This past weekend, I read two wonderful books. I would like to tell you about these books as I feel that they should be part of anyone’s health library. The first is Mark Sircus’ Medical Marijuana. Later this weekend, I will tell you about Norm Shealy’s book, Living Bliss.
Medical Marijuana is written by Dr. Mark Sircus. Mark and I have been friends and colleagues for a number of years.
A holistic doctor friend of mine (who asked not to be named) is responsible for introducing me to this book. I will call him Dr. X. Over the years, Dr. X and I have attended many classes and traded many books and articles. Dr. X told me that he was using medical marijuana in his practice with good success for treating cancer, autoimmune disorders, pain, as well as other conditions. He told me the best book about marijuana that he has seen was Dr. Sircus’ book.
When I received Medical Marijuana, I was intrigued. This book is long—over 700 pages–and contains a wealth of information about medical marijuana. There are chapters about marijuana toxicity, cancer, autism, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, disease, and multiple sclerosis. Furthermore, there is information about cannabis and diabetes.
This book may seem long, but it is written in an easy-to-read format. I finished Medical Marijuana in two days.
After reading this book, I called Dr. Sircus to tell him how much I enjoyed it and how good it was. This book markedly increased my knowledge about the medicinal uses of marijuana.
Further researching the medicinal uses of marijuana confirmed what Dr. Sircus wrote in his book. After reading the case histories in this book as well as looking at youtube videos of patients who treated a variety of conditions with marijuana, it is hard to comprehend why marijuana hasn’t been better studied and why it is not legal for all medicinal purposes. Marijuana may be able to end the suffering of many patients.
Anyone interested in marijuana and other natural therapies should read this book. Thank you Dr. Sircus for writing it.
DrB
I have metastatic prostate cancer and take medicinal cannabis oil (RSO). To date, surgery, hormone suppression, radiation, and chemo have not arrested this thing.
I do NOT take medical marijuana to get high. Been there, done that years ago. I don’t particularly care for the high, but take it for the medicinal effects that I’ve read about and consulted with an MD about.
In my case, none of the standard cancer treatments (surgery, hormone blockade, radiation, & chemotherapy) have stopped this cancer. So, I’m trying medical marijuana and other life-style changes. Will it help me? I don’t know, but I am sure glad I have the opportunity to try some alternatives to what otherwise have been harsh treatments with poor results.
So, I would urge those who are afraid of cannabis or have not read up on its possible helpful effects to do so before shutting the door on others who might benefit from it. Having said that, I do believe that medical marijuana patients/users should be monitored by a health care provider who understands cannabinoids and their effects. Other than that, please keep your noses out of my medical treatment!
There will always be people with addictive personalities. No matter whether its cigarettes, Alcohol, cocaine or marijuana, people will become addicted because they cant say no to themselves .. and the first to are i listed are legal. Why make it illegal because of a small percentage of the population… and the rest get to suffer. I am quite surprised how many people refuse to listen to medical research and adhere to misguided nonsense that was put out by the government years ago. I would love to see these people show REAL research to back up their statements. Medical Marijuana is not the same as the street marijuana that the kids are using… and today who knows what’s being put in it to step on it for more profits. All in all, i am hearing that medical marijuana is extremely potent and you only need a very small amount to alleviate pain. I have used essential oils to combat recent pain in have had, but If the time comes that I need something stronger you better believe that im going to insist on medical marijuana
Reagan started the war on drugs AFTER he asked for research and it came back to legalize marijuana, only to put a war on drugs because he wanted to stop the Vietnam war protesters outside the white house and around the country .
To commenter Thaddeus:
Blaming pot “indirectly” for your health decline is a cop-out which apparently serves you by alleviating your own sense of personal responsibility. Many people were pot-heads in the 60s/70s. Do you think they all turned out like you? Be honest.
To commenter Gene who says:
” Are we antidepressant drug deficient? No. Are we Statin drug deficient? No. Are we marijuana deficient? No.”
Your first mistake Gene, is comparing dangerous synthetic pharmaceuticals, both of which have documented high mortality rates when PROPERLY PRESCRIBED, as compared to a plant with NO mortality and thousands of documented successes.
