Saturday, March 9, 2013

Stage 4 Cancer Gone with Baking Soda Treatment

 
 
 
The fact is that Big Pharma is not in the business of healing or health. They are really in the business of disease maintenance and symptom management. They are not in the business of cures because this would put them out of business!



One Man’s Story.



When Vernon Johnston was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer, his options were few. The standard treatment required him to submit to bouts of chemotherapy and hope that the poisonous drugs that will be fed into his body can kill off cancer cells faster that they can kill off healthy, normal cells.

Chemotherapy represents a drastic measure that oncologists are all too eager to recommend and an option patients dread with good reasons. Often times, chemotherapy leaves the body drained and the immune system damaged.

When it fails, and it does fail often, chemotherapy severely reduces the chances of success of any subsequent treatment options. Yet 9 out 10 cancer patients turn to chemotherapy first.

In Vernon’s case, the prostate cancer was already advanced and had metastasized to his bones. Chemotherapy would have been long and expensive and there was no guarantee that those drugs would work.

So, Vernon took matters into his own hands. On his brother’s advice, Vernon decided to raise his body’s pH to combat the cancer spreading in his body. To do this, he sought to obtain cesium chloride.

Cesium therapy is a well-known treatment protocol in cancer therapy. And it is an option doctors rarely give their cancer patients.

Treating cancer with cesium has been shown to have a 50% cure rate. Compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cesium therapy produces better results. This cure rate is even more impressive considering the fact that most cancer patients receiving cesium have already undergone and failed to respond to chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery.

Instead of trying his luck with these orthodox cancer protocols, Vernon simply ordered cesium chloride.

Unfortunately, the cesium never arrived. However, Vernon did not give up on raising his pH levels and making his body too alkaline for cancer cells to spread. While searching for alternatives, he happened on a cheap and commonly available alkalizing source: baking soda.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Positive-Black-Stories-By-Heru-G-Duenas/145708032139774

This common household cooking item is commonly added to bubbly drinks and also used as an antacid to neutralize stomach acid in the treatment of ulcer and acid reflux.

The remedy Vernon found called for mixing baking soda with maple syrup. With no maple syrup on hand, he mixed the baking soda with molasses.

Vernon Johnston fought his cancer with ingredients taken from his kitchen. His efforts and success are documented on his blog aptly described as "dance with cancer".

What is Baking Soda?
Baking soda is a white crystalline solid that appears as fine powder. It is also called cooking soda, bread soda and bicarbonate of soda. Its chemical name is sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydrogen carbonate.

Baking soda is different from washing soda (sodium carbonate) although they share the same slightly salty and alkaline taste.

This widely used soda is commonly dissolved in mineral water and used as a leavening agent in baking. It works as a leavening agent by neutralizing the acidic components of batter. The neutralization releases carbon dioxide and leads to the “raising” or expansion of baked foods.

Baking soda has also been used to soften vegetable and to tenderize meat.

As a household chemical, baking soda is used as a cleaning agent. It is included in toothpastes for similar reasons where it serves as an antiseptic, acid-neutralizer, whitening agent and plaque-removing agent as well as a cleaning agent.

Other common personal hygiene products in which baking soda can be found include deodorants and shampoos.

The Health Benefits of Baking Soda
The medical uses of baking soda all involves raising the pH of the body by neutralizing acid. Therefore, sodium bicarbonate is used as an antacid (to neutralize stomach acid and treat ulcer, heartburn and acid indigestion) and to treat acidosis (raise the pH level of the blood when it is close to 7.0).

Sodium bicarbonate can also be used as a topical antiseptic agent to prevent blistering and scarring. Lastly, it is also used to reduce itching caused by allergic skin reactions caused by plants such as poison ivy.

Because sodium bicarbonate neutralizes stomach acid, it can be used to treat the overdose of acidic drugs such as aspirin and tricyclic antidepressants. Because it supplies more sodium to the body, it is also used to treat hyperkalemia (high blood levels of potassium).

However, excessive intake of baking soda can just as easily cause high sodium levels in the body (hypernatremia) and hypertension. Other conditions that can be caused by baking soda overload include metabolic alkalosis, congestive heart failure and edema triggered by high blood levels of sodium.

How Baking Soda Can Help “Cure” Cancer
Basically, malignant tumors represent masses of rapidly growing cells. The rapid rate of growth experienced by these cells means that cellular metabolism also proceeds at very high rates.

Therefore, cancer cells are using a lot more carbohydrates and sugars to generate energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

However, some of the compounds formed from the energy production include lactic acid and pyruvic acid. Under normal circumstances, these compounds are cleared and utilized as soon as they are produced. But cancer cells are experiencing metabolism at a much faster rate. Therefore, these organic acid accumulate in the immediate environment of the tumor.

The high level of extracellular acidity around the tumor is one of the chief driving force behind the metastasis of cancer tumors.

Basically, cancer cells need an acidic environment to grow and spread rapidly.

Some cancer experts, therefore, believe that by buffering the tumor microenvironment with an alkalizing compound, the pH of tumors can be raised enough to starve them and stop their growth and spread.

Curiously, this rather simple solution to cancer has been proven right.

What is even more remarkable is that there is no need to cook up some fancy synthetic drug to lower the acidity in the immediate environment of the tumor. A simple, commonly obtained compound like sodium bicarbonate will do.

Obviously, it is desirable to deliver the sodium bicarbonate as close to the tumor as possible since its pH-raising effect is needed in the microenvironment of the tumor. Therefore, directly injecting sodium bicarbonate in the tumor site is considered a better solution than oral administration. However, oral sodium bicarbonate is just safer and can be readily used at home.

Clinical Evidence for the Efficacy of Baking Soda in Cancer Therapy
Two Studies
A 2009 study published in the journal, Cancer Research, is among the first to confirm that the alkalinizing effect of sodium bicarbonate can indeed stop cancer.

