In this instance, as in so many others, the stuffed shirts in the federal government of the US are the true dopes. The people of the country suffer thereby.
"A Drop of Cannabis Oil Could Land This Pennsylvania Woman in Jail" |
The Daily Beast (https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-drop-of-cannabis-oil-could-land-this-pennsylvania-woman-in-jail?ref=home)
QuoteWhen Melissa Gass, a mother of five in central Pennsylvania, was 10, she was in a car crash, and her head slammed into the windshield. Ever since, she's suffered seizures, which occur with weekly and sometimes daily frequency and are life-threatening. When one is coming on, she feels a throbbing pain in the back left side of her brain; the next thing she knows, she's waking up outside with her face on the ground—or in an intensive care unit at a hospital, often having urinated or defecated on herself. Someone, either a medical professional or a family member if she's at home, has to inject diazepam gel into her rectum to keep her alive.
But medical marijuana has been legal in Pennsylvania since 2016, and Gass, 42, obtained a doctor's certification for it last February, court records show. She started taking a small amount—a dot of cannabis oil in a spoonful of peanut butter three times a day, or a drop on her gums if she felt an attack coming on—and the seizures all but stopped. She got her life back. She no longer self-medicated with benzodiazepines, sleeping pills, and alcohol, which are far more addictive and dangerous, especially when taken together. She was able to be the mom she wanted to be again. And she was ready to go back to work at the nursing home where, before the seizures became too debilitating, she'd long been employed as a caretaker, she says.
Then, in September, her Lebanon County probation officer told her that due to a new court policy there, she had until the end of the month to stop using marijuana or else she might go to jail.
[Continues . . . (https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-drop-of-cannabis-oil-could-land-this-pennsylvania-woman-in-jail?ref=home)]
:grrr: :rant1: :Gaah: :sulk: :lynch: :geezer!: :cartoonviking: :asmo: :foottap:
State by state . . .
"Marijuana legalization may hit 40 states. Now what?" |
Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/20/marijuana-legalization-federal-laws-100688)
QuoteMore than 40 U.S. states could allow some form of legal marijuana by the end of 2020, including deep red Mississippi and South Dakota — and they're doing it with the help of some conservatives.
State lawmakers are teeing up their bills as legislative sessions kick off around the country, and advocates pushing ballot measures are racing to collect and certify signatures to meet deadlines for getting their questions to voters.
Should they succeed, every state could have marijuana laws on the books that deviate from federal law, but people could still be prosecuted if they drive across state lines with their weed, because the total federal ban on marijuana isn't expected to budge any time soon. The changes could usher in even more confusion for law enforcement and escalate the pressure on Congress to act. Federal bills are crawling through Congress, with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell firmly against legalization.
But at the least, hopes will be high that federal hurdles to researching the effects of pot and restrictions on banking in the cannabis sector will ease.
"We're cautiously optimistic that we can win more marijuana reform ballot initiatives on one Election Day than on any previous Election Day," said Matthew Schweich, deputy director of the Marijuana Policy Project. Schweich cited growing public support (https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/11/14/americans-support-marijuana-legalization/) for the issue among both liberals and conservatives.
[Continues . . . (https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/20/marijuana-legalization-federal-laws-100688)]
i think all drugs should be legalized. those that are for sale in the public sphere should be regulated and pass the same safety standards as alcohol or tobacco.
all the american war on drugs did was was make billion-dollar industries out of drug smuggling and private incarceration.
Quote from: billy rubin on January 21, 2020, 05:48:02 PM
i think all drugs should be legalized. those that are for sale in the public sphere should be regulated and pass the same safety standards as alcohol or tobacco.
all the american war on drugs did was was make billion-dollar industries out of drug smuggling and private incarceration.
I agree. Legalise and tax it.
Many problems associated with 'drugs' are as a result of them being illegal. Cut organised crime out of the equation and you eliminate a whole raft of social issues, while raising money to help those that need it.
Quote from: Siz on January 21, 2020, 06:07:19 PM
Quote from: billy rubin on January 21, 2020, 05:48:02 PM
i think all drugs should be legalized. those that are for sale in the public sphere should be regulated and pass the same safety standards as alcohol or tobacco.
all the american war on drugs did was was make billion-dollar industries out of drug smuggling and private incarceration.
I agree. Legalise and tax it.
Many problems associated with 'drugs' are as a result of them being illegal. Cut organised crime out of the equation and you eliminate a whole raft of social issues, while raising money to help those that need it.
