Marijuana.com

Medicalman

You are correct, Bob, cannabis is not completely harmless. Neither is the air that we breathe or the water that we drink. The key words when discussing cannabis safety are harm reduction and relative safety.

More folks have died from ingesting excessive water than cannabis. Too much water upsets electrolytes, causing scrambled electrical signals and eventual death from organ failure. Most often seen in people with unnatural compulsions to drink water or occasionally in extreme sports.

That would be a case of relative safety. Relative to the addictive and potentially damaging or even fatal effects of opiates, cannabis is very safe. Relative to the number of folks that suffer severe liver damage or even death from aspirin, cannabis is very safe. Etc etc etc.

Using cannabis to reduce the amounts of opiates needed to achieve the same amount of pain relief is a case of harm reduction. In MS, my friend Cheryl used to receive IV solumedrol (potent steroid) for 3 consecutive days, then be rapidly withdrawn from it (normally a dangerous no-no in steroid treatments) to try and shock her immune system. This used to occur every 2 to 4 months for her. Since undertaking cannabis therapy with her neurologist, she now goes from 5 to 9 months between such treatments. That is harm reduction. Basically, you substitute a less harmful substance that provides relief for a more harmful one, or at least to cut the intake of the harmful treatment.

Overzealousness and stating only the good of cannabis is, in my opinion, at least as harmful to the cause as the propaganda put out by the "other side". To achieve respect and trust, truthfulness, even when slightly negative, is very very important. Nearly any substance on earth has the potential to cause harm, you just need to be factual and show how relatively safe cannabis truly is. I have found this especially true when dealing with doctors and such.

Best all,
MM

 

Greenbud

Hey all...

I was diagnosed with IBD when I was 16 years old and found out I had high introcular pressure (fluid pressure inside your eyes-causes glaucoma) about 10 years ago. Both of these conditions have been kept at bay because I smoke pot. So smoking MJ is bad for you? No f***. But it's a heck of a lot better than the crappy side effects from all of this medication the docs want me to take. I told them that I wasn't taking my meds and that I was smoking pot instead. That's why I was feeling so much better. And it's a whole lot cheaper too, especially since I grow my own. Let 'em report me to the Feds. I'll be the next poster-boy for the legalization of medical marijuana.

Suetaz

Great posts Medicalman. Thanks to everyone here for sharing. I'm addicted to learning about the positive uses for marijuana and it's great to hear what others use it for. Thanks for the helpful hints Medicalman, especially about comparing mj to other things that are harmful to us. I usually compare it to alcohol or tobacco, but using water would make the point that much stronger.
Greenbud, I think you'd make a great poster boy!

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Mamabudz

Just a quick wave hello to everyone ...

I'm at the computer for a few moments...been rather ill since last Sunday.

Severe stress has flared up...you guessed it...gastric problems. Finally eating again today and Papa is watching me like a hawk as I am very hungry but my stomache is far from being able to handle food...let alone the rest of my gut.

And yes, cannabis has been a major player in allowing me to come back around to myself, although I have a few more days of recuperation.

So if you don't see me on the boards for a few days...you'll know why.

Hugz everyone.

Mama Budz

Greenbud

Sorry to hear about that, Mama. I know MJ helps me when I have my flare-ups. Take care of yourself. Hope you feel better soon.

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"I believe in the near future, the government will use anti-drug hysteria to set up a police state."
-author William S. Burroughs, 1947

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Suetaz

So that's where you've been MamaBudz! I've missed you. I hope you are feeling up to eating cookies soon! We'll try not to let this place fall apart while you get better.

fluffyplague

I'm new here, but I thought that I would add that I have been using MJ for about three months now for relief of IBS symptoms. My IBS is linked to severe adhesions that sealed and twisted around my intestines and reproductive organs. A few months ago, I had a total hysterectomy, with excision of the adhesions on my intestines while the surgeon was rooting around in there, and although my other symptoms/pain were relieved, the IBS has continued, just as severe as before.

Without a joint or two a day, I am completely debilitated by diarheaa and cramping -- I may end up having anywhere from 5 to 10 attacks in a day. Before I began using MJ, I was terrified of leaving the house, for fear that I would have an attack in public and not make it to a bathroom in time. When I have a steady supply of MJ, I can leave the house and live a fairly normal life, like going out to play with my daughter or out on dates with my husband. It makes me an entirely new person -- free of the pain and fear and anxiety of IBS.

I do not live in a medical MJ state, but I have discussed it with my doc, and she is completely accepting and encouraging of my use -- she knows that it works for me far better than anything else that we have ever tried. What I hate are the hoops that I have to jump through to obtain my MJ! I hate dealing with the local suppliers in my area, most of whom are younger people who are notoriously flaky and unreliable. I have been without any MJ for three days, and I have begun to feel my illness creeping back into my life...it has made me very depressed and hopeless, the way my life always was before I began treating myself with MJ.

I also wanted to say thank you to the mods/admins and posters here -- this is one of the first places I found when I went looking for info about whether medical MJ would help my condition. I've also been reading voraciously through the links and resources about growing that are here, because dealing with stupid, unreliable sources is driving me nuts and I am planning to grow my own in response.

Thanks.

Liz

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"Bebop not coming back for Ed? Ooh la la." -- Radical Edward, Cowboy Bebop

Suetaz

Welcome fluffyplague and thanks for sharing. I used to have the same problems with IBS too, but I've been smoking regularly for about 5 years and rarely have problems anymore. I am lucky I don't have to worry about supply. My heart goes out to anyone that has a hard time getting it. My heart goes out to anyone suffering from pain as well. Those of us with IBS know what pain is all about. It's no wonder your bowels are irritated, I would be too if someone were rooting around me with a scalpel. I hope you do well at growing your own and that mj can continue to help you lead a 'normal' life.
Peace,
Suetaz

cronicredpepsi

i have the same kinda thing with the IBS ans crons since i started smoking weed i can stop all most all of the pooping problems and the stomach stuff too. that's so totally wrong that we cant get a perscription for it. life would be grand.

crohnie

i had gut issues long before i was diagnosed. I also smoked pot to relieve those issues......

I found out I had crohn's when i woke up from surgery. My gut had torn open (perf'ed) and they removed 19cm of diseased intestines.

Smoking absolutly relieves my gut. It also tends to slow down gut motility, thereby allowing me more time to digest. Otherwise, since i dont have the length, its hard to keep things in long enough to give me what i need (energy, nutrients, etc)

I have just quit smoking cigarettes, Free and Healing for Two Days, 22 Hours and 13 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 2 Hours, by avoiding the use of 29 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $7.32.


I'm looking forward to scouring the receipes here so i can give my lungs a total smoke free break........