Topic: opinions of the medical folks....and anyone else

[bucky katt]

i looked and i dont think i've really asked before or not so here goes. what are your opinions on medical uses of marijuana, rather than narcotic pain killers in particular? and other uses as well, but mainly for pain relief.

[MickeyX]

As far as I know, it is used in chronic pain, glaucoma, diabetes... How well it works, I guess, is up to the individual. It's like anything else. You need more the longer you use it to have the same effect. OR state is very easy to get a card. There are clinics just for that reason and they advertise on the radio and tv here. It seems everyone has one out here. (except me and Kit)  You just need documented proof of chronic illness or pain from what I understand. You still can't light up just anywhere, can't carry more than the limit on your person, can't distribute and can't pass a piss test for employment. they don't care if you have a card, they want you straight for the test. The medical stuff seems to be stronger in many cases too. Looking to light up soon? 

I have qualified for years for a card. Kit just realized that when I typed it.   

[DammitDan]

Well, narcotic pain killers don't have a tendency to damage your lungs...

[MickeyX]

well, yes, there is that.   At this time, since they don't have 1000s of people to compare in a study, they believe MJ doesn't cause more lung cancer than cigs but about the same levels overall. You hold it in longer, the tars and other chemicals have more time to pass and stick to your lungs but... the THC has a way of killing the bad cells before they develop into cancer in some cases. Cigs will never do that. It's a toss up in other words.   

You also have to consider, there are 100s of chemicals in MJ that they still have no idea what they do at all.  

It is now considered an addictive drug since it is engineered much stronger than back in the days of Nam. That stuff was apparently nothing compared to what is out there now. There are detox places everywhere now for MJ.

I think you take your chances either way. Man made chemicals or nature made ones.

[DammitDan]

And on the other hand, narcotic pain killers CAN have effects on other major organs of the body...  liver, pancreas, kidneys...

I guess it's just a toss-up.  Until a real FDA sanctioned quantitative study of the medical effects of marijuana is performed, narcotic pain killers are generally gonna be safer in the long run.

But weed will be more fun 

[Frankenkit]

weed will make you 99% more likely to attempt to use a bananaphone, however. 


...and piss yourself laughing about it.

[MickeyX]

You know they'll only do the study if they can somehow have the public buy into it, legalize it, make it into a cash crop and tax it.




LOL Kit. 

[MickeyX]

just reading about all of this is making hungry for some cheetos. 

[Retro Rocket]

Well, narcotic pain killers don't have a tendency to damage your lungs...

You don't have to smoke it to get its effect.....

Mick

[Uncle Ernie]

I have rather enjoyed the cocktails I've received in the trauma units of hospitals.
OTOH, I have always been overly receptive to weed, and so I never learned to like it.  Even the stuff available many years ago puts me in a stupor that I get bored with after a couple of hours.  Because I get so whacked out, I can't do anything about it, though.  I just sit there wishing I could do something with my time.  This is after only 2 or 3 hits.  I guess it would be quite a palliative for pain...

I really believe "we" are long overdue to make it legal and license it like alcohol.  Doing so would do SO much to reduce crime on a couple of different levels.

[demon78]

for give me for being out of it as far as the noxious weed goes (single malt is my favorite pain killer) but to avoid lung damage what about brownies, or in your salads, instead of sage leaves in your stuffed chicken ground up on your pizza that type of thing?
Bill the demon.

[Duke McDukiedook]

Magic Brownies 

[Gordon]

i looked and i dont think i've really asked before or not so here goes. what are your opinions on medical uses of marijuana, rather than narcotic pain killers in particular? and other uses as well, but mainly for pain relief.

That's a tough one.  I'm sure there's a plethora of legitimate medical uses for marijuana and thc, but like has been said until there is a lot of well-funded medical research it just seems like a guessing game, and that's not going to happen until we stop this whole misinformation propaganda campaign that's been going on for the last century. 

If it works for you then I say use it.  You're a grown man and should have the right to decide what you want to use to manage your pain. 

[nokrome]

i looked and i dont think i've really asked before or not so here goes. what are your opinions on medical uses of marijuana, rather than narcotic pain killers in particular? and other uses as well, but mainly for pain relief.

That's a tough one.  I'm sure there's a plethora of legitimate medical uses for marijuana and thc, but like has been said until there is a lot of well-funded medical research it just seems like a guessing game, and that's not going to happen until we stop this whole misinformation propaganda campaign that's been going on for the last century. 

If it works for you then I say use it.  You're a grown man and should have the right to decide what you want to use to manage your pain. 

