The 'WEED' Controversy: The Science Behind Medical Marijuana

Weed. Gangha. Maryjane. MJ. Pot. Burn. Smoke. These are a few words used by people when referring to the product of the plant, cannabis sativa (the scientific name) or marijuana. This post is intended to shed some light on this long-prohibited plant, its therapeutic uses over time, and some other things that may enlighten you about marijuana and its therapeutic properties. It isn't just a 'drug' any longer, its benefits and usefulness in treating patients with many conditions has been studied in other countries, and is now beginning to be recognized and studied in the United States.

This is not my original photograph. It was borrowed from this web site: Click Here

Prior to 1937, marijuana was widely used and prescribed therapeutically in the United States for multiple reasons, therapeutically. With the dawning ofThe Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and subsequent legislation, such as the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, marijuana use became prohibited in the United States, much to the consternation of millions of marijuana supporters and/or users. Not only was it prohibited and illegal to possess and/or use marijuana, it was deemed criminal to possess and/or use marijuana at all. Furthermore, marijuana was then classed as a Schedule Class I psychoactive drug in the early 1970's, which you can learn more about here. 

The American Nurses Association supports safe and legal access to therapeutic (medical) marijuana, and has for several years now (Click here for more information). On that note, I must add that I do not write for that organization, nor do I have any affiliation with the ANA at this point. I am simply writing from my own point of view, as a nurse and a concerned citizen, and adding supporting evidence and citations as I do so.

Research about the marijuana plant and its medical uses has been on the rise in recent years, especially in Israel. The country of Israel is ahead of its time with airport security, so it's no surprise that Israel has been studying marijuana's uses and conducting clinical trials in regard to its many astounding medical uses for years. Marijuana has been studied there for a very long time, and there are several conditions in which the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids are being studied currently. You can read about some of that research here.

Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, whose research with marijuana as early as the 1960's has earned him the nickname "The Father of Marijuana Research" was interviewed by the online news magazine, NoCamels, and that interview is not only an interesting read, it's informative and exciting. Dr. Mechoulam has been touted as the leading researcher in the field of medical marijuana studies, and is said to be responsible for identifying many of the 70 plus cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant, which may all be effective in treating and/or curing several diseases and symptoms of disease in the future. 

Research expansion here in the United States has been slow and grueling , due to a complicated federal approval process among other concerns and obstacles (American Nurses Association, 2014). Perhaps with the airing of Dr. Sanjay Gupta's documentary on CNN last year (which you can view below), research will take hold in the United States. It certainly has the ability to open thousands of new avenues for evidence-based research in the field of health care. There could be answers to curing cancer, diabetes, or other chronic and potentially life-threatening illnesses found in the cannabinoids of the marijuana plant. 

Like the little 6 year-old girl in the following documentary, Charlotte Fiji (Charlie, for short), who suffered from more than 300 seizures a week, related to Dravet Syndrome, children suffering from epilepsy could be helped with a simple sublingual (placed under the tongue) oil. 

Charlie's parents used many combinations of pharmaceuticals to alleviate the seizure activity their child was experiencing on a daily basis, without a noticeable positive effect. When they started using medicinal oil that was extracted from a specifically hybridized marijuana plant, however, Charlie's condition improved dramatically. The plant was grown by a team of six brothers, who share the surname 'Stanley', and own and operate dispensaries and a growing farm for medical marijuana in Colorado. 

The strain of plant used contained less than 1% THC (the portion of cannabinoid that gives people the 'high' effect) and more than 21% CBD's, which is a therapeutic cannabinoid, and does not produce the 'high' effect in users. In fact, little Charlie's condition improved so quickly and vastly, that Dr. Sanjay Gupta was amazed. This documentary is a must watch for those who need more valid information about the miraculous and therapeutic effects of medical marijuana. 
  
In composing this post, I simply wanted to shed some light on the controversy surrounding the legalization of medical marijuana, maybe break through some of the untruths that the public has been spoon fed in regard to marijuana and its many uses, especially highlighted in films such as "Reefer Madness", and hopefully clear up some of the fallacies surrounding the marijuana controversy. 

If you click here you can read more about a study claiming that it can reverse certain symptoms of dementia. Marijuana cannabinoids have also been studied and shown to improve the brain function of people with traumatic brain injuries, and people with dementia. 

