I voted for marijuana legalization in Oregon the last round.

[HuckleB]

I've signed the petition to get things on the ballot for the next round.

That said, I'm one of the few, I suppose, who did not sign or vote for the ballot measures for "medical marijuana."

Now, I'm not saying that marijuana may not have certain purposes in medical treatment. Certainly, there are many parts of the plant that have promise for a number of things. And the anti-nausea component (for some, but not all, as with any drug) of the smoked plant can be very helpful.

However, the "medical marijuana field" seems to have mostly jumped on the back of the rest of "complementary/alternative medicine," offering numerous claims that have little evidence to support them. To me, that led to dishonesty to patients, and leads to an easier path for snake oil salespeople to sell even more nonsense.

Of course, this is all done much more easily in a country where health insurance is privatized, and so many have so few options.

Still, blah blah blah. If marijuana is legalized, all of these issues go by the wayside, at least with the general plant, which is far less harmless than alcohol. (Yeah, I went to the obvious!)

Am I the only one on this track?

[gopiscrap]

1. good

[HuckleB]

2. Thanks for your thoughtful insight. It's very much appreciated.

[liberal_at_heart]

3. You have no idea what you are talking about. Do you know any patients personally?

If you don't I suggest asking some patients about how cannabis helps them. I know many patients who have glaucoma, diabetes, neuropathy pain, cancer, depression, anxiety many of whom refuse to use opiates and other pharmaceuticals who depend on medical cannabis to feel better, be healthier and lead productive lives and go out into the world and work and be happy. And just legalizing marijuana doesn't necessarily solve patient's problems either. Sometimes it makes it worse. WA is trying to eliminate medical marijuana . They are trying to make growing your own cannabis illegal, close all dispensaries, make all collective gardens where neighbors share with each other kind of like a pea patch illegal. They want to force all patients to register and will hand over the list to the authorities, so that patients can be harassed and arrested. They want to force people to buy from recreational shops all so they can make more money. That is not legalization. That is not freedom. If they think they can stop patients from growing their own medicine and sharing with other patients, they are nuts. It will not happen.

[HuckleB]

4. I know a great about what I'm talking about.

However, your attempt to divert to something that refrains from good science is not the topic of the OP.

PS: http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/medical-marijuana-are-we-ready/

[liberal_at_heart]

5. patients have been decades ahead of the research and the only reason we don't have research here in

the US is because of the classification of it. Studies being done in Spain, and Isreal are showing that cannabis does have scientifically proven medicinal uses. Patients know it works and no amount of people talking bad about it or governments trying to stop them will work. Patients will keep using what they know works. I know it works because my husband uses it for glaucoma. His eye pressure goes up, he takes his medical cannabis and the pressure goes down. I have run into nothing but hostility about medical marijuana on this site. Democrats in WA are trying to destroy medical marijuana. If education wasn't enough of a reason for me not to be a democrat this is. I have been betrayed twice by a party that is suppose to care about my family and obviously doesn't. I would be very surprised if I vote for any democrats in the next election.

[HuckleB]

8. Pseudoscience is interesting, but not particularly good therapy.

You can push all the usual BS you want. I've seen it all before. It's not going to support your suppositions.

[liberal_at_heart]

14. I don't care what you think. My husband uses it and it works. You

can go to **** and on my ignore list.

[HuckleB]

18. Thus, the reason the plural of anecdote is not data.

Yeah, ignore reality. That's so cool.

Er, wait. No, it's not cool. Especially when you're promoting it to others on the Internet.

Is anyone capable of challenging preconceptions?

[solarhydrocan]

45. Respectfully, there has been research, and there is a patent on Cannabis treatment for Glaucoma

as well as 20+ more. (by the way, FWIW, THIS Democrat cares about your family)

here's a list of Cannabis related patents and patent applications granted by the US Government or pending.

US Patent 4189491 - Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a method of treating glaucoma 1980
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4189491.html

Process for preparing cannabichromene (full - 1982)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4315862/description.html

US Patent 5389375 - Stable suppository formulations effecting bioavailability of Ɗ9 -thc (full - 1995)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5389375/fulltext.html

US Patent 5508037 - Stable suppository formulations effecting bioavailability of Ɗ9 -THC (full - 1996)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5508037/fulltext.html

US Patent 6132762 - Transcutaneous application of marijuana (full - 2000)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6132762/fulltext.html

US Patent 6328992 - Cannabinoid patch and method for cannabis transdermal delivery (full - 2001)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6328992/fulltext.html

