MJ as an alternative pain management and I do consume hemp seed and oil everyday, however I also have my concerns with frequent use. I'm not talking about a hit here and there but smoking all throughout the day everyday.

Here's the problem I have with what I've seen first hand with my own eyes friends or otherwise claiming to use it for pain and life management. I view cannabis as a natural holistic herb. Someone looking to heal naturally, manage pain without side effects should also consider the "other" things they could be doing to contribute to the illness and aggravating to pain. Smoking several packs of cigarettes a day, poor diet - massive amounts of sugar, not enough water etc. MJ can mask the pain, make life lighter but I also think its a good idea to take a holistic approach to all areas of your life.

I've seen too many people beat this medical/holistic drum when it comes to cannabis when the reality is they are addicted to it. Abuse in any form is still abuse. Of course I'd rather see a pot head then a pill head but thats another agenda. lol

I'm truly sorry you have to go through this.

The biggest reason it was made illegal was due to racism concerning the flood of Mexicans coming across our southern border. The Senators and House members from the border states had a big ole hissy fit about immigration of Mexicans. Does any of this sound familiar?

Concerning CA budget shortfall and legalization. It looks like there will be a Proposition on the ballot in Nov that would legalize Marijuana. Some folks who support legalization are not supporting this Proposition because it has restrictions that are unacceptable to them. Others say legalization is paramount and the problems in the Proposition can be fixed once it's legal. I haven't made up my mind about it yet.

as to the budget shortfall............I seriously doubt there would be enough tax revenue to clean up the big fucking mess of a budget Arnie (and the useless legislature) has helped create with his cut taxes for businesses and rich people.

CA has been a medical marijuana state since 1996. Oakland has Oaksterdam University. http://www.oaksterdamuniversity.com/

you are certainly correct in that racism was used to help make it illegal. in fact the name marijuana was taken from a slang term used for mexicans who comsumed it. everyone at that time knew what cannabis and hemp were. people used many products made from the hemp plant. which is its real name, and it was part of the medical use at the time.

In fact, when it was outlawed in a shady deal, the AMA threw a fit.

wolfwalker

I am interested in how it has helped COPD. As some of you know, Jess suffers from COPD and we are always looking for ways to alleviate some of the symptoms and such.

I use MJ to manage my fibro (but it is not nearly as helpful as pain meds, ie oxycodone/hydrocodone). I have found that using a vaporizer is much better than a pipe.

I totally get how its been helpful for folks in weight loss. Take a couple of tokes and the muscles relax enough for me to be able to be more active. It also helps with the fibro "brain fog" in that I am able to almost hyper focus on things because my brain isn't dealing with all the pain signals.

Like Sachita, I think that it is something that needs moderation. I have a hard time seeing it being beneficial to be baked all day.

FYI... Hemp and marijuana are varieties of the Cannabis Sativa plant.


here's some info on the differences between hemp and marijuana.

there has been research done on COPD and using marijuana. it has been reported that the use of marijuana will help open the airways so breathing becomes easier.

the stopping of the use of cigs will help the most and it is suggested that people trying marijuana, not smoke it but use an vaporizer, tincture or cooking with it as the best way to ingest.

I truly doubt most people who use it are baked all day. I have met a few, but most people toke a few and then go about their business.

wolf

i agree

Too much of anything is not good..... moderation is best.
and yes, masking the pain is no substitue for the holistic approach in all your choices.
we could all benefit from practicing good habits, and a healthy diet. i found when i lost the 100lbs that i hurt so much less, but still hurt.

working out helps keep me supple, lots of water is a must for overall health.

Support
 

http://blog.norml.org/2010/06/22/hel...na-initiative/


http://blog.norml.org/2010/06/30/pro...in-california/


http://blog.norml.org/2010/06/29/naa...ation-measure/

wow 100 pounds??? I'm sure you felt better. I love wine. I drink maybe two bottles a week and if I could I'd drink it everyday. I even like MJ in the right state of mind but it distracts me, makes me crave sugar and makes me horny. Personally I can't even imagine smoking it all the time and getting anything done. Maybe on my down time but not when I had to function. Most of the pot heads I know, I'm talking people that smoke morning, noon and night are lazy, get very little accomplished and have very little to show for. I'm sure this isnt the case with all and there is always the exception to any rule. I've known quite a few. Now the people that smoke recreationally or to partly manage pain don't have this. But you can say that about any addiction, right?

My point is that it's great for pain management if someone is also seeking alternative treatment to heal or at least as best they can.

Earlier this year I wasn't feeling well. I kept having flare ups- my back, knee, my heart fluttering sometimes so bad I felt like it would jump out of my chest. My blood sugar was all over the place as well as my blood pressure. I would get migraines that blinded me. I was really scared. I was taking pain meds for my back and knee. I started having side effects. The bottom line is I had to take serious action to heal. Within a few weeks noticed changes and today run around like crazy. Diabetes runs in my family so does cancer. It takes a lot of work but its worth it. I have days I'm so tired I can barely move but I drink some carrot, celery and ginger juice after a 30 min breathing and meditation, I'm flying.

