Nearly half of the states in the US have enacted laws that legalize medical marijuana. While the dates of passage, possession limits, and associated fees vary, 23 states and the District of Columbia have all approved legislative measures that allow for medical use of cannabis.

In September 2014, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted 43-7 pass Senate Bill 1182, an act that would provide for the medical use of cannabis in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While the state House of Representatives has yet to take up that measure, the city of Philadelphia introduced a new fine structure the following month that largely decriminalized marijuana possession. Instead of being arrested and facing criminal charges, a person in possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana will now be issued a civil citation for $ 25 and anybody smoking cannabis in public will be fined $ 100.

Despite the many signs that the day is nearing when possession of marijuana will be legal throughout Pennsylvania, it is important to remember that "marijuana" remains a Schedule I substance under the state's Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. This means that a person who is convicted of possessing, cultivating, or selling or distributing this drug outside Philadelphia's city limits can still face lengthy terms of imprisonment and very heavy fines.

Under current law, a person convicted of cannabis possession for the first time can be eligible for conditional release, in which he or she receives up to one year probation in lieu of jail time. However, a second or subsequent possession conviction can also result in double penalties. As it relates to marijuana possession, the possible consequences of a conviction in Pennsylvania depend on the amount in which the alleged offender is charged with having:

• 30 grams or less – Misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $ 500 fine
• More than 30 grams – Misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $ 5,000 fine

The sale or distribution of cannabis is also a misdemeanor punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $ 500 fine if the amount involved is 30 grams or less. However, charges can be substantially elevated if a person is convicted of possession with intent to deliver (PWID) an amount more than 30 grams:

• At least two pounds, but less than 10 pounds – Felony punishable by mandatory minimum of one year in prison and $ 5,000 fine
• At least 10 pounds, but less than 50 pounds – Felony punishable by mandatory minimum of three years in prison and $ 25,000 fine
• At least 50 pounds, but less than 1,000 pounds – Felony punishable by up to five years in prison and $ 25,000 fine
• 1,000 pounds or more – Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and $ 100,000 fine

Additionally, a person convicted of selling or distributing marijuana within 1,000 feet of a school or within 250 feet of recreational playground can face lengthier prison sentences, and penalties may be doubled if the alleged offender has a previous drug conviction or the most recent conviction involved selling to a minor.

This article chronicles the implementation of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, passed via referendum in the 2008 general election. As expected, once applied to our human tapestry, the MMA has been subjected to some already-classic judicial interpretations, with a strong promise of more to come.

The Michigan Legislature passed the MMA on December 4, 2008, making Michigan the 13th state to allow the cultivation and possession of marijuana for medical purposes. The Act cited a series of findings related to the beneficial uses of marijuana in treating nausea, pain and other effects from a variety of debilitating medical conditions. The Act also notes that according to the FBI, 99% of all marijuana possession arrests nationwide are done pursuant to state, rather than federal law. It is important to note that possession of the drug remains illegal under federal law.

The MMA defines a "debilitating medical condition" as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, hepatitis C, and other diseases along with other chronic afflictions which cause pain and nausea. A "primary caregiver" is defined as, "a person who is at least 21 years old and who has agreed to assist with a patient's medical use of marijuana and who has never been convicted of a felony involving illegal drugs." A "qualifying patient" is "a person who has been diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition."

The basic mechanics of the Act provide that qualifying patients and primary care providers (marijuana growers) must possess a "registry identification card", issued by the Department of Community Health. Tens of thousands of applications have been processed; many thousands remain pending with more filed every week; the demand for certification, for marijuana, is seemingly insatiable here in Michigan.

The high demand is understandable. Cardholders are not subject to arrest or prosecution for marijuana possession / distribution provided the patient keeps less than 2.5 ounces of smokeable pot. Care providers are allowed to maintain up to 12 plants for each qualified patient; stems, seeds and unusable roots do not count toward the plant limitation.

Physicians also have immunity from prosecution relative to their certification of the patient's need for the drug, so long as they conduct an assessment of the patient's medical history. A legitimate physician-patient relationship is required.

Since the US Supreme Court decided the case of Conant vs Walters in 2003, physicians have been able to recommend a patient's use of marijuana (but cannot prescribe pot by placing the recommendation on a prescription form). Doctors can also make notes regarding their recommendations in the patient's chart and can testify on behalf of a patient's medical use of marijuana in a court of law. The Supreme Court's Conant decision paved the way for passage of the MMA.

Primary care providers may receive compensation for their marijuana. Selling marijuana paraphernalia also is allowed under the MMA, and such paraphernalia cannot be seized.

Persons merely present during the use of marijuana for medical purposes likewise are not subject to arrest.

Sound too good to be true? When marijuana is distributed to persons other than qualifying patients, the registration card is revoked, and the provider is subject to a 2-year felony. Also, driving while under the influence of marijuana remains illegal, as does smoking in public. Use or possession of pot on school premises or on school buses remains prohibited. And yes, it remains illegal to smoke in a jail or a penitentiary, regardless of your medical condition.

The Act set a short timetable (120-days) for the Department of Community Health to promulgate regulations for the administration of the possession / distribution credential. The delay in the promulgation of these regulations gave way to confusion among law enforcement, the public and some judges as to what is legal and what is illegal.

