ClownsWorld

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 05:17:00 +0000

http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/blog/artists-turn-songs-into-3d-printed-sculptures

Weed powered cars lol

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:47:00 +0000

(CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY)

SLIPKNOT TOUR DATES IN 2015

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 18:35:00 +0000

SLIPKNOT TOUR DATES 2015

25-Apr Fort Rock Festival

Fort Myers, FL

26-Apr Welcome to Rockville Festival

Jacksonville, FL

29-Apr Pensacola Civic Center

Pensacola, FL

w/ Hatebreed

30-Apr Champions Square - Superdome

New Orleans, LA

w/ Hatebreed

2-May Oak Mountain Amphitheatre

Pelham, AL

w/ Hatebreed

3-May Carolina Rebellion Concord, NC

5-May Knoxville Coliseum

Knoxville, TN

w/ Hatebreed

8-May U.S. Cellular Coliseum

Bloomington, IL

w/ Hatebreed

9-May Northern Invasion Somerset, WI

10-May U.S. Cellular Center

Cedar Rapids, IA

w/ Hatebreed

12-May Erie Insurance Arena

Erie, PA

w/ Hatebreed

13-May The Pavilion at Montage Mountain

Scranton, PA

w/ Hatebreed

15-May Rock On The Range

Columbus, OH

16-May Van Andel Arena

Grand Rapids, MI

w/ Hatebreed

5-Jun Rock Im Park

Nuremberg, Germany

5-Jun Rock Am Ring 2015

Mendig, Germany

6-Jun FortaRock Festival

Nymegen, Netherlands

7-Jun Rock Am Ring 2015

Mendig, Germany

7-Jun Rock Im Park

Nuremberg, Germany

9-Jun Impact Festival

Łódź, Poland

12-Jun Download Festival

Derby, United Kingdom

14-Jun Novarock

Nickelsdorf, Austria

16-Jun Rock in Roma

Rome, Italy

19-Jun Hellfest Clisson, France

20-Jun Graspop Metal Meeting

Dessel, Belgium

24-Jul Cruzan Amphitheatre

West Palm Beach, FL

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

25-Jul MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Tampa, FL

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

26-Jul Aaron's Amphitheatre

Atlanta, GA

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

28-Jul DTE Energy Music Theatre

Detroit, MI

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

29-Jul Darien Lake PAC

Darien Center, NY

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

31-Jul Spac

Saratoga Springs, NY

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

1-Aug Nikon at Jones Beach

Wantagh, NY

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

2-Aug Xfinity Theatre

Hartford, CT

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

4-Aug Xfinity Center

Winthrop, MA

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

5-Aug PNC Bank Arts Center

Holmdel, NJ

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

6-Aug First Niagara Pavilion

Pittsburgh, PA

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

8-Aug Molson Canadian Amphitheatre

Toronto, Canada

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

11-Aug Jiffy Lube Live

Washington, DC

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

12-Aug Farm Bureau Live

Virginia Beach, VA

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

14-Aug Klipsch Music Center

Indianapolis, IN

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

15-Aug First Midwest Bank Amp

Chicago, IL

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

16-Aug Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Saint Louis, MO

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

19-Aug Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Denver, CO

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

21-Aug USANA Amphitheatre

Salt Lake City, UT

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

24-Aug Rogers Arena

Vancouver, Canada

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

26-Aug Concord Pavilion

Concord, CA

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

28-Aug MGM Resort Festival Lot

Las Vegas, NV

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

29-Aug Ak-Chin Pavilion

Phoenix, AZ

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

30-Aug Isleta Amphitheater

Albuquerque, NM

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

2-Sep Austin360 Amphitheater

Austin, TX

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

4-Sep Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

Houston, TX

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

5-Sep Gexa Energy Pavilion

Dallas, TX

w/ Lamb of God, Bullet...

25-Sep Rock in Rio Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Linkin Park have released video of the moment frontman Chester Bennington broke his ankle.

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 09:01:00 +0000

Latest episode of LPTV features moment frontman broke ankle playing basketball

Linkin Park have released video of the moment frontman Chester Bennington broke his ankle.

The band were forced to call off a run of shows in January after the incident, which took place while he and colleagues were playing basketball.

The clip, part of the latest episode of LPTV, shows Bennington on the ground, writing in pain. He explains: “I landed on the bottle. I was in full lay-up, I landed on the water bottle and my ankle turned.”

He’s treated by a first aider then taken away in a wheelchair with his leg strapped up.Bandmates later reported he was making a fast recovery.

