Marijuana effective in reducing pain, study shows

[alp227]

Source: The Globe and Mail

A team of Montreal researchers has lent scientific credibility to the view that smoking marijuana can ease chronic neuropathic pain and help patients sleep better.

People suffering from neuropathic pain often turn to opioids, antidepressants and local anesthetics, but those treatments have limitations and the side effects can be punishing. Many physicians and policy-makers, however, are reluctant to advocate the use of cannabis since there has been little scientific research into its effectiveness, even though patients champion its use.

The study, published Monday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, found that pain intensity among patients decreased with higher-potency marijuana. It is one of a handful of scientific attempts to determine the medicinal benefits of the drug.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health/marijuana-effective-in-reducing-pain-study-shows/article1689573/

[Confusious]

1. Maybe someday we can use it to power our cars

Or even stick it in a rocket and go to the moon.

[lob1]

9. Actually, hemp makes a very effective ethanol.

[pattmarty]

28. Ya beat me to it.

[AllyCat]

42. Yup. No wonder it is illegal.

[John Q. Citizen]

81. Actaully, hemp is better suited to bio-diesel than ethanol, since it's seeds are fairly high in

oil content.

It's not that high in carbohydrates to covert to sugars to make ethanol with, so there are many plants that are far better for use to produce ethanol, such as sugar cane, and my favorite, Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sun chokes. They are, acre for acre, the highest ethanol producing plants found in cooler climates.

Sun chokes aren't related to artichokes, they are tubers and indigenous to the Northern Plains.


Cannabis is an extremely useful plant for many many things, but honestly, I don't think it's that high up on the list of best plants for ethanol production.

[sam sarrha]

88. hemp oil could free us of foreign oil, thus it's illegality. very little processing needed

[John Q. Citizen]

98. Unfortunately, we don't have enough farm land in the world to replace

petroleum with crop/plant oils. The vast reservoirs deep under the earth represent hundreds of millions of years of plant growth. It's impossible to produce anything like that in a single given year of plant growth. We could only produce a very small fraction. So we need to couple greater alternative use with greater conservation of both conventional and alternative sources of energy.

It's estimated that we could however replace around 5% of the diesel used with bio diesel. Plants like rapeseed (aka wild canola, a mustard like plant) sunflower seeds, palm oil trees, actually produce more oil per acre than hemp.But hemp has many many uses, fuel oil from the seeds being only one use. so don't get me wrong,. i'm not knocking hemp, I'm just saying that there won't be one silver bullet that solves all our problems but an array of solutions that get us closer to sustainability.

If we also made ethanol with cane sugar from Hawaii and sun chokes from the Northern great plains states, we could also displace even more petroleum use.

Hemp won't free us from foreign oil. It will help, though.

[sam sarrha]

99. link..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4522104&mesg_id=4523160

[kag]

19. Wouldn't matter.

We could discover it cured cancer, and the "establishment" would still cry "gateway drug!!!" and call for its continued banishment.

[valerief]

32. Yes, marijuana leads to abortions and welfare and terrorism.

At least, I think that's how the narrative goes.

[iamthebandfanman]

50. you can leave off terrorism

cause in their mind thats what abortion and welfare are ;)

[pscot]

58. I always thought it led to heroine addiction

godless atheism and eternal damnation. I guess the mileage varies.

[valerief]

59. Ha! Well, if the heroine is Sarah Palin!!!!

Jes' teasin' ya.

[demi moore]

36. what..

i thought they already discovered it cured cancer..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPm0Jq9bj98

[whathappened]

68. reefer

thanks for the short doc about the use of reefer to cure , the big fat cat who control what meds are made jjust won't give it up on this natural weed that has so many things in it to help the sick and help with the pain

[DeSwiss]

61. Funny you should mention how marijuana might cure cancer.....

The below research links are to articles, scientific studies and abstracts which report that the tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinoids in marijuana can halt the spread the MRSA bacteria and numerous other types of cancer cells -- including:

MRSA: http://www.webmd.com/news/20080904/marijuana-chemicals-may-fight-mrsa

Prostate Cancer: http://www.goldjournal.net/article/S0090-4295%2805%2901160-X/abstract

Breast Cancer: http://mct.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/6/11/2921

Lung Cancer: http://www.nature.com/onc/journal/v27/n3/abs/1210641a.html

Pancreatic Cancer: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/66/13/6748

Brain Cancer: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16804518

- I think that it's the prospect of people being able to have a positive impact on their own health without the aid of the pills and potions created by Big Pharma that is the primary reason why marijuana is still illegal.

