As any working class citizen knows, it is rare to fill out a job application that does not require agreement to drug test. As the substance abuse rate rises exponentially, the number of jobs who must proceed with drug testing unfortunately must follow suit. These tests are a wonderful deterrent for keeping drug abusers and users out of the work place, but new horticultural developments make users of the most widely abused drug in the US, Marijuana, undetectable on home drug tests. All made possible through a new craze known as synthetic Marijuana or "spice".

THC the active ingredient in marijuana and give the users the high they crave by releasing abnormal amounts of dopamine from the brain. THC is also the metabolite which drug tests detect in a urine, saliva or hair specimen. In synthetic marijuana, also known as k2 or spice, the absence of THC makes it virtually undetectable in standard substance abuse tests. This means that perspective employers may be hiring employees who pass drug screenings but are in fact synthetic marijuana users. Though a handful of states have made "spice" illegal, it is a tough drug to combat in the workplace, given the ease of obtaining the substance in any local head shop, smoke store or even gas station.

With the criminalization of marijuana still a big issue in the United States it is apparent how many of people are looking for the same 'high' through other substances not yet illegal. As working class individuals strive to remain employed in an economy struggling to stay afloat, we see an increase in the use of recreational drugs, such as alcohol and marijuana. When marijuana could ruin an opportunity to hold a job if drug tested randomly or upon entry many people looked for a similar high without the same consequence. With a new alternative for marijuana hitting the market that does not discredit one's ability to obtain and succeed in the workplace when tested, it is no surprise how 'Spice' has been a hit in smoke shops around the country

Thus far, there is only an expensive laboratory drug screening to test for synthetic marijuana ($ 50 dollars compared to $ 10 for a standard home or office marijuana drug testing kit) and the labs producing the exams can only detect traces of five major synthetics out of hundreds . Even if a universally effective and cheap drug test was created it would prove useless because an employer could not deny someone a job based on the use of a legal drug. Since synthetic marijuana is a legal product, it puts employers and business owners in a catch 22 between a safe work environment and the rights of an employee.

Who wants to be branded a pot head in our drug-test economy? Not anyone I know. It’s a costly label garnered from a stereotype of those who abuse cannabis but typically don’t think they are.

The ‘evil drug’ mental construct placed on cannabis officially dates back only 81 years in the United States. One man, Harry Anslinger, made it happen.

The Birth of Drug Wars

Back in 1930 Harry Anslinger became the first commissioner in the U.S. of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics which we now know as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The story goes that he initially did not oppose marijuana, at all, saying, “There is no more absurd fallacy” regarding harm to people and its provocation to violence. (1) That is… until he became the commissioner.

Prohibition for alcohol was soon to end and so it appears that perhaps Anslinger chose to lump marijuana in with heroin and cocaine for the sake of his job security, holding the position for a record 32 years.

In a radio address he asserted, regarding what was then known as “Indian Hemp,” that young people would become “slaves to this narcotic, continuing addiction until they deteriorate mentally, become insane, turn to violent crime and murder.”

Despite little scientific evidence for his claims at that time, he craftily sensationalized marijuana and disparaged African Americans and Latinos, in particular, as those leading the way. Anslinger succeeded in scaring the begeebers out of Americans.

Commissioner Anslinger’s all-out efforts generated the context for the movie, Reefer Madness in 1936, to further terrify the American population. As the person who drafted the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, (2) his dramatic testimony before Congress no doubt influenced its passing.

Additionally, Anslinger found a significant ally in William Randolph Hearst, of the Hearst media empire, who readily provided the platform and gave voice to Anslinger’s anti-Indian hemp campaign. (3) Some say Hearst partnered with Anslinger to protect his own lumber-enterprise interests against potential competition from industrial hemp.

The Medical Marijuana Challenge Continues

To this day cannabis is a Schedule I drug along side of heroin and others which are stated to have “no currently accepted medical treatment use in the U.S.” Yet this official statement flies in the face of the very same government’s understanding of the plant’s evidence-based benefits. Pure hypocrisy.

How so? In 2003, U.S. Patent No. 6,630,507 was granted to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (4) It is a patent for the potential use of plant cannabinoids found in cannabis sativa that are non-psychoactive, and for the stated purpose of protecting the brain in the case of damage and degenerative diseases.

Though 29 states and Washington DC have legalized medical marijuana, there are many restrictions with some states being cannabidiol (CBD) only, and others have no provisions for cannabis use whatsoever. When you have a chance, watch this video, The Life She Deserves: Medical Marijuana, created by the Brookings Institute in Washington, DC.

