{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/pain/7","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2055-markdown","title":"Is Your Endocannabinoid System in Balance?","slug":"is-your-endocannabinoid-system-in-balance","content":"You balance your work with your family life, fatty foods with healthy ones, stress with\r\nhappiness. But what about your endocannabinoid system? The\r\nendocannabinoid system is a pivotal body system that impacts a multitude\r\nof other health factors and, when it's improperly balanced, it can have\r\na negative impact on your overall health. Here's what you need to know:\r\n\r\n**What Is the Endocannabinoid System?**\r\n\r\nThe endocannabinoid system (ECS) consists of a selection of highly\r\nspecialized lipids and receptors within the brain. The system acts on\r\nthe nervous system to produce things like hunger, pain, responses to\r\nstress, memory building, inflammation and muscle control. The ECS also\r\nhas a direct impact on things like sleep, muscle control, energy and\r\nmood.\r\n\r\n**Cannabinoid Receptors 101**\r\n\r\nThe ECS relies on a series of cannabinoid receptors to support its\r\nfunction. These receptors are actually cell membrane receptors that are\r\nshaped like an \"S.\" Each receptor has seven parts that are designed to\r\npermeate cell membranes, where they couple with G-proteins.\r\n\r\nThis coupling is what produces a sensation response within the human\r\nbrain. The compounds that couple with cannabinoid receptors are known as\r\n\"lipophilic,\" or \"fat-loving.\" These compounds include such naturally\r\nsynthesized compounds as endocannabinoids, phytocannabinoids (these are\r\nplant-derived compounds such as Cannabidiol, which comes from cannabis)\r\nand synthetic cannabinoids.\r\n\r\nCannabinoid receptors are broken into two separate groups: CB1 and CB2.\r\nThese groups are quite distinctly different, although they do share some\r\nsimilar traits. CB1 receptors, for example, are located predominantly in\r\nthe brain, kidneys, liver, lungs, body fat, muscle tissue, bones and\r\nheart. These receptors are responsible for processing the psychoactive\r\ntraits of THC. CB2 receptors, on the other hand, are located primarily\r\nin the immune system and bloodstream, and in lesser amounts in the gut,\r\nmuscle, bone, nervous system and liver. These receptors provide pain\r\nrelief.\r\n\r\n**Endocannabinoid Receptors and the Balance of the ECS**\r\n\r\nWhen we talk about the balance of the ECS, we're talking about the\r\npresence and activity of CB1 versus CB2 within the body. In this case,\r\nhowever, \"balance\" doesn't mean a 50/50 split between CB1 and CB2.\r\nInstead, optimal health can be achieved when people have slightly higher\r\nlevels of CB2 than they do CB1. This is because [research has\r\nshown](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3267552/) that people\r\nwith high levels of CB1 suffer from conditions associated with stress\r\nand anxiety, such as paranoia, appetite loss, nausea and vomiting, pain\r\nand improper immune function.\r\n\r\nA high level of CB2, on the other hand, is associated with positive\r\neffects, such as decreased inflammation, rapid tissue reconstruction and\r\nhealing, higher metabolic function, healthier levels of insulin, and\r\nhealthy energy levels.\r\n\r\nIn light of this, researchers have been working to produce effective CB1\r\nblockers that can decrease the negative impacts of excess CB1 while\r\nhighlighting the positive aspects of CB2, such as increased metabolic\r\nfunction. These products aim to improve the symptoms associated with\r\nconditions like metabolic syndrome (such as elevated blood pressure and\r\nblood sugar, high levels of body fat, and high cholesterol levels),\r\nwhich is known to increase the likelihood of stroke, diabetes and\r\nvarious forms of heart disease.\r\n\r\nWhile more research is needed on the topic of CB1 blockers, preliminary\r\ndata has already shown that lowering CB1 levels in the body can help to\r\nreduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar, and aid\r\nin abdominal fat loss, which results in a decreased risk for conditions\r\nlike type II diabetes and heart disease.\r\n\r\n**Balancing the ECS**\r\n\r\nBefore you write it off completely, it's important to remember that CB1\r\ndoes serve an important purpose. Recent research has suggested that\r\nmaintaining the correct levels of CB1 within the body protects against\r\ndepressive symptoms and helps [lower stress in\r\nrodents](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3808114/). This\r\nproves the importance of maintaining balance in the ECS.\r\n\r\nOne of the most astounding functions of the ECS is that it helps control\r\nand enhance the function of the integumentary system, which includes\r\nhair and human skin cells. When the ECS is balanced, negative skin cell\r\ngrowth and various forms of inflammation immediately decline. Because of\r\nthis, targeted manipulation of ECS balance has been posed as a treatment\r\noption for people suffering from painful or dangerous skin conditions\r\nsuch as acne, dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema and systemic sclerosis.\r\n\r\nIn addition to exploring CB1 blockers to help maintain a balance between\r\nCB1 and CB2 within the human brain, scientists are also studying the\r\nimpact of diet. Currently, there is evidence that [ample intake of\r\nomega-3s and\r\nomega-6s](http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v40/n1/full/ijo2015135a.html)\r\ncan support the proper function of cannabinoid receptors within the\r\nbrain.\r\n\r\n**Perfect Balance Leads to Enhanced Function**\r\n\r\nBalancing the ECS is a delicate process but, when done correctly, it can\r\nhave a marked positive effect on lives. People with excessively high CB1\r\nlevels often struggle with things like inflammation, increased risk of\r\nheart disease, obesity and diabetes. If CB1 is inhibited too much,\r\nhowever, it leads to conditions like infertility, depression and\r\ndecreased immune function. At the same time, when CB2 levels are too\r\nhigh, decreased immune function and impaired tissue healing are the\r\nresults.\r\n\r\nIn light of these findings, it's clear that, to obtain optimal health,\r\npeople must focus more strongly on building and maintaining the proper\r\nbalance between CB1 and CB2 through the responsible use of CB1 blockers\r\nand proper diet.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ionelpop/3497683677/in/photolist-6k5xuZ-aCxyQp-5s4UHq-6mALK4-6LSHuE-6NhXom-6A2H4j-7rSMrd-gqWG4G-cKkK7J-r27bTR-e7Ccs-5EXdWc-iLSRKW-6t3oND-NaD7c-9VF398-4i23w4-7qLrMY-99JBcD-4RuyQh-4Cn1S6-9AWcjM-jj8Tr-4b6B4P-6hTeA5-7GzQ2Q-4FBdtH-8es7qz-ggmxG-7ffDWk-969QLS-aTwPdT-6uAL8c-dRn1y-35tLLb-4kNKhg-9Mo2MP-exre5x-5BSWy3-966AkK-4P99b4-6JaZCt-5bF8ZX-8JA2Ux-5cY2fx-yVcAM-cSrFwG-cf4ZGG-9C5REj)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5267175572519085,"src":"/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/ee604/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png","srcSet":"/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/69585/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png 200w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/497c6/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png 400w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/ee604/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png 800w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/f3583/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png 1200w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/df997/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.png 1204w","srcWebp":"/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/58556/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/61e93/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp 200w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/1f5c5/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp 400w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/58556/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp 800w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/99238/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp 1200w,\n/static/e4bc33e90fbf073c98a68bf53b1a8b87/91ab5/791a9068fcdcdc7636ab94fbe31e8b00.webp 1204w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2053-markdown","title":"Download our Medical Marijuana Patient Study","slug":"download-our-medical-marijuana-patient-study","content":"For us at HelloMD, the medical cannabis industry is an exciting and fascinating business to be in. Every day we leave the office knowing that we are improving people's lives and helping further the cause for mainstream acceptance of this amazing plant.  In the short time since we’ve been providing our service (one year) we’ve witnessed a positive shift in how the broader population perceive the legal cannabis market. The collective contribution of the industry has performed a remarkable feat in changing attitudes and in moving us from back-alley to the main street.\r\n\r\nWe have come far. Yet, for anyone entering the industry, indeed for anyone in it, it can still be difficult finding information to help plan and grow a business. Very little is published indicating patient preferences, methods of use, reasons for use, etc. Most in the industry are planning products and services based upon small sample sets of anecdotal data and intuition. Not that there is anything wrong with that. After all, we did that. But if that’s all you’ve got, then it’s really difficult to identify trends and to plan ahead. \r\n\r\nThat is why, in January of this year, we conducted a detailed study of patients that use medical marijuana. \r\n\r\n[Download the medical marijuana patient study here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).\r\n\r\nWe believe it to be the most comprehensive study to date and we are very pleased to share it with the community at large. Our methodology included surveying our membership of 17,000 patients (all of whom have been evaluated by our own doctors), correlating with other data sets (public and private), analyzing, and then using the results to form key findings. Thanks to our friends at [FireFly](http://www.thefirefly.com) (of whom generously donated 5 of their beautiful vaporizers as an incentive to participants) we had an exceptional response of over 1,400 patients. Anonymously, every one of them answered an extensive questionnaire that detailed their own experience and details regarding conditions leading to use, modes of use, efficacy, and much more.