Marijuana: Facts and Myths

[Uncle Ron]

Holy smoke-out Batman, these peoples are going ape-shit.

First, I would like to say in support of, umm, in support of, umm, wait. I forgot what I was going to write. ':)'

I could post links to various sites defending and attacking some of the points and issues made in this thread, but why bother? If there is one thing that can be taken from all of this is that there are ignorant people (those who can't see the forest for the trees), the misinformed, the belligerent, and those who just don't give a fuck.
Note: This is a generalization about people and not specifically about those in this Forum. '8)'

For those concerned with cannabis and cancer, vaporize. Well, at least until someone scientifically proves that this doesn't prevent carcinogens from entering the lungs, as previously claimed.

Milk does a body good, unless the cows come from Chernobyl. ''

[chigusa]

you'll forgive me if i treat all talk of panaceas with suspicion. what i do agree with is soulrider's comment that if any of this is true it will not be embraced by the drug companies until they own it in it's entirety.

i'm interested to know if it's still ok to see weed as a drug that i enjoy abusing?

i just think all this business of medical dope is utterly pointless, how does that help us to get it into the shops? how does it help the recreational drug abuser get what he or she wants? and lets face it, the recreational drug abusers are the market to open up. once it's there for us then what's to stop sick people using it? but if it's only for those who need it, then the rest of us will have to lie to get it. medical dope is a pointless strawman,
put there by the drug companies to stop us getting what we want. which is, or at least should be, dope for any fucker that wants it.

[bleak]

After being stoned, or while stoned, you forget what you were saying, what you were doing, who you are and where you were. We've all experienced and said we have 'FORGOTTEN'. This is where the perception is wrong. To have forgotten something, means you must have at one time stored it in your memory, so you could recall it. When you cannot recall it, you have forgotten.

Very interesting point... I remember seeing in a documentary that smoking cannabis is the best way for soldiers to recover from post traumatic stress, because it helps them 'forget'.

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

[chigusa]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

absolutely spot on. well said.

[Roots Daughter]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

---------------------------------------------
Yes, but just because your doctor recommends some pharmaceutical that's being pushed on him by a salesman doesn't mean it's better for you than pain management, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropracty, physical exercise, herbal remedies or cannabis either.

The more info you have access to, the better informed decision you can make about your health. But our health care systems don't usually give us a lot of choice... far cheaper to just treat symptoms rather than the whole body.
--Roots Daughter

[Iko]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. <<<

If it were not for the "smoking" part i'd say pot could help with many many things.
I just think chronic smoking of anything may intime do as much harm as good.
Eating or drinking a distilled can. tincture , now that i personally can not see a downside to physicalyy speaking.

[cant_think]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

Yes go see the man who works in the pharmaceutical industry where treatment is always more profitable than the cure.

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

---------------------------------------------
Yes, but just because your doctor recommends some pharmaceutical that's being pushed on him by a salesman doesn't mean it's better for you than pain management, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropracty, physical exercise, herbal remedies or cannabis either.

The more info you have access to, the better informed decision you can make about your health. But our health care systems don't usually give us a lot of choice... far cheaper to just treat symptoms rather than the whole body.
--Roots Daughter

This is one of the misrepresentation of the medical field that irritates me. It's not a case of a salesmen telling the doctor to sell their pill, in fact it's usually Doctors complaining about the prices charged by Pharmo companies. Doctors are there to help you, and they try to do that. It's not the case they don't want you to smoke cannabis because they're in someones pocket, it's because shockingly enough, maybe inhaling the raw plant matter of the cannabis plant is not helpful.

[Roots Daughter]

Just a note of caution : Because Cannabis is medically viable does not mean it cures all illness, mental or physical. There's a heap of other things that can help you, don't think you're going to be cured by smoking a bowl. Go see your GP, rather than relying on Rick Simpsons Youtube clips.

---------------------------------------------
Yes, but just because your doctor recommends some pharmaceutical that's being pushed on him by a salesman doesn't mean it's better for you than pain management, physiotherapy, acupuncture, chiropracty, physical exercise, herbal remedies or cannabis either.

The more info you have access to, the better informed decision you can make about your health. But our health care systems don't usually give us a lot of choice... far cheaper to just treat symptoms rather than the whole body.
--Roots Daughter

This is one of the misrepresentation of the medical field that irritates me. It's not a case of a salesmen telling the doctor to sell their pill, in fact it's usually Doctors complaining about the prices charged by Pharmo companies. Doctors are there to help you, and they try to do that. It's not the case they don't want you to smoke cannabis because they're in someones pocket, it's because shockingly enough, maybe inhaling the raw plant matter of the cannabis plant is not helpful.

I don't live in the same country as you, but here in Canada there's always a rep waiting to see the doctor when I'm there. Doctors here get free samples from the companies, which are (sometimes) passed down to patients.

We also pay many times more for generic drugs than in other countries, but when the government asked for subsidies to pharmacies from the pharma companies to be cut, they protested by cutting services and raising prices, despite the fact that they are still being subsidized.

So while big pharma companies and pharmacists cry poverty, the comsumer gets hit twice.

Doctors want to help, yes, but health care pays for "band-aid" solutions like treating symptoms rather than taking a preventative and holistic approach, because it is cheaper in the short term (while more expensive in the long term.)

Just because something is burnt and inhaled, does NOT mean it is bad for you. You are making a false assumption... see the research of Dr. Donald Tashkin, Pulmonary Specialist.
There are many of us who have smoked for many decades, who have no bronchial troubles.
If you're going to post to a cannabis forum, why not try using this valuable resource to educate yourself about cannabis... like how smoking, yes, smoking cannabis helps PREVENT throat, neck and lung cancer.

Trouble is, people have been "brainwashed" into believing smoking anything must be bad for you... why? Because we are inundated with information about how smoking tobacco is bad for us... which is true. However, the word "tobacco" usually does not appear, just the word "smoking"... hence the misunderstanding by many people.

The two main reasons most people have for not accepting cannabis as medicine is that it makes you feel good, and that it is beneficial when smoked.
--Roots Daughter

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

I don't live in the same country as you, but here in Canada there's always a rep waiting to see the doctor when I'm there. Doctors here get free samples from the companies, which are (sometimes) passed down to patients.

We also pay many times more for generic drugs than in other countries, but when the government asked for subsidies to pharmacies from the pharma companies to be cut, they protested by cutting services and raising prices, despite the fact that they are still being subsidized.

So while big pharma companies and pharmacists cry poverty, the comsumer gets hit twice.

Doctors want to help, yes, but health care pays for "band-aid" solutions like treating symptoms rather than taking a preventative and holistic approach, because it is cheaper in the short term (while more expensive in the long term.)

Just because something is burnt and inhaled, does NOT mean it is bad for you. You are making a false assumption... see the research of Dr. Donald Tashkin, Pulmonary Specialist.
There are many of us who have smoked for many decades, who have no bronchial troubles.
If you're going to post to a cannabis forum, why not try using this valuable resource to educate yourself about cannabis... like how smoking, yes, smoking cannabis helps PREVENT throat, neck and lung cancer.

Trouble is, people have been "brainwashed" into believing smoking anything must be bad for you... why? Because we are inundated with information about how smoking tobacco is bad for us... which is true. However, the word "tobacco" usually does not appear, just the word "smoking"... hence the misunderstanding by many people.

The two main reasons most people have for not accepting cannabis as medicine is that it makes you feel good, and that it is beneficial when smoked.
--Roots Daughter

Yes i live in the UK.

No hollistic approach to cures, so people with anxiety aren't recommended to be on some type of SSRI and consoling? People going through cancer don't get Chemo and the offer of consoling? People who are pregnant aren't offered the help of social services as well?

Dr Tashkin published in 2005 the conclusion from a single study that smoking does not cause cancer, however he is very much in the minority of this point of view. In fact in the 5 years since his research has been published it has been contradicted many times, in fact in his conclusions. Tashkin concluded that daily pot smokers experience a 'mild but significant' amount of airflow resistance, this is systematically consistent with bronchial problems, which is strongly associated with people having immune system issues, a good thing when people are ill and possibly have a lower immune system than usual right? Far from saying that inhaling burning plant material is not bad from you. In fact in PubMed 2010, a study showed that vaporizers greatly improved the respiratory health of those administering cannabis for medical reasons. Guess who supported this conculsion, thats right, your man Tashkin.

