could meet minimum requirements for many different industries.  In the space of just a few decades all this changed.  US and UK governments pulled a 180 on their stance for the plant and suddenly everyone was forced to go along for the ride.  They were superpowers of their day; the British Empire was waning, as the United States’ strength was gaining.  The influence these two countries wielded was enormous.  The British government passed the Dangerous Drugs Act in 1927, and exported versions of it to all its colonies and territories such as New Zealand and Australia.  This effectively ended growth and trade for many drugs like opium and coca, but also included cannabis. In 1925 the League of Nations (Failed precursor to the UN) added it to the list of controlled substances. The United States followed suit shortly afterward (at the prodding of HJ Anslinger and the Hearst Media empire).  So, the UK, US and League of Nations were busy sticking their nose in other people’s  business and making life less enjoyable.  There was a slight turnaround during World War 2 because hemp was needed for war purposes. But once the war was done, right back to ILLEGAL!

After World War 2 ended, the USA was the big dog and started telling more countries what to do.  They were sending troops to some countries and withholding aid from others until they passed laws that agreed with our own.  Trade barriers were erected, international interdependence increased and the US was busy buying and selling raw materials and finished products.  If Thailand or Uganda or Columbia wanted in on the action they had to play by American rules.  So laws were set down, with varying degrees of punishment, and they could enter the global trade game.  As things stand today, there is a majority global ban on growth and sale of cannabis.  Yet, if one takes the time to tour the world and hit up backwater areas, or derelict buildings with brand new electrical systems, they will find grow-ops flourishing.  In Hawaii, drug enforcement uses helicopters for flyovers to see who is growing in their backyard.  In Burma there are military crackdown raids with seek-and-destroy orders.  But in England, the company that produces Marinol has several massive and state-of-the-art technology Classified grow-op centers that any California cooperative would drool over.

Times they are a changing and it seems the cannabis plant will bear fruit once more. Hopefully the laws against this plant will decay as more and more people realize it poses no harm, and can only help humanity.  We may even see a domino effect once the US government pulls its head out of the sand and ends the federal ban.  Stay tuned for more updates on the status of marijuana worldwide.

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Mitch McConnell links Marijuana with Death as Santorum has big day in Primaries

mitch mcconnell

 

The information age is making it more difficult for politicians to make fraudulent statements and avoid any repercussions.  Years ago, a politician may have said something at a rally or to a local reporter that would not make it to the national discussion.  This has obviously changed drastically as those who try to regulate our social behavior do not even seem to understand quite how it works.

Mitch McConnell is the latest example of an out of touch representative who may be haunted by his impulse statements.  The Senate Minority Leader seemed to learn little from Lamar S. Smith’s failed crusade to crush the internet with the SOPA legislation which encountered an embarrassing political death.  The SOPA bill clearly appeared to suffer from a lack of research and analysis as to just how far reaching it would be.  Mr. McConnell recently told a constituent in a letter that he cannot support marijuana legalization because “it leads to death”.  He then also said that THC was available in pill form indicating that legalization is not necessary.  The Minority Leader was likely referring to Marinol, which has proven to ultimately not be nearly as effective medically as unprocessed natural marijuana.  McConnell took his statements even further and said he had concerns that marijuana legalization would not be following “the scientific process” of the FDA.

Advocates of marijuana will most certainly take offense to McConnell’s statement about the scientific process.  This has become the new criticism as decades of fear mongering talking points against marijuana have been proven hollow.  However, many are left to scratch their heads as to how exactly marijuana is supposed to closely follow “the scientific process” of the FDA if our government officials use every resource at their disposal to deny any such research.

Marijuana reform has the support of the majority of Americans and Mr. McConnell and those like him may regret their stubbornness on this issue.  This is not the only area where the GOP seems to be out of step with Americans.  The race for the Republican nomination for president has turned largely into a battle of antiquated ideologies.  The race is now about eliminating abortion rights, contraception, and women’s health.  Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973 and women (who vote in higher numbers than men) may not want our culture to backtrack 40 years and give up their privacy.  Many political analysts expected the Republicans to campaign on the economy, energy policy, and jobs.

The information age is here to stay and expand, our elected officials need to realize that there now can be a quick backlash for empty politically charged statements.  We will see if President Obama and those vying for his job will take note.