\r\n\r\nAll this data led to key findings and learning's that helped us understand:  \r\n\r\n - The demographic of patients using medical marijuana today, and how it has been changing overtime\r\n - Conditions being treating with medical cannabis\r\n - How effective cannabis is as a treatment modality\r\n - How patients feel about using cannabis as an alternative, or as a compliment, to other more-traditional prescribed pharmaceuticals\r\n - How, or if, patients talk about their use of cannabis among family, friends and colleagues.\r\n - Where medical cannabis purchases are made\r\n - Where patients obtain education and knowledge of medical cannabis\r\n\r\nPerhaps the most surprising finding; an emerging demographic that, indisputably, is eclipsing the recreational demographic. This has all sorts of implications – politically and otherwise.\r\n\r\nWe have compiled all findings into a report that can be [downloaded as a PDF here](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/hellomd-news/HelloMD_Medical_Marijuana_Patient_Survey.pdf).","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/f836f/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/2244e/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/14b42/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/47498/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/61e93/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 200w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/1f5c5/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 400w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/58556/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 800w,\n/static/e8673bbdb39b8593fd7a7da80b6c7825/99238/38cff30a6e1ef5b926d055a399eae91d.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1969-markdown","title":"What it Takes to Get a NY Medical Marijuana Card","slug":"what-it-takes-to-get-a-ny-medical-marijuana-card","content":"A full 18 months after legalizing medical cannabis, the state of NY finally allows medical marijuana dispensaries to open their doors.  beginning January 7. Patients rejoice. Let the shopping begin! \n\nNot so fast. \n\n**Here’s what you need to know.**\n\nThe dispensaries licensed for business are few and far between. As of mid-January, 2016, there are only 8.  Eight.  Depending on where you are, in the empire state of 55,000 square miles, prepare for a long drive. More are planned for 2016, twelve more, but don’t expect one to appear at the end of the block.\n\nBecoming an actual patient will be difficult.  Unlike other states, severe migraines will not qualify you, neither severe menstrual cramping, nor anxiety, nor clinical depression, nor many other conditions that medical cannabis is known to alleviate.  Instead, you’ll need to be more at the terminally-ill or incurable-disease end of the spectrum. So far, less-than 300 patients have been approved for medical cannabis in New York (as of January 21 2016). If you plan on making the approved list, don’t bother showing up without having Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s, ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), Epilepsy, Intractable Bowel Syndrome, or Multiple Sclerosis.\n\nRELATED: [NY EXPANDS CONDITION LIST FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA CERTIFICATION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5942b0478f2aa0000c61bc9c/new-york-expands-condition-list-for-medical-marijuana-certifications) \n\nAnd, if you're in the unfortunate position of having one of such conditions you’ll need to be seen, and specially approved, by a qualified state physician. This is not your family doctor – only 265 physicians have so far been given the credential to evaluate. Once seen, and given the certification by a physician, you are then able to register for a card. Yes. That’s right. You’ve come this far and you still have to register with the state before being cleared and given a card.\n\nOh, and just to be absolutely sure you’re not going to abuse your medical cannabis privilege, you’ll not be able to smoke it. New York requires that all medical cannabis product be a drinkable solution, an oil suitable for vaporizing, a tincture, or in capsule form.\n\nRELATED: [NY ALLOWS MORE METHODS OF MARIJUANA CONSUMPTION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/59b3235db8b3ec393021a42a/new-york-allows-more-methods-of-marijuana-consumption)\n\nIf all this seems overly restrictive and harsh, then you’d be right.  It is. It’s symptomatic of the fear, uncertainty and doubt that conservative lawmakers still abide. \n\nIt’s all a bit of shame really. It’s a shame because New York could set a precedent for other states that are wavering on their decision-making.  It’s a surprise because, for so many other reasons, we consider New York to be progressive.\n\nI expect, as time goes by, these harsh restrictions and unreasonable qualifications will relax and be modified. Until then, if you’re a New Yorker, keep your eye on this space and whenever you have the opportunity to share voice on the matter – speak. And whenever you have the opportunity to influence proposition – vote.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/14b42/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.jpg","srcSet":"/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/f836f/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.jpg 200w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/2244e/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.jpg 400w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/14b42/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.jpg 800w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/47498/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/58556/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/61e93/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.webp 200w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/1f5c5/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.webp 400w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/58556/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.webp 800w,\n/static/74bb7e483224b4c4d55fbf67433084b2/99238/e871404fa5eeb46e0c986950b6e1a712.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2010-markdown","title":"Why Marijuana Infused Soda Might Be Your Next Drink","slug":"why-marijuana-infused-soda-might-be-your-next-drink","content":"I have memories of running around on a hot summer day at our community pool and grabbing an ice cold Fresca, then running onto the slip-and-slide (aka ‘The Wet Banana’). I remember that type of childhood experience and that soda flavor so very well. The flavor somehow got embedded in my feel-good subconscious, similar to how the smell of autumn leaves might signal football games or burning wood makes me think of get-together bonfires on a beach in Martha’s Vineyard. So, perhaps if the notion of summer time (during our cold wet winter) combined with a bit of nostalgia sounds like a recipe for a good time, then [Sprig](http://www.drinksprig.com/) may have a place in your heart and next social gathering.\r\n\r\nSprig is a new THC infused beverage, which also happens to taste like a Fresca. In the words of founder Michael Lewis ‘A Sprig should make you want to smile more, that’s the whole point.’ Launched this past August, it has quickly become the rising star in the edibles drink market winning [Edibles List magazine Best Soda of 2015](http://ediblesmagazine.com/edibles/the-2015-best-of-edibles-list-awards-winners/). The magazine has a national scope, so Sprig was competing against some solid contenders, including [Dixie Elixirs](http://dixieelixirs.com/) flagship products.\r\n\r\nWhat becomes clear when you speak to the guys who started Sprig, is that they have authentic and inspiring aspirations for their brand. In their mind, a Sprig should be consumed in a social gathering creating a good-times-atmosphere and ideally, some shared memories. Their goal is not to get people smashed and their initial product launched at an intentionally low dose, a 15mg per serving can. They’d like to enhance a good vibe mentality and promote smart-use with what is essentially a recreational product. Think of the movie [Endless Summer](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060371/), and imagine those guys after catching the most perfect wave, sitting down and drinking a Sprig together. \r\n\r\nMichael Lewis, Co Founder of Sprig, sat down to chat with me last week and here is what he had to say about Sprig:\r\n\r\n**How did you come up with the idea to create Sprig?**\r\n\r\nThe general concept of Sprig started just a little over a year ago and we officially launched in August of 2015.  I met my co founder Ethan Feffer and Michael Lewis while working at [WeedMaps](https://weedmaps.com/) in Irvine, CA. Ethan was General Counsel there at the time, while I was managing Business Development and we became friendly. For both of us it was our first exposure to the cannabis industry and where we really gained an understanding of the California cannabis marketplace. Prior to Weedmaps, Ethan had been a corporate transactional attorney and I worked within finance for private investment funds. While still at Weedmaps, it became evident to us that there were very few well-done brands within the industry. It was at this time that we began to think about how we could possibly create a new product together and the idea of Sprig was hatched.\r\n\r\n**When you started creating Sprig, how did you think about it in relation to the edible marketplace?**\r\n\r\nEdibles, particularly those that you eat like a chocolate, are most often overpowering and the dosage can be unreliable. When creating our product we wanted to avoid creating anything that might have the [‘Maureen Dowd’ effect]( http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/04/opinion/dowd-dont-harsh-our-mellow-dude.html?