If that tax money goes towards helping those addicted, that would be great. But also, if it's not enough, put some more money into helping those who are addicted.
If you fix people up to be productive members of society, it's usually worth the expense.
When I read this story. I remembered I created a topic about drugs legalization 5 month ago.
Link to the topic : http://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/index.php?topic=16253
The creeps in Washington DC are making noises about putting a federal limit on potency. They haven't legalized it fer fuck's sake. You're going to put regulations on something you don't allow people to legally possess? Sounds like a non-starter to me, but then I don't have a politician's ability to get their cranium firmly inserted into their nether orifice. Bastards. I've never thought much of Feinstein, from her rise to power in San Francisco (taking over for the murdered Mayor Moscone) and on through her notably successful career. :sulk:
"The cannabis industry's next war: How strong should its weed be?" |
Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/29/cannabis-industry-next-war-485044)
QuoteProposals to limit the potency of THC have been introduced by both Democrats and Republicans, and are likely to proliferate as the legal pot market expands and matures. Lawmakers in Congress have also expressed concern about the increasing potency of weed. In March, the co-chairs of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control — Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) — argued that federal agencies should consider recommending THC caps.
[Link to full article. (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/29/cannabis-industry-next-war-485044)]
Forty-five years ago --
Well that's very stupid. Force people growing to do testing and what? Throw out perfectly good weed if it's "too potent"? How are they going to monitor it? How are they going to enforce it?
It's either stupid or like a lot of other stupid laws, they will be mostly invoked only with certain kinds of people. You know, the not rich and not a big corporation kind of people.
Drugs are bad.
Anyone who has any, please contact me immediately.
Only I, and I alone, can assure their, .....um.....proper disposal. Yes, yes, that's it, their proper disposal.
Quote from: No one on May 06, 2021, 12:48:11 AM
Drugs are bad.
Anyone who has any, please contact me immediately.
Only I, and I alone, can assure their, .....um.....proper disposal. Yes, yes, that's it, their proper disposal.
:thumbsup2:
Quote from: No one on May 06, 2021, 12:48:11 AM
Drugs are bad.
Anyone who has any, please contact me immediately.
Only I, and I alone, can assure their, .....um.....proper disposal. Yes, yes, that's it, their proper disposal.
:hahaha...no:
Why is the strength of cannabis more important than the strength of booze. I can go down to my neighborhood liquor store and buy alcoholic beverages that range in alky content from 2% to 90%. Why not have that kind of choice with weed?
Exactly. It's just some stupid over reach. In a sense I can understand it, though. If you take a shot of whiskey or a bottle of beer, you know how much alcohol you are ingesting. But from joint to joint you may not know the strength and end up sick(?). I think that a lot of times when someone ODs, it's because the strength of their fix is higher than the usual?
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure it's impossible to overdose on pot. I've smoked a lot over the years and seen even more smoked. I can't even recall anyone getting ill.
I was not clear, last post. The OD stuff would be from drugs other than MJ, like cocaine or something. I have experience from the '70s with MJ, and maybe used it 7 to 10 times.
Quote from: Recusant on May 03, 2021, 08:48:10 AMThe creeps in Washington DC are making noises about putting a federal limit on potency. They haven't legalized it fer fuck's sake. You're going to put regulations on something you don't allow people to legally possess? Sounds like a non-starter to me, but then I don't have a politician's ability to get their cranium firmly inserted into their nether orifice. Bastards. I've never thought much of Feinstein, from her rise to power in San Francisco (taking over for the murdered Mayor Moscone) and on through her notably successful career. :sulk:
"The cannabis industry's next war: How strong should its weed be?" | Politico (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/29/cannabis-industry-next-war-485044)
QuoteProposals to limit the potency of THC have been introduced by both Democrats and Republicans, and are likely to proliferate as the legal pot market expands and matures. Lawmakers in Congress have also expressed concern about the increasing potency of weed. In March, the co-chairs of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control — Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) — argued that federal agencies should consider recommending THC caps.
[Link to full article. (https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/29/cannabis-industry-next-war-485044)]
Forty-five years ago --
Hmmm
Maybe they should watch this video right before their meetings... :notsure:
I've never tried marijuana. Now that I'm terminally ill (for those who just joined I have cancer) and my oncologist has yet to prescribe it. It wouldn't matter though as the stuff I'm on is a lot stronger and right now I just don't want to feel pain. In my case marijuana won't be enough.