Cannabis has never been proven to help stop lung etc. cancer. There has been a suggested protective link. The same type of suggested link between Cannabis and Schizophrenia, however i bet you're quick to throw the link between Schizo and Cannabis away, yet so quick to accept the positive image of cannabis?

Brainwashed, it's pretty funny when people who repeat what they read on NORML etc. call other people brainwashed, it's full of the same mistakes and everything!

Perhaps before you publish on a cannabis forum you should actually do your own research into studies etc rather than just taking the summaries of studies by pro-Cannabis groups as being Gospel truth. Also try quoting and supplying studies, also try looking into the background and recent activities of the scientists you quote to justify your point of view, in fact in general use studies not carried out five years ago. Furthermore, don't assert things that simply are not true and are extremely controversial amongst those who research the topics, without actually acknowledgment of the trouble with what you're assuming to be correct. It might help out.

[Roots Daughter]

I don't live in the same country as you, but here in Canada there's always a rep waiting to see the doctor when I'm there. Doctors here get free samples from the companies, which are (sometimes) passed down to patients.

We also pay many times more for generic drugs than in other countries, but when the government asked for subsidies to pharmacies from the pharma companies to be cut, they protested by cutting services and raising prices, despite the fact that they are still being subsidized.

So while big pharma companies and pharmacists cry poverty, the comsumer gets hit twice.

Doctors want to help, yes, but health care pays for "band-aid" solutions like treating symptoms rather than taking a preventative and holistic approach, because it is cheaper in the short term (while more expensive in the long term.)

Just because something is burnt and inhaled, does NOT mean it is bad for you. You are making a false assumption... see the research of Dr. Donald Tashkin, Pulmonary Specialist.
There are many of us who have smoked for many decades, who have no bronchial troubles.
If you're going to post to a cannabis forum, why not try using this valuable resource to educate yourself about cannabis... like how smoking, yes, smoking cannabis helps PREVENT throat, neck and lung cancer.

Trouble is, people have been "brainwashed" into believing smoking anything must be bad for you... why? Because we are inundated with information about how smoking tobacco is bad for us... which is true. However, the word "tobacco" usually does not appear, just the word "smoking"... hence the misunderstanding by many people.

The two main reasons most people have for not accepting cannabis as medicine is that it makes you feel good, and that it is beneficial when smoked.
--Roots Daughter

Yes i live in the UK.

No hollistic approach to cures, so people with anxiety aren't recommended to be on some type of SSRI and consoling? People going through cancer don't get Chemo and the offer of consoling? People who are pregnant aren't offered the help of social services as well?

Dr Tashkin published in 2005 the conclusion from a single study that smoking does not cause cancer, however he is very much in the minority of this point of view. In fact in the 5 years since his research has been published it has been contradicted many times, in fact in his conclusions. Tashkin concluded that daily pot smokers experience a 'mild but significant' amount of airflow resistance, this is systematically consistent with bronchial problems, which is strongly associated with people having immune system issues, a good thing when people are ill and possibly have a lower immune system than usual right? Far from saying that inhaling burning plant material is not bad from you. In fact in PubMed 2010, a study showed that vaporizers greatly improved the respiratory health of those administering cannabis for medical reasons. Guess who supported this conculsion, thats right, your man Tashkin.

Cannabis has never been proven to help stop lung etc. cancer. There has been a suggested protective link. The same type of suggested link between Cannabis and Schizophrenia, however i bet you're quick to throw the link between Schizo and Cannabis away, yet so quick to accept the positive image of cannabis?

Brainwashed, it's pretty funny when people who repeat what they read on NORML etc. call other people brainwashed, it's full of the same mistakes and everything!

Perhaps before you publish on a cannabis forum you should actually do your own research into studies etc rather than just taking the summaries of studies by pro-Cannabis groups as being Gospel truth. Also try quoting and supplying studies, also try looking into the background and recent activities of the scientists you quote to justify your point of view, in fact in general use studies not carried out five years ago. Furthermore, don't assert things that simply are not true and are extremely controversial amongst those who research the topics, without actually acknowledgment of the trouble with what you're assuming to be correct. It might help out.