_r=1). We wanted to create an elevated brand as well as a reliable product from the chemistry side, which would be incredibly consistent and reliable. Our intention was to create a product that contained the level of quality of a product you might purchase at a grocery store. Beverages are interesting in that it is much easier to know what you are getting in terms of reliability. The uniformity of the mixing ensures that the dosage is more consistent. We like that people can feel confident in what they are ingesting.\r\n\r\n**So, it sounds as if you knew early on you wanted to create a beverage within the edibles space?**\r\n\r\nYes, we wanted to create a beverage, as it is already something that people feel comfortable with socially. I feel more social drinking with people than I do when I am splitting a brownie. We want the experience people have with a Sprig to feel light hearted. Ultimately, the idea is that people would want to sit down and be comfortable in a group setting with a Sprig.\r\n\r\n**How did you come up with the name Sprig?**\r\nSprig the name is a subtle nod to an herb, whether that be rosemary, thyme or a plant like cannabis. The brand aspiration was to create something that is approachable that did not say ‘stoner’ or contain any puns relating to marijuana. We want both a new consumer as well as an experienced one to feel comfortable approaching our product. \r\n\r\n**It is interesting that Sprig launched with a 15mg dosage. This is considered a much lower dosed product than the industry norm. What was the thought behind releasing a 15 mg product?**\r\n\r\nInitially, we wanted to launch Sprig with a much lower dosage so that newer consumers within the market could start out smaller and feel OK with a can in their hands. Our first product contained only 15mg of THC and can be casually sipped over a period of time. Overall, our 15mg dose should never get anyone too high or overpower his or her day. \r\n\r\nWe worked with a group of chemists and PHDs out of USC to formulate the beverage and everyone was on the same page, the idea being we would start with a low dosage and work our way up to a higher dosage later. This is exactly what we have done with success. After being on the market for a little while, we saw there was a market demand for a higher dosage, so we have now released our 45mg dosage drinks. In California, our market let us know that they wanted a higher dosage and so we worked to deliver this. In relation to other products, our higher dosage product is still on the lower side of what you often see in a dispensary. We like that our high dose product is considered relatively low dose compared to other products.\r\n\r\n**How does consuming a can of Sprig make people feel?**\r\n\r\nIf I drink a 45mg can of Sprig, I will feel the effects of it for about 3 hours. If I drink a 15mg Sprig, I may feel a little relaxed or giggly. A slight upper effect is felt with the lower dosage, but you should not get a feeling of being overpowered. Everyone is different as we know, but in general, the market feedback we have received has mimicked my experience with the drink. Our goal was to create a social drink where people could continue to be social after drinking it and not feel the need to go away from the group.\r\n\r\nWhen a person drinks a Sprig, they will feel the effects more quickly than if you eat an edible, such as a brownie. Due to the fact it is a liquid, you will feel the effects in about 30 minutes and will not last for more than 3 hours. An edible you eat may take up to an hour or more to feel and can effect you for as long as 6 or 8 hours.\r\n\r\n**What is the process you go through to create a can of Sprig soda?**\r\n\r\nWe use a raw CO2 based extract, which is a very clean extract with no nasty solvents. Once we have created the CO2 extract, it is distilled in a similar way to liquor. The distillation process takes out some of the remaining impurities, and so you end up with very pure THC oil. There is no meaningful CBD presence within the extract and it almost looks like a honey-type substance. It is very viscous, amber colored oil. Once we get the refined CO2 oil, it is put into a soda and from there we combine it with organic cane sugar. It is your basic beverage but it has THC. \r\n\r\nThe flavoring is similar to a Fresca, and people seem to love this. When we were trying to create the soda from scratch, we steered the chemists towards the things we wanted to be somewhat like, which was a cross between a Fresca, an Orangina and a Japanese sodas, which often are less sweet than typical American sodas. After some back and forth, Sprig is what we came up with.\r\n\r\n**What would you like people to know about Sprig?**\r\n\r\nOur goal has been to release a very simple product. It is a THC infused soda that is meant to be socially positive. We don’t aim to get folks crazy high and we want people to have a good time and feel good while drinking the soda and afterwards. We wanted to develop a safe way for people to take cannabis. It is meant to be psychoactive and fun.\r\n\r\nWe believe our product has a wide appeal to people of different ages and backgrounds. It could be a poolside or beachside drink and if I think of a setting where it is consumed I think of happy, casual social get-togethers. This is not a product that is meant for hard partying, like say, Red Bull vodka. We think of a group of people enjoying each other’s company and smiling more. We want our brand and our product to look and feel uplifting and positive. \r\n\r\n**Where can people find Sprig today?**\r\n\r\nWe are currently in 110 dispensaries from San Diego up to Sonoma/Santa Rosa area. Initially, it was not easy to get into dispensaries. I would knock on doors and hustle it into various shops, it was good experience, but it was hard. Now, we add about 2 to 3 accounts a week and now people are calling us to find our product and some distributors are helping us with this. We would like to be in 200-350 dispensaries by the end of 2016. \r\n\r\nCurrently, we are focused on California, which is the nation’s biggest cannabis market. That said, Sprig's ambitions are national as well as international. We will want to ensure that we have quality control wherever we distribute so someone drinking a Sprig in Illinois or Washington will have the same experience as someone in Los Angeles. That's our end goal with wherever we take our product.\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","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/ee604/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png","srcSet":"/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/69585/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png 200w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/497c6/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png 400w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/ee604/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png 800w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/f3583/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png 1200w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/f90fa/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/58556/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/61e93/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp 200w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/1f5c5/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp 400w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/58556/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp 800w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/99238/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp 1200w,\n/static/3d55f2472ec0da60edca2ed724c0553c/5e0b8/3aa2637a7077c1375b7a65f2bb468a8a.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1972-markdown","title":"Martin Luther King, Jr.: The Ultimate Emblem of Change","slug":"martin-luther-king-jr-the-ultimate-emblem-of-change","content":"\r\n[Martin Luther King Day](http://www.thekingcenter.org/king-holiday) is an American federal holiday, which celebrates the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King. This holiday commemorates a remarkable man who stood for non-violent protest of racial discrimination and who was also the figurehead of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States during the 1960’s. Dr. King for many is the singular voice which represents a tumultuous time of change and transition in our history. Only a few decades ago it was against federal law for children of a different color to play together, adults of a different color could not eat together publicly and as many of us know through the bravery of Rosa Parks, people of color were only able to ride in segregated buses. Dr. King, in his assertive yet peaceful manner, helped to change the direction of our nation and set a new tone which stood for equality, dignity and freedom.\r\n\r\nFor as long as I can remember, MLK Day has been a nationally observed holiday and a day meant for service to others. It’s interesting to note however, that MLK  as a federal holiday was only signed into legislation by President Reagan in 1983. It took 3 more years for the holiday to be officially observed. During this time, conservative politicians such as Jesse Helms vehemently opposed the holiday calling Dr. King a communist and a Marxist. It was not until 1991 that all states finally adopted the day as a federal holiday at which time it became officially known as ‘Martin Luther King Day’ within all 50 states.\r\n\r\nToday, not many people doubt the immeasurable contribution Dr. King made to our nation and to humankind in general. Many compare his efforts to those of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and to other historical greats such as Gandhi. What Dr. King understood is the merit and moral imperative of his own vision and ultimately the difference between right and wrong. He took the momentum created by the events of the day and propelled himself and the entire country into a movement that would change history and directly impact the lives of the millions of people surrounding him. He understood that change is inevitable, but that he must work to influence that change. He understood that you must stand for your beliefs and not be afraid to voice them and that when you stand with others you gain power. Although he had to drag much of the country along with him, at the end of the day he was on the right side of history.   