US Patent 6383513 - Compositions comprising cannabinoids (nasal spray)
(full - 2002)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6383513/fulltext.html

US Patent Application 20050042172 - Administration of medicaments by vaporisation (full - 2002)
http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20050042172/fulltext.html

US Patent 6630507 - Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants
(full - 2003) (Assignee (owner)- the US GOVERNMENT!)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6630507/fulltext.html

20070151149 - Methods for altering the level of phytochemicals in plant cells by applying wave lengths of light from 400 nm to 700 nm and apparatus therefore
(full - 2004)
http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20070151149/fulltext.html

US Patent Application 2004004905 - Method for producing an extract from cannabis plant matter, containing a tetrahydrocannabinol and a cannabidiol and cannabis extracts (full - 2004)
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2004/0049059.html

US Patent 6713048 - ?9 tetrahydrocannabinol (?9 THC) solution metered dose inhalers and methods of use (full - 2004)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6713048/fulltext.html

US Patent 6974568 - Treatment for cough (full - 2005)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6974568/fulltext.html

US Patent Application 20050266108 - Methods of purifying cannabinoids from plant material (full - 2005)
http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20050266108/fulltext.html

US Patent 6949582 - Method of relieving analgesia and reducing inflamation using a cannabinoid delivery topical liniment (full - 2005)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6949582/fulltext.html

20050070596 - Methods for treatment of inflammatory diseases using CT-3 or analogs thereof (full - 2005)
http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20050070596/fulltext.html

Method of relieving analgesia and reducing inflamation using a cannabinoid delivery topical liniment (full - 2005)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6949582/fulltext.html

US Patent 7088914 - Device, method and resistive element for vaporizing a medicament (full - 2006)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7088914/fulltext.html

US Patent 7025992 - Pharmaceutical formulations (full - 2006)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7025992/fulltext.html

US Patent Application 20060242899 - Method of cultivating plants
(full - 2006)
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/y2006/0242899.html

US Patent 7109245 - Vasoconstrictor cannabinoid analogs (full - 2006)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7109245/fulltext.html

20080057117 - PHARMACEUTICAL COMPOSITION MADE UP OF CANNIBAS EXTRACTS (full - 2007)
http://www.patentstorm.us/applications/20080057117/fulltext.html

US Patent 7344736 - Extraction of pharmaceutically active components from plant materials (full - 2008)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7344736/fulltext.html

US Patent 7402686 - Cannabinoid crystalline derivatives and process of cannabinoid purification (full - 2008)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7402686/fulltext.html

US Patent 7399872 - Conversion of CBD to ?-THC and ?-THC
(full - 2008)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7399872/fulltext.html

US Patent 7622140 - Processes and apparatus for extraction of active substances and enriched extracts from natural products (full - 2009)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/7622140/fulltext.html

NEW USE FOR CANNABINOID-CONTAINING PLANT EXTRACTS
Patent application number: 20100249223 (full - 2010)
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100249223

CANNABINOID-CONTAINING PLANT EXTRACTS AS NEUROPROTECTIVE AGENTS Patent application number: 20100239693
(full - 2010)
http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20100239693


Kannalife (http://kannalife.com) has already been granted a piece of 6630507 and is selling medicine now.


SOURCE: in case any of those links don't work
https://sites.google.com/site/gscmmjlist/home/a/p/patents-related-to-cannabis

[Tx4obama]

6. Please watch the VIDEO on below, especially the parts about the kids

''WEED'' a Dr Sanjay Gupta Special, FULL episode (a must see awesome documentary)

CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta cuts through the smoke and travels around the world to uncover the highs and lows of cannabis.

A new related article on the link below...

FDA Approves Marijuana-Based Epilepsy Drug For Use On Kids In Clinical Trials
Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024005841

[HuckleB]

9. I'm more particular.

CNN. Gupta. All fine.

Alas, not bottom line hard science, with placebos, etc...

[Tx4obama]

12. After you watch the video, especially the parts about the kid's seizures, then we can talk

And the Charlotte's Web oil too

[HuckleB]

13. Show me the blinded, peer-reviewed study.

Then, I'll watch the video.

Youtube "science," uh, it's not so good.

Life is short. Thus, put up, or ...

[ShadowLiberal]

7. Medical Marijuana is a chicken & egg riddle with the current laws

While I definitely agree that we ought to study Marijuana and how good/effective it is (if at all) on sick patients, it's really a chicken and egg riddle at actually getting that to happen.

