The Benefits of THCa

Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid (THCa) is a cannabinoid found in raw marijuana. THCa begins to convert to THC while the cannabis flower is still on the plant. Therapeutic properties can be attributed to THCa including pain relief and reducing inflammation. The non-psychoactive effects allow patients to take at a higher dose for treatment.

Eating raw cannabis by juicing or tincture will provide ample amounts of THCa. Lab results of the flowers containing THC actually show how much THCa will be converted to THC when heated. Generally, the THCa consists of 5-25% of the marijuana plant itself.

Studies have shown that THCa has anti-inflammatory properties that can help arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pain, and gastrointestinal problems. (Source) Tetrahydrocannabinolic Acid can improve and reduce the effects of neurodegenerative disease. (Source) The antiemetic properties in THCa also helps patients with HIV\Aids and cancer. (Source) And finally, research has shown that THCa can slow or stop cancer growth in the prostate. (Source)

Source:

https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/bpb/34/5/34_5_774/_article

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22571976

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2042-7158.1981.tb13806.x/abstract

 https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3570006/

Dr. William Courtney

Dr. William Courtney is an advocate for consuming raw cannabis. He is a proponent for eating fresh marijuana flowers for their therapeutic and nutritional value. The psycho-active quality of marijuana is not present in the raw flowers, allowing consumers to continue with their daily activities unimpaired.

Raw cannabis has healing properties without the dangers of smoking. The cannabinoids CBGa, CBCa, THCa, and CBDa are present in raw cannabis that hasn't been aged. Tinctures with high potency of these cannabinoids can be made without the threat of psycho-active side effects. Dr. Courtney states that a tolerable dose of 10 mg limits THC from being as beneficial as THCa, which can have a dose of 100-200 times greater.(Source)

The essential fatty acids, essential amino acids, and phyto-cannabinoids are the focus of Dr. Courtney's mission to popularize the use of cannabis in a daily diet. He’s working to find a minimum daily requirement guide for raw cannabis to be included in health maintenance. He is part of Cannabis International Foundation which supports an international treaty for cannabis to be recognized as a dietary supplement. (Source)

Dr. William Courtney has recently been in the press for aiding in treatment of a baby’s cancer. The child’s parents used the suggestion from Dr. Courtney to apply CBD oil on the baby’s pacifier. The goal was to reduce an inoperable brain tumor in an eight month old baby. The results were outstanding - the tumor shrunk, allowing the child to thrive. Dr. Courtney stated that “this child... is not going to have the long-term side effects that would come from a very high dose of chemotherapy or radiation... currently the child's being called a miracle baby.” (Source)

What to Expect with the First Time using Marijuana

Many patients who turn to marijuana for conditions such as cancer are generally novices at using marijuana. Trying marijuana for the first time can lead to emotions like fear and anxiety, along with feeling alone. Luckily, our society has a high acceptance for the use of medical marijuana.

Getting a doctor’s recommendation is the first step to your treatment. Find a legally compliant medical marijuana dispensary by asking your doctor in your area or searching online. For example, OUTCO is the first legally compliant dispensary in San Diego, California. You will need to bring your medical recommendation and valid a California ID with you to the dispensary. Set aside some time for your first visit so you can talk to the dispensary staff about your conditions.

Marijuana comes in many different forms as well as different potencies. Different marijuana flowers will give various treatment results. They will explain the differences between Sativa and Indica strains, the delivery methods to use cannabis (smoking, concentrate, tincture, raw, or in edible form) should also be considered. 

Your first time with marijuana may yield different results than a frequent user.  As you practice and gain experience, your body will build endocannabinoid receptors that accept the medicine more readily.(Source) Use in small doses and increase slowly to get the desired treatment. This process is especially important with edibles as it may take longer to feel the effects of this method.

The “High” in Cannabis

The “high” that marijuana gives can be a desired result - or something the patient does not want. Effects from cannabis are different depending on the potency of THC, the way it is consumed, and the patient’s body chemistry. Every patient has a unique experience with marijuana.

