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New rule change at HW: Medical Marijuana can be discussed

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Posted 10/7/2013 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
This was just brought to my attention on the HW CP forum:

1. No discussion of any illegal activity or threats of violence (ie. threats of suicide, self-harm, or physical harm). Discussion of medical marijuana is allowed as long as discussions have a medical focus.

(I underlined it for clarity)

David

Posted 10/7/2013 10:24 PM (GMT 0)
Was surprised that it wasn't posted here right away, perhaps all the mods have been busy today.

I double checked with my own eyes, and it really has changed.

It would be more of a subject with those with chronic pain and other chronic illnesses, but there is medical

evidence that it can help.

Can't see it happening in my state anytime soon.  But not sure I would indulge regardless, have strange feelings about the whole subject, even  though I am dealing with long  term severe chronic pain.

David

Post Edited (Purgatory) : 10/7/2013 4:33:55 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/7/2013 10:34 PM (GMT 0)
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Posted 10/7/2013 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Glad to see it. But if anything will bring it down it here at HW it will be the subject lines. There are a lot of immature and unscrupulous fishers in these waters. We have had big enough issues with spammers on the ED drugs through the years. Hopefully we can show the world how it's done and keep the "idiots" away.

The following has been noted by a few of my oncology friends in the integrative oncology business with medicinal MJ use:

1> Never smoke it. No doctors will suggest smoking anything to improve your health. Instead it is suggested that a vaporizer be used. But important to note, there are no studies to date on vaporizer use of MJ for prostate cancer.

2> Benefit ~ Chemotherapy and appetite loss. Medicinal MJ CAN improve appetite. I remember my days of munchies and I'm sure a few others do as well. If medications are causing weight loss there are things to do to improve one's dietary habits. Medicinal MJ has been on that list and this is a primary reason for many states legalizing it for medicinal use.

3> Benefit ~ depression. Many have had benefit in improving negative mental side effects. But it's important to note that many have had depression BECAUSE of MJ use. To each user it will have varying effects.

4> Benefit ~ pain control. This is highly controversial but it can happen. Some users claim they can control pain with medicinal MJ use. Of course in California a hang nail is a good reason for a medicinal usage card but there may be some effects here for the cancer patient.

5> It's still not legal. Even though Colorado and Washington State have had voters approve recreational usage, and 18 other states have approve medicinal usage ~ it's the Federal government that controls banned substances and not the states. You can still be arrested even in states where it is voter approved. You are not likely to be arrested but that didn't hold true for a good friend of mine on Facebook whom was arrested for his plants even though he has stage IV prostate cancer and has been on chemotherapies and many drugs with nasty side effects. His charges were reduced and pretty much forgiven but he did have to go to court and fight it out. His state did not have a medicinal use law so nit sure if he was tried by state or federal officials.

On the lighter side ~ I have to wonder how Hostess went out of business with two states voting on legalizing recreational usages. I'da thought that they would have made a killing here...

:-):-):-)


Tony
Posted 10/8/2013 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
My brother has been on it for years in CO, even before they "legalized" it recently. He has severe epilepsy, and it supposedly helps keeps him stable. But he smokes it, not the medicinal pill form. Even before they legalized it there, he had what looked like a driver's license, and would buy pot by the ounce. Knowing my brother, it just an excuse to smoke pot, but that's not for me to judge. Just saying.

It can help late term chemo people with their appetite issues.

One day, if my CP continues to spread and worsen as it is and has been doing, and if I reach the point where regular pain meds can no longer control it effectively, might be worth a though to me. But again, living in SC, I don't see them ever making it available.

The Feds right now, are having a hard time with these new state laws, about when and how to enforce the still standing Federal laws about its use. I read recently, they don't intend to prosecute anymore in the states that have legalized it for medical use.

David
Posted 10/8/2013 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
For my Stage III  rectal cancer I had to endure 6 months of chemo (Folfox) every other week (this was a horrible experience). Even with the "legal" prescribed meds for nausea, they did not work that well...I completely lost my appetite and was happy to not eat for days. I got an RX for M.M. ...it was a true godsend. It dialed my nausea back to almost zero and more importantly increased my appetite enormously and certainly reduced my anxiety levels. Too bad there is so much abuse for medical purposes, because it truly does work. (Best not smoke it , but rather a vaporizer.)
Posted 10/8/2013 2:43 AM (GMT 0)
ziggy,

since you have first hand knowledge. in the purely medical "M", did you take it in pill form, and if yes, if I understand, you don't get high or euphoric off of it. Is this remotely true?

even with my now long term use of both fentanyl and Lortabs, I never ever have gotten "good feelings" off of using either, not even in the higher doses I am on, and according to my oncologist, that's one way of telling that the body really is needing the meds for pain, and not for pleasure. my meds either help curb my relentless pain, or they don't. I don't feel anything off of them in that sense of the word.