For example, the 2009 Redden case from Madison Heights involved a couple arrested during a drug-raid. The couple had applied for certification cards prior to their arrest and received the cards a month after their arrest. In dismissing the case brought against the two defendants, 43rd District Judge Robert Turner characterized the MMA as, "the worst piece of legislation I've seen in my life", according to the Detroit News. Judge Turner's dismissal was appealed by the Oakland County Prosecutor where it was affirmed in the Oakland County Circuit Court.

Earlier this year, the Michigan Court of Appeals affirmed Oakland Circuit Court Judge Martha Anderson's reinstatement of the criminal charges against Redden and Clark. Now, the accused Madison Heights couple will either have to plead or go to trial.

At the time of the raid on the couple's residence, the Oakland County Sheriff seized 1.5 ounces of pot, some nominal cash, and about 21 small plants. Three weeks prior to the raid, each defendant had submitted to a medical certification exam with Dr. Eric Eisenbud (not making it up) of Colorado (and of the recently founded Hemp and Cannabis Foundation Medical Clinic) and applied for a medical marijuana card pursuant to the MMA. Their cards, however, had not been issued at the time of the raid.

At the couple's preliminary examination before Judge Turner, the prosecutor argued that: a) the defendants were required to abstain from "medicating" with marijuana while their applications to the State of Michigan's Department of Community Health were pending; and b) the defendants did not have a bona fide physician-patient relationship with Dr. Eisenbud.

Judge Turner indicated that the MMA was confusing relative to what constituted a reasonable amount of marijuana. The defendants in this case were found with an ounce and a half; the MMA allows 2.5 ounces.

Judge Turner made the following ruling:

For that reason, I believe that section 8 entitles the defendants to a dismissal, even though they did not possess the valid medical card, because section 8 says if they can show the fact that a doctor believed that they were likely to receive a therapeutic benefit , and this doctor testified to that. And Dr. Eisenbud is a physician licensed by the State of Michigan. And that's the only requirement that the statute has. You don't have to be any type of physician, you just have to be a licensed physician by the State of Michgan.

So, based on that, I find section 8 does apply. And I believe I'm obligated to dismiss this matter based on section 8 of the statute.

Under the applicable court rules, the prosecutor appealed the district court dismissal to the Oakland Circuit Court. In reversing her district court counter-part, Judge Anderson held that Judge Turner improperly acted as a finder of fact in dismissing the case. Judge Anderson also questioned whether the couple could avail themselves of the MMA's affirmative defenses at all, due to their purported failures to comply with the provisions of the act; ie keeping the pot segregated and locked-up, and waiting until they received their cards from the Department of Community Health prior to growing their pot.

At the time of the Madison Heights bust, however, the couple could not have received marijuana cards because the DCH had not started issuing the cards. To date, almost 30,000 certifications have been issued.

In their September 2010 opinion affirming Judge Martha Anderson, the Court of Appeals held that the MMA's affirmative defenses were available to defendants even though they did not have their cards at the time their pot was confiscated. The Court of Appeals held against defendants, however, on the basis that, at the time of their preliminary examination in district court, their affirmative defense under the MMA was incomplete and thus created fact questions.

The Court found the following fact issues to be unresolved at the conclusion of the exam: the bona fides of the physician-patient relationship; whether the amount of marijuana found in the residence was "reasonable" under the Act; and whether the marijuana was being used by defendants for palliative purposes, as required by the Act.

The most interesting thing about the Court of Appeals' Redden decision is the scathing concurring opinion of Judge Peter D. O'Connell. Judge O'Connell wrote separately because he would have more narrowly tailored the affirmative defenses available in the MMA, and because he wished to "elaborate" on some of the general discussion of the Act set forth in the briefs and at oral argument.

Elaborate he did. Judge O'Connell's 30-page opinion first notes that the possession, distribution and manufacture of marijuana remains a federal crime and further notes that Congress has expressly found the plant to have "no acceptable medical uses."

In what will undoubtedly become a classic line from his opinion, Judge O'Connell writes, "I will attempt to cut through the haze surrounding this legislation." The judge is skeptical that folks are really using pot to "medicate" and suspects that they are using the plant for recreational purposes.

He also takes note of the poor quality of the legislation to the extent that it conflicts with other provisions set forth in the Health Code.

Judge O'Connell next takes a tour de force through the legislative history of the MMA. Here, we learn that the act was based on model legislation proposed by lobbyists known as the Marijuana Policy Project of Washington DC The group advances both the medicinal and recreational uses of marijuana.

"Confusion", and lots of it, is how Judge O'Connell views the MMA. In one of the many footnotes to his opinion, the Judge warns against all marijuana use until the score is settled, once and for all, by the Michigan Supreme Court:

Until our Supreme Court provides a final comprehensive interpretation of this act, it would be prudent for the citizens of this state to avoid all use of marijuana if they do not wish to risk violating state law. I again issue a stern warning to all: please do not attempt to interpret this act on your own. Reading this act is similar to participating in the Triwizard Tournament described in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: the maze that is this statute is so complex that the final result will only be known once the Supreme Court has had an opportunity to review and remove the haze from this act.

Euan Abercrombie, 1st year student at the Hogwarts school would probably remark; "Wow".

For their part, the criminal defense bar, commenting via listserv, have basically gone wild over the concurring opinion, with its multiple web site references and pictures of marijuana advertisements. The consensus among the defense bar, however, is that the majority opinion is correct and that Judge Anderson, at the end of the day, got it right; Redden was not the cleanest case to dismiss under the Act.

The Oakland County Sheriff and Prosecutor correctly anticipated the Court of Appeals' September decision. A few weeks prior to the Redden decision, they conducted a series of dispensary raids, ruffling tons of feathers along the way.

Of course, an application for leave to appeal has been filed with the Michigan Supreme Court.

For additional procedural guidance, we have prepared a legal guide for the MMA for those seeking to use marijuana for legitimate palliative purposes under the Act. Take note, however, that at least one appellate jurist would have folks managing chronic "pain" with prescription meds until the medical marijuana mess is sorted out by our Supreme Court.

Redden is not the only case causing some MMA consternation. Rodney Koon's case has received notoriety. Koon was convicted of a misdemeanor because he admitted to police that he used marijuana to "medicate" earlier in the day that he was pulled-over by the police. Koon also admitted to consuming a beer, but his blood alcohol was within legal limits. Without sufficient funds to appeal, Koon is stuck with his conviction, even though he had a pot card at the time of his arrest.

Ordinances have sprung-up across the state to truncate the scope of the MMA. Bloomfield Hills, for example, passed an ordinance in October requiring card-carrying certified medical marijuana users to register with the Bloomfield Township Police Department. The ordinance also requires the submission of a form to the police disclosing the "patient's" drivers license number and date of birth, whether the patient owns or rents their home, and identifying how many other patients share their home.

In addition, the ordinance limits the number of medical marijuana patients that can live at one address and prohibits growing medical marijuana anywhere in Bloomfield Township. Violation of the ordinance is a 93-day misdemeanor carrying a $ 500 fine.

Bloomfield Hills is among several municipalities that have passed ordinances that restrict the provisions of the Medical Marijuana Act, criminalize conduct authorized by the Act, or both.

Now the ordinance is the subject of a lawsuit filed against the township by two crafty [their "clients" are John and Jane Doe] veteran criminal defense attorneys: Tom Loeb and Neil Rockind. The lawsuit, undoubtedly heading to the Michigan Supreme Court, does not seek money damages but rather, declarative and injunctive relief.

Township by township, the MMA is coming under fire for a glaring flaw: it is a ruse for recreational pot users. Yes, there are legitimate medical marijuana users out there, in spades, for whom the MMA was designed to help. There are also many "patients" whose medical records were reviewed with a passing glance by a physician more interested in the high-volume review fees than in determining whether the person has a genuine chronic medical condition of the sort required by the MMA. The LawBlogger wonders how many certified users, among the tens of thousands of backlogged applicants, are under the age of 25; or are college kids whose only chronic condition is their desire to party down.

As these legal challenges grind through the court system over the next two or three years, the MMA will be subject to death-by-ordinance on a township-by-township basis. Attorneys Rockind and Loeb remarked in their press conference announcing their lawsuit that the ordinance in Bloomfield Hills cannot stand to the extent it contradicts a valid Michigan law.

While it may not be the best example of tightly drafted legislation; while it undoubtedly suffers from problems of perception / deception, the MMA is a valid state law. The appellate courts will have no choice but to invalidate ordinances that limit the scope of the Act, or criminalize it's legitimate purposes.

This past fall, the recent election was a set-back for progressive marijuana laws. California's Proposition 19 lost by a vote of 56% to 44%. If successful, the proposed law would have been the first in the country to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

In Arizona, the medical marijuana proposition lost.

In California, the pot initiative lost because too few voters under age 26 turned out and average voters rejected the initiative. Recent violence with Mexican drug gangs in both California and Arizona did not help either initiative.

Mixed messages float around the issue here in Michigan. Recently, a huge pot-expo scheduled for the Pontiac Silverdome, billed as the largest pot-party in the world, was canceled at the last minute.

All this raises the questions: do we really need to legalize pot? Is ours a pot-smoking nation? Does marijuana have genuine palliative properties?

One of the major problems of perception with medical marijuana laws is that folks are simply going through the administrative steps to get "medically" certified to use pot, but are smoking on a recreational basis.

No good comes of a law that sets requirements that are perceived as a farce. It would perhaps be better to legalize marijuana outright, then regulate its production, sale, and distribution.

California was really looking forward to billions in pot-derived state revenue. Here in Michigan, there is confusion about who can legally grow pot and how it should be grown and distributed to "patients". In Arizona, the question is too close to call 3-days after the mid-term elections.

So then, what are they smoking? That's what Detroit-based Cannabis Counselor Lawyer Matthew Abel is asking of the Michigan Senate Judiciary Committee, who met earlier this year, in January, in order to discuss a package of bills which would amend the public health code so that medical marijuana must be dispensed by pharmacists, and to classify medical marijuana as a schedule 2 controlled substance.