Meanwhile, the vocalist has spoken of his delight that he can tour with Stone Temple Pilots without adding his own name to the title.

He replaced Scott Weiland in 2013, but legal issues apparently forced them to be billed as Stone Temple Pilots With Chester Bennington.

Now he tells AltWire: “It’ll be fun to go out as just Stone Temple Pilots. It really bothered me to see ‘Stone Temple Pilots With Chester Bennington.’ I’m glad that’s over.”

They’re currently working on a full album to follow their High Rise EP.

(FULL ARTICLE FOUND HERE)

One Man Found a Mysterious Box in a Dumpster – What Was in it Was Absolutely Baffling

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 08:37:00 +0000

http://howtoexitthematrix.com/2015/03/17/one-man-found-a-mysterious-box-in-a-dumpster-what-was-in-it-was-absolutely-baffling/

One Man Found a Mysterious Box in a Dumpster – What Was in it Was Absolutely Baffling

March 17, 2015 Resources Comments are closed

THE BOX WAS HANDMADE FROM WOOD, FIT WITH HINGES, A HANDLE AND A PAIR OF LOCKS.

FROM WHAT WAS WRITTEN HERE, IT APPEARS THAT THE AUTHOR HAD AN EXPERIENCE THAT WAS DEFINITELY NOT FROM HERE.

A HAND-DRAWN TABLE OF THE ELEMENTS.

THIS PATENT IS NOT FILED WITH THE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE – BUT THE DRAWINGS ARE REMARKABLY DETAILED. BUT THIS IS NOT THE WEIRDEST PART…

THIS DRAWING WAS DATED 1939 – WHY WOULD SOMEONE DISCARD THIS?

ODDLY, THIS MAP SHOWS AIR TRAVEL ROUTES.

A LOT OF THE MAPS ARE HAND-DRAWN WITH A “CENTER” NOTED ON IT.

THE MAPS REPRESENT AERIAL PATTERNS AND/OR ROUTES OF SOME TYPE.

THERE WERE QUITE A FEW OF THE MAPS

AND THE MYSTERY CONTINUES…

A NOTE PERHAPS FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER

ANOTHER MAP WITH A “CENTER” ON IT

A PIECE OF THE PAST – A NOTE FROM A VERY OLD VETERANS AFFAIRS OFFICE

THE ARTIST DEPICTS AN EVENT FROM TAMPA, FL IN 1977. HE NOTES THE EVENT TO BE EXTRATERRESTRIAL IN NATURE

ODD TO SEE EXTRATERRESTRIAL UFO ON THE SAME PAGE WITH ANGELIC-LOOKING CREATURES

DRAWING OF AN ENTITY

A SLIGHT SUMMARY OF THE EVENTS

GEOMETRIC SHAPES THAT ARE RELATED

ANOTHER DRAWING OF ONE OF THE ENTITIES – LOOKS STRANGELY LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE BIBLICAL BOOK OF EZEKIEL

AN ADDITIONAL SKETCH OF THE SAME BEING

BEINGS FROM THE SIDE VIEW

THE ARTIST WAS FIXATED ON THESE CREATURES FOR SOME TIME

WAS THIS A DREAM OR DID THIS REALLY HAPPEN?

ONE MIGHT SAY THIS LOOKS LIKE WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS, WINGS FULL OF EYES AND CREATURES WITH 4 HEADS (MAN, OX, EAGLE AND LION) FROM THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL

THE DRAWINGS SEEM TO MIX BIBLICAL AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL VISIONS

A CLOSE-UP OF THE CORNER

THE DETAILS OF THIS DRAWING INCLUDE SOME OF THE PATENT DRAWINGS SEEN EARLIER

A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ONE OF THE PATENT DRAWINGS

IT APPEARS THAT THESE NEW TRAIN WHEELS MIGHT HAVE COME FROM THE TRAIN HE DREW EARLIER

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?

Whatever your conclusion – someone who was working too hard, a drug-induced vision, or a true extra-terrestrial experience…it sure is a puzzle. Unfortunately, we cannot ask the artist and know for sure. All we know is that this person experienced something very odd. Perhaps he knows something that we don’t.

