The Merits of Medical Marijuana - A slideshow.

[Union Yes]

Cancer

Marijuana is the drug of choice for many cancer patients going through chemotherapy because it can help quell the nausea that often comes as a side effect. It is theorized that cannabis alleviates nausea by working on receptors in the brain and by slowing down and reducing peristaltic contractions in the gastrointestinal tract. There are other anti-nausea drugs available, but medical marijuana proponents assert that this is a better alternative for many patients. “If the patient has not only nausea but also vomiting, an oral medication is not a satisfactory option, no matter how effective the medication may be,” says Dr. David Bearman, a California physician who has nearly 40 years of experience working in substance and drug abuse treatment and prevention programs


Fibromyalgia

Many sufferers of this hard-to-treat condition find relief from their pain, stiffness and fatigue by using medical marijuana. Cannabis has been shown to have some anti-inflammatory effects and it’s a powerful pain reliever. Proponents consider it one of the best treatments for fibromyalgia, with fewer side effects than Lyrica, the FDA-approved medication. But critics point to the lack of FDA approval and regulation as one of the problems with medical marijuana. “Bypassing the FDA undermines consumer protection,” says Dr. Eric A. Voth, a physician in Topeka, Kan., and a drug policy expert. “And the concentrations of THC in marijuana vary greatly, from 2 percent to around 30 percent.”

PMS

It is hard to find one medicine that can treat the full array of premenstrual syndrome symptoms: bloating and stomach distress, moodiness, cramps, backache and headache. Marijuana, thanks to its role as both an anti-inflammatory and analgesic, can take care of many of the physical symptoms. And it also works in the brain to modulate neurotransmission and make dopamine more available. That can have a mood-lifting effect. “Another advantage is that cannabis is very fast acting, so relief can be nearly immediate,” says Bearman.


HIV/AIDS

Medical marijuana can help HIV and AIDS patients deal with pain, but it probably is most commonly used to quell nausea and boost appetite. It’s not just recreational smokers who get the munchies, and for patients who have lost their appetites or are having trouble eating sufficient calories, this side effect of marijuana can be a tremendous benefit.


Nice article from MSNBC. Much more info at link ..

http://health.msn.com/health-topics/pain-management/fibromyalgia/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100257141&imageindex=1

[maxsolomon]

1. my neighbor's cancer is back, he's been in chemo,

and is about to have a stem cell transplant.

but when his wife found some teenager's stash hidden in the storm grate outside her house, she threw it away and emailed the entire neighborhood to warn us to be on the lookout for drug gangs.