{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/cancer/3","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_1990-markdown","title":"The Stars Look Very Different Today","slug":"the-stars-look-very-different-today","content":"### The Thin White Duke Departs. \r\n\r\nBy now you’ve heard the news, and if you were anyone like me, you’ve spent more than a moment to revisit some of Bowie's greatest contributions in respect of his passing. This last Sunday was a sad day indeed. The world lost a great artist, a maverick, an iconoclast, and a true creative genius. For countless, he was an inspiration.\r\n\r\nWhile searching for more details of the illness that lead to his death, I came across an article reminding me of a long forgotten incident. On March 22nd, 1976, David Bowie, and a couple of his entourage (including James Osterberg, aka Iggy Pop) were arrested for possession of marijuana in Rochester, NY. The Vice Squad entered a hotel room in which all were present, searched, and recovered about a half pound of cannabis. It could have ended badly, for at the time such an offense could have resulted in 15 years prison time. The jury did not indict him. \r\n\r\n>The original news article from March 22, 1976, [has been re-published here](http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/local/rocroots/2016/01/11/david-bowie-rochester-arrest-march-1976/78619818/) by the Democrat Chronicle.\r\n\r\nTo me, several things are remarkable about this event – albeit in hindsight. How threatened this conservative society in upstate NY must have felt in order to have gone after David Bowie (and friends) in order to convict and put him away – especially with such zeal. Throughout all media coverage at the time, including transcripts of court appearances and televised interviews, Bowie upheld nothing less than a very polite and gracious persona. He couldn’t have come off any more opposite than what his prosecutors were convinced that he was – a deadbeat, a stoner, and a scourge on society. Unlike many music artists of today, he was a class act. He has always been a class act. It’s absurd that the community leaders of the time were so threatened by Bowie’s perceived representation of moral decline and so convinced of his devil ways. How far we have come. \r\n\r\n### How Far We Have Come \r\n\r\nOr have we? \r\n\r\nI’m fortunate to live in a state (California) that has seen the benefits of cannabis as a holistic catalyst for health and well-being. It’s very likely that this year, 2016, will be the year cannabis use becomes legal for recreation in California too. Yet, so many states, indeed our own federal government, are still holding the arcane view that cannabis has no medicinal value and is still associated with moral turpitude – bolstering the out-of-date stereotype and stigma. This really bothers me. \r\n\r\nHere at HelloMD, the observed demographic of patients that use our service might surprise the politicians and legislators. Daily we see working professionals, veterans, elderly, moms, dads, and people that look like you and me. They may well be your family, your neighbors or your colleagues. None of them are deadbeats. None of them are a scourge on society. All of them have a legitimate health need for using cannabis. \r\n\r\nDavid Bowie, a long time resident of NYC, was probably not able to legally use cannabis as part of his treatment regime. Being terminally ill from cancer of the liver would have surely qualified him to do so, but the laws governing medicinal cannabis enacted by the state came in too late (not to mention the fact that they appear overly restricting).\r\n\r\nAttitudes can change over time, and they are, but there is still much to be done to educate and inform. Those old stigmas and stereotypes need to be put on trial and put away. \r\n\r\nDavid Bowie, you were just ahead of your time. You always were. That is why we loved you. You showed us the future.\r\n\r\nSo long. We miss you already.\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/14b42/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/f836f/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.jpg 200w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/2244e/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.jpg 400w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/14b42/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.jpg 800w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/47498/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/58556/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/61e93/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.webp 200w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/1f5c5/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.webp 400w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/58556/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.webp 800w,\n/static/dc16f108390fc8b6e873430cb92e7a46/99238/69abc3c86b2d039cfecebc4f9e6f4c3c.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2021-markdown","title":"The 420 Games Celebrates Athletes, Healthy Living & Cannabis ","slug":"the-420-games-celebrates-athletes-healthy-living-and-cannabis","content":"Jim McAlpine, is a name that circulates around California’s cannabis industry with high frequency. Jim is founder of [The 420 Games](http://420games.org/) and most recently the cannabis technology event called [New West Summit](http://www.newwestsummit.com), which was held in San Francisco this past November. The 420 Games is a popular athletics, cannabis-based event that started in San Francisco and is now spreading to other parts of the country. Jim states that the goal of The 420 Games is to ‘eradicate the false stereotypes that hinder millions of successful and motivated people. We want to afford people the choice and ability to responsibly use cannabis as a supplement without fear of prosecution and judgement.’\r\n\r\nThe first 420 Games was a 5k race held in late 2014, which incorporated a couple hundred people who came together to run and promote a healthier image of cannabis. As Jim says ‘Many people have felt ashamed about their use of cannabis or that they need to hide it. The fact is you can have a very healthy lifestyle, be athletic and use cannabis to support yourself in a variety of ways. The 420 Games was created for people to ‘come out of the closet’, if you will, in a positive and supportive environment. Ultimately, we want to alter negative perceptions of cannabis use and replace that with an uplifting image more related to health and wellness.’ \r\n\r\nThe 420 Games has become a run away success, no pun intended. This year, the 420 Games expects upwards of 5,000 people to participate in their San Francisco event alone. Many more events are planned for Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle, Boulder and Denver. Visiting [The 420 Games Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/The-420-Games-639774252770652/), you will see almost 60,000 ‘likes’. Jim is a gregarious, affable guy who has made it his business to get to know just about everyone in the industry. When you talk to him, it is obvious that he is passionate, viewing the cannabis ecosystem as an ever-growing community of both industry folks and patients alike. His mission is to help bring cannabis into the light and to shed the stigma associated with its use, while at the same time giving people a positive platform in which to come forward freely.\r\n\r\n**What was your inspiration for starting The 420 Games?**\r\n\r\nFor many years I lived in Tahoe, where I founded a tech startup called [Snow Bomb](http://www.snowbomb.com/). We were the first company in the world to do online ticketing in the snow industry. We were very successful in this arena, but in order for us to continue to succeed, we needed snow. As most people know, for the last four years in Tahoe, there has been almost no snow. \r\n\r\nSo in late 2013/early 2014 I told my wife I was going to go up to Tahoe for a few days and lock myself in my cabin until I thought up a new business. I packed my bag, brought some medical marijuana, and set up shop in my living room, where I waited for an idea to arrive. Sitting down on the couch that evening, the first thing I saw on TV was a vice special, which was called  ‘Green Rush’. It was about the booming cannabis industry and how people were making a healthy living off of legalized cannabis. I was about to smoke some marijuana, to spur creativity, but the light bulb went off for me almost immediately. \r\n\r\nHow it happened that quickly, I am not sure. What came to me is this; I have been a serious athlete and used cannabis in a positive way for a good portion of my life, and that is something I wanted to share with others. As an athlete, cannabis helps keep me focused, at the gym longer and in some ways allows me to obtain my goals more easily. It does not make me lazy or cause me to not show up for practice; in fact, it does just the opposite. Also, within the ski industry, I saw how cannabis goes hand in hand with the snow based athletic lifestyle, mostly in a positive way. In my own heart and mind I saw a connection of how cannabis and a healthy lifestyle could be linked together. \r\n\r\nTo start a new business I had to think about how I could fit within the cannabis industry, and at the time I was a complete newbie. I was not going to get into distribution or growing, so the obvious answer was to play off my strengths, which in many ways is throwing community-building industry events. Boom, right there in that moment, events and athleticism seemed like a natural fit to me. On my couch that night, I knew I would throw the first athletics-based cannabis event.  \r\n\r\n**When was the first 420 Games event held and what happened there?**\r\n\r\nOur first race was held in Golden Gate Park in August of 2014. There was an amazing vibe among the people who came and participated. You could really tell people were excited for this event to be happening. I guess my biggest trepidation was that I would throw this event and a bunch of stoners would show up, which is fine, but what I was going for was healthy lifestyle and athleticism. When real athletes actually showed up, I knew I was onto something big, and that this community really exists. Thankfully, everyone who showed up understood the mission and felt connected to it in some way.\r\n\r\n**Can you describe the type of people that show up at The 420 Games?**\r\n\r\nFrom my experience so far, there are a lot of people who have become involved because this is an outlet for them to show that you can both use cannabis and be a successful athlete. People were very grateful to be given the opportunity to ‘come out of the closet’, as I like to say. Also, I find that about 20% of the people that show up are cannabis sympathizers. They may have someone in their life who uses cannabis medicinally or be pro legalization.  There are many people who come who want to support others in their lifestyle choices. It is somewhat akin to heterosexual people who show up at a gay rally to support friends or family. \r\n\r\nI think the common thread with everyone though, without a doubt, is a love of athleticism. My sister-in-law, who has never used cannabis, came to support me and actually won the race. A lot of the participants have used cannabis for a long time in their life, often in combination with work outs.\r\n\r\n**If someone shows up at a 420 Games what should they expect?**\r\n\r\nFrom the outside we want our 420 events to look like any other 5k, 10k race or marathon that athletes attend. It is a sports event first that happens to advocate cannabis use. You show up for the race early, you register and you will see a lot of other people getting ready, stretching and hydrating. We offer healthy food like granola, yogurt and bananas to the participants before the race begins. People line up for the race, we shoot the gun and everyone is off. We do award winners at the end of the race, but it is really about being active and finishing the race, whether you choose to walk or run. We really put an emphasis on finishing the race. \r\n\r\nThis is also a family friendly event, and we ask that no one smokes cannabis at the event. It is fine to be medicated, but we ask participants to do that before coming to the race; we want all participants to be comfortable with the atmosphere. We have whole families that participate together and even my young daughters finished the race this last time. We are trying to change perceptions of cannabis and a cloud of smoke really does not do much for us! So far, almost everyone has respected this. \r\n\r\nAt the end of the race, everyone has a huge sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. Everyone is high-fiving and a lot of pats on the back all around. After the race we have about 2 hours of education with guest speakers. We also curate positive and conscious music into the event and only choose musical acts that are life positive. Anyone who finishes the race who is over 21 is welcomed into our beer garden, which is hosted by Lagunitas, for free beer. A community feeling is highly encouraged and we wrap up the event with a real feeling togetherness. \r\n\r\n**You like to use the term ‘coming out of the closet.’ In the case of The 420 Games, do you feel like some people are showing up for the first time to be ‘out of the closet’?**\r\n\r\nAbsolutely, yes! In many ways, if you are a healthy, well-adjusted individual, this type of event is one of the easiest ways to announce your own cannabis use to the people around you. I have found that many people have been looking for a group to associate with where they don’t need to feel ashamed of their lifestyle. It is not that long ago that cannabis use was almost completely frowned upon, so this is a big step for many people.\r\n\r\nFor myself, I am completely out of the closet at this point. In my own declaration, and with The 420 Games, I want to be that first guy who makes it easier for the next guy or woman. Many people have had such negative associations placed in their head and we want to replace that with a positive message, so that they can go forward and help change other people’s perceptions.\r\n\r\n**Have you had any negative push back on hosting The 420 Games?**\r\n\r\nWe have had very little honestly. The San Francisco police department has been so supportive. There has now been enough positive press too, so generally everyone has been very accepting.\r\n\r\n**How many events have you done and where can people find the next The 420 Games?**\r\n\r\nWe were solely in California last year but we are moving into several more states this year, which is exciting. In California we have done 5 events so far including several runs, a paddle board race and a golf tournament. In 2016 we will be in California in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. In Colorado we will be in both Denver and Boulder. In Washington we will be in Seattle and in Oregon we will be hosting an event in Portland. \r\n\r\nIf someone wants to compete and join the fun, the best way to find out about more events is through our website [the420games.org](http://420games.org/). We also have a very active [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/The-420-Games-639774252770652/) presence, which can keep you abreast. We welcome new sponsors as well, especially companies that focus on health and wellness like HelloMD. We want to partner with professional, health and wellness partners who ideally also involved in cannabis.\r\n\r\n**Is there anything else you would like to add regarding The 420 Games?**\r\n\r\nYou can be an athlete and if you use cannabis it does not mean you are not stupid or lazy. The person defines who they are, the plant does not define who the person is. We hope to see you at one of the next [420 Games](http://420games.org/)!\r\n\r\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/ee604/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png","srcSet":"/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/69585/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png 200w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/497c6/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png 400w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/ee604/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png 800w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/f3583/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png 1200w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/f90fa/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/58556/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/61e93/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp 200w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/1f5c5/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp 400w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/58556/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp 800w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/99238/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp 1200w,\n/static/87b094d10ae7c9bb7641d8c51404e080/5e0b8/b5d3baab06e2eb6d3783d68a47c81ce1.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2022-markdown","title":"Medical Cannabis Counseling: Helping Dementia and Cancer Patients Find Relief","slug":"medical-cannabis-counseling-helping-dementia-and-cancer-patients-find-relief","content":"If you are in the cannabis industry in Northern California, it does not take long before you hear the name Eloise Theisen (MSN, RN, AGPCNP-BC), the founder of [Green Health Consultants](http://www.greenhealthconsultants.com/). Eloise spent 15 years as a patient-focused nurse specializing in cancer, epilepsy, chronic pain, ALS, dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, PTSD, fibromyalgia, and various autoimmune and neurological diseases. She founded Green Health Consultants because she saw a gap in the market for services that catered to patients needing individualized cannabis counseling. \n\nGreen Health Consultants is unique in that it is one of the first such services being provided within the state of California. Eloise has an extensive medical background as well as in-depth experience with cannabis treatments. This experience provides credibility as she helps develop individualized treatment plans for her patients in collaboration with dietitians and/or a patient's doctor. Unlike your local dispensary’s ‘bud tender’ (people who help you select cannabis at a dispensary), Eloise is able to thoroughly evaluate a patient’s medical history and current diagnosis. Through this analysis she is better able to guide her patients towards the best application of medical cannabis. \n\nEloise counsels patients [in person, over Skype or by telephone](https://www.vcita.com/v/ghc.eloisetheisen) and will often stay with patients throughout a treatment plan giving additional counsel when needed to ensure the right treatment plan is found. Since opening her service in Northern California last year, Eloise has seen a full roster of patients on a weekly basis. She has been covered by [CBS](http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2015/09/12/senior-citizens-bay-area-medical-marijuana-club/), [Fox News](http://www.foxnews.com/health/2015/09/04/how-weed-is-being-embraced-by-wellness-movement.html), [Newsweek](http://thenationalmarijuananews.com/2015/09/could-legal-marijuana-be-the-first-billion-dollar-industry-not-dominated-by-men/) and [SF Gate](http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Rossmoor-seniors-fired-up-about-curative-powers-6210220.php) among others.\n\n**What led you to start Green Health Consultants?**\n\nI was an Oncology nurse for thirteen years and in addition I did palliative care as well as hospice care. During this time I went into management at John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek, where I managed the oncology, geriatric and endocrine units. Around this time, I unfortunately got in a terrible car accident. I was injured badly and essentially became disabled. Unable to work, I lost my job and I ended up trying to manage my pain with standard pharmaceuticals with little to no success. A close friend pushed me to try cannabis, and after a certain point I decided I had nothing left to lose, so I tried it. It was the first time I felt my pain was well managed. I started with [edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a7ce0f6f24d1300077ccb3d/3-popular-questions-about-marijuana-and-edibles-answered), then I did a lot of high CBD, [full extract cannabis oil](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562fc90bb8c41f000c000000/cancer-cannabis-oil-and-the-united-kingdom) and I smoked periodically. Eventually, I decided to wean myself off of all pharmaceuticals and I used cannabis to go through the withdrawals.\n\nDuring this time, while I was going through my journey to better health, I realized none of the medical professionals knew how to help me with cannabis. In fact, when I told them of my success with cannabis, they did not even have much curiosity to find out more. I had worked with many of them and I knew them well, so I was surprised. As a result of my experience, I decided to go back to school to become a nurse practitioner, initially thinking I might go back to oncology. I was doing my nursing hours at a local clinic and about 50% of my patients started asking me about incorporating cannabis into their treatment plan. With my own success with cannabis, I realized the need for someone to guide patients in how to properly incorporate cannabis into their treatment regimen.\n\nThere is such a gap from when the doctor gives a person their recommendation to when they take their medicine. So many physicians I knew did not want to deal with it, as they did not want their patients to get hurt or to fall into a hole. So essentially, they turn their back on it. My point has always been that patients are already using it, and it is in the physician’s best interest to help their patients find the right solution. Patients need to learn and become educated so that they can take the medicine safely and effectively.\n\nWhen I was injured, I met an experienced cannabis oil maker. She knew I was a nurse practitioner and she was looking for a case manager, for someone to follow her patients throughout their treatment. Working with her I researched applications of cannabis, learned best practices, monitored drug interactions and potential side effects. This experience really helped influence and shape my knowledge base, giving me the more in depth experience for when I opened my business just over a year ago.\n\n**What are the most common conditions you treat within your practice?**\n\nPain, sleep and dementia are some of the most common ailments people would like to treat when they see me. Based on my oncology background, I see a lot of cancer patients. Many people with cancer find me online and are seeking symptom management and may or may not be dealing with chronic pain. Probably 50% of my patients are oncology patients and around 50% are [senior citizens](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b929f53632330006140000/retirees-flock-to-states-with-medical-marijuana).\n \nA lot of seniors that come to see me are from Rossmoor, a local retirement community here in the East Bay of San Francisco, but I also see seniors from all over California. In most cases, senior citizens need a lot of reinforcement and ongoing education. They are used to being told to take a certain dosage at certain times of day, but cannabis does not typically work this way, so they need a lot of extra support. I typically spend at least an hour with a senior patient and often my consultations continue so that I may help them with the appropriate type of medication and ongoing dosage recommendations. Many times it takes time to find the right combination.\n\nThe [‘Truth About Cancer’](https://go2.thetruthaboutcancer.com/global-quest/episode-1/) is a video series that was recently released and based on that, I have gotten a lot of people seeking my services. I also do a lot of patient outreach and education, so that people start to understand better the options that are available to them.\n\n**You are also active with the American Cannabis Nurses Association?**\n\nYes, I am a board member on the [American Cannabis Nurses](http://americancannabisnursesassociation.org/), a national organization dedicated to expanding the knowledge base of endo-cannabinoid therapeutics among nurses. We are developing a curriculum so that people who would like to advise others can become competent in cannabinoid therapies. ACNA currently offers a course for nurses that demonstrates competency after 6 hours of instruction. At the beginning of the year we hope to launch a new online program. There is a great need for education and standards among nurses and nurse practitioners.\n\n**People often ask “Can CBD oil cure cancer?”  What is your answer to this question?**\n\nThis is a big topic and I try to be as straightforward as possible when people come to me asking this question. People with cancer are desperate for an answer and most people hope for a miracle cure. From my experience in treating hundreds of patients, I can count on my two hands the number of people I have known that have gone from stage 4 and have 'cured themselves' of cancer. Many within that handful, the cancer did come back and some have since passed away. \n\nI am not sure that we fully understand how [CBD oil can cure cancer](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). Everyone’s response is unique and often THC is needed. CBD only has been, in my experience, less effective than a combination of THC and CBD. That said, it does reduce tumors and stabilize their tumors and most importantly there is a quality of life that comes along with its use. Often people will use it in conjunction with their chemotherapy, and I believe there is only positive value in using CBD oil in addition to traditional therapies. I believe there are a lot of misconceptions about CBD oil and people read various things online that may not be true.