Change never comes easily, but we all must stand for what we believe in. Dr. King stands today as a source of inspiration to all, proving that no dream is too big.\r\n\r\n“I Have a Dream” is Dr. King’s most famous speech, which impacted the world in 1963, without the help of social media. Here is what is widely considered the most inspiring excerpt from that speech:\r\n\r\n>“I have a dream that one day in the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” He dreamed of a day when all of God’s children would be able to join hands and to sing the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last, free at last. Thank God Almighty, we are free at last.”\r\n\r\nWe wish you the best on Martin Luther King Day.\r\n\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/lifes__too_short__to__drink__cheap__wine/16320894515/in/photolist-qSdRk2-9aeK91-beaFvv-5Abt5L-dehv96-dS2tZF-98bqNX-8wdits-hQFD-5Ttn36-9aH9AT-2yp1Y6-qQi8GA-5TGtFZ-dQjVzw-qSdRcM-jrZrfe-6QrCqP-4mQKbd-4UDZYE-ahKWSm-83mdPY-dehuuY-5bwN4Z-cDbzYG-662jzm-bsuXP1-9aYrDC-qzEsvQ-7gzbUw-qS9oTE-agf8MD-gtkKuZ-aghTQs-qzDBoE-7u8BEh-jnTv5A-FMkxs-9cSqe9-fqUQGp-cvSFyf-fuvudc-98anXB-ejTzd-cvSy1f-cvSBes-p6hiZ9-7wv3a5-q7aTGS-eJh91X)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/ee604/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png","srcSet":"/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/69585/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png 200w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/497c6/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png 400w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/ee604/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png 800w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/f3583/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png 1200w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/f90fa/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/58556/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/61e93/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp 200w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/1f5c5/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp 400w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/58556/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp 800w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/99238/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp 1200w,\n/static/5142a47518a1471cd3ce64bd489fa2d6/5e0b8/51db01d298b349dc7c56ac2b03efc128.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"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_2054-markdown","title":"3 New California Regulations Aim to Protect Cannabis Consumers ","slug":"3-new-california-regulations-aim-to-protect-cannabis-consumers","content":"This past October, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law three unique bills making up the new [California Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act (MMRSA)](http://www.safeaccessnow.org/the_medical_marijuana_regulation_and_safety_act). This is great news as it means new, robust regulations will be put into place to protect the California cannabis consumer. Going forward growers, distributors and product manufacturers will no longer be able to operate within gray areas of legality. The MMRSA will affect almost everyone involved in the state’s cannabis industry, forcing industry players to operate within the boundaries of new state laws and robust regulatory compliance. \r\n\r\nThe three bills focus on different aspects of the industry, but seek to create a framework for regulating everything from dispensary licensing, taxation on products to consumer safety. In regards to consumer protection, three topics are of particular interest which include accurate labeling, appropriate childproof packaging and comprehensive lab testing on products. The bills have gone so far as to detail areas such as licensing and growing, but have yet to define the specific rules and systems for labeling, packaging and lab testing. What we do know is that they will be addressed and ultimately if done well, the consumer will be much safer for it.\r\n\r\n[Dixie](http://dixieelixirs.com) has become one of the largest, most well known product manufacturers within the cannabis industry. Since its inception in 2010, it has placed emphasis on being a trusted source for both innovative and safe products, advocating on behalf of consumer safety. Starting in Colorado, a state with much stricter regulatory compliance rules, Dixie’s products already go to market with detailed labeling which includes accurate dosage information, child resistant packaging and extensive lab testing. Lindsay Topping, Dixie’s Marketing Director, took time out of her busy schedule to give Dixie’s view on the new California regulations and how they may benefit cannabis consumers. \r\n\r\n**During the past year, Dixie began servicing patients within California in addition to its production in Colorado and many other legal states. What are Dixie’s views on California’s new consumer protection regulations put forward this past October by Governor Jerry Brown?** \r\n\r\nCalifornia is a well-established market, which has been around for 20 plus years. At Dixie, we believe that a stricter regulatory environment will result in better consumer empowerment. The new California regulations, which are expected to come into effect in 2016 and beyond, will hopefully help consumers know exactly what is within a product, allow consumers to be more exact with dosages, provide child resistant packaging and demand comprehensive laboratory testing. All of these changes will work to ensure a higher quality, safer product at the end of the day.\r\n\r\nAs most people know the laws from state to state differ in regards to cannabis. From the beginning of legalization, Colorado’s regulatory oversight has focused on making sure consumers know what is in a product, and that that information is verified and that the packaging is safe.  All of this is meant to protect the consumer and to ensure that the product is safe for consumption. This is very important to us at Dixie as we always want to ensure the consumer is safe with any one of our products. Consumers should be able to trust all products that are currently on the market.\r\n\r\n\r\n**1. Accurate Dosage Information**\r\n\r\n**Why is accurate labeling and dosage information important for consumers?**\r\n\r\nDixie has worked hard within the state of Colorado to provide accurate dosage information to all consumers. Knowing correct dosages per product is currently very difficult for consumers in California’s marketplace. Dosages are very different from product to product and this makes it difficult for a patient to find what is right for them. In addition, a product manufacturer can say what a dose is, but if this is not checked by a lab, then this can really be arbitrary as no one is verifying it is correct. \r\n\r\nIn general, edibles are a good example of why current dosage information is misleading. A patient might find an edible that works for them and their specific condition. It may take a period of time to find what the right dosage is through trial and error. If they happen to switch to a different edible, it unfortunately ends up not being apples to apples or comparable at all with the previous dosage. The patient needs to go through another period of trial and error to find the correct dosage. Streamlining the labeling of products will allow patients to know exact milligrams and other important information. At that point, they can work with their doctors and care givers more reliably. \r\n\r\nOne of the hot topics we hear doctors and caregivers discussing is micro dosing. Micro dosing is about starting with the minimum amount of a product and working up to the dosage that is right for the individual, for their particular needs. It is hard to reliably micro dose a patient without having a good baseline of what is within the product. Appropriate regulatory changes will help to get patients more accurate information.\r\n\r\nWhen it comes to product information and education, the cannabis industry often operates within a gray area. Patients today are not able to ask questions of their bud tenders, caregivers and doctors and be assured that they are getting the best, most accurate information. As a result, this does not always make consumers comfortable with cannabis.  We at Dixie would like to see this change so that every patient, in every legal state has the best information possible.\r\n\r\n\r\n**2. Child Resistant Packaging**\r\n\r\n**What is Dixie’s stance on child and pet resistant packaging & how do you feel this type of packaging will protect consumers?**\r\n\r\nAt Dixie we feel very passionate about child and pet resistant packaging.  Unfortunately, children and pets do get into cannabis products, not because people want this to happen, but because the products are not resistant to their efforts. An edible, such as a chocolate, may lie around the house and eventually a child or pet may find their way to it. We believe that child and pet resistant packaging is not only safer, but will help people feel better about having these products in their house. \r\n\r\nThis type of regulation will help everyone and decrease the possibility of an accident occurring. Currently, California legislation has written broad regulation covering this, and over the next year we will see how the more detailed nuances plays out and what will go into effect. When it comes to cannabis, child resistant packaging is the trend across the country.  We believe California tends to have very strict consumer advocacy regulations in other areas, and as a result will lean this way in regards to packaging. Dixie has always taken child resistant packaging very seriously, incorporating it into our products from the get-go. We hope regulatory changes will force other manufacturers to address this issue comprehensively as well. \r\n\r\n\r\n**3. Lab Testing**\r\n\r\n**Why is lab testing of products so important in regards to consumer safety?