Don't Get High….. Get Well

Posts Tagged ‘medical marijuana’

 

Please see my recent blog regarding the US patent in 2003 by the Federal government for CBD. In addition, the patent boldly also states the many benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids.

The application was applied for April 21, 1999 and was finalizing in 2003. The findings were published in Drugs R D. 2003;4(5):306-309 which is almost 10 years ago and I have wondered why this happened at that time. Well, this article, explains very clearly that GW was looking for and obtained support and I presume a lot of cash from Bayer Pharmaceuticals. Bayer was involved with GW before 2003 and the patent by the Feds in 2003 is no coincidence. Please read here, the abstract of GW Pharmaceuticals actions.

Here is the text of the abstract from the study:

Cannabis-Based Medicines – GW Pharmaceuticals: High CBD,
High THC, Medicinal Cannabis – GW Pharmaceuticals, THC:CBD

Drugs R D. 2003;4(5):306-309

ABSTRACT

GW Pharmaceuticals is undertaking a major research programme in the UK to develop and market distinct cannabis-based prescription medicines [THC:CBD, High THC, High CBD] in a range of medical conditions. The cannabis for this programme is grown in a secret location in the UK.It is expected that the product will be marketed in the US in late 2003. GW’s cannabis-based products include selected phytocannabinoids from cannabis plants, including D9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). The company is investigating their use in three delivery systems, including sublingual spray, sublingual tablet and inhaled (but not smoked) dosage forms. The technology is protected by patent applications. Four different formulations are currently being investigated, including High THC, THC:CBD (narrow ratio), THC:CBD (broad ratio) and High CBD. GW is also developing a specialist security technology that will be incorporated in all its drug delivery systems. This technology allows for the recording and remote monitoring of patient usage to prevent any potential abuse of its cannabis-based medicines.GW plans to enter into agreements with other companies following phase III development, to secure the best commercialisation terms for its cannabis-based medicines. In June 2003, GW announced that exclusive commercialisation rights for the drug in the UK had been licensed to Bayer AG. The drug will be marketed under the Sativex((R)) brand name. This agreement also provides Bayer with an option to expand their license to include the European Union and certain world markets.GW was granted a clinical trial exemption certificate by the Medicines Control Agency to conduct clinical studies with cannabis-based medicines in the UK. The exemption includes investigations in the relief of pain of neurological origin and defects of neurological function in the following indications: multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, central nervous system damage, neuroinvasive cancer, dystonias, cerebral vascular accident and spina bifida, as well as for the relief of pain and inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and also pain relief in brachial plexus injury. The UK Government stated that it would be willing to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 to permit the introduction of a cannabis-based medicine.GW stated in its 2002 Annual Report that it was currently conducting five phase III trials of its cannabis derivatives, including a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a sublingual spray containing High THC in more than 100 patients with cancer pain in the UK. Also included is a phase III trial of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) being conducted in patients with severe pain due to brachial plexus injury, as are two more phase III trials of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) targeting spasticity and bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients. Another phase III trial of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) in patients with spinal cord injury is also being conducted. Results from the trials are expected during 2003.Three additional trials are also in the early stages of planning. These trials include a phase I trial of THC:CBD (broad ratio) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, a phase I trial of High CBD in patients with psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, and a preclinical trial of High CBD in various CNS disorders (including epilepsy, stroke and head injury).GW Pharmaceuticals submitted an application for approval of cannabis-based medicines to UK regulatory authorities in March 2003. Originally GW hoped to market cannabis-based prescription medicines by 2004, but is now planning for a launch in the UK towards the end of 2003.Several trials for GW’s cannabis derivatives have also been completed, including four randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trials conducted in the UK. The trials were initiated by GW in April 2002, to investigate the use of a sublingual spray containing THC:CBD (narrow ratio) in the following medical conditions: pain in spinal cord injury, pain and sleep in MS and spinal cord injury, neurop spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain in MS and general neuropathic pain (presented as allodynia). Results from these trials show that THC:CBD (narrow ratio) caused statistically significant reductions in neuropathic pain in patients with MS and other conditions. In addition, improvements in other MS symptoms were observed as well.Phase II studies of THC:CBD (narrow ratio) have also been completed in patients with MS, spinal cord injury, neuropathic pain and a small number of patients with peripheral neuropathy secondary to diabetes mellitus or AIDS. A phase II trial of THC:CBD (broad ratio) has also been completed in a small number of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as has a trial of High CBD in patients with neurogenic symptoms. A phase II trial has also been evaluated with High THC in small numbers of patients for the treatment of perioperative pain. The phase II trials provided positive results and confirmed an excellent safety profile for cannabis-based medicines.GW Pharmaceuticals received an IND approval to commence phase II clinical trials in Canada in patients with chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury in 2002.Following meetings with the US FDA, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Office for National Drug Control Policy, and National Institute for Drug Abuse, GW was granted an import license from the DEA and has imported its first cannabis extracts into the US. Preclinical research with these extracts in the US is ongoing.