[demi moore]

64. its odd..

they sell "fake pot" here in new zealand, its odd they bust people who smoke the real stuff but let us (and tax us) smoke this crap: JWH-018 ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JWH-018 )

i thought i was going to have a heart attack on it. ill trust nature i think.

[unapatriciated]

76. Yes and they have known it since the 70's

http://www.alternet.org/story/9257/

more studies were released in 2007

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7098340.stm

http://cbs5.com/health/breast.cancer.marijuana.2.571109.html

and again in 2010

http://www.molecular-cancer.com/content/9/1/196

Our results show that both Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the most abundant and potent cannabinoid in marijuana, and JWH-133, a non-psychotropic CB2 receptor-selective agonist, reduce tumor growth, tumor number, and the amount/severity of lung metastases in MMTV-neu mice. Histological analyses of the tumors revealed that cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis, and impair tumor angiogenesis. Cannabinoid antitumoral action relies, at least partially, on the inhibition of the pro-tumorigenic Akt pathway. We also found that 91% of ErbB2-positive tumors express the non-psychotropic cannabinoid receptor CB2.

Conclusions
Taken together, these results provide a strong preclinical evidence for the use of cannabinoid-based therapies for the management of ErbB2-positive breast cancer.

It works to slow and reduce tumors in very aggressive types of breast cancer, yet they would rather women suffer and die to continue their failed war on drugs.

[wildbilln864]

97. thanks for the links! nt

[sasquuatch55]

73. It's really a shame. I know it helps me with my IBS ,Fibromyalgia, Depression, Migraines,

and much more; and can't even discuss it with my MD!

[wildbilln864]

20. hemp seed oil used to be used...

for lighting in homes. It's like diesel fuel and could indeed be used as such in busses, tractor-trailors, etc....:hi:

[wookie72]

24. Just had some in my cereal..

They sell the powder legally in Canada. No, it does not get you baked.

[wookie72]

25. Can they make it so you don't have to smoke it?

I can't smoke a damn thing... lifelong allergies and respiratory problems.

[Froward69]

31. other than smoking it

theirs using a vaporizer, or it can be eaten. Hemp Oil or liquid hash is administered with an eye dropper.

[kimmylavin]

71. They do!

You can get oil to put in tea or baked goods.
You can get already made baked goods.
You can use a vaporizer, too.

Smoking is actually my least favorite delivery method. :)

[PSzymeczek]

82. It's really tasty

in turkey stuffing.

[AlbertCat]

44. hemp seed oil used to be used...

Not to mention hemp for cloth, clothes, rope, anything requiring fibers! After the leaves and buds are "used".... those twigs and seeds ("they sure don't deliver the punch this ol' head needs"-- thank you Jesse Winchester) those twigs and seeds are still very very useful and profitable.

[sasquuatch55]

75. It's too durable; it lasts too long. Bad for capitalism.

:sarcasm:

[wookie72]

23. Rocket fuel? Maybe only metaphorically nt

[Celtic Merlin]

83. Beats what we use now. [n/t]

[meowomon]

2. My "not wife" uses it for her fibromyalgia

I use it for the pain of every day life. Since I don't drink...very often.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. I am heartened by seeing this in the news.

Slowly, gradually, it looks as if pot might be more accepted.
Of course it will be take a lot for the US to give it up its lucrative War on Druggies.

[boppers]

4. Er, duh?

"Stoned people less aware" isn't exactly news.

[meowomon]

21. ???? "Stoned people less aware"????

What exactly does that mean? My senses become more heightened and I am more creative when I am stoned. Quite frankly, it relaxes me and I am very responsible about staying at home and not endangering anyone. I never lose my judgment like those who drink and I never drive for any reason. Even to Taco Bell when the fierce munchies hit. I think that is pretty aware.

[otohara]

37. For Years, Nobody Knew

that's how "less aware" people around me were.

