Way to go FLORIDA! Even if this particular bill doesn't pass, it's a step in the right direction. It took Colorado a couple of times to get the language right in the bill to get it passed.

Many other states have key marijuana policy reform bills in 2014. Here's some useful info:

Info on all states for 2014: http://www.mpp.org/states/key-mariju...cy-reform.html

Florida: http://www.hemp.org/news/category/ca...ical-marijuana

Ohio: In Ohio, Ohio Rights Group, or ORG, is currently gathering signatures to put medical marijuana on the ballot in November 2014. http://www.nbc4i.com/story/24335947/...ijuana-in-ohio


Medical Marijuana Info:


Eighty-six percent think doctors should be allowed to prescribe small amounts of marijuana for patients suffering from serious illnesses.

Science... I love science: http://www.hemp.org/news/category/ca...ical-marijuana


UCSF Study Finds Medical Marijuana Could Help Patients Reduce Pain with Opiates: http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/12/110...e-pain-opiates

Chronic Pain http://norml.org/library/item/chroni...ategory_id=560

[VIDEO] A scientific view looking at the chemistry behind MMJ. I watched this years ago and it's still one of the best docu's I've seen on the subject. I liked that it explains the science behind what a lot of folks have been saying for years now. I've shared this before.

Part 1 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh0...nabinoids_tech

Part 2 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xh0...n-1-newrelated


[VIDEO] Dr. Sanjay Gupta Documentary "Weed". I've shared this before too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYD60Ka3yo


The US is so behind the curve on research, which in my opinion is simply because of the monetary threat that the pharmaceutical companies have because they can't patent it, and the stigma of it being a "hippie" drug. I will say this though, at least Colorado and some other states are leading the way for a change in how/what we think about marijuana/cannabis and it's users.

I have to say that I'm always amazed at how it's perfectly fine to give me any number of potentially lethal drugs for the pain I experience, but that MMJ is questionable... hum. This is why education and public awareness is so important. I'm not sure if I would have known about it's healing powers for so many different conditions and diseases until I became afflicted by this MONSTER they have so many names for.

Excellently said Vrae!

I feel exactly the same, as posted on other threads lol . My only other option, as far as my docs go, is opiates.....but even mention MMJ and they get all twitchy. Madness. They'd hand me the morphine fine, loads of side effects, addictive, potentially fatal, yada yada.....but MMJ, hardly ever killed a single person, but stigmatised because of the hippie community, no no no. That's baaaaad. Lol. Logic and reason, a big fat zero.

Bram.

I've been dealing with postdural headaches after my pain pump. Docs gave me some migraine med, told me to take percocet - none of it worked. What did? MMJ.

Amen everyone!

They lifted prohibition on alcohol long ago and that causes far more violence, addiction and damage.
And the drug commercials (adverts for U.K.) on T.V. crack me up with their long list of side effects.
I have tried MJ many years ago in my youth. I would love to try it for CRPS,
but had to sign an agreement not to use it while under the care of P.M.

Vrae, thanks for the info! I will be sure to read all of it. Can anyone tell me how its effectiveness for pain compares to narcotics? And, does the pain relief vary by the form you use (smoked, eaten). I hate the idea of polluting my lungs with smoke.

It's an analgesic medication.

Scientists are now are in the lab developing new medicines based on marijuana. According to Dr. Mohamed Naguib, cannabinoid researcher at University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center, "When there's a nerve injury, the body typically overcompensates, creating even more nerve damage. Our research shows that the addition of a certain type of cannabinoid turns off the overcompensation, reducing the likelihood of this type of pain."

http://backandneck.about.com/od/chro...i/medmar_2.htm

There are all types of delivery methods. Everything from CBD syrups, to eatables, creams, sprays, vapor, etc. Smoking is not the only option.

Here in the UK, there is no option.

The only MMJ derivative here is called Sativex. It's a drug developed from the wrong part of the compounds that work, so it's just not that effective. My pain doc said has to jump through all sorts of hoops to prescribe it, and just doesn't see much by way of results.

It's controlled by the most crazy legislation possible, as tightly as possible. As though you are asking for a nuclear weapon ....especially considering that they throw methadone around, and freely prescribe morphine and other much more dangerous drugs than cannabis. The double standards are appalling. I could drink myself to death with no problem, but I can't smoke cannabis or obtain a safe version of MMJ.

I don't want cannabis. I want the MMJ part that can help me. Why can't it be done?! Apparently the research has been negligible up to now in most countries, because governments are very reluctant to hand out licenses to play around with an illegal drug that hippies and youths favour on the streets...

I hope the world changes quickly on this one and gets some control over this drug. It has such potential if researched and developed properly.

Bram.

Med wise it might be proven to be helpful but sadly it's too bad that it will be abused by most of the populous out there...

Very true Russell. Such a shame.

I'm in the opposite boat at Bram, being in NorCal I've literally been handed over ounces of trim or last year's crop. Stuff that still could get money in the middle of nowhere, but here it's plentiful. It's -><- close to being legal altogether.

For me it takes the edge off the pain but doesn't take it away completely. Allows me to pretend to be a normal human. It helps my nausea a ton. I don't really get high anymore, or I can handle a high better and I can still function normally (I don't giggle, eat a ton and sit around watching cartoons). It kind of helps your whole body, and doesn't upset your stomach like many pills. For example, I could be in a pissy mood, have a headache, stomach ache and my feet are throbbing from the RSD. I could smoke some, my mood lightens, my aches are less and I can get back up on my feet a little.

When I eat it the feeling is different, but not a ton. I need a vaporizer because I'm a smoker at heart, I really miss smoking cigarettes and it's been a decade. I also want to go get some salve for my feet, but there isn't a club in my county and I haven't gone to go find some. The delivery service here doesn't have it.