"It seems that if the legislature ever passed these bills, they would be in conflict with the medical marijuana statute," Abel said. "So they'd need a 3/4 vote to supersede the law, and you know that they can't even get 3/4 of the legislature to agree on lunch, let alone this."

Southfield-based lawyer Michael Komorn, who also serves as the treasurer for the Michigan Medical Marijuana Association, said the bills are similar to bills introduced last year; last year, the bills which also would have allowed for 10 marijuana growing facilities to be affiliated with a pharmacy, got no traction.

This year incarnation of the bills would essentially make all production of medical marijuana illegal, though use would still be protected by law, Komorn said.

"It's like the stamp act, arcane and without any understanding of what really is going on with patient needs," Komorn said. "Bottom line, this is an attempt to repeal the Michigan medical marijuana act."

It's impossible, Abel said, to require dispensing of medical marijuana through pharmacies.

"They don't have a supply, and no way to get it. There's just no way for them to do it," Abel said.

Still, he's resting easy with the idea that the bills are going nowhere, and are really more about grandstanding for political popularity than they are about the Michigan medical marijuana law.

Now that the MMA has been around long enough to generate some interesting cases and controversies, we must wait until one of them percolates through the Michigan Supreme Court in order to get a true sense of this legislation. Our blog takes the position that the MMA is flawed and thus, exposed to failure, so long as it can be used to mask recreational pot use. Perhaps the most common sense thing to do at this point is what Peter Tosh called for world-wide: just legalize it.

The use of marijuana can impair short-term memory, verbal skills, judgment, distort perception, and impair driving performance. Heavy marijuana use impairs a persons ability to form memories, recall events, or shift attention from one thing to another. Users who have taken high doses of the drug may experience acute toxic psychosis, which includes hallucinations, delusions, and depersonalization (a loss of the sense of personal identity or self-recognition).

When smoking marijuana, THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream. Within a few minutes an individuals heart begins beating more rapidly, the bronchial passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand. The heart rate may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minutes. In the brain, the THC connects to cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences the activity of those cells. These receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thought, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. The effects begin immediately and can last from 1 to 3 hours. The THC in the brain causes the user to feel euphoric, by stimulating the release of the chemical dopamine. A marijuana user may experience pleasant sensations, colors and sounds may appear to be more intense, and time seems to pass very slowly. The users mouth feels dry, and he or she may suddenly become very hungry and thirsty. The hands may tremble and grow cold. The euphoria passes after awhile and then the user may feel sleepy or depressed. Occasionally, marijuana use produces anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic. THC also disrupts coordination and balance by binding to receptors in the cerebellum and basal ganglia, the parts of the brain that regulate balance, posture, coordination of movement, and reaction time.

On July 30, 2001, the 'Narcotic Control Regulation' was amended and the 'Marijuana Medical Access Regulation' came into force. This sparked the beginning of a heated national debate, the subject in question being the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in Canada. While marijuana is still considered an illegal substance in Canada, it is approved for use under certain circumstances. It is available for applicants who have a terminal illness with a prognosis of a life span of less than 12 months, those who suffer from specific symptoms associated with certain serious medical conditions, or those who have symptoms associated with a serious medical circumstance, where conventional treatments have failed to relieve symptoms (Health Canada, "Medical Marijuana").

Due to previous stigmatizations associated with marijuana use, as well as its previous legal implications, public favor was not in support for the recent Bill C-17; a Bill for cannabis law reform in Canada, which was passed on November 1, 2004. The legislation allows a person to have up to 30 grams of marijuana in their possession, within limitations, while only receiving a fine (Canadian Foundation for Drug Policy, "Cannabis Law Reform in Canada"). This Act is the closest the Canadian government has ever before come toward legalizing marijuana. It is becoming apparently apparent that through Bill C-17, there will be beneficial beneficial monetary implications for the federal government, false social perceptions will lessen, and medical benefits of cannabis use will become further appreciated. In the future, marijuana use will not be perceived as the social 'evil' it once was, or still is. In light of the following information, it will become clear that it is not necessary to prohibit marijuana use, but rather to regulate it.

To drug policy reformers, prohibition of marijuana is not just a cause to be supported, but a mandatory way of life, necessary to uphold society's moral fiber. These activists do not consider marijuana to be safe. Even when scientific information supports the lack of harmful effects of cannabis on the body; many still categorize it with dangerous substances such as cocaine or heroin. It is these 'marijuana myths' that continue to influence the opinions of so many Canadian citizens, even though there is a lack of fact-driven information to support common social stigma.

A widespread belief amongst the public is that marijuana is a 'gateway drug', leading to the use of more harmful substances. Never has there been a consistent relationship between the use patterns of various drugs. While marijuana use has fluctuated over the years, harder, more addictive drug use, such as LSD, remains the same. In fact, in 1999 less than 16% of high school students who smoked marijuana report trying cocaine (qtd. In Zimmer, 2). Another frequent misconception is that high levels of marijuana use can be profoundly addicting. While lab rats that are injected with THC and then given a cannabinoid receptor-blocker do experience some withdrawal symptoms, such as disturbed sleep and loss of appetite, humans are never given 'blockers'. THC slowly leaves the human system, causing no serious withdrawal (Zimmer et al. 47). A study such as this is not relevant to physical addiction in humans.