Speaking of those running against the president, Rick Santorum had a big day on Tuesday.  He was the winner in the coveted southern states of Mississippi and Alabama keeping himself in the race.  Mitt Romney won in Hawaii as Newt Gingrich was not victorious in any state yesterday.  Many are urging Gingrich to drop out of the race as his chances of rebounding seem slim.  Analysts predicted that Gingrich’s best chances resided in the south.  Although the day was a disappointment for Romney, who is still struggling to gain the support of conservative voters, he did get 1/3 of the delegates yesterday maintaining a healthy lead in the race.

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Can Marijuana treat Autism?

cannabis-autism

 

Autism is a disease that has gotten a lot of press lately.  Some believe it is naturally occurring, while others blame vaccines for its origins.  Whatever its origin, it is one of those disorders that can be particularly trying on a family.  It predominantly affects children and the symptoms and severity often progress as a child enters puberty, meaning it gets tougher to deal with as time goes on.  Its symptoms include a wide range of mental, neurological and behavior disorders, with experts often disagreeing on what constitutes true autism, and other similar afflictions.  As it is so complex, the treatments for it are also wide-ranging.  Some doctors trust behavioral therapies, while others prefer a pharmaceutical approach, and many families wind up mixing and matching a combination of treatments to find out which is most effective.  For parents it can be incredibly aggravating and heart-wrenching to see occasional progress slip away as their children’s minds and bodies react to treatments and then stop responding.  Many reach the point where they are willing to try anything, and it is only then that many have chosen to try medicating with marijuana.

Investigations into any official links between autism and marijuana research prove to be difficult.  This is because there is no official work being done on the topic.  Because of the federal laws blocking marijuana, it is impossible to get funding for a set of studies.  Much of the evidence for the relief that marijuana provides is anecdotal and reported on a case-by-case basis from families gone public with their stories.  One of the more famous cases is from Mieko Hester-Perez and her son Joey.  At age ten he weighed 46 lbs and was severely malnourished.  Many autistic children are “picky eaters” and often will not feed themselves or offer resistance to caretakers trying to nourish them.  At her wits’ end, she decided to try medicating Joey with marijuana-infused brownies. She claims that within hours there was a noticeable difference.  He began eating and requesting foods and it altered his behavior too.  Previously Joey had tended toward self-destructive behavior and aggression toward others.  The mellow feeling of being “high” had calmed him down. Also, it reduced his wandering.  Wandering episodes are of huge concern for any parent; now imagine the child in question has no way of communicating to people who find him.

Other “success stories” come from Marie Myung-Ok Lee, a Brown University professor, and Debbie Hosseini of California. Both women have children diagnosed with Autism who have seen little or no effect from prescribed pharmaceuticals.  As is often the case with modern medications, there are numerous negative side effects as well as developed tolerance.  Even Marinol, the THC-derived pharmaceutical drug only consists of THC and may only include trace amounts of other medically useful cannabinoids.  Louis Spurgeon of  Kansas has a pervasive developmental disorder and was helped by using marijuana.  It seems to help most with ensuring nutritional intake and calming down aggressive and violent behaviors (sounds familiar).  But for Louis Spurgeon and Kevin Hosseini it has also helped with social behavior and verbalization.  According to his mother, Louis had been on several different medications but even as a teenager his scholastic skills were stunted.  In high school though, he joined with the “wrong crowd” and started smoking pot.  Though she protested, she noticed how it affected his mind and behavior in a positive way. It helped his sociability, calmed his anxiety and aggression and even promoted his verbal skills.  After he began smoking, Louis and his mother were having actual conversations!  For once the “wrong crowd” got someone onto the right path.

Marijuana may not be the answer for all autistic patients.  It is a wide-ranging disorder that effects people in many different ways, just like marijuana.  What these case studies highlight is the need for more research in a regimented manner.  For the longest time the US government only funded studies that show the negatives to marijuana and none of the benefits.  Their priorities are skewed; in fact many studies that previously showed benefits, had their funding cutoff and the results were buried.  This is science that must be done for the sake of science and humanity.  Often it is the surprise discoveries that lead to true breakthroughs.  Politicians should know better than to try and steer a study to say what they want.  In the meantime, Marijuana is something that parents may want to consider.  One of the pros of marijuana is that its effects are short term. If it proves ineffective or even negative for a particular patient, discontinuing its use ought to return that patient to his previous state.

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