Medical Marijuana

[Deltadeliquent]

I have no problem with medical MJ.
But I think it has to be regulated. Not like in Canada, where you can complain of a headache and be allowed to smoke or grow MJ. It’s way too easy.

Because of the real abuse of it, why not make it a hospital administered only drug, like so many already?

 

[eltonej]

"

Look if you won’t take my word for it, why not take the Holy See’s : **No Medical Marijuana at Vatican Pharmacy May 23, 2002

VATICAN, May 23, 02 (CWNews.com) – The Vatican’s pharmacy will not fill prescriptions for medical marijuana, it has announced.

catholicculture.org/news/features/index.cfm?recnum=18206**

The feigned use of pot for “medicinal” reasons is just that* feigned*. Folks feel better when stoned, and docs who have no problem dispensing Valium and Prozac like they are candy will have no problem prescribing “medicinal” pot either. Keep in mind the portion of the drug addicted population that abuses prescription drugs. It is actually greater than street drugs here in the good ole USA. Dope is for dopes.

Glenda" - The Pope is not a doctor. Why do people take medical advice from a religious leader? Unless one’s looking for Moral Guidance now that’s different and has nothing to do with the medical benefits of anything. Morals should not be involved with medical treatments. What do you think He will think about those of you who who choose to allow sick and dieing children and adults to suffer? Epilepsy seizure control, remember? Oh right you don’t believe. Well what will He think about His believers questioning His reasoning in Creation regarding marijuana. Did He place it here for no reason? You have to realize and accept that we have been systematically lied to and misled over the past 40 years (according to CNN Dr Sanjay Gupta) about marijuana starting with Richard Nixon. His Drug War was a political platform for his presidential election. Such a good one every other politician used it for 40 years. “Quote: “Look, we understood we couldn’t make it illegal to be young or poor or black in the United States, but we could criminalize their common pleasure. We understood that drugs were not the health problem we were making them out to be, but it was such a perfect issue…that we couldn’t resist it.”- John Ehrlichman, White House counsel to President Nixon on the rationale of the War on Drugs.” Not shocked yet read what Nixon says hear, “Quote: “[Nixon] emphasized that you have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks” Haldeman, his Chief of Staff wrote, “The key is to devise a system that recognizes this while not appearing to.” And then he came up with the War On Drugs and the Southern Strategy.” Please don’t be offended Pres Nixon said it not me. These illnesses, suffering and dieing are very real folks. So are the medical benefits of marijuana. Denying scientific facts we’ll get us and this country in big trouble fast. Forgive me I don’t mean to argue but facts are facts, I’m one of them and therefore head strongly passionate about medical marijuana. And science is science and it hurts me for people to perpetuate the lie that marijuana has no medical benefits. Dr Gupta informed us that marijuana was originally placed in Schedule I in 1972 due to lack of science about it. Not due to science against it. They did not know then. What was it He said about not allowing the truth to be taught and spread? The US Gov’t made their own truth about the issue of the medical benefits from marijuana and that was a lie they perpetuated for over 40 years. Learn about the Endocannabinoid System the CB1 and CB2 Receptors throughout our brain and body and why marijuana is the health benefit it is and why marijuana is not physically addictive nor fatal. Clue, there are no cannabinoid receptors in the Brain Stem.
“The Endocannabinoid System” An evolving body of science about our physiology was not available to us in school (and unfortunately this information is still absent in most nursing and medical schools). All animals except for insects have an endogenous (made within the body) cannabinoid system, or endocannabinoid system (ECS) (Richmond, 2010). It has been found that we make our own cannabinoids, and they are similar in structure to those of the cannabis plant; further, we have receptors for these molecules." Have a blessed day everyone, and try not to hate me. You wouldn’t believe the prejudice I get for being a mmj patient. I was forced to move from Iowa to Colorado away from my 3 year and 6 month old granddaughters now that’s what I call painful.
thomhartmann.com/forum/2012/09/nixons-drug-war-re-inventing-jim-crow-targeting-counter-culture. atrainceu.com/course-module/1864124-105_marijuana-for-medical-use-module-03.