2009 Aug 13.
Effects of cannabis on lung function: a population-based cohort study.
Hancox RJ, Poulton R, Ely M, Welch D, Taylor DR, McLachlan CR, Greene JM, Moffitt TE, Caspi A, Sears MR.

Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

The effects of cannabis on lung function remain unclear and may be different to tobacco. We compared the associations between use of these substances and lung function in a population-based cohort (n=1037).Cannabis and tobacco use were reported at ages 18, 21, 26, and 32 years. Spirometry, plethysmography, and carbon monoxide transfer factor were measured at age 32. Associations between lung function and exposure to each substance were adjusted for exposure to the other substance.Cumulative cannabis use was associated with higher forced vital capacity, total lung capacity, functional residual capacity, and residual volume. Cannabis was also associated with higher airways resistance but not with forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory ratio, or transfer factor. These findings were similar amongst those who did not smoke tobacco. By contrast, tobacco use was associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second, lower forced expiratory ratio, lower transfer factor, and higher static lung volumes, but not with airways resistance.Cannabis appears to have different effects on lung function to those of tobacco. Cannabis use was associated with higher lung volumes suggesting hyperinflation and increased large-airways resistance, but there was little evidence for airflow obstruction.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19679602

[Roots Daughter]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr. Donald Tashkin of UCLA, whose work is often erroneously cited to support the canard that cannabis smoke is a worse irritant to the bronchial tree than tobacco smoke, actually found the opposite. In comparing the irritation to the bronchial tree of research monkeys by 29 components of tobacco smoke to similar components in cannabis smoke, tobacco was more irritating in 28 instances. The one exception was where the tobacco smoke he found that was five times component caused almost 0 irritation and almost zero for cannabis smoke. Tashkin himself has said on more than one occasion that he does not know of a single case of cancer caused by smoking
cannabis.

http://www.davidbearmanmd.com/docs/MJad ... riving.pdf

[Roots Daughter]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,196678,00.html


Long article, here's an excerpt...

"So why isn’t smoking marijuana as dangerous as smoking cigarettes in terms of cancer risk?

The answer isn’t clear, but the experts say it might have something to do with tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is a chemical found in marijuana smoke.

Cellular studies and even some studies in animal models suggest that THC has antitumor properties, either by encouraging the death of genetically damaged cells that can become cancerous or by restricting the development of the blood supply that feeds tumors, Tashkin tells WebMD.

In a review of the research published last fall, University of Colorado molecular biologist Robert Melamede, PhD, concluded that the THC in cannabis seems to lessen the tumor-promoting properties of marijuana smoke.

The nicotine in tobacco has been shown to inhibit the destruction of cancer-causing cells, Melamede tells WebMD. THC does not appear to do this and may even do the opposite."

[Roots Daughter]

Http://mercycenters.org/libry/i_ASTH.html

"Asthma --- For the past 3,000 years or more, cannabis has provided welcome relief for countless numbers of asthmatics. It was widely used for that purpose in the 19th century. The inhalation of marijuana smoke causes bronchial dilation lasting up to 1 hour. The bronchodilator effect of orally-ingested THC lasts up to 6 hours, but it is not so powerful as smoking marijuana. THC aerosols are not so effective as smoking marijuana because aerosolized THC has an irritating effect on the air passages. (29) L. Vachon, et al., reported that 0.7 mg. THC in a micro-aerosol proved to be up to 60% effective as a bronchodilator, with minimal mental effects and no parasympathetic effects. J. Hartley, et al., found that administration of minute doses (50-200 micrograms) of THC by inhalation increased the peak expiratory flow and forced expiratory volume in 1 second in a dose-related manner. The effects last 4 hours. D. Tashkin, et al., explored the anti-asthmatic effect of THC, and found it to be useful against the encroachment of emphysema. R. Gordon, et al., confirmed the anti-tussive effect. Cannabis also has been used with success in the treatment of whooping cough. In 1955, J. Sirek reported on the importance of hempseed in tuberculosis therapy, but the discovery has been largely ignored since then. (30-34) "

Visit - http://www.rexresearch.com/hhusb/hmphlth.htm#hhl2c