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Israel is the world leader in Medical Marijuana research

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 2/1/2015 6:18 PM (GMT 0)
While U.S. laws make clinical research difficult or impossible. We have fallen decades behind.

www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/israeli-medical-marijuana-creates-buzz-but-no-high-will-it-go-global/2015/01/31/558fe072-a19a-11e4-9f89-561284a573f8_story.html?tid=HP_world?tid=HP_world
...pain, skin disorders, seizure disorders, several types of cancers, migraine headaches and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)... even into promising applications for illnesses, such as ALS, that conventional medicine cannot help...

she was skeptical in 2011 when she prescribed cannabis to 30 patients with Crohn’s disease. But “the results were dramatic,” she said. “They didn’t need steroids or surgery or hospitalization.”
Posted 2/1/2015 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
I read that study on Crohns disease, it was pretty compelling. Not sure Id want to have to smoke it every day, but I guess it would beat flaring all the time
Posted 2/1/2015 6:26 PM (GMT 0)
If the medicinal compounds are extracted and filtered to the point where one doesn't get "high" as Israel is doing it, then I think it's in everyone's best interest to work on getting it legalized. It wouldn't serve people that want to use it recreationally and no politician would have a case against it. There are so many people in pain that could use it. It is, after all, a natural herb with a small side-effect profile.

Yes... I believe there is significant lobbying against it, since the FDA and the pharmaceutical companies would lose out on potential profits. With all the drugs in the pipeline, federal legalization would be a big hit to the FDA and their fiduciaries.

Ironically, cigarettes and alcohol are more dangerous but still available freely. It is much easier to die than to live in this country.

Post Edited (Guardian7) : 2/1/2015 11:29:09 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/1/2015 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Guardian said:
If the medicinal compounds are extracted and filtered to the point where one doesn't get "high" as Israel is doing it, then I think it's in everyone's best interest to work on getting it legalized.

Yes yes yes. As long as Big Pharma doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it.
MJ definitely has a beneficial effect on my symptoms although I have never done a long one-person controlled study on it. I just know when I have some the next day is a good day for my gut. I am not that interested in getting high (weird, but that's me) and I quit smoking it when I was 17 (grew up in south FL and it was easy to get back then) because I wanted to keep all my IQ points.

I don't think it should be illegal and should be treated like alcohol. Just have to wait until more 75-somethings pass away and more baby boomers hit 65 and need to treat their aches and pains. It'll happen someday but it should be legal now.

We've already decided that if one of us gets cancer we're moving to CO just for that reason. Saw a parent die in pain from cancer. No reason for that.
Posted 2/1/2015 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
It wont be long before its legal pretty much everywhere. So many states in the US are legalizing it or on the verge of legalizing it. But yes, extracting just the medicinal compounds would be nice. Guess well just have to wait and see
Posted 2/1/2015 10:15 PM (GMT 0)
Big supporter of medicinal cannabis, it has helped a family member through much pain during her chemo treatments.

The problem is England will most likely be the last country in the world to legalise cannabis. I mean our pleb of a prime minister wants to ban snapchat and facebook! If scoial media is under scrutiny in this country then there is no hope for legalisation.

Either way it would not surprise me if Israel came up with a cure for Colitis before i even had to bother scurrying to different countries to get my fix. That place is a beacon of technological and medical advancement in the modern world.
Posted 2/2/2015 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
I would have expected Israel to already come up with a cure. I think it's an incredibly overrated country. Its leaders openly talk of putting Palestinians on a diet http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/oct/17/israeli-military-calorie-limit-gaza. Officials representing populations with high incidences of UC should concentrate on their own diet.
Posted 2/3/2015 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
As someone with a relationship to the topic I'll say this:

- Medical cannabis has been studied in Israel since the early 60's (Prof. Mechoulam). Beyond efficacy for any specific indication, its safety profile is excellent. Perhaps the single most important component, CBD, is unique as a medicinal compound with no known side effects despite extensive study.
- Medical cannabis is effective because as humans we have an endocannabinoid system and have many cannabis-like signalling molecules that our own body produces. Our guts are especially rich in endocannabinoid receptors, and IBD patients are found to be even more rich in CB1/CB2 receptors. Although the specifics of the mechanisms of action may not be yet described, there are CLEAR targets for cannabinoids which work with the bodies normal physiology INSTEAD of disrupting it like most IBD medication.
- In Israel, medical cannabis is pretty tightly controlled by the ministry of health, but provided you have the persistence, you CAN get access to a dispensary. Regulation is still tight and I hear that the selection is not as good as California or Colorado. People with MS, epilepsy, IBD, and many other conditions receive medical cannabis and many do well with it.
- I personally have a friend in Israel with Crohn's who discontinued Humira ~9 years ago. He was able to do so with a cannabis script from his doctor, who leads trials of cannabis for IBD.

In summary:
It's been well studied in Israel and is used quite a bit. It is not a miracle cure, but it is able to both improve symptoms and in some cases maintain remission for IBD'ers. Most importantly it is extremely safe.
Posted 2/4/2015 12:00 AM (GMT 0)
sounds interesting. I've never smoked marijuana (nor any other drugs) and i'm extremely afraid of it. But i would like to try cannabis under medical supervision :)
Posted 2/4/2015 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
SolomonSeal, for MMJ to 'interact' with the CB receptors, would it have to be smoked or ingested? I have heard that edibles either in tinctures or butters are becoming more popular, especially amongst patients who don't like or want to smoke it.
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