Cannabis Makes Recovery for Opioid Addiction Easier

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A new study suggests that people recovering from an addiction to painkillers may experience better results through the use of cannabis.
Earlier this year, researchers at Columbia University discovered that the effects of opioid withdrawal seemed to be significantly diminished for those patients who were able to consume marijuana during a recovery program.
The results of the study, which were published in the September 2015 edition of the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, reaffirms previous research, which shows that cannabis can be beneficial in alleviating some of the harsh symptoms associated with addiction.
Researchers found that after administering doses of prescription THC (dronabinol) and a placebo to test subjects going through both in-patient and outpatient detox programs for opioid dependency that the withdrawal symptoms were less severe in those patients getting the THC. Also, patients who smoked pot throughout their outpatient recovery reported less restlessness, got more sleep and were more likely to complete their respective program.
 
Full Article:
http://cannabisnowmagazine.com/cannabis/medical/cannabis-makes-recovery-for-opioid-addiction-easier

Canadian judge Pierre Chevalier calls marijuana laws ‘obsolete and ridiculous’ as he awards a symbolic $1.30 fine

Caroline Mortimer @cjmortimer

 
A judge in the Canadian province of Quebec has called laws governing cannabis “obsolete and ridiculous” as he handed a $1.30 penalty to a man sentenced for possession.
Judge Pierre Chevalier issue the symbolic fine to 46-year-old Mario Larouche, who had been found with 30 marijuana plants.
Larouche said he was in pain after a road accident and was unable to get a legitimate prescription for medical marijuana.
 
Full Article:
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/canadian-judge-pierre-chevalier-calls-marijuana-laws-obsolete-and-ridiculous-as-he-awards-a-symbolic-a6757561.html
 

Dr. Sue Sisley: Cannabis Medical Research is Being Kept in the Dark as Thousands Die Each Year

Henry Truc

 
For many decades, one of the strongest arguments for the legalization of cannabis has been the potential medicinal benefits derived from the plant. What we do know is that within the human body exists the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), a group of receptors throughout the brain and central nervous system that respond to compounds from the cannabis plant. The issue, however, is that there are over 400 natural compounds and at least 138 identified cannabinoids, all having various effects on the body.
To date, scientific research in the U.S. has been focused on isolating the various cannabinoids for treatment. Meanwhile, the medical and scientific community’s understanding of the whole cannabis plant has largely been reliant on anecdotal evidence and observational studies due to various regulatory and political barriers.
No one knows this more than Dr. Sue Sisley, one of the leading medical scientists and advocates for wider education on the effects of whole-plant cannabis. Dr. Sisley is a leading voice in the medicinal cannabis community, and her work with military veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been recognized as groundbreaking, as evidenced by her being named as Researcher of the Year by Americans for Safe Access at the National Medical Cannabis Unity Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.
But her work at times has also put her at the center of the legalization debate. For instance, after nearly a decade working in various capacities at the University of Arizona, the school terminated the relationship and her research. As part of our Future of Cannabisproject, Equities.com had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Sisley in an extended interview to discuss the obstacles she’s faced, what she’s doing now to further her research with the support of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), and her thoughts on the advocacy of cannabis legalization.
 
Full Article:
http://www.equities.com/news/dr-sue-sisley-cannabis-medical-research-is-being-kept-in-the-dark-as-thousands-die-each-year#sthash.uPMCQvu5.dpuf

Grass Fed: Documentary tracks comic’s slim-down courtesy medical marijuana

BILL BROWNSTEIN, MONTREAL GAZETTE
 
 
 
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Montreal filmmaker Ezra Soiferman could have considered calling his latest documentary Mission Impossible. The task at hand was daunting: Soiferman sought to chronicle wild-man Montrealer Mike Paterson’s efforts to get in shape before his wedding.
Paterson, a gonzo wit/wrestler/actor/pitchman, merely wanted to lose 50 pounds in four months before taking the marital tumble to his beloved Monika Schmidt in Mexico. He also wanted to rid himself of his debilitating sciatica condition.
No small task, since Paterson had spent much of his adult and late-adolescent life knocking back brewskis as well as getting knocked around in wrestling rings. But Paterson also feared a premature demise like his comedy heroes Chris Farley and John Belushi.
So Soiferman had a plan and it involved pot, and Paterson was all ears – still in tact in spite of a lot of tugging on them in the ring.
Having done his homework, Soiferman deduced that Paterson could both overcome his sciatica and lose weight by obtaining a legal medical marijuana prescription.
One hitch: Paterson was averse to smoking, so he embarked on a (legal) hemp-infused diet as well as cannabis edibles to munch on. A vegetarian in spite of his heft, Paterson had little difficulty adapting to his new diet. More problematic would be an exercise regime, and so he also hit the gym – literally.
 
Full Article:
http://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/celebrity/grass-fed-documentary-tracks-comics-slim-down-courtesy-medical-marijuana