Your second mistake, Gene, is failing to educate yourself on this subject as there is ample INDEPENDENT research available.
Then you say:
“Please get back to being the Doctor who searches out the underlying cause of health problems and stop promoting band-aid treatments that can and will lead to devastating effects in a large percentage of the population.”
Your third mistake is criticizing Dr. Brownstein. Not because you shouldn’t, in principle, but because it comes from a place of willful ignorance as evidenced by the first two mistakes mentioned. Dr. Brownstein is a hero who speaks truth to power.
And finally, Dean, who says:
“I also seriously doubt that Big Pharma is behind the resistance to full legalization. I saw this summer as the campaign for legalization was in process and there was really little resistance.”
Big Pharma has ALWAYS been behind the resistance because they will not tolerate competition, in a way no different than Big Oil not tolerating alternative energy competition. There is a very specific reason why there was “little resistance” this past summer. Read here-
https://www.thedailybell.com/
I look forward to future articles, by you, on this subject Dr. Brownstein.
Aforementioned opponents, here and elsewhere, are going to soon become confused, as the Establishment media begins to spin counter to the original meme.
My compliments, Dr. B.
In the 60s/70s, I was a pot head for a long time. If taken, medicinally, responsibly, it has therapeudic value. The problem is the high stimulates the senses so strongly, in a very pleasant way, that, well, it’s easy to get strung out on it. If and when that happens, as it did with me, like any medicine, too much of it becomes toxic. In MJ’s case, it’s very mild, no one is going to become ill by taking it, but it will cause lethargy and paranoia in some people, as it did with me. It also caused a craving for junk food, so my health declined by taking it, not directly, but indirectly. Also, to counteract the paranoia that it gave me, I smoked it with a nice glass of wine, and the two together are a perfect match. Wine is good for you, if you don’t abuse it, as well, it has “resveratrol” one of the strongest cancer fighting agents known. So, if you want to use it, take this as a caveat. Don’t fall into the trap of wanting it every day.
Look forward to reading this material. As for personal experience I had been suffering for at least 20 years from IBS with no relief from drugs or diet. After watching a video by a doctor (don’t recall name) I began three months ago making a smoothy every morning with 8 to 10 fresh green leaves from marijuana with fruit and juice. I have been pain free ever since. An absolute miracle for me!
Greg said, “THC helps regenerate brain cells, it is neuroprotective,…” If this is true, then I’m in! I was diagnosed 25 years ago with multiple sclerosis. Last Spring’s major flare took my dominant hand and arm for 1.5 months. It was either time or the incredibly expensive two rounds of ACTH and then five days IVIG infusion that started the healing. Putting these substances into my body is almost as scary as the actual deficit the MS took from me. While not 100% yet after eight months of when the improvement began, it will soon be a year since the flare started.
If medical marijuana, THC, CBD or whatever part of the plant will help, then why not? If I suffered pain with this (which I blessedly did not), I would not hesitate using whatever form listed above that relieves pain. And if marijuana IS neuroprotective, I would like to prevent any such flares and will seek it out.
I would like to read the book and learn from it. I’ve grown enough over the years (almost 53!), that the idea of using appropriately marijuana is an option. BTW, I’m NOT interested in smoking marijuana and feeling “high” and paranoid. BTDT many, many years ago a few times.
(BTDT=been there, done that).
God bless, Dr B & all.
My daughter passed from stage 4 breast cancer at 25 and she smoked. I will tell that at first it increase her appetite a little but then it did the exact opposite. Between the chemo and the weed I witnessed her become so malnutrition that she starved to death. Cadmium causes zinc tissue retention. I now have mixed feelings about smoking weed period.
This has been a very active and interesting blog indeed. As with all things natural, there are a time and a place for thier specific uses. It is hard to dismiss arguments on both sides and I think one would be silly to do so. One such as looking at the fact that it can and has cured people of cancer. The other one looking at the fact that it can and is used as a pecipitous to crime and over usage as some can not demonstrate good judgement for whatever reasons. Moderation and consideration of biological individuality may be of key concern here.
