Alternative Medicine for the Treatment of Cancer

The active ingredient in medical marijuana known as 9 tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is currently being investigated for its different uses in various clinical studies. One of the most recent effects of THC that is currently being studied is its ability to inhibit the growth of tumors and this discovery might have far reaching consequences on the research associated with the treatment of cancer. The findings of a research study conducted by Salazar et al. that have been published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation indicate that THC found in medical hash oil triggers the autophagy of tumor cells.

Autophagy refers to the process of cell degradation where the cells start destroying themselves. MMJ is known to inhibit tumor growth by activating a series of events within cancer cells that triggers their death in a programmed manner (also referred to as apoptosis). Medical cannabis has a number of useful cannabinoids and other components and their ability to produce certain physiological changes is also being investigated. Hash oil that is loaded with these useful and interesting cannabinoids like 9 THC and other may hold the answer for the treatment of cancer as suggested by researchers in Spain who published their findings in The British Journal of Cancer.

Their study was primarily geared toward treating prostate cancer and the results clearly showed that this set of molecules that are originally found in cannabis could be a potential solution. 9 THC does not kill the cancer cells ravenously and without any discrimination. In fact, the process of cell death is extremely targeted and highly specific as THC adopts a cell surface receptor binding mechanism that activates a cell signaling pathway, thereby triggering cell death. As these changes are brought about at the cellular level with various molecular players and factors coming into play, scientists were able to use knockout mice and siRNA to understand how the entire process works. Apart from being orderly and autophagy being one of the most important steps contributing to this process of programmed cell death, the beneficial biological effects of cannabinoids in coping with symptoms of other chronic ailments and diseases is also in progress.

Medical marijuana not only slows the spread and growth of cancer, but it also kills them and its use in the prevention and treatment of bowel cancer is well documented. Professor Chris Paraskeva in Bristol whose work is funded by Cancer Research UK is investigating the anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids for the treatment of this type of cancer. All the studies have been carried out using purified cannabinoid chemicals and not cannabis itself that contains a number of other chemicals. Additionally, there is no reliable evidence which suggests that smoking MMJ can treat cancer.

There are mainly two types of cannabinoid receptors; CB1 and CB2 that trigger the cascade of biological events within them. While the former type is mainly found in the nerve cells of the brain and is responsible for the mind altering effects of cannabis, the latter is found all over the body and it could be the prime suspect that triggers the biological effects of these cannabinoids on the other parts of the body apart from the brain. So, designing suitable drugs based on the active ingredients that are found in hash oil may be important for the treatment of cancer.

Marijuana Addiction - Steps for Getting Off of Marijuana

The major obstacle to marijuana treatment is the idea that marijuana is not addictive. The majority of people do not understand the increase in potency of marijuana and the high susceptibility of young people due to the maturing of the brain during the teen years.

In stages of change theory contemplation is the initial step in beginning the recovery process. For a person who has developed an addiction sorting the plethora of misinformation can be a major obstacle. The legitimacy of marijuana for medical use is not a justification for recreational use. A person addicted to marijuana must accept the medical and scientific truth about it's impact and not be confused by the legal and political issues.

The second challenge in stages of change is preparation. Preparing for a life without your drug of choice can be a daunting idea. Knowing the facts about potential withdrawal symptoms can help in preparation. Symptoms: loss of appetite, inability to sleep, headache, irritability, anxiety, paranoia, even aggression. These symptoms can persist for several days or weeks depending the level of use prior to beginning recovery.

Recovery begins by building a network of supporters who understand the withdrawal symptoms and will work with the recovering person during the initial period of recovery. Attending a 12-step program and using a sponsor is the most secure support system.

Pick a quit date and meet with your supporters or NA sponsor and discuss their availability during your initial detox period. Let them know that you may need to call and discuss how you are feeling possibly during the night if you are having trouble sleeping. Their role is primarily to listen as you share your experience and spend time with you if necessary. Prepare yourself by adopting the one-day-at-a-time philosophy. Make up your mind as you begin each day that you will not use that day. Don't think about a future without marijuana, this is a very strong negative thought possibly leading to relapse.

When your quit date arrives you enter the third phase of the stages of change. Begin your day with exercise and four 16 oz. bottles of water. Go to the gym or for a jog or long walk, the exercise and water will hasten the removal of marijuana from your system and initiate the release of endorphins giving you a natural lift of spirit. Call one of your supporters every couple of hours throughout the day. Repeat this process daily until the withdrawal symptoms have passed.

Maintaining your abstinence after the withdrawal period can be deceiving. You may not be having physical withdrawal symptoms but you will continue to have thoughts about using. An old adage from AA is sometimes helpful. HALT whenever you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired and identify what you are feeling. These feelings if not identified properly might lead you to seek out marijuana rather than satisfying the appropriate desire.

Continue to call your support system or sponsor whenever you feel out-of-sorts or upset, allow them to help you discuss what your are feeling and discourage the tendency to return to your drug of choice. Avoiding old friends you smoked with and places you used is also helpful.