In a few prior blogs (search “AA”), I have mentioned that I believe there should be an “AA” type meeting, perhaps it can’t be called “AA”?? I don’t know. However, today another patient responded that I thought represented the feelings of a number of patients responding to this topic. So, below I am posting his comments and below that, my response:

This discussion is interesting. I have smoked pot since I was 12 years old and started smoking daily when I was in my mid 20s. I am now 45. I have not had a drink in more than 2 years now but never once thought about stopping pot when I first went to AA. I don’t condone it as a way to “get sober” as I don’t think pot is for everyone. I became pretty uncomfortable at AA once I realized that everyone else considered it the same as alcohol. As I have done my whole life, I don’t tell people that I smoke pot, including AA people. I have told a couple of people I trust in AA to get it off my chest and see what they would have to say about it. They were supportive to varying degrees but suggested I keep it to myself.
As you pointed out I came to AA because I am powerless over alcohol and it absolutely made my life unmanageable. It has taken 2 years away from everyday drinking, heavy drinking, to realize all the nuances of unmanageability. I do not believe my life is unmanageable because of pot, caffeine, nicotine, jerking off or anything else. The booze was killing me and ruining every relationship I have/had. Pot makes me less anxious and want to watch TV. I like pot. I like the way it makes me feel. Maybe I’m in denial but I have thought a lot about it and other than it being illegal I don’t see anything harmful for me.
I can understand how trading pot for alcohol is absolutely not the way to stop drinking but I’ve always smoked and always drank. I knew I had to stop drinking or else. I’m not so convinced about pot.
As I told my AA friend – on Nov.2, 2009 I would have gone to a meeting for pot smokers with a desire to stop drinking if there was one. So, I want to AA instead.
If you ever are able to arrange a meeting and can make it available online, I would like to attend.

Regards

Dr. Frankel replies:
I totally understand and agree. People all around the world use all sorts of medicines, herbs, drinks, sex acts, etc to help them feel better. It is universal. It is not a matter of right and wrong but that is the labeling that is generally applied. Harm reduction therapy, i.e. using cannabis to replace alcohol just makes sense. There is plenty of data to support it and personally I cannot be the judge of what is “right and wrong”. I am a physician and am better at deciding what is safer or more effective. When one applies this logic, there is no question that cannabis is safer. You don’t need any studies to prove this, although there are plenty. The fact for you and for many others is that your life is now in control and you are doing well; before, with alcohol, your life was unmanageable as you state and now it is manageable. Pretty simple. Not broken, don’t fix it.

Although it has been known for years that cannabis can help with the pain and spasms associated with Multiple Sclerosis and related disorders, it has not been until recent years that the real miracle of how to use cannabis for MS has been uncovered.

As I have stated in many prior blogs, CBD or Cannabidiol, is the “missing link” in cannabis. It is very similar in chemical structure to THC, but has no psycho activity or “stony” feeling and has wonderful analgesic and other properties. With regard to MS, this has been very well studied and GW Pharmaceuticals in England has been producing a very helpful cannabis whole plant extract including CBD for use with MS patients. Although it is not legally available in England nor the US, it will be over time.

In the meantime, a number of medical cannabis collectives in Los Angeles do have tinctures, or drops under the tongue, that are quite similar to Sativex and at least “empirically” seem to work quite well on my MS patients.

