Medical Marijuana: a Sticky Situation for Cancer Patients!
Alternative Therapies
For centuries, marijuana has been used as an herbal therapy to treat an array of ailments. It was seen as early as 2737 B.C. when the Chinese Emperor Shen Neng prescribed marijuana tea for the treatment of gout, malaria, rheumatism, and oddly enough… poor memory .The mysterious healing powers were a phenomenon in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and ancient Greece. It even made its way over to Jamaica where Bob Marley enjoyed the feel good effect! Today, marijuana has proven itself to assist in treatments and ease the symptoms of common diseases like cancer.
There are currently thirteen states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana and a handful of other states that are considering passing the bill. California is one of the biggest advocates for Medical Mary, and is the only state to utilize "dispensaries" to sell medical grade cannabis. However, most states won’t give medical marijuana a second glance due to the FDA’s claim that it has a high potential for abuse. So, why don’t we clear the smoke out of the room and weed out some facts. Chemo is a pretty harsh treatment with some unwelcomed side effects including nausea, vomiting and aches & pains. There are other drugs to help control these symptoms, but why would you want to put MORE toxins and synthetics in your body?
When Melissa Ethridge was fighting breast cancer, she found that going the reefer route was much more effective than taking 5 or 6 prescriptions a day. Medical marijuana has been proven to reduce chronic pain, nausea, vomiting, induce hunger, soothe inflammation and relieve the stress that comes along with a severe illness. It also seems that taking the synthetic version of THC is not as effective as the real thing. Inhalation is 1 to 4 hours faster in reducing nausea and vomiting than ingesting a pill like Marinol. However, there's an even better alternative called a vaporizer.
See…carcinogens, tar and othertoxins are released when you heat organic matter to combustion. By smoking with a vaporizer, you are actually getting more of the benefits without all the harmful stuff! Medical Marijuana has been trusted for centuries and still upholds its therapeutic qualities today. So if you are affected by the cruel side effects of chemo or other cancer related symptoms, why not try something new?
The only way we gain true knowledge is through our experiences! —-> We would love to hear your opinion about Medical Marijuana. Drop a comment below!
Discussion
28 Responses to “Medical Marijuana: a Sticky Situation for Cancer Patients!”
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[...] and inhuman ways when it comes to medical marijuana and we have had plenty of proof about this recently. No one is going to cry when the already bankrupt federal government falls into the graveyard of [...]
I have a good friend who has been given 6 to 8 weeks to live after an op 2 weeks ago to remove a secondary cancer. If anything can HELP him, I want to know about it. No treatment has been offered, but he has plenty pain relief for now. I dont want to see him suffer in his last weeks, as has happened to so many others. Would marijuana help in any form?
Posted by Janet Delaney | April 17, 2012, 4:10 amAll of you that are ignorantly and unknowingly taken one of the most effective tools in the chemo/radiation cancer patients (my) toolbox can suck it. We need every weapon we can get to fight of the horrible side effects of these treatments and, though it does not cure or even treat cancer, it does treat some of our worst side effects which, in turn, helps us keep up the good fight. Do some thinking before you make my life worse out of ignorance. In no way does my treatment or my methods of surviving it affect your life!
Posted by jk | February 20, 2012, 9:33 pmNo folks. Marijuana IN NO WAY CURES OR PREVENTS CANCER! It helps those of us who havr cancer get through the chemo/radiation side effects. It does little for severe pain (which is why opioids are used) but it does wonders for appetite and nausea, which are unbelievably bad with most patients in either form of treatment. It is naive to consider it a miracle or a “junkie” drug. It has no addictive risk, works well for two of the worst side effects (when you haven’t eaten in days vomitting is even rougher than you know) and it does nothing to cure or remiss cancer. It is a tool in the cancer patients toolbox. Nobody who is not in this fight with me can tell me which tools to use.
Posted by jk | February 20, 2012, 9:26 pmHi im doing a research paper on medical marijuana which I am against. Are you saying that you are against it and do you think that it hurts cancer patients instead of helping them?
Posted by Destiny W | March 2, 2012, 12:01 pmThanks for sharing valuable info!
Thanks for sharing this to people!
God Bless you
Nice article!
Posted by Noah Berkowitz | November 28, 2011, 9:13 pmI cannot believe the self righteous moralists who are opposed to the use of medical marijuana. I live in Florida and have severe chronic pain. The do gooders are trying to eliminate access to pain meds because of the criminals using such. Of course, we do not have access to marijuana. So all you pious people need to watch yourselves. People who are suffering terribly drive cars and just might hit you or one of your family members while in painful spasms. Or someone in terrible pain might decide to end the life of others in addition to his or her own when the suffering is intolerable.
Posted by Penny | November 28, 2011, 7:53 pmMarijuana does not prevent cancer. It just helps with nausea, and makes you eat when you can’t. It also fights some of the stress that comes along with having cancer, while taking chemo or not taking it. I think it is wrong to judge cancer patients for using marijuana. They are just fighting for their lives and proper marijuana use can add weeks, months, sometimes even years to their life. Also, atleast their time left won’t be so miserable!
Posted by Rachel | August 28, 2011, 10:16 pmwe totally agree Rachel! cancer patients who use marijuana to subdue pain or increase appetite often find great benefit. thanks for weighing in!
