Medical Marijuana Without the High

[ChunkyMonkey]

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...igh-arthritis/

Medical Marijuana Without the High

By Olivia Solon, Wired UK

Israeli researchers have developed a strain of medicinal marijuana that can ease symptoms of diseases such as arthritis without making patients “high”.

Marijuana use for medical purposes is legal in Israel, with around 9,000 patients holding government licenses to use the drug to treat ailments such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and to stimulate the appetite of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Many of its palliative properties appear to come from a substance called cannabidiol (CBD), which some research has shown to have anti-inflammatory advantages. CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it barely binds with the brain’s receptors. As a result, people can ingest it without getting high.


Meanwhile it is the tetrahydrocannabinol or THC that is best known for getting people high. THC acts on cannabinoid receptors in the brain and triggers a series of reactions that lead to the feeling of being stoned. These receptors are mainly found in the parts of the brain linked to pleasure, memory, concentration and sensory and time perception. It is the rising levels in THC in marijuana that has led to tabloid press dubbing some of the variants hitting the street as “superskunk”.

Medical marijuana grower Tikun Olam has been developing a strain of cannabis that is high in CBD but very low in THC. It has managed to create one that has 15.8 percent CBD and less than one percent THC. This new strain is called Avidekel and seems to have the highest CBD to THC ratio of any other variant developed.

Tikun Olam’s head of development Zack Klein told Reuters: “Sometimes the high is not always what they need. Sometimes it is an unwanted side effect. For some of the people it’s not even pleasant.”

A research team at the Hebrew University has been studying the effects of the CBD-enhanced cannabis on mice and plans to start clinical trials later this year. Despite this, Avidekel is already approved for medical use, so patients with marijuana licenses can already try it.

Running out of excuses...

[Wiggity]

Why the hell would anyone smoke weed if it didn't make you high?

Totally defeats the purpose.

[micah360]

Why the hell would anyone smoke weed if it didn't make you high?

Totally defeats the purpose.

yeah... I agree with Cartman!

[Irving]

I know someone who said she used cannabis to cure herself of cancer...twice.

[GilpinGuy]

I know someone who said she used cannabis to cure herself of cancer...twice.

Huh, I thought pot was used by cancer patients to ease pain, encourage appetite, etc., but not "cure" anything. In fact I can't think of anything that pot has been said to "cure" except maybe stress . It may temporarily ease pressure for glaucoma patients, but it doesn't "cure" glaucoma. Meh, maybe I'm missing something.

If "recreational pot possession" does get legalized in CO on Tuesday, how do you think it will affect the "medical marijuana" industry? Methinks the "medical" folks will be voting NO.

[cofi]

Huh, I thought pot was used by cancer patients to ease pain, encourage appetite, etc., but not "cure" anything. In fact I can't think of anything that pot has been said to "cure" except maybe stress . It may temporarily ease pressure for glaucoma patients, but it doesn't "cure" glaucoma. Meh, maybe I'm missing something.

If "recreational pot possession" does get legalized in CO on Tuesday, how do you think it will affect the "medical marijuana" industry? Methinks the "medical" folks will be voting NO.

look up phoenix tears....they are CURING certain types of cancer with it

[rondog]

I don't know....I smoked a lot of it in me yoot, and don't want anything to do with being all fucked up now. But if a form of it could give me relief from my goddamn back and arthritis pains without making me a drooling fool or costing me my guns, I might be interested. I don't like living on Vicodin, Valium and Ibuprofen either, but constant pain flat sucks.

[GilpinGuy]

I don't know....I smoked a lot of it in me yoot, and don't want anything to do with being all fucked up now. But if a form of it could give me relief from my goddamn back and arthritis pains without making me a drooling fool or costing me my guns, I might be interested. I don't like living on Vicodin, Valium and Ibuprofen either, but constant pain flat sucks.

Man, I smoked and grew a shit-ton of weed back in the day. These days I have no interest at all. None. And I have plenty of folks I know who still enjoy the herb.

If I had some debilitating condition, you're damn right I'd be trying everything I could to easy my pain. The law be damned if I'm dying or in crippling pain.

However, it's so obvious that the "medical marijuana" movement is just a premeditated step toward the outright legalization of recreational pot, which I really have no problem with.

But just be honest about it and say "I am for the outright legalization of pot!" instead of being a freaking weasel and pretending to want to help sick people because you want to get high.

I just did a quick count and came up with 6 folks I know who have a "card" but are completely healthy. And one of those has a CCW...good luck to him.

We'll see on Tuesday what happens. In fact I'm interested what folks on here think....Poll coming soon.

[Whistler]

Man, I smoked and grew a shit-ton of weed back in the day. These days I have no interest at all. None. And I have plenty of folks I know who still enjoy the herb.

If I had some debilitating condition, you're damn right I'd be trying everything I could to easy my pain. The law be damned if I'm dying or in crippling pain.

However, it's so obvious that the "medical marijuana" movement is just a premeditated step toward the outright legalization of recreational pot, which I really have no problem with.

But just be honest about it and say "I am for the outright legalization of pot!" instead of being a freaking weasel and pretending to want to help sick people because you want to get high.

I just did a quick count and came up with 6 folks I know who have a "card" but are completely healthy. And one of those has a CCW...good luck to him.

We'll see on Tuesday what happens. In fact I'm interested what folks on here think....Poll coming soon.

What a novel new concept

[Byte Stryke]

who'd have thought I would see a day when smoking a cigarette or carrying a gun in Public is illegal and Smoking pot isn't...

not saying I am against the latter, but that the movement to legalize it has come a long way.