By injecting sodium bicarbonate into a group of mice, the authors of the study were able to determine how the growth and spread of cancer tumors were effected by raising the pH of the organ affected by the cancer.

The study results showed that baking soda indeed raised the pH and reduced spontaneous metastases in mice induced with breast cancer.

The researchers also determined that sodium bicarbonate works by raising the pH outside cells and not within cells. This is an important finding because it suggests that sodium bicarbonate does not interfere with cellular metabolism even as it makes the microenvironment unconducive for tumor growth.

Other findings from this study show that baking soda:

Reduced the involvement of the lymph node on the transport of cancer cells
Does not lower the levels of circulating tumor cells
Reduced the involvement of the liver and, therefore, the spread of tumor cells to other organs
Inhibit the colonization of other organs by circulating tumor cells
The researchers noted that the injection of sodium bicarbonate in other animal models for cancer showed that the compound can also inhibit the spread of prostate cancer but not melanoma.

Building on these results, researchers are trying to determine whether better results can be obtained by combining sodium carbonate with cancer drugs.

In a 2011 study published in the journal, BMC Cancer, a group of researchers investigated the effects of dichloroacetate and the combination of dichloroacetate and a bicarbonate salt on a mouse model for metastatic breast cancer.

Dichloroacetate is a selective cancer drug that works similarly to sodium bicarbonate. It raises pH levels around cancer cells by inhibiting the breakdown of sugars and the production of acidic intermediates in these cells.

The study results showed that the combination of the synthetic cancer drug, dichloroacetate, and the simple, proven household remedy, oral bicarbonate, did not reduce metastasis or tumor size.

This study showed that sodium bicarbonate is not only a safer, cheaper cancer remedy, it is more effective than dichloroacetate.

The Use of Baking Soda in Oncology
Even though most oncologists do not recommend sodium bicarbonate for their patients, they actually use it for the same purposes in chemotherapy. By combining this alkalinizing agent with chemotherapy drugs, it protects the organs of the body from being destroyed by the poisonous effects of those drugs.

Essentially, sodium bicarbonate raises the pH around these vital organs and prevent the cancer from spreading there and chemotherapy drugs from causing even greater destruction.

Dr. Mark Sircus, the Director of the International Medical Veritas Association, detailed the link between cancer and pH as well as the use of baking soda as an anticancer agent in his book, Sodium Bicarbonate – Rich Man’s Poor Man’s Cancer Treatment.

Dr. Tullio Simoncini, an Italian oncologist, regularly treats his cancer patients with baking soda. In his experience, oral, intravenous and aerosol delivery of sodium bicarbonate are effective in treatment of breast and prostate cancers as well as other types of cancer except for brain cancer.

Although Dr. Simoncini believes oral sodium bicarbonate is most appropriate for cancers affecting the digestive tract, other oncologists and cancer patients such as Vernon have proven that oral sodium bicarbonate can indeed effectively treat cancer affecting deep-seated organs.

Dr. Sircus also recommends oral administration of baking soda. Many of his patients debate whether to mix it with maple syrup, molasses, honey, water or any other beverage. Since normal cells are starved in cancer patients, the oncologist recommends healthy energy sources such as honey, black strap molasses and maple syrup.

Dr. Simoncini, on the other hand, gives glucose intravenously along with sodium bicarbonate for the same purpose.

The Baking Soda Formula for Cancer
To make the baking soda natural cancer remedy at home, you need maple syrup, molasses or honey to go along with the baking soda.

In Dr. Sircus’ book, he documented how one patient used baking soda and blackstrap molasses to fight the prostate cancer that had metastasized to his bones. On the first day, the patient mixed 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of molasses in a cup of water.

He took this for another 3 days after which his saliva pH read 7.0 and his urine pH read 7.5.

Encouraged by these results, the patient took the solution 2 times on day 5 instead of once daily. And from day 6 – 10, he took 2 teaspoons each of baking soda and molasses twice daily.

By the 10th day, the patient’s pH had risen to 8.5 and the only side effects experienced were headaches and night sweat (similar to cesium therapy).

The next day, the patient had a bone scan and too other medical tests. His results showed that his PSA (prostate-specific antigen, the protein used to determine the severity of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer) level was down from 22.3 at the point of diagnosis to 0.1.

Another baking soda formula recommends mixing 90 teaspoons of maple syrup with 30 teaspoons of baking soda.

To do this, the maple syrup must be heated to become less viscous. Then the baking syrup is added and stirred for 5 minutes until it is fully dissolved.

This preparation should provide about 10-day worth of the baking soda remedy. 5 – 7 teaspoons per day is the recommended dose for cancer patients.

Care should be taken when using the baking soda remedy to treat cancer. This is because sustaining a high pH level can itself cause metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte imbalance. These can result in edema and also affect the heart and blood pressure.

Ideally, you should consult a doctor before adopting the baking soda solution. An oncologist with a knowledge of this cure would be most helpful.

Sources

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Positive-Black-Stories-By-Heru-G-Duenas/145708032139774

http://phkillscancer.com/

http://www.naturalnews.com/027481_prostate_cancer_baking_soda.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19276390

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Bill on Pot Convictions be Passed

 
 
The House Public Safety Committee voted 6-5 to recommend the bill on pot convictions be passed, and the Senate Health Care Committee approved the arrest-protection bill. The votes beat a deadline Friday for bills dealing with policy matters to be passed out of committee.

Democratic Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon of Burien told the House committee Wednesday that after Initiative 502 passed, allowing adults o...ver 21 to have up to an ounce of marijuana under state law, he started thinking about the thousands of people who have criminal records for activity that is now legal - criminal records that can keep people from getting jobs, housing or loans.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Bills-would-erase-marijuana-convictions-block-medical-pot-arrests-192372761.html
Senator Malama Solomon
Senator Daniel Kahikina Akaka;
Senator Ted Cruz;
Senator Marco Rubio;
U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren;
Senator Rand Paul;
Senator Bob Mensch;
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham;
The Daily Show;
The Colbert Report
See More

LATEST CANCER INFORMATION


AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY AND ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY …

LATEST CANCER INFORMATION
from Johns Hopkins


 

1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.

