Medical Marijuana: Putting Together California’s Research

By Anna Wilde Mathews

After California became the first state to allow medical use of marijuana, legislators decided in 1999 to fund research that was supposed figure out what the drug was good for therapeutically. Now we have an answer: a report issued today says it seems to ease some types of pain, and maybe muscle spasticity from multiple sclerosis.

Of course, lots of state residents have found their own, much more varied, answers, since California’s law is one of the most open-ended about who’s eligible for medical marijuana. Anyone who can get a doctor to write a recommendation, based on just about any medical condition, can buy marijuana in California. But this is the official report from the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, based at the University of California, San Diego.

Since its 2000 founding, the center has funded 15 clinical studies, including seven trials. The results include some fodder for medical-marijuana supporters who argue for the drug’s unique importance, particularly the finding that it worked as an add-on to more standard treatments for pain stemming from nerve damage.

The report argues marijuana may have a “novel mechanism of action not fully exploited by current therapies.” The drug may also have an effect on multiple-sclerosis patients’ spastic motions “beyond the benefit available from usual medical care,” the report says. Other research hasn’t shown this effect consistently.

The report also flags some mild side effects, including dizziness and, ahem, “changes in cognition.” Marijuana opponents will probably say that the studies weren’t long-term enough to show the potential downsides of chronic use.

The center has made these findings public before — they can be found on the center’s Web site. Still, the report is important because it pulls together the results in a document that is supposed to reach the general public.

And now that 13 other states have followed California in adopting medical marijuana laws, the research is likely to play a role as the Golden State once again tries to take the lead in marijuana policy: a California ballot measure that would attempt to legalize the drug’s use by adults 21 and older is likely to come to a vote later this year.

The WSJ took a recent look at marijuana research here.

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/02/17/medical-marijuana-putting-together-californias-research/

Health Insurance and Medical Marijuana in America

Health Insurance and Medical Marijuana in America

Politicians and decision makers seem to be worried that if we make cannabis legal for medicinal use, then it will become in higher demand and people would abuse the drug more than is happening now. The Institute of Medicine (someone I’d be highly included to trust based on name alone) released a report in 1999 on medical marijuana examining whether the medical use of marijuana would lead to an increase of marijuana use in the general population and concluded that, “At this point there is no convincing data to support this concern. The existing data is consistent with the idea that this would not be a problem if the medical use of marijuana were as closely regulated as other medications with abuse potential.” The report also noted that, “this question is beyond the issues normally considered for medical uses of drugs, and should not be a factor in evaluating the therapeutic potential of marijuana or cannabinoids.”

This reminds me of the drinking age here in the United States versus other countries around the world, and rates of death and accidents caused by minors abusing drinking. If you look at statistics, young people under the legal drinking age of 21 here in the US tend to drink more excessively than youth in other countries, and I believe that is because alcohol consumption is considered to be so much more taboo here. In European countries, for example, wine will be served at family dinners, and it doesn’t seem that teenagers having a glass is a big to-do at all. This may be true for some American families, but I don’t feel it’s the norm across the board. I digress, but this example is meant to show that I think that legalizing cannabis can actually help take the taboo and stigma off of using the drug, and hopefully make people less likely to try and get their hands on it illegally.

The Health Insurance Angle

Although we’re certainly not there yet, seeing as there are still 35 states which have yet to legalize medical marijuana, it does make you wonder if cannabis can and will ever be covered by health insurance plans. This is an interesting pickle, and doesn’t seem like it could be feasible unless cannabis was legalized at the federal level. This is because health insurance plans usually cover a specific service area within the country (for example, Health Net offers coverage in California, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Arizona, and Connecticut), so if even one of the states an insurance company offered plans in didn’t have legal cannabis at the state level, then the plan couldn’t cover the drug at all.

A more radical way to get cannabis covered by health insurance plans would be for insurers to change the way their plan worked. Assuming that cannabis legalization stays at the state level and a health insurance company feels very strongly about giving medical marijuana coverage to its patients, they could choose to alter the states in which they offer coverage to coincide with states where it is legal.

There are always so many things to consider when thinking about health insurance. Some things are covered, others aren’t, and navigating the mess can seem like a hopeless pursuit. Special insurance is also something to learn about the particular types of special coverage and the conditions you may find yourself in. Arming yourself with knowledge around your health is crucial, so treat your body and mind well.

