Side Effects of Medical Marijuana

Dying to Get High: Marijuana as Medicine is an important and accessible book--not heavy on academic jargon, but rather lively and engaging, like a true detective novel--with a broad appeal to those interested in the medical potential of cannabis, an end to the drug war and grass roots activism. I asked the co-authors how working on the book changed them.

WENDY CHAPKIS: "I certainly was one of those people who thought that 'medical marijuana' was probably mostly a way for Americans to get around ridiculously punitive drug laws. It seemed like a reasonable strategy to me. But the very first time I walked into a WAMM [WoMen's Alliance for Medical Marijuana] membership meeting, looked around the room and saw people who were ghostly white and frail, people in wheelchairs, people huddled in small groups talking about a WAMM member who needed round the clock care, I realized that medical marijuana was no 'ruse.' These were very ill people. And, as I started doing interviews, the stories of the medicinal properties of pot blew me away.

"I wasn't the only one surprised to discover that marijuana did in fact have therapeutic effects. Many patients were equally astonished. Like me, they had been recreational users who appreciated the pleasurable effects of marijuana and were suspicious of the claim that the herb was medicine. Then they started chemotherapy, for example, found themselves fighting off non-stop nausea, took a hit and the nausea disappeared. Or they had intolerable nerve pain from multiple sclerosis, AIDS or post-polio syndrome, used some cannabis tincture and the pain quieted down. It was funny how surprised we all were that it really worked.

"I think this shows how effective drug-war propaganda really is. Even (or maybe especially) people who are very familiar with marijuana are prepared to believe that it doesn't really work as a medicine. Of course, since the discovery of the cannabinoid receptor system in the body (and the production of endogenous cannabinoids), scientists haven't been at all surprised at the medical properties of the plant--which I guess helps explain why the feds have been so reluctant to allow any scientific research.

"In any case, this research really transformed my understanding of the effects of cannabis--including enriching my understanding of the therapeutic effects of the so-called 'high.' The chapter on the high is one of my favorites because I think even the medical marijuana movement tends to downplay the psychoactive properties of the drug. They talk a lot about relief of ocular pressure, anti-nausea properties and the effect of cannabis on AIDS-wasting and relief of neuropathic pain, but there is very little discussion of the ways in which the psychoactive effects contribute to a sense of wellness for those who are seriously ill. And that is no small thing."

RICHARD WEBB: "Working with the WAMM has, indeed, been a transformative experience. I have learned a great deal, and formed some of the most cherished and important relationships of my lifetime, but perhaps the most profound change for me has been the development of a new awareness of the importance of compassion and forgiveness. Two events epitomize the many experiences that led to this change.

"The Gay Pride festival in San Francisco has been one of WAMM's most successful annual fundraising events. One year, I was working T-shirt sales, and when I turned my back for a moment, someone in the crowd stole a pile of shirts. Angry at the perpetrators and embarrassed about my carelessness, I told Valerie Corral, WAMM's executive director, about it, and all she said was, 'Well, let's hope they get a good price for them, because they must need the money very badly." Val's forgiveness was like an epiphany, a moment I will never forget. It was as if a lifetime of blame and resentment had been lifted from my heart, and I became suddenly aware of the deep suffering that drives some people to behave badly.

"When I began my research on WAMM, one of the first people I got close to was an HIV patient named John Taylor. As a result of his illness, John was desperately poor and physically debilitated, but he retained a sense of humor and joie de vivre that made him a pleasure to be around. We eventually became best friends, and when at last John's struggle against the disease became futile, I turned my living room into a hospice facility and, with the assistance of many WAMM members--most of whom were trying to manage their own devastating ailments--I was able to provide John with a safe and comfortable place to live out his final ten weeks.

"These experiences, and many others of a similar nature, have almost completely altered my view of the world, my sense of who I am, and my beliefs about what is most important in life."

Meanwhile, Barack Obama promises he would curb federal enforcement on state medical mariuana suppliers. John McCain has actually ridiculed patients who pleaded for more compassionate policies.

Comments

[budderbean]

I do not drink so my liver is just fine. My brain, Not so bad either. When someone feeds me this psyco-babble. they loose all credibility. The same people that tell you to go to the drug store and buy some pills that cost 10 bucks each it's ok I guess. They sure do know what pot does to you but when you read the inserts on these drugs one of the first things you read is something about how they don't really know "HOW" it works.