Lastly, many people still believe that the damaging effects of smoking marijuana are greater then that of smoking tobacco products. Although, except for their psychoactive ingredients, tobacco and marijuana smoke are nearly identical, tobacco use is far more dangerous than the latter. Mainly because of nicotine (cigarettes' addictive quality), cigarette smokers tend to smoke 10 cigarettes a day, while regular cannabis smokers smoke fewer than 5 (Zimmer et al. 62). Marijuana smoke also impacts the lungs in a different way than tobacco smoke does. "The nature of the marijuana-induced changes were also different, occurring primarily in the lungs' large airways – not the small peripheral airways affected by tobacco smoke. Since it is small-airway inflammation that causes chronic bronchitis and emphysema, marijuana smokers may not develop these diseases "(Zimmer et al. 64).

These are just a few basic examples of the social stigmatization surrounding marijuana use, as there are many others. When closer examined, none of these 'myths' provide a solid foundation for the prohibition of marijuana use; therefore its ban remains unfounded.

What is Marijuana?

Marijuana is a mixture of the dried leaves and inflorescence of the plant cannabis sativa also called the Indian hemp. It may either be green, brown or gray.

What is the active ingredient of Marijuana?

The active main ingredient of marijuana is a substance called 9 THC. THC is a psychoactive substance and is responsible for most of the effects of smoking marijuana. Apart from THC, weed smoke contains over 400 chemical of which 66 belong to the cannabinoids family. The potency of the stuff is directly proportional to the proportion of THC. This value is constantly rising and presently on an average there is 10% THC in marijuana compared to 3-4% in 1970's. On an average each reefer contains about .5-1 gm of marijuana.

What are the different forms of Marijuana?

Marijuana refers to the leaves and flowers of the cannabis plant which is smoked. The resin produced by the flowering tops contains about 10-25% of THC and oil based plant extract of cannabis plant called hash oil contains about 25-60% of THC. Smoking is the commonest method of consumption of cannabis.

How Many people smoke Marijuana?

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in US and much of the world. In US it is estimated that 37% of teens have smoked at least one reefer in their lives. It is estimated that a further 5-10% of these individuals could abuse cannabis on a chronic basis. Cannabis use is widespread in south east and central Asia.

What Are the Short-Term Effects of Marijuana Use?

The immediate effects of marijuana are euphoria, disinhibition, a general feeling of goodness, altered sensory perceptions, inattention, insomnia, loss of memory and poor reflexes. The active ingredient THC crosses the blood brain barrier and stimulates specific receptors in a mid brain structure called nucleus accumbens. This leads to release of dopamine, a central exitogenic neurotransmitter. This activates the pleasure pathway comprising the hippocampus and limbic pathway. With constant use, the individual becomes psychologically addicted to marijuana.

The two physical effects of marijuana use are conjunctival injection and increased heart rate. The increase in heart rate stabilises over time and a degree of tolerance develops to this effect of marijuana.

Marijuana like other drugs can affect judgment and enhance inappropriate behavior. Hence there is increased risk of conditions like high risk sexual behavior leading to HIV, pregnancy etc.

What Are the Long-Term Health Effects of Marijuana Use?

Chronic cannabis use has been associated with a variety of conditions. Some of the common effects of long term cannabis use include:

• Long term use of pot can cause memory problems. It can also lead to psychosis in patients of schizophrenia. Chronic use of cannabis like other drugs can reduce social interaction and lead to isolation of the individual thus impacting personal and work life. Apart from these problems cannabis use may also lead to increased rates of depression and anxiety, but concrete evidence is lacking.

• Smoking Marijuana is the commonest method of consumption. Pot smokers usually inhale deep and retain smoke for a longer period of time in an effort to maximise absorption of THC. This can lead to chronic bronchial irritation. Although there is no direct evidence linking cannabis to cancer, tobacco use is usually concurrent and hence the rates of lung cancer are more.

• Cannabis was traditionally considered a soft drug, a drug with low addiction potential. But due to the increasing use of cannabis and increase in potency of pot smoked over the years, the addiction potential of this drug are being realized.

Does Marijuana Use Lead to the Use of Other Drugs?

While most marijuana smokers do not go on to abuse other drugs, marijuana use puts them in contact with people who use or sell these drugs. Apart from this it is a fact that most users start smoking pot first before going to other hard drugs.

What are the medical uses of Marijuana?

Under US federal law Marijuana is a Schedule I drug. It means that marijuana has no known medical role. But many states have laws which permit medical use of marijuana. Synthetic analogues of THC are in common use in oncology and AIDS.

Should you ask your eye doctor about marijuana for your glaucoma treatment? Medical Marijuana has been legalized in 14 states but is still not legal under federal law. Many states have been struggling with the massive expansion of medical marijuana dispensaries. Government bodies including cities, state and counties are trying to assure that only adults with legitimate medical issues that can benefit from medical marijuana are able to obtain access.