Back in 2008, a lot of these “smash and grabs” were going on and only occasionally were participants arrested. There were a few arrests, but only the most extreme. The feds did another smash and grab in Medicino a few weeks ago. The plants were destroyed and money taken. This collective was, as far as I am aware, not breaking any laws and was operating within its rights.

In my experience, if agents of the government at any level come and seize property, it is because the owner was involved in some illegal activity. I presume the feds felt this collective was doing something illegal, else why would they smash it? The most serious issue in my opinion, is that they very, very rarely arrest the collective management.

So, why would the authorities destroy a business and not arrest anyone? This is generally the case. I do choke when I say this, but shouldn’t they arrest this people so we can then defend ourselves even if our business was already destroyed? What happened to due process? What happened to trial before your peers? By not arresting anyone, they just get away with it.

So, with sadness, I am suggesting that IF authorities are going to destroy or seize property, there should be due process, notification, filed charges and give the collective or any other business, the right to defend itself.

When a “store front” collective is being built, the shelves are empty. There are no Cannabis products on the shelves. Then, somehow, upon opening, the store is filled with all sorts of cannabis products. So, how did that happen? If transportion is at times or oftentimes considered illegal, but the stores are not closed, how are the shelves supposed to be stocked in the first place?

Then, these patients come in, make donations and walk out with bags of cannabis products. I am certain that after a few days, the shelves are becoming empty again and more cannabis products are needed.

Of course I am being sarcastic, but really, the law treats the delivery of cannabis differently than it’s being on the shelves.

Scotty never beamed in weed. Cars driven by humans come to the store and walk in with the medicine. So, how do or how SHOULD collectives receive their products? How should or how can law enforcement even begin to know what is “legal” or “legal enough” for enforcement to leave the transporter alone? How do the collectives know what is legal and what is not legal? To the best of my knowledge, the only distinction is the “Letter of Designation”.  I must say that not only does law enforcement not know about this but most collectives do not know or understand this.

You can be a legal patient and be a legal member of a collective but that does not give a patient the right to transport cannabis to a collective or to sell it. The patient certainly do need to be patients and members of the collective, but they also need a critical document, signed by the management of the collective. I have pasted below a sample “Designation” letter.  This is a legal statement that this legal patient is “DESIGNATED” TO GROW OR TRANSPORT.

 

I, Name of Collective Manager, declare as follows:

The information contained in this declaration is true of my own personal knowledge or on my information and belief, unless stated otherwise.

1.            I am an officer and director of the nonprofit medical marijuana patient collective (hereinafter “The Collective”). I am responsible for the management of the Collective, hold a position of authority within the corporation and am authorized to execute this declaration on behalf of the Collective.

2.            The Collective is incorporated as a California nonprofit corporation under the name COLLECTIVE NAME HERE , and operate as a nonprofit medical marijuana collective of qualified patients pursuant to Health and Safety Code §11362.5 (“The Compassionate Use Act of 1996” enacted as Proposition 215); Health and Safety Code §11362.7 et seq. (“The Medical Marijuana Program Act”); and, the California Attorney General’s August 2008 Guidelines for the Security and Non-Diversion of Marijuana Grown for Medical Use.

3.            In order to obtain medicine from the Collective, a person must (a) be a member of the Collective, (b) be a qualified patient with a valid recommendation from a physician licensed to practice medicine in California authorizing the patient to use marijuana for the treatment of a serious medical condition, and (c) possess valid identification establishing that he or she is at least 18 years of age and a resident of California, as required by law.

4.            The Collective obtains marijuana for its patients exclusively from members of the Collective, and pays only for the out-of-pocket costs and labor for the time spent cultivating, processing and transporting the medicine to the Collective for safekeeping, as required by law.

5.            Patient Name is a member of the Collective, and has been since DATE This member has been duly authorized to transport medicine on behalf of            patients of the Collective.

6.            Cultivation and transportation of medical marijuana by this member of the Collective is authorized under Health and Safety Code §§11362.65 and 11362.77.

I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California that the statements made in this declaration are true and correct, and that this declaration was executed on November 8, 2011 in Venice, California.