**\r\n\r\nIn Colorado, Dixie already tests for mold, mildew, microbials, residual solvents, and pesticides within all of our products. We hope as regulations take effect in California in 2016, that patients will start to feel more secure about the products they are ingesting. A patient should not have to worry about what is in their product and whether it is safe. Today they do need to think about this, or at least they should be thinking about it. Clearly, many products on the market are not safe enough for consumption. For instance, there is no other industry where pesticides are used and end up in the final product, which is ingested, where it is not disclosed to the consumer. \r\n\r\nIn California, Dixie tests for toxic elements with [SC Labs](http://sclabs.com/), our chosen laboratory. Lab testing is critical for knowing what is in your end product. It is not only important to know the potency and dosage of your product, but to know that the plant material that went into product is safe and there are no residual pesticides or residual solvents such as butane and propane. Patients should never ingest residual solvents as this is obviously dangerous to your health. The patient should be able to trust that the product is safe and that regulatory oversight is doing its job. Ultimately, the patient should feel they are protected.\r\n\r\n\r\n**Dixie already incorporates many of the elements that will be asked of product manufacturers within the new California regulations. What else does Dixie think will be needed for regulatory control to be successful in California?**\r\n\r\nYes, for sure Dixie is ahead of the game in California in that we have already focused on more accurate dosage information, child resistant packaging, and stringent lab testing. We believe that California regulations will require all of this, as it is not only common sense, but also what is best for the cannabis consumer. California is now in the tricky place of figuring out their regulatory oversight without over-regulating the industry. \r\n\r\nEducation is also a big part of this. Patients need to understand what is changing and why it is changing. In a market like California, you have so many people that have been using cannabis regularly and successfully for medical conditions for a long time. The last thing regulators want to do is make it hard for people to get their medicine and send the last twenty years of progress backwards. This is a very tricky line to walk and so far government has been working well with the industry to figure out the path to success. Regulatory oversight, when done well, is our friend. It will allow for better products to get to more people, ensuring everyone’s safety. \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","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/ee604/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png","srcSet":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/69585/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/497c6/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 400w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/ee604/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 800w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/f3583/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 1200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/f90fa/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/58556/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/61e93/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/1f5c5/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 400w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/58556/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 800w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/99238/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 1200w,\n/static/2b244c93afa91992d9705743f5271852/5e0b8/6f100edbcbbd58af10767a59257f1185.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1994-markdown","title":"Why Your Parents Need to Learn About Cannabis","slug":"why-your-parents-need-to-learn-about-cannabis","content":"**The Dream of Retirement**\r\n\r\nThe golden years: that bastion of life that promises retirement from the grind, financial independence, and unfettered access to all the things we enjoy. At least, that’s the dream. A dream pushed upon us by relentless advertising from the pharmaceutical, life insurance, and banking industries.\r\n\r\nOf course, I want that dream. Who wouldn’t? But, if reality is to have it’s way – and it most often does – then the grind is likely to have its grip on me until the very end. And that dream? Well, it’s probably destined to remain as just that – a dream. \r\n\r\nAs a doctor, I meet with many seniors. I listen to them, and I watch them as they age. I see their attitudes change. I see their needs, wants, and desires change. I see their lives change – often for the worse. I hear them wish for a good nights sleep, hands that don’t shake, knees that don’t hurt, a day of comfort – things we take for granted while younger. These observations have influenced me and, as I near the so-called golden years period myself, the way I think about the effects of aging. \r\n\r\nI keep arriving at the same place...\r\n\r\n**Getting old sucks!**\r\n\r\nIf you live long enough – and most of us will these days – the adverse symptoms of aging are hard to avoid. While many people are healthy and active into their late 90s, the majority of us will face typical aging related health issues such as insomnia, chronic pain, impaired vision and motor function, reduced appetite – the list goes on and on. Many will deal with symptoms so degenerative – like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s – that they will lose their independence and require assisted living facilities or hospitals for the reminder of their days.\r\n\r\nWhile we consider it very fortunate to have a long life, the ailments associated with aging have not been easy to treat with conventional medicine. Often, the pharmaceuticals prescribed can cause health implications of their own. Prescribing them is a bit hit-or-miss. We don’t really know how an individual will react. We can’t know. Different people react differently to the same pharmaceutical. It becomes trial and error, rinse and repeat. For many, one pill begets the next and before you know it you have a potpourri of pharmaceuticals that are organized, by the bucket, for swallowing at scheduled times through the day – every day. For patients that are agitated, uncomfortable, or in pain, the entire process can be frustrating and the results are often questionable if not disappointing.\r\n\r\n**Pills, pills, and more pills**\r\n\r\nIt pains me to watch as some folk react badly to this routine. Side effects occur more often than not - often in the form of seizures, nausea or emotional disturbances such as uncontrollable crying and depression (this is especially true for some sleeping pills on the market today). When these reactions occur, more pharmaceuticals are prescribed to deal with the side effects. And, those are the side effects we know about. What about the unseen side effects? The potentially irreparable damage we may do at cellular level, or at a neurological level?\r\n\r\nDon’t get me wrong; with the advent of many pharmaceuticals we’ve improved the overall health of society immensely. Many drug discovery and pharmaceutical innovations have been nothing short of revolutionary at turning back disease and improving people’s lives. But that’s not really what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the habitual crutch that prescribing pharmaceuticals has become – especially to the elderly.     \r\n\r\n**It's just not right**\r\n\r\nOver the years, as a doctor, observing all of this trial and error, and the general reliance on prescription pharmaceuticals for uncertain results – well, it no longer sits right with me. And it flat out saddens me when I see powerful painkillers and antipsychotics used to sedate some elderly into a manageable submission.\r\n\r\nThese are our seniors, they deserve our respect and they deserve better treatment. At the very least, they deserve an alternative. \r\n\r\n**There is an alternative** \r\n\r\nIt’s been under our nose for millennia, it’s less toxic, and it’s entirely natural. It’s cannabis. Or, to those conforming to legislation, it’s medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nAs cannabis slowly emerges from a long quarantine imposed by authorities acting on misinformation, fear, uncertainty and doubt, we are beginning to learn of its medicinal and health properties. Several years of research performed by many credible institutions are all arriving at the same result. Indeed, cannabis looks like a wonder plant – nature’s gift to humanity. The list of conditions that cannabis is most effective for reads like a list of typical ailments afflicting seniors. Chronic pain (from inflammation of joints and stiff limbs), insomnia, lack of appetite, lethargy and reduced energy, anxiety, are but a few. All affect ones mood and general sense of well being of which cannabis is also said to elevate. There are even reports suggesting certain cannabinoids (found within cannabis) have been effective at arresting some cancers, restoring motor control, and eliminating seizures. \r\n\r\n**Their own worst enemy**\r\n\r\nSuffice to say, this is a population that could benefit tremendously from cannabis, yet their access is limited -- if even considered.\r\n\r\nSeniors themselves are often the first to resist using medical cannabis because of societal concerns about using a drug that the federal government deems illegal. For those that do want to use cannabis, they often don’t know where to go, or how to get it. Only rarely will their doctor support the use of cannabis (it’s more common for a doctor to steer away from the cannabis conversation). This last fact, I can attest. I was that doctor – shaped by decades of misinformation. Prevailing attitudes will change, although it may take a full generation cycle before we see results.