Physician’s Organization in Canada Releases Guidelines for Prescribing Medical Cannabis for Pain

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:16:00 +0000

Arielle GerardDecember 31, 2014

Prescribing Patients Medical Cannabis for Pain

In December 2014, the College of Family Physicians of Canada published its preliminary recommendations for physicians recommending/prescribing smoked cannabis for chronic non-cancer pain in the organization’s journal, Canadian Family Physician. The authors reviewed the information available on cannabis for medical use, utilizing mainly level II (“well conducted observational studies”) and level III (“expert opinion”) evidence to create guidelines on the following aspects of medical cannabis use for chronic non-cancer pain:
conditions recommended for use circumstances under which medical cannabis should not be recommended circumstances under which caution should be taken when recommending medical cannabis use dosing

Guidelines For Canadian Physicians

The guidelines are as follows, taken verbatim from the guidelines set forth in the study:
Smoked cannabis might be indicated for patients with severe neuropathic pain conditions who have not responded to adequate trials of pharmaceutical cannabinoids and standard analgesics (level II evidence).
Smoked cannabis is contraindicated in patients who are 25 years of age or younger (level II evidence); who have a current, past, or strong family history of psychosis (level II evidence); who have a current or past cannabis use disorder (level III evidence); who have a current substance use disorder (level III evidence); who have cardiovascular or respiratory disease (level III evidence); or who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant (level II evidence).
It should be used with caution in patients who smoke tobacco (level II evidence), who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (level III evidence), who have anxiety or mood disorders (level II evidence), or who are taking higher doses of opioids or benzodiazepines (level III evidence).
Cannabis users should be advised not to drive for at least 3 to 4 hours after smoking, for at least 6 hours after oral ingestion, and for at least 8 hours if they experience a subjective “high” (level II evidence).

The maximum recommended dose is 1 inhalation 4 times per day (approximately 400 mg per day) of dried cannabis containing 9% delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (level III evidence).
Physicians should avoid referring patients to “cannabinoid” clinics (level III evidence).

Evaluation/Explanation of Guidelines

Generally, the regulations seem reasonable considering that the recommendations are specifically for patients with chronic non-cancer pain who are smoking their medical cannabis.
Adolescent Use

It is currently unclear whether or not cannabis use, when started in adolescence, leads to impairment in brain development. While some studies have found a link between early cannabis use and morphological brain changes, others which are more carefully controlled have found no link.

Due to the fact that cannabis use may interrupt normal brain development, children and adolescents should avoid use of cannabis unless it is deemed by a physician, in rare cases, that the potential benefits of use outweigh the risks.

History of Psychosis and Anxiety/Mood Disorders

While a link between cannabis use and certain mental health disorders has been noted, a cause-effect relationship has never been assessed. In other words, there is no definitive evidence that cannabis use actually causes mental health disorders, and the link is potentially due to the fact that those predisposed to certain mental health disorders may choose to self-medicate with cannabis.
Psychosis

Due to its classification as a hallucinogen, cannabis use may exacerbate certain mental health disorders, such as psychosis. Additionally, during intoxication with use of cannabis strains with higher levels of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), users (especially those who are inexperienced) may experience paranoia and emotional discomfort. Therefore, avoiding use in those with a past or family history of psychosis is recommended.

Anxiety and Mood Disorders

Many patients find that cannabis helps to relieve their anxiety. Regarding mood disorders, a recent study found that those with baseline major depressive disorder were more likely to begin cannabis use, but that cannabis use was not linked to an increased likelihood of having major depressive disorder. Additionally and interestingly, while “weekly to almost daily” cannabis use was associated with an increased likelihood of having baseline borderline personality disorder, daily use was not; there was also no link found between baseline borderline personality disorder and an increased likelihood to begin using cannabis. However, for those with mood and anxiety disorders, caution should be taken in using medical cannabis, for similar reasons as those noted at the beginning of this section.

Lung/Heart/Vascular Problems

Cannabis use may result in heart and vascular (i.e. blood vessel) problems in some patients (e.g. low blood pressure which can be harmful in certain diseases/disorders, potential increased risk of heart attack). While there is some evidence that cannabis use increases the risk ofstroke, other evidence has suggested a decreased risk of stroke with a history of past cannabis use. Due to the fact that the impact of cannabis use on heart/vascular problems is not fully understood, use should be avoided by individuals with these health issues.

Additionally, smoking cannabis can irritate the airways and lungs. While a recent Harvard study found that low to moderate frequency of cannabis use does not result in decreased lung function in the general population, for those (1) with health issues related to the lung or (2) who also smoke tobacco (which is highly damaging to the lungs and strongly linked to the development of cancer of various organs), smoked cannabis should be avoided. Vaporization and ingestion methods are an alternative form of cannabis administration that will help to prevent additional lung damage.