 

[edwest2]

“” - The Pope is not a doctor. Why do people take medical advice from a religious leader? Unless one’s looking for Moral Guidance now that’s different and has nothing to do with the medical benefits of anything. Morals should not be involved with medical treatments. What do you think He will think about those of you who who choose to allow sick and dieing children and adults to suffer? Epilepsy seizure control, remember? Oh right you don’t believe. Well what will He think about His believers questioning His reasoning in Creation regarding marijuana. Did He place it here for no reason? You have to realize and accept that we have been systematically lied to and misled over the past 40 years (according to CNN Dr Sanjay Gupta) about marijuana starting with Richard Nixon. His Drug War was a political platform for his presidential election. Such a good one every other politician used it for 40 years. “Quote: “Look, we understood we couldn’t make it illegal to be young or poor or black in the United States, but we could criminalize their common pleasure. We understood that drugs were not the health problem we were making them out to be, but it was such a perfect issue…that we couldn’t resist it.”- John Ehrlichman, White House counsel to President Nixon on the rationale of the War on Drugs.” Not shocked yet read what Nixon says hear, “Quote: “[Nixon] emphasized that you have to face the fact that the whole problem is really the blacks” Haldeman, his Chief of Staff wrote, “The key is to devise a system that recognizes this while not appearing to.” And then he came up with the War On Drugs and the Southern Strategy.” Please don’t be offended Pres Nixon said it not me. These illnesses, suffering and dieing are very real folks. So are the medical benefits of marijuana. Denying scientific facts we’ll get us and this country in big trouble fast. Forgive me I don’t mean to argue but facts are facts, I’m one of them and therefore head strongly passionate about medical marijuana. And science is science and it hurts me for people to perpetuate the lie that marijuana has no medical benefits. Dr Gupta informed us that marijuana was originally placed in Schedule I in 1972 due to lack of science about it. Not due to science against it. They did not know then. What was it He said about not allowing the truth to be taught and spread? The US Gov’t made their own truth about the issue of the medical benefits from marijuana and that was a lie they perpetuated for over 40 years. Learn about the Endocannabinoid System the CB1 and CB2 Receptors throughout our brain and body and why marijuana is the health benefit it is and why marijuana is not physically addictive nor fatal. Clue, there are no cannabinoid receptors in the Brain Stem.
“The Endocannabinoid System” An evolving body of science about our physiology was not available to us in school (and unfortunately this information is still absent in most nursing and medical schools). All animals except for insects have an endogenous (made within the body) cannabinoid system, or endocannabinoid system (ECS) (Richmond, 2010). It has been found that we make our own cannabinoids, and they are similar in structure to those of the cannabis plant; further, we have receptors for these molecules." Have a blessed day everyone, and try not to hate me. You wouldn’t believe the prejudice I get for being a mmj patient. I was forced to move from Iowa to Colorado away from my 3 year and 6 month old granddaughters now that’s what I call painful.
thomhartmann.com/forum/2012/09/nixons-drug-war-re-inventing-jim-crow-targeting-counter-culture. atrainceu.com/course-module/1864124-105_marijuana-for-medical-use-module-03.

It is not approved for medical use by the FDA. If it was, it would be sold in pharmacies.

Peace,
Ed

 

[awke]

Do you also consider the ““medicinal” use” of opium and cocaine to be “dumb”?

This needs to be repeated.

Every drug that we use for legitimate medical care can be used for illegitimate and immoral reasons. The thought that marijuana is somehow more evil than other drugs is just plain bizarre.

There are other drugs that are far more addictive and harmful than marijuana, but we recognize that there are medical cases that warrant using such drugs. A good example of this is morphine. We would never want people using morphine for recreational purposes. It’s an opioid and extremely addictive. But yet we recognize there are legitimate medical cases where we need to use morphine for pain management. It’s not an “evil” drug; but a very useful and important drug (which can easily be abused if we’re not careful).

 

[eltonej]

• Every drug that we use for legitimate medical care can be used for illegitimate and immoral reasons.