Posted by admin | August 30, 2011, 3:37 pmthis monday i start chemo and radiation for esophagas cancer when should i start smpokin mary j? so far i have spent a fortune on meds that have failed because it is a medical practice my friend gave me some good home grown organic jane, i have not used it since 1984 but i cannot afford to vomit or get sick with the large tumor i have in my esophagus with a 3 inch by 8 cm tumor blocking my esophagas?
Posted by ricksullivan | January 20, 2012, 9:44 pmBut have u ever thought that maybe its killing them faster? I understand that it is helping with nausea and eating but its still dangerous. Is it really worth it? please reply im doing a research paper about medical marijuana for my health class and I need some comments about it from people who have ” been there done that”
Posted by Destiny W | March 2, 2012, 12:05 pmI accept blight accept never acclimated med. marijuana although generally tempted because of the pain. But, I accept never heard of it preventing cancer, aloof allowance with the side-effects. You said afterwards smoker it for years you got cancer, why didn’t it anticipate it. Well, apparently if you had acclimated chemo for years aloof to be application it you would accept gotten blight anyway. If you booty an aspirin every day, that won’t accumulate you from accepting a cephalalgia either.
Posted by Mat | May 20, 2011, 12:12 pmwhy does marijuana help cure cancer patients?
Posted by amber | May 2, 2011, 11:36 ammedical marijuanna is currently helping thousands of people cope with very real chronic problems, even though its a very sticky subject with much of the public I feel that there really needs to be more awareness about the issue. The legality of the substance obviously needs to be controlled to those who have severe pain or appetite problems due to cancer and other illnesses, but an otherwise decent person should never been looked down upon because they are using a substance less damaging to their system than most prescription pills. Keep blogging, the more information really is power with taboo subjects like this.
Posted by Affy | April 5, 2011, 12:46 pmi do not agree to smoking it but as a tea it is a help. you do not get goofed like many other tabs also remember that the abuse of marijuana are mostly the junkies and they dont only smoke maijuana they mix it with other lethal drugs like heroine
Posted by quentin hodge | March 23, 2011, 3:51 amhow long do you steep it for and how much do you use for a cup of tea? My husband is back on chemo and cannot tolerate it at all now- can’t eat, vomits, losing weight fast. The nausea meds are not working. We don’t smoke, have kids, so think maybe the tea method would be a good way to go since it will be discreet. Is it as effective as smoking it?
Posted by Michele | April 14, 2011, 2:42 pmi think you just put the bud in a strainer and it should ack like a tea bag and i think that is it if it dont work sorry
Posted by david | May 11, 2011, 10:22 amPut a small amount of fat in a small frying pan, such as butter or coconut oil. When it’s warm (not hot), add the ground up cannabis, ~ 0.2g to 0.4g. Do this on low heat -don’t “fry” it, just let the oil absorb it and vice-versa. Then swab it up with a piece of bread or something else tasty.
Posted by Kua | November 26, 2011, 9:48 pmQuentin you obviously havent got a clue what yr talking about … you dont get marijuana junkies, you may get habitual users but not junkies ..
Posted by mark | January 17, 2012, 7:28 ameven if you do not go through cemo it does help for lack of appitite and as a cancer sufferer i know that my intake of food is nil. i can go without eatng for up to 3 to 4 days. marijuana as a tea has saved my life from getting anorexic and has also stopped my anxousness. its enough fiting cancer without putting more strain on the body by not eating well and the constant fear. this treatment is not for life its only untilyou feel better. better than the side effects of morphine
Posted by quentin hodge | March 23, 2011, 3:41 amAfter 35 years of using marijuana I got cancer. so if marijuana can prevent cancer it didn’t work for me.
Posted by Doug Hylton | December 18, 2010, 7:58 pmI have cancer have never used med. marijuana although often tempted because of the pain. But, I have never heard of it preventing cancer, just helping with the side-effects. You said after smoking it for years you got cancer, why didn’t it prevent it. Well, probably if you had used chemo for years just to be useing it you would have gotten cancer anyway. If you take an asprin every day, that won’t keep you from getting a headache either.
Posted by Paula Lofton | January 3, 2011, 8:32 amCancer patients in Oakland County, MI finally have an alternative to nausea and vomiting. Medical marijuana has helped millions. It can help you too. Write muzzloder@gmail.com for more information.
Posted by john | September 7, 2010, 7:58 amMedical Marijuana has been a life saver for me. Compared to the pills I was taking which made me feel like a zombie, the pot was helpful in controlling my nausea. It’s unbelieveable that it’s taboo for people to use it.
Posted by nolan | February 24, 2010, 3:20 amhow did it help you?
Posted by amber | May 2, 2011, 11:40 amardiejs1, although I am sorry to hear you had to recently undergo the use of radiation therapy, I feel i must point out some things for anyone that reads this page. First of all, you do not become a “space cadet” after smoking marijuana, rather your abstract thought is increased and you are given a slight wave of euphoria. Second, as the artical clearly points out, the herb when smoked is used to illeviate the side effects of the radiation which, in turn, makes going through the trauma of cancer, and all of the side effects much easier.
Posted by joejoe1 | November 24, 2009, 6:31 pmI was very ill from my Chemotherapy, but I am glad that I didn’t use Medical Marijuana. Being ill is one thing, being a space cadet is another. It’s hard enough just going through the trauma of cancer, and all of the side effects.
Posted by ardiejs1 | June 16, 2009, 10:55 amignorance at its best …
Posted by mark | January 17, 2012, 7:30 am