\n\n**What guidance do you give to senior citizens who are new to cannabis?**\n\n85% of my elderly patients have never tried cannabis and the average age of an elderly patient who sees me is about 76. These people typically missed the time period in the sixties where everyone was smoking weed at the Grateful Dead. My number one concern for them is their safety, so I always start them “low and slow”. It is important for them to know that typically there is no magic bullet and that this process may take time in order to find the right dosage and ratio. \n\nMost often, an elderly person will not understand self-titration, so I spend a lot of time with them to empower them with going up and down on their dosages. I try to tell them what they should expect based on what is the most common outcome, but I also prepare them for the fact they might be on the opposite end of the spectrum. Sometimes, I get really complicated cases, mainly women who have mystery illnesses where their doctors have been unable to help them. Although I would like to work with their doctors, many people do not want me to tell their doctor and frankly many doctors are still not open to an elderly patient seeking out cannabis as a treatment. This is very unfortunate.\n\n**How do you help people actually get the right medicine for their condition?**\n\nIt depends on where the patient is located. If they are local to me it is easier as I work with a local dispensary, which carries the medicine I prefer to use. If someone is not local, sometimes I will call the local dispensary for them to find out if they are willing to carry products I would like to recommend. It can be challenging, because even dispensaries that carry the products I recommend, may run low or be out of stock. It’s important people go to the right dispensary and get the right medication for their condition.\n\n**There have been new studies on how cannabis may affect dementia, what are your thoughts on this?** \n\nThis is a hot topic. Dementia is a big issue and I work with a facility that is an assisted care facility where many of the dementia patients are in a locked unit. Often they will have very aggressive behavior which pharmaceuticals are unable to manage. Cannabis has been shown to help with aggressive behavior. Most of the dementia patients I see, we use cannabis to manage their behavior not to actually slow down the onset of dementia. These patients often become so aggressive that they need one on one care, which many families are unable to afford. An aggressive dementia patient will often disrupt other residents and often they may even be on the verge of being kicked out of the facility. This is a really, really big problem. Right now, I have a patient who had to be removed from his living situation within his facility. We are in the midst of finding the right dosage of medication for him, so he can better manage his behavior and frankly, have a better quality of life.\n\nCannabis for a dementia patient can bring relaxation, happiness and joy back into a patient’s life. Dementia can cause aggression, anger and total loss of control. The introduction of cannabis can bring back a sense of calm and peace for these patients. A positive outcome with cannabis can be very powerful for both the patient and the family. Family members can be so stressed about taking care of a family member with dementia. It negatively impacts everyone involved.\n\n**Can cannabis help people get off of and stop chronic over use of pharmaceutical drugs?**\n\nIn my experience it certainly seems to help. Recently I treated a patient that was about to be moved to a care facility for the onset of dementia. I learned she had been on narcotics for over 40 years and so we decided to slowly wean her off the narcotics and have her use cannabis as the replacement. Very quickly she became a different person, for the better, and she became as sharp as a tack. People were amazed because what they believed was dementia was actually the side effects of so many years of narcotic use. The cannabis was able to help her manage chronic pain and allowed her to sleep well. She is a new woman! She is now able to stay in her independent living facility where she lives today. This patient is the walking poster child of how cannabis can turn someone’s life around for the better. Yes, cannabis can help people get off of pharmaceuticals.\n\n**What else would you like to communicate to people who are new to cannabis?**\n\nI think people need to manage expectations as to what cannabis can do for them and in what time frame. At the moment, cannabis is on a pedestal as almost a ‘cure all’. It is often superior in terms of effectiveness in lieu of other medications, but at the same time many people need to realize that some things may not work for them and it will often take time to explore what does actually work. Often people will try cannabis, it does not work well for whatever reason, and then they want to give up trying. Sometimes it takes a lot of back and forth to find the right medication and the right dosage. \n\nI also think it is important for a medical professional to follow someone who is new to cannabis, throughout the initial stages of their treatment. Too often people get their recommendation and that’s it. They go to the dispensary ‘bud tenders’, they get the wrong medication and then receive free samples on top of that, and often things will go terribly wrong for the patient. What I really hope for is better education, outreach and for medical professionals to step up and help patients out when they need it most.\n\nGreen Health Consultants operates within the San Francisco Bay Area and welcomes new patients both nationally and internationally. You may book an [appointment online](https://www.vcita.com/v/ghc.eloisetheisen). Eloise conducts her consultations in person, over the phone or on Skype.\n\nIf you are new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's 100% online, private and efficient. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/14b42/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/f836f/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/2244e/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 400w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/14b42/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 800w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/47498/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 1200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/54ac5/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/58556/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/61e93/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/1f5c5/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 400w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/58556/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 800w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/99238/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 1200w,\n/static/e51d16687ead3f07b32db0551119a2be/5e0b8/7b38d96b8bd9a699fa50212b9c08bdca.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2056-markdown","title":"Cannabis Improves Your Sex Life – The Top 5 Reasons You Should Give Cannabis A Try","slug":"cannabis-improves-your-sex-life-the-top-5-reasons-you-should-give-cannabis-a-try","content":"Some years ago I was decidedly anti-cannabis. It was for stoners, it sucked you into the couch like fly paper for humans, and it was not good for society. It certainly did not help that my then-boyfriend played Formula 1 video games for most of the day while stoned.  Reading about the so-called ‘medicinal’ benefits, I might have even rolled my eyes.\r\n\r\nToday, I am an impassioned pro-cannabis advocate. It has changed my life for the better using it as a medicine to better manage debilitating migraines as well as to increase my overall sense of health and wellness. The reasons that lead someone to consider using cannabis are varied and may even be complex. Below are five reasons  I believe you should consider giving cannabis a first or second chance.\r\n\r\n**1. Cannabis alleviates pain quickly.**\r\n\r\nAs humans, we experience a lot of physical pain. I often look at my dog Juno and wonder why we feel so much more physical pain than say, my dog. It is a fact, we experience it and it tends to get worse as we get older. [Nearly 100 million Americans](http://www.nap.edu/read/13172/chapter/2# 3) suffer from chronic pain.\r\n\r\nI like many others suffer from pain including migraines, fibromyalgia, bursitis in my hips and tendonitis that can flare up in my wrist/arm.  My diet is healthy and I exercise regularly, but I am still troubled with physical pain. In my experience, marijuana helps calm inflammation in my body and nips my migraines in the bud before they blossom. In addition, it helps quell the rising tide of PMS and feeling of unrest that comes with my fluctuating hormones. \r\n\r\nCannabis, and particularly, Cannibidiol (CBD), is a known anti-inflammatory and an analgesic. [A new study](http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338266) shows that cannabis is effective in pain management for chronic pain such as fibromyalgia, neuropathic pain as well as pain associated with multiple sclerosis. The [Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America recently stated](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=000412): \r\n\r\n>\"Experimental evidence suggests that endocannabanoids, molecules found in the body that closely resemble compounds found in the cannabis (marijuana) plant, may play a role in limiting intestinal inflammation.”\r\n\r\nMainstream medicine also acknowledges that marijuana, and in particular THC, seems to help cancer patients manage pain. I am cherry picking only some medical conditions cannabis helps. \r\n\r\n**2. Cannabis does not have the same negative side effects as prescription drugs or alcohol.**\r\n\r\nIf you don’t like to get ‘high’, the psychoactive feeling you receive after ingesting  THC, then that is about the only negative side effect that cannabis will give you. It can also make some people feel a little groggy after use, but that’s about it in terms of side effects. Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, and even alcohol, the negative impact of ingesting moderate amounts of cannabis is extremely low.  Cannabis can act a relaxant, anti depressant and treat the symptoms of innumerable medical conditions. Conversely, the pros of using cannabis far outweigh the cons. You would be hard pressed to find a single death from someone ‘overdosing’ on marijuana, it just does not happen.\r\n\r\nOn the flip side to cannabis, there is a death associated with prescription drugs every 19 minutes in the United States. More people in the US die from prescription drugs than from illegal drugs. I’ve heard some people say it is like [‘Pharmageddon’](http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/10/26/prescription-drugs-number-one-cause-preventable-death-in-us.aspx). \r\n\r\nThe list of negative side effects from a pharmaceutical drug can read like an Egyptian papyrus scroll and some can even be laughable. ‘May cause transient third nipple in laboratory rats.’, read one label I glanced at recently. Prescription drugs can also be highly addictive. Many people take not one but multiple pharmaceuticals in conjunction with one another, leading to a potentially dangerous situation, especially in the elderly population.\r\n\r\nAlcohol, although widely accepted culturally, has innumerable [negative side effects](http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body). It damages the heart, liver, pancreas, weakens the immune system and the link between alcohol and cancer is well established. Our bodies also become less efficient at processing  alcohol as we get older and we are more likely to feel drunk more quickly. Our bodies break alcohol down into acetaldehyde, which is a [‘highly toxic substance and known carcinogen’](http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA72/AA72.htm). Many proponents are quick to point out that it prevents heart disease or cultivates a ‘healthy heart’, but the reality is our body processes it as a toxin. Additionally, the [CDC released that 88,000 people in the US die every year from alcohol use]( http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm).\r\n\r\nAs with anything, moderation is key. Someone who abuses cannabis may end up feeling ‘burnt out’ or be a 'burn out'. But overall, if used in moderation with an understanding of how your system works with cannabis, you may reap many rewards.\r\n\r\n\r\n**3. You don’t need to get ‘high’ to experience the positive benefits from cannabis.