cannabisnews.com: PTSD May Join Oregon Medical Marijuana List

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  PTSD May Join Oregon Medical Marijuana List

Posted by CN Staff on February 08, 2013 at 05:42:51 PT
By Saul Hubbard, The Register-Guard 
Source: Register-Guard 

Salem -- Proponents turned out in force Thursday to urge lawmakers to approve a bill that would allow individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder to become eligible for Oregon’s medical marijuana program. At the first public hearing of Senate Bill 281, military veterans, medical professionals and others testified that marijuana can help alleviate some of the symptoms of PTSD: extreme anxiety, recurring nightmares, sleeping difficulties and suicidal tendencies. In many cases, they said, marijuana is much more effective than anti-depressants and other more traditional medications prescribed for PTSD.
Under current policy, medical marijuana cards can only be issued to individuals with Alzheimer’s, cancer, glaucoma and AIDS, as well as severe pain, severe nausea, seizures and persistent muscle spasms. No one spoke up against the bill Wednesday, but some lawmakers have traditionally opposed expanding the list of conditions for which medical marijuana is made available. In the case of PTSD, critics point to the fact that there have been no controlled studies in the United States that demonstrate the substance’s effectiveness in tackling the condition’s symptoms. Doctors and psychiatrists — some of whom testified by phone from Phoenix, Boston, Albuquerque, N.M., and Berkeley, Calif. — argued that the federal government, which hasn’t legally recognized marijuana as medicine, has stopped marijuana-related PTSD studies from moving forward over the past decade. Bryan Krumm — a psychiatric nurse practitioner from New Mexico, one of three states with medical marijuana programs that allow the substance to be prescribed to individuals with PTSD — said he manages close to a 1,000 patients with the condition. “Cannabis is proving to be the safest and most effective medication available,” he said. “The only FDA-approved medications for PTSD right now are Paxil and Zoloft. These are highly ineffective and they often lead to worsening depression and anxiety and, in some cases, even suicidality.” Jose Garza, a 31-year-old military veteran from Bend, was one of several individuals with PTSD who testified about the change marijuana had made in his life. He said the condition creates individuals who are “ticking time bombs.” “Many will turn to substance abuse: they will cling to narcotic pain killers, alcohol, cocaine and meth,” he said. “Many will begin a lifelong downward spiral they will never recover from.” Garza said he himself was on that path until “the simple act of smoking a plant” helped him to cope by alleviating his anxiety and fears. “I’m not a hippie, I’m not a stoner, I’m not a criminal,” he said. “I’m a United States veteran and this is what has saved my life.” Leland Berger, a Portland attorney representing advocacy group Compassionate Oregon, said that while much of the science around marijuana and PTSD is anecdotal, “sometimes in evaluating medical efficacy of things, people look at anecdotal evidence.” Brian Michaels, a Eugene attorney, said that everyone “Republican, Democrat, pro-war, anti-war” claims to support America’s troops. “If we support our troops, that’s what we do. … We say to them, ‘We support you and this is how we’re going to do it,’ ” he said. “We recognize that you need (marijuana) to survive after what you did for us.” Source: Register-Guard, The (OR)Author:  Saul Hubbard, The Register-GuardPublished: February 8, 2013Copyright: 2013 The Register-GuardContact: rgletters guardnet.comWebsite: http://www.registerguard.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/WGXDsYXhCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 

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Comment #12 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 09, 2013 at 22:04:59 PT
Great Comments folks
I'm tired. Off to bed. More Cannabis Warrior Action Tomorrow! Peace my Cannabis Friends....
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Comment #11 posted by HempWorld on February 09, 2013 at 15:32:55 PT
“We recognize that you need (marijuana) to survive
after what you did for us.”Yes, absolutely, but... you can't have it! Here we are in 2013 and we still can't have it, officially. Research is, forbidden... except, of course, in other countries such as Israel. And still... won't listen, won't take notice.Prohibition of hemp and cannabis is a fascist rule! If your govt takes away your natural rights then you are suject of the state and you are for use by the state. We will not be free until prohibition is completely over.
PotFarm
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on February 09, 2013 at 14:26:27 PT
fight_4_freedom 
I do hope your local cannabis clubs have good lawyers and understand the risk. I don't like when people go to jail.
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #9 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 09, 2013 at 13:19:56 PT

Yeah I heard something of it
So yeah, that should be interesting. There's also a show coming out that's based on the medical canna industry, couldn't tell you channel or time but I'll look into it. I'm sure somebody on here knows what I'm talking about. Well even after that ruling, both Cannabis Clubs continue to run in my hometown :) But it's a shame that they came down with this ruling.

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Comment #8 posted by Hope on February 09, 2013 at 09:22:43 PT

John Tyler Comment 5
John, you said that so well, so beautifully.And it's true.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on February 08, 2013 at 20:07:59 PT

John Tyler
It's really good to see you and I agree.
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on February 08, 2013 at 19:59:00 PT

 fight_4_freedom
The thing about Ohio is under 100 grams is like a traffic ticket. So many states have way worse laws then Ohio so I hope they can get their laws changed even more then I do Ohio.
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on February 08, 2013 at 18:16:18 PT

cannabis therapy
If the authorities actually cared they could check out what they are doing in Israel with cannabis and their Army guys with PTSD. They are finding it effective. 
Also if I may digress, when I was in college when the Viet Nam war was raging, former US Army guys with PTSD were coming into the hippie communities seeking acceptance and healing. The hippies gave them peace, love and understanding not to mention large amounts of cannabis therapy, and other forms of psychedelic therapy. I think it helped them. They did not weird out, or kill themselves or others, or become alcoholics. Cannabis brought inner peace to their agitated minds and the community gave them a chance to heal.  They got themselves together and went on with their lives.
It was so ironic that the establishment was for war and eager to send the troops off to fight. But when the troops came back injured in body and mind from war the establishment turned their back on them and told them they will have to deal with it themselves. The hippies, in their tens of thousands in communities across the country, which were against the war, accepted them unconditionally and helped them, get it back together. 
Cannabis heals the body, mind and spirit.

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Comment #3 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 08, 2013 at 16:51:24 PT

No Worries FOM
Soon the Midwest will wake up. At least we got it started. Ohio needs to get er' done.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 08, 2013 at 13:18:38 PT

fight_4_freedom 
I'm sorry to read that. They have a new Discovery Channel series coming on the end of February called Pot Cops.
[ Post Comment ]



 


Comment #1 posted by fight_4_freedom on February 08, 2013 at 11:00:09 PT

Not good for Michigan
http://www.wlns.com/story/21083477/state-supreme-court-outlaws-pot-shops

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