\r\n\r\n**It starts with you**\r\n\r\nFor many, cannabis is making their lives more tolerable. For others, it is extending their lives. These are not isolated cases. As Chief Medical Officer at HelloMD.com, I’m hearing such testimonials on a daily basis. Legalization aside, for widespread acceptance there is still one large obstacle to overcome – education. And for your parents, that might start with you.\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.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/14b42/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/f836f/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 200w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/2244e/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 400w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/14b42/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 800w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/47498/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/58556/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/61e93/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 200w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/1f5c5/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 400w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/58556/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 800w,\n/static/9bb3d1cbcc24e1e968d7d7d45654de66/99238/2f1205dc5df5fb3975b1f71f90b0f6a7.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1970-markdown","title":"Cannabis Helps Women Cope with Stress & Anxiety","slug":"cannabis-helps-women-cope-with-stress-and-anxiety","content":"A lot is asked of women within our society and anxiety and stress levels seem to be on the rise.  Stay-at-home moms face a grueling and somewhat thankless job. Raising children is hard work, which includes managing multiple schedules, juggling family & personal commitments in addition to possibly holding down a job. Women who work outside of the home are often faced with similar commitments in addition to the stress of meeting workplace expectations. Modern society expects so much of women and the pressures to keep up can seem overwhelming to the point of exhaustion. Due to this, some women turn to substances like alcohol or anti-anxiety pharmaceuticals in order to cope. However, many stressed out women have come to realize, in light of continuing education and further marijuana legalization, that cannabis can be a safer alternative. Using cannabis may actually enhance one’s experience without any of the negative repercussions of alcohol and pharmaceutical use.\n\nMedical marijuana is currently being used [legally in 23 states](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881) and the District of Columbia and is available in a variety of forms, meaning that people do not need to smoke in order to use cannabis. In fact, women using cannabis do not even need to get high in order to feel the effects and potential benefits of cannabis. Of course, women can still smoke if they choose to, but there are tinctures, mouth sprays, low dose edibles, transdermal patches and more. While many people know that these products are often used to treat serious illnesses, people are beginning to realize that many different types of cannabis products can also be very effective for treating things like sleep issues, depression, anxiety and stress. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid within cannabis that is both an anti inflammatory and an anelgesic. When combined with appropriate amounts of THC, which is the psychotropic element in cannabis, it can produce a calming effect, without producing the high that is so well known for cannabis. For moms struggling with stress and anxiety, it's likely that there's a cannabis product that can help resolve the issue.\n\n**The Benefits of Cannabis**\n \nWomen who use marijuana have many reasons: Some suffer from [insomnia](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56340eebc91411000c000054/cannabis-as-a-sleep-aid-for-insomnia-an-interview-with-pianta-tinta) or [chronic body pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain), while others battle [anxiety](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a61939653800064a0000/how-medical-marijuana-tinctures-helped-melt-away-my-anxiety-and-stress) or [depression](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55c101d766653800060c0000/depression-sufferers-find-relief-in-medical-marijuana). For the former group of women, the use of marijuana products derived from an [Indica](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55d4c0dc6338310006000000/indica-or-sativa-making-the-right-choice) strain (which has a soothing, relaxing effect) may be helpful. The latter group, on the other hand, may choose to use a [Sativa](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) strain, which gives the user more energy and increases functionality, a good alternative for those that want to maintain productivity during the day.\n\n**Cannabis vs. Alcohol**\n\nFor many women, a glass of wine or cocktail is the perfect way to unwind at the end of the day. However, alcohol can quickly become a habit or an addiction. Alcohol may lead to troublesome hangovers and over the long term, possibly even dangerous health issues, such as cancer. Many women who have turned to cannabis find that [cannabis has a much lower intoxication level](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2722956/) compared to that of alcohol.\n\nCannabis happens to be safer than alcohol. According to the World Health Organization, [3.3 million deaths in 2012](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs349/en/) could be traced back to alcohol. A [2015 report published in Scientific Reports](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311234/), a subsidiary of Nature, said that alcohol is a whopping 114 times more deadly than cannabis. These facts, combined with the clarifying and pain-reducing effects of cannabis, make it a much better choice for women who strongly need stress, pain, anxiety or insomnia relief. Depending on the type of cannabis and an individual’s reaction to it, cannabis does not force women to sacrifice mental clarity and function in the same way alcohol might.\n\n**Cannabis vs. Pharmaceuticals**\n\nAnxiety rates have sky rocketed in the US and accordingly the use of pharmaceuticals to treat both anxiety and depression have also grown exponentially. In a 2009 study, it was reported that some [40 million Americans took pharmaceuticals](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5596a61939653800064a0000/how-medical-marijuana-tinctures-helped-melt-away-my-anxiety-and-stress) to help alieve symptoms of anxiety. Drugs of choice, such as Xanax, are often highly addictive and include horrendous side effects. A recent [New York Times article](http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/health/overdose-deaths-reached-a-new-high-in-2014.html?_r=0) exposed that ‘fatal drug overdoses reached a new high in 2014, killing nearly 50,000 Americans, more than were killed in auto accidents.’ This includes drugs such as Oxycotin, a prescription pain killer, which is also often abused by people who happen to suffer from intense anxiety. \n\nIn contrast, cannabis has not been attributed with any direct deaths due to ingestion. Unfortunately, many medical care professionals [ignore the benefits of medical marijuana](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5660ceb8584a7100080000c1/death-score-opioids-16235-cannabis-0), choosing to simply prescribe opioids and other drugs that mask symptoms and have terrible side effects. Prescription drugs have led to an enormous rate of addiction, affecting between [26.4 and 36 million patients around the world](http://www.drugabuse.gov/about-nida/legislative-activities/testimony-to-congress/2015/americas-addiction-to-opioids-heroin-prescription-drug-abuse), according to a presentation to the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control in 2014.’\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/marisaysfuckoff/6059864539/in/photolist-aeuoB6-6nCKuY-dHbmyJ-h4m5mH-ss7197-9sN4WS-49e6Bg-dVVH1b-9qRvJo-4pLBM-7kXDaa-8DHbbw-4kJFkD-8DCWHP-aN8ZSX-8DG2qU-q56nfF-9Yz4R6-5h6UUw-5XQmZz-5RoKnw-r2Yvts-5FKx3B-rTP1ks-3f1UFa-BCM8fR-cEMtCG-aww3am-BAtfCq-BAsZsf-BvtMqH-9sK4NM-g2GTxr-wct3kA-rS5iva-cEMsTW-9qrvFd-gS8Wjm-smmmiD-bakMm2-bMKyp8-7gZRJB-7ubWrT-kbNcFq-5nDuBj-i2Bkio-cZagds-4wdQUg-357HeL-2RHeE1)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAOCAIAAACgpqunAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAACrElEQVQozyWSS1NSYRjHT7s2bWvRrqaaGqfaWDM2TWaYFnmZAvOWFzRBQFABBeQiiHJVUBRFxUuYiKRCZjqp1eho5sY+QKs2fY1+xMyZM+d9z//yPP/nES7dk9YYJ5v75+vMUYV7uSu0YY7umKPbnuUjsdL7qMFaqR0pbh14pnCLWpx8cHNN1HL+xtNzVwqFh/V9bywzMJv652WOhdaBd5rhDyr/qit+AFQkc1YbJ1/3TEj1YYlurME6y8cTmeNivuRCnlhAvr5vutEWgyYfeq/0rkA2Tn52Lx+Be9xkr+wMvuoe5eFYa5qq0oeh3C5T3yqVZ8lVhnFUMW/3JGD2RrZssT3Pyo+3rni5OoAupbUNLuFBacCgYH69uFUolQ8h/0Llq9AMN/+vXDuyZpradi5+h8x9zpC6WpyLAKj8ZVfoQa0pX6ITiAFEeUcAMiDImPREtrzJk45ACk9oBIm/2r/aPZrOtUYKJW2DAhyYiFGVypfsDK4DwtmTOO5f+JaT041lENKHPxrGN7Nx+pLwqwxhoUztZxiQc5mhzT/L7C7O4GiPez4w5C8c1FFpss+hK+Be2Gijcs7ElkPgwFuUHZWjVOFmZvxVeBI4dYY2yEzpTdJ/ds5Xi5rvS/U3S+R5YuXzdg+BERVuiIYyv9SBFJnFD/+E0me0Ri+2uX3DxCcMBCaGba05mp2Ec1Gs8uEAwrV0yOYRFW8qss9/1QbXKae6N+JLnRIKDQp3yjvIrEjm0I9vrpz8Lagxdo2mg+kz0HV904bIFoEx/4H4gTW2x+ayiCTCCunCGeFyQY0pumOd3W2wxWL7v1lGAsOcaZGicWpbM7LGwnMERql01D2W8adOWQThboVGog9TeZ15ulIbpD2axIGq2Ar21DLzhSNNsna0404c+1Z/gqHzfxeToRGrFVHeAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC","aspectRatio":1.408450704225352,"src":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/ee604/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png","srcSet":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/69585/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 200w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/497c6/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 400w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/ee604/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 800w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/6df68/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.png 