Now everyone knows since it's legal here for us chronic pain people

[AlbertCat]

45. Never met a mean pot head who beats the kids.....

Alcohol n the other hand....

[SacoMaine61]

53. Double standard

I find it hypocritical that there is no prohibition on alcohol or tobacco similar to that for pot. Alcohol gets conflicting reports of medicinal benefits and the nicotine in tobacco has limited medicinal use, yet both are readily available and used the vast majority of time for recreational purposes. Why not the same license for marijuana? Pot growers just aren't hiring the right lobbyists...

[Dappleganger]

66. One shouldn't drive when taking most pain meds, either.

And if a person is having horrible pain, they shouldn't drive at all. I don't get what the naysayers' arguments are other than they think everything should come out of a pill.

[retired af major]

95. you should do some research

Pain meds don't make people in pain high and it doesn't mess with their driving abilities.
I've taken six 10 mg oxycodone tablets a day and worn 50 mcg fentanyl patches at the same time.
No effect on my driving ability at all.

[boppers]

91. ???? "Drunk people less aware"????

What exactly does that mean? My senses become more heightened and I am more creative when I am drunk. Quite frankly, it relaxes me and I am very responsible about staying at home and not endangering anyone. I never lose my judgment like those who smoke and I never drive for any reason. Even to Taco Bell when the fierce munchies hit. I think that is pretty aware.


Hm...

Perhaps a rephrase:
Many drugs make people less aware of themselves on a physical level, including their pain.

[earcandle]

5. I am happy to see this report. I really hope pot is legalized for pain use.

The brain is not endangered by pot, but opoiods, etc., dull
the brain, slow down body processes and seem to cause people
to vegetate.  Is that what our government and medical industry
folks prefer?  When I had a car accident and acquired chronic
periformis pain, all of my doctors were recommending those and
steriods.  Thank goodness, I realized that living with pain is
much better if you want to have a mind and body that work.  

[AllyCat]

43. I just think it should be legalized and I don't smoke it.

I am convinced the obsession with marijauna in the establishment's eyes is that it interferes with business. Paper, food, fiber, and petroleum come to mind. Oh yeah, and black people (rolls eyes...but that WAS part of the argument against it).

[Omar4Dems]

84. Don't forget the pharmaceutical industry.

nt

[rocktivity]

6. Candidate for this year's "You Call This NEWS?" award

What's French for "Well, duh!"

:eyes:
rocktivity

[krispos42]

7. Captain Obvious strikes again!

[eridani]

11. Yes indeedy!

[sofa king]

8. It saved my bacon.

You want to know about pain? Look up "double orchiopexy," then imagine being informed that--surprise!--you're going to get one of those in about fifteen minutes. That's what happened to me.

Post-operation, I wound up ditching my prescription painkillers in favor of some dealer-prescribed cannabis indica. For me, it worked better and nearly instantaneously, and the euphoria that comes with it helped me to cope with the jaw-dropping horror of my experience. The pain was intolerable for weeks, bad for months, persistent for years, and when it gets cold and the steel sutures start to shrink, well, it still makes me want to put a fist through the wall. There was simply no habit-forming drug I could turn to for that long without the certainty of getting hooked on it, even if reefer didn't work better. I wish I could keep some around all the time, just so I can better deal with cold mornings.

Maybe just as potentially important to hospital workers, even when I was in very bad pain and nothing really helped, marijuana at least made me much less of a dick to other people. I doubt you'll find that factoid in the medical literature, but if it's true for me it's likely to be true of a lot of people, and I'll bet some hospital workers have noticed that, too.

[HillbillyBob]

14. 27 yr hiv survivor, 4 rounds of cancer,

The pain meds do nothing for me except make me sick, constipated and act like a dick to hospital folks and those around me. It helps me to eat and I have actually gained weight back to my normal weight (it just ain't helpin the gravity redistribution!).

My last cancer surgery in March2010, they had me on a morphine drip, since my previous 3 surgeries no one would allow me Marinol..This time I spoke to my primary (had a script already) to make sure that I got 5 mgs every 6 hrs..my nurses were sooo glad I was easy to get along with..unlike the last times when I was pretty horrid to them. I am also mildly allergic to morphine so
Every few hours I got the marinol and benedryl with the morp I was a mess but I was a happy and cooperative mess.