Perhaps in the future information and research will be more abundant and forthcoming in regard to medical marijuana and its various therapeutic uses.  

Sources:

In support of patients' safe access to therapeutic marijuana. (2008, December 12). Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/Positions-and-Resolutions/ANAPositionStatements/Position-Statements-Alphabetically/In-Support-of-Patients-Safe-Access-to-Therapeutic-Marijuana.pdf

Sirven, J., & Shafer, P. (2014, March). What is Dravet syndrome? Retrieved from http://www.epilepsy.com/learn/types-epilepsy-syndromes/dravet-syndrome

Weed [Motion picture]. (2014). United States: CNN Special Report.

TheJointBlog.com

Love this jpeg ... Peaceful

Greetings! 

Not sure how many are still following my blog, but it doesn't matter anyway. It's been nearly 4 years (April 14th, 2011) since my CABG, and lately I've been feeling kind of strange. It's not that I haven't been taking care of myself. I've dropped nearly 100 lbs since my surgery (I initially gained around 60 lbs following my CABG, and I believe I was depressed and didn't even recognize it!) and I've been working out, running, elliptical, weights, etc. I'm eating well, I'm focusing on my health. 

But I've been having strange pains again, and feelings of depression and high anxiety lately. I can't sleep well, and I'm extremely stressed out, for some reason. I feel as though I'm going to die, in short. Perhaps it's craziness on my part, because I'm sure there's a reason I'm here, and that I made it through that extensive surgery for a reason. But it's a feeling I'm fighting with lately, that feeling of impending doom, so to speak. Anyway, I have an appointment with my cardiologist next week and we'll see what he has to say. 

Just thought I'd post something at this point, as I'm up at this hour on my day off and crying for no reason again. Something is going on psychologically with me, and perhaps it's more than psychological. Perhaps it's Spiritually, as well. Time will tell. In the meantime, be good to yourselves and each other.

Peace <3
Kathi

Striving to be Our Authentic Selves ...

"The journey of consciousness, of mysticism, is to come to know yourself and your own motivations.'" ~ Caroline Myss

For many of us, Life is about striving to become our True and Authentic Selves. It's about being able to laugh at our mistakes, because if we live as authentically as we can we instinctively know there are no mistakes, only different paths to choose from. One day we may choose the path to the right, the next we choose a path to the left. Striving to be our True Authentic Self is living freely, with deep joy, serenity, and peace despite those who attempt to block our happiness. 


There are no regrets or guilt about the Past, because the Past is long gone. There are no worries about the Future,  because the Future is yet to come. There is only contentedness in the Present, in the moment, because it is where we know we belong. When we are striving to be our Authentic Self, we stand fast, honoring the Past and the Future, but with our feet firmly planted in the Present.


Some will attempt to bump us out of our peace, by intentionally attempting to hurt us with words, actions, thoughts. But because we are steadfast in our desire to be our True Authentic Self, we move forward with ease and joy, leaving those negative Souls in the Past. We choose not to associate with those who wish to constantly hurt us time and again. Our internal compass guides us along, as we walk hand in hand with our Higher Power, on our Journey to becoming our Authentic Self.


We are free from the ties that bind us to those who want to squelch our happiness,  because we are choosing our Authenticity. We know deeply that our love for them, for all, is unconditional, but we also remain discerning in not allowing our Authentic Self to step into the web of intricately woven resentments and negativity that some weave around themselves and attempt to snag us in. We are striving to be Authentic, and in striving to Be, we are. We let those negative Souls go, with love, peace, and understanding. No longer do we allow their poison to affect us in any way. We simply allow them to Be.


Striving to be our Authentic Self is a Journey, a Sacred Chore ... it is internal and external work. Internal and external changes must be navigated with the assistance of our Higher Powers. We must live in constant awareness of our actions, words, thoughts. We must monitor our emotions carefully. We must be aware of all our human emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear ... and carefully weave our way through each when necessary. Emotions are never right or wrong, they just are. And when we are striving to become our Authentic Self, we need to learn to work with them, not against them. 


In becoming our Authentic Self, we need to learn everything about our Self. What is it we enjoy, what will we tolerate, what will we not tolerate, who do we want to embrace in our sacred circle, what are our likes and dislikes  ... indeed, we need to become our own best friend. We need to learn to be as comfortable with our Selves as we can be. 


Blessings & Love, my friends ... 
Namasté.