When cannabis is heated, THCa will convert to THC, resulting in the “high.” Some describe it as being relaxing and euphoric with sedation and tranquility. (Source) Research showed that the user’s state of mind can influence the marijuana’s effects. Factors such as anxiety, low self-esteem, and worrying can cause short term paranoia.(Source)

The euphoric feeling is caused because THC mimics a neurotransmitter called anandamide. It is known as a “bliss” messenger cell that relieves pain and stimulates appetite. Anadamide breaks down naturally before it gives a euphoric feeling. When the THC is introduced, it will have a longer lasting effect, resulting in the feeling of being “high.” (Source)

Source:

http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/marijuana.asp

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/research-explains-why-pot-can-make-you-paranoid/

Rick Simpson Oil

Rick Simpson Oil

Rick Simpson Oil (RSO) is named after the developer of the famous product. Rick Simpson created the oil to cure his cancer. Many others have cited the nutrient rich oil as a cure for their own cancer.(Source)

A full spectrum of cannabinoids are present in Rick Simpson Oil, most notably THC. The benefits of the cannabinoids together give different medicinal effects than CBD Oil. (Source) Also named Phoenix Tears, RSO is made from a recipe that is available on Rick Simpson's website. The oil uses Indica strain flowers, so the color varies with each batch. Patients can ingest the oil or apply it directly on the skin for targeted relief.

When starting out with RSO, ingest a small amount (approx. the size of a grain of rice). The oil is very potent and should only be used when you’re not working or driving. Once you start your treatment, you will build a tolerance - with time, you will be able to take more RSO in a single dose. (Source)

Source:

http://www.zamnesia.com/content/361-the-difference-between-cbd-oil-and-rick-simpson-oil

http://phoenixtears.ca/what-it-does-and-how-it-works/

http://boards.cannabis.com/threads/my-experience-with-rick-simpson-oil.200017/

Casa Luna CBD Edibles

Casa Luna Edibles

There is nothing better than nourishing your body while indulging in delight! Casa Luna handcrafts their chocolate bars with quality ingredients, infusing their treats with anti-oxidants to boost your health. They are also unique as they add cannabidiol (CBD) so patients can doubly enjoy their medicine.

Casa Luna controls every aspect of production, from the cocoa bean seed to the final product. The chocolate is 100% organic and made with kosher certified ingredients. Grown on family-owned small farms, the cocoa bean goes through a process of fermenting, drying, and roasting to release the chocolate’s flavors.

A wide assortment of Casa Luna chocolate bars are available at Outliers Collective. Super foods (such as Goji Berries, Maca, and Pomegranate) are infused in the chocolate for an added health boost. Vegan and sugar free chocolate is also available.

Alta California Botanicals

Alta California Botanicals

Outliers Collective carries Alta California Botanicals in El Cajon, San Diego. Alta products are 100% organic cannabis tinctures made for specific treatments. They use primarily cannabinoids CBD, THC, and THCa to give different beneficial effects to their medicine.

Based in San Francisco, Alta uses legally grown marijuana to make Cannabis-Based Medical Extracts (CBME). Quality standards and hygienic practices result in their products being consistent and safe. Alta California Botanicals is an all-natural remedy without negative side effects.

Members at OUTCO can benefit from Alta's various tinctures. The Pain Relief Tincture has a high concentration of THCa. When not heated, it can provide pain relief without a psycho-active effect. The Anxiety Relief Tincture is formulated with CBD to offer the maximum in healing properties. Alta's Stress Relief Tincture is a psycho-active treatment that allows for a euphoric feeling and should be used at the end of the day.

Dr. Daniele Piomelli

Dr. Piomelli is a professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology at the University of California, Irvine. He runs the Piomelli lab which researches the messenger molecules that affect the function of the brain and organs. His goal is to understand how we experience pain, feel anxious, crave food, our sleep patterns, and inflammation as a result of brain signaling. Dr. Piomelli's research has led him to become an advocate for the use of medical marijuana.

Mapping the brain’s signaling has led Piomelli's research to focus on the endocannabinoid system. Our bodies naturally produce cannabinoids that work with the endocannabinoid system in order to regulate the messenger system in our body. Cannabis has cannabinoids that attach to the same cell receptors, resulting in similar effects. By increasing or decreasing the endocannabinoid system, Piomelli is discovering ways to treat pain, depression, and inflammation with the use of marijuana. His results have proven to be more effective with fewer negative effects than current prescription drug medication.

Piomelli comes from Naples, Italy; there his family owned a pharmacy for over 400 years. Keeping with his family tradition, Piomelli has taken pharmacology further in the search for new drugs. Piomelli states, "The study of the body's cannabinoid system is relatively young, scientifically speaking, but it's presenting promising opportunities for drug discovery... I feel we're on the forefront of a new frontier." Piomelli has been studying the endocannabinoid system since its discovery in the late 1980's.