Can Medical Marijuana Help Relieve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

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Can Medical Marijuana Help Relieve Symptoms of Fibromyalgia?

10 Signs You May Be Addicted to Painkillers-Wellness.com

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Wellness.com - The Best of Health and Wellness


10 Signs You May Be Addicted to Painkillers

By Jesse Cannone

Each year, more than 2 million Americans are given powerful prescription painkillers that contain opiods (sometimes called narcotics) for the relief of pain and discomfort brought on by injury, surgery, menstrual cramps, and even headaches. But a growing number of people taking these medications are becoming addicted to them. And it's not hard to understand why.

Drugs such as Vicodin, Percocet and Methadone block pain all the way from the nerve endings in the skin to the spinal cord to the brain. Once these drugs reach the brain, they open the floodgates for the chemical dopamine, which triggers feelings of well-being. Dopamine, in effect, rewires the brain to become accustomed to those pleasant feelings. So when you stop taking the pain-killer, your body will still have a strong craving for the dopamine. This is what makes it so hard to quit. Symptoms of withdrawal can include restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, cold flashes with goose bumps (which is the origin of the term "cold turkey"), and involuntary leg movements. Better to avoid getting hooked in the first place.

Chemical dependency can happen to anyone, and it can easily sneak up on you. Here are 10 things you should look out for if you or someone you know is currently taking prescription painkillers:

1. An increase in usage
As time goes by, the effects of the initial dose will lessen, prompting a desire for stronger or more frequent doses of the prescribed medication. This is a clear indication that whatever amount they have been taking is no longer providing the same level of relief.

2. Personality changes
Changes in a person's normal behavior can be a sign of dependency. Shifts in energy, mood, and concentration may occur as every day responsibilities become secondary to the need for the relief the prescription provides.

3. Withdrawing socially
This is one of the clearest signs of a dependency problem. Spending more time alone and away from friends and family and social gatherings is a cause for concern.

4. Continuing meds too long
Extending the prescription beyond the initial period, especially after the condition has improved, can be the beginning of an endless cycle. The patient may even believe he or she is still in pain and simply needs to stay on the meds for a few more weeks or months. He or she might even express anger toward a doctor who questions the need to renew the prescription.

5. Too much time spent getting meds
There are no lengths to which a chemically dependent person will not go to obtain the drugs they think they need. This can become an all-consuming obsession, including traveling long distances and visiting many doctors. When getting the drugs seems to be the number one priority, the situation is getting out of hand.

6. Habits and appearance changes
A deterioration in physical appearance and grooming--including not bathing or shaving regularly--is a common result of drug addiction. There may be a general look of unhealthiness, such as persistent coughing and red eyes. Sleeping and eating patterns often become irregular.

7. Failure to meet responsibilities
Sudden changes in work or school attendance and a decline in quality of work or grades are common, as well as forgetting to pay bills and missing appointments.

8. Becoming oversensitive
One consequence of using potent drugs is that the body's response to any sort of stimulation is heightened. For example, a person may have an overly emotional reaction to traffic noise or bright lights--possibly including hallucinations.

9. Forgetfulness and blacking out
A person who is suffering from chemical dependency will forget things that have happened and may even experience memory gaps of several hours.

10. Denial and becoming defensive
Presented with even a hint that they may be addicted, those hooked on drugs will vehemently deny it. The harder you push, the more defensive they are like to get. They might even react to simple questions with an angry outburst.

Additional signs of chemical dependency include an inability to relax or have fun, talking incoherently or making inappropriate remarks, and expressing feelings of exhaustion, depression, and hopelessness.

Remember that painkillers are a blessing that can turn into a curse. And that it is a lot easier to avoid becoming addicted than it is to recover from drug addiction. As long as you follow your doctor's instructions (and you have others around you to make sure you do), these prescription medications will what they were designed to do--and nothing more.

Beneficial Effects of Marijuana

According to the National Institute of Health, when medical marijuana is consumed properly, patients can find relief from a number of medical conditions:

1. Marijuana is an excellent analgesia for chronic pain due to a variety of conditions.
2. It controls nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.
3. It helps with neuralgic and movement disorders, such as muscle spasticity and seizures.
4. Bon appetit-Marijuana stimulates appetite and relieves Cachexia (the physical wasting away of AIDS and cancer sufferers).
5. The drug decreases intraocular pressure inside the eyeball for relief of glaucoma.
6. Marijuana has sedative effects to reduce anxiety and depression.

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