True however I question how morals fit in when deciding what medical treatments will be available to the patients. The moral point might have a place in the legalization of Retail Marijuana. But how do morals play a part in determining safe medical practice in the United States? And how do we decide what strata of society has the right kind of morals or not, and who will tell the losers that their morals just aren’t righteous enough? Not to mention the color of their eyes. Isn’t that what we’re changing now? Out of Touch politicians who put Prohibition in place really thought they were doing the right thing even though the same problem that exists now also existed then. There is NO Research done on marijuana. And its time has been coming but the US feels knowledge and education of the cannabis plant is dangerously addictive and fatal. Yeah right marijuana and heroin are the same. Tell that to the junkie when you take his heroin away and offer him marijuana. He’ll move faster than his weak and worn out body is able. When Heroin owns you, and it will if you use it, just like morphine, oxycontin, oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, Zohydro, Tylox, and there’s more but everyone one of them comes from raw opium except for synthetics like Demerol. Also Medical Marijuana cured me of a heroin addiction by giving me Methadone Maintenance for 10 years. I wanted medical marijuana to treat heroin addiction but Iowa said no Methadone Maintenance, and by the way, Methadone is one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs in the world. After moving to Colorado and smoking medical marijuana it released me from the death grip of Heroin Addiction. How can that be wrong? Should I rather have rolled over and died instead of using medical marijuana. I don’t think so and neither does He.

 

[glendab]

Hello Elton.

… But how do morals play a part in determining safe medical practice in the United States? .

I love this question. If morals played a part in medical practice today, there would be no physicians willing to commit abortion and you’d have to cross the boarder to find the Pill. There would also be nearly no persons addicted to prescription drugs because they’d be dispensed morally which precludes addictive levels. Anything with addictive potential would be used sparingly if at all as is the correct way to dispense them. If medical practices in the USA were morally commendable,** we’d all be healthier and safer.**Glenda

 

[SyroMalankara]

Let’s say marijuana is not strictly speaking a “medicine”… aspirin, acetaminophen, codeine, and other drugs are used to treat something as simple and common as back pain. All of the mentioned drugs can cause liver damage and other complications, even when taken as suggested. If marijuana can relieve the back pain and has no complications,

 

[eltonej]

Greetings glendab. I have to disagree with one comment and that was, - “There would also be nearly no persons addicted to prescription drugs because they’d be dispensed morally which precludes addictive levels.” - To my knowledge there is no ‘moral’/‘non-addictive’ dose of Morphine, Dilaudid, Fentanyl or Diacetylmorphine (Heroin). Heroin is legal in the UK for end of life issues and opiates are a much needed drug in a doctor’s arsenal no doubt. Opiates are not prejudice. They addict all mammalian life forms at equal levels. Living in New York in the 80’s and working in a midtown Manhattan recording studio for more than a decade I’ve seen Christian, Muslims, atheists, man, woman and child all become addicted to heroin 100% equally, no mercy. It will spare no one for no reason. Our medical society doesn’t totally realize this yet, some do, but the fact is medical marijuana is the safest, most effective substance we have in fighting opiate addiction. I know because in 1984-85 I was addicted in New York. Cannabis sativa enabled me to successfully stop all opiates and maintain opiate freedom where all prior efforts had failed and the most amazing part to it was, I got out alive and am still opiate free over 15 years later. To others this is Anecdotal Evidence. To the individual, me, who learned what the body goes through and how it feels while violently detoxing from Heroin and Methadone Maintenance and still getting out alive. I say, mark my words Cannabis will be a safe & therapeutic substance for Alcoholism and drug addiction. I recently lost a young friend to a Heroin overdose. The evils of Medical Marijuana are non existent when it comes Heroin its death, destruction and addiction from which the escape is against the addict. As I said I know.

 

[SyroMalankara]

Wow, just in time for our discussion:

news.yahoo.com/philippine-bishops-ok-marijuana-only-terminally-ill-182310481.html

Philippine Bishop’s Conference supports use of marijuana to ease pain for terminally ill.

 

[glendab]

Hello Elton.

Greetings glendab. I have to disagree with one comment and that was, - “There would also be nearly no persons addicted to prescription drugs because they’d be dispensed morally which precludes addictive levels.” - To my knowledge there is no ‘moral’/‘non-addictive’ dose of Morphine, Dilaudid, Fentanyl or Diacetylmorphine (Heroin). Heroin is legal in the UK for end of life issues and opiates are a much needed drug in a doctor’s arsenal no doubt. Opiates are not prejudice. They addict all mammalian life forms at equal levels. Living in New York in the 80’s and working in a midtown Manhattan recording studio for more than a decade I’ve seen Christian, Muslims, atheists, man, woman and child all become addicted to heroin 100% equally, no mercy. It will spare no one for no reason. Our medical society doesn’t totally realize this yet, some do, but the fact is medical marijuana is the safest, most effective substance we have in fighting opiate addiction. I know because in 1984-85 I was addicted in New York. Cannabis sativa enabled me to successfully stop all opiates and maintain opiate freedom where all prior efforts had failed and the most amazing part to it was, I got out alive and am still opiate free over 15 years later. To others this is Anecdotal Evidence. To the individual, me, who learned what the body goes through and how it feels while violently detoxing from Heroin and Methadone Maintenance and still getting out alive. I say, mark my words Cannabis will be a safe & therapeutic substance for Alcoholism and drug addiction. I recently lost a young friend to a Heroin overdose. The evils of Medical Marijuana are non existent when it comes Heroin its death, destruction and addiction from which the escape is against the addict. As I said I know.