2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.

3. When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.

6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastro-intestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.

7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.

8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.

9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.

10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.


11. An effective way to battle cancer is to STARVE the cancer cells by not feeding it with foods it needs to multiple.

What cancer cells feed on:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Note: Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in colour. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.


b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk, cancer cells will starved.

c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contains livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.

d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes t o nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells.

To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of 104 degrees F (40 degrees C).

e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer-fighting properties. Water--best to drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.

12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines will become putrified and leads to more toxic buildup.

13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.

14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Flor-ssence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the body's own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.

15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger, unforgiving and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.

16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.

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Sunday, February 17, 2013

Hemp Bill Passes Kentucky Senate

Posted: February 17, 2013
    
Hemp Bill Passes Senate
 
 
An industrial hemp bill has passed the Kentucky Senate that would regulate the crop, should the federal government lift its ban on the former agricultural staple in the Bluegrass state.
The bill cleared the legislative body on a 31-6 vote as supporters, including US Senators Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul, promoted its ability to diversify Kentucky farms.
 
The bill would license industrial hemp growers, provided the crop gets a federal reprieve, notes Yahoo! News.
Supporters have agreed that industrial hemp farming would help create processing and manufacturing jobs to turn the plant into paper, clothing, auto parts, biofuels, food, and lotions.
Unlike the cannabis plant, industrial hemp has little to no THC, meaning that the plant is, in essence, not a drug. Senator Paul Hornback, a tobacco farmer who was the lead sponsor on the bill, stated he recently heard from two companies who would want to capitalize on a hemp comeback in Kentucky.
Bloomberg notes that the hemp bill will now go before the House, though its prospects there are less certain. House Speaker Greg Stumbo commented, “I think it’ll have a little tougher time here.”
Stumbo added that the bill faces tough discussion. He believes supporters of industrial hemp have not yet been able to prove there is a viable market for the crop in Kentucky. He added:
“It’s not that we’re saying ‘no.’ We’re simply saying that the evidence doesn’t show that there’s enough of a market to override the concerns that the law enforcement community has.”
Skeptics in law enforcement have said that industrial hemp is difficult to distinguish from cannabis. Because of this, they believe marijuana growers will infiltrate hemp fields to grow the drug.
Would you support the industrial hemp bill that passed the Kentucky Senate?

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/528039/hemp-bill-passes-kentucky-senate/#yhyw1XhS2bltIVl6.99

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Czech Republic Legalizes Medical Marijuana




http://cannabisnatonradio.com/news PRAGUE -- Czech President Vaclav Klaus has signed into law legislation that makes it legal in the Czech Republic to use marijuana for medical treatment.

Klaus gave his approval on Friday, after the law had been approved by both houses of Parliament.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Medical Marijuana Is Safe for Children

By

 


 
William Courtney, M.D. is CEO of Cannabis International.
The courage and fortitude of parents who have chosen cannabis compounds to treat their children facing life-threatening illness have raised eyebrows. Some live in terror that their government will take their child away, since medical marijuana is only legal in some states. However, there are numerous cases demonstrating the benefits of clinical cannabis, which happen to threaten a very profitable healthcare industry that relies on conventional drugs, as well as political agendas.
The cannabinoid acids in cannabis have been found to have anti-proliferative, anti-neoplastic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti-ischemic, anti-diabetic, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressant functions. The anti-neoplastic action of cannabis—inhibiting development of malignant cells—was recognized in the 1970s and patented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003.
[Seth Ammerman: Uncertainties of Medical Marijuana Make it Unsafe for Children]
Out of 7,000 patients, my youngest, an 8-month-old, was diagnosed with a massive midbrain tumor. Pediatric oncologists recommended chemotherapy and radiation. Instead, the parents applied a cannabinoid concentrate to their son's pacifier twice a day, which resulted in a significant reduction in the size of the tumor in 30 days. The response prevented a million-dollar chemo-radiation hospitalization. The child's oncologist calls the infant a 'miracle baby,' but most medical experts would discount the case as anecdotal, unacceptable in a peer-reviewed journal. But the real peers are other parents reluctant to consent to the devastation of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation—not those benefiting from the $2.6 trillion healthcare industry.
A 2-year-old spent a year in a pediatric oncology ward, endured 39 hours of brain surgery, received chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and radiation under general anesthesia for 42 days, only to be discharged home on hospice and morphine. The child's local pediatrician started to treat her with juiced raw cannabis leaf. Two years later, she is still alive, now free of cancer and scar tissue.
[Check out U.S. News Weekly, an insider's guide to politics and policy.]
A 6-year-old patient with a severe, intractable form of childhood epilepsy, was tried on 11 anti-epileptics, including experimental European drugs. He was finally placed on a drug commonly used to prevent seizures, but continued having 300-400 seizures a day. An ointment produced from cannabis with an increased amount of cannabidiol, a compound patented by HHS, has reduced his seizures to one every 3-4 days.
Several years ago, I proposed that cannabis be recognized as an essential nutrient in the diet of individuals in their 30s and older. Children were excluded out of fear of backlash but it is now my incontrovertible opinion that the immune system of the 8-month-old would never have allowed the tumor to gain a foothold if supported with dietary cannabis, or Vitamin F.
[See 2012: The Year in Cartoons.]
We know Vitamin C deficiency results in scurvy and Vitamin D deficiency results in rickets. Vitamin F, the previous label for Omega-3 and -6 essential fatty acids, is an appropriate appellation for the cannabinoid acids found in cannabis. Vitamin F deficiency allows the cell proliferation found in tumors and cancer. Three studies of over 24,000 children have shown no adverse effects from use of cannabis in pregnancy.
There is no other area in medicine where the heavy hand of federal funding and political agenda compromise valid and reproducible findings to this extent. To advance disease prevention and benign therapy, we must re-examine our preconceptions.

Can Marijuana Cure Cancer?

Posted by on Mon, Jan 28, 2013 at 10:04 PM

Researchers are finding new evidence that the cannabinoids found in marijuana can help inhibit the growth of cancer cells and fight side effects of the disease.
click to enlargeimages.jpg
    A report just published on thedailybeast.com sheds light on several new developments in recent months, including the discovery that THC (the psychoactive ingredient in pot) kills brain cancer cells. Such news can only add more fuel to the push to legalize medical marijuana, a measure which narrowly failed in Arkansas in November.From the Daily Beast story: A team of Spanish scientists led by Manuel Guzman conducted the first clinical trial assessing the antitumoral action of THC on human beings. Guzman administered pure THC via a catheter into the tumors of nine hospitalized patients with glioblastoma, who had failed to respond to standard brain-cancer therapies. The results were published in 2006 in the British Journal of Pharmacology: THC treatment was associated with significantly reduced tumor cell proliferation in every test subject.
    Around the same time, Harvard University scientists reported that THC slows tumor growth in common lung cancer and “significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread.” What’s more, like a heat-seeking missile, THC selectively targets and destroys tumor cells while leaving healthy cells unscathed. Conventional chemotherapy drugs, by contrast, are highly toxic; they indiscriminately damage the brain and body.

    Studying Marijuana and Its Loftier Purpose

     

    Baz Ratner/Reuters
    Tikkun Olam, a medical marijuana farm in Israel, blends the high-tech and the spiritual.
    SAFED, Israel — Among the rows of plants growing at a government-approved medical marijuana farm in the Galilee hills in northern Israel, one strain is said to have the strongest psychoactive effect of any cannabis in the world. Another, rich in anti-inflammatory properties, will not get you high at all.
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    Marijuana is illegal in Israel, but farms like this one, at a secret location near the city of Safed, are at the cutting edge of the debate on the legality, benefits and risks of medicinal cannabis. Its staff members wear white lab coats, its growing facilities are fitted with state-of-the-art equipment for controlling light and humidity, and its grounds are protected by security cameras and guards.
    But in addition to the high-tech atmosphere, there is a spiritual one. The plantation, Israel’s largest and most established medical marijuana farm — and now a thriving commercial enterprise — is imbued with a higher sense of purpose, reflected by the aura of Safed, an age-old center of Jewish mysticism, as well as by its name, Tikkun Olam, a reference to the Jewish concept of repairing or healing the world.
    There is an on-site synagogue in a trailer, a sweet aroma of freshly harvested cannabis that infuses the atmosphere and, halfway up a wooded hillside overlooking the farm, a blue-domed tomb of a rabbinic sage and his wife.
    In the United States, medical marijuana programs exist in 18 states but remain illegal under federal law. In Israel, the law defines marijuana as an illegal and dangerous drug, and there is still no legislation regulating its use for medicinal purposes.
    Yet Israel’s Ministry of Health issues special licenses that allow thousands of patients to receive medical marijuana, and some government officials are now promoting the country’s advances in the field as an example of its pioneering and innovation.
    “I hope we will overcome the legal obstacles for Tikkun Olam and other companies,” Yuli Edelstein, the minister of public diplomacy and diaspora affairs, told journalists during a recent government-sponsored tour of the farm, part of Israel’s effort to brand itself as something beyond a conflict zone. In addition to helping the sick, he said, the effort “could be helpful for explaining what we are about in this country.”
    Israelis have been at the vanguard of research into the medicinal properties of cannabis for decades.
    In the 1960s, Prof. Raphael Mechoulam and his colleague Yechiel Gaoni at the Weizmann Institute of Science isolated, analyzed and synthesized the main psychoactive ingredient in the cannabis plant, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Later, Professor Mechoulam deciphered the cannabinoids native to the brain. Ruth Gallily, a professor emerita of immunology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has studied another main constituent of cannabis — cannabidiol, or CBD — considered a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety agent.
    When Zach Klein, a former filmmaker, made a documentary on medical marijuana that was broadcast on Israeli television in 2009, about 400 Israelis were licensed to receive the substance. Today, the number has risen to about 11,000.
    Mr. Klein became devoted to the subject and went to work for Tikkun Olam in research and development. “Cannabis was used as medicine for centuries,” he said. “Now science is telling us how it works.”
    Israeli researchers say cannabis can be beneficial for a variety of illnesses and conditions, from helping cancer patients relieve pain and ease loss of appetite to improving the quality of life for people with post-traumatic stress disorder and neuropsychological conditions. The natural ingredients in the plant, they say, can help with digestive function, infections and recovery after a heart attack.
    The marijuana harvest, from plants that can grow over six feet tall, is processed into bags of flowers and ready-rolled cigarettes. There are also cannabis-laced cakes, cookies, candy, gum, honey, ointments and oil drops. The strain known as Eran Almog, which has the highest concentration of THC, is recommended for severe pain. Avidekel, a strain rich in CBD and with hardly any psychoactive ingredient, allows patients to benefit from the drug while being able to drive and to function at work.
    Working with Hebrew University researchers, the farm has also developed a version in capsule form, which would make exporting the drug more practical, should the law allow it.

    Mesothelioma Cancer Patients Hurt by Court Ruling Against Medicinal Marijuana




    Mesothelioma cancer patients utilizing marijuana for medicinal purposes were dealt a setback earlier this month when a federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled in favor of the government’s long-standing classification of cannabis as a top-tier, dangerous drug.
    The ruling dismissed a challenge to the Drug Enforcement Agency’s refusal to reclassify marijuana and loosen the restrictions that mostly prohibit the production, sale and use of it.
    Many cancer patients have been using marijuana to combat the nausea and appetite loss that typically comes with chemotherapy treatments – and to help with pain management –, but the appeals court still sided with the DEA, making it much more difficult to obtain legally.
    Although voters or legislators in 18 states have enacted laws in recent years making medicinal marijuana legal (under strict controls) – and two states have legalized it for recreational use – the federal designation remains unchanged after the court ruling.
    The DEA, under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, with no accepted medical uses, placing it alongside heroin and LSD.
    “To establish accepted medical use, the effectiveness of a drug must be established in well-controlled, well-designed, well-conducted and well-documented scientific studies with a large number of patients. To date, such studies have not been performed,” the DEA stated in defense of its decision, which was used in the appeals court opinion.
    Americans for Safe Access, a marijuana advocacy group, and several disabled American veterans, brought the case in October 2012 before a three-judge panel. The DEA has rejected a similar petition in 2011.

    Proven Medicinal Use

    More than 200 published studies were cited by Americans for Safe Access – including one by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), a governmental health advisor – to demonstrate the medical efficacy of marijuana, but the overall reasoning was rejected by the court.
    “The IOM report does indeed suggest that marijuana might have medicinal benefits. However, the DEA fairly construed this report as calling for ‘more and better studies to determine potential medical applications of marijuana,’ and not as sufficient proof of medical efficacy itself,” the court opinion read.
    The Americans for Safe Access has organized a conference called Bridging the Gap between Public and Policy, for Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25. It will include a Congressional lobbying effort that day.
    The chief counsel for the ASA already has said it will seek another hearing before the full, nine-person appeals court, and a possible appeal to the United States Supreme Court on the matter.
    “We’re disappointed, but not surprised,” Steph Sherer, ASA executive director, told the Los Angeles Times of the recent ruling. Sherer told the Times that more than one million patients have used marijuana for medicinal purposes.

    Pain Management

    The use of medicinal marijuana in Western countries can be traced back to the 19th century when it was used to relieve inflammation and pain. It was shown to help with convulsions and spasms, providing quick relief for a number of symptoms associated with physical ailments.
    Mesothelioma patients in states where it is legal for medicinal purposes must have a prescription from a physician and a registration card to use the plant. The laws vary from state to state.
    Although smoking marijuana provides the quickest relief from pain, patients already with lung problems can consume it through the digestive process by eating it in baked goods. Drug companies also have developed synthetic versions that can be taken in pill form.
    Patients in various trials have reported its usefulness in improving sleep quality and increasing appetite, which are common problems with cancer patients. It also has helped with nausea, pain and anxiety relief. Additionally, it has shown to have fewer lasting side effects compared to many opiates that are prescribed to cancer patients by doctors.

    Monday, February 11, 2013

    Creeping decriminalization of marijuana stirs up legal issues

    By on Mon, Feb 11, 2013


     
     
     
     

    Jake Dimmock, co-owner of the Northwest Patient Resource Center medical marijuana dispensary, works with flowering plants in a grow room in Seattle last November. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
    These quips from two modern U.S. presidents highlight our changing attitudes toward marijuana in recent years.

    In colonial America, marijuana, or hemp, was a favored cash crop extensively promoted and cultivated by two other “rock star” presidents, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. Washington urged: “Make the most you can of (marijuana) and sow it everywhere,” while Jefferson considered the plant to be “of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country.” In truth, these Founding Fathers were more concerned with the value of hemp in production of such important products as cloth and rope than as an intoxicant, but the medicinal and recreational use of cannabis is also well documented throughout history....

    Sunday, February 10, 2013

    From Coast to Coast AM - Abiotic Oil and Marijuana

    From Coast to Coast AM - Sept 03 2012 Abiotic Oil and Marijuana
     
     


     
     

    Medical Use of Cannabis (marijuana)

     
     


     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Cannabis is one of the oldest psychoactive plants known to humans.
    Its therapeutic potential has been recognized since ancient times
    —at least 4,000 years.
    In the second millenia B.C.E., cannabis was cited in the Atharva Veda,
    a sacred Indian text, as a remedy for anxiety.
    In Egypt, there is evidence that cannabis has been used in medicine since
    the days of the pharaohs. In China, cannabis was used as a surgical
    anaesthetic in the second century C.E. All around the ancient world,
    from Babylonia to Israel to Rome, cannabis has been used as a medicine.
    The medicinal properties of cannabis became part of
    Western medicine in the mid-19 century when cannabis
    strains from Egypt and India were imported by the
    French and British, respectively. Between 1840 and
    1940, English, Irish, French and then North American
    physicians and pharmacists testified to the usefulness of
    various cannabis preparations for pain relief and other
    conditions including malaria, rheumatism, migraine headaches,
    gout and glaucoma. Cannabis was in the Canadian
    pharmacopeia until it was added to a list of restricted
    drugs in 1923 and its possession, cultivation and distribution became illegal.
    Although the medicinal benefits of cannabis have been understood
    for thousands of years, its use in medicine today is controversial.
    Studies indicate that between 1.9 and 4 per cent of the
    Canadian population is currently using cannabis for therapeutic purposes.
    A third of cannabis users in BC report using cannabis for medicinal reasons.

    How does cannabis work as medicine?

    Cannabis leaves and flowers contain unique molecules called cannabinoids.
    There are more than 60 different cannabinoids, but the best known and
    the one with the most significant psychoactive effect, is called THC
    (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Medicinal effects have also been attributed
    to other cannabinoids, including CBD (cannabidiol), as well as other
    plant molecules (terpenoids and flavonoids). Together, these molecules
    contribute to the overall effect of cannabis.
    The human body produces endocannabinoids, its own natural version
    of cannabinoids. They help to regulate the body’s systems.
    Cannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body, especially in
    the nervous and immune systems. Endocannabinoids and cannabinoid
    receptors naturally respond to biological events—for example,
    endocannabinoid levels will increase in response to brain injury
    and strokes, and receptors will increase in response to nerve injuries
    and associated pain. Both plant cannabinoids and endocannabinoids
    bind to the body’s cannabinoid receptors. When this binding occurs,
    effects such as pain relief and the suppression of stress result.
    Studies indicate that there are two main species of the cannabis plant,
    Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. Generally, the indica species
    (which has higher levels of THC) is used as a medicine, while the
    sativa species is used for hemp fibre and seeds
    (which contain nutritional essential fatty acids).
    Plant breeders have developed hundreds of different strains of cannabis
    from these two species. The effects of cannabis vary depending on
    which strain is being used. Many people report experiencing
    different medicinal effects from different strains. Potency also
    varies with strain. Higher-potency cannabis and cannabis extracts
    mean that less cannabis need be used to deliver the desired effect.
    Although there has not been much formal research done into the
    medicinal effects of different strains, it appears that the different
    effects of cannabis strains are related to the concentration and balance
    of various active ingredients in the plant. It is important that medicinal
    users have access to a variety of cannabis strains to meet their individual needs.
    Most people rely on word of mouth and trial and error to choose a
    strain that they feel works for them.
     