In the 1990's, Piomelli published research in the scientific journal Nature which discussed how the endocannabinoid compound ‘anandamide’ is created. This “bliss molecule” triggers behavior with appetite, motivation, and pleasure. Piomelli found that it helps patients cope with stress and depression.

Piomelli advocates for the use of marijuana for medical purposes. He has also lamented the struggle he’s faced while researching marijuana due to its Schedule I drug classification. Piomelli states that cannabis can be difficult to dose correctly in its natural state as each flower has a different potency. Despite these hurdles, he still finds marijuana to be a powerful drug, meant to treat many conditions.

Source:

http://www.pharmacology.uci.edu/research/labs/piomelli.asp

https://www.som.uci.edu/features/feature-piomelli-05152012.asp

Sniffing your Treatment

Terpenes make up the fragrant smells of cannabis. Each terpene has a distinct odor and specific therapeutic properties. By smelling the cannabis flower, you may be able to figure out what treatment it provides!

Terepene Treatments Based on Smell

The Top 10 Terpenes found in Cannabis

Alpha Pinene – Gives off a pungent turpentine odor; reduces THC psychosis effects in cannabis. Beneficial as an anti-inflammatory while reducing pain. Helps bacteria infections, asthma, memory retention, and also slows cancer tumor growth.

Borneol – Has a camphor smell; helps with wound-healing, including fibrosis. Aids in delivering treatment by improving absorption through the blood-brain barrier.

β-Caryophyllene - Has a peppery scent; cannabinoid effects the CB2 receptor to help with anxiety, inflammation, perception of pain, autoimmune disorders, and depression. Acts as a neuroprotectant and reduces alcohol consumption.

Cineole \ Eucalyptol – Smells similar to rosemary with notes of spicy camphor; increases the absorption and circulation of medicine.

P-Cymene – Has a fresh, carroty odor that is antimicrobial and anti-fungal; helps to relax muscles, including cardiac muscles, which can lead to lower blood pressure.

Delta 3 Carene – Gives off a pine scent; acts as an antihistamine, eliciting a calming feeling to aid in well being. Has anti-inflammatory properties and acts as a nervous system depressant; serves as a great complementary treatment for anxiety and insomnia.

Isopulegol – Gives off a minty menthol smell; also has a cooling effect, anti-oxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties that help with breathing, pain, ulcers, and seizures.

Limonene – Has a strong citrus scent; works like a cleanser to dissolve gallstones, reduces reflux/heartburn and cholesterol while destroying cancer. Is an anti-oxidant, anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory while detoxification properties help the liver. Improves mood, weight management, and sleep.

Linalool – Releases a spicy floral fragrance; reduces stress, pain, convulsions, and treats burns.

Nerolidol – Has a woody bark smell; acts as a sedative. Absorbed through skin to aid topical medication. Has anti-fungal properties while reducing malaria infections.

New Evidence that Marijuana can Fight Alzheimer's Disease

Cannabis and Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease leads to irreversible, progressive mental deterioration that worsens over time. It is thought that the cause is a lifetime of brain inflammation. Cannabis has been shown to be a safe anti-inflammatory medicine. Researchers believe the use of marijuana can prevent and slow the onset of Alzheimer's.(Source)

A study at the University of Florida found that very low doses of the cannabinoid THC can slow Alzheimer's progression. The increase of the protein Amyloid-β has been found to be linked to Alzheimer's disease. The Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana was found to lower Amyloid-β levels while also increasing beneficial mitochondrial function.(Source)

A low dose of marijuana increases the function of the cannabinoid system in the body. Research shows this increased functioning results in an anti-oxidant boosting of energy to the cells and a reduction in inflammation. It is believed that the use of marijuana early in life results in a slower progression of Alzheimer's as a person ages.(Source)

The entire cannabis plant contributes as a source of treatment. Essential Fatty Acids found in marijuana act as an anti-inflammatory agent. The cannabinoid Cannabichhrome (CBC) promotes brain stem cell growth which leads to a reduction in dementia. The “Entourage Effect” generated by using the whole flower is equally beneficial in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease.