It is insane to me to treat one drug addiction with another drug. As far as I know the only treatment for addiction is abstinence supported by the help of others who share in this common disease. This is done masterfully in the 12 Step recovery groups and many in the medical profession that take the time to find out about it can be very helpful too. Knowing as I do several persons who have beaten addictions just this way, they very jokingly refer to the reefer madness that some succumb to in trying t break free of addictions as the Marijuana Maintenance Program and it doesn’t work. Sorry. Ain’t buyin’ into the delusion that one addiction is better than another.

Glenda

 

[edwest2]

Marijuana addiction is real. Here is one example of a rehab facility.

narconon.org/drug-rehab/marijuana-rehab.html?gclid=COOngcyttL8CFWQYMgod1QsADw

Peace,
Ed

 

[Nacho45]

[SIGN][/SIGN]

It is not approved for medical use by the FDA. If it was, it would be sold in pharmacies.

Peace,
Ed

In response to the “the Pope is not a doctor” comment attempting to take a jab at the Pope… no, but the Catholic Church is saturated with doctors and scientists. Maybe, just maybe, the Pope seeks advice from those who know right from wrong and don’t get confused with politics.

 

[Tom_Baum]

America is not actually ‘the whole world’. Most of the world rejects marijuana as a positive thing for society an uphold its illegality.

I know America is not the whole world and I also realize that some Americans seem to think that it is, however, mob rule is not just an American thing, it seems to be more of a human thing anyway rather than a nationalistic thing.

Most of the world holds opium to be illegal yet does not deny people the use of opium’s products in medicine and since we are discussing “medical marijuana”, why should the “proven”, against great odds I would venture to say, benefits of medical marijuana be denied to those that it could be helpful to?

Most of the world rely on legitimate drug testing and trials and highly regulated use of medical products either chemical or organic and don’t advise dragging toxic substances into the body and mind, to assist the ill. They don’t rely on the drug cartels.

If you want to be serious about it, many of the “drugs” used in medicine are “highly toxic”, as a matter of fact many are out and out poisons but nevertheless have been shone to be helpful.

As far as “legitimate drug testing and trials and highly regulated use of medical products”, seems to me the “powers that be” have been very successful at blocking these and it has been people that are more interested in people as opposed to profit that have, on the sly one may say, found the benefits.

 

[Katholish]

Is marijuana really all that different from alcohol? Even aside from the medicinal question, it seems like a legitimate question to ask of it is moral for a Catholic to use pot for recreation.

Here is a good article that covers the arguments for both sides from a Catholic perspective:

Is the Recreational Use of Marijuana Immoral?

 

[TypesAndShadows]

I know America is not the whole world and I also realize that some Americans seem to think that it is, however, mob rule is not just an American thing, it seems to be more of a human thing anyway rather than a nationalistic thing.

Most of the world holds opium to be illegal yet does not deny people the use of opium’s products in medicine and since we are discussing “medical marijuana”, why should the “proven”, against great odds I would venture to say, benefits of medical marijuana be denied to those that it could be helpful to?

If you want to be serious about it, many of the “drugs” used in medicine are “highly toxic”, as a matter of fact many are out and out poisons but nevertheless have been shone to be helpful.

As far as “legitimate drug testing and trials and highly regulated use of medical products”, seems to me the “powers that be” have been very successful at blocking these and it has been people that are more interested in people as opposed to profit that have, on the sly one may say, found the benefits.