    What conditions or symptoms is cannabis used to treat?

    Cannabis can be used to treat a wide variety of medical conditions and
    symptoms, as well as the side-effects of pharmaceutical medications.
    In some cases, cannabis may be more effective than pharmaceutical
    options and have fewer negative side-effects. It is often recommended
    to improve quality of life for people who have critical and chronic illnesses.
    Some of the symptoms cannabis is used to treat include:
    • Nausea
    • Loss of appetite
    • Chronic pain
    • Anxiety
    • Insomnia
    • Inflammation
    • Muscle spasms
    There are many medical conditions that cannabis is used to treat.
    Some of the most common ones are:
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • HIV/AIDS
    • Hepatitis C
    • Glaucoma
    • Multiple sclerosis
    • cerebral palsy
    • Spinal cord injuries
    • Epilepsy
    • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
    • Crohn’s disease
    • Fibromyalgia
    • migraines
    • Parkinson’s disease
    • Depression
    • Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
    Cannabis has also been used for substance addiction and
    withdrawal as it can be effective for decreasing cravings and
    withdrawal symptoms. Some people have used it as a substitute
    for more harmful substances, including alcohol, and opiate-based
    drugs such as morphine and Oxycontin®.
    Although cannabis can aggravate mental health conditions in
    certain circumstances, some people suffering from mental illness
    use it to relieve the symptoms of their disorder or the unpleasant
    side-effects of their medication. Cannabis is used by some people
    to treat depression—which may be their primary diagnosis, or
    related to another diagnosis. Some people with schizophrenia
    and bipolar disorder have also been able to use cannabis successfully
    to relieve their symptoms with no significant side-effects.
    The use of cannabis by people with these disorders should be
    monitored carefully, however, because negative side effects are possible.

    How do people use cannabis for medical purposes?

    There are several ways to use cannabis, each with a different
    time of onset, duration and effect quality. Some methods may
     be more effective than others for certain symptoms and conditions,
    and they may be preferable in certain circumstances.
    Smoking is one of the fastest and most efficient ways
    for patients to experience the therapeutic effects of cannabis.
    This is because, when inhaled, the medicine moves quickly into
    the blood stream through capillaries in the lungs. The effects
    are usually felt within a few minutes, which makes it easy to
    find the right dosage. Because of its immediacy, this method
    may be ideal for symptoms such as nausea and muscle spasms.
    The effects from cannabis inhalation can last a few hours.
    Vaporizing is another form of inhalation. When cannabis is
    vaporized, a vapour is produced rather than smoke, and the
    vapour can be inhaled. Vaporizing tends to be less irritating
    on the throat and lungs than smoking. Some people find the
    ‘high’ produced from vaporizing to be different than the
    ‘high’ from smoking. Since it does not produce smoke, vaporizing may
    be more suitable for indoor use such as hospitals or palliative care settings.
    Cannabis can also be swallowed. Because it is fat soluble, the active
    ingredients can be extracted into butters, oils, or milk, which the
    patient can then eat or drink. For example, cannabis-infused butter
    can be used in baking, or cannabis can be blended into a milkshake.
    When cannabis is ingested, the effects are much stronger and last
    longer than when it is inhaled. This may be suitable for chronic
    pain or other persisting symptoms. However ingestion may not
    be suitable for everyone because it can take up to a few hours to
    feel the full effects and the effects depend on many factors.
    This makes the desired dosage more difficult to find. Too high a
    dosage can lead to vomiting and anxiety, while too low a dosage
    will be ineffective. Although cannabinoids are minimally soluble
    in water, cannabis tea provides a less potent alternative with unique
    properties that may be suitable for some people. Oral-mucosal
    sprays (mouth sprays) are absorbed through the mouth’s membranes.
    The effects are usually felt within 10–20 minutes; however since
    some of the spray will also be swallowed, dosage can be difficult
    to assess and the effects may come at different stages.
    Other methods of use include topical ointments.

    What is pharmaceutical cannabis, and how does it compare to herbal cannabis?

    Pharmaceutical companies have developed drugs which either contain cannabinoids or have synthetic chemicals similar to those found in the cannabis plant. Some patients who want to use cannabinoids use pharmaceutical products only. Others use pharmaceutical products to complement their herbal cannabis use, or instead of cannabis, for example, when travelling. Other patients report that they prefer herbal cannabis.
    Two kinds of synthesized THC (dronabinol or Marinol® and nabilone or Cesamet®) have been approved for treatment of chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. Marinol® has also been approved for appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS wasting syndrome. A recent pharmaceutical cannabis product called Sativex® has been approved in Canada for pain associated with advanced cancer and neuropathic pain associated with multiple sclerosis.
    Pharmaceutical products with only some of the plant molecules do not have the same potential benefits as herbal cannabis. In herbal cannabis, different cannabinoids—as well as the terpenoids and flavanoids—act to balance the psychoactive effects of THC and have other have medical properties. Marinol® and Cesamet® are based on only one component of cannabis (THC, or a related synthetic molecule). Some studies show that this can increase the risk of panic attacks and dysphoria; many patients have reported such negative side effects. Sativex® contains molecules taken directly from the cannabis plant, including THC and CBD, and does not seem to have the same negative side effects as the other pharmaceutical products. Patient responses to this product vary. While some find it effective, others do not. This may be because it is the equivalent of one strain of cannabis that is not effective for everyone.
    With inhalation, herbal cannabis takes effect very quickly. Because Marinol® and Cesamet® are swallowed in pill form, their effects are slower to be felt and it is therefore harder for a patient to find the right dosage. It is also difficult for patients to swallow pills while experiencing nausea. Sativex® is delivered via a spray absorbed through the patient’s mouth, so its onset time is quicker.
    The costs of herbal cannabis are currently only covered by health insurance in very limited circumstances, but the costs of some of the pharmaceutical products are covered. At this stage in its approval process (it currently has a Notice of Compliance with Conditions) the cost of Sativex® is not covered by all provincial and territorial health insurance plans, making this option more expensive than other pharmaceutical and herbal cannabis products.