What more evidence could there be than the amazing recovery for the girl in the video. Cannabis is a plant, for goodness sake. Here’s what Willie Nelson says about it:

“I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?”

_____

1. “The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937: Statement of Harry J. Anslinger.” Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
2. Full text: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/taxact/mjtaxact.htm
3. Martin A. Lee. Smoke Signals. Scribner. 2012.
4. Full text: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6630507.PN.&OS=PN/6630507&RS=PN/6630507

Marijuana is often seen as a harmless drug that does not lead to addiction. Marijuana is also most often the "gateway drug", as users are observed to first experiment with marijuana, before progressing to other powerful drugs, including opioids. Teenagers are most at the risk. One in ten kids use marijuana regularly, according to a recent survey, and more than a quarter of high school students have tried it at some point or the other. Thus marijuana is now the most widely used illegal drug in the United States, and the users of which are increasing at an alarming rate.

But what is the reason for such wide usage of this particular drug, and why is it that when the consumption of some other drugs have fallen, while the numbers are steadily increasing for marijuana? One of the major reasons for this is the easy availability of this particular drug. Marijuana is one of the easiest drugs to access in almost all cities and towns across the United States. While laying hands on some other drugs and chemicals may require special "contacts" in the gray world, marijuana is very easily available off the street. Moreover, marijuana is cheap to buy, at least cheaper than most other drugs. These two facts combine to make marijuana the most widely available drug, which is also very easily accessible to teens.

In a recent survey, most high school students said that they knew where to get marijuana, even if they were not using the drug. Marijuana is very easily available near many schools across the country. Often, teenagers don't have to go very far to get marijuana. Peddlers are often to be found nearby, and ready to sell their wares to anyone who is interested. They also frequent parties, and marijuana again stands as the most easily available, as well as most widely used drug at high school parties. Such easy access that teens have to marijuana is really dangerous.

The reason why so many teens are not afraid to try this drug is that it is largely perceived as a safe drug. In fact, it is different from the popular perception of a drug as a white powder that is to be snorted or a liquid to be injected, that marijuana hardly feels like a drug. Many teens surveyed, believed that marijuana is not harmful and not addictive. This because when a teen first looks at marijuana, the bunch of dry leaves hardly looks as glamorous as it is made out to be in pop culture, and many teens fail to understand what the fuss is all about. This leads to taking the first drag (which just looks and feels like smoking a cigarette), which is the beginning down a long, lonely and dangerous road towards drug addiction.

Teens should be properly educated on the ill effects of marijuana, and should be raised in a way to understand the difference between good and bad. With marijuana being so easily accessible, it is important for teens to be able to take correct decisions based on facts, rather than peer pressure.

Does your spouse use pot? If they do, do you know what kind of effect that being addicted to marijuana is going to have on your marriage? I am sure there have been times that the two of you have argued about smoking pot. An addiction of any kind can put tremendous amounts of stress on a marriage. Many marriages where one of or both of the partners involved use drugs are going to fail. Why do they fail? They fail because there is going to be a lack or trust, communication, and respect all three things that are vital to a successful marriage.

If you or your spouse are addicted to marijuana, there us going to be a lot of distrust in the relationship. The is especially true if only one person is using weed. To many time you see people lying about their habit to there spouse. They might tell them they are quitting or haven’t spent any money pot for a while. When your spouse finds out the truth and that you have been lying, this lack of trust growths. It will continue to grow until they can no longer believe a word that comes out of your mouth. Many problems with trust revolve around money with the addiction. Smoking weed is an expensive habit and when you start spending more money than you have and miss work to smoke weed, you are going to lie to your spouse about this.

Just like having a lack of trust, being addicted to marijuana also creates communication problems. If you are smoking pot, you will have a had time communicating thing to your partner while you are using. The continued use of weed is going to affect you short term memory. While you are using, you might have to tell your spouse something important but you can’t remember or because you are so high that you don’t even care. Things will start being forgotten like picking up the kids, paying the bills, going to work, etc. This is a recipe for destruction.

The final reason being addicted to marijuana can ruin you marriage is the lack of respect for your spouse. This is the most important thing in any marriage. Mutual respect for one and other. How are you supposed to show your spouse respect if you are addicted to marijuana and you know they do not like that. It is a giant slap in the face. Not many marriage are going to last long if they are missing respect. If you respected your spouse, you would do whatever it took to kick your addiction to smoking weed because you know it would make your spouse happy and show them that you respect them.

