Medical Marijuana

[MrFixit]

Medical Marijuana
Posted: 3:57 PM Jun 8, 2007
Last Updated: 6:58 PM Jun 8, 2007
http://media.graytvinc.com/designimages/wrdw-video-included.gif Medical Marijuana (http://www.wndu.com/news/headlines/7907792.html#)
For more than 4,000 years, it was used medicinally, but in 1942 medical marijuana was banned in the US.
Today, patients with illnesses like cancer, AIDs and MS say that it relieves pain and nausea.
Brian Klein has HIV, but he is also recovering from Hepatitis-C.
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A study on Hepatitis-C patients showed that smoking pot made them three times more likely to get rid of the virus because it got them through the treatment.
Dr. Donald Abrams, of the University of California, said, “If there’s a patient for whom that medicine doesn't work, and they do get benefit from marijuana, then that could really be the difference between life and death.”
Although medical marijuana is allowed in 12 states, the federal government has declared it is not medicine and not safe.
Opponents say much more research is needed and that it is linked to a higher risk of cancer, heart attack and brain damage.
http://www.wndu.com/news/headlines/7907792.html

[laughinglion]

I picked up a copy of Neurology Now (published by the academy of Neurology) in my doctor's office. I noted that my epileptologist from OHSU
sits on their advisory board. Here is what the May/June 2007 issue says
about medical marijuana:

Gregory T. Carter M.D. clinical professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, says that while not a panacea, it exerts its theraputic effects with remarkably low toxicity compared to other commonly prescribed medications used for similar purposes.

Marijuana contains more than 60 cannabinoid compounds that are similar to the cannabinoids naturally produced by the human body. These compounds help regulate many bodily functions, including pain perception.

* One of the first randomized trials of smoked marijuana showed that it significantly relieved the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy associated with HIV.

* Marijuana has been shown to help alleviate nausea, appetite loss, depression, in pain in patients suffering from cancer, HIV and amyottrophic lateral sclerosis.

* Smoking marijuana can reduce intraocular pressure, a common cause of blindness in glaucoma patients.

* Anecdotal reports suggest that cannabis use may improve not only tics but also bebavorial problems in people with Tourette's syndrome.

Donald Abrams is director of clinical programs at the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine and head of the most recent HIV neuropathy study, and hopes that hopes that his work will favor more research.
"People are always saying there's no evidence. I'm saying: Here it is"

The magazine is interested in hearing our stories. In the fight for medical marijuana the editors want to know: What do you think the government should do about medical marijuana? Email your thoughs to neurologynow@
lwwny.com

Perhaps, I will tell them how much cooking with cannabis helped my pain and spasms due to Multiple Sclerosis. Much more so than all the other drugs I have been prescribed for the many symtoms of M.S.