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Showing posts from February, 2021

Finding out if Marijuana Is addictive(Dependence and withdrawal)

Once tolerance sets in, dependence can form. If someone uses a drug often enough, the brain will become accustomed to it. In an attempt to return to baseline, it will compensate for the difference, raising a function that the drug lowered, like heart rate, or reducing a function that the drug boosted, like mood. This means that when the drug wears off, the person’s heart could start to race, they could become irritable or depressed, or experience any number of other reactions called withdrawal. “A person is not dependent on a drug unless they experience some kind of negative outcome upon stopping their use,” said Reiman. “For example, if I am prescribed Vicodin for pain and I use it as directed, that does not make me dependent. “If I try to cut down or stop my intake and have negative consequences — cravings, irritability, upset stomach, chills, etc. — that could be a sign that my use has become dependence. “This can happen to people who take prescription medication for a long time, ev

Finding out if Marijuana Is addictive (Drug of choice)

The conversation around marijuana use has become more nuanced since the World War II era film “Reefer Madness” portrayed the drug as destructive and dangerous. The drug’s pain-relieving properties make it a potential replacement for pain medication. In 2014, states that had legalized medical marijuana reported a 25 percent drop in deaths resulting from an overdose of pain medication. In healthy people, marijuana is sometimes used as a substitute for other, stronger substances. Amanda Reiman, PhD, policy manager for the California office of the Drug Policy Alliance, and lecturer at the University of California Berkeley, shed light on this trend. A 2009 study she conducted on medical marijuana users revealed that: 40 percent of them had substituted marijuana for alcohol 26 percent for other illicit drugs 66 percent for prescription drugs Reasons they gave included: marijuana had fewer unwanted side effects it managed their symptoms better it presented fewer problems with withdrawal One m

Finding if Marijuana/Cannabis is Addictive (Legalisation & addiction)

 The discussion surrounding addiction — and addressing addiction concerns — has become more complex. Currently, 31 states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana in some form. In fact, 10 states and the District of Columbia allow marijuana for recreational use. In recent years, there have been a number of studies that have highlighted the use marijuana in treating certain medical conditions. One study stated that medical marijuana can help children with seizures and chemotherapy-induced nausea. A 2017 study reported that adult cancer patients are using marijuana to ease nausea and other symptoms. A 2014 review looked at the available research regarding people with epilepsy using marijuana to ease their seizures. There are also the studies that indicate legalizing marijuana can reduce the misuse of opioids, alcohol, and other substances. On the other hand, there are studies that have issued warnings on marijuana and heart health as well as using marijuana for morning

Finding out if Marijuana Is addictive. (Who & why)

The world is slowly legalizing  Marijuana for both Medical and recreation. It's fair enough to read the good stuff about it, but we need to look at it from all possible effects whether positive and negative. The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently released data that suggests that 30 percent of those who use marijuana may have some degree of “marijuana use disorder.” They add that people who use marijuana before age 18 are 4 to 7 times more likely to develop this use disorder than adults. Researchers estimated that 4 million people in the United States met the criteria for marijuana use disorder in 2015.  138,000 voluntarily sought treatment. The use disorder, according to researchers, can morph into an addiction when the person can’t stop using the drug even when it interferes with their daily activities. The Canyon, a treatment center in Malibu, California, lists 10 signs that someone might have an addiction to marijuana. Among the signals is a growing tolerance f

Why Medical Marijuana and why now?

  More states are passing laws that allow people to use medical marijuana. So what does it treat, and who can and should use it? Pain is the main reason people ask for a prescription, says Barth Wilsey, MD, a pain medicine specialist at the University of California Davis Medical Center. It could be from headaches, a disease like cancer, or a long-term condition, like glaucoma or nerve pain. If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal and your doctor thinks it would help, you’ll get a “marijuana card.” You will be put on a list that allows you to buy marijuana from an authorized seller, called a dispensary. Doctors also may prescribe medical marijuana to treat: Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis Nausea from cancer chemotherapy Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, or nerve pain Seizure disorders Crohn's disease The FDA has also approved THC, a key ingredient in marijuana, to treat nausea and improve appetite. It's ava

Letter from a Doctor

   Dear Doctors, “With so much information coming out about the medical value of marijuana, and that marijuana is not as dangerous as alcohol, why was it made illegal in the first place?” Sincerely, Looking for a history lesson Dear Looking, That is an excellent question. Now that many politicians and the public are taking a more objective look at marijuana, many are asking about the legal history of marijuana and how it ended up in the category of drugs deemed most dangerous by the federal government (Schedule I). To understand how we ended up here, it is important to go back to what was happening in the United States in the early 1900’s just after the Mexican Revolution. At this time we saw an influx of immigration from Mexico into states like Texas and Louisiana. Not surprising, these new Americans brought with them their native language, culture and customs. One of these customs was the use of cannabis as a medicine and relaxant. Mexican immigrants referred to this pla

William O’Shaughnessy and the beginning of Cannabis Medicine

The idea of medicinal marijuana has blossomed in the last several years, opening up new markets, changing regulatory restrictions and legal mandates, and showing that public opinion can easily change over time. How it started in the first place isn't a story known to all or any. In fact, most people haven't heard any concept if it had been an Irishman named William O’Shaughnessy who brought cannabis medicine to the Western world. The world of legal cannabis is ever-changing, with new innovations and products beginning all the time. one among the more exciting additions to the planet of marijuana is that the inclusion of delta-8 THC. This newest THC compound gives users less psychoactive effects and less anxiety, while still offering a number of medical and recreational benefits. It with great care happens we've some great Delta-8 THC deals, for you to travel ahead and provides it a shot! Judge for yourself if this is often a superior sort of THC. Cannabis in history Before

Why Marijuana Was Made Illegal (US Case Study)

 Cannabis features a complicated history within us but why was marijuana made illegal? Public interest in cannabis has skilled several cycles of boom and bust since its introduction to the West within the 19th century. Legislation for much of U.S. History has attempted to stifle consumption, though in recent decades the trend has seen some reversal. Early History Cannabis indica was first introduced to western medicine by William O’Shaughnessy in 1839. O’Shaughnessy had spent a few years in India in pursuit of scientific discoveries. He returned to London in 1841 and spread his discovery to all or any of England. Medicinal cannabis had spread to pharmacies within the U.S. by the 1850s. Cannabis use was on the increase within the U.S. within the middle to late 19th century. An 1854 NY Times article listed hemp among other “fashionable narcotics” including tobacco and opium. There was widespread use by the 1880s in “hashish parlors” found in every major city on the East Coast. NY alone w