I believe that when you are faced with a serious, painful death such as end stage cancer, you should be absolutely free to chose whatever treatment you wish. If, by chance you become cancer free during this process, perfect. If, by chance your pain is alleviated, then great. If not, you lost nothing by trying. Caring Dr.s see this situation much more than the average person. I can not imagine thier personal anquish as they struggle knowing that what they can offer the average you and me is so very ineffective.
Personally in a perfect world I think it should be regulated but we are so used to the fox guarding the chicken house, how do we comfortably do this? There is a time and a place for everything. At this point, the future may not be bright but certainly will be interesting!
Ah, the dear puritans. Such terror at the very idea that anyone would actually experience peace, joy, or pleasure – or be left alone to decide for themselves what that might mean. They don’t count their addiction to the pleasure of controlling the lives of other people, of course. They mean to rule well, for “your own good,” of course, but they mean to rule even if it kills you!
And if you give control, and the power to “tax,” to any government, the puritans win one way or another. The “high” is no different than that achieved by a thousand other means… sky diving, skiing, race car driving, for instance… Adrenalin is every bit as addicting as nicotine and far more so than cannabis… but each person’s response and need are different.
Let each person be responsible for his/her own life and that of their legitimate dependents. People who are self destructive will always have many ways to accomplish their goal, and nobody can truly prevent it, regardless of their motives or intentions.
I watched my dad suffer horribly as he died from cancer. Medical marijuana may have lessened his pain; it certainly could not have done him harm.
Krista,
I agree. What possibly could be the harm in a late-stage cancer patient?
DrB
cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/page4 … … … … http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/18/marijuana-brain-cancer_n_6181060.html … …http://youtube.com/watch?v=DqHassCMX-0
THC helps regenerate brain cells, it is neuroprotective, it is physically impossible to overdose on weed, making it safer than even drinking water much research on weed has been done and it is all positive it doesn’t make you stupid no matter how much of it you use, alot of people posting have clearly been brainwashed by the fear mongering of big pharma. Dr. Brownstein is about the science, the science does not support your fears so you reject him, like the romans rejected jesus. sad. many people have cured their cancer using marijuana alone no chemo radiation and the hell that comes with it. not a pill derived from it, pills kill alcohol kills marijuana has killed 0 people. saved many and will save more if you people stop promoting baseless fears.
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Just because alcohol is harmful, and that is legal, does not mean making pot legal is “okay” on the grounds that alcohol is. Why don’t we just go with-Just because society wants to say something is okay, doesn’t make it correct. We know alcohol can be harmful. We know cigarettes can be harmful. We know THC is harmful. As a medical professional you should just state that. Until more research can be done to protect young people (and adults with potential for addiction) there should be no reason to allow for another harmful substance to enter our society. Especially endorsed by a medical professional. Separate the harmful portion of the hemp plant from the possible good purposes-of which there can be many. Face it. It is theTHC that is neurotoxic. It is the THC that gets you high. If you want to get high-just say so. If you need substances like that to make you happy in life-you have other issues within yourself to deal with. Let’s face it. We all do.
Say NO to drugs for this reason. Haven’t we established that in our society?
I am disappointed. Are we antidepressant drug deficient? No. Are we Statin drug deficient? No. Are we marijuana deficient? No! This is not in keeping with your real values Dr Brownstein. Please get back to being the Doctor who searches out the underlying cause of health problems and stop promoting band-aid treatments that can and will lead to devastating effects in a large percentage of the population. The very thing you are so strongly opposed to and for which we have so sincerely respected you.
Gene,
I have seen many patients suffering with severe pain including cancer patients, MS patients, arthritic patients, etc. A good “Band-Aid” that helps them with their pain and causes few side effects sounds good to me.
And, we have cannabinoid receptors throughout our body. There must be a reason for that.
DrB
The negative side of cannabis is largely from undisciplined people who are smoking way too much High THC content cannabis. Take away the smoking part and the high THC content and replace it with High CBD cannabis being vaporized or infuse the CBD rich cannabis with olive or coconut oil and take it orally. Now you have some very safe effective medicine with no negative side effects. Now a days you can get cannabis with CBD to THC ratios of 20:1 or higher. A ratio of 4:1 CBD to THC is highly effective for many issues and in moderate doses will not get you high and allow one to be very functional. Infuse high CBD cannabis into some healthy oil and take it orally. I’d like to hear the down side of using cannabis this way?
