Cannabis Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints. The symptoms are pain, inflammation and stiffness. Doctors treat RA by reducing pain, inflammation and slowing down joint damage.(Source)

A study in 1998-2002 found that illicit cannabis in the U.K. greatly reduced rheumatoid arthritis pain. The survey found that 100% of the RA sufferers found cannabis reduced symptoms “much better” (72%) or “a little better” (28%).(Source) A study in 2006 with the Cannabis Medicine Savitex showed significant improvement in pain and reduced disease activity.(Source) A 2005 survey of medical cannabis patients in Australia showed that 25% used it to treat rheumatoid arthritis.(Source)

Cannabis helps treat rheumatoid arthritis because of it's ability to reduce joint pain, inflammation and increase immunity. The endocannabinoid system affects receptors in the nervous that target joint tissue and immune cells.(Source) Cannabinoids affect the activity of the COX-2 enzymes which contribute to inflammation from arthritis.(Source) Cannabinoids also have immunosupressive properties which curtail inflammatory molecules called cytokines.(Source)

Souce:

http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Rheumatic_Disease/rheumatoid_arthritis_ff.asp

http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/content/45/6/781.1.full

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16282192

http://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/2/1/18

http://www.arthritistoday.org/arthritis-treatment/natural-and-alternative-treatments/remedies-and-therapies/medical-marijuana.php

http://www.researchgate.net/publication/51088411_Evaluation_of_the_cyclooxygenase_inhibiting_effects_of_six_major_cannabinoids_isolated_from_Cannabis_sativa

http://www.cannabis-med.org/data/pdf/2001-03-04-5.pdf

Cardiovascular Effects from Cannabis

Cardiovascular Effects from Cannabis

Studies have shown that marijuana in humans can increase heart rate and blood pressure moderately with first initial use. With regular use of cannabis these initial cardiovascular effects rapidly go away. Regular exposure to cannabis shows results of reduced blood pressure, reduced heart rate and increased vasodilation.(Source) Lowered heart rate and blood pressure is also seen in animals studies with cannabis.(Source)

Cannabinoids affect a group of lipids and receptors that control the endocannabinoid system. Anandamide is an endocannabinoid messenger molecule that helps control the heart rate and blood pressure. One way it effects the cardiovascular system is by vasodilation, or enlarging the blood vessels. Vasodilation occurs from a relaxation of artery walls to allow a larger volume of blood flow.(Source)

Dr. Phillip Leveque leads a medical marijuana doctor group with over 100,000 patients. They have found the increase in heart rate and blood pressure to be low and tolerable. In their group they have no reports of dangerous clinical hypertension. For his personal patients they average an age of 48 and have a lower percentile of hypertension than most people of that age not using marijuana.(Source) The first use of cannabis has shown to be safe for patients but still advised to be recommended by a doctor.(Source)

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11106789

http://norml.org/library/item/hypertension

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/110/14/1996.full

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/j.1552-4604.2002.tb06004.x/abstract

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/march142010/hypension-mmj.php

A Theory on Addiction

America's handling of the drug abuse problem has not been a success. In June 1971, President Nixon declared a “War on Drugs” saying that drug abuse was “Public Enemy No. 1”. The political figures continued this war with Nancy Reagan running a campaign of “Just Say No”. Four decades after the start of the War on Drugs Americans have paid more than 1 trillion dollars in arrests and imprisonment for this war. In 2010 more than 50% of all federal prisoners were arrested for drug crimes.(Source)

War on Drug has Increased Prison Population

In Johann Hari new book 'Chasing The Scream - The First And Last Days of the War on Drugs' he shows a different cure to societies addiction problem. He states that addiction comes from being lonely, isolated or depressed with their environment. Instead of looking at it as an addiction problem, Johann Hari says it is more like a bonding problem. He states that when animals are in a positive environment, the addiction tendencies fall to the wayside.(Source)

This concept by Johann Hari's is demonstrated in a study with mice and two water bottles. The mice in the study were given an option to drink from a water bottle containing water or water laced with heroin or cocaine. The mice were in small cages and in isolation. The water with drugs were always chosen. Another study is well known as Bruce Alexander's “Rat Park”. The mice were put in the cage with other mice, food, more space and exercise equipment. With a better environment to live in, the mice chose the water that did not have drugs.(Source)

Johann Hari's theory is justified in a living example of history. The American soldiers that went to Vietnam were found to have a large heroin addiction problem. Forty percent of soldiers had tried heroin and 20 percent were addicted. The government was setting up for a large rehabilitation program to deal with the soldiers coming home after the war. Surprisingly ninety-five percent of the soldiers that were addicted stopped on their own when they returned home. This confirms the correlation between a positive environment and a decrease in addictive behavior.(Source)