1020w","srcWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/58556/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/61e93/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 200w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/1f5c5/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 400w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/58556/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 800w,\n/static/6a5d02da2fe35aab30d526956472ab59/fa3a9/a8266d79ee36c9a6fd999f9ca791515f.webp 1020w","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,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAPCAIAAABr+ngCAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADnklEQVQozwGTA2z8AJQ1eYQmaqpIjbdVmqZHirVRl958wt+BxeKDx+iHzct3sEIqJ1k1IdiZd92fd9SGUsmOZat0UmZAKXNRRgCsTZGtSpCIQXVwTWtkSmFnQGGoW5PigMbihMfmhszRerJUNi9JMCOPYUrbvq/5zLD1xJ3Ni2tlLxo5HBEAnDmAi1B7SlJHXoA/b5xAXH4/UVFPsWqf6ofN5YbM2oC2j1dHk2NLf1lIkGBHsn1hyaGDsHdicTIhMh0ZAJc/fkY+RHObRXmrOmWNM3WhOmyUQVRLT+OGyOyKz8VzsUxaMzNAIz9MK1NtLDA5IzZGJzpKKD5QKjZGKQB3MGZNXkJzqD9PcTFEWipDYC1Wj0A7Tza+b6jwi9PMeLRub0BcXjxfYkJfZD44MiNPSTFWUjZPTzFPRCsAgDpqNlgyYJVIRW07Pl84P2U2ZJNJPTw4nUuG1nO7xG6kt3dgpnNWxJN0sXxcoWdI7cKl4KF9jVdBcTwoAK1RkkY5Qlh8QGygTVqJQ2+gSlJzO0UrQKNDh7RUmqFOh3NYQnVjWntmWmNJKI5yXJ2RhZJqRm5JJFY9IQDDYaeZUIU9NjpIYDZWdjpIXjdFNkGjVI22VZq2VZygTYQdGBEkLjRMT0FrYDB5dUwlIBo7KBVHPilPTkoAulygpEGHsVuZh1B7Wi5TczlmrVSUqEaMnkCDr02TnUuFHRcaGxUOMiwaVEAkhWZHAAACTS8iYEtFV1VWAKxNkY4wc6VDicZiqaVCiI4pcJ4+g6FDh6RGiZ88gpRFgT01LygfFDwtKYReS8eNb2VMO043JlI1JUQ3KgCEJWmQMXWmR4vOcbS4W563WZ2oSY24WZ2+YKOsS5KxXJO0oI+ijGehcE/zroP/wZXuuoyqk3Kvm350aVUAkzR4kzR4tlebtlebyWqu7Y7Ss1SYn0CEn0CDpEOK24i/0MCvwbmcwKSSypqE6Lyf1rOe08Gv1cWyr6GVAJEydpg5fZU2esRlqa9QlOWHyr9gpKVGiogqbZY1fOiTy62sj3mTZaejjVdOToF5iIB5hYN2a3xqZ5SDegCQMXWdPoKzVJjLbLC/YKThg8fUdbnEZambPIC0U5rrls+cln2Dk2aqm4Rzc458h7qUjpi5pJOvoZKom4wAjC1x0nO3vl+jiSpurE2R2nzAx2isxWaqpEaKy2qw0H64RTc4noFnim5YOTY9ZFpbTUY9m4RsrZR4nIVs0xub1eABCK8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","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_1973-markdown","title":"5 Reasons to Get Legal and Stop Buying Marijuana from a Dealer","slug":"5-reasons-to-get-legal-and-stop-buying-marijuana-from-a-dealer","content":"Are you so cozy with your drug dealer you send him or her Christmas cards? Maybe you’ve had this ongoing relationship for quite some time, perhaps for years, and you’re just fine with it.  You get your pot easily and receive what you feel is a private, friendly and expedient service. Your dealer reaps the monetary reward and has a thriving social life as a result. Here’s the catch though; you have no idea what you’re really getting, and in many cases it may be very hazardous to your health. Not just a little, but a lot.\n\nOne of our guiding principles at [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) is that patients deserve access to safe medicine. For this reason, we are in favor of industry regulation, which includes consistent lab testing. Many people believe that cannabis is safe because it is a plant and as such, it is all natural. In some cases this is true, however by the time most people receive their cannabis it has passed through many hands and gone through many different chemical processes i.e., it may be far from ‘natural’ and closer to toxic. If you get your cannabis from your local drug dealer, you may be ingesting a wide array of nasties, unbeknownst to yourself and your well-intentioned ‘friend’.\n\n**The top 5 reasons to stop buying weed from your dealer:**\n\n\n**1. Microbial Material**\n\nHere is just a small sampling of microbial material that shows up in cannabis: Ecoli, yeast, botrytis (fungus), toilet water bacteria, and the deadly mold Aspergillus.\n\n[SC Labs](http://sclabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=552), a well known cannabis focused analytics laboratory in California, recently posted a [video on cannabis lab testing](https://www.merryjane.com/news/video-original-seed-to-strain-sc-labs?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_campaign=c028ee61bd-Newsletter_Number_4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_b2264ec13f-c028ee61bd-143695717). In the video, Nate from SC Labs, says: \n\n>“During certain seasons we see up to 20 % of the cannabis coming in for micro bio tested cannabis failing screens. This means there is a large amount of micro bio contaminated cannabis in the marketplace.”\n\nUnknowingly, you may be ingesting these kinds of microbes. Gross. \n\n**2. Phosphoload**\n\nDue to the lack of regulatory oversight, growers can use products that make their plants look good, but these plants are not a healthy and safe alternative for the patient on the other end. Phosphoload is what is known as a ‘bud hardener’ and will create a larger more beautiful bud. Buyers often think the larger, super green bud is superior, but they are mistaken. Phosphorous, which is the main component in phosphoload, is [‘deemed to be carcinogenic to humans’](http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/h/human_carcinogen_phosphorus_32/intro.htm). It is interesting to note that many labs we talk to say this practice is more prevalent in Southern California, especially in the Los Angeles area.\n\n**3. Pesticides**\n\nIngesting pesticides, even in small doses, can be very hazardous to your health. Many farmers still use illegal and banned pesticides on cannabis because in many cases it will yield a larger crop. If you ingest cannabis with pesticide, you may be feeling the long-term effects of pesticides, whether you know it or not. As stated in [‘Pesticide Use in Marijuana Production](http://www.beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/watchdog/documents/PesticideUseCannabisProduction.pdf) “cannabis is not typically filtered when its smoke is inhaled, and therefore smokers may expose themselves to much higher levels of pesticides and degradates.” The most common pesticides include pyrethrins, pyrethroids, and Avid (snail killer), all products found in your local home and garden store. \n\nRobert Martin, Co-Founder of [CW labs says](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55ca3cd435343600060f0000/are-there-neurotoxins-in-your-marijuana):\n\n>“We test for 33 of the most commonly used pesticides, as dictated by the EPA. Pesticides are an awful thing to have in medication; they do not break down in your body no matter how you ingest them. Having pesticides in the body is not good for a patient’s health in any way, shape or form. Patients should be aware, that when concentrates (shatter, wax, hash oil) are made from cannabis that have been treated by pesticides, the pesticides are in an extremely concentrated state just like the marijuana.”\n\n**4. Residual Solvents**\n\nThe cannabis plant is full of cannabinoids. The two most well known cannabinoids are THC and CBD. The most common way to remove the cannabinoids & terpenes from the cannabis plant is to use a  chemical solvent. Butane, hexane, isopropyl alcohol and ethanol are commonly used to make cannabis extractions. Once a cannabis flower is submerged in a solvent the cannabinoids, terpenes and other ingredients come to the fore. Through a complex scientific process, dangerous solvents are removed to make the product safe for ingestion.  It is important to remove all traces of solvent. Cannabis testing laboratories will look for residual solvents such as butane within a hash oil. Toxic residual solvents are unsafe for anyone to ingest. \n\nButane infusion anyone?\n\n**5. …And Other Crazy, Random Stuff Found in Cannabis**\n\n>* Growth hormones \n\n>* Aflatoxins and poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals that are produced by certain molds\n\n>* Untested chemicals being used by growers, which contain chemicals such as cholinesterase inhibitors, a deadly neurotoxin \n\n>* Bacteria from an unsterile environment-often occurs when storing the plant, dirty screens and an unhygienic work environment\n\nDo you eat in a dirty restaurant? Most likely if you walk in and see filth, you walk right out. Obviously, you don’t want to get sick. The cannabis marketplace, in California and elsewhere, has been highly unregulated to date, although the tide is turning. The lack of regulation has unfortunately put cannabis consumers at risk. Laboratories such as [SC Labs](http://sclabs.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=featured&Itemid=552), [SteepHill Labs](http://steephill.com/) and [CW Labs](http://www.cwanalytical.com) act on behalf of the consumer, publishing results which let growers, dispensaries and consumers know exactly what they are ingesting. For this reason HelloMD always advises patients to go to reputable dispensaries that conduct regular lab testing. Within the industry today, lab tested cannabis is the only way you can ensure the quality and safety of the cannabis you ingest. \n\nSo back to your drug dealer…I think it’s time you broke up. Do you really think your back street cannabis is safe? Honestly, I doubt it.\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/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation whether it be first time or renewal; it's 100% online, private and efficient. \n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/spyrospapaspyropoulos/9061493640/in/photolist-eNJwmY-r6t9Gy-a4EzC-ncEDbj-bK3KQF-k6QgXM-ayRPoW-4C5Duh-oUm1C-qEUBTw-e7dDjN-pP7kd4-e7aZqC-pgHzTH-8DRP24-haeqiW-jpEe8S-eVAZaR-zPv1M9-6AYAK6-sqSZUm-94PjSZ-qDMvkc-dHm5JH-5Dbo7M-fkNg1F-s23YS-rUY8oL-jrTZyK-bqdPYh-n8dvhX-eNWGbP-7rWrsZ-hFuQvf-rPyCQ5-bcgvWg-hDWX8w-2rp2RJ-72N58J-dyWCHD-gumCD9-LngBQ-72djjZ-wKsZU3-m96aZB-5LnSbr-m79GPr-rK3ux-qAnJRH-dsCuee)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/ee604/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png","srcSet":"/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/69585/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png 200w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/497c6/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png 400w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/ee604/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png 800w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/f3583/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png 1200w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/f90fa/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/58556/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/61e93/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp 200w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/1f5c5/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp 400w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/58556/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp 800w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/99238/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp 1200w,\n/static/5d5600aef340761855cad22052c0f9be/5e0b8/f42911ecefa3d2f3b626f4f37b5919ad.