I guess I don't need to say...you cannot smoke anythng at a hospital anymore.

[sofa king]

86. Hang in there!

I'm sure you know better than I, but my guess is that a better attitude toward caregivers translates directly into better overall care.

[dixiegrrrrl]

102. Mr. d just got out of hospital yesterday, collapsed lung. Also large asshole.

They gave him plenty of pain control, he was just a bear to deal with.
Next time, I know what to find for him.
Would dried powder in capsules work?

[Politicalboi]

10. Little scientific research???

Many physicians and policy-makers, however, are reluctant to advocate the use of cannabis since there has been little scientific research into its effectiveness, even though patients champion its use.

What do the "Patients" know. :banghead:

[unapatriciated]

77. There is a ton of research, see up thread for links

the problem is that it is easy to grow and would interfere with capitalism and their failed war on drugs (which is very profitable for some).

DuPont and Hearst had a hand in making it the scary gateway drug.

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis_culture11.shtml

The actual story behind the legislature passed against marijuana is quite surprising. According to Jack Herer, author of The Emperor Wears No Clothes and an expert on the "hemp conspiracy," the acts bringing about the demise of hemp were part of a large conspiracy involving DuPont, Harry J. Anslinger, commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and many other influential industrial leaders such as William Randolph Hearst and Andrew Mellon. Herer notes that the Marijuana Tax Act, which passed in 1937, coincidentally occurred just as the decoricator machine was invented. With this invention, hemp would have been able to take over competing industries almost instantaneously. According to Popular Mechanics, "10,000 acres devoted to hemp will produce as much paper as 40,000 acres of average pulp land." William Hearst owned enormous timber acreage, land best suited for conventional pulp, so his interest in preventing the growth of hemp can be easily explained. Competition from hemp would have easily driven the Hearst paper-manufacturing company out of business and significantly lowered the value of his land. Herer even suggests popularizing the term "marijuana" was a strategy Hearst used in order to create fear in the American public. "The first step in creating hysteria was to introduce the element of fear of the unknown by using a word that no one had ever heard of before... 'marijuana'" (ibid).

DuPont's involvment in the anti-hemp campaign can also be explained with great ease. At this time, DuPont was patenting a new sulfuric acid process for producing wood-pulp paper. "According to the company's own records, wood-pulp products ultimately accounted for more than 80% of all DuPont's railroad car loadings for the next 50 years" (ibid). Indeed it should be noted that "two years before the prohibitive hemp tax in 1937, DuPont developed a new synthetic fiber, nylon, which was an ideal substitute for hemp rope" (Hartsell). The year after the tax was passed DuPont came out with rayon, which would have been unable to compete with the strength of hemp fiber or its economical process of manufacturing. "DuPont's point man was none other than Harry Anslinger...who was appointed to the FBN by Treasury Secretary Andrew MEllon, who was also chairman of the Mellon Bank, DuPont's chief financial backer. Anslinger's relationship to Mellon wasn't just political, he was also married to Mellon's niece" (Hartsell). It doesn't take much to draw a connection between DuPont, Anslinger, and Mellon, and it's obvious that all of these groups, including Hearst, had strong motivation to prevent the growth of the hemp industry.

[Beartracks]

79. And THAT's what happens when corporatists...

... are left to influence policy. Sure, they may be experts... but experts with vested interests.

-------------------

[dixiegrrrrl]

100. Damn....cannot beleive I did not know that.

erowid is a fantastic site, y'all.

[TexasProgresive]

12. There is a reason for "little scientific research"

The federal restrictions on marijuana research are so draconian that it is nearly impossible to do. The prejudice against pot is as difficult to understand as the continued embargo of Cuba.

[anniebelle]

13. Scientific research bs

...."reluctant to advocate the use of cannabis since there has been little scientific research into its effectiveness, even though patients champion its use."

There has probably been more scientific research done on this drug than any other. Yet, you go down to the pharmacy and buy one of their 'legal' drugs and you still don't know if it will kill you, leave you a cripple, or just plain doesn't help. People that have chronic pain, and living with it right now I can tell you the horrors of not being able to sleep, not being able to walk or eat -- we would love to be able to ease our pain. And when I say chronic pain, this is something I've dealt with for over 20 years, and it doesn't get better, it gets worse with age.