Hari shows and example of a government showing postive results with reducing addiction. Portugal has shown proof of social to bonding reducing addiction for the last fifteen years. With one of the worst drug problems in Europe, Portugal decriminalized all drugs. The money they saved on drug related arrests and imprisonment was used for reconnecting people. They used the money for subsidized jobs, housing and clinics to socially deal with their problems in a comforting way. With this new approach Portugal's injection drug use is down by 50 percent. America with it's drug addiction failings can benefit from decriminalizing drugs and improving social society.(Source)

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/08/drug-war-mass-incarceration_n_3034310.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/johann-hari/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936.html

http://www.parl.gc.ca/content/sen/committee/371/ille/presentation/alexender-e.htm

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1521-0391.2010.00046.x/abstract

http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org/content/50/6/999.abstract

Harlequin Strain

Harlequin Marijuana Strain is High in CBD

Harlequin strain is for patients of medical marijuana looking for high pain relief. Harlequin is known for its high potency of the cannabinoid CBD. A ratio of 5:2 CBD to THC gives medication that is low in psycho-active sedation. Having some THC allows for the analgesic to be more effective than other strains that are void of THC. Harlequin is 75% sativa dominant which gives the effects of alertness while giving the ability to relax.

The Harlequin strain is a cross between the Columbian Gold, Swiss and Thai sativa with a Nepalese Indica Landrace strain. The smell has been described as sweet and tropical while the taste is fairly bland to sweet. The buds are thick with trichome orange hairs which overtake the green in the bud. Most strains while being cultivated increase in CBD while maturing. Harlequin is unique in that its highest concentration of CBD is earlier and diminishes with maturity.

OUTCO typically stocks Harlequin as a tincture for patients. Our staff in El Cajon just outside of San Diego is knowledgeable and compassionate to care for their members needs. Patients describe Harlequin for helping pain, seizures, anxiety, stress, nausea and muscle spasms. Please stop by or contact us for individual attention to your questions and needs.

Source:

http://www.leafly.com/sativa/harlequin

http://www.marijuana.com/news/2013/08/harlequin-marijuana-strain-review-and-photos-high-in-cbd-low-in-thc/

The Eagle Scout Strain

Eagle Scout Cannabis Strain

One of the newest top shelf strains that OUTCO has available is the Eagle Scout Strain. As an indica dominant flower with great potency you better “Be Prepared” for this one. Eagle Scout is a cross between the favorites Girl Scout Cookie and Skywalker OG.

Eagle Scout Strain has a spicy sweet smell and fruity and savory flavor. The flowers have a good balance of green and purple leaves with orange hairs. The bud wears frosty resin all over like badges on a boy scout.

Patients describe the effects as a head high with full body relaxation. Eagle Scout is perfect as a medicine for night-time use because of it's sedative qualities. Patients report excellent results as a pain reliever, and a treatment for PTSD, depression, insomnia, and nausea. It has the ability to increase appetite.

OUTCO is a medical marijuana dispensary in El Cajon California. We serve all of San Diego County with fully legal quality medicine. Contact our knowledgeable staff on your treatment needs.

How Cannabis Helps with Creativity

One common trait of famous people in society is their ability to be creative. Marijuana has been known for enhancing creativity. There is scientific basis evidence to support the correlation to cannabis and thinking outside the box. Many famous artists have admitted to the use of marijuana.

Alice Flaherty from the Department of Neurology at Harvard Medical School researched how creativity worked in the brain. Different parts of the brain work on creativity in different ways to give balance. The Frontal Lobe judges ideas and decides the values of the idea and divergent thinking. The Temporal Lobe gives idea generation with no concern about quality.(Source)

Research has shown that the frontal lobe activity increases with a rise in cerebral blood flow (CBF).(Source) Smoking cannabis increases Cerebral blood flow. Studies have shown that the CBF peaks thirty minutes after smoking.(Source)

An increase in dopamine allows for the mind to have more inhibited and novel thoughts.(Source) Cannabis has been shown to increase dopamine levels.(Source) Dopamine allows the brain to disregard outside “white noise” stimulus. This allows the brain to focus on a certain thought and enhance all of the possibilities giving to creativity.(Source)

It's not a surprise that popular figures in society benefit from the use of cannabis. On the TV show 60 Minutes Lady Gaga told the reporter “I smoke a lot of pot when I write music.” Marijuana residue was found in pipe fragments of William Shakespeare's garden. Carl Sagan was a big advocate to marijuana and the decriminalizing of it in society. Bill Gates was known to smoke weed in college and a strong advocate for legalizing marijuana in his state of Washington.(Source)