David
Posted 10/8/2013 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Colorado, where I'm living at the moment, has 675 licensed marijuana dispensaries. This is down from a peak of 1200 in the summer of 2010..Anyone who wants one can get a prescription. The "product" is packaged in 1/4 ounce bags with a 1 once transaction limit...Dozens of different varieties and brands are offered at various prices ranging from $100 to $200 an ounce..There is a medical purchase pathway and now a recreational path, I'm not sure how it works..A 10% excise tax on retail sales and a 25% VAT tax levied on growers will be on the next general election ballot..
Posted 10/8/2013 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
Hah! At last. Feeling vindicated for my locked thread. If the time came when I thought it would help, I wouldn't hesitate for a minute.
Posted 10/8/2013 3:21 AM (GMT 0)
Purg,

I found out about it from your post. Can't tell you about things I don't know smilewinkgrin

Regardless, it is still illegal at the Federal level, so I'm not completely sure how this will play out.
Posted 10/8/2013 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with your ending statement, 142.

I found about it earlier today while at the Chronic Pain forum. I immediately went to the "rules" section and checked twice to make sure it was correct, before starting this thread. Hoped nobody would mind, once I knew it was legitimate.

David
Posted 10/8/2013 4:20 AM (GMT 0)
142,
I love it. I'm no longer a moderator and I can leave this one alone. Haha. But i won't. Let it be. And I love you guys for doing the best you can. Lets' see what we got, but also you guys are so awesome. What you edit is very well respected.

Peace!

Tony
Posted 10/8/2013 11:30 AM (GMT 0)
FYI, the notification of this rule change was made yesterday by Peter on the private "Moderators Forum". Peter asked that the moderators not make a special announcement about it, rather just let it be implemented. Discussions about the medical use will now be allowed but discussions about recreational use are not.

Jim
Posted 10/8/2013 11:59 AM (GMT 0)
Peter did the right thing by allowing the open discussion on MM on his site. MM has helped many and can help others.

On August 29, 2013 the Justice Departmaent issued a statement which clarifies their position on the states M laws. As I read what the Justice Department says, the Obama administration is backing off enforcement of Federal Law in those states. Interestingly, I read in a recent issue of the Denver Post the Forest Service (USDA not Justice) says there Law Enforcement Officers will enforce Federal M law at Forest Service campgrounds. I am not sure if the Forest Service will have an exemption for MM versus recreational (actual I don't know how they could tell the difference ... Unless you had a script).
Posted 10/8/2013 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
Federal law classifies marijuana as a scheule 1 drug, meaning it has high potential for abuse, no medical use, and not safe to use without medical supervision.  This means the federal government classifies marijuana as more dangerous than other "less dangerous" drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, and oxycodone.

As a result, the U.S. government won't even allow medical studies to be conducted to determine it's possible use in a medical / clinical setting.  However, one needs only look to other countries to see what studies they are doing.

An international team of investigators from Italy and the United Kingdom assessed the anti-cancer properties of various non-psychoactive synthetic and botanical cannabinoids, including CBD, CBG (cannabigerol), CBN (cannabinol) and THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin), in vivo and in vitro (in culture).  Researchers reported, “The … data presented here allows us to suggest that non-THC cannabinoids, and CBD in particular, retard proliferation and cause apoptosis (programmed cell death) of prostate carcinoma growth via a combination of cannabinoid receptor-independent cellular and molecular mechanisms. … We suggest that non-THC cannabinoids … might provide the basis for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of prostate carcinoma.”  Read the abstract here:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22594963

A separate study of cannabinoids on prostate cancer published in a recent edition of the Indian Journal of Neurology also concluded, “Prostate cancer cells possess increased expression of both cannabinoid 1 and 2 receptors, and stimulation of these results in decrease in cell viability, increased apoptosis, and decreased androgen receptor expression and prostate-specific antigen excretion. … It is our conclusion that it would be of interest to conduct clinical trials involving medicinal cannabis or other cannabinoid agonists, comparing clinical markers such as PSA with controls, especially in men with bone metastatic prostate cancer, whom would not only benefit from the possible anti-androgenic effects of cannabinoids but also from analgesia of bone pain, improving quality of life, while reducing narcotic consumption and preventing opioid dependence.”   Read the abstract here:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3339795/?tool=pubmed

For those folks battling crippling diseases or cancer, cannabis has been proven to not only help combat the side effects of medical treatments (some of which can be severe), but it also helps those folks cope with the fact that their "Use By" date is approaching a lot sooner than they ever imagined it would.

Recent polls have shown that over half the population of this country favor the implementation of medical marijuana laws.  Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently allow qualified patients to use medical marijuana with recommendations from their physicians. At least ten more states are expected to consider similar legislation soon.  It's time that the federal government gets on board and acknowledges the fact that marijuana doesn’t just have medical value; it has medical necessity.