I think it should be legalized and under FDA scrutiny. I wouldn't mind going to la la land to escape this life for a while.
The only reason I'm up now is the pain. I took a few pills (different types) and it's tapering it off. If my doctor prescribed marijuana I'd pick it up and do as the doctor has instructed
marijuana never helped me with pain. it just messed me up so much i forgot about it for a while
but the pain was preferable to the marijuana
Marijuana has helped me with body aches, stomach discomfort, mood, appetite, etc.
You just have to know when too much will "mess you up" instead of help you.
In my case, the Marijuana was preferable to the pain.
-I'm just saying. :reading:
even asmall amount messes me up, magdalena. i have no physiological tolerance. the stuff to me is super unpleasant.
its always been that way
Quote from: billy rubin on May 12, 2021, 10:30:35 AM
even asmall amount messes me up, magdalena. i have no physiological tolerance. the stuff to me is super unpleasant.
its always been that way
That's too bad. :therethere:
nah
i get drug tested now all the time anyway because i have a class a license. couldn't smoke it if i wanted to
when i quit driving i'll just start growing poppies
"Cannabis Treatment Can Reduce Kids' Epileptic Seizures by 86%, Early Results Show" |
Science Alert (https://www.sciencealert.com/small-study-finds-the-whole-cannabis-could-treat-child-seizures-better-than-cbd)
QuoteThe anti-seizure qualities of the cannabis plant can likely not be boiled down to a single compound, like cannabidiol (CBD), according to emerging research.
Studies in Australia have recently revealed numerous other compounds in the cannabis plant that also show anticonvulsant effects. Some of them could even be more powerful than CBD.
A small observational study in the United Kingdom now backs up those findings. When 10 children with intractable forms of epilepsy began using a medicine that contained the whole cannabis plant, including cannabidiols, terpenes, and flavonoids, their seizure frequency fell by an average of 86 percent.
The research was not randomized or placebo-controlled, however, these case studies show far greater success than the outcomes of CBD extracts alone.
[Continues . . . (https://www.sciencealert.com/small-study-finds-the-whole-cannabis-could-treat-child-seizures-better-than-cbd)]
The paper is open access:
"Medical cannabis for severe treatment resistant epilepsy in children: a case-series of 10 patients" |
BMJ Paediatrics Open (https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/5/1/e001234)
QuoteAbstract:
Objectives To report the findings of a case-series of 10 children suffering with intractable epilepsies in the UK to determine the feasibility for using whole-plant cannabis medicines to treat seizures in children.
Setting This study was conducted retrospectively through collecting clinical data from caretakers and clinicians on study outcome variables. Participants were recruited through the MedCann Support and End our Pain charity groups which are patient representative groups that support children who are using medical cannabis to treat their epilepsies. Medicines were prescribed to patients by clinicians in both National Health Service and private medical practices. Follow-up calls were conducted throughout the period January 2021 to May 2021 to keep data recorded up to date.
Participants Ten children, 18 years old or under, with intractable epilepsies were recruited from two charities. There were no limitations on diagnosis, sex or ethnic origin.
Interventions Participants were treated with a range of whole-plant medical cannabis oils. Individual dosing regimens were determined by clinicians.
Primary outcome measure The primary outcome measure was seizure frequency.
Results Seizure frequency across all 10 participants reduced by 86% with no significant adverse events. Participants reduced use of antiepileptic drugs from an average of seven to one following treatment with medical cannabis. We also noted significant financial costs of £874 per month to obtain these medicines through private prescriptions.
Conclusions This study establishes the feasibility of whole-plant medical cannabis as an effective and well-tolerated medicine for reducing seizure frequency in children suffering with intractable epilepsies. These findings justify the potential value of further research into the reported therapeutic benefit of whole-plant medicinal cannabis products.
Good research by the look of it.
May be good news for some vipers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/If_You're_a_Viper) out there. :far out:
"Cannabis Revealed to Have Anti-Aging Effect in The Brains of Mice" |
Science Alert (https://www.sciencealert.com/cannabis-revealed-to-have-anti-aging-effect-in-the-brains-of-mice)
QuoteTetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient in cannabis, has been shown to reverse conventional signs of brain aging in mice – a discovery that could help in finding ways to keep our brains healthier and sharper for longer as we get older.
The new study builds on what was already known about the endocannabinoid system and the cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1) in the brain, and their links to the gradual cognitive decline that comes with age.