Source:

https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/articles/18.2_Talise_J_Marijuana_1.html

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2571074/

http://www.biblioteca.juriquilla.unam.mx/WONDERLAND/collect/inb_Lucene/index/assoc/HASH01cc.dir/doc.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1324250

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18754005

http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/10673775

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/7-successful-famous-cannabis-smoking-geniuses

Ruling Allows Concentrates to be Legal in California

Marijuana Concentrates

For over a year, Californians were unclear on whether concentrates were legal. For medical marijuana users, a court ruling made patients feel on edge. Patients throughout the state, and of our patient at Outco, will be glad to know that the ruling was overturned just a short time ago, and it is now clear that concentrates can be used as a legal delivery mechanism.

In 2013, Sean Patrick Mulcrevy was charged with unlawful possession of concentrated cannabis. The ruling issued by El Dorado Superior Court Judge James R. Wagoner determined that Mulcrevy had committed a misdemeanor, noting that he violated his probation from failure “to obey all laws.” On December 22, 2014, the three-justice panel of the 3^rd District Court of Appeal reversed the ruling. They made an important statement that marijuana concentrates are protected under the 1996 Medical Marijuana Law of California.

In 1996 California Proposition 215 stated:

“all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L.,whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, its seeds or resin.”

The justices M. Kathleen Butz, Vance W. Rays and Cole Blease based their ruling on the interpretation of that proposition.

Source:

http://www.thedailychronic.net/2014/39558/concentrates-proteced-under-medical-marijuana-law-california-court-rules/

Cannabis Begins it's Medicinal Benefits with Cannabigerolic acid (CBGa)

CBGa is Cannabis in the Raw

All cannabinoids start out as cannabigerolic acid (CBGa). Eating raw fresh cannabis that contains CBGa has medicinal benefits with different effects than other cannabinoids. As a result of it's non-psychoactive nature CBGa can be consumed in larger quantities than THC.

Fresh and raw cannabis typically breaks down CBGa into other cannabinoids quickly after harvest. Some industrial hemp strains have shown to have CBGa that doesn't convert to other cannabinoids. It has been speculated that these strains hold a recessive gene which doesn't allow this conversion. If a strain has a high CBGa content then smoking it will add heat and change it to CBG.(Source)

CBGa has been found to interact with a different cannabinoid receptor than THC. Ruth Ross from the University of Aberdeen found that CBGa was an antagonist for the cannabinoid receptor GPR55. She found that CBGa and CBDa were 2-4 times stronger in affecting GPR55 than CBD and CBG.(Source) GPR55 has shown to target inflammatory pain, neuropathic pain and aid in bone development.(Source)

Dr. William Courtney ,a leading physician advocating the use of raw cannabis, says:

“If you heat the plant, you get decarboxylated THCa – THC, and you will have psychoactive effects with only 10mg of THC. If it is not heated, you can take from 500 to 600 mg of THCa, use it as essential nutrient and enjoy the antioxidant and neuroprotective properties that these high doses offer you.”

In the raw form cannabis gives a powerful dietary component of essential fatty acids, essential aminoacids, fibers, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, carotenoids, terpenes and of course phytocannabinoid acids. (Source)

Source:

http://www.medicaljane.com/2013/08/03/cannabigerol-cbg-is-a-minor-cannabinoid-with-major-impact/

http://www.jbc.org/content/287/1/91.full.pdf

http://grantome.com/grant/NIH/R01-DA023204-08

http://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogen/dr-courtneys-raw-cannabis-juice/

The Differences Cannabis Raw, Heated or Aged

The Differences Cannabis Raw, Heated or Aged

Different cannabinoids are created when the flower is exposed to UV light, aging, oxidation and heat. Each cannabinoid has unique medicinal effects.

Cannabis is unique in that it is the only plant able to produce cannabigerolicacid (CBGa). The first cannabinoid the cannabis plant produces in raw form is CBGa. Cannabis synthesizes through natural enzymes to change CBGa into three main cannabinoid branches. CBGa is in an unstable form and typically is converted to other cannabinoids quickly. These three cannabinoids types are tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCa), Cannabidiolic acid (CBDa) and Cannabichromenic acid (CBCa).

Heat changes cannabinoids into THC, CBD, CBG and CBN. This conversion process is created by losing a carbon dioxide molecule (CO2). In this state they are thought to be in a neutral form. When a strain has a high CBGa content smoking it will add heat and change it to CBG.