Many people don’t understand that we have an Endo-Cannabinoid system in our bodies. Meaning that our own bodies make cannabinoids like what are in marijuana for the purpose of regulating homeostasis and keeping us in balance. Due to the toxic, high stress, low nutritional environment we live in, some of us may be endo-cannabinoid deficient. Therefore supplementing with external cannabinoids can be very effective if done wisely. It all comes down to the type of cannabis i.e ratio of CBD to THC, the dosage, and the method of ingestion. Many people can benefit from cannabis IF they find the right combination of these three elements. It’s about conscious wise cannabis use.
Please do some research on the vast increase in the thc content in pot now as compared to prior. Also research the increase percent in emergency room visits related to pot. It is a dangerous drug, and a gateway drug. You are always so concerned about the dangers/leadings of Big Pharma, but there is exactly the same thing going on with the people trying to legalize pot for their own reasons. Same thing. They don’t care about its addictive properties, which it IS addictive. Pot has ruined the life of so many young people. They use because they are brainwashed by this counterculture that it is not harmful. Why don’t you also get some statistics about the people in rehab and see how many are in for pot alone. Then see how many started with pot.
Check out SPECT scans on brains on pot alone and see the significant neurologic damage it causes. I am disappointed that
you have been swayed so heavily without looking at the other side of an issue and jumping into a harmful counterculture. Take it from someone that has experienced the dangers first hand with a close family member. They were brainwashed by this counterculture, and their life has been turmoil. All because it is a “natural herb”.
Some statistics from a lecture from the University of Florida Dept. Of Psychiatry. Teens who try pot 1:6 become addicted. 1:10 adult. The brain is under construction until the mid to late twenties and there are numerous newer studies that document thc’s high potential to damage the brain. Pot is the LEADING cause of entry into treatment centers for young people and more kids are in marijuana treatment than alcohol and all other drugs combined. With the amount of users at the same number, the admissions to emergency for pot has increased 20x. It can alter your reaction time for up to 28 days and increases the incidence of mental illness. Up to 6x for psychosis and also increases depression and anxiety. (The very thing people take it to relieve) .
The CBD is bred out of modern pot and is the non psychoactive portion . You need to make a distinction between raw crude pot and its components that are medically helpful. Research needs to be done on this while separating it from the people that want to legalize pot for other reasons. Don’t put our nations youth at stake. Don’t be swayed by this counterculture. Just like you should question Big Pharma, so you should question this.
The true healing will come from refined cannabis oil of varying amounts of CBD and THC, depending upon the illness.
Listen to this one hour interview of Dr. Allan Frankel, MD, who teaches at a CA university and also has used medical cannabis in his private practice for six years, and I think many of you negative posters might change your mind.
http://oneradionetwork.com/health/dr-allan-frankel-cannabis-medicine-getting-stoned-june-12-2014/
Much more info on Dr. Frankel’s website http://www.greenbridgemed.com/
Wow! You really stirred up a hornet’s nest with this one. Whatever happened to ‘First do no harm’? My doctorate is in Oriental medicine, with 27 years practice. As an herbalist trained in Chinese medicine we are trained to recognize the ‘energetic’ problems associated with substances such as coffee, alcohol, and marijuana. Firstly, I smoked weed in college. I very much enjoyed it. I gave it up many years ago because it did interfere with clarity and motivation. But I was unaware of the energetically detrimental effects. In Traditional Chinese medicine we recognize pot can interfere with the energy balance between the Heart, Spirit (‘Shen’), Spleen, Liver and Kidney (adrenals). Although somewhat obscure, these imbalances will affect everyone to some degree, and are very real! Of course, if someone has pain from bone cancer or some other significantly impairing disorder I’m fine with them using marijuana. But many people are using it to medicate themselves without addressing the true underlying issues they have (e.g. Anxiety or depression etc.). Our research, all too often, has tunnel vision. We measure one thing and say it’s good. Then later we realize our measurements were flawed or limited. Oops! However, the issue goes so much deeper when we talk about legislation to legalize it. Here in Colorado, it is rampant. You can drive by so called ‘wellness centers’ (an insult to true natural medicines) and smell it in the air. We are seeing public use way too often including while driving. These are not good trends. We know we have problems with alcohol already. The argument that alcohol is more dangerous may be true but why add another toxic item to the menu. Our children are the ones who are going to suffer. Medical marijuana is really a misnomer. I don’t know what the answer is. But we really need to look at this type of subject matter deeply and without prejudice.