[RainDog]

105. more than 17 THOUSAND studies currently exist

and the U.S. govt has been a major funder of those studies, according to Prof. Raphael Mechoulam - the chemist who isolated THC.

The continued prohibition of cannabis as an effective medication is an example of the failure of our govt. because of vested interests that don't care about the pain and suffering of Americans as long as their industry's profits benefit from this suffering.

This is a sad truth about American society.

[JustAnotherGen]

15. I believe it

I have ankylosing spondylitis. I'm just saying . . . if Marijuana were legal for my disease I *think* it assists with the intense physical pain I experience at night by preventing it - and allowing me to get a solid deep night's sleep. Just saying . . .

[bemildred]

16. There is plenty of research, and plenty of real life experience to back it up.

Cannabis has been used as medicine and for recreational purposes for thousands of years. But You don't hear about it much because it is not politically expedient.

[RoccoR5955]

17. I could have told you that 30 years ago! n/t

[austin_democrat]

18. Legalize!!!

[MercutioATC]

22. Opiates have that effect, too.

Legalize heroin!!!

[SammyWinstonJack]

29. Fer realz?

Comparing pot to heroin? :silly:

[era veteran]

33. No they do not, I have painkillers that work but complicate 0..

my life. I get a 2-3 day hangover from using painkillers. The weed works much better but is so expensive who can afford it? Ironic that opiates are cheaper than a fucking plant you can grow easily at home. Stupid law. For people in chronic pain it is not funny. Understand???

[iamthebandfanman]

52. opiates are already legal, dont need heroin n/t

[Tuesday Afternoon]

26. K&R

[pattmarty]

27. LEGALIZE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dotymed]

34. "Our rights" do not supercede

the "rights" of the pharmacological industries, for profit prisons, lawyers, judiciary, CIA...etc..
They make huge profits on keeping it illegal.
Just like organized crime and prohibition.
Amazingly(?), during prohibition, the Whitehouse always kept a fully stocked bar....

[irislake]

30. I am still fuming

because I had to have friends bring in an illegal substance to my bedside in a Toronto hospital. I had stage four lymphoma and was too nauseated to eat. Doctors tried everything to overcome my nausea but refused to try medical marijuana because they had "no experience of it."

After I had lost fifty pounds my friends brought in marijuana tea and cookies and the effects were magical. I became ravenous immediately and began to eat. Responded to treatment and went into remission. Cancer free at present.

I doubt if I would be here if it weren't for the marijuana.

I am sure it is better for pain than legal drugs but there is no doubt it makes it possible for cancer patients to eat.

It disgusts me that the present Conservative Prime Minister is so vindictive and irrational about drugs. I cannot understand why Canadian voters don't dump the bastard.

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[glitch]

38. I witnessed something similar with my mother's experience with pancreatic cancer.

I had no opinion before about marijuana, now I despise the people who oppose its legalization.

I am glad you have such wonderful friends, and that you made it through the grinder.
:hug:

[aka-chmeee]

39. The Other Side!

Usually any obscure government funded study determines that "smoking 2 kilos of marijuana daily for 20 years may cause an increased probability of psychoses 50 years later" or some such nonsense
is front page material. It always sets me off when I see ads for any of the extremely expensive (and obscenely profitable)products of BIG Pharma and they get to the part where they start listing all the different ways their product can kill you or make the rest of your life a living hell...and you know they are not OVERstating the dangers. Check with your physician and see if death, disability, pain and suffering are right for you!

[T Wolf]

40. Wouldn't it be funny (but not in a humerous way) to someday live in a future where

the full benefits of this natural, organic, "god-made" crop are known and utilized by society?

As time goes on, we slowly learn of the good that results from its use. But its association with hippies and revolution have, for the time being, doomed it to the category of dangerous. What a bad joke on all of us, especially those who need it for medicinal purposes.

So telling that the push for moderation of the laws is only now gaining any traction - and only because some are seeing it as an economic benefit via taxation.

Must we do everything so totally ass-backwards?

[AlbertCat]

47. this natural, organic, "god-made" crop

Not to be contrary or anything, but...

All Pharma is "god made" and natural. I mean, it's molecules. There is much harmful "god made" stuff so "natural" is not all it's cut out to be. Herbals may indeed have benefits, but Pharma is usually just the good stuff from the herbs without all the other stuff in herbs that doesn't do anything. Even if a molecule is synthesized, it's still the same molecule that's in herbs. Aspirin comes from birch tree bark. But crewing birch bark is not any better than taking an aspirin, y'know.

Part of the "problem" with taking pot seriously is, smoking is a lousy, or at least not a very clinical delivery system. It sorta keeps it in the "recreational" realm.

[T Wolf]

48. God-made vs. man-made is the point. Of course, EVERYTHING is made up of molecules. But pharma has

to do a lot to get that naturally-occurring substance into a dose that is effective. No such intervention is necessary for cannabis.

The original comparison is between alcohol and dope as a recreational substance.

The message still is the same.

[irislake]

55. Why do so many people think you have to smoke it?

You can eat it or drink it. Also most recent studies show smoking marijuana does NOT cause lung cancer. Nicotine does.

[phleshdef]

92. Nicotine doesn't cause lung cancer either. Its the other crap in cigs.

You could chew nicotine gum your whole life. You may get some problems from elevated blood pressure because its a stimulant, but you won't get lung cancer.

As for marijuana, you can get a decent vaporizer which removes most of the carcinogens.

[liberation]

89. Your silly red herring aside, you don't have to smoke pot.

There are plenty of more "acceptable" delivery methods. But I am sure then, you will have problems with baked goods not tied directly to the Girl Scouts or something...

[Bluenorthwest]

41. It is good to see this study

it supports what so many millions of people know, not only that marijuana eases chronic pain, but also that the typically prescribed pain medications are destructive and life altering.

[FirstLight]

46. yes, it does...

I have been noticing that lately as well. different strains are actually less 'stoney' and more about pain relief...which I am sure I would know more about if I had a MM card...but I am too chicken to incriminate myself. (Even with debilitating psoriatic arthritis, i wouldn't want to be on the fed list.)

I hope we continue to see the tide of awareness shift - the plant (cannibis and hemp)is a real godsend, in medicine, textile, food and fuel possibilities

[iamthebandfanman]

49. you know, relieving physical pain is the one benefit ive never gotten from pot.

its never ever helped me with physical pain... then again neither do opiates really... so maybe it has something to do with me personally.

definitely helps for other things though.

i always smoke some pot when i have an upset stomach... without fail it always calms it.

[woofless]

60. Try a tincture!

I broke my back (compression fracture of two vertebrae) several years ago. It hurts, always. I have been a stoner for forty years and while MJ helps cronic pain when you smoke it, I always still had pain. Then I made a tincture of Everclear and high grade PAC NW buds. The first time I took a dropper full under my tongue (yes, it burns) I was amazed that the pain was GONE in five minutes. That lasted several hours. Since then I have made tincture three more times. In the last several months I have taken NO ibuprofen and NO opiates at all for pain. NONE. I expected to be really stoned in the head but that doesn't seem to happen. The pain relief is superb with this method, and I am not totally wasted. I likee.

Woof

[defendandprotect]

51. Legalize Marijuana -- and could we please have RAYON back???

[Zephie]

54. I've had severe migraine with aura since I was 6

The aura is so intense that I actually go blind from it taking up my whole range of vision for anywhere from half an hour to two. After the aura reaches it's peak the pain kicks in and I loose all ability to function beyond lying curled up and moaning. I had been on various meds since it began to try to treat the pain but nothing has ever been effective... Until I started smoking weed. I used to be extremely anti-marijuana in my teens (ha..) but I had heard that it was an effective pain killer and finally threw up my hands and said fine what the hell, it can't screw me up worse than this pain does. I can now function normally when having a migraine. It's amazing. I can cook, clean, walk my dog (though that makes me a bit paranoid), and generally do day to day living when one of these monsters strike. So thank you cannabis. =)

[lark]

56. About 7 years ago, had a meltdown and couldn't sleep

In 3 days I slept 2 hours, actually ran into a wall walking down my hall and knocked myself out. Went thru over a year of prescription meds, weak ones didn't work, strong ones made me feel dizzy and drugged out in the morning, anti-dpressants made me feel like the world had no color or joy anymore. At a party, someone offerred me a joint, and voila, I slept like a baby. Since then, I'm totally off the Xanax and Eleavil, smoke a bowl at night and sleep great! Funny that the FDA supports all these drugs that really hurt a lot of people, but don't support a natural substance that is fine when used responsibily.