So is marijuana a valid treatment for glaucoma? Research to date is limited and all glaucoma institutions including the National Eye Institute have recommended not using marijuana in the treatment of glaucoma. There is a lowering of eye pressure but a number of issues create problems with using medical marijuana in treating glaucoma. Marijuana is typically smoked. The effective dosing schedule is about every 3 hours due to a short lived effect. Eye pressures tend to rise at night so repeated dosing every 3 hours night and day would be required. This would disrupt the sleep cycle and result in poor motor skills, inability to drive legally, and low functioning interfering with the ability to work all of the time.

These side effects are unacceptable to most of the population. At this point there is no regulation or oversight of the quality and amount of active compounds in medical marijuana. Unlike prescription pharmaceuticals, the amount required for a proper dose is impossible to accurate state. There are also problems with decreased blood pressure, increased heart rate, and dizziness when standing up after sitting. The decreased blood pressure theoretically could reduce blood flow to the optic nerve and increase the risk of glaucoma damage. There are other possible health risks and benefits that may occur. Oddly, lung cancer does not to be a risk at this time, and marijuana may even offer a protective effect. However, there is some damage to the lung tissues that is thought to occur with long term usage.

Capsules of the single most active substance in marijuana are available by prescription through regular drugstores. These also lower eye pressure but significantly less than inhaled marijuana. The capsules also have a slower onset and need to be consumed every 4-6 hours. The side effects are often described as much more unpleasant than inhalation. The prescription capsules lack the 60+ other similar compounds found in the plants plus several hundred other types of biological compounds. It is unknown if this makes the prescription capsules a better or worse choice. Again, the required frequency of dosing and side effects make this a poor option for the treatment of glaucoma.

Current glaucoma prescription eye drops usually require dosing 1 to 2 times per day, and have a low risk of side effects that rarely interfere with daily functioning. They have a very precise, consistent level of active components. While some problems can occur, these are rare and fairly well known from clinical trials. Marijuana has some active compounds that do lower eye pressure and deserve further support for future investigation. We may even find it is a useful adjunct for treatment in conjunction with standard therapies in the future. However, at this time there is no indication that medical marijuana has any place as a primary treatment for glaucoma, when we have such a large choice of prescription drugs that have undergone vigorous studies. These studies have found them to be safe and effective, with significant research behind them. As a bonus, you do not have to be constantly looking over your shoulder due to the uncertain legal status when you stick to clinically approved glaucoma medications.

Marijuana or also known as Cannabis, Weed or Pot is a depressant drug. It is also the most frequently abused illegal drugs in the world. There is no safe level of using marijuana. These drug’s side effects vary from person to person according to their health, weight, size, the amount taken, or if it is mixed with another drug or pain killers. A large dose of marijuana produces hallucinogenic effects. The main active chemical in marijuana is THC. Marijuana recovery is also known as detoxification. To stop marijuana addiction, you must follow these rules.

Rule number 1: Stop Lying Yourself and start recovery immediately

Addiction requires lying. Stop convince yourself that you will start with recovery from tomorrow or after this joint. Start immediately. You must choose between home rehabilitation and residential rehabilitation.

If you have support from your family, home recovery is the best option. You will need a safe and supportive environment where you can start with marijuana recovery. You should be around people who, according to your opinion will support and encourage you in your way to success: your doctor, your family, your best friends, and your therapist. Be with people who will help you during the recovery process and afterward to avoid relapse. Be completely honest with them. If you can’t be one hundred percent honest with them, you won’t do well in recovery. Don’t feel ashamed that you’re doing something about your addiction.

Residential recovery last 5-10 days in a hospital or some institution with medical staff available 24 hours a day. During that period you will be alone with medical staff to focus on the recovery process and to avoid contact with people who use drugs.

Rule number 2: Be prepared to experience a range of symptoms

During the recovery process, be prepared to experience a range of symptoms from minor to severe. You will feel a craving for the drug all the time. The cravings come and go, and that’s completely normal. Your recovery will last for a few days to a few months. Your needs for the drug can continue much longer. The most important thing you have to know is that you have to persist, no matter what happens. The other symptoms are anxiety, sleeplessness, irritability and no appetite. The combination of several symptoms may cause real problems in your recovery process. SMART Recovery program may help you to stay on the road to recovery.

If you want to succeed, you have to believe marijuana recovery is going to happen. I mean deep down, you have to know that your body is capable of getting rid of a pot. You cannot take no for an answer. Remember that you are doing this for everyone who loves you, and mainly for yourself.

Rule number 3: Avoid all high-risk situations that brought you to your addiction

During marijuana recovery and afterward it is crucial to avoid all high-risk situations that brought you to your addiction. The most common high-risk situations are anger, loneliness, and hunger. To avoid them practice Rule number 4.

Rule number 4: Create a new life

Create a new life. Avoid fake friends that encourage you to take the drug. Introduce yourself to someone who already finished with marijuana recovery. Ask him or her to be your supporter. He or she will motivate you to be persistent and don’t give up when things seem too hard and be prepared because things will become even harder. Whenever things are getting harder, go and grab some fresh air. Clear your mind and try to find other solutions. Think positively and good things will start to happen. Remember that you can always ask for help from people closest to you. They will always support you. The only thing you have to do is never giving up on yourself.

