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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Devastating Disease That Might be Cured by Marijuana
and the Medical Pot Pioneers Fighting to Change the LawThis product could improve the lives of thousands of people.
For parents of children with intractable epilepsy, the world is a battlefield scored in daily seizure counts and wrought with the stress of not knowing when or if it will ever end. There is no guide on how to raise a child with an illness even the most well respected researchers dont completely understand how to treat.
The sheer trauma of fighting that daily fight has led many parents to take a second look at the medicinal applications of cannabis. This is a risky move, because (even though it has been shown to treat the symptoms of countless conditionsepilepsy in particular) cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance, making it federally illegal to possess, manufacture or distribute.
In Utah, the epilepsy community is eagerly anticipating the launch of the states new medical cannabis law, which legalizes possession of a strain of cannabis high in cannabidiol (CBD) for patients with intractable epilepsy in the state. Unlike the notorious tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most well-known compound in cannabis and the one responsible for the high (as well as many therapeutic effects), CBD is non-psychotropic. It is a compound, or cannabinoid responsible for many of the healing effects of cannabis, and has proven to be especially effective in when it comes to childhood epilepsy.The new Utah law requires a parent jump through rigorous hoops to qualify for possession of high-CBD cannabis under the bill and the medicine has no legal means of distribution within the state, meaning parents must break state and federal law in order to obtain it.
Despite its significant shortcomings, it's still significant that Utah's right-wing voters passed a medical cannabis law at all. And it's likely it would never have passed if it weren't for shifting cultural attitudes that have brought medical marijuana into the mainstream spotlight in the last couple of years. Responsible, in part, for that shift are a neurologist named Sanjay Gupta, a little epileptic girl named Charlotte Figi and the Colorado cannabis dispensary Realm of Caring.
http://www.alternet.org/drugs/medical-marijuana-pioneers-brave-plan-push-envelope-federal-laws-and-help-children-epilepsy
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Legalization and politicians playing to that constituency. I have seen no real opposition from younger repugs as they are about as likely to enjoy relaxing as dems...
AllyCat
(16,252 posts)This, of course, after a lengthy lecture about personal responsibility. I'm sure if the user was other than "white", we'd hear a different story. He's not even that "young".
pipoman
(16,038 posts)In power aren't willing to embrace this long overdue and inevitable change. Gutless as usual.
frylock
(34,825 posts)done on the supposed benefits of medicinal cannabis. because, evidently, 40+ years of research simply isn't enough.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)Everyone in the world has a seizure threshold. People with Epilepsy have one that is unusually low. If a person responds to a specific, they will need to continue it. If they respond well, and wind up seizure free for a significant period of time, they are considered to be in remission. No credible neurologist would claim that they have a clear picture of how likely it is that that person will have another seizure at some point in the future.
There is no doubt that the cannabis extract has potential to treat Epilepsy successfully. But, to market it as a "cure" is just fraudulent.
tridim
(45,358 posts)I don't care what they call it, the massive stress reduction resulting from that number (for both me and the dog) is better than a cure.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)means taking political action to allow this medicine to be accessed by those who need it. Your complaint is with some keyboard jockey. And you sound really silly going on and on about a word used by a person at AlterNet when the subject is 'children with seizures being greatly controlled'.
You'd rather see suffering because some hack used a word you don't care for? You read this and THAT is the point you seek to make?
What bullshit.
eShirl
(18,506 posts)I copy-pasted the part you apparently didn't read.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)author of the piece, attempting to downplay the importance of this medicine by whining about some writer using the word 'cure'.
I was a very early part of this particular medicine, I knew the people who grew the first strains and did the research. Friends of mine went to jail for it.
You seem to have the entire thing backwards. I'd accept an apology gladly.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)is what they are selling here. The argument works based on the evidence. Exaggerating compromises the credibility of the story.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)I have to assume that. The alternative is too horrific to consider. No one is marketing anything. Your complaint is with a word used by a writer writing about the story. Do you understand that? If you don't care for this author, go read some of the many others writing about this. But do get some information, this is just embarrassing to watch.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)It's misinformation. It's a technical detail that matters. I have epilepsy and I have to deal with correcting mythology enough already. One of the most frustrating is the commonly held belief that medicine always works.
If someone published an article saying vitamin supplements cure cancer, would you have a problem with that?
Uncle Joe
(58,506 posts)loyalsister
(13,390 posts)or removal of the part of the brain where the seizures take place is the closest there is. Removing the area where the brain malfunctions doesn't always solve the problem, though. Mostly because the tendency typically spreads when a person has frequent seizures.
In my case and that of several people I know who have had it, we still have to take anti-convulsants. There are constant efforts and new medications come out regularly. Modifying neural activity after the brain has developed a tendency to seize, is a huge challenge. Particularly when there is no known cause.
There is ongoing research, but no epileptologist would be willing to speculate on a cure. The realistic approach is to work toward minimizing the numbers and severity of seizures.
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)It's good to correct info here, you will reach some people.
But journalists and their employers, when they are the ones responsible for errors, need to be corrected directly.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)Thank you.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)No "marketing" involved.
http://phoenixtears.ca/producing-the-highest-quality-oils-possible/
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)It failed when they inflated the results. Selling false hope to the public may motivate some people to get active in advocacy, but they will eventually discover they are hearing and telling lies if they push this cure line in their advocacy.
SHRED
(28,136 posts)See Rick Simpson Oil and for those on Facebook there are many cancer "cure" testimonials.
http://phoenixtears.ca/
The phobia and. fear surrounding THC is psychotic. I am so tired of these old conservative fools.
Garion_55
(1,915 posts)how fucking stupid have we been the last 70 years?
think of how far medical research into pot we could be right now. who knows what all it cures? we sure dont know because the fucking DEA wont even let people study it unless their purpose is to show how evil it is.
IF pot truly is a cure for actual cancer somehow, how many lives could we have saved instead of shoving people into cages for possessing a plant.
I truly believe that cannibus is a gift from GOD (or whatever label you want to put on 'positive energy') and the forces of SATAN (or 'negative energy') are the ones denying sick people medicine.
PRO-LIFE my ass.
pipoman
(16,038 posts)Reference moldy bread....
BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)Well said.
Coventina
(27,223 posts)It seems to help, but it is not a cure.
I think MJ should be legalized so that more research can be done and more medicines made.
Any help that can be given to these sufferers should be made available.
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)I just have a problem with people peddling false hope in pursuit of an agenda.
Coventina
(27,223 posts)Everything promised as a "cure" has been a mitigation, at best.
Romulox
(25,960 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)in fact, this article states that "Hillary Clinton Leaves Door Open On Marijuana Legalization," although when you actually read the article, it becomes evident that she is doing anything but.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/hillary-clinton-marijuana_n_5505379.html
malaise
(269,254 posts)Important