+1 if it works for you than go for it
   as far as it being addictive i think that is a load of b.s., habit forming? sure, but so is brushing your teeth
   lung cancer? vaporize or eat it if you are worried about it (eating it has a far more powerful narcotic effect than smoking anyway)
   i could go on and on but what it comes down to is do what works for you and what your comfortable with
   if it is a "this is a legal drug vs. an illegal drug) issue than remember this,
    if you look to the government to tell you what is right and wrong than your going to have bigger problems to worry about that smoking a few joints once in a while
   

[Frankenkit]

Like MickeyX stated, though, even if you have a card, you are not exempt from p!ss tests for employment, and if you pee "dirty" for these tests, your card etc is not going to work as an excuse.

I had seriously contemplated using it for my ongoing gastric problems, but because of the above and how important my work and school are for me, I chose not to.  I am now occasionally taking  ranitidine- "occasionally" meaning for a week or so every month (or less often) even though ideally I should be on a "maintenance" amount of 150mg once a day.  Would I find it easier to "remember" to light up once a night after school/work?  Probably. Would it be more fun? Sure would!  but I get my ranitidine for $4/month at Fred Meyer and I can't beat that.

[City Boy]

Hey nokrome,I couldn't agree with you more!   Rock On

[bucky katt]

well, here in lovely south carolina it isnt legal for medical use. i've been unable to work since i broke my neck 3 years ago now so pee testing isnt a worry. i'm ta the point where i'm starting to "need" the oxycodone too much so i'm not going to take it for a couple of months and just deal with the constant pain. my doc, of course, cant prescribe it but he agrees that it's a better option than narcotics in my situation. because of my family history i'm REAL careful about narcotics and other physically addictive substances, not to mention the fact that i hate the way oxycodone keeps me awake at night if i take any past 7 or 8 pm. if i can find myself a safe supply i am going to start using the all natural herbal pain reliever for my evening/nightime pain relief. all i've found so far is 20 damn dollars a gram though.

[MickeyX]

Don't quit the oxy cold turkey there. Drop it gradually and you will do better. 

[Frankenkit]

also, I'd like to point out before Bob or Steve or anyone else needs to, officially...
The above characters on this forum are not physicians.  This represents only our opinions AND if this is illegal in your state, we cannot, under any circumstances, endorse it.  Legal problems can be more than a pain in the neck, as you know, and we don't want to give you illegal advice on a public forum.  If it's not legal where you are, either don't do it or do it and don't tell anyone about it, and we will pretend the former even if we suspect the later.

(this is why I don't speak nor write legalese)

[bucky katt]

no worries Kit, i've been to jail and while it was an interesting experience as a 24 year old, at 41 it's not something i want to repeat 

[BobbyR]

well, yes, there is that.   At this time, since they don't have 1000s of people to compare in a study, they believe MJ d

It is now considered an addictive drug since it is engineered much stronger than back in the days of Nam. That stuff was apparently nothing compared to what is out there now. There are detox places everywhere now for MJ.

The Nam stuff was better than domestic. The Medics would make a tincture out of grain alcohol and the leaves to relieve itchy rashes, and it worked really well. Never my personal thing for a high, gave me a headache. I am told the stuff today has been hybridized to a stupid level. I am told several bales would fit in a Huey, so the Medics had a steady supply.

[bucky katt]

well, yes, there is that.   At this time, since they don't have 1000s of people to compare in a study, they believe MJ d

It is now considered an addictive drug since it is engineered much stronger than back in the days of Nam. That stuff was apparently nothing compared to what is out there now. There are detox places everywhere now for MJ.

The Nam stuff was better than domestic. The Medics would make a tincture out of grain alcohol and the leaves to relieve itchy rashes, and it worked really well. Never my personal thing for a high, gave me a headache. I am told the stuff today has been hybridized to a stupid level. I am told several bales would fit in a Huey, so the Medics had a steady supply.

i did the same thing Bobby. a tincture of graves grain alcohol and stems, seeds and leaf. it was a fantastic indigestion remedy.

[nokrome]

Hey nokrome,I couldn't agree with you more!   Rock On

  thank you

bucky:
   im sorry your state doesnt allow you to medicate yourself as you see fit.
    drink till you puke up your liver? sure!!  (people die from alcohol every day)
    pop pills till your a narcotics addict? no problem!! (people die from narcotics every day)
    smoke cigs till you cough up a lung? knock yourself out!! (people die from cigs everyday)
    utilize an all natural herb that has been used as medicine for thousands of years by hundreds of cultures? your going to jail you bad man!! (do you know anybody that has died from smoking weed? i dont)
  sorry about the rant but i HATE hypocrisy

[bucky katt]

kicking the oxycodone isnt going to be quite as easy as i thought. i HATE the fact that i let that #$%* get a hold of me! ah well, what i have left (about 60) is the last i'm going to take, i'll just have to gradually wean myself off. i promised myself that i wouldnt let this happen damnit.

[coldright]

Jeff, what is your oxy intake at this point, how many mg and how often?