Try to stay occupied at all time.

Do physical activities such as cycling, swimming, running

Hire a cross-trainer

Be more active on social networks

Introduce new friends

Watch TV or movies

Read and practice motivation books

Sleep at least 8 hours

Be around friends who support you all the time

Don’t stay alone. You will need someone to help you when you are in a bad mood.

Change your diet

Eat healthy food with a lot of fruit, vegetables, and fiber foods. There are tons of foods that contain fibers. For example, about 40% of total carbohydrate in lentils is fiber. After the lentils come beans, with 13 grams of fiber in 1 cup cooked red kidney beans, 1 cup of black beans contains about 15 grams of fiber, and a cup of white beans has about 18 grams of fiber. One medium-sized artichoke has more than 10 grams. Drink 1-2 liters of water daily. Take a multivitamin supplement if you can’t eat very much.

Have you ever been told by your dentist, "Gee! I seem to be off today! I cannot get you fully frozen". There are many techniques to deposit local anesthetic into the oral cavity (tissue of the mouth) however, for this discussion; I will only deal with two basic modes, namely infiltration and complete nerve block.

Infiltration allows the dentist to freeze one or two teeth at one sitting, whereas the nerve block freezes a complete quadrant. For dental purposes the mouth is divided into four quadrants, to facilitate the numbering (of the teeth) process. Whether one is given an infiltration or a block, the desired expectation for the dentist is the same. He / she needs to be able to complete the procedure without the patient feeling no more than the initial gloved fingers of the dentist. In other words, that area of ​​the patient's mouth should feel like a piece of log. It is referred to as the "wooden effect" and dentists call this "class A" anesthesia.

However, according to all textbooks on dental anesthesia, failure is generally accepted to be around 15%. There are some 15 to 18 people out of 100 who will still have residual sensation, or in other words, will experience some discomfort and or pain. When this situation occurs, dentists will chat among themselves as to the reason (s) why. Discussion of marijuana comes later in the text.

There are many reasons listed, ranging from a bad batch of anesthetic solution to persons who may be classified as having accessory innervations. There could also be patients with anatomical variations, such as a wide flaring mandible and furthermore, the explanations could be an infection within the gum tissue. There are several more reasons, for example too rapid a delivery of the solution, or even an over anxious patient. These all add up to give us that 15% failure.

However, our changing lifestyles and habits are beginning to become a thorn in the sides of dentists. The growing use of cannabis … known on the street as marijuana, is being associated with the inability to achieve local anesthesia in some patients. The duration of action of local anesthetics depends primarily on the redistribution of the drug away from the site of action. This redistribution can be altered by several factors, some of which also influence onset. These considerations include diffusion away from the site, concentration, lipid solubility and protein binding qualities. This recreational habit is no longer an experimental phase of a growing youngster. It is now widespread among all walks of society.

Dentists have never had to deal with this variable factor back in the sixties and seventies. However, before he / she starts the "marinating" process, this is when the dentist deposits several different brands of anesthetic solution in numerous. Areas of the mouth, hoping to strike luck. But this luck is seldom present. There is a small window with which the dentist has to play. If anesthesia is not apparent within that time, then the tissue has become too acidic and another attempt can be made later when the pH of the tissue has settled down somewhat.

Contrary to popular beliefs, the administration of a "cocktail" anesthetic concoction offers very little, if at all any pharmacological advantages. Patients using cocaine should allow at lease twenty four hours, if a dental visit would involve the use of epinephrine (present in anesthetic solutions). The interaction of these two substances can cause a rise in blood pressure as well as a change in heart rhythm. The explanation of this phenomenon (marijuana) can be answered pharmacologically. Smokers of marijuana trigger high liver enzyme activity, which is known to hasten the breakdown (metabolism) of the local anesthetics. This results in a situation of not being able to sustain profound anesthesia.

References:

References: Haas DA. Localized complications from local anesthesia. Journal of the California Dental Association 1998 26: 677-81. Haas DA. Drugs in dentistry. In: Canadian Pharmacists Association. Compendium of pharmaceuticals and specialties. Ottawa: CPA, 2002, L51-54.

Medical marijuana is legal in several states and can provide benefits for people with a wide variety of medical issues. A doctor can prescribe cannabis (the medical name for marijuana) for different conditions. Most commonly, cannabis is prescribed for the relief of extreme pain. It can also increase appetite in chemotherapy patients who struggle with nausea. Overall, medical marijuana has a positive effect on society, because it gives doctors another tool for helping patients. Cannabis is a natural medicine that can help alleviate the symptoms of several different medical problems. It can treat conditions that occur often and affect many people, as well as the symptoms associated with serious, life threatening illnesses.

One of the general issues that medical cannabis can help with is chronic pain, especially back or neck pain. Often, long term conditions of constant pain, such as those associated with the neck or back, are something that a person just has to deal with. Opioid painkillers are one option, but they are highly addictive, and addiction to painkillers can be a debilitating condition that affects people’s relationships, family life, and career. The alternative to this is medical marijuana, which does not pose the risk of addiction that traditional painkillers do. Similarly, anti-inflammatory drugs also pose problems with long term use, whereas cannabis does not carry the same risks. Cannabis actually works nearly instantly when smoked. Its pain relieving properties can be felt within minutes.