**\r\n\r\nYou can get high if you want to, but you don’t have to. This is where cannabis starts to get interesting to me. I always assumed you needed to get stoned in order to use cannabis. I also assumed you needed to smoke it. Both of these assumptions are incorrect. You don’t need to get stoned and there are [many ways you can now ingest cannabis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana).\r\n\r\nPersonally, I am not able to ingest larger quantities of THC. The psychoactive component tends to make me feel very uncomfortable (like a head with no body), which is also why I was anti-cannabis for so long. That all changed when I discovered CBD (cannabidiol). CBD is an anti-inflammatory and when combined with THC, can remediate the effects of THC. In short, CBD is the antidote to THC’s psychoactivity. When used in the right quantities, or ratio, together, I am able to experience the medicinal benefits as well as an overall sense of calm and relaxation. Everyone is different in this respect, but you absolutely do not need to get high.\r\n\r\n**4. Cannabis relaxes you and can potentially ease anxiety.**\r\n\r\nCannabis can induce a feeling of well-being and relaxation. To me, I find that using a cannabis tincture at night, helps take the edge off similar to the way a glass of wine might. The tinctures I choose tend to be high CBD and low THC and are not psychoactive. It works like a charm and I am mentally present and alert. Other people may find that a vape pen with higher concentrations of THC help to relax them, it depends on the person as we all have slightly different reactions to cannabis.\r\n\r\nAnxiety affects nearly 40 million Americans according to the [Anxiety & Depression Association of America](http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics). Most of the top selling pharmaceutical drugs in the US treat anxiety & depression. It’s a big problem, and although cannabis does not address the root of this nationwide epidemic, it can certainly help alleviate anxiety in some people. A new study has even the [National Institute of Health suggesting it may relieve anxiety]( http://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-nih-says-yes-weed-eases-anxiety).  That said, studies can diverge on this subject and I believe the way cannabis affects people is highly individual and also directly correlates to the amount of THC to CBD that is ingested. You basically need to try it to see if it works for you.\r\n\r\n**5. Cannabis improves your sex life.**\r\n\r\nOK, so maybe this should be in the number one spot. It’s true, cannabis can improve your sexual experience and may even make you want to have more of it. Meow. This is good news for the institution of marriage, which should give those pro family politicians in Washington a good reason to support cannabis legalization.\r\n\r\nCannabis can enhance the body’s ability to experience orgasms and there is scientific evidence to support this. [Dr. Mitch Earlywine, a psychology professor at SUNY Albany states](http://elitedaily.com/dating/your-sex-life-on-weed/1026506/):\r\n\r\n>“That CB1 receptor seems to be involved in improved tactile sensations and general euphoria,” he says, referring to cannabinoid receptors in our nervous system activated by THC. Naturally, no pun intended, THC is the active drug found in cannabis.”\r\n\r\nMany people claim cannabis is an aphrodisiac and some even claim it to be a [‘natural Viagra’](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/23/medical-marijuana-stiff-competition-for-viagra_n_839678.html). This is not news as marijuana has been cited as an aphrodisiac for centuries, if not thousands of years. Most of this is anecdotal evidence however as the medical studies on sex and cannabis are rare. As with anxiety, experiences can differ. Some people claim that it inhibits their sexual response. It is important to note your overall experience is also  highly dependent on what cannabis you ingest.\r\n\r\nLucky for us ladies, there are many new cannabis products on the market that address an enhanced sexual experience. It may come as a surprise that many are topical oils designed to be used as a sexual lubricant. Two brands you may want to try out are [Herba Buena’s Quiver](http://herbabuena.com/product/quiver-sensual-cannabis-lubricant/) and [Foria's personal lubricants](http://foriapleasure.com/pages/about-us).\r\n\r\nWell, that's it in a nutshell as to why I think you should give cannabis a try. If you are new to cannabis and  want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation, it's 100% online, private and efficient. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAPCAIAAABr+ngCAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADVUlEQVQoz0WS6W8TZxDG979oEeJwbW/sxnZ2vYd34yM4B7gJyklofKMUQptyqP0CQlBEWrUSAoGiSi20qKgqVJWIhArqIQiIVqBWlACBAAokQOxd7767a3sPXzFp+tqphPRoNF9+8zwzGkTgF4RMShDSUKLArQgAXpIFWc68liIo8mvlckBVZWS5Kv9bkV+VQLUIKgWxrAslXdBznAzmZcDJEiThFEFRhKwi5rIgn5fUvKxpWV3PIX9MXvz7z1/u/nVl+va1B3euPZy6/mDq+uzMTU2eVSQI1zBoBcl83U1TFV3LFgr5csVAXI633U0OEncwBMZSOEPhzkZ7eGhg0eAhLNWdV6KuNPUpErQtlw2EJN0ttGczG3iH8bZTjJekzGZTf193xYDJ67BSW16q9xLgs7IAY//vTJBEK+0dZjaPsN1RZtNWz0aT5a3I0GAdTtcXzsDkmp5X86BYyEHG0HPFolqDKYL2kDTtJmiCoNwEibstZks0MrRY4CWQAiKvKGI2K964dG5s77Zvjo89m/mnZEDYqMEdZMu+5miM7tzh6QmToZ2e3vYGJhYLV4u8JKYAyHCp2ctff7q7i+6mXTu6g9v7238/e6ykZsrlAkLiVNDta8Y9Qczb3ORpw32UpSkRj9acxZQkCVd/PHEsGRztoPaFW0+O9n0+vCUWwB9eOb+0/AppdGF+nI1SXW2YL0p2dmD+NetMyUSsWuCBCJ9n4av9iYM9dNKPTXwSvjX2nvbzt+PbB6Z/O7e0XEVsDifmxENYC+ukerDWgItZtXZtMhmvGLyQeflybvrUnq0RCo377J+9653cv23q5IELh9+X5+9XFg2kxcUGnc0BJwtFNrr9LqbJ1BiPx+C1+fQc/2Lm8GiENa9KeB0jG9lDfW1Hk31njnz87Mm9pYqGtDl9g9imISyUwLugdpK9W9ANMHbZ4LjUPADcT2eOhwjLrpDv+5GBo+HOSwc+fDx5UVczJV1CzA12E4qut6KwmlHUZrOvWb0OHqykcxnuOZ+en3t0+8J341+OhscH/RPDPdzEKVV6oWfThiogFqvNitpQ1G612izWBoi/8ebqeDxS1FILz59M37n5w9nTRz764IvewOlYx6+7+h+fPzEzdUvmn6rKwn+uyyIwx3G3KwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/ee604/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png","srcSet":"/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/69585/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png 200w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/497c6/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png 400w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/ee604/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png 800w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/f3583/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png 1200w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/f90fa/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/58556/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/61e93/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp 200w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/1f5c5/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp 400w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/58556/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp 800w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/99238/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp 1200w,\n/static/b0e2c31a3ae560d34d845112e6e1e0c2/5e0b8/b9152e889cebab51ce638d155fe1621d.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2042-markdown","title":"Cannabis as a Sleep Aid for Insomnia: An Interview with Pianta Tinta","slug":"cannabis-as-a-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-an-interview-with-pianta-tinta","content":"Due its lack of psychoactivity and for its ability to effectively treat a variety of medical conditions, CBD (Cannabidiol) is the rising star among the cannabis plant’s cannabinoids. [Pianta Tinta Collective](http://www.piantacbd.com/), a new manufacturer within the cannabis marketplace, focuses on high CBD tinctures, oils and rubs ‘to enable others to live a higher quality of life.’ Their tinctures target [insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e5c6573236300006350000/medical-marijuana-could-help-insomniacs-sleep-better) and chronic pain as well as other common conditions people often face. Co-founders Elizabeth Knight and Dr. Kathy Acquistapace feel they have found their niche with a more medically oriented customer base and pride themselves on ongoing customer consultations with Dr. Acquistapace, the in-house Naturopath. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_/?hl=en) \n\nPianta Tinta is also representative of the booming artisanal marketplace within California. Smaller product manufacturers often focus on sourcing the highest quality outdoor grown cannabis for unique offerings, such as CBD tinctures, that may or may not be found in your local dispensary. Elizabeth Knight took time to speak to us about Pianta Tinta and the growth of their business over the past year.\n\n**What was the inspiration for starting Pianta Tinta?**\n\nPianta Tinta means ‘plant tincture’ in Italian. We chose that name because we focus on the cannabis plant as well as more natural modalities of healing. We founded our business based on Dr. Kathy Acquistapace’s research on CBD and the newly found applications for it as a medicine. \n\nAs a naturopath, Dr. Acquistapace was looking for more alternative natural medicines for her patient base. As she learned more and more about CBD, we became excited about the possibilities but also became aware of the lack of CBD alternatives in the market, especially within dispensaries. \n\nAs a business, we were most interested in entering the cannabis marketplace with products that were high CBD and very low THC. When you visit a dispensary as a first time medicinal marijuana patient, it is not that easy to find high CBD products. When a senior citizen enters a dispensary today they will most likely be presented with products that are very high in THC. Even a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC may be too much THC for a first time cannabis patient. Ultimately, we decided to make tinctures as this is a very easy way to ingest cannabis. \n\n**What high CBD cannabis strain do you favor for your product lines?**\n\nWe work with ACDC as our favored strain. It is a hybrid strain that is bred to have very high CBD content and very low THC content. It is not the easiest strain to grow but we think it works very well for the high CBD products that we produce. Our grower grows the ACDC strain outdoors, in organic soil; he uses grow pots without the use of pesticides/fungicides which we feel is very important. \n\nWe also test our products at [Steep Hill Halent](http://steephill.com/) and [CW Analytical labs](http://www.cwanalytical.com/). We first test the ACDC flower to know the cannabinoid ratios, the terpene profiles and to make sure it is free of any microbes, fungus or molds. After we go through making the tinctures we test again to get the final cannabinoid content, which is what we print on our labels. We strive to represent our product as accurately as possible.\n\n**Other than the ACDC flower, what other ingredients do you put within your cannabis tinctures?**\n\nOur tinctures are very straightforward. All of our labels list the ingredients, which include the ACDC flower/leaves and ethyl alcohol. We do not flavor or put any additional chemicals in our products. We pride ourselves on providing our customers with very ‘clean’ products.\n\n**Are you targeting a particular segment of the population with your product line?**\n\nThe people we want to reach represent a wide range of ages and demographics. We believe that we are able to reach these people because our products positively address a wide variety of symptoms that affect almost all age groups. We often find that senior citizens are looking for alternatives from a regime that is far too heavy with opioids, so they are open to trying cannabis as an alternative. We see that younger people are far too stressed out and can use some anxiety relief, which CBD is also good for. Our products are for anyone who is seeking to use marijuana medicinally, and to receive the benefit from CBD.\n\n**Do your products target specific medical conditions?** \n\nWe are not able to make claims as we do not have any clinical studies to back these up. However, anecdotally we have seen great success across a variety of conditions including adults with seizure disorders. For instance, we had a patient, a man in his fifties, who was having 4-6 seizures a month, and since taking our Super High CBD tincture he has had a total of 5 seizures since January. That is a huge reduction of seizures and in addition he was able to drop many of his pharmaceutical medications. \n\nWe have also seen a lot of people who have [chronic pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain), whether that be arthritis, pain from previous injuries, general inflammation, etc. This topic of pain covers a wide swath of medical conditions and can encompass so much, but we have found that many people have found relief with our Super High CBD product. We also have members of our collective with cancer who have added our Super High CBD as well as our High THC tincture and oil to their treatment regime.\n\nSince virtually all pharmaceutical products carry unwanted side effects, CBD offers the alternative of providing the positive benefits without the negative side effects.