A short time after stopping you may feel old symptoms coming back of ADD or depression or anxiety that existed prior to your drug use. Don't try to 'deal with it' alone. Seek professional help to get appropriate treatment for the condition. It is not unusual to discover that a preexisting condition was the thing that lead to your initial use of marijuana. A young man told me once "The first time I smoked marijuana was the first time I felt normal" he went on to become a hard core addict. Ask yourself, why didn't I feel normal and address the issue.

Marijuana is much more potent today, don't let the misconceptions of the past keep you stuck in a never ending cycle of addiction

The Importance of Cannabis Extract Medicine

Cannabis is one of the most medicinal plants in the world, and when prepared into extracts, its true power is released. The main problem with the medicinal cannabis movement at this point in time is its focus on smoking cannabis, or even vaporizing it. The bottom line is that's not the right way to use cannabis as medicine, as effective as even that can be. Medicine is not intended to be absorbed in a low concentration through the lungs, it is supposed to go through the digestive system in a highly concentrated form. That is why cannabis extract medicine is the true way to use cannabis as medicine, and its effects greatly exceed what smoked cannabis could ever achieve.

There are two main reasons that cannabis extract medicine is better than smoked cannabis. First, extracts are much more concentrated than regular cannabis buds. It takes about a pound of raw cannabis to make two ounces of cannabis oil, meaning the oil is eight times more concentrated than the cannabis itself. For true healing to occur, the body must be saturated with cannabinoids, and at this concentration, such a saturation is achievable. The second reason the extract medicine is superior to smoked cannabis is its method of absorption. Instead of going through the lungs, it passes through the digestive system, which is designed to absorb nutrients rather than oxygen. This gives the body the full benefits of cannabis and can help the body truly heal from disease, rather than just alleviate the symptoms.

Frankly, it is amazing that smoking cannabis works so much better than many pharmaceuticals, which are always absorbed through the proper medium. By setting a plant on fire, inhaling the resulting smoke, and blowing it out, much more relief can be found than ingesting a pharmaceutical substance that decades of research was put into. The fact that smoking cannabis works better than pharmaceuticals is a testament to its place as humanity's greatest medicine, but what really matters are the effects people have been having with extract medicine. There is an entire movement working to spread the truth that extracts are capable of curing/eliminating or completely controlling serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Crohn's, chronic pain, IBS, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, mental disorders, and more. Cannabis works against so many conditions because it functions at a fundamental level, restoring balance to all body systems. Since all disease is an imbalance of some kind, cannabis is the best herb for restoring balance.

I personally know several people who have been cured of cancer and other diseases with cannabis extract medicine. I've seen it work in real life and know that it is the key for humanity's future. Once this truth is brought forward, the world will experience a revolution like no other, which will bring people closer to equality than at any point in history. Whether one believes this or not, it doesn't matter, because everyone will benefit!

How to Get an Exception for the Use of Medical Marijuana When on Probation for DUI

If an individual has been convicted and sentenced of a DUI or any reduction in charges that originally started as a DUI there may be an abstain condition in the sentence.  Such a condition would prohibit the consumption of alcohol and the use of any mood altering drugs not prescribed by a physician.

Many courts take the position that this would include the authorization of medical marijuana.  Many courts feel the authorization of medical marijuana is extremely liberal especially if it is not prescribed by an actual physician.  In addition the Court is trying to prevent individuals from being sentenced to an abstain condition then going out and getting a medical marijuana card and saying it is a prescription and therefore it is okay to use.
If an individual is charged with a DUI or any other offense that may require an abstain condition at the time of sentencing and they currently are authorized to use medical marijuana.  Then at the time of sentencing an exception would need to be made by the Judge to allow such use.  In my experience if an individual provides the following evidence and documentation to the Court at the time of sentencing then they have a greater chance of a Judge making this exception.
Recommending medical provider's name and contact info: This is important because many people simply go to the local hemp fest or make contact with the local street front medical marijuana dispensary to get their card.  If the contact info is provided then it is going to be looked at as more legitimate.
Precise medical condition must be documented: This can be presented in the form of live testimony or a declaration from the physician.  The jurisdictions that authorize the use of medical marijuana set out certain conditions when it may be needed.
Symptoms cannot be relieved by standard treatment or medications: When asking a court for this exception it's important to be able to say other standard treatments are not successful and this is why the medical marijuana was prescribed.
Details of dosage: Having a lifetime supply of pot is not going to look good in front of a Judge.  Having a detailed dosage and a specific plan outlined for the defendant is better.
Prior history was considered: When authorizing medical marijuana a physician should take into account any chemical dependence issues prior to the authorization. This will probably be a Judge biggest concern.
Letter from chemical dependency provider: Again one of the biggest issues a Judge may have with this especially with an alcohol or drug related offense is whether the treatment provider is on board.
Obviously different jurisdictions may have different requirements when it comes to this kind of exception.  However in my experience if the following information is able to be provided by an actual medical doctor, not a nurse, or some other medical personnel in the form of live testimony than a Court would have to honor the authorization.