There's a lady lives by my mom with everything wrong with her. She takes so many meds. She also smokes two packs cig a day, eats awful drinks 6 pack coke even with high bp and diabetes. All she does is mask the pain and create new illnesses. Even holistic herbs have side effects when consumed in large doses on a regular basis. Of course and avid pot smoker will argue the effects of THC till the cows come home.

But I'd rather see my mom burn one at night then watch her take medications I know will put her in her grave early. If using it truly to manage pain great but the excuse to abuse isnt.

I'll save a bit of MJ for a relaxing evening by the fire.

i too know potheads that get lazy, fat, and have nothing to show for it.
i am far too busy to do that.

mostly MJ makes me want to do physical things, work out, clean houae, mow the yard, or anything else that takes little brain power but lots of muscle.


and a nice spliff by the fire with a glass of wine sound like a beginning to a relaxing evening.

or the beginning of very naughty things. lol

a guy can only hope
:sunglass:

We think my mom is bipolar or "something". She refuses to take medication. She smoked MJ most her life and I remember the smell coming from her room when I was young. As I got older I would give it to her and it always seemed to make her better. Then again we're talking 2 tokes once a day.

Another very close friend of mine who has pasted away, a very talented artist, native american woman. I knew her back when we were teens and I spent summers on the reservation. She introduced me to my first joint. We stayed high the whole summer. It was surreal being in the Florida Everglades, the swamps and being high. Then again she also turned me on to mushrooms.

Life moved forward, I got pregnant and stopped smoking everything. My friend and her lover, also one of my best friends, smoked when they got up, lunch and all night, everyday. They grew it or would have gone broke. I'll never forget the time we rented a houseboat. We get all the way out in Florida Bay, having margaritas, it's dusk and one of them states that they forgot their stash in the car. Apparently they had one in their cig pack but it wasn't enough. I said we would go back in the morning and that it was too dangerous to drive a houseboat at night, so many shallow sand bars and rocks. You should have seen them. They were freaking out wondering how they would sleep. They kept trying to tell me how to safely get the boat back. I've owned and driven boats all my life, especially in the Florida Keys.

Thats stuck with me and I paid closer attention. There is no doubt in my mind that they both suffered mentally and physically from smoking weed. They would often fall into depressed, violence and deeper depression for my friend who also smoked and drank herself to death. Sure it was the alcohol that probably did it in the end but her state of mind was always so fucked up she talked in circles.

Another transboy friend that sometimes helps me in summers to get money for T (I found out later for weed) "Thinks" he's far smarter then he is when he smokes. I've watched him. He will swear up and down that he's far more creative, attentive, focused when he's high. lol- maybe in his mind because he drove me crazy. He was forgetful moment to moment, lazy and extremely slow. Like clock work whenever he ran out of weed he'd come up with some excuse why he had to end his job early.

I know it sounds like I'm against it and I'm not. I'm totally fine with someone getting fucked up and partying in the right time and place. I can slam down a few bottles of wine, no problem (until the next day). I think it should be legal, as anything else and people make their own decisions on how they will partake. What I do have a problem with is people beating any drum to support medical MJ when clearly they are addicts and use that as an excuse to justify. I have a problem when they talk about people passing judgement because "their" drug of choice grows naturally rather then refined or processed when they are just as fucked up as the drunk. Oh wait... they will also tell you MJ is a peaceful drug and for most this might be true but plenty of violence happens because of it. I have a problem with people that claim they smoke to medicate meanwhile they abuse their bodies, lives, etc. masked all under this THC smoke veil.

If you're a drunk say so. If you're a pot head admit and be real with the reasons why.

Now pass me that vaporizer and bottle of wine! :wine:

[QUOTE=wolfwalker;141729]Hi there everyone,

i would like to revive this thread. now that I am in a legal medical marijuana state. I will soon have my paper work back and will be a medical marijuana provider. I love, love being legal because I am fully aware of what a wonderful healing herb this is.

but I would like to hear from people who use it for a medical purpose.

what are you using it to treat?

what has been the results for you?

what strains are you using?

this will help me learn more and refine my choices of strains.


thanks

wolfwalker[/QUOTe



this was my post in reviving this thread. I want to thank everyone for their comments but I would like to use this as an educational tool.

So sticking to the topic at hand would be most helpful.

thanks

wolfwalker

I have been smoking pot since I was about 14. I had a Biology teacher that grew his own and sold me some. I had/have a lot of high strung anxiety due to some stuff from my childhood. When I turned 8 years old sleeping became an issue for me. The doctor/therapist at the time prescribed me some anti anxiety meds and sleeping pills to help relieve my angst and the insomnia. The next several years I felt like I was always struggling physically. Like everything about me was 100 times heavier and simple tasks like chores/work/sports were now giant physical efforts for me. It did relieve my anxiety but my brain still ruminated constantly. Smoking pot helped slow my thoughts down enough for me to do something with all my mental energy. I recognized this and stopped taking the meds that I had been on for far to long. My grades went from fair to pretty damn good over the next few years and so did my passion, growth, and outlook on life. At the time, for me, it boiled down to two choices.