I believe that most drugs originally came from plants and herbs. Therefore, cannabis should be looked at only if the THC is taken out. Several programs have been done on the positive results from the canabidiol oil (also known as, CBD), without the hallucinagenic effects. I am so ANTI-DRUG, but do believe in using the plant for medicinal purposes without the ‘high’ part of it. Even my 22 yr old son finally decided on his own, in seeing what marijuana use has done to his friends, now believes it to be additive and harmful to your brain cells!! He used to think it was no different than alcohol, but no more! Doctors have said it is harmful to your brain and can cause psychosis, esp young people under the age of 25. Smoking marijuana is also laden with pesticides and toxins. Who wants that in your body???
There is a dispensary near my clinic which caters to mainly young kids that have abused the system by getting a mirajuana card from a incompetent docs looking to supplement their incomes
The so called mirajuana patients then party with their legal weed in parking lots close by
Mirajuana has medicinal benefits but is used more for abuse than healing
Just a reality check
Craig,
I need no reality check about that. Again, alcohol is the most abused substance in the U.S. It is legal for adults to use. I see no reason why marijuana should not be legal for all medicinal purposes.
One more thing: Big Brother’s crackdown on marijuana has failed miserably. I would rather see our police officers chasing down real criminals rather than adults who use marijuana recreationally. And, we could tax it and use the money to help those who abuse it.
DrB
Hello,
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Our purpose at the NSF is defending our health freedoms. The NSF has been instrumental in pushing back against CODEX, which is designed to take away rights to natural health supplements without getting a doctor’s prescription, along with protecting our rights against noxious vaccines, our rights to healthy organic and gmo-free food, and working to educate people and our elected officials of the ongoing danger from the radiation fallout from Fukishim and geo-engineering.
Folks,
NSF does very good work. I encourage you to check out their website.
DrB
“Medical” marijuana is legal in California. However, your friend neglected to tell you that marujuana is a psychotropic drug. It is “natural” but so is radium but I would not take it to treat any illness! Marijuana has many bad effects including but not limited to memory loss, increased appetite (leads to diabetes), decreased appetite, brain damage, psychosis, psychotic behavior, DNA damage, etc. I have firsthand experience with marijuana so I can attest to many of these effects which I later had to counteract with cleansing and purifying remedies. Marijuana is NOT a valid therapy! There are numerous other valid therapies available which do not use dangerous drugs or drugs of any kind. You would be wise to look into those possibilities if you are truly interested in natural healthy treatments and therapies.
We live in a very crazy world. When I think of what allopathic doctors do to treat cancer and the poor success rate they achieve and yet every day the same treatments are offered over and over again in the name of good practice.
Yet when some brave caring doctors share their experienced based opinions concerning the use of a plant that is known to be able to help a range of conditions they are maligned.
My son lives in Colorado. When he applied to be a firefighter, one question was have you even tried Marijuana. He answered truthfully, and was thrown off the list and told not to apply again. Ever.
Anne,
That is ridiculous. Just when I think things are changing…
DrB
I have no respect for you and find your comment to be irresponsible, One book does not make the argument. There are risks to society as well as to the individual. However it is like the risks of abuse with other prescription drugs. Doctors have been completely irresponsible for decades now.
To Mary: Monsanto IS working on GM marijuana. Go figure. Now they’ll ruin that too.
Oh no Mary, don’t give Monsanto anymore ideas!!!!!!!!
