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Marijuana news from around the world

multiple sclerosis

The new face of Wyoming marijuana reform may surprise you

Wyoming’s relationship with weed could be a key theme in 2017.

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Marijuana Shows Great Potential in Dealing with MS

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It might be time for you to start explaining marijuana as “a harmful, addictive, opiate based killer that ruins lives.”  The concept has labored well for legal opiate based pain relievers.  Citing marijuana’s actual medical qualities has been doing little to pressure the federal government to do something.  But new pain relievers, like the terrifying Zohydro, easily obtain the eco-friendly light in the Food and drug administration despite alerts from leaders within the medical area.  Even as patient recommendations and clinical research flows in highlighting the positive impact of medicinal marijuana, we’re stuck waiting around the federal government bodies meet up with the relaxation from the electorate.

A week ago, the American Academy of Neurology launched new recommendations regarding the management of ms.  MS could be debilitating and effective remedies have alluded doctors for a long time.  With the possible lack of consistent effectiveness around the party from the traditional remedies, many patients happen to be made to seek complementary and alternative medications (CAM).  There’s formerly not been much when it comes to research concentrating on the prosperity of CAM remedies, until lately.  The American Academy of Neurology is finally searching to alter that.  They lately launched their findings with different overview of 291 studies and research which involve CAM remedies for MS patients.

Lead author from the review and clinical director of Or Health insurance and Science University’s Ms Center, Dr. Vijayshree Yadav, stated “This may be the first review, evidence-based recommendation, on treating MS with CAM treatments.”  He continued to state “there were 29 different treatments incorporated within the recommendations.  19 studies checked out cannabis.”  The types of cannabis intake analyzed, however, were using dental cannabis extract and artificial THC.  Scientists discovered that these remedies were good at treating discomfort for approximately twelve months, but didn’t address the tremors frequently connected with MS.

Losing effectiveness continues to be credited with other conditions given synthetic marijuana.  Patients who’ve used medications for example Sativex have regularly reported benefits that rapidly dissipate.  When we would inject good sense as it were, it appears an all natural type of Sativex, say naturally growing marijuana, would without doubt be safer on our bodies.  MS scientists don’t have many details on using actual marijuana because they are mostly avoided by federal law to review real cannabis.  This research is among many read about this highlights the advantages of marijuana.  It really makes a person question if our chosen authorities are reading through, or if they’re even literate.

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Medical Marijuana Industry News September 28, 2012

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Probation Workers Find That Chris Brown Tests Positive for Marijuana…

It has been an eventful few weeks in terms of marijuana developments in regards to celebrity.  Lady Gaga publically smoked a joint onstage in Amsterdam and Fionna Apple was arrested in Texas for marijuana and hashish possession.  Enter Chris Brown.  The controversial star is again in the news.  Because of his conviction in 2009 for assaulting then girlfriend, Rihanna, Chris Brown was placed on probation for 5 years.  Mr. Brown failed a drug test in June while performing community service in Virginia.  However, the plot thickens a bit because he is medical marijuana card holder.  Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, Patricia Schnegg, said that mandatory drug tests were not a part of Chris Brown’s sentence.  The judge scolded him and said “You are not an ordinary person who can sit in your living room and do whatever you want to do.  More importantly, a lot of people look up to you, a lot of kids. What you do and what you say impacts a lot of people.”  It appears this may just be grandstanding by authorities as Brown has not officially done anything that is in direct violation of his probation.

 

Fore more on this story click here

 

Momentum Building in New York State For Marijuana Reform…

Several months ago New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he was seeking to change the controversial “Stop and Frisk” tactics used primarily by NYPD officers.  Now it appears there is a growing call to institute a medical marijuana program.  New York’s closet neighbors, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Vermont now have all either passed or started medical marijuana programs.  Additionally, at a recent forum in Syracuse, many speakers came out in support of marijuana for MS patients.  The forum received considerable media coverage and could be important to changing minds of upstate New York politicians.  New York City and Long Island residents support medical marijuana with upstate residents and lawmakers a bit more on the fence.  Even though the overall population of New York supports marijuana (61%), many upstate politicians work for residents in rural areas that are divided on the issue.  The result contributes to Albany’s epic reputation for stalemate politics.  The momentum appears to be changing and New York should be joining the growing list of states with medical marijuana within a few years.