1- 2 small pills in the am, 1 small pill at lunch, and 2 small pills at night. Feel tired and shitty all day.
2- Smoke some pot, embrace the lifestyle and all that comes with it.

Two was a better choice for me at the time. Dealing with my folks hassling me about smoking and the inconvenience it created in daily life was easier than fighting the fog the pills brought on.

Strain is not something I have a choice in when purchasing. I do prefer Sativa

I am not advocating children smoking pot or anything of that nature. I am speaking about my own personal experience and reflective opinion.

Grant

[quote=wolfwalker;143400]I don't think that the intent of the thread when Jess started it was to exclusively talk about the different strains. To be perfectly honest, I have no clue most times as to the details of what I buy - I could care less - its either gonna take a little bit (the more expensive) to get the job done - or more. Either way, I'm good. Additionally, some of the most expensive, proclaimed to be all that and the bag of chips was no better (or worse) than the cheap stuff - at least to me and the way my body responds. I'm sure its different for everyone.

Additionally, I would think it would be the place to talk about the legalization efforts in states that don't currently have a medical law on the books.

I do think that most of the comments have been positive in perhaps dismissing some of the myths surrounding people who imbibe. I think that a lot of folks don't understand how beneficial, with relative few side effects, MJ can be as opposed to traditional pharmaceuticals and the absolute cluster fuck "pain management specialists" can get you physically dependent upon.

It might be most helpful to you to visit other local growers since you are now in a medical state. I would think they would have a better grasp on the local demographic and there should be grower groups/co-ops. It may be that the demand is for certain strains and if it were me starting a business in a new state, I would look to established folks for the proper guidance.


:weedsmoke::weedsmoke:

[QUOTE=christie0918;143736][quote=wolfwalker;143400]

I don't think that the intent of the thread when Jess started it was to exclusively talk about the different strains. To be perfectly honest, I have no clue most times as to the details of what I buy - I could care less - its either gonna take a little bit (the more expensive) to get the job done - or more. Either way, I'm good. Additionally, some of the most expensive, proclaimed to be all that and the bag of chips was no better (or worse) than the cheap stuff - at least to me and the way my body responds. I'm sure its different for everyone.

Additionally, I would think it would be the place to talk about the legalization efforts in states that don't currently have a medical law on the books.

I do think that most of the comments have been positive in perhaps dismissing some of the myths surrounding people who imbibe. I think that a lot of folks don't understand how beneficial, with relative few side effects, MJ can be as opposed to traditional pharmaceuticals and the absolute cluster fuck "pain management specialists" can get you physically dependent upon.

It might be most helpful to you to visit other local growers since you are now in a medical state. I would think they would have a better grasp on the local demographic and there should be grower groups/co-ops. It may be that the demand is for certain strains and if it were me starting a business in a new state, I would look to established folks for the proper guidance.


:weedsmoke::weedsmoke:[/QUOT


strains are not my primary interest. tho in MM states, different strains are used for different types of aliments. sativas tend to help with depression etc, indicas with pain, sleep issues etc.

my main interest is how people using it for medical relief. and yes, discussing legal issues and how to work for more legal states would be great.

yes, I have talked with many local growers and have been provided with a lot of info.

for those who are growing, are you growing in soil or hydro?

wolf

[quote=wolfwalker;144151][QUOTE=christie0918;143736]Thanks for links/info here- I have had chronic pain in some form since I was 16 and all the acute pain of multiple surgeries and nerve damage due surgical procedures. I am so damn tired of able-bodied and pain free people not having a clue about what this is all about. And it isn't like I don't have some pharmaceutical background. In CA, psychologists can script prescriptions under the supervision of a psychiatrist. In reading literature, I just don’t see a problem with medical MJ. And it is time we made it available and subject to regulation nation-wide just like any other medication. And those with addictive personalities will always be fighting a battle with any form of medication that can be addictive.

And fergoddessakes…. Look at people on chemo that can actually eat something using MJ! Talk to people having had cancer treatment about this!

there are benefits...not everyday mind you...yes ma'am just ask my people.

Im of the mind everyone is responsible for themselves...drugs have existed for thousands of years and are not going away...if i can kill myself with ciggarettes why cant we manage our pain with marijuana....at least marijuana has medicinal and i would argue emotional and mental benefits...

I think that Marijuana should be totally legal for all uses and that people need to regulate themselves...thats the way adults in society should be treated, not penalized for trying to feel better...

Pot, weed, mary jane, etc...
 

Yipppeeee for medicinal!!!! Making brownies now.

I support 420 people 100%!!!
Ok where's my brownie? Lol :)

Turtle ones too!! Could mail ya one? lol

Sounds good. I'll take a dozen. :) lmao.

Day my friend........I am a tad confused here.......

Blue Dream I understand, but hash is made from cannabis. So you must be talking two different strains of cannabis. Do you know the name of the second strain?

They should legalize it and sell it like cigarettes. Just saying.

I would never drink another drop of alcohol if they would legalize.

16 States. Getting there.

I just want to say I'm jealous for those who live in states that legalized it. You lucky peeps!! I love this thread. Now back to what I was doing. ;)