The response of marijuana advocacy groups concerning the steady increase of the drug's potency has revealed an underground debate of whether marijuana is a harmful narcotic or a recreational drug, and the groups involved vary from the U.S. federal government and local law enforcement organizations to college students and scientists.

Founded in 1970, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana smokers, the NORML Web site said.

NORML claims to represent the interests of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly, the Web site said.

"Even by the University of Mississippi's own admission, the average THC in domestically grown marijuana - which comprises the bulk of the US market - is less than 5 percent, a figure that's remained unchanged for nearly a decade," NORML deputy director Paul Armentano wrote in a letter sent to the editorial staff in the issue of The Daily Mississippian.

The deputy director did not address the alleged connection between mental illness and marijuana use in his letter, but did later in a phone interview.

"Nobody really knows the answer," Armentano said. "We know those who suffer from depression and anxiety sometimes abuse substances like alcohol and cigarettes."

Armentano said although he has not seen any research directly linking marijuana use and mental illness, he would not advise those with mental illness or a family history of mental illness to use marijuana.

"Use of any intoxicant has a risk," Armentano said.

NORML supports regulation and education, he said.

A "targeted education campaign" similar to that of the recent alcohol campaigns would allow the general public to be educated about marijuana and its effects; regulation would ensure the product being sold was taxed and safe for the public to consume.

Source: Daily Missippian (U of MS Edu)
Copyright: 2008 The Daily Missippian
Contact: opinion@thedmonline.com

In story "Medicinal pot not harmful" ( June 17 ), Jean-Paul Collett of UBC says: "People only turn to cannabinoids after they have tried something else. At this point, you can't take it as a first choice."

This just shows how biased "traditional" medical services are.

A plant that has been used successfully for 5,000 years is considered "alternative."

But the "standard" pharmaceuticals that pot users are trying to avoid have only been around 100 or so years.

It should be noted that Cesamet and Marinol have absolutely no cannabis in them.

They are synthetic mimics of cannabis, which is why they are so poorly received.

Sativex does contain cannabis, but only certain compounds, not the whole plant medicine. Which is why recent testing has shown it to be less than effective.

Recent science out of Germany shows how cannabinoids stimulate the body's production of TIMP-1, which helps healthy cells resist cancer invasion.

Source: Province, The(CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: The Province

The Merck manual includes Depression in Psychiatric and Mood disorders in which anxiety and PTSD are also included. They show several pages of the why and wherefores so I'm not going into a psychiatric tirade. I do feel there is an extensive overlap in all of these psychiatric conditions and I hope my point will become clear to the reader.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Plan did not include any psychological medical conditions which I felt was a sad mistake. If a patient tells a doctor that marijuana works for ANY condition, it is best if the doctor listens and pays attention.

The old crap, "It's all in your head" is certainly active here.

Very few doctors have been recipients of an artillery or mortar barrage. It would alter their conception. At any rate, all of the above conditions are real AND in some patient's heads. The worst thing is they are difficult to dislodge and get over.

As far as depression itself is concerned, it seemingly was first noted by Dr Tod Mikuriya who reviewed medical records of about 38,000 marijuana patients at the Oakland, California Cannabis Buyers Club database. He found that many interrelated psychiatric conditions according to patient's histories, were ameliorated with cannabis / marijuana.

He also found that VA doctors were treating these patients with a wild grabbag of psycotropic medications. (See Friedman, M.J. et al April 2006 American Journal of Psychiatry.)

Subsequent medical articles have indicated the abject failure of these medications. These include Serotonin, contraband drugs like Paroxetine, anti-depressants like Trazadone, MADIS like Phenetzine, Tricyclies like Amitriptyline, anti-analgesics like Propanalol, anti-convulsants like Gabapentin and anti-psychotics like Respiridone, Respiridone. I am flummoxed and wonder the rationale of these. They all have well-known BAD adverse side effects.

Early in my practice with marijuana applicants, I learned that Vietnam Veterans had discovered this herb while fighting the war. They told me that cannabis / marijuana worked well for psychic as well as physical medical problems.

Both Dr. Tod Mikuriya and Ed Glick R.N. found in history taking and reviewing medical marijuana and records that marijuana provided effective treatment. I ended up with at least 400 PTSD veterans who fortunately had other acceptable physical ailments so that I could help them get marijuana permits.

Source: Salem-News.com
Contact: Dr. Phillip Leveque, Salem-News.com