ptsd Medical Cannabis

[Mikemmlj]

I live in a state that oks cannabis for PTSD. I am not a pot smoker but feel it's worth a try. Any thoughts?

[georgiapapa]

Georgia tried to pass a medical marijuana law last year but it failed. They plan to introduce a new bill this coming year which is primarily directed at using medical marijuana to treat seizures, especially in children. The bill is expected to pass.

[Navy04]

I was offered Medical MJ for my Glaucauma, I did not spell it right, don't remember. Anyways I figure with the Many Mental Issues that I have, I don't want to add fuel to the fire. I never tried it when it was Illegal and I have never had a drink, so I don't plan on starting now. Just asking for the Crazy Formula to get worse bud. As always, this is just my opinion.

[john999]

USA government does not approve of medical MJ and neither does the VA. If MJ shows up in your urine or bloodwork at the VA you have a problem. I sure think it should be legal, but the VA has other ideas. I think all drugs should be legal since illegal drug money is what funds organized crime all over the world.

John

[Philip Rogers]

I'm considering applying for a card, here, in VT. It's approved for medical use. I would ingest it, as I won't smoke anything, since I gave up cigarettes, in 1977. Our lungs are meant to inhale air and that's it.

An old friend, a chronic pain patient, has a medical MJ card and uses it when the pain is really bad and at night, to sleep. It seems to work well for her.

When I lived in Idaho, it was my understanding that the Spokane, WA, VAMC, would issue it to patients, who lived in WA but couldn't for patients, in ID.

pr

[snowboarder]

If anyone actually did the research... they would realize that Cannabis is a huge part of our bodies requirements.

We have what is called an Endocannabinoid system in our bodies

Our bodies create the chemicals found in cannabis.. Cannabinoids are produced naturally in Human's and Animals..

This is why it is impossible to overdose on it as stated by the DEA.

Just read this court document:

finding of facts on page 56-60 by the DEA in 1988

http://www.oregon.gov/pharmacy/Imports/Marijuana/Public/SRay/CourtDocket86-22.pdf

They also mention that other legal "safe" cancer drugs cause cancer..

Endocannabiods pretty much regulates everything...

Immune System

tumors

Mood

And the list goes on and on..

There is considerable evidence that cannabis signals to tumors cell to die, while leaving healthy cells in tact..

I can show you numerous research documents regarding this... and that everything we have been told about cannabis is a complete lie.

I personally have found that cannabis has helped me.. as I was in a couple IED explosions.. so I get pretty bad headaches.

Cannabis has helped me a number of my disabilities

PTSD - I usually do not dream anymore, less anxiety, less irritable, I sleep better when I get to sleep.

headaches - it usually makes migraines go away... that previously did not go away for 2-4 days. S

motiviation - people think it makes you lazy. While some strains (Indica ) have more sedative / lazy effect... The sativa strain is more energetic pain killer.. I can be fully functional (programming, working around the house etc) while baked..

GERD - don't need Imodium anymore..

Stomache ache - it just works.

Nausea - again.. works for that too..

Did I mention you have Endocannbinoids lined in your gut, intestines.. brain.. EVERYWHERE?

Ps.. Don't talk about cannabis over at vets.yuku.com... they will kick you off if you state FACTS. I guess we as vets no longer have free speech?

Endocannabinoid research:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21428888

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19457575

Cannabinoids endocannabinoids are anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-metastatic and

pro-apoptotic in most cancers, in vitro and in vivo in animals. -

University of Aberdeen, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Cancer Medicine Research

Group, Aberdeen, United Kingdom.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23103355

National Cancer Institute:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/patient/page2

Antitumor activity

• Studies in mice and rats have shown that cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumors to grow. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that cannabinoids may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells.

• A study in mice showed that cannabinoids may protect against inflammation of the colon and may have potential in reducing the risk of colon cancer, and possibly in its treatment.

• A laboratory study of delta-9-THC in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) cells showed that it damaged or killed the cancer cells. The same study of delta-9-THC in mouse modelsof liver cancer showed that it had antitumor effects. Delta-9-THC has been shown to cause these effects by acting on molecules that may also be found in non-small cell lung cancercells and breast cancer cells.

• A laboratory study of cannabidiol in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells showed that it caused cancer cell death while having little effect on normal breast cells.

• A laboratory study of cannabidiol in human glioma cells showed that when given along withchemotherapy, cannabidiol may make chemotherapy more effective and increase cancer cell death without harming normal cells.

[pattimelt]

a little late to this discussion, but I can tell you what MY experience was with the VA/Medical cannabis.

I am a service connected veteran who is suffering from stage 4 osteoarthritis in my knee due to service connection. I have what the doc calls "breakout" pain. This is different from my every day, "hey, you have no cartilege in your knee, you're bone on bone, and chips hit your nerves" pain.. My doc did NOT want to get me started on heavy pain killers but the VA would NOT replace my knee until I hit 50.. Doc said to me-- "I don't know what your feelings are about cannabis, but if you are willing to TRY it, I would suggest it so that I don't have to put you on Oxy"..

That was over 5 years ago. I don't use it every day, no, but I use it when necessary.

According to my doc, the VA CANNOT deny you other pain meds if you are using medical marijuana, and unless you are having surgery, they don't test for it, either.