[lovuian]

57. yes

Bingo!
Give this too people again

[DeSwiss]

62. K&R n/t

[AllyCat]

63. "little scientific research into its effectiveness"

The perception of pain is different for everyone. If people say it helps, it frickin' helps. I'd rather have people smoking/eating/drinking dope than hooked on narcotics the rest of their lives.

Marijauna as a form of pain relief is not only rational, it is ethical.

[laughingliberal]

70. In nursing school in the old days when the nurse was taught to assess for 'objective signs' of pain

as well as the patient's reporting. Today, a more enlightened time, the rule is the patients are in pain when they say they are in pain.

[Dappleganger]

65. My experience has shown it works great for neuro and muscular pain.

But it doesn't work well as a muscle relaxer. It doesn't give me freakish nightmares, induce vomiting and nausea, or develop worse withdrawal symptoms than opiates. It can lead to weight gain (it makes me about as hungry as when taking prednisone and other steroids). It does wonders for a migraine headache (the real deal, with the aura).

Right now I'm currently taking four different pain meds for my back and wish to God that I had a good stash available instead. They are pretty rough on my stomach, too.

[tridim]

67. It's the best sleep-aid on the Planet.

Period.

No side-effects, except mild euphoria. Horrors!

[dixiegrrrrl]

101. Wierdly, for me it produces insomnia about 4 hours after I fall asleep for the night.

so does alcohol.
When I have used either, even one drink, I will wake up and cannot get back to sleep.

Haven't drank in years and years, tho.

[mike_c]

69. a little butter extract is the BEST cure for pain related insomnia, too....

I make cookies and brownies at about 1 teaspoon dosage (that's one tsp pot butter per cookie, good strong butter). One quarter cookie in the evening helps me sleep like a baby. My back has been acting up a lot lately, keeping me awake at night or waking me up every time I turn over. A quarter cookie at dinner time is exactly right for me-- helps me sleep like a log, no grogginess in the AM, and the slight euphoria that builds slowly during the evening is wonderful, too. If I don't have anything major to work on that evening, I often increase the dosage to half a cookie.

Pot is wonderful stuff. Absolutely wonderful.

[DiverDave]

72. Nothing will happen

this will be shelved just as all the other study's that show MJ is beneficial.

[felix_numinous]

74. A marijuana/hemp based economy

makes economical and ecological sense, besides all of the medical benefits. Legalization seems the sane choice now.

[Bennyboy]

78. HOLY SHIT< THIS IS GROUNDBREAKING NEWS!

Good god, we need freaking studies to tell us what we all have known for centuries. Good stuff, here.

Next thing you know man will have landed on the dark side of the moon.

[BlueJac]

80. Duh, WTF it didn't take a genious to find that out!

What fools people have become!

[A Physicist]

85. Marijuana users need to...

I forgot what I was going to say.

[daggahead]

87. No Shit!

And this just in ... water quenches thirst.

[pitchforksandtorches]

90. Man....turn down the music. ...I can't see the joint.

n/t

[Uncle Joe]

93. Kicked but too late to recommend.

Thanks for the thread, alp.

[alfredo]

94. I mix it with Radiohead or Miles Davis, so for at least

an hour I feel no pain.

[retired af major]

96. HA! Take that DEA!

Its well past time for the government to reclassify cannabis from Schedule I.

A long list of medicines based on cannabis/cannaboids:

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000883

[dixiegrrrrl]

103. A long list of profit making synthetics, that is.

That is what really bites me.

It is also what creates contempt for the government, among so many other things.

[RainDog]

104. The Veterans Administration is the first Federal Agency that has recognized mmj

for the treatment of PTSD.

I'm saddened to see people on this site who choose to remain ignorant about this important medical and civil liberties issue.

Some people simply refuse to accept evidence - I have never understood why some people simply shut down their brains and refuse to accept that something they have been told all their lives is a lie.

but I've seen it over and over.