Don't Get High….. Get Well

Archive for August, 2010

As I have spoken about many times, testing of our medications is critical. We have been stymied in the past due to laboratories being afraid to touch the “stuff”. Well, that is changing, although it is not all “changed”.

For certain, it is safe and legal for GreenBridge Medical Laboratories to receive specimens and run basic pesticide and herbicide testing. This testing is now a requirement by the Los Angeles Medical Cannabis Ordinance.

Ultimately we plan on adding equipment that will allow full testing of cannabinoids, terpenes, etc, but there are some potential legal issues with that one. This is a baby step in some ways, but to have a Medical Cannabis Lab as part of GreenBridge Medical fulfills one of several dreams.

Stay tuned as we begin to open in coming weeks.

When I see a patient who abuses Methamphetamine’s, I feel good about giving them a recommendation in an effort to practice “Harm Reduction”. This form of treatment is growing in favor and is even now accepted by many substance abuse specialists.

So, why would AA be so against allowing medical cannabis? I would personally insist upon it being “Medical” Cannabis at the start to try keep the lid on the entire concept blowing up. However, allowing “recreational” users at the meetings would just be too much a political challenge.

Anyway, why not try having some more medical cannabis friendly AA meetings? What do you guys think?

Would there be any interest in having GreenBridge Medical host such a meeting? Perhaps one or more substance abuse specialists might join us?

I volunteer my office and my time. Anyone interested?

You must check out this link:  Cheeseburger, Fries and Lipitor Please.

I was listening to the news, couldn’t believe what I was hearing and then looked up this article. I realize this is not my usual blog style, but this story is much bigger than it seems at first glance.

So, the idea that these researchers have in England is to hand out a cholesterol lowering drug, Lipitor, with every fatty meal. They claim that the risks of liver disease and muscle problems will not outweigh the risks of eating fat. So, we are being told that rational people are allowing fast food workers the right to dispense medication.

1. This is the most sickening form of advertising I have ever seen as this must be the intention. Go ahead and eat all the burgers which are bad for you and we admit it, but also take this drug which may not be as bad.

2. Just take the drug, as your fast food guy knows best. He/she is the new primary care doctors we have been looking for.

3. No follow-up? Can’t we setup a little lab next to the bathrooms at McDonalds? Free liver profile with every Over-sized meal?

4. Think of a sign at McD, “Take drugs with our food and you will live another day to buy more food and drugs”

5. I could go on and on, but I am not yet to the point where I want to trash pharmaceuticals, but please, as a board certified physician, I am not safe to recommend cannabis, but these kids can distribute “free” drugs?  Next the drugs will be INSIDE the food and we won’t even know how well we are being taken care of.

How about some healthier food and a free joint?

YUCK!!

Dr. Allan Frankel needs your help.

For years, Dr. Allan Frankel and GreenBridge Medical in Marina del Rey have been there to provide qualified patients with the Letter of Recommendation needed under Prop 215 to allow safe access to the cannabis products needed to treat ailments and medical conditions.

Now, in an outrageous affront to the voters of California, the California Medical Board is seeking to revoke Dr. Frankel’s license to practice medicine based upon the absurd allegation that Dr. Frankel is not qualified to safely practice medicine because he, also, is a patient who uses cannabis for his own medical condition.

We are fighting the Medical Board’s attempt to revoke Dr. Frankel’s license to practice medicine and, thus, to prevent him from providing the needed recommendations for his patient’s medical cannabis but this battle is costing more in legal expenses than any doctor can afford.

Your donation will help assure that the many patients who use cannabis to treat their serious medical conditions can continue to obtain safe and legal access to their needed medication from a leader in the medical cannabis world.

Dr. Frankel is only one of a number of well-respected physicians who have been persecuted by the California Medical Board so contributing to his legal defense fund will help not only Dr. Frankel but the many other doctors and patients who are being victimized by the improper war on medicinal cannabis now being waged by the California Medical Board.

Please help us win this battle so that the Medical Board will have to think twice about its persecution of other doctors who are willing to risk their medical licenses in order to provide safe access to cannabis for their patients.

Thank you in advance for your generous contribution at http://www.greenbridgemed.com/legal-fund