 

For more on this story click here

 

Arkansas Upholds Ruling for Medical Marijuana To Appear on Ballot…

Medical marijuana has typically been a coastal and Midwest conversation.  However, in a testament to compassion, economics, and widespread communication, Arkansas now may become the first state to legalize medical marijuana.  The ballot initiative has been successful due in large part to the efforts of Arkansas for Compassionate Care. The group contributed significantly to gathering enough signatures to get the issue to the ballots.  This seemed to have been decided months ago, however, a group named Coalition to Preserve Arkansas Values filed a lawsuit to remove the issue from the ballot on the basis that it mislead voters.  The Arkansas Supreme Court disagreed and ruled that “We hold that it is an adequate and fair representation without misleading tendencies or partisan coloring.  Therefore, the act is proper for inclusion on the ballot at the general election on Nov. 6, 2012, and the petition is therefore denied.”  Even if voters pass the measure, there will probably be resistance from the Governor who has previously stated his opposition to the bill.  However, as Arizona Jan Brewer has found, it may be a slippery slope to challenge the will of voters.

 

For more on this story click here

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Former NHL Hockey Player Starts Hemp Organization

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While it is common for professional athletes to turn to charitable work after they leave athletics, former NHL player Riley Cote is in uncharted waters.  The ex-Philadelphia Flyer has decided to start organize a concert festival called “Hemp Heals”.  His view on hemp has been inspired by his sister and the healing she has found with hemp food products.  Cote’s sister suffers from MS.  The concert/festival will be held today so anyone in the Philadelphia area is encouraged to attend.  Hemp Heals aimed at promoting hemp awareness and education and will include high profile musical acts such as Sublime with Rome and longtime activists Cypress Hill.  Cote said he was not “a pothead” though did say he believed in the effectiveness of medical marijuana.  However, he seems inclined to focus on the many benefits of hemp.  Recently he said “People are foreign to it, but hemp is a superfood, like almonds.  It’s full of protein and fiber. I’m promoting industrial hemp as an eco-friendly material for clothing and a healthy food option.” Cote currently coaches the minor league hockey team “The Adirondack Phantoms” and looks as if his free time from coaching will be filled up with hemp activism.


For more on Riley Cote and this story click here

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Medical Marijuana Industry News July 6, 2012

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California Government Sponsored Study Contradicts DEA Position on Marijuana…

Those seeking a reclassification of marijuana as a schedule 1 narcotic may have gotten some uplifting news.  A study sponsored by the California state government and conducted by the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research may help make this a reality sooner than later.  The study published in The Open Neurology Journal indicates that marijuana was effective in helping to counter neuropathic pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis.  Paul Armentano, director of NORML, said in response to the study results that United States drug policy  “is neither based upon nor guided by science.”  The study suggests that cannabis does have some risk for dependency but should place it in the schedule III category.  DEA officials have received considerable criticism lately as they were grilled by US Representative Jared Polis (D-CO) and would not admit that heroin and crack were more dangerous than marijuana.

Click here for more on this study

 

Long Beach Police Appear to Use Excessive Force During Dispensary Raid…

The Long Beach Police department is now engaged in an investigation into whether or not its officers used excessive force during a recent dispensary raid.  A surveillance video appears to show an officer standing on the neck and placing all of his weight on Dorian Brooks, a volunteer at the dispensary.  The officers did not seem to notice the camera until after they became physical with Brooks.  Immediately after discovering the camera, officers appeared concerned as they proceeded to destroy the surveillance equipment.  Attorney Matt Pappas plans on assisting Brooks in filing a lawsuit against the police department.  Check out the surveillance video below.