As you can see, anyone who is addicted to marijuana is going to have a very negative effect on their marriage. This can be devastating to not only your marriage but to your children as well. Smoking pot is going to ruin your marriage eventually. It is only a matter of time. If you truly love your spouse and your children then you need to find a way to quit smoking weed so this doesn’t happen to you! Truly, is it worth the risk?

BACKGROUND

To date, medical marijuana is legalized in the United States in 30 states including the following:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connectiut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusets, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hamshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota , Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and West Virgina.

Each of these states have their own regulations and guidelines regarding use and qualifications.

Here in Florida, the Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative, also known as Amendment 2, passed on November 8, 2016 for qualified patients under the supervision of a qualified and licensed marijuana doctor. Furthermore, this amendment passed with a total of 6,518,919 (71.32%) YES votes and 2,621,845 (28.68%) NO votes.

The federal government has classified Marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug making it illegal for doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients. These marijuana doctors can only make recommendations for medical cannabis in compliance with the state law which can be valid up to 1 year. Patients cannot go to a pharmacy to fill a prescription for medical marijuana.

Under strict regulations, medical marijuana doctors are prohibited to be affiliated with any medical cannabis distributors or dispensaries.

Only certain patients with "debilitating ailments" are afforded legal protection under this amendment. Ailments classified under its provision include PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Chronic muscle spasms, Multiple Sclerosis, Seizures, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Crohn's Disease, Cancer, HIV / Aids, ALS (Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig's Disease) and Parkinson's Disease.

Although the above ailments were indicated as "primary debilitating conditions", under this provision, Amendment 2 also indicated: "or any other ailment / condition of similar severity / symptoms, as determined by a physician's opinion that the medical use of marijuana would outweigh any potential health risks ".

There are currently about 56 known and listed marijuana doctors on Florida.

More information and specifics regarding this topic can also be obtained from the website of the Florida Department of Health ( http://www.floridahealth.gov ) on how to become a medical marijuana patient in Florida. More in-depth information about Amendment 2 can also be found here.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE

A few months ago, I came across a video on Facebook about a man with Parkinson's disease who was given a shot of medical cannabis. The before and after videos were quite impressive. Before the treatment, you can see this man's significant tremors, stuttering and abnormal posturing. The after video showed a very different person. His speech was intelligible and audible. He had no stuttering, tremors and he showed very controlled movements. This man was walking and talking as any normal person would. He also shared how it has improved his quality of life.

As a physical therapist with exposure to various cultural backgrounds, I personally have mixed feelings about medical cannabis. As a healthcare professional however, it is quite an epiphany to witness one of my patient's significant change with medical cannabis use.

Mr. JL with Parkinson's Disease

For over five years, Mr. JL has been coming to me for physical therapy treatment off and on for problems brought on by his Parkinson's disease. Knowing the progressive nature of the disease, I watched this gentle soul deal with the effects of this debilitating affliction. His primary physician would refer him for treatment when he starts to develop weakness, rigidity, tremors and most of all, balance problems where he reported falls at home.

We would see him for a period of about six to eight weeks each time. We worked on improving his coordination, strength, flexibility and balance for the primary purpose of keeping him safe and self sufficient at home as he lives alone. It is also to keep from falling which predisposes him to more severe injuries and complications.

The Change

About a few weeks ago, he came to the office to schedule for Physical Therapy as he was referred again by his doctor. Having worked with this patient through the years, I was trying to figure out what changed in him. I looked, and observed intently as I did my initial evaluation. He may have noticed the curiosity that was nagging me because he gave me a knowing smile. No longer able to contain my curiosity, I asked him: "Mr. J, what have you been up to?" Mr. J just laughed and asked me why the curiosity!

Well, it finally dawned on me that Mr. J. barely had no tremors on his right hand where he used to exhibit the typical pin-rolling tremors of this disease. His neck was aligned and was not shifted towards the right side. Furthermore, his speech was clearer! Another thing that struck me was that he was walking better. Not great, but he was able to turn around without having to shuffle which I have seen him do for years.

He finally shared with me that he started taking medical cannabis for over a month as recommended by his neurologist. A friend of his apparently mentioned to him a video on Facebook about a man with severe Parkinson's disease. This man received a shot of medical cannabis and the change was visible after only a few minutes. This apparently prompted him to consult with his primary physician and then his neurologist.