What's more, the team from Germany and Israel was able to observe how the anti-aging effects were taking place: through a signalling pathway involving the mTOR protein, which is associated with the healthy regulation of cell metabolism, and from there the metabolome (the overall composition of small molecules in the body).
"We have now been able to show that treatment with THC has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome," says molecular biologist Andras Bilkei-Gorzo from the University of Bonn in Germany.
Some of the same researchers had previously found that low doses of cannabis could improve memory and learning capabilities in aging mice, suggesting that there might be a relationship between THC and cognition worth exploring.
[Continues . . . (https://www.sciencealert.com/cannabis-revealed-to-have-anti-aging-effect-in-the-brains-of-mice)]
The paper is open access:
"Bidirectional Effect of Long-Term Δ
9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Treatment on mTOR Activity and Metabolome" |
ACS Pharmacology & Translational Science (https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acsptsci.4c00002)
QuoteAbstract:
Brain aging is associated with cognitive decline, reduced synaptic plasticity, and altered metabolism. The activity of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) has a major impact on aging by regulating cellular metabolism. Although reduced mTOR signaling has a general antiaging effect, it can negatively affect the aging brain by reducing synaptogenesis and thus cognitive functions. Increased mTOR activity facilitates aging and is responsible for the amnestic effect of the cannabinoid receptor 1 agonist Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in higher doses.
Long-term low-dose Δ9-THC had an antiaging effect on the brain by restoring cognitive abilities and synapse densities in old mice. Whether changes in mTOR signaling and metabolome are associated with its positive effects on the aging brain is an open question. Here, we show that Δ9-THC treatment has a tissue-dependent and dual effect on mTOR signaling and the metabolome.
In the brain, Δ9-THC treatment induced a transient increase in mTOR activity and in the levels of amino acids and metabolites involved in energy production, followed by an increased synthesis of synaptic proteins. Unexpectedly, we found a similar reduction in the mTOR activity in adipose tissue and in the level of amino acids and carbohydrate metabolites in blood plasma as in animals on a low-calorie diet.
Thus, long-term Δ9-THC treatment first increases the level of energy and synaptic protein production in the brain, followed by a reduction in mTOR activity and metabolic processes in the periphery. Our study suggests that a dual effect on mTOR activity and the metabolome could be the basis for an effective antiaging and pro-cognitive medication.
Interesting.
Follow-up to the item above about the effect of cannabis on mice. :smokin cool:
"Small study finds microdoses of cannabis stalled cognitive decline in Alzheimer's patients" |
The Conversation (https://theconversation.com/small-study-finds-microdoses-of-cannabis-stalled-cognitive-decline-in-alzheimers-patients-271170)
QuoteA small new Brazilian study published in the international Journal of Alzheimer's Disease investigated the effects of microdoses of cannabis extract on patients with mild Alzheimer's disease. The results found positive effects, without the associated "high" of cannabis.
[. . .]
The impact was modest but relevant, patients using cannabis microdosing scored two to three points higher than their placebo counterparts (full points on the MMSE is 30). In patients with preserved or moderately impaired cognitive function, it may be unrealistic to expect major changes in a few weeks.
Cannabis extracts did not improve other non-cognitive symptoms, like depression, general health or overall quality of life. On the other hand, there was no difference in adverse side effects. This was likely due to the extremely low dose used.
[Continues . . . (https://theconversation.com/small-study-finds-microdoses-of-cannabis-stalled-cognitive-decline-in-alzheimers-patients-271170)]
The paper (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/13872877251389608) is behind a paywall.
QuoteAbstract:
Objective
The objective of this phase 2 trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a balanced THC-CBD cannabinoid extract for symptomatic patients with AD [Alzheimer's Disease].
Methods
A Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial including patients between 60 and 80 years-old diagnosed with AD-associated dementia. For 26 weeks, participants orally received either placebo or THC-CBD extract (0.350 mg/THC and 0.245 mg/CBD), daily.
Results
At week 26, Mini-Mental State Exam total score was significantly higher in cannabis- when compared to placebo-treated patients, which was assessed using the mixed model analysis. No significant difference was detected between placebo and cannabis groups in terms of secondary outcomes and adverse events incidence.
Conclusions
To this date, this is the longest clinical trial evaluating cannabinoids effects on AD patients. We initially demonstrate that low-dose THC-CBD potentially can be an effective and safe therapeutic option for AD-related dementia. Nonetheless, larger and longer trials are necessary to confirm this finding and establish cannabinoid administration as therapy for AD dementia.