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1982-markdown","title":"Medicinal Cannabis for Multiple Sclerosis. Does it Work?","slug":"medicinal-cannabis-for-multiple-sclerosis-does-it-work","content":"\n[Multiple\nsclerosis](http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/multiple-sclerosis) (MS) is\na complex disease that is thought to arise when the immune system\nmalfunctions and attacks the nervous system. Estimates suggest that\naround 200 people are in the U.S. are diagnosed with the condition each\nweek, with women affected twice as often as men.\n\nPeople with\n[MS](http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/multiple_sclerosis/detail_multiple_sclerosis.htm)\nexperience symptoms that can range in severity and duration. One of the\nmost common symptoms of MS is\n[spasticity](http://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms/Spasticity),\nwhich causes painful, uncontrollable muscle spasms. Spasticity can\naffect any part of the body, but it occurs most often in the legs. Other\nsymptoms of MS include clumsiness, vision problems, tingling or numbness\nin the limbs, weak muscles and bladder control problems. Often, people\nwith MS have periods when they experience symptoms, called attacks,\nfollowed by periods without symptoms, called remission.\n\nConventional Therapies Cause Adverse Effects\n--------------------------------------------\n\nThere is no known cure for MS, but a combination of treatments can help\nmanage the disease. Treatment of MS has two aspects: immunomodulatory\ntherapy (IMT), which reduces the frequency of attacks and slows the\nprogression of the disease, and therapies to relieve symptoms.\nConventional treatments for MS often put patients at risk for a variety\nof side effects, including drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, nausea and\ndiarrhea. Thus, the need for new treatments that relieve the symptoms of\nthe disease with fewer side effects is clear.\n\nCannabis Offers Effective Relief From MS Symptoms\n-------------------------------------------------\n\nNumerous studies have revealed the benefits of medicinal cannabis, or\nmarijuana, for alleviating multiple MS symptoms. In 2003, [Zajicek et\nal.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14615106) conducted one of the\nlargest studies investigating the effect of medicinal cannabis on\npatients with the disease. The results revealed self-reported\nimprovements in pain, spasms, spasticity and sleep quality in\nparticipants who used whole-plant cannabis-based medicine (CBM) extracts\nor tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). A study by [Collin et\nal.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17355549) in 2007 supported the\nfindings of Zajicek et al. In a trial of CBM for the treatment of\nspasticity caused by MS, researchers found that participants who used\nCBM recorded significantly improved scores on the Numerical Rating\nScale, an 11-point scale for self-reporting of spasticity. Additionally,\nresearch by\n[Corey-Bloom](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/05/14/cmaj.110837)\nof the University of California, San Diego revealed a significant\nreduction in spasticity in participants who were already on medication\nfor MS and who smoked cannabis once daily for three days during the\ntrial.\n\nMultiple studies have also shown the efficacy of medicinal cannabis in\ntreating [neuropathic\npain](http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/16/vaporizing-cannabis-is-an-effective-treatment-for-neuropathic-pain/),\nthe [most\ncommon](http://www.ms.about.com/od/signssymptoms/a/pain_overview.htm)\ntype of pain experienced by people with MS. A\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3566631/) conducted\nby researchers at the University of California, Davis between 2009 and\n2011 revealed that vaporized cannabis significantly reduced neuropathic\npain in people with MS, without affecting mood. The majority of the\nparticipants in the study were experiencing neuropathic pain despite\ntraditional therapy. Research by [Wade et\nal.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12617376) in 2013 produced\nsimilar findings to those of the University of California study. In a\nstudy of 24 patients with neurogenic symptoms unresponsive to standard\ntreatments, Wade et al. found that whole-plant cannabis extracts\nprovided significantly superior pain relief compared with placebo.\nAdditionally, the results of research by [Wilsey et\nal.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18403272) in 2008 and [Ware et\nal.](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950205/) in 2010\ncontribute to mounting evidence that cannabis may be effective at\nrelieving neuropathic pain and may be an alternative for people who do\nnot respond to, or cannot tolerate, conventional therapies.\n\nMedicinal Cannabis as Treatment of MS, Not Just the Symptoms\n------------------------------------------------------------\n\nA review by [Pertwee et\nal.](http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12035-007-0005-2#/page-1)\nin 2007 found evidence to suggest that medicinal cannabis may be useful\nbeyond symptom control in people with MS. The chemicals, or\ncannabinoids, in medicinal cannabis are structurally similar to\nendogenous\ncannabinoids,\nwhich are naturally occurring chemicals that help to regulate nerve\nimpulse transmission. Because of this similarity, it is hypothesized\nthat they can attach themselves to molecules called CB2 cannabinoid\nreceptors on immune cells within the nervous system and activate them,\ndecreasing inflammation and suppressing some of the changes that give\nrise to the progression of MS. Research by [Ben-Shabat et\nal.](https://www.weizmann.ac.il/neurobiology/labs/vogel/PDFs/98EJP353-23.pdf)\nin 1998 revealed that cannabinoids may work more effectively in\ncombination than alone: an observation termed the [entourage\neffect](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1476-5381.2011.01238.x/pdf).\nThus, whole-plant CBM may relieve the symptoms of MS better than a\nmedicine containing only one or two cannabinoids.\n\nEvidence for Cannabis's Safety and Efficacy Grows\n-------------------------------------------------\n\nGiven its high efficacy and low risk of adverse effects, whole-plant CBM\nmay be an effective add-on treatment for people with MS; however,\nfederal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug with no\nmedicinal benefit. As a result, many people with MS are being denied\naccess to a potentially life-changing therapy. Proponents of medicinal\ncannabis are campaigning for a change to federal law so that the\nthousands of Americans who live with MS can have safe, legal access to\nmedical marijuana under a physician's guidance. Many high-profile\nnational and international health organizations, including the Montel\nWilliams MS Foundation and the American Academy of Family Physicians,\nsupport the outright legalization of medicinal cannabis. Legalization\nwould enable people with MS to use cannabis to manage their symptoms\nmore effectively and perhaps even delay progression of the disease,\nwithout fearing the potential legal repercussions.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/38068250@N08/6956654569)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAANABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAGAAAAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMEAQL/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA/9oADAMBAAIQAxAAAAHtk1A40P/EABsQAAICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAAMEESEx/9oACAEBAAEFAslyq1EmuWtuIeez/8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEP/aAAgBAwEBPwE//8QAFBEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEP/aAAgBAgEBPwE//8QAGRAAAwADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhARADFR/9oACAEBAAY/Ah5cG7Uf/8QAGhABAAMBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQARIVExcf/aAAgBAQABPyEwDWvnJXVxE2YaeR6JwiWuf//aAAwDAQACAAMAAAAQGO//xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQEUH/2gAIAQMBAT8QcH//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARH/2gAIAQIBAT8QsY//xAAcEAEBAQABBQAAAAAAAAAAAAABEQAhMWGRocH/2gAIAQEAAT8QfK9FWoL5ZsTG/PWtyEdz6RNraum4OCTtMdC7/9k=","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/14b42/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.jpg","srcSet":"/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/f836f/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.jpg 200w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/2244e/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.jpg 400w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/14b42/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.jpg 800w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/47498/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/58556/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/61e93/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.webp 200w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/1f5c5/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.webp 400w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/58556/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.webp 800w,\n/static/8699d0b3271eec558b6ecafbd3358683/99238/1e5a13bc538f58d486465e9891656504.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":72,"numPages":11,"currentPage":7,"id":5599,"name":"Pain","slug":"pain","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}