The change I have seen with Mr. J after only over a month of being on medical cannabis is significant. His speech improved. His voice deeper and more audible. He had no stuttering and he had more control of his right hand from almost a non-existent tremor. He is also standing straighter. His balance and coordination have improved, even more so with the advanced balance retraining he is currently receiving.

During his therapy sessions, Mr. J could bounce a ball on the floor faster with better accuracy. We saw him throw and catch a ball in standing without anyone holding on to him. We used to have somebody stand behind and hold him as he had slow reactions and reflexive responses. His walking also improved. Just months ago, he would drag his right foot and walked with very short shuffling steps. He would lose his balance with the slightest attempt to turn around or lift his leg higher to stand on one leg.

These seemingly subtle changes in him for just about about a month of using medical cannabis has made a difference in his life. He shared that he feels more relaxed and is less anxious about falling. He can do simple house chores with more confidence and he is able to tolerate more advanced therapeutic exercises during his physical therapy sessions. He does not feel as tired and is able to do more tasks throughout the day.

Mr. J is still on this journey and wanted to share this experience and for me to tell his story. Knowing him and his background, he is not the type of person who would take marijuana indiscriminately for mere recreation and self indulgence.

About Mr. JL

Mr. J is originally from Central New York and has moved to Florida. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease approximately seven (7) years ago. He used to be a designer for a very prestigious Syracuse China manufacturer whose customers include the White House, 5 star hotels and prestigious restaurants. He also was a member of a Barber Shop Quartet as a tenor for the SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) and has been on several amateur Broadway shows in New York. He was an art teacher to middle school students teaching drawing.

His life changed when he was called to ministry sometime in 1986. He became involved with a healing ministry which he revealed was mostly with people who had tumors. He has traveled abroad to expand his healing ministry. This has garnered so much attention that even the media noticed and did several coverage on his ministry. He is now retired and lives in Palm Bay Florida.

It is a privilege to know this special person who has done so much during his younger days. He has dedicated so much time and commitment to helping others. I deeply appreciate the humanitarian service Mr. J has rendered and how his ministry has touched so many lives. I consider him another unsung hero of his time.

His willingness to have me share a snippet of his story is a privilege. Moreover, to be able to work with him to further his progress and see his motivation and determination through the years is a very inspiring experience.

Mr. JL's personal battle with Parkinson's Disease.

Mr. J as he shared, was officially diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease some seven years ago. He has been under the care of a doctor of Internal Medicine practicing in Palm Bay, Florida.

About Parkinson's Disease

As described by the Mayo Clinic staff: "Parkinson's Disease is a Progressive disease of the nervous system that affects movement. It develops gradually, sometimes with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while tremor may be the well-known sign of Parkinson's disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement. "

Subsequent effects of the disease include the following: expressionless face also known as masked facies or hypomimia and decline in speech quality that can be slurred, soft, even stuttering. These are very common in patients I have worked with. A patient's walking ability is also affected. There is loss of arm swing from trunk rigidity, stiffness and shuffling steps from resulting incoordination.

Unfortunately, this disease is progressive and current medications are aimed to improve the symptoms but not necessarily a cure.

There are currently many ongoing researches for cure including surgery to regulate certain regions of the brain and electrostimulation.

Still, there is no standard treatment for cure at this time, as per the National Parkinson Foundation.

Additionally, medication, lifestyle modification, exercise and rest are recommended.

Medications Prescribed

Current medications prescribed include the following: Carbidopa-Levodopa, Carbidopa-Levodopa infusion, Dopamine Agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, Catechol-O-Methyltransferase (COMT Inhibitors), Anticholinergics and Amantadine. -Source: The Mayo Clinic Organization

Parkinsons and Surgery

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) ia procedure where electrodes are implanted in specific areas of the brain with a generator implanted in the chest area near the collarbone which sends out impulses to the brain aimed at reducing the symptoms. It is not a cure however and there are many risks and side effects involved. Both the medication and DBS will not halt the progression of the disease.

Parkinson's and Physical Therapy

Physical Therapists get to work with these type of patients during the different stages of the disease. This is primarily because of the functional decline resulting from incoordination, dyskinesias (involuntary movements) and rigidity which makes purposeful and spontaneous movements very tedious.