@Dean, You should be able to find studies pertaining to cannabis on pubmed. Over the years, I’ve come across studies that had been done in Europe (tagged on my older computer for which I need a new mouse). For those who speak to the ‘evil’ of this plant, the French looked at tobacco-only users versus tobacco/cannabis users in a long-term study; the result was lung cancer presenting in the tobacco users but NONE in the group using both. Again in France, an extraction from the plant had been injected to the site of an inoperable brain tumor resulting in tumor shrinkage. And another study showed no memory impairment attributed to long-term use (perhaps in the US the ‘stoner’ stereotype often pointed to is the result of learned behavior as it so strongly exemplified in our culture as such or merely due to specific personality characteristics of some users). Lastly, our own FDA and CDC have posted studies not only acknowledging its benefits but concluding it is not harmful.
As cannabis has been vilified in the US since the l930’s, too many myths abound and are now culturally entrenched, compliments of our government. The same government vilified salt for causing high blood pressure. Oops, 25 years later, the statement was retracted as having been made in error due to misinterpretation of a study result – yet, a vast number of the population and even doctors continue to accept it as true.
Medical marijuana would be OK as long as the intoxicating and harmful substances involved with it could be eliminated. Unfortunately, medical marijuana has been tainted by stoners that seek it from shady “doctors” that are more interested in a political advocacy than actual need. That hurts the people that can actually benefit from its limited use under controlled conditions.
Thanks for sharing, Dr. B. I really hope that anyone who reads this blog post is COMPLETELY educated about medical marijuana/cannabis BEFORE they make unintelligent comments. Assumptions, opinions & misconceptions are just as toxic as the majority of prescriptions prescribed to patients on a daily basis. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER.
I personally know of a gentleman with Parkinson’s Disease that was using medical marijuana for his unremitting back pain. It completely cured the pain. Then he heard about Low Dose Naltrexone and substituted it for the marijuana and it worked just as well at a fraction of the cost. It’s about 25 cents/day if you buy the full dose Natrexone from Thailand and dilute it yourself. These are both incredibly effective and inexpensive substances that are much safer than most of the drugs that are commonly prescribed for similar conditions. Borax and Lufenuron are two other incredibly effective and inexpensive substances for arthritis and Candida respectively. We don’t hear of these things because they cost pennies compared to pharmaceuticals and the doctors aren’t “educated” about them by their primary educators, the pharmaceutical reps. It’s up to the consumer now to get information about alternative low cost treatments from the internet. My biggest fear these days is that if we lose “net neutrality”, this last source of information will dry up.
I feel that GMO’s are far more damaging to our bodies than marijuana yet they continue to be grown and sold plus put into many canned foods.
If Monsanto made GMO marijuana, it would probably wind up legal.
Dr B-
I owned a medical marijuana dispensary in Colorado for about 9 months. Unfortunately, it was just when everything got started out there and the landlord would not renew our lease. Needless to say we served hundreds of patients and saw the amazing benefits it brought to them. If someone wants to get “high” they can do a number of things other than smoke marijuana. That should not be the justification to withhold anyone of consenting age the smoke marijuana. Like you have mentioned many times throughout this blog, just look at the harmful effects of alcohol if abused.
Dr. Brownstein, Thank you for being so open in sharing the benefits of medical marijuana. So many health professionals will only prescribe manufactured pharmaceuticals and many of them have horrible side-effects. I live in Iowa and it took a movement of determined mothers and family members, whose children suffer from seizure disorders, that pushed our Governor into listening to them about how their children suffered. There are so many illnesses that could also benefit from this treatment. It is very frustrating to me that many people continue to see marijuana as an evil drug, but they have no qualms about swallowing addictive prescription pain medications!
Battejo,
You are so right.
DrB
As a patient, and a care giver for medical marijuana, I can only say that my experiences have been nothing short of amazing. I have witnessed countless patients who have benefited from its use whether it be from siezures, chronic pain, ADD, ADHD, cancers of all sorts, anxiety, depression, PTSD and more. You nay sayers really need to do your homework and stop with the negative rhetoric already.
Happy holidays
Dr. T
Dr. Taylor,
I have heard many similar stories from my patients.
DrB
I live in Oregon and have a medical marijuana card. Having said that, I’m not so sure it is healthy to use as regularly as some do. I use it very occasionally when I’m feeling some anxiety; it’s not a “party drug” for me. Most people who I’ve run into who have the mmc are using it all the time. They say they have conditions that warrant its frequent use. My observation is that most of those folks have become rather “stupid” from its use even though they may be getting some medical benefit from the plant. Just because it’s “natural” and has been used for thousands of years does not make it harmless, although it is much less harmful than alcohol. I know you’ve stated anything can be abused.
I’m curious as to why Dr X doesn’t reveal his name. If this is such good stuff, and it may be in a medical sense, why doesn’t he stand up for it and “come out” as it were.
Personally, I would like to see some good scientific studies that show its value. I have not been able to find much besides anecdotal evidence but no double blind studies. Could you please list some? YouTube doesn’t count.
I also seriously doubt that Big Pharma is behind the resistance to full legalization. I saw this summer as the campaign for legalization was in process and there was really little resistance; certainly not much “con” advertisement such as there was for the non GMO bill earlier in the year which had resistance funded by many interest groups in the GMO business.
Just to make my position clear, I DO think it should be legal for adults, just like alcohol.
Regards,
Mr. X 🙂
Dean,
There needs to be many more studies on marijuana. Unfortunately, until it becomes more accepted, they won’t be done.
As to why Dr. X doesn’t reveal his name, many doctors fear their medical boards if they propose alternative viewpoints. It is not as easy as you make it out to be.
As for Youtube: Case histories and personal stories are very important. However, more rigorous studies are also needed.
DrB
Good post and interesting replies – in a very short amount of time and space, the major arguments for and against have been summarized by your readers, Dr. Brownstein. Susan might want to consider the pros and cons from the point of view that sometimes one has to accept a risk of some harm to do some good…I think that’s what the mainstream would say about chemo and radiation as cancer treatment, right?
Mary,
Everything has risks/benefits. You can drink too much water and, of course, you can smoke too much pot. However, I don’t think we need Big Brother deciding who can and cannot use marijuana. It should be legal for adults to use just as alcohol is legal. I am not promoting that everybody use marijuana–I jut want it freely available for health issues. And, I see no reason why an adult cannot indulge in marijuana if they choose to do so. Cigarettes and alcohol are much more dangerous than marijuana.
DrB
I recently had genetic testing done for MTHFR and in the course of the DNA analysis found other genetic mutations, one of which is was heterozygous (only one mutation from one parent, not both) in my COMT gene which if expressed negatively could slow down the breakdown of dopamine, oestrogen, make me prone to anxiety and more sensitive to green tea. If the gene is expressing itself negatively I am encouraged to use Hydroxy B12 and avoid Methyl donors and CANNABIS…I think the emerging new science of Nutragenomics as a result of the genome mapping will cause us to learn individuality in using natural substances and nutrients and it will become the healing of the future. I know I should avoid cannabis because of my genetics so it is something to consider before recommending it for everyone.
Julie,
I am NOT recommending it for everyone. I am on-board that it should be legal for all medicinal purposes. And, we should not have to register with a licensing board for the privilege if being able to use it. Just as we don’t have get a license to use alcohol or smoke cigarettes, we should not need Big Brother’s permission to use marijuana.
DrB
I get so tired of reading or hearing people spout about their negative “beliefs” in MMJ. Just because some have been brainwashed by church and government regarding the “terribleness” of MMJ doesn’t justify their opinion. If you don’t believe in science, why are you reading this blog?
Irene has it right…it is about Big Pharma who wants to keep us all on statin drugs. Stop being their hack and read the book Dr. Brownstein is recommending here. Thankyou.
I am a huge fan that has passed on your videos and Blog to all my colleagues. I have been healthier in my own life from your advice and guidance and will always be grateful for your tireless work. You’re wrong for getting behind this issue. This push to legalize and legitimize pot is so out of line. Your response to Lori about alcohol abuse is lame at best, come on, that’s a response from a medical Doctor? Saying that marijuana has been around for thousands of years can be said about mushrooms. You’re better than that. The marketing of this drug using examples of sick people, so the losers of the world can seem legit in their quest to get high and make money off it is disgusting. I have seen first hand the destruction of today’s youth who look towards public figures like yourself for guidance, only to justify their behavior by positions like this. Look at Denver CO to see the people flocking there saying their sick so they can sit around all day, taxing the legitimate services for the homeless, getting high from these Pot shops that are setup by a bunch of left-over hippies, that just want to make money off of misery. You have enough naysayers that slam your brilliant work. You don’t need to get behind this issue, it will hurt your cause to bring this stance to the forefront. Kids are being destroyed at an alarming rate with the levels of THC that are in the pot being sold from these head-shops. I wish you didn’t take this position, I don’t care what the books that say it’s safe to use. There is no real public separation between a really sick person that may benefit from a pill derived from marijuana and a loser that wants to feel legit, to sit around and get high with all these articles that push the use and legalization of this evil drug.
