Medical marijuana: What does science say?

[yeahwho]

Here is my ongoing thread about Marijuana. I don't use drugs anymore nor do I drink. This doesn't make me a prohibitionist or a sanctimonious ass.

The odds I'd fire up a joint if it were legal today is 0. But the ongoing bullshit campaign against medical marijuana is totally unacceptable. It is 2008 and society is insane. Does anybody really think rampant marijuana abuse would ever become a problem if it were legalized?

So what does science say about medical marijuana and it's effects? (http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-marijuana18-2008aug18,0,4886601.story)


The truth, these researchers say, is that marijuana has medical benefits -- for chronic-pain syndromes, cancer pain, multiple sclerosis, AIDS wasting syndrome and the nausea that accompanies chemotherapy -- and attempts to understand and harness these are being hampered. Also, they add, science reveals that the risks of marijuana use, which have been thoroughly researched, are real but generally small.

Dr. Donald Abrams, chief of hematology and oncology at San Francisco General Hospital and professor of clinical medicine at UC San Francisco, says he sees cancer patients in pain, not eating or sleeping well, experiencing nausea and vomiting from treatment, and being depressed about their situation. He says he is glad that he lives in California, where use of medical marijuana is allowed by state law, although federal officials continue to raid cannabis dispensaries in the state and scrutinize practices of physicians who specialize in writing cannabis recommendations for patients.

"I can talk to patients about medicinal cannabis [and] I'm often recommending it to them for these indications," Abrams says.

What is it going to take to begin and understand Alcohol is insanely dangerous while marijuana is basically benign in comparison?

[alien autopsy]

its really about controlling people, forcing allopathic treatments that are way too expensive, and keeping people drunk and medicated. oh yeah, and then hemp.

[YoungRemy]

calm down and move to California, smoke some medical OG Kush and relax.

[alien autopsy]

been there done that. used to work for a few growers out in mendo. its a shame that somewhere so beautiful is so full of violence, paranoia and fear. the medical scene there is crazy. i knew three people who were shot at, two of which were hit. one dude whose finger got cut off....and three others who witnessed a murder. there was a dude found dead in the river no more than five minutes where i was working. he had just raided someones patch.
i knew several people who had their crops raided by the feds, and two who lost their houses because they could no longer pay the bills after being busted. that scene is way loco.

i do like the whole "we want medical/personal use and we have the right to vote it into being, and to protect our rights" mentality. but its just too much for me.

[alien autopsy]

dont get me wrong, there are some really good people out there doing it. people who care, who are trying to work outside the system to provide for themselves and their families. they have every right to do what they are doing. and they are doing it right....investing in solar panels and water systems, building natural buildings and running machines on biodiesel...they are making an effort to live real lives. thats what brought me out there in the first place. but i realized it just wasnt worth all the risk, fear and paranoia. id rather make it happen by working hard and learning.

[NoFenders]

Tax it, make some money. The court system isn't making half of what the gov could if it legalized it. It's quite harmless in my opinion compared to cigarettes and cocktails.

:cool:

[saz]

^nice. (y)

are you a libertarian?

[NoFenders]

No, just an experienced individual. :eek:

That was a joke people!

Anyway, it's funny you say that, because my friends think I should consider myself a libertaria. But I like my conservative card too much.

:cool:

[saz]

but libertarians are genuine conservatives (http://www.lp.org/platform). (y)

[NoFenders]

I may shop around in a couple months. This bread is getting stale.

:cool:

[alien autopsy]

i dont understand how you guys (girls?) can "shop" around for political "affiliations". how can you group yourself under someone elses idea of what is right, or possible. you are your own individual. you are not a libertarian, or a republican or a democrat conservative neocon nazi.

why sacrifice your own individuality by signing up to anothers beliefs?

be you for you.

[NoFenders]

Well that's all fine and dandy, but if you'd like somebody to work for you, you should probably figure out who your best bet is. I'm not planning on running for President any time soon.

Shopping around was meant to be used lightly. I have certain ways that can't be changed. Some love it, some don't so much. Either way, it's my choice. That's me bein me.



:cool:

[YoungRemy]

again, move to Los Angeles, get a prescription for insomnia, enjoy legal weed under prop 215 of California State law.

it is already decriminalized out here. in West Hollywood, laws protect private users in their homes and those who carry small amounts.

there's no gangland slayings going on out here that I know of, just a couple of raids by the feds. and like I said, they are not going after the users, they are going after the growers, shop owners, and other members of the Collective Caregivers.

but federal judges don't want to go anywhere near these cases, as the people of the state of california said they wanted decriminalized marijuana laws as well as medical marijuana available to those who need it...