cannabisnews.com: Ask Dr. Ethan: Canadian Medical Marijuana Journal





Ask Dr. Ethan: Canadian Medical Marijuana Journal
Posted by CN Staff on December 27, 2002 at 15:48:34 PT
By Ethan Russo M.D.
Source: Cannabis Health 
Medicine is an ever-changing science. While suggestions for therapeutic use of cannabis or other drugs may be made herein, this forum is designed solely for educational purposes, and neither the author, publisher, nor other parties, will assume any liability whatever for application or misapplication of any information imparted. We cannot claim scientific proof or accuracy of the material discussed, and no warranty, expressed or implied is advanced with regard to the information.
Cannabis is illegal in most jurisdictions, and the reader must apply awareness of this fact when considering its usage. Medical use of cannabis may or may not be a viable legal defense where you reside. Canadian clinical cannabis patients are encouraged to seek exemptions under existing law from Health Canada. The proper forms and procedures are available on their web site.Full disclosure and discussion of medical issues with your health care providers is encouraged, as is proper education with respect to effects and side effects of existing medication.Q.1: Dear Dr. Russo, We have a grow operation next to us we are working with and in the evening, during the venting process (this crop is only nearing the harvest), the odour is fairly bad - our children are getting severe headaches and stomach cramps. We are also experiencing headaches and upset stomachs. Are these fumes harmful to our health and the health of our children? Is there a medication we can take? Our family doctor has prescribed inhalers, as he suspects we may have an allergy to something.Please answer back as soon as possible, as the crop is coming into maturity and the odour has started again. The ozoneator just can’t keep up, I suspect.Thanks! - KellyA: I must say that your question is an unusual one, but has a ready explanation. While many people find the scent of growing cannabis pleasant, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. I suspect that your family members are sensitive to the high quantity of fumes. Perhaps you are migraine-susceptible, as people who are may experience similar symptoms with any strong odour, such as diesel, perfume, chlorine bleach, etc. This is not an allergy. There is no long-term risk from it. While migraine-preventing drugs might help, it makes absolutely no sense to medicate this problem, when the answer is common sense: you must limit your exposure. The solution would be to manage the venting more efficiently, aim it somewhere else, or isolate family members from the grow-op. Q.2: Dear Dr. Russo,  I am 58 years old and use cannabis to relieve the pain of arthritis. I smoke and eat cannabis that I grow myself. I have a black lab named Arthur (Art to his friends) who is almost 10 years old and has lots of old dog problems and is in his final few years. About 6 months ago I started to share my brownies with Arthur. I have given him very small amounts but I am convinced he is more active and in less pain. I have been frightened to ask my vet for fear of being accused of animal abuse.Am I helping him?Gloria T. - Montreal, QuebecA: I was initially hesitant to respond to this question, but as the son and brother of veterinarians, I felt compelled to do my best. Dogs and humans are much more alike than different. Cannabis has had a venerable history in veterinary medicine, particularly as a colic treatment in horses and mules, two difficult species that do not have the equipment to vomit when they need to do so. Dogs are particularly sensitive to getting ataxia (wobbliness) when overdosed on cannabis. That would be a sure sign of giving too much. Although I think that ‘Rover’ may well benefit from such treatment, I would advise caution, and certainly hope that you do not run afoul of the Humane Society or other agencies interested in the welfare of our domestic companion animals. Cheers. Q.3: Dear Dr.Russo, Oh no! I ate the whole brownie.A friend of mine who is a Leukemia survivor recently had a very bad experience after eating a small piece of a cannabis brownie. She has used Cannabis successfully over the last few years for pain and nausea relief, but is now afraid to try it again. About 1 hour after consuming the quarter-sized brownie she started to feel slightly nauseated, dizzy and disoriented. But the feelings quickly intensified to panic, anxiety, increased heart rate, sweating and vomiting.A friend took her to the hospital and they told the doctor about the brownie. The doctor was not overly concerned about the cannabis itself, but felt is was more of a drug interaction to the large quantities of cancer maintenance medications she was also taking.The doctor gave her Benadryl, Prochlorperazine (Stemetil), Magnesium which seemed to help after a 3 hour delay.My question is: Is there anything a person can take or do to counteract the feeling of being overstoned?A: It is hard to be absolutely specific in responding to this question, as the exact drugs your friend was taking are not listed. Chances are that the reaction may have had very little to do with the cannabis per se. However, the anxiety and increased heart rate are typical of what can occur with cannabis. The usual treatment is talking down, since the symptoms are self-limited, and very amenable to suggestion.In general, cannabis may have additive sedative effects with other drugs in that classification. It has been reported that indomethacin (Indocin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) may counteract a cannabis high. As with any drug combinations, caution is advisable, and use of low doses that are increased as needed. Situations such as this are better treated with a vapourizer, where a slow and steady dose titration is possible, as opposed to a single dose of oral cannabis that may come on slowly, irregularly, or too strongly. Source: Cannabis Health (Canada)Author: Ethan Russo M.D.Published: December 2002Copyright: 2002 Cannabis Health MagazineContact: editor cannabishealth.comWebsite: http://www.cannabishealth.comRelated Articles:Ask Dr. Ethan: Canadian Medical Marijuana Journalhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14326.shtmlNevada Conference Examines Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14282.shtml Study Shows Therapeutic Benefits http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10581.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #10 posted by AlvinCool on December 29, 2002 at 08:02:57 PT
Hilary
The Internet is such a cool place. It makes us seem to live so close yet we are so physically so far apart. Maybe some day we will meet Dr. Russo, I think I'd like that. And the comment about Hilary was definitely a compliment, I am quite certain that I am also old enough to be her father. However I'm not so old that I can't see and appreciate true beauty. Don't take this the wrong way but the best way I can describe it is that Hilary "beams" self confidence in that picture. And we all know that self confidence is attractive in itself. Very good snapshot.   
