Hi surfer
 

Rant all you want to. I sure do understand big money and corruption over the issue of MJ. It makes me sad it is illigal, it doesn't cause deaths like other narcotics to, and it works. In my state the Gov. is trying to pass a law to have everyone on medicare/medicaid take a test. If MJ was legal to do, I suppose I would try it, as I know how hard the process is of getting off a narcotic. Those of us who do not abuse medications, would not abuse this either. It is not a gateway drug to worse things in my opinion. I am a 60's child. I never abused a thing in my life. I did discuss this with my pain specialist. He is under pressure from the state to test people, so he does. He told me that he would allow it in his practice if this state would come around. This specialist I go to, is top notch, and I felt comfortable enough to talk to him about it. I do not mind getting tested, as I am so grateful I get the help from him that I do. It was just interesting to hear his personal viewpoint.
We should have a compassionate law, where a trial could be done with NP type of pain for sure. If we would tax it, legalize it, I bet we could get rid of national debt. I also have a strong belief in God. My faith does not contradict what I feel toward this issue. Maybe it is because I was born in the generation I was in, I don't know. I just don't think God would be upset over using this, when most of our good medications are plant dirvatives any way. Our medications are plant based in so many ways. So why is this one any different? I sure can rant on this issue too. I will abide by the laws of this state, but it runs contrary to what I really believe. I am not ashamed to believe this way. I am just ashamed our country will not be more compassionate. If pain can be reduced even a fraction, to some, that would allow a better quality of life. Even if it was all in a persons head so to speak, if it brought peace and some kind of relief, it should be allowed. Why is there such a squack over this particular plant? I am 60 years old, not a child, I would have liked to make this decision to try it in my lifetime to see if it worked for me. I do think it all is political on why this issue remains. I hope all of us have pain free days, so that we have quality of life. Be good surfer, we have to be. ginnie

Surfer, you made some very valid points. Being able to getting Oxy's at CVS with an Rx, but you get caught with MJ with out a Medical MJ Card, and they'll arrest you..On the street, Oxy's are rich mans Heroin, and certainly a dangerous drug when abused

MJ will be a problem untill the Pharma Co's have control over the sale of MJ, and Congress figures out a way to tax it, and when they legalize it, the crime associated with it will all but disappear

Everything has a price

Hi stevem
 

If you are both in California, at least your state is giving the issue a try. I do not this this will happen for this state,Fla. in my life time. Because of all the other abuses with clinics, they are tuff on this issue. I hope all the best for you Stevem. ginnie

Hi ginnie
 

I live in Rhode Island, which does permit medical MJ under certain conditions, but personally, I wouldnt smoke it under any conditions, because I have an addictive personality, and for me it would lead back to a road that I don't want to go back down

However, for those it helps, God Bless them!! :)

On another note, MJ is quite benign in comparison to alcohol, yet alcohol is legal, and MJ is not, yet there are horendous crimes associated with MJ smuggling..This country has learned little from Prohibition

Not trying to change the subject folks, just sayin'

http://www.health.ri.gov/healthcare/...uana/index.php

Hi stevem
 

It is good that you know yourself. I am glad you didn't go down a dark path. I do not have an addictive personality. In fact after my tooth extraction, I saved the meds. I didn't use for emergency. I have been the kind of patient that follows exactly what I am told to do as far as medications goes. I donot believe MJ would hurt me in any way, other that being a risk for throat cancer. There are machines on the market that take away the smoke, and other forms of the plant. I think the technology is there to make a pill or something. I just want this country to open up to the idea of additional plants that may indeed work for some people. Our goal being to reduce suffering. Think of all the plant based meds. we all ready have. Also this plant is in the country, and your are right proabition didn't work at all. I am glad you hear your state of RI is at least trying to ease the horrible time in jail people endure because of this plant. There are alot more serious crimes that should have their attention, not this. It is political, and again a way to control people. ginnie

Cannabis and Parkinson's
 

From Faizan Sheikh's PD website ("My Angel, My Hero")
They ask us, "where is the science?"
Well, the science is there, if they check out what is actually happening to People With Parkinson's, not just what is happening in theoretical lab science.
Cannabis and Parkinson’s: Dr. Mark Sircus’ blog:

“… some cannabinoids are potent antioxidants that can protect neurons from death even without cannabinoid receptor activation. It seems that cannabinoids can delay or even stop progressive degeneration of brain dopaminergic systems… In combination with magnesium cannabinoids represent, qualitatively, a new approach to the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease.
Dr. Evzin Ruzicka, neurologist at Charles University in Prague said, “To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the effect of cannabis on Parkinson’s disease, and our findings suggest it may alleviate some symptoms"
39 patients (46%) reported that their Parkinson’s disease symptoms in general were relieved after they started using cannabis; 26 (31%) reported an improvement in tremor while at rest, and 38 (45%) experienced a relief of bradykinesia. Relief of muscle rigidity was reported by 32 (38%), and 12 (14%) said they had an improvement in levodopa-induced dyskinesias.
… the improvement in symptoms occurred an average of 1.7 months after they had started using cannabis. Patients who used it for at least three months were more likely to experience symptom relief than those with shorter experience….
In a 2007 study published in Nature, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine report that endocannabinoids, naturally occurring chemicals found in the brain that are similar to the active compounds in marijuana and hashish, helped trigger a dramatic improvement in mice with a condition similar to Parkinson’s.
Dr. Robert Malenka and Dr. Anatol Kreitzer combined a drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease (Dopamine) with an experimental compound that can boost the level of endocannabinoids in the brain. When they used the combination in mice with a condition like Parkinson’s, the mice went from being frozen in place to moving around freely in 15 minutes. "They were basically normal," Kreitzer said.
…receptors for cannabinoids are all over the brain, but they are not always activated by the naturally occurring endocannabinoids," said Malenka.”
http://blog.imva.info/medicine/parkinsons-disease

Re: thank you Bob
 

Thank you for the article, and the research you brought to this subject. PD is such a horrible disease, and I believe more than ever, patients should be allowed this compassion and help. If the research is there, it is all political and a method to control. I am 60, and I hope in my lifetime, I see the release of THC into our health system to ease suffering. When I was a child, my neighbor Mr.Johnson had parkinsons. Even though I was young I saw first hand what this disease did to a brilliant mind and body. It took his last breath. What ever help there is for this disease, should be allowed. To not allowed this medical advance is not civilized. ginnie