Raw or heated cannabis can turn into different cannabinoids when it has oxidation and age. THCa with oxidation will change to CBNa. Aged THC will change into CBN or Tetra8 THC. When aged CBC will turn into CBL. Raw CBCa turns into CBLa over time.

CBD Helps with Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

  

Intervetebral Disc Degeneration

On December 17^th, 2014 a study was published on how cannabis can benefit Intervertebral Disc Degeneration. This study was a small sample done on mice. The results coincide with other findings that cannabis helps with inflammation in cartilage such as rheumatoid arthritis.(Source)

 Intervertebral discs are in between the vertebrae of the spine. The discs are a cartilage joint that allows movement in the spine. They serve a crucial purpose to absorb shock and act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.(Source)

  Disc degeneration is caused from inflammation, metabolism of cells and neo-innervation. Cannabidiol CBD has shown to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing metabolism of bone cells and a nerve protect-ant. This new study is the first to explore the use of CBD in helping disc degeneration. The results concluded that the higher dosage of CBD showed improvement in the Invertebral Discs.(Source)

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4269422/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intervertebral_disc

http://norml.org/library/item/rheumatoid-arthritis

Cannabis with AIDS | HIV-Positive Patients

Marijuana and AIDS | HIV Positive

Studies have shown great benefits for AIDS | HIV-Positive patients. Clinical studies have shown that cannabis helps with pain , anxiety, immunity, mood, sleep, appetite, fatigue, nausea and bone weight loss.

  Wasting syndrome is a main result of AIDS patients in where body mass is reduced. This is from symptoms of nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety. AIDS drugs on the market currently are used to treat these problems. Patients have demonstrated that these medications are not equally effective in all patients. Many AIDS sufferers describe marijuana as being a better choice than prescribed medication. The main reasons for choosing marijuana is the rapid-onset when smoked which helps in relief with less side effects.(Source)

  Pain management contributes to fatigue and mood for HIV patients. A study done published in the 2007 journal Neurology studied cannabis and pain of HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. Donald I. Abrams, MD, Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco concluded that cannabis was as effective as other oral drugs used for chronic neuropathic pain.(Source)

Ways of Administering Cannabis

  Some HIV patients are given Dronabinol which is a synthetic THC over the counter drug. Margaret Haney's research in “Dronabinol and Marijuana in HIV-Positive Marijuana Smokers: Caloric Intake, Mood, and Sleep” studied the effect of Dronabinol. Her findings concluded that both Dronabinol and Marijuana smoking increased appetite and body weight. She also found that only marijuana improved sleep and Dronabinol was effective only at 8 times the current recommendation.(Source)

Major Supporters of Cannabis Treatment for AIDS

  Cannabis being a benefit for treatment to HIV is backed by large supporters. The American Academy of HIV Medicine is the largest independent organization giving active treatment to 340,000 HIV patients. They Provide care for more than two-thirds of HIV patients of America. They were asked, “Should marijuana be a medical option?” by Reason Magazine in 2007. Their response was “ When appropriately prescribed and monitored, marijuana/cannabis can provide immeasurable benefits for the health and well-being of our patients.”(Source)

 Other supporters have weighed in on the support of marijuana for AIDS patients. Consumer Reports in May 1997 stated, “Consumer Reports believes that, for patients with advanced AIDS and terminal cancer, the apparent benefits some derive from smoking marijuana outweigh any substantiated or even suspected risks." Kate Scannell, MD and Co-Director of Kaiser-Permanente Northern California Ethics Department stated in the San Fransisco Chronicle in 2003, "From working with AIDS and cancer patients, I repeatedly saw how marijuana could ameliorate a patient's debilitating fatigue, restore appetite, diminish pain, remedy nausea, cure vomiting and curtail down-to-the-bone weight loss."

Source:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10839332

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.source.php?sourceID=003433

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17589370

http://www.neurology.org/content/68/7/515.abstract

http://www.neurology.org/content/68/7/515.abstract

CBD Tinctures

CBD Tinctures at OUTCO

OUTCO offers CBD Tinctures at the El Cajon Dispensary or Free Delivery for your convenience. Patients describe Cannabidiol (CBD) as treatment for pain, depression, anxiety, muscle spasms, and inflammation. Clinical research has shown CBD to be anti-bacterial, reduce cancer cells, a bone stimulant and a neuroprotectant. CBD is the cannabinoid in marijuana that has the most known benefits without a psychotic effect.