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #9 posted by Ethan Russo MD on December 29, 2002 at 07:25:32 PT:
Hilary
Hilary Black is much admired for her intellect, passion, generosity and dedication, in addition to her obvious beauty.As I consider her at trusted friend and am old enough to be her father, I am naturally somewhat protective of her feelings, so watch yourself there, bro'!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by AlvinCool on December 28, 2002 at 16:31:05 PT
Checked it out
I went to Health Canada and checked it out. I think I'll tour there from time to time. For people that are interested you can see a picture of Dr. Russo on his column.Now Dr. Russo, how about fixing me up with that babe Hillary Black?
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #7 posted by FoM on December 27, 2002 at 22:33:46 PT
Stock Related News from Times Online UK
GW Lifted by Hopes for Cannabis MedicinesBy Nick HasellDecember 28, 2002 Shares in GW Pharmaceuticals yesterday hit a record high amid growing hopes that the developer of cannabis-based medicines will soon seal a marketing and distribution deal with a major drugs group. 
Expectations of a tie-up were stoked by last month’s positive data from phase three clinical trials conducted by GW. In a study involving 350 patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, GW reported that each of the four trials of its product showed “statistically significant” reductions in neuropathic pain and sleep disturbance. Armed with those results, the AIM-listed company said that it would submit its first regulatory application to the Medicines Control Agency in early 2003, with the UK market launch of its first cannabis-based treatment expected before the end of the year. There has been growing speculation over the past month that GW is in talks with AstraZeneca and GlaxoSmithKline on a marketing and distribution agreement. Those rumours, together with thin stock market conditions, combined to squeeze the shares sharply higher yesterday. GW, floated at 180p two years ago, rose 11p to a record 200p, giving it a market capitalisation of more than £200 million. The FTSE 250 faded 15.9 points to 4,277.5. 
Complete Article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,748-525512,00.html
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #6 posted by Tigress58 on December 27, 2002 at 20:54:14 PT
Q 3: A: Cleaning Up A Bad Buzzzz
I have had the expreience of a bad buzz several times during 25 years of smoking. Sometimes, I suspect the bad buzz was because the MJ was stronger than I was used to or that I had not smoked in a while. I have found that a glass of cold water will clean up a bad buzz in about 10 minutes, but does no affect the high.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo MD on December 27, 2002 at 19:49:57 PT:
Letters to Cannabis Health
AC, at the top of the article is a link to Cannabis Health. Take a look at the mag, and you'll see how to submit LTE's or ask questions.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by AlvinCool on December 27, 2002 at 18:59:17 PT
Where?
Dr. Russo, where does one go to read / post directly in your column?Oh and you are too correct P4me. Buying in one state and celling cigs in another is becoming a booming business. I'm sure in a year we will see the government exclaim that they just found out this practice is happening and are going to fight. They will just say that if all cigs were $100 a pack and they make mandatory minimum jail sentences of 5 years to 500 years the practice would disappear.500 years if you don't have someone to turn in and 5 years, or double secret probation, if you are really a crook and roll.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 27, 2002 at 18:42:19 PT
Dr. Russo
You're welcome. I found it interesting that Cannabis was used to help horses with colic. Colic is a horseman's enemy. Colic can kill very fast and I had a few close calls with it with my horses years ago. If it helps an animal that can't vomit that says a lot about it's ability to settle a sick person's stomach. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on December 27, 2002 at 18:10:41 PT:
Responses
Thanks for posting this, FoM. I didn't know it was out yet! I sure enjoy doing this advice column.To respond to P4me:1) The only harm from oral cannabis would relate to possible cognitive effects. See the Chronic Use Study. There is little about which to worry in the long run.2) Cannabis does have proven medical value. To say differently is an outright lie. The latest proof is the Phase III clinical trials of cannabis extracts: see www.gwpharm.com3) From everything that I can see, clinical cannabis is extending life, health and well-being. Vaporization or tinctures are preferred to smoking.4) It is not currently possible for me to do research in Canada, but I would like to do so. The real question is why I haven't been able to do it here. See www.maps.org for a truly appalling paper trail.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by p4me on December 27, 2002 at 16:58:22 PT
A question for the doctor,no answer expected
In all the propaganda articles the prohibitionist are saying marijuana/cannabis is not harmless. What harm does it really do if it is eaten? Part 2 of the question- On a scale of 1 to 10 how absurd do you think the propaganda statement, "Marijuana has no proven medical value", is?Part 3 of the question- Are there people that actually die a premature death because they cannot get/use cannabis as medicine?Part 4 of the question- Have you ever thought about conducting research in Canada at some obscure place just north of Missuola across the Cannabis Curtain and if you did could people like Robin Prosser gain acceptance to Canadian medical cannabis?There were two articles today about coffeeshops in Edinburgh and another one in north Whales at the ukcia news section-http://www.ukcia.org/news/default.php It also has an article from Sunday about the Green Leaf party in Israel that was pretty good.There is an article up at FreeRepublic.com about the black market in cigarettes in New York City now that the $3.00 tax has pushed prices up to $7.50 per pack. I found the comments of some interest. Drug dealers are doing cigarettes now because the profit is there and the penalties are mild. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/813078/posts1
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment