Salem-News.com Medical Marijuana articles Page 6

Marijuana Mis-Information and Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy

S.A.M.: "Smart Approaches to Marijuana" (what's so smart about it, anyway??)

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - It should be noted that Patrick Kennedy was a self-admitted addict to alcohol, cocaine and Oxycontin.

I routinely cruise the NYTimes for articles on marijuana, pro or con. You cannot imagine my surprise to read a "Letter to the Editor" dated Oct 27 2013, from Mr. Kennedy and his partner in crime, Kevin A. Sabet of S.A.M. (Smart Approaches to Marijuana).

They referred to the legalization of medical marijuana in California in 1996 and revolted in horror that in 2004 California was opening dispensaries where marijuana products could be purchased. Their revulsion was based on the premise that now that marijuana was legalized, that there would be a rise in marijuana use and marketing.

Marijuana: Best Therapy for PTSD

Better than alcohol, and most drugs: It will prevent millions of deaths

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - When I first started being a marijuana doctor, I had a lot of combat veterans with all kinds of physical wounds. These patients were eligible for medical marijuana permits. Many of them told me that they also had PTSD and they found out for themselves in Viet Nam that marijuana was good for combat terrors related to battle fatigue or shell shock, from WWI and WWII.

PTSD is related to battle fatigue, but it is far more serious and certainly more insidious. These early combat veterans were perplexed that they could not legally or medically obtain marijuana which worked “miraculously” for the extremes of combat stress.

Marijuana Replaces Opiates and Opioids for Chronic Pain

The DEA really screwed this up. Cannabis is better and safer than alcohol!

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - How and why the DEA is now practicing medicine is really a sick problem. I don’t think any of the research physicians are taking care of any chronic pain patients.

The New York Times articles (Oct 25 & 28, 2013) indicate that they may be illegally practicing medicine or, worse yet, pontificating about how the rest of us doctors should be treating chronic pain patients. One of the chief tenants of medical practice is to adequately treat pain. It is the main reason patients go to see a doctor.

Marijuana Moms and White Wine Alcoholic Debutantes

A little alcohol is easy to use without most people knowing, or caring.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - I have suspected the latter for a long time. I have heard about afternoon bridge parties since I went to college in 1940. I was a golf caddy on women’s day, before that, and the bridge parties on non-golf days were a prominent subject of discussion.

Some women even played bridge after golf, and they got truly snockered. I assumed that this was a product of the upper class, but it seems all women were aspiring to the upper class, golf and white wine.

Medical Marijuana Focus of Seminar Hosting Dr. Phil Leveque

Dr. Leveque spoke to those learning the facts about the medical marijuana industry in Oregon.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Dr. Phil Leveque spoke to a group of medical marijuana enthusiasts Sunday in Portland, Oregon. This gathering was a part of the Portlandsterdam University curriculum. They provide the unique opportunity for the public to attend classes that teach the A to Z's of medical marijuana, with or without an Oregon Medical Marijuana Permit. Of course, those without a permit are “not allowed to touch”, during the hands-on labs.

The two-day seminar was held at the Monarch Hotel, near Clackamas Town Center, and is a regularly scheduled event created to educate those interested in the fast-growing Canna-Business industry.

Up in Smoke: A Timeline of Marijuana Use in the U.S.

Here are some hard numbers to put the benefits of marijuana legalization in tangible terms.

(WASHINGTON DC) - The political discussion regarding decriminalizing marijuana use is centuries old, yet remains a hot-button issue even today.

Where did it all start? Are we heading for a full legalization of marijuana throughout the country? Let's explore some of these questions, as well as a quick look at the increase of its use in the U.S.

Medical Marijuana in Oregon: 60,000 Patients in Grave Danger from the Police

J-walking is far more dangerous!

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The movie, Reefer Madness, about the grave dangers of marijuana point exclusively to the "risks" which were out of this world and completely false.

Marijuana and its chemicals are the least dangerous medical substances ever found and used. This is not only in today’s news but the history of cannabis/marijuana for the past 5,000 years.

Marijuana: Best therapy for Asthma, COPD, Bronchitis, and Emphysema

Marijuana/Cannabis can be life-saving!

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - I have written about this subject several times before starting with “Medical Marijuana: Asthma Treatment” Aug 30, 2007, and four subsequent articles. Based on comments and facebook recommends, I didn't seem to get many readers, considering there are 34 million asthma victims in the U.S. and probably 400 million in the world.

There are probably about as many COPD victims from smoking tobacco, some reports say 16 million cases.

Marijuana Addiction and Fraudulently, Costly Therapy

The Criminals Have Discovered Marijuana!

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - "Marijuana addiction" is a grossly mis-applied statement. Marijuana/Cannabis is probably the least addictive, least harmful medication ever discovered and used by humans.

The worst adverse effect in the words of many users, is “falling asleep on the way to the refrigerator for more munchies.” I wouldn't worry. Marijuana does cause sleep and hunger. Any other statement of harm, is totally overblown, but naive medical users do accidentally get “high”. This is usually of short duration and no noteworthy consequence.

Marijuana and Tobacco: A Lethal Combination

It's the tobacco, stupid!

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The Portland Tribune usually a very conservative newspaper published an astonishing article 9-28-2013 titled "Sweet Deceit Cigars Tempt Teens". The article advertises a new type of miniature cigars about the size of a cigarette and sometimes called “cigarillos”. The new trick is to have them flavored such as, strawberry, peach, grape, honey, apple, and pineapple. High School kids are going crazy over them!

And about 17% of 8-11th graders have smoked them, and the rate is increasing.