Legal studies on it can't be done because Marijuana is illegal under law, and classified under the law (written by congress) as having zero beneficial medical uses.

At the same time, without medical studies to show it's effective on sick patients, there's a bunch of people with your opinion that are skeptical it's of any use, and who unlike you, support keeping Marijuana illegal because of that.

That said, even though there's no medical study on it in the US, often things like this that aren't proven today get proven in the future. For example, asbestos being dangerous used to be unproven, and people who believed it were somewhat thought of as conspiracy theorists for believing such an unproven thing, yet those people who believed asbestos was bad were proven correct decades later.

I have a grandfather who's still alive today at the age of 92, who had a brother that worked in the same career as him, a plasterer. My grandfather was always skeptical of asbestos being safe and never used it. Under union rules the company couldn't force anyone to use asbestos (a required thing in his industry to finish a job), so they had to pay bonuses to incentivize employees to use asbestos, even though it was thought to be perfectly safe at the time. My grandfather's brother practically always took the bonus money and used the asbestos, while my grandfather never did once. His brother died middle aged of asbestos related causes, while my grandfather is still alive at 92 thanks to his rightful fear of asbestos when it wasn't proven to be dangerous.

[HuckleB]

10. Actually, it can be, and has been studied under law.

As have much more scary drugs.

Still, bottom line: Legalize it, and all this BS goes away.

Somehow, certain folks can't let that go.

[liberal_at_heart]

16. Oh, you mean sick people? Is that who you mean? Sick people can't let this go?

You're damn right they won't let this go. Patients will continue to use no matter what anybody says.

[HuckleB]

19. So, you're angry at the world.

Unfortunately, that's a bad way to make good decisions. Seriously, spend some time at sites like Science Based Medicine, and you'll find some wonderful, positive information that will help things move in the right direction.

[Tx4obama]

26. Spend some time wathcing the video in Comment #6. MANY MILLIONS of foilks have watched it on TV...

... and online.

The documentary has even changed many doctors' opinion on the subject.

[HuckleB]

30. Newsflash: Youtube is youtube. It's not science.

Can we start there? If not, well, I don't think you really care about an evidence base.

But, that's where we're starting from, apparently.

[Tx4obama]

35. Bringing up 'YouTube' is ridiculous. Just because a 'copy' of the 'documentary' is on 'YouTube'

... does not affect what is IN the documentary.

I am starting to think you most likely do not want to hear about any FACTS that do not support your layman's opinion.

Good night.

[HuckleB]

38. Bullshit.

You are pushing bad science. If you have to go to youtube to justify you're stand, you're just done.

Come on, I'm not new here.

[Tx4obama]

39. Your comments are truly bizarre. Would you rather I were to say...

... go turn on your TV and wait to see if CNN re-airs the documentary.

I asked you nicely to please watch the documentary because there are many AWESOME things in it - especially the use of the Charlotte's Web oil.

If your wish is to not watch then so be it - I really could care less if you want to be uninformed.

But you will be missing out on what MILLIONS of folks have watched.

Ciao!

[HuckleB]

41. You've done nothing but push bad cliches.

I haven't had cable TV for a quarter of a century. I have spent a great deal of time in health science university libraries.

Not that that matters.

Still, do you have any actual evidence to support whatever you want to claim? If so, offer it up. If not, well... what's the point of all of all of this?

[Tx4obama]

43. Since you don't have a cable TV perhaps you should try watching DOCUMENTARIES online

It is not a good thing to be uninformed.

And I do not see the point of me trying to be nice and helpful on this thread any longer - apparently it was a waste of my time.

I do hold out hope though that 'someone' that has not yet watched the documentary will stumble upon this thread and take the opportunity to watch it.


Btw, this will be the last 'bump up' for your thread that you'll get from me.

[Tx4obama]

22. FDA Approves Marijuana-Based Epilepsy Drug For Use On Kids In Clinical Trials

FDA Approves Marijuana-Based Epilepsy Drug For Use On Kids In Clinical Trials
Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024005841

And also see the video up in Comment #6

[HuckleB]

31. The FDA approved STUDIES!!!!!!

Why would you pretend otherwise? Odd.

Come on, are you a sciene-based progressive? If not, what are you?

[pipoman]

11. It is far less dangerous than any other

drug...illegal, prescription or over the counter. Certainly more people's lives have been saved and made better by moldy cantaloupe..why would anyone wish to deny legal access to people DYING of cancer...in fact allow oncologists to refuse to treat cancer patients who "seek alternative treatment" then UA their patients. No, legal for recreational use is subjective, I can't respect people who would deny any available treatment, real or imagined, to people with debilitating conditions or terminal illness. My mother died of stomach cancer 2 years ago and my sister from pancreatic cancer 1 year ago..yeah, just more dead people..who suffered and were mentally tormented for 2 years..fuck anyone who wouldn't support medical marijuana..