 

 

 

________________________________           ______________________________

Signature of Authorized Collective Manager      Printed Name Representative

I only wish! Our election process is so intertwined with the special interest groups that it appears we can’t undo any of the knots right now. As always, fear runs amuck and nobody feels anything can be done to fix the level of incompetence and corruption. Well, here is a possible solution:

What if we had a system where NO CAMPAIGN DONATIONS WERE EVER ALLOWED? I know we have all thought about ways to change the election process as that is the only way to change politicians motivations. Currently, as huge sums of money are donated to campaigns, the candidates owe favors and that is where their allegiance lies.

There is another, equally large “election” that this country does every year – “American Idol”. The number of citizens voting, I BELIEVE, is about the same as in general elections. So, why not have American Idol run our national and even local campaigns? The candidates will have to speak directly to the national audience . No special interests.

As the campaigns locally advance to regional and national levels, the candidates would/could do anything from explain their position, debate others and perhaps a bit of a song and dance; we need happy politicians up there.

The fact that this seems like a decent idea to me right now is horribly sad, but perhaps, just as books and papers are all going digital, perhaps this will work better than the current system.

Frankly, I would argue that the “representatives and senators” was necessary 250 years ago as there was a need for “representation”; perhaps now we should run the place ourselves through a special social networking group. It could not be any worse.

I am posting this information, which is in a constant state of updating, to help all of us begin to understand what our evolving medicines should look like. There is some consensus that the “best” medicine is “equal” CBD and THC per ml of tincture. Our experience certainly indicates that this is a great medicine, but we don’t believe anyone knows what is “best” for all clinical situations and for all patients. As a practicing physician for 34 years, I have never seen a single anything work for everything and I doubt this is the case here.

So, the intended plan of the current scientific group (listing and details to follow soon), is to always have some “balanced” cannabinoid tinctures available for patients, but that we will always be working on many different strengths and ratios. For example, at this point in time, every tincture is re-infused with all the terpenes that were in the original plant. This changes the medicine in very significant ways – most of which we are still learning about. So, one might have a tincture with near equal amounts of THC and CBD, whether 3/3, 5/5 or ? others, but due to the makeup of the terpenes, might be more or less psychoactive.

For example, there could be a tincture that is 5/5(balanced) but some terpenes in the tincture alter the psychoactivity effect as well as other effects. So, we are looking into other manners in which to help the patient select the correct tincture. Our first venture into this area is a PSYCHOACTIVITY SCALE. This goes from 0 – 10. A low number tells the patient that the tincture is very unlikely to cause any psychoactivity or “altered” mental state. It would help with anxiety and pain, for example, but not alter mentation. Similarly, a number of 8 or 9 is very likely to be very psychoactive and the patient should expect a buzz and for sure, as always, be extra careful with potential side effects

So, think of this number. We will be posting these numbers on all future releases. For the currently new batch, the T11C2 is rated at a 7. The other new release contains THC 4.3 and CBD 3.1. It is rated at 1.5 and seems very similar to the 5/5. We need your help in this ongoing process and will be asking for feedback.

Here is a way to look at this psychoactive scale.
Low, Medium and High level of psychoactivity
or altered mental state:

|0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10|

Low—> Med——> High

In addition, going forward we will make available the tinctures in both a 3 cc and 15 cc bottles with identical spray caps. This will make trying new tinctures much easier and less expensive

This product is grown in accordance with California State law and is Clean Green certified. Diversion or distribution of this product for non-medical purposes is forbidden under California State and Federal laws.

TINCTURE OF CANNABIS DIRECTIONS

Use as Needed
A. General Statement on Dosage
This tincture of cannabis is made available to qualified patients in the State of California in accordance with the laws of the State of California. It is provided as a tincture manufactured in compliance with the guidelines of the State of California. An oil of cannabis is created without the use of alcohol or chemical solvents. It is then diluted and emulsified to a stable state at which point an approved analytical laboratory tests it. It is then blended and further diluted with purified water and organic vegetable glycerin to a consistent concentration. Patient is to use a dosage  appropriate to their circumstances. It should be taken as needed to treat the condition for which medical cannabis is recommended.

