Dad Gives Toddler Battling Brain Cancer Medical Marijuana

 
 
 

SPOKANE, Wash. — To call what the Hyde family has been through a “parent’s worst nightmare” sounds like a horrible cliche. But, it’s hard to imagine what else you could call it. Their two-year old son Cash was diagnosed last year with a stage 4 brain tumor; he nearly died more times than they can count.
He was miserable from the chemotherapy coursing through his body until his dad made a controversial decision to give cannabis to his young son.
Read complete article here:
http://www.kxly.com/news/27706509/detail.html

Pot patients extol drug’s medical benefits, despite ban in unincorporated SB County

JESSE B. GILL
Ffffffffffp!
That’s the sound Scott Bledsoe makes when he takes his medicine.
Bledsoe, 39, helps run a medical marijuana buying club out of his Crestline home. The members – there are about 10 – pay dues, buy medical marijuana in bulk and meet once a week to share what their money has bought.
Members must have medical marijuana recommendations from their doctors to enter Bledsoe’s home during meetings. The group does not provide – nor offer – marijuana to people without the recommendation.
Bledsoe, a Florida transplant, said he uses marijuana to treat depression and anxiety. He is also an activist who wants to see marijuana legalized in San Bernardino County for medicinal uses.
But in recent weeks, the county has made it tougher – though not impossible – for patients to get their hands on medical marijuana through land-use restrictions already seen elsewhere in the state.
Such restrictions ban dispensaries and collectives in places where cities haven’t already.
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a land-use ordinance March 22 that bans medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives in unincorporated areas.
Those areas include communities such as Mentone and Bloomington.
Supervisors also restricted the cultivation of the drug by legitimate patients to indoors only.
“Effectively, it shuts down access to collectives, it shuts down outdoor growing, and we suffer,” Bledsoe said, adding that the county has ignored the needs and concerns of medical marijuana patients in crafting the land-use code.
“We want sensible regulations, not outright bans or regulations so restrictive that we can’t obtain medical marijuana,” he said.
That argument does not appease county officials.
Land-use codes are not established to provide patients access to any drug, county spokesman David Wert said.
“It’s not the county’s job to make sure that people have access to medical marijuana,” he said. “Our job is to adopt a responsible land-use code, which is appropriate in regards to the needs and concerns of the neighbors.”
Wert noted that the county’s ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives doesn’t make it impossible for patients to obtain medical marijuana. Patients can obtain it at “certain medical facilities” and are able to grow marijuana plants inside their homes, he said.
Bledsoe and two members of his buying club were forthcoming about the health benefits they say marijuana offers them.
Jeremy Weissmiller, 33, of Crestline said he was medically retired from the Marine Corps after a 500-pound pallet of ammunition fell on him and shattered his back when he was serving in Afghanistan in 2001.
“I was diagnosed as an incomplete paraplegic,” he said. “I had lost almost all use of my legs.”
He said he has two 6-inch metal rods holding his spine together.
Weissmiller, 33, wears his military background like a badge of honor. His appearance – a large build with a cleanly shaven head – has gotten him turned away from medical marijuana dispensaries and collectives.
“They say I look too much like a cop,” he said.
Two years ago, Weissmiller said, he looked like an out-of- shape man who couldn’t get out of his wheelchair. That’s because that’s exactly what he was.
Given a litany of heavy medication – including Fentanyl, Percocet and Valium – Weissmiller said his liver swelled so much that doctors told him he needed to stop drinking.
“But I don’t drink,” he said. “It was because of the medication.”
Weissmiller turned to alternative forms of treatment.
“I learned that these medications were keeping me from rehabilitating,” he said. “I was dizzy all the time and it was messing up my liver and it was also messing up my legs some.”
He said he tried acupuncture and massage therapy to ease the pain caused by his accident.
And then he tried the thing he had only tried one other time – marijuana.
The effects were dramatic. He said the swelling in his liver subsided as he weaned himself off his medications. The marijuana eased his pain enough to where he began spending more and more time out of his wheelchair, he said.
Now, Weissmiller said, he doesn’t spend any time in his wheelchair. And he’s lost 80 pounds.
“I’m active and doing things again now,” he said. “And I’m out of the (wheelchair).”
Read complete article here:
http://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/news/ci_17935858

The dispensaries are under attack again – Lake County, CA

Written by Ron Green   
On Thursday, April 28, at 10 a.m., the Lake County Planning Commission will be considering a draconian medical marijuana dispensary ordinance proposed by the Community Development Department. 
The meeting will be on the first floor of the courthouse in Lakeport. I urge interested people to attend this meeting and show support for the dispensaries and medical marijuana patients. 
The Lake County Chamber of Commerce recently tried unsuccessfully to get the Board of Supervisors to totally ban medical marijuana dispensaries, which serve thousands of county residents. 
Now, the chamber and its allies are back with a regulatory ordinance so restrictive that it would close most of the dispensaries anyway.
Read complete article here:
http://lakeconews.com/content/view/19452/925/