Source:

http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2014/11/29/marijuana-fights-alzheimers-disease-study-indicates/

http://healthland.time.com/2012/10/29/how-cannabinoids-may-slow-brain-aging/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17140265

http://rstb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/367/1607/3326

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2014/03/02/marijuana-may-prevent-alzheimers-but-research-hits-dead-end/#13130103=0&19612101=0

The Link between Cannabis and Breast Milk

Babies with their pacifiers and munchies after marijuana may go hand in hand. Cannabis and breast milk both effect the endocannabinoid system. Cannabinoids aid the body in creating a stable internal environment. The cannabinoids in breast milk provide health benefits that help babies grow and thrive.

A human embryo at 14 weeks of gestation starts forming cannabinoid receptors. By twenty weeks, the receptors grow at a rapid rate and start to function. Research suggests that the early formation helps to mature the nervous system.(Source)

The 2004 European Journal of Pharmacology article stated that "endocannabinoids have been detected in maternal milk and activation of CB1 (cannabinoid receptor type 1) receptors appears to be critical for milk sucking.”(Source) The desire to suck is integral to the life-affirming need for nourishment.

Some of the same active cannabinoids found in marijuana are in high concentration in breast milk. The endocannabinoid system boosts immunity, reduces inflammation, relieves pain, and increases appetite by regulating the internal systems of the body.

Source:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014299904007423

http://pharmrev.aspetjournals.org/content/58/3/389.full#title49

http://www.naturalnews.com/036526_cannabinoids_breast_milk_THC.html

http://www.cannabiscure.info/files/cannabis_breastmilk.htm

Groundbreaking Bill to Allow Veterans Access to Medical Marijuana

On May 21, 2015, a historic vote passed, allowing veterans access to medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment, which succeeded with a vote of 18 to 12 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, is the first positive legislation regarding access to marijuana granted by the U.S. Senate.

States that have passed medical marijuana rights will be allowed to utilize this ruling. Veteran Administration (VA) doctors now will be able to recommend medical marijuana. The Veterans Equal Access Amendment was sponsored by Senator Steve Daines (Rep) and Senator Jeff Merkley (Dem).

Medical Marijuana has shown to treat multiple conditions faced by veterans. Depression, PTSD, anxiety, and chronic pain are a few diseases for which veterans have sought access to medical marijuana. It is estimated that every 22 minutes, a veteran takes their own life.(Source) A study published in 2014 concluded that PTSD patients who used marijuana showed a 75% reduction in symptoms.(Source) Veterans see this as a positive step in restoring first amendment rights.(Source)

Source:

http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/2015/05/historic-vote-senate-appropriations-committee-approves-veterans-medical-marijuana-amend

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24830188

A New DEA Lead Holds Promise for Marijuana

Chuck Rosenberg was appointed as the new DEA’s administrator this month. He is quoted as saying that he will spend less time and money restricting marijuana access. His efforts are reported to focus more on heroin and harder drugs. (Source)

A public scandal has led to a change in leadership of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Former DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart stepped down after DEA was found hiring prostitutes and leaving a man in jail without food or water for five days. The Obama administration chose Chuck Rosenberg, former chief of staff to FBI Director James B. Comey.

Many advocates for marijuana are cautiously optimistic of the DEA power shift. The past administrator, Leonhart, enforced the restriction of marijuana. President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have played a hands-off role in regards to marijuana enforcement. Chuck Rosenberg shows promise on working together with the Obama administration in order to allow the states to regulate marijuana.

Source:

https://www.leafly.com/news/headlines/new-chief-of-the-dea-vows-to-focus-less-on-cannabis

Montel Williams Supports Medical Marijuana

Television personality Montel Williams has many reasons to support medical marijuana use. With past military service, Williams is an advocate for Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access. (Source) He's a spokesman for the Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) which emphasizes the desire for access to medication to all. Montel Williams also suffers from multiple sclerosis and uses medical marijuana for treatment.

In 2011, Montel Williams helped start a marijuana dispensary in Sacramento, California. He advocates for regulation, quality, and safe dispensary of medical marijuana. His efforts focus on people who medically need cannabis, not those who use marijuana for recreational use.(Source)

Montel Williams was a daytime talk-show host for seventeen years but his advocacy for medical marijuana did not begin until after the show. He was arrested in 2011 for possession of marijuana and subsequently released. He recognizes marijuana as an integral part to his treatment for multiple sclerosis:

"For immediate cessation I smoke it," Williams says. "Most of the time I eat it at night because I suffer from extreme tremors in the evening and I also suffer from extreme neuralgic pain in my feet. If I eat it in the evening it takes [the pain] from a six to about a three. When I pop out of bed, I'm normally at my best, so that's when I work out and I try to get as much work done early in the day. As I get later on in the day, my feet start to go on fire. When they start to hit the fire mark I'm easing my pain, it's just that simple. I've been speaking to politicians all around the country and all around the world on this issue and you'd be surprised that more people understand and back it and believe in it." (Source)

Source:

http://www.veteransformedicalmarijuana.org/endorsement/montel-williams

http://www.thefix.com/content/montels-high-marijuana-12600

http://www.celebstoner.com/celebstoners/profile/montel-williams/

The NIDA has Changed to a Pro-Pot Position

In the last 6 months the National Institute of Drug Abuse has changed their position on medical marijuana. On December 16^th, 2014 a report was released by the NIDA that led to their change in opinion. The results showed that acceptance and use of marijuana has gone up dramatically while illicit drugs and alcohol abuse has been reduced.(Source)

In July 2012 NIDA stated:

“The use of marijuana to treat various medical conditions—or “medical marijuana”—is a controversial topic and has been for some time. Some people have argued that marijuana’s reported beneficial effects on a variety of symptoms justify its legalization as a medicine for certain patients. Often the potential harm of marijuana use is not considered in these arguments, although risk is part of what the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) assesses when deciding whether to approve a medicine.”

A dramatic shift on how NIDA views marijuana was revised in December 2014:

“The marijuana plant contains several chemicals that may prove useful for treating a range of illnesses or symptoms, leading many people to argue that it should be made legally available for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states (20 as of March 2014) have legalized marijuana’s use for certain medical conditions.

The term “medical marijuana” is generally used to refer to the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or its crude extracts, which are not recognized or approved as medicine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But scientific study of the active chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, has led to the development of two FDA-approved medications already, and is leading to the development of new pharmaceuticals that harness the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids while minimizing or eliminating the harmful side effects (including the “high”) produced by eating or smoking marijuana leaves.”(Source)

This ideology shift has led to recent movements by the government for research and public access to marijuana. On March 10, 2015 the CARERS Act was introduced to downgrade marijuana to a schedule II drug. This bill would remove cannabidiol from the Controlled Substance Act allowing for intrastate sales.

Source:

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/04/15/the-us-finally-admits-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells/

http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/monitoring-future

http://animalnewyork.com/2015/federal-health-agency-greenlights-medical-weed/

The Benefits of Cannabis with Asthma

It seems hard to believe that smoking marijuana can help asthma. Unlike smoking nicotine that constricts the lung passageways, THC in cannabis expands the airways. Amazingly, cannabis consumed by smoking has been shown to reduce asthma symptoms.

Asthma attacks are muscle contractions. Restricted breathing is initiated from a signaling molecule called acetycholine. Dr. Tashkin, a lung expert from UCLA, studies the use of cannabis for asthma patients. He stated that traditional asthma medications “prevent the acetycholine from binding to its receptor. But THC works proximal to that. It doesn't have any competitive effect for binding to receptors. It just prevents the acetylcholine from being released.”

Different ways of consuming cannabis have shown a variety of results with asthma treatment. Taken orally, it is not strong enough and takes too long to be effective. Traditional asthma inhalers using THC make people cough. This is due to THC being a large enough molecule to cause a cough response. Smoking marijuana can offer immediate asthma relief. This method is not ideal due to noxious chemicals that can cause inflammation to the respiratory tissue. The best effective method is with THC being delivered through a vaporizer.

A twenty year study with people that suffer with asthma showed decrease in symptoms from cannabis use.(Source) Cannabis has been found to be a bronchodilator.(Source) Currently medicine including marijuana targets short-term asthma attacks. Researchers are looking into the possibility of cannabis providing a long-term treatment for asthma.(Source)

Source:

http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=1104848

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1429361/

https://www.leafly.com/news/health/can-cannabis-help-asthma-patients-27df

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/02/04/study-explains-marijuana-isnt-bad-asthma/

Deep Sleep has been shown to Increase with Marijuana Use

Cannabis allows for longer deep sleep which experts agree is important for achieving optimal health.(Source) The reduction in rapid eye movement sleep (REM) allows for less dreaming. People who suffer from PTSD can benefit from deep sleep to reduce memory recall. Deep sleep helps your body to repair and recover allowing for a more restful sleep.