The details of the formulation are as follows.

B. Preparation and Administration.
Remove the bottle containing the tincture of cannabis. Shake the bottle in an up and down motion for 3 to 5 seconds before each use. Use the sprayer to administer 3-5 sprays of the tincture under your tongue. Use your tongue to gently spread the liquid around the soft pink tissue inside your mouth. After a few seconds, swallow any remaining liquid, leaving the vegetable glycerin coating the inside of your mouth. Do not eat or drink for 15 minutes to allow full buccal absorption.
C. Storage
Store in a cool dark place away from sources of heat or light.
D. Shelf Life
Cannabis Tincture should be used within 12 months of date listed on the bottle.
E. Caution
The most common side effects with cannabis tincture are fatigue and THC induced agitation. Some people may also feel depressed or confused, may feel over-excited or lose touch with reality, may have difficulties with memory or trouble concentrating and may feel sleepy or giddy. For most people taking cannabis tincture, these side effects are mild to moderate, last only a few hours and can be managed by changing the dose, taking a short break from using the medicine, or using an alternative formulation. Side effects are most likely to happen when you start treatment and will often decrease as you become more used to cannabis tincture. Patients should not drive a car or operate machinery until an initial tolerance has developed. Patients should also not to take cannabis tincture with other CNS depressants such as alcohol, opioids and benzodiazepines.

Who should not use this medicine?

Patients with a psychotic disorder not under a doctors care
Pregnant women

Ok, I know this was from 2003 and I have blogged several times on this amazing hypocrisy that is somehow not ever explained to us. I have written everyone I can think of, including Mr. Obama. To briefly summarize, for those of you not familiar with this hypocrisy, the Feds patented CBD in 2003. I have read this site a number of times, but for some reason, I saw it more clearly today. They are not just saying that CBD is a great neuro-protectant, they are making reasonable, but bold statements for a group who says cannabis has no value. We need to somehow make this public in a big way. I am always amazed that I never see or hear these issues being challenged and certainly not answered. Let’s not discuss the details now. Perhaps let’s all begin asking how this is possible? The federal patent site is pasted below. If I didn’t view it from time to time, I wouldn’t believe it myself, but it is true. The feds are clearly stating:“cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases”Forgive me, but aren’t they saying Cannabis is a great medicine?Isn’t this sort of an endorsement for Cannabis as medicine?They are keeping it for themselves.They are placing people in jail.Does anyone know any way for this to be brought to a national television audience? I am happy, as always, to be involved in any way I can be helpful. Let’s get this on national television and dare the DEA to come on the show and respond. This is the smart and right thing to do. Read Below or CLICK HERE“ 

 

( 1 of 1 )

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United States Patent	6,630,507
Hampson ,   et al.	October 7, 2003

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Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants 

AbstractCannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties, unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of wide variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia. Nonpsychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidoil, are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses useful in the method of the present invention. A particular disclosed class of cannabinoids useful as neuroprotective antioxidants is formula (I) wherein the R group is independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH.sub.3, and COCH.sub.3. ##STR1##”

I have always helped and and all of my patients if they are arrested or hassled. Every one of them are legal, belong to the collective they are growing or delivering for and they all have legal designation letters. More on the designation letter in a future blog, but this CRITICAL DOCUMENT, is often neglected. It basically states that the management of the collective is directing this patients, or “designates” this patient to grow or transport. There is cannabis inside the dispensaries and they are not delivered by chopper.:)  People drive the cannabis. No planes, no trains. The designation letter is key.

In general I love the work and so far not one patient has ever lost. I never charge the patient for any of my work. Never. In this manner, I have gained a lot of legal experience and am able to serve my patients very well since at hearings or trials, this comes across as it should; I care about my patients and the cause.

On a few occasions, I have had the displeasure of working with one particular lawyer who is well known in the Southern California area. I assume this lawyer is a good attorney, but I can no longer work with the office. As I am a volunteer doctor, and really a strong patient advocate, I would expect to be treated civilly. I should be able to speak with my patients’ lawyers, as I have done without issue on dozens of times, but this lawyer never returns my calls. This lawyer does not make it easy for me to know which days of my work to cancel. This lawyer never notified me when a day was cancelled and I showed up on several occasions just to go back. The worst issue with this attorney is that as a Physician who has specialized in this area, I should be brought in – not left out.