Medical Marijuana Becoming Blockbuster Drug

Medical marijuana is now a $1.7-billion market in the U.S. This means that sales of medical marijuana rival the annual revenue generated by Viagra, a $1.9-billion business.
What’s more, the medical marijuana market is expected to nearly double in the next five years, and that’s just in the 15 U.S. states where the drug is legal. If another 20 states pass medical marijuana laws, which projections show is possible, the market could grow to $8.9 billion by 2016.
Read complete article here:
http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Non-food/Lifestyle/medical_marijuana_becoming_blockbuster_drug_0426110723.html

Volunteers Wanted For THC/DUI Study – Denver, CO

The news program HDNet World Report has asked CTI to help round up some volunteers for a study they are doing of how cannabis affects the driving of medical patients. The study will require volunteers to take a driving simulation test before and after ingesting or smoking cannabis. The news show will compare the results of the simulation tests and also interview patients as to how they believe cannabis affects their driving.
The tests will be done this Thursday or Friday in Denver. The tests and the interviews will take about 2 hours per person. You must be a medical marijuana patient with a valid Registry ID card and a valid Drivers License to participate. The show will provide free transportation and snacks to test participants. This will not require you to have a blood draw, this is just a driving simulator test.
If you are interested in helping with this study, please contact the producer as soon as possible. They are on a tight deadline.
David Pelcyger, Producer
HDNet World Report
Phone: (303) 542-5597
Web: http://www.hd.net/programs/hdnet-world-report/
Email: dpelcyger@hd.net
Read complete article here:
http://www.theweedblog.com/volunteers-wanted-for-thcdui-study/

Marijuana Compound Treats Multiple Health Issues

By Chris Kilham

Marijuana. Sierra de Juarez, Ensenada, Mexico.  (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

AP Marijuana. Sierra de Juarez, Ensenada, Mexico. (AP Photo/Guillermo Arias)

 

Today is known as National Marijuana Day or 4/20—and if the idea of having a marijuana deficiency sounds laughable to you, a growing body of science points at exactly such a possibility. Scientists have known that the active psychoactive compound in marijuana is THC, which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol.
In August 1990, researchers reported in the journal Naturethe discovery of receptors in the brain that specifically accommodate the cannabinoids in pot. Cannabinoids bind to particular neurological sites in the brain, as though the brain was specifically designed to utilize this plant. Did nature toss cannabinoid receptors into the brain by random chance? Are cannabinoid receptors part of an intelligent design for deriving maximum benefit from cannabis? Is cannabis a divine elixir of sacred communion for which we are ideally suited? Actually, a more sober answer seems likely. When there are receptors in the brain for a particular type of compound, that compound is made in the brain. This is true of many important agents that work to transmit brain messages of all types. So a hunt began to find such a compound.
In that vein, in 1992 researchers in Israel isolated the cannabinoid anandamide in the human brain. Unlike THC, anandamide is manufactured in the brain, and is therefore an endogenous cannabinoid. This agent, anandamide, is the compound that attaches to the built-in cannabinoid receptors in our brains. The name anandamide is based on the Sanskrit word ananda, which means bliss. Anandamide is a bliss molcule, enhancing greater well being and emotional satisfaction.
Ever since the pioneering work of Dr. William O’Shaughnessy on cannabis and pain compiled in the 1840’s a growing body of science has shown that cannabis offers relief for various types of pain. In the brain, the endogenous agent anandamide also plays a role in mitigating inflammation and pain. So both cannabinoids from inside and outside the body play a role in pain reduction. More recent studies show pain relief among sufferers of multiple sclerosis when cannabis is consumed.
Anandamide also plays a role in proper appetite, feelings of pleasure and well-being, and memory. Interestingly, cannabis also affects these same functions. Cannabis has been used successfully to treat migraine, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and glaucoma. So here is the seventy-four thousand dollar question. Does cannabis simply relieve these diseases to varying degrees, or is cannabis actually a medical replacement in cases of deficient anandamide?
Read complete article here:
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2010/03/10/cannabis-deficient/