By the way what is "brain damage" anyway? Doesn't alcohol damage the brain to? And what about sugar, coffee.. That damn Jarred subway dude. Telling you to "Eat healthy" like carb's and mystery meat is good for you..Rant rant rant. Oh and would you like a coke with that

What is "sane" . It's the legal booze industry that is tearing the social fabric in this country. And the field of psychology. people are people. all of us have a defect so what if your defect and obsession is other peoples matters. I just get so damb pissed about this..MY MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS STARTED with something that was give to me by my doctor. I haven't been the same since. Over 10 years now. Hey buds with all the stats.. thanks for the flashes of gory stuff throughout the day. (Just my opinion) No punches at anyone here personally. It's just a bunch of boehooo. POPPYCOCK!!!!!

[avicenna]

I will first disclose that I am not only from Canada, but what is considered the N. American cultivator of cannabis, BC - so the idea that marijuana is a more serious "gateway drug" than alcohol or tylenol 3 is bullocks. I am also a medical scientist who personally doesn't even touch alcohol, but turned to the hope offered in a puff of hash when my young vivacious mother and best friend was hit with stomach cancer. I witnessed her shrinking - from a combination of relentless nausea and cancer cachexia which made swallowing a spoonful of pudding an hour long torturous event. Getting my hands on some pure marijuana was likely the only way I could help her deal not only with the pain but allow her to take some steps towards nourishment. Nabilone (synthetic TLC) didn't offer the same relief as pure cannabis which acts on certain receptors in both the gut as well as the brain that works in part as an anti-inflammatory agent. Compared to chemotherapy and other synthetic drug on the market, I don't think that there are equivalents to that provided by nature. It is only those who have a special interest in maligning non-patentable medicines and those still living in ignorance that continue to spout irrational arguments against offering those who need it the best medicine available.

[Swerinjer]

Marijuana is a gateway medicine to opiods and amphetamines.

[Swerinjer]

Chronic marijuana use damages the brain:

"In our experience, the effects of smoking marijuana use typically cause decreased activity in the posterior temporal lobes bilaterally. The damage can be mild or severe, depending on how long a person used, how much use occurred, what other substances were used (nicotine is a powerful vasoconstrictor) and how vulnerable a particular brain is. For more information see Dr. Amen's article High Resolution Brain SPECT Imaging in Marijuana Smokers with AD/HD, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Volume 30, No. 2 April-June 1998. Pgs 1-13. "
http://www.amenclinics.com/bp/atlas/ch15.php

Thats not to say sometimes the risk of brain damage is less important than the need to remove pain.

[RanceSpergl]

This is a b*llshit quote, without the context of the dosages involved.

What did the damage require, the equivalent of 20,000 joints smoked per day?

Another lie.

[boddhisatva66]

It is amazing to me is that the use of natural and organic preparations has been around as long as humans have been able to treat themselves for injury, illness, etc.; but the science of western medicine has only been around say 400+ years in comparison to 5000+.

Our government fights an herb that has the potential of increasing our GNP by hundreds of millions of dollars and create jobs and sustain our environment. Oh...and HELP MILLIONS SUFFERING

[duggie1956]

In this regard, Oregon is way more advanced than NM or CO. I don't know exactly why, but it's true. The state does spend alot prosecuting marijuana-growers who are non-card carrying growers.

[Brinna]

Excellent writing. Thank you so much, Paul. This is an issue that needs to be discussed deeply and intelligently, and everywhere. The War on Drugs effects all of our lives, in ways we don't even think of. I am so glad that the Huffington Post is willing to give a platform for these kinds of articles. As David Lenson said in his thoughtful book "On Drugs" the "Just Say No" policy was really a "Don't discuss it. Don't talk about it. Don't write about it. Just pretend there are no dissenting views. And only say how terribly bad it is, even if that can not be proved."

If anyone would like to see some photos of this year's WAMMfest, in Santa Cruz, and read some thoughts on Governor Schwartzenegger's inexcusable veto of the medical cannabis users employment protection act, please check out my blog at http://open.salon.com/content.php?cid=24884

[TheAlchemist]

Interesting post.

I've long been mystified that I'm legally permitted to prescribe op ium derivitaves, but not marijuana.

I would love to see the CDC engage in academic study of the therapeutic effects of canabinoids.

Anti-nausea, pain management, appetite stimulation...the possibilities go on.

Palliative Care physicians need all the tools we can get.

[ProFromOre]

The US has been growing it for years in Mississippi for years, they just won't let anyone have any for research. The policy seems to be deny all requests. It's outrageous.

[RanceSpergl]

Also, the pot they grow in Mississippi is crappy so that Marinol looks good by contrast.

[Herbalicious]

This is a great article. I am a medical marijuana patient who suffers chronic pain due to a work-related injury. I don't consider myself dying to get high but doing everything I can to live the life I once did.

