Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Questions

Phil Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. In this segment, he provides written answers to viewers who have written in.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Dr. Phillip Leveque is Oregon's leading authority on Medical Marijuana. He says he has been familiar with the medicinal side of cannabis since the mid 1950's.

As a service to the country, Dr. Leveque remains the only source on this subject who is willing to take questions from a curious national public who has countless questions about the legal use of medical marijuana, something Leveque says aids large numbers of people.

Questions are always coming up; which strain, Sativa or Indica, is best for which disease. There are so many strains, maybe 300 or more, that any statement could be wrong. Patients will just have to test-try them.

To S.Lamarche, July 3:
You cannot obtain a permit online. I’m sure in most states you must see a doctor to assure you are medically eligible. In many states the doctor will give you a letter/ permit. In Oregon the permit comes from the state yearly for $100.

Marijuana dilates blood vessels (blood shot eyes). This drops blood pressure and causes the heart to speed up to get pressure back to normal. There may be a slight hazard but I haven’t heard about it.

To S. La Marche: June 30:
Try a vaporizer for the cough. I think my shirt has bamboo leaves.

To Mrs. Road Runner: June 27:
Marijuana is presumed to diminish short term memory. How or if that includes night terrors isn’t clear. I believe that it’s just deeper/better REM sleep. I’m glad Green Free is joining my club.

To Glenn Martin: July 2:
In every state but Montana, marijuana permits are good ONLY in one state. I did have patients going south for the winter. They would go to the local police chief and show their permit. Some of the time, this was o.k. Get my phone number (it’s on the internet) and call me. I’ll help.

To Mr. Robert KL:
My phone number is on the internet; probably Marijuana Docs (?). My father was stationed at Ft. Huachuca, about 1916 in the Cavalry – hot, dry and almost nothing else. Semper Fi.

To Whomever:Q:
Is there a difference between medical marijuana and regular weed?

A: Regular weed may be “ditch weed” - maybe 2% THC. Good weed goes up to 20% (B.C., Bud). “Mexican Mud” is also low. It is considered to be trash from the bull rings. Some strains (there are about 300) are better for certain diseases. This requires test, trial and error. To Jeffrey D. Elton: June 26 (?):
Gastro paresis usually causes nausea which is one of the accepted conditions. Marijuana works! Continuing about the Kennedy’s; In a family biography, the second generation was known marijuana users.

To Ky Toker: May 23:
Kentucky is third in the production of marijuana, just below California and Tennessee. Hemp isn’t marijuana, it usually causes headache.

To John: July 30:
Book is $15.00 American. That’s 18 loonies. I pay postage

To Carsho: July 24:
California doctors have found cannabis effective for some bipolar patients. U.S. government prevents publication for this condition.

To Bikersteve: July 24:
Contact 503-235-4606. They have marijuana clinics in Phoenix. We always need caregiver / growers.

To S. LaMarch: July 19:
I / we don’t want to get into medallion business, but you can.

To Patricia Sullivan: July 13:
You are sorely misinformed. Cannabis is the safest drug you’ve ever heard of. Read my articles – ALL OF THEM.

To Jeff: July 6:
We are on the same side. THANX To Ken: July 4:
Cannabis cause vasodilation followed by increase in heart rate. I do not know of any palpitations. I have seen no heart arrhythmias in any of 4,000 patients.

To S. LaMarche: June 28:
I had the largest number of patients in the U.S. poisoned by Dioxin from pentachlorophenol (with Dioxins). It is a tragedy.

To Alexandria: July 9:
The next war will be about water. We can’t drink oil.

To Hurting: June 30:
Previous arrests have no bearing on getting a marijuana permit. Don’t ask – don’t tell is active here.

To Cheech: July 31:
Your yellowed toenail is a sign of cerebral dysfunction which is causing your concurrent depression. It sounds like “bad grass syndrome” I recommend a total body flush.

To all Re Kemannix: July 30-31:
I’m serious. I hope you are also. BLOCK INITIATIVE 104

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR DR. LEVEQUE? Email: newsroom@salem-news.com or simply write a comment at the bottom of the page. You do not have to use your real name if you are not comfortable doing so. We will do our best to have your questions addressed in upcoming segments.

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MrsRoadRunner October 3, 2007 1:05 am (Pacific time)

"To Mrs. Road Runner: June 27: Marijuana is presumed to diminish short term memory. How or if that includes night terrors isn’t clear. I believe that it’s just deeper/better REM sleep. I’m glad Green Free is joining my club." Thank you doc! My memory is, I feel not effected by MMJ. I do agree with the REM sleep. Thank you and keep up the great work you do!

alexandria September 11, 2007 7:42 pm (Pacific time)

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S.LaMarche; September 4, 2007 11:58 pm (Pacific time)

Legalize It.

Anonymous September 4, 2007 4:42 pm (Pacific time)

How come people who have a drivers license, fishing license, hunting license, all can have their licenses checked to make sure they are following the guidelines of the license, and yet medical marijuana cardholders do not? How come the medical marijuana lobby fights against any regulation to make sure the rules are not being followed by cardholders. How come food, drugs, toys, and other consumer products are monitored by government agencies for compliance to applicable rules and yet medical marijuana is not? Is it because medical marijuana advocates have something to hide? Is it the fact that some cardholders do not have medical conditions but just enjoy the high? Be open and honest rather than evasive and more of the anti-legalization crowd might be open to what you have to say. I'm concerned that the "expert" doctor would tell people to experiment with different varities of drugs to see which works best. Isn't that a little dangerous?

The Editor: I give you credit for posing these questions as a serious matter, but please watch the inferences. Doctor Phillip Leveque, if you pay attention to other articles especially, is no fan of drug use. Marijuana by the way, is an herb. It grows naturally and if it is a drug, then it is in the same category as tobacco and alcohol.

Did you take note of the fact that Dr. Leveque is a distinguished WWII combat veteran? This is who the man is and everything else follows. I understand that medical marijuana is a hotly debated subject in some circles, but the bottom line is that more than half of the people in this state believe it is a good thing.

You talk about the Medical Marijuana lobby fighting "against any regulation to make sure the rules are not being followed by cardholders." What are you talking about? These are sick people, almost none of them are wealthy. The people I have met who lobby for it are generally patients themselves. They have Kevin Mannix bringing legislation to try and force people to use synthetic "marinol" instead of just letting them have their medical pot. Perhaps you feel better when the things you ingest were created by chemists and scientists in a laboratory, but few marijuana smokers would agree.

A war has been waged against these people and they have been locked up because they made a personal choice to use a substance that grows from the ground, on chemicals, no human interference, just natural. They are Oregonians and Californians and Washingtonians and they are some of the nicest, most sincere people you will ever meet.

Dr. Leveque will respond to this also, I hope this helps somewhat in your quest to understand medical marijuana.

Sincerely,
Tim King

Deb September 4, 2007 12:46 am (Pacific time)

In many cases, it would help to see the question. Perhaps I had the same one, or thought I did.

Deb, we were just getting this system going with the doc over the summer when I lost both of my parents. We are finally getting things together, and we will work hard to bring the Q & A section more clarity. In fact, I should be able to piece these together by tomorrow in a better way, thanks for writing

Tim King

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Oregon Medical Marijuana Doctor Responds to Questions

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