\n\n**On your website, I see that you are promoting a new high THC tincture for sleep. Is this tincture good for treating [insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e5c6573236300006350000/medical-marijuana-could-help-insomniacs-sleep-better)?**\n\nWe recently produced a high THC tincture that we feel is particularly good at relieving insomnia. As we all know, insomnia can be difficult to overcome. Not everyone has insomnia for the same reasons. For instance, one person may not be sleeping because they have pain related to inflammation. If you bring the inflammation down with a high CBD product, they may be able to get a good night’s sleep every night. In other instances, a high THC tincture will help relax a person who struggles to get to sleep and also help them to stay asleep longer. \n\nOur newest tincture contains a high percentage of THC and almost no CBD. THC tends to relax people, however everyone is different. Some people find that CBD may relax them and others may find that a combination of THC and CBD may be best for them. As we are all unique, we recommend that people try our new high THC tincture for their sleep issues and see if their sleep improves. Some people may find that it works well and others may find that adding CBD to the THC may work best for them. We suggest that a person starts with a small amount before bedtime and keep a sleep log. This way, they can find what works best for them based on their own body.\n\n**You offer members of your collective consultations with your in-house Naturopath. What should a patient expect to gain from a consultation?**\n\nDr. Acquistapace is our Naturopath. She has over 25 years of healthcare experience and her focus is on alternative and natural healing. She works with people who are wanting to reach their highest level of heath and explains to them how Pianta Tinta tinctures can be a part of their health plan.  At Pianta Tinta, she often works with people, many first timers to marijuana, to better understand cannabis and how to integrate it into their lives. She is also available to answer more general health questions as well.\n\nPeople are often overwhelmed by the amount of information they are given, especially those new to cannabis, so Dr. Acquistapace is there to help guide and consult with people along the way. Our customer base is often looking for answers and wondering how medical marijuana interacts with their body and possibly with their existing medications. [Dr. Acquistapace consults in 15-minute increments](http://www.piantacbd.com/consultations/) over the phone, over Skype and in-person. We want to be flexible based on the patients needs.\n\n**What general advice would you give to people that are new to cannabis?**\n\nRead your labels!  A lot of products are mislabeled or misrepresent the medicine. This is especially true for many of the high CBD hemp-based products that are sold over the internet. Hemp is different from cannabis and the products made from it is sourced differently as well. Make sure that the products are lab tested and make sure you know how much of the medicinal cannabinoids CBD and THC is in the products. Ratios are popular but it does not tell you specifically how much cannabinoids are actually in the product. It is important to educate yourself or consult with someone who can give quality advice before ingesting your medicine. Also read the label for any additional harmful or unnecessary ingredients such as residual solvents like, butane, naphtha, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, dyes, artificial flavoring and fragrances.\n\n**How do you people find Pianta Tinta Tinctures?**\n\nWe do not currently sell through storefront dispensaries. We have chosen to be a collective and produce and manufacture our own cannabis tinctures for our members. We are located in Vallejo and people pick up their products from us directly by [appointment only](http://www.piantacbd.com/contact/). Before seeing us you will need to obtain your medical marijuana recommendation, which you can do through [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/). To obtain our products you must first go online to the [Pianta Tinta](http://www.piantacbd.com/membership/) website and fill out our short membership form, which requires a valid medical marijuana recommendation and photo ID. You can contact us to schedule an appointment or we are also able to deliver for a small additional fee. \n\n\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/ee604/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png","srcSet":"/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/69585/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png 200w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/497c6/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png 400w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/ee604/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png 800w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/f3583/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png 1200w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/f90fa/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/58556/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/61e93/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp 200w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/1f5c5/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp 400w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/58556/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp 800w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/99238/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp 1200w,\n/static/da1f7390a43833ca5da353d0f2babe7b/5e0b8/72cc47d427e475f7a5041838f91e1d4b.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1959-markdown","title":"Cancer, Cannabis Oil, and the United Kingdom","slug":"cancer-cannabis-oil-and-the-united-kingdom","content":"There is a growing body of evidence that cannabis can help alleviate the\npain of cancer, reduce the side effects of chemotherapy, and even reduce\ncertain cancerous tumors. Despite this and other evidence that medical\nmarijuana is beneficial for a number of other diseases, the United\nKingdom continues to ban medical marijuana and criminalize the\npossession, use, and growth of cannabis.\n\nCancer in the United Kingdom\n----------------------------\n\nAs it is in many nations of the world, cancer is the leading cause of death in the United Kingdom, accounting\nfor 29 percent of all deaths in 2012. According to [Cancer Research\nUK](http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics),\nmore than 330,000 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, and about\n162,000 people die from it. The 10-year survival rate is 50 percent, and\ncancers of the breast, lung, prostate, and bowels account for more than\nhalf of yearly cancer diagnoses.\n\nTreatment traditionally consists of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation\ntherapy, or a combination of all three. Other types of treatment include\nimmunotherapy and hormone therapy. But traditional treatments don't\nalways work, and the side effects can be debilitating. Some of these\nside effects include:\n\n-   Nausea\n-   Vomiting\n-   Fatigue\n-   Loss of appetite\n-   Loss of hair\n\nIn addition, a cancer diagnosis and the accompanying treatment have been\nassociated with mental health disorders, such as [depression and\nanxiety](http://jco.ascopubs.org/content/early/2014/10/03/JCO.2014.56.0086.abstract).\n\nCannabis and Cancer\n-------------------\n\nCannabis has been used to treat many illnesses and conditions for\nthousands of years, despite the lack of scientific evidence for its use.\n[England](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000026)\nhas a rich history of medicinal cannabis use. In 1621, Robert Burton\npublished *The Anatomy of Melancholy*, in which he supported the use of\ncannabis for treating depression. Thirty years later, Nicholas Culpeper\nrecommended hemp extract for treating headache, gout, and arthritis. In\nthe 1800s, Dr. William O'Shaughnessy promoted the use of cannabis for\nmuscle spasms, menstrual cramps, rheumatism, and seizures. Queen\nVictoria herself is anecdotally reported to have used cannabis to\nrelieve menstrual cramps. Despite cannabis's extensive history, the\nscientific basis was lacking.\n\nResearch into the effects of cannabis on cancer began in earnest about\n100 years later. In 1974, researchers at the [Medical College of\nVirginia](http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/55/3/597) found that\ncannabis slowed the growth of cancerous tumors in mice.\n\nIn the past 20 years other research has found that cannabis can:\n\n-   Reduce [nausea and\n    vomiting](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165951/)\n    associated with chemotherapy\n-   Reduce pain and inflammation of\n    [chemotherapy](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a4413264380006220000/kicking-cancer-and-chemotherapy-symptoms-with-cannabis)\n-   Reduce [cancer\n    pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a4413264380006220000/kicking-cancer-and-chemotherapy-symptoms-with-cannabis)\n-   Improve\n    [appetite](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a4413264380006220000/kicking-cancer-and-chemotherapy-symptoms-with-cannabis)\n-   Shrink\n    [brain](http://www.nature.com/bjc/journal/v95/n2/abs/6603236a.html)\n    and [breast](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22776349) cancer\n    tumors\n\nEven the [National Institute on Drug\nAbuse](https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine)\nin the United States has revised its publication on marijuana by\nrecognizing the positive effects of cannabis for some cancer patients.\n\nWhere the UK Stands on Cannabis\n-------------------------------\n\nIn 1928, the use, growth, and possession of marijuana became illegal in\nthe UK under the [Dangerous Drugs\nAct](http://moj.gov.jm/sites/default/files/laws/The%20Dangerous%20Drugs%20Act.pdf).\nThis occurred despite lack of evidence that cannabis was, in fact,\ndangerous. Cannabis is currently listed as a [class B\nsubstance](https://www.gov.uk/penalties-drug-possession-dealing),\nmeaning that its possession can result in a fine and/or five years in\nprison, and its cultivation can results in a fine and/or 14 years in\nprison.\n\nIn 2010, the oromucosal spray\n[Sativex](http://www.nhs.uk/ipgmedia/national/multiple%20sclerosis%20trust/assets/sativex.pdf)\nwas licensed in the UK for treating multiple sclerosis spasticity. This\nmedication is derived from two strains of cannabis and contains both\ndelta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinoids\nthat have been associated with many of the medical effects currently\nbeing studied. The use of Sativex is restricted only to multiple\nsclerosis patients who are not responding to traditional treatments or\nwho cannot tolerate the side effects of traditional treatment, and the\ncost of Sativex in the UK remains high and out of reach for many\npatients. Despite this relaxing of the cannabis ban, the use of cannabis\nfor treating cancer still remains illegal.\n\nBud Buddies\n-----------\n\nFrom 2002 to 2005, a grassroots organization, [Bud\nBuddies](http://www.cannabiscure.info/files/bud_buddies.htm), supplied\nill patients with medical marijuana for free. This organization had\nresearched the benefits of medical marijuana from around the globe and\nfelt it was their mission to help those in need. Although they were\nforced to close in 2007, they continue their work on developing a\nhigh-quality cannabis oil, albeit in Spain, and to promote legislative\nchange in the UK through *Project Storm*. This\n[documentary](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58X5KhW80pw) features\nadvanced cancer patients in the UK who have come to rely on cannabis for\ntreatment and symptom relief.\n\nCannabis Oil in the UK\n----------------------\n\nIt is currently illegal for anyone in the UK to possess cannabis\nproducts, including cannabis oil. [Cannabis\noil](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7e6426264330006310000/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana)\nis concentrated oil extracted from the cannabis plant. Depending on the\nratio of THC to CBD, the oil can cause the high feeling of marijuana.\nWhile some continue to advocate smoking cannabis for the faster onset of\neffects, smoking is not always beneficial to those with cancer or those\nundergoing chemotherapy. Cannabis oil provides a healthier method of\ndelivery. It can be taken via an oral syringe, in a pill capsule form,\nor dropped under the tongue. For some, it can be added to food or drink.\n\nAccording to *Project Storm*, cancer patients continue to seek cannabis\nfor their illness, even with the knowledge that they could be arrested.\nSome have learned how to extract the oil themselves and grow their own\ncannabis plants. Some seek relief from black market suppliers, and some\nrely on overseas shipping from countries where medical marijuana is\nlegal.