Yes, as I understand it the whole thing has been effectively hijacked, so that legitimate patients are trapped between:

1. those arguing that any and all use of the cannabis plant is evil, and so no use or proper research into extracting the helpful compounds can take place, because it’s all an evil stoner drug. Certainly, no legitimate pharamceutical company can get involved in producing controlled doses of the active compounds.
2. those who just want to get high, and so it is very hard to find medicinal cannabis low in THC to reduce the ‘high’ it gives you, and most ‘medicinal’ cannabis is sold by the dealer names with very little or no information about the proportions of the active compounds it contains.

Just look at the difficulty Charlotte Figi’s parents had in getting access to cannabidiol for their extremely sick daughter, and the continuing issues other parents of similarly sick children have in getting access to the oil. And even in that case, look at the serious lack of research into the effectiveness and potential side effects.

 

[edwest2]

I know America is not the whole world and I also realize that some Americans seem to think that it is, however, mob rule is not just an American thing, it seems to be more of a human thing anyway rather than a nationalistic thing.

Most of the world holds opium to be illegal yet does not deny people the use of opium’s products in medicine and since we are discussing “medical marijuana”, why should the “proven”, against great odds I would venture to say, benefits of medical marijuana be denied to those that it could be helpful to?

If you want to be serious about it, many of the “drugs” used in medicine are “highly toxic”, as a matter of fact many are out and out poisons but nevertheless have been shone to be helpful.

As far as “legitimate drug testing and trials and highly regulated use of medical products”, seems to me the “powers that be” have been very successful at blocking these and it has been people that are more interested in people as opposed to profit that have, on the sly one may say, found the benefits.

Studies are being done.

According to Bloomberg, “The National Institutes of Health has funded 196 projects on marijuana in fiscal 2014, according to an NIH database.” Research is expensive, and putting a new medication on the market has serious liability concerns if there is not enough unbiased science to back up its use. The makers/growers of medical marijuana will face lawsuits and recalls if their product causes harm that was not detected during the research phase.

Peace,
Ed

 

[andrewstx]

Just two days ago there was a special report on CNN dealing with this issue. (Yes Virginia there are other news sources besides Fox News).

They have been breaking the marijuana plant into different compounds with out the effect of 'getting high".

One of those marijuana compounds is proving effective in treating seizures with out the ‘high’. In the story they showed an 18 month old girl who went from seizures numbering in the dozens to single digits. With no high and helping with seizures I see absolutely no problems.

Personally I am diabetic with terrible pain from Neuropathy, I also have COPD so smoking is out of the question. But drops of a compound to help the pain with no getting high seems about ideal to me

 

[Mongol]

Heck, I don’t see how recreational use (in moderation) would be against Catholic teaching. Anyone who says it’s more harmful than alcohol (which, of course, is allowed in moderation) has no idea what they’re talking about, and probably has never done it.

And yes, before you ask, I do smoke pot occasionally (and by occasionally, I mean all the time, if I’m in WA and CO. Hasn’t rotted my brain yet!)

 

[edwest2]

If marijuana does help people with various medical issues, I sympathize, however, the problem of recreational use is still a problem. Pope Francis has spoken out against drug legalization.

catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=55886

I am on medications that have a long list of side effects, including death. I’ve read those lengthy package inserts that clearly describe all the bad things that might happen to me. My point is: these drugs have been approved by the FDA after going through a stringent approval process. So, I am concerned about people who use marijuana as a recreational drug. It has negative health effects.

drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana

Peace,
Ed

 

[glendab]

Hello Katholish.

Is marijuana really all that different from alcohol? Even aside from the medicinal question, it seems like a legitimate question to ask of it is moral for a Catholic to use pot for recreation.

Here is a good article that covers the arguments for both sides from a Catholic perspective:

Is the Recreational Use of Marijuana Immoral?

Cute name BTW. Yes, pot and beer are two different substances with two different effects. Think of it this way: both have been around forever but both haven’t always been used by persons. Beer yes, supposedly invented in Egypt thousands of years ago and very used and useful in many different civilizations. Pot, not so popular. Why is this? Because folks through the millennia know something you seem to not get: it is much more harmful than the “good” it can do to offset the harms it does produce.

How about this: you go to your neighbor’s house for a barbecue, but instead of the nice cool Bud you hope he hands you, he staggers over to you offering a joint? Want a little reefer with your burger or a beer? I’m betting you get a call on your cell phone that takes you away suddenly from your neighbor’s backyard.

Why do you think they call it dope?

Glenda