[Vync]

Suddenly Veterans everywhere will come down with a case of the munchies and a desire to listen to Jimi Hendrix and watch Cheech & Chong reruns.

[K9MAL]

USA government does not approve of medical MJ and neither does the VA. If MJ shows up in your urine or bloodwork at the VA you have a problem.

The VA would need a valid reason to test for it in your blood work or urine, and they don't. They're not going to waste the time, money and resources to look for marijuana in the typical blood work that most people get. The VA has no authority to regulate veterans smoking marijuana to the best of my knowledge.

[rosypalm]

Paranoia is common smoking weed.

[carlie]

Just a heads up.

When the VA does lab work - they will be testing for whatever the doc tells them to

and they don't need your permission.

Docs don't usually do routine testing for anything, unless they feel there is a reason to.

jmho

BTW - Im voting yes on the Florida ballot for MMJ, Nov 2nd.

Got my ballot by mail already.

[JR Reihs]

My wife disperses VA government paid for cannibas at the VA in Richmond. It is in a gel pill form, and they have had some amazing results, and the benefits to the Vets are by far above those on Parma Meds with the same issues.

[snowboarder]

JR, thats probably Marinol... It came out in 1980's... its synthetic THC. And it is possible to overdose on marinol... It is however impossible to overdose on cannabis.

I am glad to see they are giving the option in at least one VA.. but I doubt most doctors in the VA system are aware of its benefits, considering the knowledge that is lacking in the Endocannabinoid System in the entire medical community.

If anyone wants to know what the safety profile is on cannabis... just checkout the 1988 DEA Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Court Docket #86-22 Finding of facts page 56-60

http://www.oregon.gov/pharmacy/Imports/Marijuana/Public/SRay/CourtDocket86-22.pdf

They even say other cancer medications available today which are consider "safe" have shown to cause cancer.

[jeffperry1134]

I am not saying that it is right or anything, but I do use it occasionally when my sleep pattern gets mucked up and my nightmares are high. My brother brought me some medicinal and edibles from CA and the edibles do a very effective job, but they take longer to kick in so they are best in combination with smoking a little to get things started and by the time that starts wearing off the edibles kick in. They do wonders for my joint pain as well. The wife doesn't like it so I don't tell her. My VA social worker says he doesn't care if it works. I get tested every 4 months and they have never said anything.

[Buck52]

I wish the VA would pass it, so many pain meds just does not work and a lot of veterans would finally get some much needed relief!

[jeffperry1134]

I use it medically every so often and was recently surprised drug tested for my medications at the VA. I passed the drug test somehow, I had smoked 2 weeks straight at night when my daughter was in the hospital so I could get some sleep. I had 18 hours notice two days removed. I took a high dose of vitamin B, 2 multi-vitamins, a high dose of aspirin and drank a lot of lemon water. I passed with flying colors. My physical doctor (NP) said she don't want me using it for pain, but my psychiatrist and therapist is ok with it. All VA people. It helps me tremendously with both anxiety, my PTSD and physical pain. They did cut my opiates down so I guess I will be using it more. They cut my opiates down because of my weight and sleep apnea.

[jeffperry1134]

I just saw a show where a Veteran with PTSD has been using medicinal marijuana to treat his PTSD and has had some great effects. He went from suicidal to only using the marijuana and doing very well.

[WVSERVER]

If it was legal I would smoke away, I may ask about marinol next time I see my doc.

[SeattleShay]

The last time I smoked marijuanna was 2 wks before my 29th birthday in 1979. I was going in for surgery the next day for cancer.

I smoked 2 "doobies", a fellow recruiter gave me, and killed 1/2 bottle of tequila. At that point I didn't care if I had cancer or not.....LOL

I have been contimplating trying it again for my PTSD, getting worse, and chronic back pain. Luckily I live in WA state so medical and recreational are legal.

Not sure what my grown children will think....

[63SIERRA]

theres way too many politics involved.. heres what will happen.. Ok pharmacuetical companies have enormous influence in this country. They lobby congress and usually get whatever they want such as grants from the govt to test and approve THIER meds, exclusion from class action lawsuits, ect.

First, big pharmacy will " convince" congress to authorize and pay for research.. Then the pharmacuetical companies will quickly get patents on a pill for of cannibis derivative drugs. The Govt will then reclass cannibis, make it prescription only, the private growing of cannibis will continue to be banned by the federal govt, and penalties will increase.

The govt IS NOT going to let all that money skate by them. In colorado, the first legal shop that opened banked 57.000 dollars the first day and ran out of ganja. that alot of tax revenue for a county and state in a years time, maybe 2 mill? And the Fed and big pharmacy gets naught? It isnt going to happen. The govt doesnt give a rats ass abt the people, just thier power and wealth.

Marijuana is an ancient medicine. From menustrual cramps to cancer, to depression to nausea it has been used as far back as our country can trace. How it ever was determined to be harmful escapes me.

The alchohol, meth, bath salts, heroin, spice, ect is what they should be worried about,

I think if the whole world just took a break, went sit under a nice shade tree and fire one up, it would be an awesome world to live in.. People who claim marijuana is harmful dont have a clue.

Edited April 28, 2015 by 63SIERRA (see edit history)