Posted on 03/01/2017 12:43:17 AM PST by Jyotishi
Caption -- New research suggests people with chronic pain would rather use cannabis over their recommended medicine.
Chronic pain sufferers and those taking mental health meds would rather turn to cannabis instead of their prescribed opioid medication, according to a new study.
"This study is one of the first to track medical cannabis use under the new system of licensed producers, meaning that all participants had physician authorization to access cannabis in addition to their prescription medicines," says UBC Assoc. Prof. Zach Walsh, co-author of the study.
The study tracked more than 250 patients with prescribed medical cannabis--people treated for conditions such as chronic pain, mental health and gastrointestinal issues. Overall, 63 per cent of respondents reported using cannabis instead of their prescription drugs, which included opioids (to treat pain), benzodiazepines (sedatives) and anti-depressants.
Study lead Philippe Lucas is vice-president of Patient Research and Access at Tilray, a federally authorized medical cannabis production and research company, and a doctoral student at the University of Victoria Centre for Addictions Research of BC. Lucas suggests the main reasons for the switch to cannabis from prescribed meds is due to reduced side effects, better symptom management and a feeling that cannabis is safer than prescription drugs.
Walsh goes on to suggest cannabis may have an important role to play in addressing the problematic use of pharmaceutical medications such as opioids.
Caption -- UBC Assoc. Prof. Zach Walsh, co-author of the study.
In 2001, Canada became one of the first nations to develop a program to allow access to cannabis for medical purposes. As of August 2016 more than 30 federally authorized licensed producers of cannabis provided product to more than 65,000 patients.
"Further research into how well cannabis works compared to the accepted front-line treatments is warranted," says Walsh. "Additionally, long-term research into the potential impact of the cannabis substitution on the quality of patient's lives is ongoing."
The study, published in International Journal of Drug Policy, was funded by Tilray.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395917300130
Except the much anticipated medical crisis among marijuana smokers hasn’t happened, at all.
The reason for this is that among all the other active ingredients, it contains several that suppress cancer cells, even to the point that anecdotally it has been suggested that if someone smokes tobacco, they should also smoke marijuana, to limit the carcinogenic harm of the tobacco.
By far the biggest medical drawback to marijuana is that it reduces motivation, and dampens aggression. Surprisingly this, not speculation about detrimental effects, is an effective way to persuade younger people to not smoke marijuana. They *want* to be motivated and aggressively succeed.
Ping for your Interest.
Totally agree. I tried everything, and then went the medical marijuana route and my life changed. Doctors can be really useless and self serving and people in pain are considered throw-aways.
My marijuana I either eat like in brownies or take a pinch and put in my tea and it works very,very well. I do not smoking it at all. Going the medical marijuana route ensures you get very high quality.
I had not slept more than 2-3 hours a night for the last 4 years before doing this. Now I regularly 7 hours+.
Bookmark
Seventeen years ago my oncologist told me that good quality cannabis was the best for chemo nausea.
I watched one of my very own suddenly go full blown bipolar within a week of smoking this really potent pot on the streets. It is a lie to say there are no side effects. It is a gateway drug for at least one third of the kids I know who are now destroying their lives with pot.
I would much rather take full flower cannabis oil for pain than any opiate for pain not related to surgery. Pain pills render me into a pile of goo. Save for 2-3 days after surgery or a broken bone, I have zero use for pain pills.
“Idiots will be sucking on doobies until their heads explode and their cancerous lungs collapse.”
You can replace doobies with beers/drinks & heads with livers. Idiots do idiotic things. It’s not a new phenomena.
Happy that cannabis is working for you. Peace be with you as you deal with your nerve disease.
“Ill drink a couple glasses of wine, or a couple scotch and water, and get pain relief. Blood sugar shows that up though. Even 1 beer is more pain relief than a reefer.”
I’m glad alcohol in small doses helps you with pain relief. Just because cannabis doesn’t help you with pain relief doesn’t mean that’s the case for everyone. Some folks get a lot of pain relief using cannabis including folks suffering from Multiple Sorosis & other diseases.
Then it wasn't pot. Some of his "friends" may have angel dusted it if that is what happened.
You're a genius Homer! That explains all the exploded head corpses on the streets with sunken chests. I'll call the coroner right away. He needs to know this.
In that case there shouldn't be anti-Trump protestors. They should be lying about in alleys contemplating their navels while stoned out of their minds.
The stuff they have now in marijuana dispensaries is outstanding. Very,very high quality and safe.
If you smoke pot for lessening anxiety try Xanex.
From the federal National Institute on Drug Abuse (http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine:
Currently, the two main cannabinoids from the marijuana plant that are of medical interest are THC and CBD.
THC increases appetite and reduces nausea. The FDA-approved THC-based medications are used for these purposes. THC may also decrease pain, inflammation (swelling and redness), and muscle control problems.
CBD is a cannabinoid that does not affect the mind or behavior. It may be useful in reducing pain and inflammation, controlling epileptic seizures, and possibly even treating mental illness and addictions.
NIH-funded and other researchers are continuing to explore the possible uses of THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids for medical treatment.
I hate democrats.. can I qualify for free gubmint dope?
Funny you should say this. Xanex was my gateway to street drugs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.