\n\n\"Reefer Madness\" seems to be alive and well in the UK. Despite the\ngrowing body of evidence that cannabis and medical marijuana can provide relief to those\nsuffering from cancer, numerous countries legalizing medical marijuana,\nand the pleas of many in the UK's medical community, the UK continues to\ntreat cannabis as a dangerous drug.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/canonsnapper/302415829/in/photolist-sHXG2-9hBNtE-qGLLPP-qMpv14-5i77ha-qMpA4R-q83hG2-q7PGW1-qMpvr4-q83fsc-dYJSqj-5ibr59-qMnFD4-AnCnk-q7PNHS-qMpykR-r2wZqm-r4Fpsg-ceuMxE-r2x2cC-qMfgyU-qMnFjr-r2uwLE-4Uuen3-r2x3Rj-qLnNnG-r2wZ4E-q7PKqE-q7PHio-qMgLf1-qMnDP2-q7PMZC-q7PEeh-r4QoYM-qMfpRL-r4KwUd-qMgK9o-q7PJwW-q7PK9s-qMgMmQ-qMgDc3-eeq4Kq-eeq4F7-r1WbKK-5kBtyt-6nXDCP-bjdiYt-5KTb1K-92Kj1t-6FUAXd)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/14b42/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.jpg","srcSet":"/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/f836f/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.jpg 200w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/2244e/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.jpg 400w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/14b42/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.jpg 800w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/47498/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/58556/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/61e93/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.webp 200w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/1f5c5/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.webp 400w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/58556/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.webp 800w,\n/static/52ccbeb0fd97c9805d6ed5b66951acb1/99238/b16f3720d4dad9a8523afa99b4cd6759.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1904-markdown","title":"Medical Marijuana Helps Treat Undesired Effects of Chemotherapy","slug":"medical-marijuana-helps-treat-undesired-effects-of-chemotherapy","content":"Too Bad Former President Carter Won't Have Easy Access to it\r\n------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAccording to the National Cancer Institute, there'll be an [estimated\r\n1,658,370 new cases of cancer in\r\n2015](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/statistics)\r\nalone. The World Health Organization even has a grimmer number: new\r\ncases of cancer will rise to about [22 million in the next two\r\ndecades](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/). Cancer\r\nhas become one of the most burdensome diseases to ever plague modern\r\nsociety.\r\n\r\nIn August 2015, former President Jimmy Carter announced that he has\r\nbecome one of the latest people to face the burden of this disease and\r\nthe subsequent horrors associated with its therapy. The [CNN\r\narticle](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/20/health/carter-melanoma-treatment/)\r\nnotes that the former president had a surgery last May to remove a\r\n\"small mass\" on his liver, only to find out after several tests that the\r\nmass turned out to be Stage IV melanoma, a type of cancer that develops\r\nin the cells that produce the skin pigment, melanin.\r\n\r\nThis news came on the heels of another [news\r\narticle](http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/31/keep-toke-alive-356032.html)\r\nthat details the benefits of medical marijuana to people who are facing\r\nthe horrors of chemotherapy. Not exactly the kind of therapy former\r\nPresident Carter opted for. However, the benefits of medical cannabis\r\nare worth emphasizing, given the range of undesirable side effects of\r\ncancer therapies, particularly chemotherapy.\r\n\r\nPerhaps one of the most popular applications of medical marijuana is its\r\nuse in reducing nausea and vomiting, a common side effect of\r\nchemotherapy. In the US, two drugs based on marijuana compounds have\r\nbeen approved for medical use. The first is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),\r\nan active cannabis chemical that takes on a capsule form in Dronabinol\r\n(Marinol®). This drug has been approved by the FDA since 1985 to treat\r\nnausea and vomiting. Interestingly, Dronabinol also stimulate appetite,\r\nhelping you improve your food intake and maintain a healthy body weight,\r\nwhich allows you to function better and tolerate the effects of therapy.\r\nSimilarly, Nabilone (Cesamet®), a synthetic cannabinoid, is also used to\r\ntreat nausea and vomiting when no other drugs work.\r\n\r\nAnother common application of medical marijuana is in its use to relieve\r\npain. The evidence that supports its beneficial effects on a wide range\r\nof pain disorders is well established. Thus, if you're feeling cancer\r\npain, medical cannabis could be a welcomed part of your treatment\r\nregimen. In fact, a [research published in\r\n2008](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095921) done by Dr. Mellar\r\nDavis, Director of Research of the Harry R. Horvitz Center for\r\nPalliative Medicine, assessed Nabilone's efficacy in treating nausea and\r\nvomiting as well as in relieving pain by reviewing available treatment\r\ntrials and other published literature on the subject. The research shows\r\nthat while the drug is not as effective in acute pain, it has benefits\r\nin alleviating neuropathic pain.\r\n\r\nFurther, a new drug, Nabiximols, a mouth spray that contains equal\r\namount of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC, has been used in many countries to\r\ntreat neuropathic pain. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are a\r\nfew of the developed countries that approved the use of this drug in the\r\ntreatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) spasticity.\r\n\r\nCancer and chemotherapy will also take its toll on your mood. Many\r\npatients report taking the downward spiral to anxiety and depression,\r\nwhich makes cannabis a good antidote because of its anti-anxiety and\r\nantidepressant properties. In a\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/) headed by\r\nMateus Bergamaschi from the University of Sao Paulo, it is found that\r\nCBD reduces the anxiety of participants subjected to a simulated public\r\nspeaking test. The clinical trial of this study involved 12 participants\r\nwith social anxiety disorder (SAD), who received 600 mg CBD; 12\r\nparticipants with SAD who received placebo; and 12 participants without\r\nSAD were used as healthy control.\r\n\r\nA team from the University of Mississippi, headed by Abir T. El-Alfy,\r\nalso conducted another [study in\r\n2010](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/), which\r\nsought to assess the antidepressant-like effect of a form of THC and\r\nother cannabinoids on mice. The study's findings reported that\r\nphytocannabinoids exhibit antidepressant-like effects in animal models.\r\n\r\nWhile numerous studies provide evidence in the efficacy of medical\r\nmarijuana in alleviating the undesired side effects of chemotherapy, the\r\nreal controversy lies in its benefit in treating cancer itself. So far,\r\nthe medical community is divided on this issue; but current studies\r\nabound to establish the cancer-fighting activity of cannabis. A [2009\r\nstudy](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php) conducted by\r\na research team at Complutense University and University of Anglea in\r\nthe UK, headed by Dr. Peter McCormick, induced human breast tumors on\r\nmice to find out if THC will inhibit the growth of the tumor. The\r\nfindings show that THC exhibited anti-cancer properties.\r\n\r\nThere's wealth of scientific data and anecdotal evidence supporting the\r\nuse of medical cannabis in treating cancer-related symptoms and common\r\nside effects of chemotherapy. Furthermore, there's an explosion of\r\nfurther scientific studies geared towards providing evidence that\r\nmedical marijuana may be the wonder drug that many cancer patients have\r\nbeen waiting for.\r\n\r\nBack in 1979, former President Jimmy Carter ruffled some feathers\r\nfollowing his controversial stance in decriminalizing medical marijuana,\r\nwhich makes it even more regrettable that he won't have easy access to\r\nit while undergoing cancer therapy. This is because while Haleigh's Hope\r\nAct, Georgia's medical cannabis law, was enacted recently, it falls\r\nshort for many patients with debilitating conditions. Granted, the law\r\nmay be a step in the right direction, but patients from Georgia,\r\nincluding the former president, will still have to go through hurdles to\r\naccess medical cannabis.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/alendrathril/4255030518/in/photolist-7u19k9-eZyu3-hn1Q1R-eZytL-kLFxF-8pgMt6-zq4yYU-5EcFEA-5hxUac-7Yp6Mc-HeRGf-5ENwNp-abrxk6-4H3wr7-tLKbN-sDhcWy-bgyqyV-66nzGu-9Nr2sh-EPxi1-kH1GK-9pBrBH-9pEtA5-82oXTD-pLgzWT-tKbd3-Gj9AL-DkFRZ-9t9B1E-5FZKcV-57NxRi-5G51dy-5ENxea-eZytu-w5781-izfEG-6qW8Qh-55fz2o-HH3dx-gAHok1-5ENwCz-eZyvh-6qRXbi-9Jzx7S-rGNdor-5EpCj9-ciNADq-9RNtHp-5ESPWN-9KisF)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAANABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMCBAX/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAHJZViPFB//xAAaEAEBAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAISEBET/9oACAEBAAEFAgW88+Nm7bZv/8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEP/aAAgBAwEBPwE//8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEP/aAAgBAgEBPwE//8QAFxAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACAhMf/aAAgBAQAGPwKGL//EABkQAQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAETFBUf/aAAgBAQABPyHJLEjczYv2jwgTdsC7P//aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQ8M//xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ/9oACAEDAQE/ED//xAAUEQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQ/9oACAECAQE/ED//xAAbEAEBAQEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhMUFxUf/aAAgBAQABPxBCfENZPivMqoInp3MGXBIGgBP7cNOvpd//2Q==","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/f836f/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/2244e/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/16310/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/61e93/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/1f5c5/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/cc834/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1945-markdown","title":"Government Cancer Study Shows Cannabis Kills Cancer Cells","slug":"government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells","content":"For patients with cancer, the only hope for treatment used to be\r\ndifficult chemotherapy and radiation. Today, though, scientists are\r\ndiscovering that there may be a new avenue: cannabis. The [National\r\nCancer Institute](http://www.cancer.gov/) (NCI) is one of the foremost\r\nauthorities on cancer research and education in the United States.\r\nRecently, the organization conducted a study into the cancer-mitigating\r\neffects of cannabis and, according to the NCI's web page titled\r\n\"[Cannabis and\r\nCannabinoids](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq# section/_3)\":\r\n\r\n\"Cannabis has been shown to kill cancer\r\n[cells](http://www.cancer.gov/Common/PopUps/popDefinition.aspx?id=46476&version=Patient&language=English)\r\nin the laboratory.\"\r\n\r\nWhile medical marijuana users have known for many years that medical\r\ncannabis can be effective at treating the negative symptoms associated\r\nwith cancer, the discovery that cannabis has actually been proven to\r\n[kill cancer\r\ncells](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/cannabis-pdq/# link/_13)\r\nis an exciting revelation for medical marijuana users and the greater medical community world-wide.\r\n\r\nHow Does Cannabis Affect Cancer Cells?\r\n--------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAccording to the NCI data, cannabis has been shown to critically damage\r\nor kill cancer cells in cases of liver cancer and additional varieties\r\nof the disease. When the effects of medical cannabis on cancer were\r\ntested in laboratory rats, the researchers found that an active\r\ncomponent of marijuana,\r\n[delta-9-THC](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=637),\r\nprovided important anti-tumor effects for varieties of lung cancer cells\r\nas well as breast cancer cells. In the breast cancer study, researchers\r\nfound that, while the medical cannabis killed the cancer cells, it did\r\nnot negatively affect healthy breast cells.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, when the effects of medical cannabis were studied on\r\nmetastatic breast cancer, the treatment was shown to lessen the number,\r\nsize and spread rate of tumors in the body.\r\n\r\nHow Can Cannabis Be Used in Concert With Traditional Medical Treatments?