[HuckleB]

15. What are you trying to say?

Ramble On is a great song, don't get me wrong, but.

[pipoman]

24. Hard questions are difficult to answer, eh?

[HuckleB]

32. Well, you sure can't answer them. So...

[Eleanors38]

44. HuckleB, you're playing bull-in-the-ring. Good football drill...

but the attitude doesn't engender much constructive dialog. And there is so much attitude on DU, now.

[liberal_at_heart]

17. thank you.

[HuckleB]

20. Yep. Thanks for pushing the usual, pointless cliches.

Are you that gone?

[HuckleB]

21. Why do DU science folks go silent?

I know you're being pushed out, but why go silently?

[Jesus Malverde]

23. Seeing as cannabis is schedule 1 it's not actually allowed to be looked at by "science folks".

To learn about cannabis as a medicine, you have to travel to Israel one of the few countries that allows it to be studied as a medicine.

Peace

[Tx4obama]

25. See the video in Comment #6. A part in there about Israel and other places

[HuckleB]

33. I see that studies are being done, and that you're misrepresenting that...

And... just friggin' stop. Marijuana is not going to save the world. So what? It should be legal, anyway.

Sheesh.

[Bennyboy]

27. IS cannabis a "Miracle" Medicine? (See thread for all things cannabis)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023624079

Be sure to check it all out. There is way more than anecdotal proof.

[HuckleB]

34. Science does not work that way.

Why do you need Marijuana to be some miracle medicine?

[Bennyboy]

47. Well because my friend's Mom has cancer and she is not winning

So she need to be able to access cannabis extracts and oil so she can live longer. She needs to access edibles so she can feel better.

(the "Miracle medicine" is the title of the first story on that thread, which you should read through. I try to keep people informed and hope they (and yourself) will follow.

[davidpdx]

28. I have a very different take

I am also from Oregon (though I have not lived there I am still registered there as I live overseas). I voted for the medical marijuana when it was put on the ballot back in the 90's (can't remember the year). I do think medicinal marijuana helps those who have certain medical conditions.

Before I continue, let me say I am generally in favor of just legalizing it. I have very recently changed my stance in favor after a long time of being on the fence. Personally I've never smoked it and won't. I don't judge people who smoke it, but the smell bothers me (I sneeze like crazy. I must have been a drug dog in another life.).

The measure that was on the ballot last year I was not particularly happy with some of the aspects of it. I read quite a bit, watched a debate that was done on the measure, and talked to friends. Then I voted against it.

My hope is after Washington and Colorado have had time to implement their measures the next person who puts a ballot measure up takes a good look at how those two states have done.

I think it will eventually pass in Oregon as we are a pretty liberal state. Whether it will be in 2014 or 2016, I don't know.

[HuckleB]

36. I agree that the last measure was not perfect.

Still, just legalizing it is much better than pretending all the BS people pretend about it in terms of medical benefits. Once it's legal, they can tell themselves whatever they want to tell themselves. Who cares?

[davidpdx]

46. I'd certainly rather wait and make sure we get the law written right

Given that Colorado and Washington passed theirs it's a good chance for us to stand back and watch and see what happens. We can learn from the things they did both right and wrong and try to come up with a better measure. My understanding is the measure that was up last year had no limit on the amount you could possess. I think the only exception should be for hemp farming, which has all kinds of good uses.

We'll have to wait to see if the measure makes it on the ballot. I'm not physically in the state so signing the petition is not possible. I was able to sign an individual petition for the gay marriage measure and send it by mail. Given measure 36 passed nine years ago, I see the measure to legalize gay marriage as more important as it is part of repealing a very bad piece of law.

[DireStrike]

29. Any crack in the armor is worth it -nt-

[HuckleB]

37. That might have been legitimate ten years ago, but it's no longer the way to go.

[HijackedLabel]

40. I agree, HuckleB.

We shouldn't need a scientific justification to end the silly prohibition of marijuana.

There are plenty of legal substances that are a whole lot more horrible for the human body.

And they shouldn't be restricted either. My body, my choice.

I'd never vote against any step in the direction of ending the prohibition though, but I understand why you would.

[HuckleB]

42. Why would I?

You say you understand... So explain it.