 

Activists Confident Marijuana Legalization Ballot will Pass in Detroit…

Two years ago Detroit activists collected enough signatures to get marijuana legalization on the ballot.  Last month, the Michigan Supreme Court ruled that the referendum should go to the voters this November.  While residents have overwhelmingly supported decriminalization, medical marijuana, and legalization efforts, many law enforcement officials (most notably state Attorney General Bill Schuette) have tried to derail the reform measures.  Recently Tim Beck, chairman of the Coalition for a Safer Detroit stated that he was very confident that Detroit residents will pass a legalization bill.  Mr. Beck went on to say “The poll numbers are so far ahead … This thing is going to pass, period.”  If in fact the referendum is passed, residents over the age of 21 will be permitted to possess under one ounce of marijuana on private property without risk for prosecution or arrest.

For more on this story click here

 

Longtime Marijuana Advocate Oliver Stone Wants to See End to Cartel Violence

High profile director Oliver Stone has been a marijuana reform supporter for years.  The director of successful films such as “JFK”, “Natural Born Killers”, “Born on the Fourth of July” and “Wall Street” served as an infantryman during the Vietnam War.  Stone has had an opportunity to open up lately regarding his views on marijuana as he is promoting his new film “Savages”.  The film depicts Mexican Cartel violence that is associated with the current war on drugs.  Mr. Stone said he would like to see marijuana legalized, regulated and taxed.  He believes  revenues could help pay for education costs.  In the short term Oliver Stone said decriminalization efforts could be undertaken right away to reduce violence associated with the cartels.


For more on what Oliver Stone had to say click here

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Marijuana and MS, a true story

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This past week has been an exciting one for medical news on the marijuana front.  The Canadian Medical Association Journal published the results of a small study on the effects of marijuana for people who suffer from Multiple Sclerosis.  Overall, the study shows that there is some benefit for patients. However, there are several drawbacks to the study. Its small sample size, 30 patients, as well as the inability to fully “blind” the patients.  A blind study relies on patients not knowing if they are getting actual treatment or a placebo.  Because of the “high” gained from cannabis use, most patients correctly guessed when they were given the real thing.  Drawbacks aside, this is a very important study because it moves forward the idea that cannabis has legitimate medical use.  For the most part, evidence in favor of marijuana use has been strictly anecdotal.  While those stories can help sway public opinion, it does little to change the minds of the medical and political community. They want incontrovertible evidence, methodically gathered and rigorously tested. This is understandable, but it does nobody any good when these studies have difficulty obtaining funding and patients because Federal laws prohibiting its (schedule 1 substances have no medical value, and that is cannabis’ official classification) use and study are hard to overcome.  Despite this, the anecdotes abound, especially in our networked era. As the stories spread, people who suffer will hear them and try marijuana for themselves.  Hopefully it helps them and then they become one more reason to change a law and undertake another study.

Claire Hodges is one patient who has MS and opted to try marijuana, despite the legal and medical uncertainties.  Claire had no symptoms until her late 20’s.  At this point, stress from her job mounted and her symptoms started to manifest slowly and steadily.  This was in the early 1980’s and detection techniques were not as advanced as they are now.  So, Claire was unaware of her disease because of several misdiagnoses.  Having traveled through Bangladesh, doctors initially thought she suffered from a rare form of malaria.  But it took them over another year to isolate the disease. It was not until after she started showing classic brain tumor symptoms (and had a brain scan) that neurologists were able to diagnose her with Multiple Sclerosis.

There is no cure for MS, only treatments. Some of those are more effective than others, all with varying side effects. Claire’s doctors first steered her to steroid therapy ACTH, Acthar (Adrenocorticotropic Hormone) which stimulates the adrenal cortex gland to secrete cortisol, corticosterone and aldosterone.  She was suffering heavily at this point, unable to walk, and still believes that the effects of ACTH were far worse than the disease.  It caused acute acne breakouts, weight gain, and irrationality and paranoia (steroid psychosis).  She discontinued the ACTH regimen, and after having two children the disease progressed and her symptoms continued to grow worse. As the disease effected her more heavily she began suffering even more. She experienced muscle spasticity and pain, incontinence and other bladder issues followed, as well as vision degradation, poor balance, fatigue and more. As she succumbed to more troubles, doctors could only treat the symptoms by offering more prescriptions.  She tried Valium and Temazepam for sleeping and muscle pains. Also, as her body became susceptible to infection she was on numerous courses of antibiotics treatment.  She found the narcotics to be less than effective and their side effects only served to increase her gloom and depression.