Posted 10/8/2013 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Tud,

Should I be sorry for announcing it here? It was openly announced at HW CP, so once I verified that it was true, I thought it was fair game to be announced here.

David
Posted 10/8/2013 2:37 PM (GMT 0)
David...no problem. I was just explaining why none of the PCa mods made a formal announcement.

Jim
Posted 10/8/2013 2:41 PM (GMT 0)

Fairwind said...
Colorado, where I'm living at the moment, has 675 licensed marijuana dispensaries. This is down from a peak of 1200 in the summer of 2010..Anyone who wants one can get a prescription. The "product" is packaged in 1/4 ounce bags with a 1 once transaction limit...Dozens of different varieties and brands are offered at various prices ranging from $100 to $200 an ounce..There is a medical purchase pathway and now a recreational path, I'm not sure how it works..A 10% excise tax on retail sales and a 25% VAT tax levied on growers will be on the next general election ballot..

As has been stated we have more MMJ dispensaries than Starbucks. I too live in Colorado and it appears I know a little more about the present legal status. Until January 1 only medical marijuana can be purchased, then retail recreational sales begin. You can now buy from a gram, up to increments to a full oz. I believe. You can also buy different forms of hashish, and edibles. In fact some dispensaries have cooking classes. Possession of less than an ounce is now legal as is smoking in privacy. Also legal are those who can grow up to 6 plants. Although it states only 3 can be mature (ie flowering.) That is hard to enforce for you would need two rooms and lights to do that. So most like myself grow 6 under one light and flower them all together. Yes I can now admit to being a long time grower and have been legally doing so since 2010 and illegally since 1986.

It's about time HW can talk about this beneficial plant especially since there have been a number of medical marijuana states for awhile now and the current legalization begun by we here in Colorado and Washington State will spread.
Posted 10/8/2013 4:26 PM (GMT 0)
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Post Edited (Buddy Blank) : 10/11/2013 9:16:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/8/2013 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hello, long time since I've posted but this is an important issue from what I observed during Willies' journey.

Willie used some plain biscuits baked using 'budder' and it really helped his severe nausea. Some days it helped his appetite also.

We had a medical note, similar to a prescription but never had a problem.

There was no anti-emetic that worked for Willie. Nothing but the biscuits.

It's anecdotal and a 'study' of one but it was very effective most days.

Love,

Mary
Posted 10/9/2013 12:41 AM (GMT 0)

Buddy Blank said...
I believe marijuana should remain a Schedule 1 drug. It is an illegal narcotic where I live (and with good reason). In Colorado, according to the Denver Post, crime is up where dispensaries are located. I believe the same thing happened in California.

How, and where, is marijuana being used for treating prostate cancer? As an antiemetic?

It helps people deal with the fact there is a "use by" tag on their bodies? We all have one of those and no one knows the date we die. Are you suggesting people deal with the fact they have a life-threatening illness by getting stoned? Why not booze? Heroin? Crack? Gambling? Leave the wife for a younger model? To me if someone has to resort of mind-altering drugs to deal with life's tragedies it is a sad, and pathetic way, to live.

First of all the Denver Post reports a slight increase in crime of a whole whopping 1.8 percent. Take into account many of the dispensaries are in Denver county but not in some nearby suburbs and their locations are in higher crime areas for the most. Now west of Denver in Jefferson County there has been no increase in crime. The same has been reported in Boulder and Larimer Counties.

Wow you equate weed with heroin, crack , gambling and infidelity. What no beastiality or wife beating? Not all of us are perfect human beings. So yes some of us like an occasional drink, smoke, hell even making a bet for stress, relaxation or maybe just for fun. (Comment deleted - 142)

Post Edited By Moderator (142) : 10/8/2013 6:44:50 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2013 1:05 AM (GMT 0)
The change in the rule here, has discussion about medical use for "M", not recreational use, as some posters are starting to include here. I see this heading to trouble.

There is legitimate use for pain control and nausea control, especially with terminally ill people, and there are other medical reasons that have shown some improvement.

David
Posted 10/9/2013 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
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Post Edited (Buddy Blank) : 10/11/2013 9:16:51 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2013 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
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Post Edited (Buddy Blank) : 10/11/2013 9:16:37 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/9/2013 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
Wow.. got busy for a few.days, popped over here for update on David & see this.

20 states + DC have some kind of legal aspects of MM.

DC legalized MM in 2010. Recently read city council is considering bill to legalize & tax M.. also considering requiring dispenseries to spend a (small) percentage of their profits to provide M for poor patients.

Re: legal aspects. Hope it will soon become apparent to enough politicians that this has to be resolved so everyone knows what is what. Heard today that TSA is trying to figure out policy re:M on planes.

Not legal in my state but governor is now allowing research. As a CPer I would appreciate opportunity to try this for pain relief but with the questionable legality issues, I would be concerned about it someday coming back to bite me where I sit, even if it was prescribed.

Hope you are doing well David.. & all
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