    What are the side-effects and risks of using cannabis to treat medical conditions or symptoms?

    All drugs have side-effects and potential harms. The important question to consider when using any medicine is whether the benefits outweigh the potential harms. Many studies document the therapeutic effectiveness of cannabis. Beyond the scientific evidence, many people believe, based on personal experience, that cannabis has a direct impact in terms of improving their well-being with minimal adverse effects.
    The side effects associated with cannabis are typically mild and are classified as “low risk”, particularly when compared to many of the pharmaceutical drugs used for the same conditions and symptoms. Serious complications are very rare and there is no known case of a lethal overdose. The ratio of lethal to effective dose is estimated at more than 1,000 to one.
    While over-consumption does not kill or seriously harm the user, it can be unpleasant. Someone who has consumed too much may become dizzy, agitated, nauseous, nervous, or paranoid. The most intense feelings will last about an hour and the effects should wear off in four to five hours. Some acute effects of too high a dose, particularly in new users, include tachycardia (accelerated heart rate) and hypotension (lowered blood pressure). Several studies have documented mild short-term impairments in motor-coordination, attention span and memory.
    These short-term effects are dependent on factors such as the patient’s familiarity with cannabis, the strain and dosage used, as well as the context of use.
    Euphoric mood changes are among the most frequent side effects of cannabis. While some people find the ‘high’ that can accompany cannabis use to be a therapeutic benefit, others do not like the feeling. Heavy cannabis use may make symptoms worse for mood and personality disorders and can exacerbate existing schizophrenic psychosis or increase the risk for developing psychosis in predisposed persons.
    There is not a lot of data about the long-term effects of using cannabis, and the data that does exist is inconsistent. Generally, the effects are believed to be limited. Inhaling cannabis smoke can lead to some respiratory problems such as bronchitis and phlegm production; however a link between smoking cannabis and chronic lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) has not been proven. Studies do show that smoking cannabis and tobacco together increases the risks of COPD and lung cancer. However, smoking cannabis alone, even regularly and heavily, does not appear to be associated with lung cancer. There is increasing evidence that endocannabinoids are able to inhibit the growth and spreading of cancer tumors.
    Cannabis is generally perceived to have low risk for producing physical dependence; however long-term, frequent use of large amounts can lead to mild psychological dependence. Chronic, heavy use of cannabis may lead to the development of tolerance so that more cannabis must be used to achieve the desired effects. Using a different strain of cannabis, or stopping use for a short time can reduce tolerance levels. Some users (about 10 per cent) may find it difficult to stop. Some users experience minor withdrawal symptoms when they stop using cannabis, such as irritability, anxiety, upset stomach, loss of appetite, and disturbed sleep. These symptoms generally last for a few days at most.

    Drug interactions

    Because of the way cannabis is metabolized, it has been suggested that there is a potential for it to interact with other drugs. Clinically significant interactions have not been detected; however some study results and case reports indicate that there is the possibility that cannabis may increase or decrease the effectiveness of other medication. While inconclusive, these results suggest that patients should be monitored for a change in dosing requirements if they are taking other drugs.
    Reports from patients indicate that negative drug interactions are not common. Patients report that they are able to reduce the doses of some of their pharmaceutical drugs (particularly opiate-based painkillers) when using cannabis. Cannabis has also been shown to mitigate the negative side effects of pharmaceutical drugs and other therapies. This helps patients stick to their treatment schedules.

    Quality

    Depending on how cannabis is cultivated and stored, some mould, bacteria and other contaminants may grow on it. Some of these are harmless, but others may be toxic. These contaminants can usually be detected through a visual, olfactory and tactile inspection.
    Synthetic pesticides, fungicides and other harmful chemicals often used in horticulture can also be toxic. It is believed that all cannabis meant to be used by humans, and especially medicinal-grade cannabis should be grown without these products. Many medical cannabis users report that they prefer organically grown cannabis. Laboratories are able to test for biological and chemical contamination; however due to the legal status of cannabis, it can be difficult to obtain such tests.

    Is using cannabis for medicinal purposes legal?

    Cannabis is a controlled substance in Canada, which means that it is illegal to possess, grow, sell, import, and export it. However, Canada is one of a few countries in which cannabis is legal for medical use. It is also legal for medical use in the Netherlands, Spain, Israel and Finland and a growing number of US states.
    A court ruling in 2000 found that Canadians have a constitutional right to use cannabis as a medicine, since they should not have to choose between their liberty and their health. As a result, Health Canada developed the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations (MMAR) in 2001. Under that program, an Authorization to Possess gives a patient the right to possess cannabis legally for medicinal purposes. A Personal Production License gives a patient the right to grow cannabis for his or herself, and a Designated Production License allows them to designate someone to grow cannabis for them. Health Canada also contracts the production of cannabis and sells it to those with an Authorization to Possess.
    There are two categories of people who are eligible to obtain an Authorization to Possess cannabis, as described by Health Canada. The first category includes people suffering symptoms associated with terminal or other specific illnesses including MS, spinal cord injury, cancer, HIV/AIDS, arthritis and epilepsy. The second category includes people who have other debilitating symptoms due to medical conditions. It requires that a specialist confirms the diagnosis and agrees that conventional treatments have failed or are inappropriate for relieving symptoms.
    Although it is possible for people to apply for the use of medical cannabis in Canada, the process is certainly not easy. Out of the estimated one million Canadians who use cannabis for medicinal purposes, approximately 4,000 people currently hold an Authorization to Possess under the MMAR. There have been several court challenges by patients involving the barriers to accessing the program and the limited options for obtaining a legal supply of high-quality medicine. Only about 500 patients are currently accessing cannabis from Health Canada. Several courts have ruled that the MMAR are unconstitutional because of these problems and have ordered amendments to the program to allow other legal supply options. To date Health Canada has not made these court-ordered amendments.