These problems can make even the most basic functions as feeding, grooming and toileting very difficult. Walking becomes very unsteady. Shuffling gait is very common where it is difficult for them to make the first step (because of bradykinesia – very slow movement) but once they go, it is also very difficult to stop. Many of these patients are at a high risk for falling and a large number during the advanced stages become fully dependent for care.

When referred to Physical Therapy, patient education regarding appropriate exercises, movement strategies, task modification, gait training and fall prevention strategies are a part of the overall plan of care and functional intervention. They are also often referred to Speech Therapy for speech and feeding problems, and to Occupational Therapy for basic self care and hand or upper extremity functions.

Mr. J's Battle

I first worked with Mr. J about 5 years ago. Although he was not on the advanced stages of the disease at that time, he already manifested the primary visible symptoms of the disease: Hand and neck tremors, masked facies, rigidity and significant incoordination. He walked very slow, was shuffling and took a long time walking even from room to room as he was unable to make quick turns. When he does turn, he tends to lose his balance and fall. His reflexes were very slow. He could hardly catch a ball or bounce it. His speech was slurred, barely audible and he had a stutter. He had difficulty getting up and down simple curbs and stairs. He had fallen a few times from balance issues.

Mr. J persevered with the physical therapy program and was always very motivated. For each of the episodes that he was referred to us through the years, he always showed improvement and always followed through with the specific exercise program we prescribed. Due to the progressive nature of the disease however, he would have a physical decline and we had to work with him again.

He shared the story of how he first noticed the change in him from Parkinson's. Foremost he mentioned was when he was teaching drawing to middle school students in his art class in New York. He said that he was progressively having difficulty drawing and using his right hand as he had developed tremors. The rest followed including a change in his facial expression, rigidity and feeling stiff all the time.This became progressively worse through the years until his move to Florida.

Once under the care of an internist, he was prescribed Sinemet and other medications which he had taken through the years.

The last time I saw him for treatment was in early 2016 where he had significant tremors on his right hand and an involuntary twitching in his neck. His masked facies had progressed, his face almost droopy and he was walking with so much shuffling and difficulty. He was barely able to move one foot in front of the other. He also reported of falls because of worsening balance problems.

This was why when I saw him in March of this year, I saw the significant change in him which he attributed to medical cannabis.

Medical Cannabis: Capsules and Gummies

He further shared his story. Upon hearing about the potential benefits of medical cannabis for Parkinson's disease, he consulted with his primary physician who directed him for further consult with his neurologist. His neurologist recommended trying medical cannabis due to the advancing nature of his Parkinson's disease.

Mr. J then got started on medical cannabis capsules where he said it contains about 30 pieces of 25 mg capsules. This costed him about $ 80 or so including shipping. With his shipment came a sample pack of the gummies version of about 5 gummies in a pack. The capsules were bitter, according to him and he took 1 capsule daily.

He added that after taking the first capsule ever, he felt so relaxed and calm. He could move around, get in and out of bed easier, get in and out of his chair better. He also noticed that his tremors were much lesser that first time.

Mr. J stated that he liked the cannabis gummies better as it tasted much like candy and was tastier than the capsules. Even more so, the effect of the gummies seemed much faster than that of the capsules and was much cheaper. The capsules per piece costed about $ 3 each and the gummies would amount to about $ 1 a piece he added.

So as to mimic the effect of the gummies, Mr. J said he tried melting the capsule under his tongue to take off the edge of its bitterness. He also chewed regular gummy bear candy. This worked for him.

To date, Mr. J continues with physical therapy where we see him better able to tolerate and execute high level balance training tasks that he was unable to do so before. He has very little to no tremor on his right hand, he no longer exhibits the twitching on his neck, and his reflexes improved. I see this by his ability to make a turn and not lose his balance. We do not have to hold him while he catches, throws or bounces a ball to improve his protective righting reflexes necessary for him not to fall. he can lift his feet higher when walking and his shuffling is so much lesser.

Still aware of the progressive nature of this disease, it is just inspiring to see this very soft-spoken, kind-hearted, intelligent and talented individual overcome simple daily functional obstacles brought about by this debilitating and irreversible disease.

For the population afflicted with debilitating diseases, a day to day victory of being able to move about and perform tasks that seem so trivial to most of us, is a blessing.

Legalizing medical marijuana currently is, and will be an ongoing battle in congress. We all have varying stands and strong opinions about this issue. Researches are ongoing about its pros and cons. I foresee more awareness of its existence as an alternative treatment to various diseases who do not respond to conventional medicine and treatment.

As a medical professional however, it is just fulfilling to be able to witness the functional changes in Mr. J., how he is able to stay independent and self sufficient despite his impairment.

I am currently working on finding an individual who can share with me the negative effects of medical marijuana as well. I would like to hear from you and be able to share your journey and experience as well, anonymously, of course.

Please reach out to me if you have something to share.

My greetings for a wonderful day and until my next article!

"So, what's the big deal. It's legal for God sakes!" It's even used as medicine for all kinds of things. Why should I stop smoking? It's fine. Stay out of my stuff; you just don't know what's real. Besides, why do we have a dedicated piece of furniture in this house called "the liquor cabinet?" Pretty hypocritical to me, don't you think? You do yours, I'll do mine. Yours is legal too, but it's never used as medicine is it? I'm sure it does more harm than my pot. Everybody I know does it. It's fine like I've said a million times. Get informed. I feel good, relaxed, creative and comfortable, so what's wrong with that? There is no need to overreact and try to control everything. As a matter of fact, pushing me not to just makes me want to do it more. I don't know why you don't get it. "

Sound familiar? This debate / dialogue has been going on for several generations, but not like the last 10 to 15 years since legalization and medical uses have become more the norm and growing. Legalization alone hasn't markedly increased cannabis use, but in general, there are seemingly more permissive attitudes towards cannabis where it's legal. The perception of marijuana's risks drops off sharply in these states and the use of the drug rises very quickly. The perceived risks have been steadily declining for more than a decade. In 2014, less than half of high school seniors thought that regular marijuana use was very risky; the lowest number in over 40 years.

Families and parents by and large are also not as well-informed about the risks of regular cannabis use or even what is legal and what is not. Their teens know much more, and many choose to ignore, refute or deny the serious risks and the large body of science warning of harm.

The advertisers in states where cannabis is legal are directly marketing to their youthful constituents in free print ads and via playful images. Of course, where there is a profit to be made, manufacturers, even state legislators will be swayed and have incentives to entice young users.

The potency of the current marijuana supply is markedly stronger than in prior decades. Thirty years ago, the THC concentration in marijuana ranged somewhere between 5 and 10%. Now, the potency is greater than 30%. This complicates and compounds the risk, harm and concerns associated with its use. Highly concentrated cannabis resins containing even higher levels of THC are now dangerously available as well

One very vexing issue is that some scientific studies have demonstrated the serious risk and harm of regular marijuana use while others have not. The anatomical and functional harm reportedly done to young brains includes impaired memory, attention, decision-making and learning. This leads to significant increases in poor school performance, increased drop out rates, dependence on public assistance, increased unemployment and much lower life satisfaction. Persistent use in teens has been linked to an 8 point decline in IQ which is comparable to what's seen in lead poisoning.

During the brain's neurodevelopmental years, it has greater sensitivity and vulnerability to marijuana's toxic effects. The negative effects in gray matter density and the nucleus accumbens, an area in the brain central to "reward" and includes dopamine that effects desire and serotonin that effects satiety and inhibition. These areas are essential to motivation, reward, emotion, memory and pleasure for instance. In addition, repeated exposure has been shown to cause damage in the frontal cortex of the brain. This region of the brain is important for planning, personality, judgment, and decision-making. In addition, the brain's own endo-cannabinoid system is altered and diminished by repetitive exposure. This internal system comprises the physiological mechanisms that respond to THC (tetra-hydrocannabinoid) – the psychosomatic component of marijuana that creates its signature high.

Adolescents in particular are therefore much more sensitive to these serious negative effects of repeated marijuana use. One study also found that "most of a small group of children treated for bronchiolitis," had marijuana metabolites in their urine and therefore suffered from unintended harm. In this study parents who smoked told the researcher that they are no longer smoked cigarettes, but now smoke marijuana. As a corollary, tobacco smoke at "very low levels is detectable in children …" (MD magazine: Field Report: Colorado Marijuana Laws Hurting Kids; Karen N. Wilson; December 2016).

Some studies have not found neurological changes, but the risks are far too serious and damaging to just dismiss the potential. Longitudinal studies, which is when data is gathered on the same subjects over a long period of time, are being launched soon. The National Institute on Drug Abuse will conduct the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) that will follow 10,000 young people across the country for a decade. This study will try to determine the effects pre and post reported use on brain function. It's not yet clear if there might be a safe level of use, if the brain can recover over time or not and does the brain have alternative compensatory methods to sustain adequate function.

No matter what is revealed in the future, the current neuroscience strongly points to marijuana as an addictive substance with particular damage likely to adolescent brains and function. Parents need to be well-informed and conversant with their children often. The medical uses for a variety of disorders are very beneficial to many. However legalization, which will likely include more states and medical uses, should not be construed and confused with safety and harmlessness.

Don't Suffer Alone …

The debate on the use of medical marijuana in the United States has long been ended. In fact, marijuana now can be purchased legally within 23 states of the US. It is also legal for marijuana to be used for recreational purpose in the states of Washington and Colorado. It goes to show that the medicinal value that is attached to the use of marijuana far outweighs any negative effects that comes along with its use. However, not everybody is convinced that medical marijuana is a good thing. There are now other countries such as Australia that are debating on the legalization of marijuana use. Here are some of their arguments.

Pros. As early as 2737 BC, marijuana has been used for treating gout, malaria and rheumatism in China. The use of marijuana spread throughout Asia until it reaches India where it was used for pain and stress relief. The medical use of marijuana soon got the attention of US and European countries.

Marijuana for medical use can be taken in several forms such as smoking, vaporizing and ingestion. There are 60 active ingredients called cannabinoids found in marijuana that are associated to its medicinal capabilities. Our body naturally produces cannabinoids that are responsible for modulating the amount of pain that our body is feeling. The main cannabinoid found in marijuana is the THC which is short for tetrahydrocannabinol. This THC triggers the CB1 receptors found in the brain, the nervous system, and other primary organs of our body. When the CB1 receptors are activated, they release hormones that will quell stress and pain caused by damaged tissues or nerve cells. Studies have also revealed that medical marijuana reduces muscle spasms and other symptoms related to muscles becoming stiff.

Another medicinal use of marijuana is for stimulating the appetites of patients that suffer from suppressed appetites because of their medical conditions or treatment. Medical marijuana is prescribed to patients that are undergoing chemotherapy since this treatment will most often reduce a patient's appetite.

Although marijuana has been proven to have a lot of medicinal benefits, it goes without saying that its use may lead to different side effects. The THC of marijuana may affect the thinking and reasoning skills of its users. A person who is being treated with medical marijuana may have altered attention and judgment capabilities.

In the US, marijuana as a medicinal treatment is only being 'recommended' by doctors since the US federal law still prohibits the 'prescribing' of marijuana. Nevertheless, a person who wishes to purchase medical marijuana needs to have a diagnosis from a physician who will recommend the use of medical marijuana as a treatment for whatever illness they have.

Marijuana for medical use has been proven to be effective. However, like any other product, the abusive use of the substance can be detrimental to a person's health. The use of medical marijuana in other countries will rely on a country's belief system. Nevertheless, the use of medical marijuana must be strongly regulated.

Every day, it becomes more difficult to deny the benefits of medical marijuana. Ask anyone who's used it for pain management relating to a life-altering illness – Cancer, AIDS, Glaucoma, Multiple Sclerosis, and Crohn's disease, among others – and they'll tell you how it's changed their lives.

How smoking or ingesting a natural herb has made managing their pain and side effects a revelation. That when compared to any variety of chemically enhanced pharmaceutical offerings, the little white pills simply don't measure up.

Take side effects, for instance. Most prescription drugs come with a multi-page rider of possible bad things that might happen with regular use – liver damage is almost synonymous with long-term use. Compare that to marijuana, which studies show have almost no permanent damage with long-term use, and many patients choose not to smoke. Baked goods, butters, oils, and other natural means make marijuana the easiest medicine to swallow.

And medical marijuana does only benefit debilitating illnesses. It has also been found to ease the discomfort surrounding arthritis, chronic pain, and nausea. Many women report success when using marijuana to treat menstrual cramps, and menopausal women have found great success in using marijuana to battle hot flashes, mood swings, and chills. Currently there are studies being done which indicate that medical marijuana might have a positive effect on depression and other anxiety related disorders.

The "bunch of stoners" stereotype has followed responsible marijuana users around for far too long. Like any other beneficial drug, marijuana can be abused. Unlike every other beneficial prescription drug out there, it is virtually impossible to "overdose" on marijuana. Classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug in the first place is a little like outlawing black cohosh or ginseng or any of the other herbs routinely used in different cultures for healing and pain management. It is an alternative medical course, as legitimate as chiropractic medicine, and often used hand in hand to great results. Chiropractic philosophy lines up perfectly with that of medical marijuana – your body, and nature, has the power to heal.