I would like to note that I have never heard Obama says he would "curb federal enforcement on state medical mariuana suppliers." I did hear him say he would end the raids on medical marijuana patients (not providers). The DEA is currently saying that they are not raiding patients. They are raiding our providers which jeopardizes our safe access.

Please ask the candidates questions at http://www.myspace.com/mydebates. TODAY (friday) is the deadline.

Thanks again.

[ProFromOre]

I've been dealing with severe chronic pain from a major nerve injury and multiple other joint injuries. I had a MedM permit here in Oregon and found a strain that was ORIGINALLY developed in Mississippi for the US Govt. What I had was 50/50 crossed with the US Gov pot. I could cut my opiate pain meds in half when I consumed it.

The problem for me is as I got older the stuff creates too much anxiety, so I can't relax. It's bad enough I can't use it to reduce my pain med intake.

We need to just legalize it, tax it and use it hemp by products for hemp oil fuel for diesel engines, the fiber for a cotton-like cloth that 3-4 x - s stronger, the pulp can be made into paper which cuts down on using trees. It's completely and totally stupid that we don't utilize this plant we've been given. Stupid. Hell, it'll grow anywhere.

In on fell swoop we could stimulate our economy, dramatically raise the tax base of the US, reduce the use of at-risk natural resources that damage the land when we harvest them, develop a diesel substitute and drastically reduce our policing & prison costs..

And we don't do it why? It makes too much sense. We NEVER do what makes sense. NEVER

[fredamae]

perhaps you need to find a different strain of Medical Cannabis, be sure it is organically grown and matured (grown the appropriate number of days to be "ripe")

The US Gov't currently sends 300 Cannabis Cigarettes Each Month via US Postal Service to 4 or 5 Federal Medical Cannabis Patients. They receive around 7 Pounds of Med Cannabis a year.

The US Gov't has filed Patents to protect their interests in CBM's (Cannabis Based Medicines)
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/6630507.html

The Miron report demonstrates a $31,000,000,000.00 Loss of New revenue that could benefit our economy.
http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/

Jon Gettman also has similar views
http://www.drugscience.org/

the federal gov't has, at times, persecuted patients.
http://blog.mpp.org/?p=129
http://www.november.org/thewall/cases/magbie-j/magbie-j.html
http://www.mpp.org/victims/robin-prosser.html

When will Medical Cannabis become a matter of Health Care and not a political issue?

What IF this is true and Cannabis can CURE Cancer?
http://www.youtube.com/chrychek

Stop enforcing Laws that the People Do Not Want Enforced

L.E.A.P. (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php
...and this one says it all....
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Web_Links&l_op=visit&lid=144

[NoSillyName]

Great info, fredamae. SEVEN POUNDS A YEAR? Holy smoke!!

[ProFromOre]

Those were my thoughts when I decided to get a card here in Oregon. I grew about a dozen different strains of Indica x Sativa crosses of varying percentages and even tried some 100% Sativa, (it was the strangest stuff I ever saw. It look like marsh grass for the longest time with extremely long leaves.

It grew so damn fast I could hardly keep up with two plants, indoors. It was different to smoke, but the anxiety was still there, though the 'hangover' effects were lessened. The things I've read about pure Sativa has been it was something that could be smoked all day.

It definitely did NOT have the pain reliving effect of the cross-strain I had that was half US Govt.

[NoSillyName]

I stopped smoking for a period of about ten years due to it causing anxiety and panic attacks. That was weird and happened after I'd smoked for at least a couple of decades. Happily, that doesn't happen now. Why? Who knows.

[ProFromOre]

About the same profile for me. It was why I originally quit smoking it years ago. I had only had any sporadically until I tried it for the pain a few years ago.

[NoSillyName]

Thanks, Paul. This book will find a place in my library. I have a chronic pain condition and live in a state with recent "Medical Marijuana" licensing for a certain list of conditions. My problem is not on that list and I've never been comfortable bringing up the topic with a doctor because most of them still harbor misconceptions about intention. Doctors don't want to be on a possible Fed hit list and neither do I.

[ProFromOre]

If you live in the NW, there is a chain of clinics that has MD's that don't judge or have 'issues' Several of the docs in Portland are chronic pain sufferers, themselves.

[NoSillyName]

Thanks, ProFO. No, I'm in NM. The program just started within the last year and, so far, a person has to be practically dying to get licensed. I lived in CO back when they started the program there, but had the same concerns then. It is rather awkward to bring up the desire to use an illegal substance, no matter how ill-conceived the reason for its illegality may be.