    What are compassion clubs?

    Compassion clubs are community-based medical cannabis dispensaries. They exist to provide high-quality cannabis to people with officially documented medical conditions—such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C, chronic pain and multiple sclerosis. Currently, there are about a dozen of these unlicensed dispensaries across Canada, serving an estimated 10,000 to 15,000 patients. Clients must be 18 or older, or have the written consent of a parent or guardian.
    By offering safe, secure, and consistent access to a variety of high-quality cannabis strains and products, compassion clubs seek to reduce the potential harms often associated with illegal distribution. Medical cannabis users who are not clients of compassion clubs, producing their own supply or receiving it from Health Canada must obtain cannabis from other sources. These sources may be unreliable, unsafe, and difficult to find. The cannabis may be of lower quality, less effective, and more costly.
    The existence of compassion clubs in Canada pre-dates Health Canada’s medical cannabis program. Currently, Health Canada does not recognize compassion clubs, nor does the MMAR allow for such enterprises. Although compassion clubs are not currently licensed, many police departments tolerate those that are rigorous in restricting their sales to people with verified medical conditions. However, this is a tentative, unspoken agreement that could be revoked at any time, and there are several recorded incidents of compassion club owners or managers being arrested. In most cases, the courts have ruled in favour of the compassion clubs and have recognized the important service they are providing.
    In the absence of licensing, these dispensaries self-regulate. Most of the well-established clubs operate according to guidelines that have been established to ensure transparency, accountability and a high standard of care.

    What are some barriers to using cannabis for medical purposes?

    Besides the potential for criminal penalties for the possession, cultivation, or distribution of cannabis, the legal status of cannabis creates many barriers for those who could benefit from its medical use.
    Healthcare practitioner support
    It is important for patients to be able to tell their doctors about the different treatments and therapies they are using. A recent study shows that family physicians adopt a ‘don’t ask’ attitude toward their patients’ use of cannabis and that most patients ‘don’t tell’ their physicians whether they are using it.
    Patients report that obtaining their physician’s support is one of the biggest barriers they face in obtaining a license for Health Canada’s program, or in becoming a client of a compassion club. Physicians report that they do not have adequate knowledge of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis and are reluctant to associate themselves with this product because of its illegality and associated stigma. Professional associations across the country have cautioned physicians not to support the MMAR authorization process due to a perceived lack of scientific evidence supporting the medical benefits of cannabis. The Canadian Medical Association likewise expressed that it did not want physicians to act as gatekeepers to this therapy.
    The Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA—the insurer of the medical profession) warned of potential legal difficulties that could be faced by physicians who followed the MMAR. After some amendments to the MMAR, the CMPA now recommends that physicians who complete the MMAR ask their patient to sign a release-from-liability form which addresses potential concerns about medical liability. Health Canada’s application forms have been changed over the years to shift the responsibility from physician to patient. Compassion clubs typically require the diagnosis of a condition or symptom for which cannabis has potential therapeutic purposes, and a recommendation for use rather than a prescription. Some clubs permit authorization from licensed health care practitioners who are more experienced with herbal medicine (e.g. doctors of traditional Chinese medicine and naturopaths).
    Discrimination
    Despite considerable popular support in Canada for the medical use of cannabis, some patients experience a stigma around their use. In some cases this is because of its illicit status and the associated negative connotations from the “reefer madness” propaganda. Patients may experience negative reactions from family, friends, community members, colleagues, and even health-care practitioners. Negative messages may also be portrayed in the media. This can be difficult for some people to deal with.
    Stigma can lead to acts of discrimination that can have a very negative effect on a patient’s life—for example in regards to housing, employment, and child custody. Some medical cannabis users have even experienced discrimination in receiving treatments such as organ transplants and treatment for addiction to other substances. In such situations, having a license from Health Canada can be very helpful. Recently, the Quebec Human Rights Commission ruled that medical cannabis users are protected from discrimination under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
    Cost
    Affordability is a problem for some people who use cannabis as a medicine. Some patients find they must sacrifice other necessities, such as food, or choose to use a medicine that is less effective and has worse side effects. The cost of cannabis is artificially elevated due to black market conditions. On the street, prices range from about $10 to $15 per gram. Health Canada sells their cannabis for $5 per gram, and compassion club prices range from $5 to $10 per gram. While doses vary per patient, the price of cannabis may be prohibitive, particularly for people living on low or fixed incomes.
    Patient advocacy groups have expressed how important it is for this medicine to be covered, as prescription drugs are—either through provincial or private health insurance plans. Veterans Affairs Canada will cover the costs of cannabis for Canadian veterans who have MMAR licenses in certain circumstances. Canada Revenue Agency allows a person authorized under the MMAR to claim the costs of cannabis paid to Health Canada or a designated producer as a medical expense. Costs can be minimized by educating patients to use the smallest quantity possible to achieve the desired effects.

    What to do if you or someone you know needs more information about medicinal cannabis

    For links to compassion clubs and other information on the medical use of cannabis, visit: Canadians for Safe Access at http://safeaccess.ca.
    Other helpful resources

    For more information about cannabis and other substances, visit www.heretohelp.bc.ca or www.carbc.ca.