Dr. Brownstein
I am a Canadian and a member of the Compassionate Club (legal marijuana). I also suffer from RA (rheumatoid arthritis) and osteoarthritis. I was introduced to medical marijuana by my holistic doctor. I use medical marijuana for pain and to help me sleep. I make (or buy) a marijuana infused butter and bake cookies. An hour before retiring at the end of the day I eat a half a cookie. I don’t get “high”, I just get comfortable and pain free enough that I am able to sleep 6 – 7 hrs. Without the “cookie” or marijuana infused drops I can put under my tongue, I seldom sleep more than an hour or two at a time.
I feel the general public in the US has been brainwashed & mislead about the “horrors of marijuana” from those companies and/or person’s with a $ agenda. People need to educate themselves about what a truly wonderful and helpful medicine medical marijuana actually is. Thanks for posting this.
Jan
Thanks so much for this. I, too, will read the book. I have an autoimmune disorder for which I’ve been taking LDN. I would much prefer to use a natural substance rather than a pharma drug. Medicine is an art not a science and one needs to stay open to all possibilities. So many minds have been poisoned by the marketing and drugs of big pharma and not by marijuana. Alcoholic beverages were originally referred to as spirits because they helped you to relax and connect with all that’s out there other than the left-brained conundrum that we all are in. Grapes were cultivated by the monks and from these came the very best wines. Likewise, liquors were alcoholic beverages often prepared by the monks using wonderful herbs. These substances, including marijuana, were never meant to be taken in excess but were meant to be used in a way that helps one maintain balance in life. Tobacco too was originally used in sacred ceremonies for purification purposes–not meant to be smoked non-stop until we contracted lung cancer and whatever else. Have we all lost our ability to discern?
Dr. Brownstein,
I really appreciate your opinion of medical marijuana. You question why it isn’t available freely to people. You must know the reason – big pharma doesn’t want it made available – they will lose money.
I have two of your books – Thyroid and Iodine. Thank you for all you do.
Merry Christmas to you.
Irene
Dr. Brownstein,
For someone who is opposed to putting dangerous things into our bodies (vaccines, statin drugs, etc) why would marijuana be any better? I do understand why people seek this drug to combat certain diseases and medical treatments but that does not make it good for you. Just come to Colorado and see what pot legalization has led to.
Jennifer,
Marijuana is a natural substance–it has been used by mankind for thousands of years. It is used for many other purposes than just getting high. As compared to marijuana, alcohol (which we legalize) is much more harmful.
DrB
Dear Dr. Brownstein,
There may be a lot of research done on the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but it is my personal opinion that history will show that the use of marijuana on a regular basis will do to the brain what statins do to the brain. Thanks for the blog. Susan
You need to distinguish between the CBD vs. THC or the active ingredient in the plant that actually has medical value, and not just to get high. THC is toxic to the brain and people think pot on the streets is the same thing. With the huge increase in THC content now. It is responsible for many ruined lives and psychologic addictions. Especially where teenagers are concerned. The pot they want to smoke is justified by misinformation in the medical marijuanna movement and legalization. It is ruining lives and pot is a dangerous drug that has ruined many lives.
Lori,
Any substance, over-used, can be harmful. Just look at alcohol.
DrB
A subject of much intrigue. I have done a lot of research on the subject of medical marijuana. I too have been amazed at the research and personal testimonies. Thank you for recommending this book. I hope more people will become open minded on this subject and more research can be done. One question. Is this only available as an eBook or is there a way to obtain a hard copy?
Lisa,
Just as an e-book.
DrB