\r\n------------------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nSince the legalization of medical marijuana, patients have used cannabis\r\nto treat the pain, decreased appetite, and nausea associated with cancer\r\ntreatment. In addition to discovering that medical cannabis can actually\r\nkill cancer cells, the NCI study also reinforced the longstanding\r\nknowledge that marijuana can stimulate appetite, relieve pain, reduce\r\ninflammation, soothe anxiety, induce sleep and reduce nausea and\r\nvomiting in chemotherapy patients.\r\n\r\nAlthough cannabis itself is not currently approved by the FDA to treat\r\ncancer or its symptoms, there are two synthetic cannabinoids\r\n([dronabinol](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html)\r\nand\r\n[nabilone](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607048.html))\r\nthat are currently approved to treat nausea and vomiting resulting from\r\nchemotherapy.\r\n\r\nAlthough further clinical trials are needed to bring the use of cannabis\r\nfully into the cancer treatment field, all signs point to the fact that\r\ncancer patients will soon be able to access medical marijuana as a way\r\nto kill cancer cells and work toward maximum health.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/30950973@N03/4376905598)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/14b42/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg","srcSet":"/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/f836f/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg 200w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/2244e/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg 400w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/14b42/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg 800w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/47498/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg 1200w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/54ac5/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.jpg 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/58556/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/61e93/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp 200w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/1f5c5/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp 400w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/58556/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp 800w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/99238/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp 1200w,\n/static/99ba9f425c4543fb6ae621a8ca4bc258/5e0b8/b18a5462ee6228e92d8692f466c71acf.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1936-markdown","title":"Can CBD Help Slow Kidney Damage Caused by Chemotherapy?","slug":"can-cbd-help-slow-kidney-damage-caused-by-chemotherapy","content":"Any patients undergoing chemotherapy to treat cancer also face another\ndanger: kidney damage.\n\nAlthough chemotherapy is a widely used and effective form of treatment\nfor many types of cancer, it carries the distinct risk of kidney damage,\nor\n[nephrotoxicity](http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/side-effects/nephrotoxicity-renal-toxicity.aspx).\nMost chemotherapy is executed with the help of a platinum drug known as\n[Cisplatin](http://chemocare.com/chemotherapy/drug-info/cisplatin.aspx).\nAlthough Cisplatin is a powerful drug that is effective at treating\ncancers, it often causes severe kidney damage, as well as heightened\nlevels of potassium and magnesium in the blood.\n\nAlthough some kidney damage may be temporary, chemotherapy-induced\nkidney damage is often permanent and, in extreme cases, may lead to\nkidney failure and death. Fortunately, scientists have uncovered a new\ntreatment for chemotherapy-induced kidney damage: cannabidiol.\n\nWhat Is Cannabidiol?\n--------------------\n\n[Cannabidiol](http://www.projectcbd.org/) is one of the cannabis plant's\n85 active cannabinoids, accounting for at least 40% of the marijuana\nplant's extract. Considered a non-psychoactive compound, CBD is often\nused to treat [Dravet\nsyndrome](http://www.dravetfoundation.org/dravet-syndrome/what-is-dravet-syndrome),\na form of epilepsy, and other similar disorders. Additionally, the\ncompound has been used to effectively treat inflammation, pain and\nspasticity associated with [multiple\nsclerosis](http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/basics/definition/con-20026689).\n\nHow Is Cannabidiol Used?\n------------------------\n\nIn addition to its uses as a treatment for other debilitating diseases,\nscientists are beginning to formulate ways to use CBD to treat the often\ndevastating kidney damage caused by chemotherapeutic drugs. A [recent\nstudy](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074681) suggests that, when\nused in concert with chemotherapy drugs, CBD can actually have an\nantioxidant-like effect, causing the human body to produce beneficial\nenzymes and help counteract the negative effects of the chemotherapy\ndrugs. When animal test subjects were treated with cannabidiol in a\nstudy, the extract was able to help prevent kidney damage usually caused\nby Cisplatin and similar drugs, and may actually have even improved\nkidney function in the treated animals.\n\nWhat Is the Future of Cannabidiol Treatment?\n--------------------------------------------\n\nAlthough the future of CBD treatment is uncertain, as the compound is\nstill undergoing laboratory testing, it does seem promising. Doctors\ncurrently believe that using CBD prior to beginning medical or\nchemotherapeutic intervention for cancer may actually [decrease kidney\ndamage](http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/328/3/708.full) caused by\nthe chemotherapeutic drugs. Additionally, because CBD is not a toxic\ndrug itself and does not possess any physic-activity associated with\nTHC. Patients have a very low chance of reacting poorly to it, which may\nmean easier chemotherapy treatments and better outcomes for patients.\n\n[Photo credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/codnewsroom/10966961576/in/photolist-hH7xAq-e71Utc-cw2MPj-9ASSCn-dnbS4e-dnbUEq-dnbMTA-89miKd-5Yt79V-dnbShn-7gcWHd-8mh8fz-cxPL9w-85A7dQ-8KFUqp-hgbv47-hgcVg2-hgbNsq-hgcLQK-hgaSWt-hgb72L-hgaC6r-aaWeLv-dnbWk9-8YbPPA-oYWwus-nKuqNR-mHJx46-dnbLe4-hgcPvz-hgcJqK-hgbjqL-85UPdK-9kMUQq-wN47cM-edzdS8-8hFMgZ-hgb4tj-poKPPk-aaZpzq-5QRFfo-dnbNru-7g92V2-4K5ixF-9i1DnU-cUiMf1-hiKrpY-hgc6vH-duTP2y-bFXRHZ)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.550387596899225,"src":"/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/14b42/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/f836f/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg 200w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/2244e/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg 400w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/14b42/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg 800w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/47498/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg 1200w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/6093d/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.jpg 1588w","srcWebp":"/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/58556/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/61e93/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp 200w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/1f5c5/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp 400w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/58556/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp 800w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/99238/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp 1200w,\n/static/9f09a3ae2ea1594e943bdf1251e2a051/ed137/274091dba0e70e621f623a31409864a5.webp 1588w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1928-markdown","title":"Cannabinoids: Chemical Compounds with Huge Therapeutic Potential","slug":"cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential","content":"The therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant have been known for\r\nmore than [5000\r\nyears](http://www.maps.org/research-archive/mmj/grinspoon_history_cannabis_medicine.pdf).\r\nHowever, it was not until\r\n[1896](http://thecompassionchronicles.com/2013/12/30/cannabinoids-illinois-adams-and-discovering-cannabidiol/)\r\nthat three researchers -- Wood, Spivey and Easterfield -- discovered\r\nthat cannabinoids, natural compounds unique to the plant, were behind\r\nthese effects. Working with the resin of Indian hemp in a laboratory in\r\nBoston, Massachusetts, they isolated and named the first cannabinoid\r\ncompound, known as cannabinol (CBN). Their discovery was one of many\r\nthat led to a paradigm shift in research into human health and disease.\r\n\r\nOne Discovery Leads to Another\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nIn 1940, more than four decades after the discovery of CBN, Roger Adams\r\nisolated and identified another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), while\r\nworking with red oil extract made from Minnesota wild hemp at the\r\nUniversity of Illinois. After Adams's discovery, it was 24 years until\r\nthe next breakthrough in cannabinoid science.\r\n\r\nWorking at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Raphael Mechoulam identified\r\ndelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance responsible for much\r\nof the psychoactive, or mood-altering, effects of cannabis. Since the\r\ndiscovery of THC, there have been rapid advances in the isolation and\r\nidentification of cannabinoids. So far, [over\r\n85](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/) unique\r\ncannabinoids have been identified.\r\n\r\nFurther Breakthroughs in Cannabinoid Science\r\n--------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAs researchers continued to learn more about cannabinoids, it appeared\r\nincreasingly likely that the effects of cannabinoids must be mediated by\r\na family of receptors. It was not until 1988 that the first of these\r\nreceptors, [cannabinoid receptor type\r\n1](http://www.drugscience.org/Petition/C3D.html) (CB1) was revealed by\r\n[Allyn Howlett](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2848184) and William\r\nDevane of St. Louis University Medical School, Missouri.\r\n\r\nSince then, CB1 receptors have been found in large numbers in several\r\nareas of the human brain, including the basal ganglia (affecting motor\r\nactivity), neocortex (thinking), hippocampus (short-term memory),\r\ncerebellum (motor coordination), periaqueductal gray (pain perception),\r\nand hypothalamus and limbic cortex (appetite and sedation).\r\n\r\nThese receptors are also found to a lesser extent in the dorsal horn of\r\nthe spinal cord (affecting pain perception) and on immune cells. A few\r\nyears after the discovery of CB1, a [second\r\nreceptor](http://www.gwpharm.com/Research%20History.aspx), cannabinoid\r\nreceptor type 2 (CB2), was identified by researchers [Munro, Thomas and\r\nAbu-Shaar](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7689702) from the MRC\r\nLaboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. CB2\r\nreceptors are predominantly found in immune cells and tissues, with the\r\ngreatest density in the spleen. Activation of these receptors reduces\r\ninflammation, a precursor to many diseases.\r\n\r\nDiscovery of a New Molecular Signalling System\r\n----------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe discovery of cannabinoid receptors fueled speculation that the body\r\nmust produce compounds that bind to the receptors. The first such\r\ncompound, anandamide (AEA), was isolated by [Raphael\r\nMechoulam](http://www.sciencemag.org/content/258/5090/1946) and his team\r\nat Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1992.\r\n\r\nA couple of years later, a second compound, 2-arachidonoylglycerol\r\n(2-AG), was discovered and in the following decade several other\r\ncompounds capable of activating the cannabinoid receptors were\r\nidentified. These compounds, together with the receptors, make up the\r\nendocannabinoid system.\r\n\r\nManipulation of the Endocannabinoid System\r\n------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n[Research](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1361971-overview# a4)\r\nindicated that the [endocannabinoid\r\nsystem](http://norml.org/library/item/introduction-to-the-endocannabinoid-system)\r\nmediates a number of physiological functions vital for survival. More\r\nimportantly, it suggested that modulating the activity of the\r\nendocannabinoid system using cannabinoids may be the key to treating a\r\nbroad range of diseases and symptoms.\r\n\r\nCurrently, THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids of medical\r\ninterest.\r\n[THC](http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine)\r\nhas been found to increase appetite and reduce nausea, and may help\r\ndecrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. CBD may be\r\nuseful in controlling epileptic seizures, reducing pain and\r\ninflammation, and quelling mental illnesses and addictions.