Finally, after exhausting orthodox treatments, Claire looked in to other ways of medicating.  Other friends with MS recommended she try cannabis to help with her discomfort.  Initially she was uncomfortable with trying it out, so she asked her doctors.  None of them were able to give her any promises to its effectiveness, but did calm her fears and said moderate use would most likely not be dangerous.  That had to be better than all the dangerous pharmaceuticals she had tried before.  Using her network of friends, Claire was forced to illegally obtain marijuana and tried it out.  “The physical effects were almost immediate and extremely liberating.  I felt as though a heavy weight had been lifted from me.  The tension and discomfort in my spine and bladder melted away.  I was comfortable with my body for the first time in years, and I slept soundly that night.  The next day I was happy, knowing that there was something that would help me with my MS.”  Since then, Claire has been medicating with cannabis regularly, and has been able to rely much less on pharmaceuticals.  She grew her own medicine for some time, but stopped because of the fear of being caught with it.  So she must continue to purchase her medication illegally unless she moves to a state with a compassionate use laws and proper dispensary system.

Claire’s testimony, and others like her, help to open the minds of otherwise skeptical people.  If it can help her, than it can help other people. These stories are what we need to change the minds of politicians.  They need to be convinced that there is strength in compassion, not found in zero tolerance laws.  Claire is a strong human being. In spite of her affliction, she has not given up on life; she fights to stay active and productive for herself and her family.  Her cause is the cause against superstition and old prejudices, the cause for progress.

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Research Highlights Advantages of Medicinal Marijuana Usage

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Health care is becoming one of the leading hot button political issues within the U . s . States. There exists a pricey system that may frequently prevent necessary strategy to patients or lead to costly tort suits for doctors. Clinical tests are continually being carried out for medicines, however this research cost billions each year. Another cost is commonly of the more personal currency, but has related to the unwanted effects and deaths associated with these new aggressive medicines. Using the battling character of America’s health care system, the responsibility is around the medical community to locate cheaper and much more reliable treatment.

After decades of the research blackout for medicinal marijuana, studies finally received the consent from the U . s . States government. The College of California’s Center for Medical Cannabis Research came to the conclusion in Feb of 2010 that medicinal marijuana ought to be an initial option for treating neuropathic issues. Nerve discomfort associated with Aids/Helps, cancer, spine problems etc. may benefit considerably from medicinal marijuana use based on the study. The center’s studies have also established that medicinal marijuana should be thought about when dealing with discomfort associated with ms.

As the College of California’s studies highlight the medical advantages of marijuana use, you will find other potential benefits which are coming too. It’s greater than well recorded that medicines and remedies in the usa are progressively becoming too expensive. Without health care insurance, many People in america have to move ahead without correct care. Medicinal marijuana may propose a less expensive and much more accessible option to discomfort alleviation.

Clinical tests are usually worried about safety and effectiveness. As increasing numbers of details are removed from medicinal marijuana studies it appears that cannabis is meeting individuals goals. Regrettably, the character of clinical tests prevents cost from becoming an achievable goal. Medical cannabis clearly works well when it comes to cost when in comparison towards the pharmaceutical industry’s medicines. With People in america already extremely supporting medicinal marijuana and it is safe of dangerous unwanted effects, research appears certainly going to accelerate as increasing numbers of People in america requires an alternative choice to the pricey options provided by the big pharmaceutical companies.

To learn more, see:

NORML.org Recent Research on Medicinal Marijuana

ABCNews.Go.com High Support for Medicinal Marijuana

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