Specific marijuana strains target deeper sleep habits. The cannabinoids THC and CBN improve quality of sleep. Terpenes such as Limonene, Beta Myrcene, and Nerolidol promote sleep and help with insomnia. Cannabidiol (CBD), conversely, has been shown to give more wakeful sleep with an increase in REM sleep.(Source)

Reducing or stopping marijuana can diminish deep sleep. Sleep aids and alcohol have the same effect. Many people have reported vivid dreams upon stopping marijuana use.(Source)

Source:

http://www.leafscience.com/2014/09/13/marijuana-rem-sleep-dreams/

http://www.smrv-journal.com/article/S1087-0792%2807%2900167-0/abstract

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/full/10.1176/appi.ajp.161.11.1967

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15118485

What do Playboy and the Legalization of Marijuana have in Common?

The Playboy Company established the Playboy Foundation in 1965. Their mission was to give grants to groups supporting first amendment rights. The main agenda was fighting censorship and exploring human sexuality.

In 1970, NORML was founded by Keith Stroup from the Playboy Foundation. NORML stands for National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. NORML became a non-profit organization that based itself in Washington D.C.

Since the 70's, NORML has been at the forefront in changing the public opinion for legalizing marijuana. Stroup stated:

“It is truly the beginning of the end, and I am thrilled to have lived long enough to experience this. We now have members of Congress who formerly would not even take our phone calls now calling our office to ask for our help drafting marijuana bills, and the positive reaction on the state level is even more pronounced. What seemed politically impossible to elected officials only a few months ago now seems quite achievable.”

The connection to Playboy continued with the establishment of High Times Magazine. In 1974, Tom Forcade thought his magazine "High Times" would be a one-time publication. His goal was to create a parody of Playboy by showing naked marijuana leaves. The first publication sold 550,000 copies becoming a hit. High Times has become one of the most popular marijuana magazines and promotes the legalization of cannabis.

Source:

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

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/new-norml-looking-back-40-year-crusade-end-marijuana-prohibition

The Benefits of the Terpene Delta 3 Carene

Delta 3 Carene gives a calming feeling to aid in well being. This pine scented terpene can be found in rosemary as well as cannabis. Delta 3 Carene is so prevalent in marijuana that it is found in most strains.

Carene has been used as an antihistamine to help with reducing fluid. Some patients use strains high in Carene to help reduce perspiration or menstrual flow. Many patients can describe certain cannabis strains with a side effect of causing dry mouth or eyes. The terpene Delta 3 Carene is a major culprit to this effect.

Medically Carene can treat symptoms of many diseases. Anti-inflammatory properties have been found with this essential oil to treat joint pain and multiple sclerosis.(Source) Delta 3 Carene has shown to be a sedative by acting as a central nervous system depressant. (Source) This ability to slow down the brain function can help in treating anxiety and insomnia.(Source)

Source:

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=275717

http://terpenes.weebly.com/

http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/2772005

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

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/prescription-drugs/cns-depressants/what-are-cns-depressants

Francis L.Young, DEA Administrative Law Judge

In 1970 marijuana became labeled as a Schedule 1 drug.(Source) In 1988 Francis L Young was the first judge to rule that marijuana should not have this classification. His ruling is consistent to the same effort in 2015 to reform marijuana laws.

In 1972 NORML petitioned the DEA on the ruling of marijuana as a schedule 1 drug. They requested it be reclassified as a schedule 2 drug. Their goal was to allow doctors to prescribe marijuana for therapeutic purposes. The Drug Enforcement Agency then began to stall for fourteen years before reluctantly holding public hearings.

Francis L. Young was one of the two DEA administrative judges chosen to rule on the public hearings. Young was hand picked as a judge for his conservative viewpoint. The judgment was based on 15 days of reviewing hundreds of documents from the DEA/NIDA against the benefits of marijuana. His conclusions came from the research found in the medical community using marijuana for treatments. He stated:

"Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man...Marijuana has been accepted as capable of relieving distress of great numbers of very ill people, and doing so with safety under medical supervision. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record... The Administrator transfer marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule II, to make it available as a legal medicine."

This monumental ruling was quickly squashed by DEA Director Judge Lawn. The Court of Appeals let Lawns ruling stand to keep cannabis a schedule 1 drug. Each succeeding director has held up this viewpoint for marijuana to be labeled a narcotic with no medicinal value. Judge Francis Young goes down as one of the first government official to acknowledge the beneficial use of medical marijuana.