Typically patients use the tincture by putting 1-3 drops under their tongue. More drops can be used as needed. OUTCO has a proprietary method of extracting the CBD to a high concentrated form. Tinctures come in a choice of glycerin or alcohol. Glycerin patients describe as tasting better, while alcohol seems to provide more immediate relief.

5 Benefits for Marijuana over Opiates to Treat Pain

  More than 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain and approximately 4% suffer from neuropathic pain worldwide.(Source) Opiates are the most common prescribed medication for pain in the United States. Research has shown that the success rate of opiates for treating pain is 30-40% with horrible side effects.(Source) In 2007 prescription pain killers contributed to 42% of all drug deaths in America.(Source) Research has shown that Cannabis is a favorable alternative to opiate pain medication.

Benefit #1 Cannabis Treats your Emotional Response to Pain

  In 2010 Oxford University conducted a study on how pain is perceived. In the study volunteers were told if electric charges would be dangerous or not before they received them. The perception of danger made the charges more painful. The brain felt pain before the charge was administered.(Source)

Cannabis relaxes the emotional response by affecting the brain receptors that deal with emotion.

Benefit #2 Cannabis Reduces Cancer Growth

  Many studies have shown that marijuana lowers cancer cell growth.(Source) In 2012 the University of Chicago put out a report to showing that opiates may increase cancer growth. Jonathan Moss, MD, PhD, professor of anesthesiology and critical care at the University of Chicago Medicine said "Epidemiologic findings suggest that the type of anesthesia we do for cancer surgery influences recurrence rate, and laboratory studies demonstrate that opioids influence tumor progression and metastasis,". In another study, cancer cells in the lungs show 5-10 times as many opiod receptors than non-cancer cells.(Source)

Benefit #3 Cannabis is Less Addictive than Opiates

  A study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) found that 9% of cannabis users have an addiction problem.(Source) To put this in perspective, 8% of Americans are addicted to Facebook, checking their account 11 or more times a day.(Source) Heroin is an opiate that has a 23% abuse rate.(Source) In 2010 two million people reported using prescription painkillers for non-medical reasons in a one year period (5,500 a day).(Source)

Benefit #4 Cannabis Reduces Side Effects that Opiates Have

  Opiates are Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants. If the CNS is overly-depressed too far this can result in difficulty with the heart beating or the ability to breathe.(Source) Other side effects include hormonal imbalance, constipation, nausea, and drowsiness.(Source) Studies have found that using cannabis along with opiates reduces side effects and decreases addiction.(Source)

Benefit #5 Cannabis Overdose Deaths = 0

  There have been no reported overdose deaths for marijuana. (Source) In 2010 the number of opiate overdose deaths were 16,651. Six percent of people who use prescribed opiates use it as a gateway drug for heroin use. (Source) In 2012 the opioid heroin use resulted in 5,925 deaths as a result of overdose.

Source:

http://www.prweb.com/pdfdownload/8052240.pdf

http://cannabisnowmagazine.com/cannabis/medical/marijuana-works-better-than-opiates-to-control-pain-heres-how

http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pdf/poison-issue-brief.pdf

http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Relieving-Pain-in-America-A-Blueprint-for-Transforming-Prevention-Care-Education-Research.aspx

http://www.uchospitals.edu/news/2012/20120321-opioid.html

http://justiniskandar.empowernetwork.com/blog/internet-and-facebook-addiction

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin

http://archive.samhsa.gov/data/NSDUH/2k11Results/NSDUHresults2011.htm

http://cannabisnowmagazine.com/cannabis/medical/marijuana-works-better-than-opiates-to-control-pain-heres-how

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22880540

http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/causes_of_death#sthash.q4PDb6Tl.dpbs

Cookie Dough Strain

Cookie Dough Strain

Cookie Dough strain is from the phenotype of Girl Scout Cookie and is well known for the high powered effect, sweet smell and taste. Patients describe Cookie Dough as fast acting for relaxation, treatment of pain and stress with extended relief. Much like the other cookie strains it helps with nausea and appetite stimulation. Many prefer the strain for night time use as Cookie Dough aids in restfulness.

OUTCO currently has Cookie Dough in inventory. The Cookie Dough strain has small dense buds that are light green with orange hairs.  Similar to the strain Girl Scout Cookie it originates from OG Kush and Durban Poison. Although the Cookie Dough strain is unknown in it's origin, it may have originated from “The Cookie Family” outside of San Francisco that made the beloved GSC strain. The elusive growers steer clear of publicity but have found their strains in Cannabis Cups and fared well in awards.

Source

http://ireadculture.com/article-2896-cookie-dough.html

http://www.hightimes.com/read/inside-girl-scout-cookies