Gastritis is one condition that can be treated via medical marijuana. Cannabis is able to regulate pain, stimulate appetite, and relax one’s muscles, especially in the gastrointestinal area. For those reasons, cannabis can be used to reduce the painful symptoms of gastritis. The added benefit is the quick acting nature of cannabis when smoked. During a gastritis flare up, a person can combat the attack by smoking medical cannabis.

HIV/AIDS patients are commonly prescribed cannabis in states that allow its medical use. The symptoms associated with HIV and AIDS, and the medications prescribed for them, can cause pain and loss of appetite. Studies show that cannabis can help AIDS patients to regain their appetites, regain lost weight, and to improve their overall outlook on life. Depression is one of the many issues that AIDS patients face, and cannabis use has also shown to be effective in treating depression associated with HIV/AIDS.

One condition that affects women is Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) which features symptoms such as abdominal cramping and pain, as well as irritability. Once again, these are symptoms that medical marijuana has a proven track record in combating.

By applying the medical perspective on these issues, it is possible to see that the issues that face us, even when psychological or emotional, often are medical in nature. Likewise, by adopting cannabis as a legitimate medicine into the framework of medical ideology, it becomes clear that medical marijuana should in fact have a vast range of medical uses, and they should be treated with the same seriousness as any other medical issue. This process of the medicalization of our society actually has benefits in the form of opening up people’s eyes to cannabis as a reliable and effective medicine.

I’m Clyde, 46, and I suffered from severe anxiety problems for most of my adult life. My anxiety sometimes caused me to have uncontrollable bouts of inner rage while doing everyday things like cooking or cleaning. To help control my symptoms, I ‘d sometimes smoke medical marijuana while alone or while socializing with friends. I live in southern California where it’s legal to buy, sell, and use marijuana with a doctor’s note that costs between $60 and $100. I’ve lived a productive and rewarding life, having started several successful businesses, and I have a lovely wife of 20 years along with 2 beautiful daughters. For many years I smoked whatever weed I could find, mostly basing my decision on smell or pungency of the buds. But then I learned that, like teas, marijuana or cannabis comes in a multitude of types and plant species, but generally falls into two basic strains known as sativa, for daytime cerebral use, and indica, for calming and chilling out, maybe before going to bed. I also learned that some people use a blend of the two opposite strains for a very different effect. I started exclusively using sativa because, when a panic attack began, it offered me immediate calm, renewed motivation, and a sense of clarity.

OFFERS TEMPORARY RELIEF NOT A CURE

Some argue that marijuana offers only a temporary fix or “high”, as the active ingredient, THC, wears off in short time, leaving you hungry and mentally right back where you started – sometimes even leaving you feeling worse. I get that, and I agree to a large extent. Coming down for landing is a very different feeling depending upon the type of marijuana consumed. For me, as long as I stuck to the sativa daytime strain of marijuana, I felt much better overall, and the impact of my anxiety attacks was lessened if only for an hour or two. I knew that marijuana only offered temporary symptomatic anxiety relief, and was not a permanent cure for my anxiety. For a more permanent solution, I knew I had to deal with the root cause of my fears. But in the meantime, I knew I couldn’t function day to day experiencing the uncontrollable bouts of anger and panic. Like many prescription anxiety relief drugs, marijuana instantly unlocked me from the tight, seemingly inescapable grip of an anxiety attack. Where side effects were concerned, I was able to live with the lesser of two evils.

THE SIDE EFFECTS

Although I used marijuana to ease my bouts with anxiety, I also knew it carried certain risks of potential side effects like destruction of brain cells and documented effects on the lungs. Some experts also say it negatively impacts sexual libido, but I never noticed an impact in that department. In order to reduce the effect on my lungs, I began consuming cannabis edibles like butter, cakes, pies, teas and sodas, and even olive oil infused with marijuana. Regarding loss of brain cells, I figured I’d borrow someone else’s when time came. Side effects are a big concern for many people, but keep in mind that some prescription medications can present unforeseen problems as well. They all come with a price tag.

POLITICAL & LEGAL ISSUES

A century ago, a U. S. doctor might have recommended marijuana for anxiety. And the U. S. government used it to treat “nervous inquietude” back in the mid 1800s. It was also freely administered to anyone suffering from menstrual cramps, gout, cholera, or migraines. In 1937, Congress enacted legislation which criminalized marijuana. My home state of California was the first to decriminalize marijuana for treating illnesses. Now there are hundreds of retail dispensaries throughout the state, and there is a ballot initiative to completely legalize marijuana and remove the requirement for a doctor’s recommendation. Following California, there are 10 or 11 other states which have passed legislation permitting the medical use of marijuana.

CONFRONT YOUR ULTIMATE FEARS

Marijuana has become a more widely accepted tool for temporary relief from the effects of panic attacks and anxiety. But you shouldn’t look to marijuana or any other drug as a permanent solution. Ultimately, you must confront your deep seated fears and there are several forms of cognitive treatment that offer effective avenues for doing so. Read below to learn more tips on how to reduce or eliminate anxiety from your life.