Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician and Toxicologist.
(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The disparate medical conditions for which marijuana/cannabis is effective is astonishing. It must mean that many of the physiological and/or pharmacological effects are on cell membranes despite the fact that there are at least two different receptors, CB-1 and CB-2. Cannabis seems to work everywhere.
The California law, Proposition 215, which launched the legal medical marijuana programs in the U.S. states, in part, that patients have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the persons health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief. The last part of this paragraph has been found to be the most protective for both physicians and patients, and California physicians have found cannabis to be efficacious for many other diseases.
The medical marijuana journal/newspaper O’Shaughnessy, spring 2004, lists the following conditions for which the California physicians found marijuana use to be effective: (1) AIDS wasting syndrome, (2) arthritis, osteo- and rheumatoid, (3) asthma (while not burning cannabis), (4) Crohn’s disease/inflammatory bowel disease, (5) depression, (6) mental illness--schizophrenia (pro and con articles have been reported), (7) degenerative neural diseases, (8) eating disorders/anorexia, (9) epilepsy/seizures, (10) glaucoma, (11) intractable breathlessness, (12) migraine, (13) multiple sclerosis, (14) nausea and vomiting, (15) obstetric problems (dysmenorrheal, morning sickness, uterine bleeding, and antimiscarriage), (16) pain, of all types, (17) phantom limb pain, (18) tumors ( blockade of a carcinogenesis enzyme), and (19) withdrawal symptoms of alcoholism, morphinism, cocaine addiction, chloral hydrate addiction, etc. (and probably tobacco addiction).
California physicians have tried it for many other conditions on the basis that their patients told them it was effective.
Some of them are: anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, brain trauma, ADD, Obsessive-compulsive disorder, agoraphobia, panic attacks, Tourettes syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux, ulcerative colitis, gastritis, ulcers, celiac disease, pancreatitis, diverticulitis, lupus, spondylitis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, interstital cystitis, Sjogrens, chronic fatigue, Bechets syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, optic neuritis, Lou Gehrigs disease, Parkinsons, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, senile dementia, sleep apnea, COPD, chronic sinusitis, and psoriasis.
It appears that the patients, especially in California, have become the practical pharmacologists because it is certain that no physician would have the therapeutic courage to try marijuana de novo for any of these last-mentioned diseases. (Here's a link to Oregon's accepted conditions: oregonmedicalmarijuanaprogram.com)
It reminds me what Dr. William Osler said, “The patient will tell you what’s wrong with them—and what works.”
It will take awhile before American physicians will be wise enough or brave enough to try the long used and broadly successful marijuana/cannabis as a first choice medicine.
I predict it will happen.
Dr. Phil Leveque is Salem-News.com’s Medical Expert
Dr. Leveque has a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, with degrees in chemistry and biochemistry, working as an osteopathic physician and forensic toxicologist. He is currently a non-practicing physician in Oregon who has testified in over 400 court cases as an expert witness and continues to share his wisdom through speaking engagements and special events, as well as with readers far and wide.
Phil Leveque has always been a fighter, from his days in the Army during World War Two, when he captured 26 Nazi officers in a single day -by himself - to the rigors of being a Professor while also a full-time medical student.
He spent 25 years as a Professor, teaching in 10 different colleges and universities in the U.S., and two years teaching in Africa through the University of London where he had the opportunity to help train the first physicians in Tanzania. He was also offered the position of Chief Toxicologist for Baltimore, Maryland, offered Chairman of Pharmacology in Texas and Deanship at the Osteopathic College in California.
He then settled down as a retired professor in Oregon, and continued to pursue an occupation as an osteopathic physician and forensic toxicologist.
Dr. Leveque was an integral force in the passing of Oregon’s Medical Marijuana Act in 1998, and co-founder of the THC Clinic in Portland, Oregon. He was a vigilant patient activist throughout his battle with the Oregon Medical Board, earning him the moniker “Most dangerous doctor in Oregon” and continues to serve the public good as a national spokesperson. (For consult or to invite Dr. Leveque to your event, contact via email, below)
Do you have a question or comment for Dr. Leveque? Email him: Newsroom@Salem-News.com
Learn more about Phil Leveque’s true life story found in his book, General Patton's Dogface Soldier by Phil Leveque about his experiences in WWII.Order the book by mail by following this link: Dogface Soldier.
Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana by Dr. Phil Leveque
For more Cannabis-related stories and factual information, go to: Cannabis De-Classified
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