\r\n\r\nResearchers Hone Synthetic Cannabinoids\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nContinued research into the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids led to\r\nthe creation of synthetic cannabinoids -- chemicals created to mimic the\r\neffects of natural cannabinoids. Two THC-based medications,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html)\r\n(Marinol) and\r\n[nabilone](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607048.html)\r\n(Cesamet), showed clinical benefit and were subsequently approved by the\r\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention or treatment\r\nof chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Other cannabis-based\r\nmedications are currently in development.\r\n\r\nCombined Approach Offers Greater Hope\r\n-------------------------------------\r\n\r\nResearch has yet to reveal the exact mechanisms by which all of the\r\ncannabinoids in the cannabis family of plants exert their therapeutic\r\neffects, but evidence suggests that these compounds work better together\r\nthan alone: a discovery termed the entourage effect. Support for this\r\neffect derives from comparisons of the effect of the whole cannabis\r\nplant with that of the drug Marinol. When Marinol became available as a\r\nmedicine in the mid-1980s, researchers believed that it would have the\r\nsame effect as the entire cannabis plant. However,\r\n[patients](http://www.coloradonorml.org/information/marijuana/medical/marinol-vs-natural-plant)\r\nprescribed Marinol frequently reported greater psychoactive effects --\r\ncaused, in part, by the lack of CBD, which is believed to modulate the\r\npsychoactivity of the THC.\r\n\r\nAdvocates Call For Overhaul of Marijuana Laws\r\n---------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe ability of cannabinoids to work together to treat a variety of\r\nailments while causing minimal adverse side effects has led to calls for\r\nmedical marijuana --the use of the cannabis plant or its basic extracts\r\nfor medical purposes -- to be legalized. [Twenty-three\r\nstates](https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/state-laws-related-to-marijuana)\r\nand Washington, DC, have already passed laws allowing marijuana to be\r\nused for a variety of medical conditions. However, many people are still\r\nunable to obtain, possess or cultivate marijuana for their own medicinal\r\nuse without breaking the law.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34402227@N03/4968163345)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2345679012345678,"src":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg","srcSet":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/f836f/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/2244e/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 487w","srcWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/61e93/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/1f5c5/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 487w","sizes":"(max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1929-markdown","title":"Synthetic THC & Plant-Based Cannabis Products: Is There a Difference?","slug":"synthetic-thc-and-plant-based-cannabis-products-is-there-a-difference","content":"Cannabis research has led to the development of synthetic cannabinoids.\r\nThese lab-based alternatives to the naturally occurring cannabinoids\r\nfound in marijuana have been shown to help patients cope with pain,\r\nimprove appetite and reduce the effects of cancer treatment. But despite\r\ntheir chemical similarities, plant-based cannabinoids and synthetic\r\ncannabinoids are not the same.\r\n\r\nNatural Cannabinoids\r\n--------------------\r\n\r\nWhen research into the effects of cannabis began, scientists identified\r\nand isolated the plant's compounds to find those that may be beneficial.\r\nThey found that marijuana contains about [85 active\r\ncannabinoids](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/).\r\nTwo of these, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have\r\nbeen widely studied. They have been shown to:\r\n\r\n-   Increase appetite\r\n-   Decrease pain\r\n-   Reduce swelling and inflammation\r\n-   Control muscle spasms\r\n-   Reduce anxiety and depression\r\n\r\nSynthetic Cannabinoids\r\n----------------------\r\n\r\nAs a result of studies into the medical efficacy of cannabis, synthetic\r\nforms of these compounds were developed. The idea was to eliminate the\r\nnegative effects of the naturally occurring cannabinoids -- the high and\r\naddiction potential -- while improving the health benefits through\r\ndosage control and the removal of impurities.\r\n\r\nThe Federal Drug Administration has approved two synthetic THC\r\nmedications,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dockets/05n0479/05N-0479-emc0004-04.pdf)\r\n(Marinol®) and\r\n[nabilone](http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Nabilone# section=Top)\r\n(Cesamet®) for medical use. Dronabinol is approved for nausea and\r\nvomiting related to chemotherapy and as an appetite stimulant in AIDS\r\npatients. Nabilone is used to treat nausea and vomiting.\r\n\r\nOne is Not Like the Other\r\n-------------------------\r\n\r\nIsolating one single compound, however, eliminates any collaborative\r\neffects of the naturally occurring compounds. For example,\r\n[researchers](http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/bne/129/3/368/) have\r\nreported that the antiemetic effects of THC are enhanced, and side\r\neffects are reduced, when taken with CBD. Another\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25398831) found that the\r\ncombination of THC and CBD improved results of radiation treatment for\r\nglioma, a type of brain cancer. Similarly, Sativex, a cannabis\r\nplant-derived medication containing both THC and CBD, has been approved\r\nin Canada and other countries for treating pain and spasticity in\r\n[multiple\r\nsclerosis](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.327.9531&rep=rep1&type=pdf)\r\npatients.\r\n\r\nAnother problem with synthetic cannabinoids is delivery method. For\r\nexample, dronabinol, a gelatin capsule, is ingested. For those suffering\r\nfrom nausea or wasting, it may be difficult to keep pills down or to\r\nswallow them. Inhaled cannabinoids may offer an alternative.\r\n\r\nDelivery method also influences drug effects. With an ingested\r\ncannabinoid, onset of action is about 30 to 60 minutes after it is\r\ntaken. With inhaled medication, effects can be felt in minutes.\r\n\r\nMore research is needed into the symbiotic relationship of the naturally\r\noccurring cannabinoids and how they compare to the synthetic\r\nmedications. The most important goal is providing access to patients who\r\ncould benefit from medical marijuana because they are not getting relief\r\nfrom current medications.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/usdagov/8411815647/in/photolist-w2JakD-bXb3Ln-dPjKJg-8GSqfx-8GSosi-8GVwL9-8GVxWh-8GVAdL-8GVzMY-8GVzYj-51Addy-8GVwoA-51vYXP-51AdAG-51AcHA-51vYHr-51vZhF-51vZE8-51vYQK-8GVyN3-8GSojZ-8GVzcq-GRdZ5-8GVAyy-8GVyhN-8GVyqo-8GVxv9-8GSnRr-8GSpLe-8GSnKF-8GSoaP-8GVxmA-8GSriR-8GSqUn-8GSqJM-8GVAG7-8GSq58-8GVxMY-8GSscZ-51vYAz-51vZMk-51AcQb-51vZp2-51AdJy-8GVxFm-8GVApL-8GSpRZ-8GSpnt-8GSs4V-8GSpfr)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/14b42/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/f836f/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/2244e/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 400w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/14b42/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 800w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/47498/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 1200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/159d9/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.jpg 1427w","srcWebp":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/58556/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/61e93/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/1f5c5/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 400w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/58556/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 800w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/99238/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 1200w,\n/static/8d0ebbdd8f030ffc2223a4b3b7d40457/7b5ea/3e4ca5ceefe362210ec8a953ac333d22.webp 1427w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1888-markdown","title":"Retirees Flock to States with Medical Marijuana","slug":"retirees-flock-to-states-with-medical-marijuana","content":"In the past, choosing a state to retire in was based on several factors: how\r\nnice the weather was, how close the grandchildren were, and how many\r\ngolf courses the area offered.\r\n\r\nToday, it's pretty safe to add \"how accessible medical marijuana is\" to\r\nthat list.\r\n\r\nMore and more, retirees are [seeking out states that offer medical\r\nmarijuana](http://time.com/money/3967757/seniors-retire-marijuana-legal-states/).\r\nThis reality is largely attributed to the fact that older people with\r\nhealth conditions want access to the therapeutic benefits of medical\r\ncannabis. As a result, retirees are flocking to states like Oregon,\r\nCalifornia, Washington, Alaska, and Colorado, where the quality of life\r\nis good and the medical access to marijuana is even better.\r\n\r\nThe Striking Statistics\r\n-----------------------\r\n\r\nRetirees who head to a dispensary in one of these states are much less\r\nlikely to encounter young people than people a lot like\r\nthemselves -- retired seniors with health conditions that require\r\ntreatment by medical marijuana. Dispensaries in retiree-rich towns are\r\npacked with chemotherapy patients, severely arthritis sufferers in\r\nwheelchairs, and seniors suffering from degenerative conditions like\r\n[multiple\r\nsclerosis](http://sensiseeds.com/en/blog/top-5-benefits-cannabis-multiple-sclerosis/).\r\nMany of the conditions that medical marijuana serves to treat, like pain and\r\nloss of appetite, are issues that affect seniors, so it makes\r\nsense that medical marijuana is popular among the retired demographic.\r\n\r\nAlthough medicinal cannabis isn't the only reason seniors are\r\nflocking to these states, it's impossible to deny that it's playing a\r\nlarge part in their decisions. In fact, [ArcView Market\r\nResearch](http://www.arcviewmarketresearch.com/) reports that, in 2014,\r\nthe medical marijuana market amounted to $2.4 billion dollars, a figure\r\nthat is projected to balloon to $3.4 billion in 2015. Statistics like\r\nthis provide solid evidence that medical marijuana is a sought-after\r\nmarket. Many seniors find the availability of medicinal cannabis so\r\nimportant that they are willing to base their choice of state on whether\r\naccess is permitted.\r\n\r\nWhen you take into account that Colorado, which made the choice to\r\n[legalize medical marijuana in\r\n2000](http://sensiblecolorado.org/history-of-co-medical-marijuana-laws/),\r\nhas the highest inbound percentage of retirees in the country right now\r\nand that [seniors are the fastest-growing\r\npercentage](http://seniormedicalcannabis.com/) of medical marijuana\r\nusers, it's impossible to deny the fact that medicinal marijuana is\r\nimportant to retirees.\r\n\r\nAlthough medical marijuana continues to be a contentious topic around\r\nthe country, one thing is clear: states that have made medical marijuana\r\nlegal are enjoying an increase in economy and population thanks to the\r\ninflux of retirees who appreciate their stance on therapeutic cannabis.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/31846825@N04/9285126206)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2987012987012987,"src":"/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/4fe8c/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.jpg","srcSet":"/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/f836f/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.jpg 200w,\n/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/2244e/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.jpg 400w,\n/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/4fe8c/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.jpg 600w","srcWebp":"/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/ad85c/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/61e93/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.webp 200w,\n/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/1f5c5/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.webp 400w,\n/static/752b1e26abc7d7c61c7e8236566fd64e/ad85c/7e9c8d16b78376f95375e907ad728c4e.webp 600w","sizes":"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":24,"numPages":4,"currentPage":3,"id":5042,"name":"Cancer","slug":"cancer","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}