Hemp Seed Oil

Posted by SarahK

In honor of today, April 20th, also known the world over as 420, we here at Truth in Aging decided it was time to take a look into hemp seed oil. Note that we have already taken a look at cannabis specifically and its interesting acne fighting benefits.  This article is not a plug for cannabis (though it is also not an anti-marijuana post); in fact, hemp seed oil is perfectly legal since it contains only trace amounts of THC (the active ingredient in marijuana that is responsible for its mind altering effects). Hemp seed oil is produced from the Cannabis sativa plant, but that’s pretty much where its relation to many stoners’ drug of choice ends.
A quick Google search turns up a myriad of positive anecdotal evidence regarding hemp oil. Most of the praise involves the substance’s ability to heal eczema and other dry or itchy skin issues. It has also been touted on several message boards as a savior for those with rosacea, sensitive or inflamed skin. Because hemp oil is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, it is a great emollient for hair (as well as a fantastic health booster) and may be particularly helpful in the dry, winter months. The high protein content of hemp oil will also improve hair’s condition, as well as help nail growth and strength.But is there any scientific evidence that backs hemp oil’s magic, or is it pretty much just snake oil?
Though there certainly isn’t enough of it, there is some research that indicates hemp oil’s effectiveness; at the very least, the studies prove that the oil should be further examined. One study found that topical application of gamma-linolenic acid creams to areas of the skin suffering from pruritus, or itch, helped alleviate the itch as opposed to a placebo cream. GLA is a fatty acid and one if its primary sources is hemp seed oil.
A twenty-week randomized, single-blind crossover study found that in comparison to olive oil, “dietary hempseed oil caused significant changes in plasma fatty acid profiles and improved clinical symptoms of atopic dermatitis. It is suggested that these improvements resulted from the balanced and abundant supply of [polyunsaturated fatty acids] in this hempseed oil.”
Read complete article here:
http://truthinaging.com/uncategorized/hemp-seed-oil

Supporters of legalizing marijuana in Arkansas rally for support

Written by Lisa Hutson


LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) — Supporters of the legalization of marijuana in Arkansas will gather at the Federal Courts building to rally for support.
April 20th or 4:20 is a day recognizing the consumption of cannabis.
Christine Beems says, “We have tended to associate cannabis with…lazy hippies! Let’s just say it! Potheads!”
Beems came from Shirley to demonstrate with members of the Mountain Home Teapot Party. She says legalizing marijuana would change Arkansas for the better.
“We are putting people in prison for non-violent crimes and more so we are putting people in prison for growing or consuming a plant which is essentially older than the human race. It has to stop,” says Beems.
Read complete article here:
http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/154195/2/Supporters-of-legalizing-marijuana-in-Arkansas-rally-for-support

Court: Marijuana smoke odor in car not enough for police action

A man smokes marijuana during a rally for the legalization of marijuana in Toronto, April 20, 2010. REUTERS/Mark Blinch

A man smokes marijuana during a rally for the legalization of marijuana in Toronto, April 20, 2010.

Credit: Reuters/Mark Blinch

 

BOSTON (Reuters) – The smell of marijuana smoke is no longer enough reason for police to order someone out of a car, now that pot has been decriminalized in Massachusetts, the state’s highest court said in a decision published on Tuesday.

The ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court was in response to an appeal filed by lawyers for Benjamin Cruz from Boston, whom police ordered out of a car in 2009 when they approached the vehicle parked in front of a fire hydrant and smelled marijuana.
Cruz was later charged with possession of a class B controlled substance with intent to distribute and committing a controlled substance violation in a school zone.
The high court said a key factor in its decision was the 2008 change in state law which made possession of one ounce or less of marijuana a civil rather than a criminal offense.
“Without at least some other additional fact to bolster a reasonable suspicion of actual criminal activity, the odor of burned marijuana alone cannot reasonably provide suspicion of criminal activity to justify an exit order,” the opinion said.
Read complete article here:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/19/us-marijuana-car-idUSTRE73I6IA20110419

Ill and need marijuana? Head south to Rwanda

By Christine Mungai  (email the author)
According to the proposed law, the drug will only be administered in health institutions to relieve pain or to treat mental problems. Photo/FILE

According to the proposed law, the drug will only be administered in health institutions to relieve pain or to treat mental problems. Photo/FILE

 

It could be the first step in fulfilling the hazy dream of many a reggae artiste.
Marijuana, considered as dangerous as cocaine and heroin in the statute books, remains illegal in all East African countries.
However, this may change. In June last year, Rwanda took the initial steps in legalising marijuana strictly for medical purposes, the first country in Africa to do so.
The proposed law provides that marijuana will only be administered in health institutions to relieve pain or to treat mental problems.
Rwanda’s Minister of Health, Dr Richard Sezibera while presenting the draft law to Parliament, said that the objective of the Bill was to contribute to the protection of the population while “ensuring that drugs and psychotropic substances are exclusively available for scientific and medical purposes”.
If the Bill passes into law, Rwanda will join the ranks of countries such as Belgium and Canada, where, with a doctor’s prescription, patients are allowed to possess a small amount of the drug to alleviate chronic debilitating symptoms such as neuropathic pain and side effects of chemotherapy.
The implications of the move in the region are potentially far-reaching.
It is speculated that with the greater availability of a relatively affordable pain treatment that medical marijuana offers, Rwanda could conceivably become the hospice care capital of East Africa, in a region where specialised care and anti-pain medication for the terminally ill is often out of reach of most patients.

 
Read complete article here:
http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/news/Ill+and+need+marijuana+Head+south+to+Rwanda/-/2558/1145978/-/5alxgv/-/