Ultimately, that's the number one benefit marijuana has to offer: it is an herb, grown from the earth. It is not processed or refined or chemically enhanced. It does not contain an endless list of unpronounceable ingredients designed to carefully manipulate the symptoms of your illness. Marijuana is a natural medicine whose potential applications have not yet begun to scratch the surface.

As we approach the deadline for the Arizona legislature to institute the rules for medical marijuana in the state, many are also considering the implications on other sections of their life. Medical marijuana users will be a reality very soon, and will possibly be more widespread than we might think. One issue that many medical marijuana users are not considering is driving in Arizona. Because marijuana is difficult to isolate in tests to determine intoxication, many believe that they will be able to consume marijuana and drive without repercussions. Nothing could be further from the truth, actually. Enforcement standards in the state are as high as ever, and law enforcement officers are able to detect, test for, and arrest for marijuana consumption while driving.

The key ingredient in marijuana, THC, is detectable for up to thirty days with certain forms of testing. At a minimum, with saliva testing it can be detected for up to twelve hours. This means that the state will not be able to use ARS 28-1321 (2) or (3) against the medical marijuana user, since the actual presence of a legal substance is clearly defined as not illegal in ARS 28-1321 (4) D. However, ARS 28-1381 (1) states that if a substance is present, legality notwithstanding, and the person is legally intoxicated as observed by the arresting officer, they have are still in violation.

To clear this up, allow me to present a scenario. John is a legal medical marijuana card holder who has smoked marijuana approximately ten hours ago. He is then involved in a minor accident to which a police officer responds. The officer believes John is intoxicated He is given a saliva test, which returns positive for THC. He informs the officer that he is a medical marijuana card holder. He is not guilty of a DUI for reasons of ARS 28-1321 (2-4). The officer still requests he perform a field sobriety test to determine his intoxication; John fails this test miserably. John is still going to be arrested for a DUI pursuant to the first paragraph (ARS 28-1381 (1)) of the statute, which states that since John has anything in his system and is observably intoxicated he is driving under the influence.

What does this mean for medical marijuana card holders in Arizona? Simply put, driving in Arizona will be risky until the specifics of drug DUI enforcement are hammered out. At any time after smoking marijuana they will be at risk for a DUI if involved in the slightest fender bender. Since police officers respond to all accidents in the Phoenix metro area, even the careful card holder could be at risk. My advice remains to hire an attorney and have them on retainer if you are a medical marijuana card holder in the valley; They should do this, at the very least, until law enforcement has hammered out the kinks in the drug DUI enforcement system.

In our generation today where the morality of men outgrow the primitive legislation that has been set forth by the people who came before us, clutching onto rare and timely investment opportunities like that of joining the burgeoning marijuana production that's very apparent to a few developed and developing countries, is not as shocking as it would have been been if it happened long before our people learned how to use cannabis or marijuana ethically.

A lot of investors, scientists and entrepreneurs clamored when the term 'Green Rush' was reintroduced to the world market and was materialized right before the public eye just a while back. 'Green Rush' was a term coined and given to the settling industry of marijuana in some countries like the United States and Canada. It was inspired by the popular terminology, 'Gold Rush' which was extensively used in the United States before, when everything was all about making money and everyone else was into producing stashes of cash or 'gold' as they would refer to it. And although marijuana is still illegal to almost half the number of states in the US, the largest marijuana businesses and manufacturers lie there. One reason that could make sense of why the US has managed to reach this point of creating something beneficial out of something that has been labeled negatively in the past years is that laws now are not imposed as strictly as it used to be.

Today, a lot of businessmen and even home-based entrepreneurs choose to venture into producing and retailing products made out of the cannabis plant. We've heard tales upon tales of different stories of people starting and developing their own marijuana farms all across the US, ever since the marijuana cultivation license issuance came out. A large-scale of Canadian cannabis producers even funded greenhouses huge as most facilities in Europe just to have sufficient space to grow cannabis plants.

In spite of the fact that marijuana is still among the drugs listed illicit and its compelling attribution to various cases of addiction, health failure, and even death, it has grown its roots all the way up to show the world that it can constructively contribute more , especially now that many globally-competitive companies like Circa, focus on researching, developing and commercializing top quality medically – validated cannabis products, as well as promoting breakthrough researches for the newly explored medical marijuana industry in Canada and many countries around the world.