So, if any of you are my patients, who need my help with a legal issue, please speak privately with me before hiring a lawyer. It has taken a lot of events to get me to this point, but please call before hiring.

I am appearing as an expert witness and physician for two of my patients over the next two weeks. I have been to 34 hearings or trials and am happy to say I have never and will never charge for this service. I would love to be able to charge, but in this field, any received money shows guilt to something. Anyway, these patients are broke by the time I see them.  For these patients, much of the issue was the numerous tincture bottles they had in their possession. They were working with legal collectives and had all proper legal documentation. Much of the issue in the end is that the state and county seem to believe that a tincture is a concentrate – such as hash. Below is pretty much what I wrote to the courts:

One of the most troubling and silly reasons for jail or potential prison time, has been the possession of bottles of tincture. Of course it is never one or two bottles. It is generally someone legally delivering bottles of tincture to collectives; hey, there are flowers and tinctures in every collective store….they get there somehow and

 

A cannabis tincture is not a concentrate; it is a dilution of the cannabis plant medicine. It is a dilution of the THC, CBD or any of the other 448 molecules in the plant.

A concentrate is defined in chemistry as a solution or solid “material” that was     altered in some manner to make the amount of the “material” per weight, such as in mg/cc altered from a lower value to a higher value. For example, if one begins with a lemonade solution that contains 10 mg of sugar in every cc of water and the water in the lemonade is allowed to evaporate, a concentrate of lemonade is produced. If more water is added, it is diluted. A single lemon can make one glass or several glasses of lemonade depending upon how concentrated or dilute the lemonade is intended to be. A single lemon can therefore make much more than it’s weight in lemonade, as sugar and water make up the bulk of the weight.

If we apply this same logic to the situation in the cannabis plant, the starting “material” is the actual cannabis plant with an average of 10% THC by weight. One tenth of a gram of cannabis is 100 mg. (one gram = 1000 mg and 10% or one tenth of this is 100 mg). If this extraction into a liquid is even 50% efficient, a total of 50 mg of THC can be extracted into the tincture from the single gram of cannabis plant material. Alchemy’s tincture averaged 1 mg of THC for every cc of tincture. Each bottle has 10 cc’s. So, each bottle averaged approximately 10 mg of THC.

This means that one gram of 10% THC plant will make 5 bottles of tincture at the dilution used by Alchemy Collective.

Another way to view this is that each gram of cannabis makes 5 bottles, so a pound of cannabis, 454 grams, would make over 4000 bottles. If it took pounds and pounds to make 100 or 200 bottles of tincture, each bottle would be prohibitively expensive and useless.

In addition, butane or other toxic chemicals are not used in the creation of tinctures as they are only used in the making of the true “concentrates” or hash or cannabis oils.

CMA wants cannabis legalized !!

The CMA just released a white paper with strong language advocating the legalization of cannabis. In large part, this is to enable legal studies of the medicine without any fear of reprisal from the Feds or Medical Board.

I am thrilled to see this development from a very reputable and conservative medical organization.

It is a good day. :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am sorry for not posting this sooner. When I first heard about this, I frankly thought it was just a rumor; that it just could not possibly be true. Well, it is true, and I have posted three links below for more details.

It appears that the ATF (Anti Terrorist Force) has recently dictated that any registered Medical Cannabis Patient, cannot own/register a firearm. This is outrageous. I am certainly not an NRA supporter, but picking on cannabis in this fashion is insane and everyone knows this is federal policy at work.

There has already been action, see in one of links below, of a woman in Oregon arrested for this; she had a medical cannabis state card and owned a gun. She potentially faces jail time. Incredible!!

There is more and more talk that the State of California will be forced to release it’s list of registered patients and cross check with gun licenses. It is of course horrible, but it will be interesting to see what the percentage of registered cannabis patients posses a gun license.