Source:

http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/YOUNG/index.html

http://norml.org/marijuana/medical/item/introduction-7

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

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

Americans for Safe Access

Americans for Safe Access

In 2002 Americans for Safe Access (ASA) was founded to promote the opportunity to use cannabis for research and therapeutic uses. Their focus is on the patients who rely on cannabis as a medication. They advocate for patients civil liberties.

In 2002 the ASA started in California. They joined the AIDS\HIV organizations to help medical cannabis providers protect themselves from federal raids. ASA was an integral part to implementing Proposition 215 in California that gave safe access to medical cannabis. The efforts in California continued to expand to other states and capital hill.

The ASA is a grassroots organization of 50,000 members. Their efforts focus on marijuana regulation as an herbal medicine. Membership allows free legal support from the ASA and discounts from supporting affiliates.

Source:

http://www.safeaccessnow.org/about_asa

Who is NORML?

NORML

Did you know there is a NORML chapter near you? In 1970 National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law (NORML) established as a non-profit organization in Washington DC. They are an advocacy group that supports the legalization of marijuana. They aid people that have been arrested for possession.

NORML has been effective in reducing penalties for marijuana offenses. Currently they are helping legislatures write bills to give public access to cannabis. Through education, lobbying, and grass-root activists they help to make marijuana accepted by the public. Working on close to a million dollar annual budget they have 135 chapters nationwide. Other countries have started their own NORML organizations for the acceptance of cannabis as well.

NORML has formed a Political Action Committee (PAC) to help change national laws for legalization. They started a new mission in 2014 to set standards in quality business practices in the marijuana industry. They offer a “NORML Preferred Business Partner” badge that dispensaries can display for meeting guidelines to a safe and quality driven establishment.

For many patients the access to quality medical marijuana is crucial for their treatment. NORML allows patients to make a positive contribution to cannabis reform. You can represent NORML and find a chapter by you to volunteer, go to meetings and donate to their cause.

Source:

http://norml.org/about/intro

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36179727

http://norml.org/business

How Marijuana Policy Project Has Helped Legalize Marijuana

Marijuana Policy Project (MMP) is the largest policy reform group in the United States. Co-founders Chuck Thomas, Mike Krishner and Rob Kampia broke off from NORML in 1995 to create MMP. Currently they have 32,000 dues-paying members and a budget of over five million annually. The goal of MMP is to lobby for state/federal laws, decriminalize marijuana and education.

Marijuana Policy Project has been successful on legislation at the state and federal level. They employ two lobbyists in Washington D.C as well as other lobbyists at the state level. MMP was integral in the legalization of marijuana in Colorado in 2012 and Alaska in 2014.

Becoming involved with MMP allows you to be apart of the legal process in making marijuana legal. In the United Sates currently there are more arrests for possession than all violent crimes combined. (Source)

Source:

http://www.mpp.org/

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

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/apr/2/billionaire-george-soros-turns-cash-into-legalized/?page=all

The Drug Policy Alliance

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is a non-profit organization based in New York City. Their goal is to end the American “War on Drugs” campaign. The goal of the organization is to insure people will be treated with compassion and maintain human rights. They offer education on the misuse of drugs.

Well known journalist Walter Cronkite was a spokesman for the Drug Policy Alliance. He endorsed them through advertisements, publications, and fund raising efforts. Cronkite believed the “War on Drugs” was a financial disaster that led to many ruined lives.

The mission statement for the DPA states:

“The Drug Policy Alliance envisions a just society in which the use and regulation of drugs are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights, in which people are no longer punished for what they put into their own bodies but only for crimes committed against others, and in which the fears, prejudices and punitive prohibitions of today are no more.

Our mission is to advance those policies and attitudes that best reduce the harms of both drug misuse and drug prohibition, and to promote the sovereignty of individuals over their minds and bodies."

One unique aspect of the DPA is how it has an extensive library in New York called The Lindesmith Library. The Lindesmith Center in 1994 formed to conduct research on drug reform. They conducted NIDA studies on harm reduction and has served as a resource for drug education. In 2000 they merged with the Drug Policy Foundation to become the Drug Policy Alliance.

The DPA help write policies on decriminalizing drug use. The Opioid Overdose Reduction Act of 2014 was supported by the DPA. This Act would allow people to aid in opioid overdose drugs without civil liability. You can donate to the Drug Policy Alliance and help their cause to reform drug legislation in America.

Source:
http://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Opiod_ReductionAct_Summary.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Policy_Alliance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindesmith_Center