In addition to the obvious, I have one other concern. In my six years in this field and much experience in the/”their” legal system, it is not too paranoid to consider that:

1. The patients who posses cards are in large part those who grow or travel with cannabis. There is no reason in the world, from my perspective, for anyone to have a state card, unless they travel with large volumes of cannabis. Even in this circumstance, personally in many visits to court on behalf of patients, I have NEVER seen the State Card help anyone – particularly if the doctor shows up. So, perhaps my going to all of my patients trials for free over six years, I may have a biassed view here, but I would love to have feedback from other people. Also, if going to court keeps patients out of jail, every cannabis doctor should stand by their patients for free. It should be our obligation.

2. The state may come to  the conclusion, after crossing the database of medical cannabis card holders with the database of gun licensing and come to conclusions concerning what it means regarding cannabis users in general, and go arrest these people for breaking the law.

In other words, I am concerned that the Feds will cross the states’ PATIENT list with the GUN PERMIT  list and find those patients who carry gun permits. I would imagine there will be quite a few found, as so many of these patients are the patients who grow and transport and I would think many of them have guns. So now there will “legal” arrests of patients as well as slandering the medical cannabis industry stating “statistics” that x% of cannabis users have permits for guns. Obviously if they cross the database of ALL cannabis patients (which does not even exist outside of the state card) the people with gun permits will most likely be lower than the norm; at least I believe this would be the case.

This is really awful. I think that everyone should boycott the use of the state card to the extent possible

LIST OF USEFUL LINKS

http://huff.to/qvbRll

http://bit.ly/p0kDTx

http://bit.ly/nF2TpN

Certified Cannabis Tinctures assure the patient that:

1. The cannabis plants used in the making of the tincture are organic

2. The entire plant is used in the making of the tincture other than fan/water leaves

3. The cannabis plant as well as the tincture is chemically tested for cannabinoids and 35 Terpenes

4. Carbon Dioxide in liquid form is pressurized to separate the plant material from the lipid soluble medicating molecules

5. No alcohol is used

6. The labels will be Sherman Act compliant and state cannabinoid/terpene content in mg/cc

7. Each tincture is clinically evaluated for its degree of psychoactivity – altered thinking/mind altering

HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT TINCTURE FOR YOU?

Strain type is not the best predictor of which tinctures may work the best for you. Strain type as well, does not predict efficacy. So, a psychoactive clinical scale is used, as below, to help the patient select a tincture that is likely to be best for them without causing excessive psycho activity, or how mind altering the tincture may be for you.

The scale goes from 0 to 10, with 0 being no psycho activity and 10 being extremely psychoactive.

Not Psychoactive<–0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10 –>Very Psychoactive

In general, the greater the ratio of CBD(cannabidiol / THC the less psychoactive a tincture will tend to be. However, for many patients even with a relatively high level of  THC, even a small amount of CBD can virtually eliminate the psychoactivity. Also, as with everything in medicine, patients and conditions vary. We will be asking your help in determining what works best for various conditions in different groups of patients.

If you are using a tincture with CBD, please take the Project CBD survey. It is one of the main pages of this site.

I have had two patients recently with breast cancer who were on Tamoxifen, an estrogen inhibitor. A fairly common side effect of Tamoxifen is joint pains. For many of these women, it presents as an arthritic condition affecting both large and small joints.

When these two women started using as little as 1 mg BID of CBD, their pains were significantly improved. One of them restarted exercising within a day.

I will be following these women and am communicating with their oncologists and will post more on this topic as more experience is gathered.

CBD is metabolized in the liver by the P450 enzymatic system. So, any other drug, including THC, is affected to an unknown amount. Generally these interactions are said to be minimal, but for sure with THC, the THC effect is prolonged by a number of hours. So, I woud not be surprised that we see more drug interactions with the many prescription drugs that use the same P450 system.

A couple of common drugs, Lipitor and Xanax both use the P450 system, so their dose may have to be adjusted downward.

Here is the best list of drugs using the same pathway. Any patient using CBD and taking one or more of these drugs should notify their physician. Generally nothing needs to be done, but I am hearing of cases where doses should/can be reduced.

Here is the list:

Drugs using P450 Hepatic metabolism