Substance Abuse Disorders

Cannabis use should be avoided for patients with past cannabis or other substance abuse disorders in most cases, due to the potential for continuing or reestablishing dependence issues.

Pregnancy

Although use of cannabis itself during pregnancy is not definitively linked to future health issues in those exposed in the womb, it has been linked to inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. However, in one 1991 study of Jamaican mothers who had used cannabis during pregnancy, no differences between children exposed to cannabis in the womb vs. children unexposed to cannabis in the womb were found by age 5 (except at day 30 post-birth, when infants who had been exposed to cannabis in the womb actually had better scores on a neonatal behavioral assessment scale). While (1) the majority of studies on how cannabis use during pregnancy impacts the fetus/child have focused on heavy rather than moderate use and (2) the link between behavioral/cognitive issues in children who were exposed to cannabis in the womb may be an issue of general parental behavior/responsibility rather than cannabis use itself, cannabis use during pregnancy still carries the risk of harm. Use of cannabis while pregnant may lead to bone formation abnormalities and stunted height of the fetus, and potentially cognitive and behavioral deficits, and smoked cannabis still contains cancer-causing/destructive compound. Therefore, cannabis use should be avoided during pregnancy to avoid any potential developmental, behavioral, and cognitive dysfunction that may result from cannabis use.

Driving

Cannabis use may cause slowed complex reaction times and a skewing of perception of time and space. Therefore, driving while under the influence of cannabis should be avoided. However, the implications of driving under the influence of cannabis is more nuanced than the issue of those driving under the influence of alcohol, partially because medical cannabis users still need to function in their daily lives.

While cannabis use has been shown to increase lateral (side-to-side) motion within a lane, it has not been shown to impair handling, maneuvering, or turning. Some studies of drivers who have smoked cannabis alone (i.e. no additional alcohol impairment) have shown that they are no more likely than drivers who are sober to be involved in a fatal car accident, and a federal report released in February 2015 found no link between testing positive for THC (which can occur during intoxication, but also days after intoxication) and an increased risk of car crashes. This is partially due to the fact that people who have consumed cannabis tend to drive slower, leave more space between their car and the car in front of them, and are less likely to pass other cars. Alcohol has the opposite effect, and is known to greatly increase the chance of fatal accidents. Additionally, intoxicated drivers under the influence of cannabis tend to be more aware of their impairment than intoxicated drivers under the influence of alcohol, and some cannabis users who have often practiced driving under the influence show no changes in their driving behavior under the influence, as compared to driving behavior while sober. Driving under the influence of low doses (e.g. 0-4 inhalations/day of cannabis with <9% THC–often all that is needed for medical use [e.g. pain relief]) is more similar to driving under the influence of Benadryl (which should also be avoided), rather than alcohol.

However, cannabis with higher concentrations of THC or multiple inhalations may lead to more significant impairment. Due to (1) slowed reaction times, (2) skewing of time/space perception, and (3) increased lateral lane motion under cannabis intoxication, and (4) the inability for medical users to objectively assess whether or not they are experienced drivers under the influence of cannabis, those using cannabis should not drive while experiencing intoxication (i.e. psychoactive effects) and should follow the recommendations outlined in these guidelines.

Note: Driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis use simultaneously is more dangerous than driving under the influence of either alone, and should always be avoided.

Conclusion

Overall, the guidelines provided by the College of Family Physicians of Canada are well-informed, evidence-based, reasonable, and progressive. While some may find that the guidelines attempt to put too many limitations on medicinal cannabis use, safety considerations, appropriately, seem to be at the forefront of their creation. Potential improvements to the guidelines could include (1) recommendations for diseases/symptoms, other than neuropathic pain, that may be benefited by medical cannabis use, and (2) discussion of additional methods of delivery, including vaporization and ingestion, which would be useful for all practitioners, but especially for those who are uncomfortable recommending their patients smoke.

The introduction of reasonable guidelines surrounding medical cannabis use by established physician’s organizations, in Canada and worldwide, will likely help to decrease the stigma associated with/increase knowledge about medical cannabis use, especially for older and more conservative patients and physicians, thereby increasing access to this relatively safe treatment option for those in need.

READ MORE OF THE ARTICLE HERE http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/12/31/physicians-organization-in-canada-releases-guidelines-for-prescribing-medical-cannabis-for-pain/

Cannabis-Based Medicines As Potential Treatments For Traumatic Brain Injuries

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:11:00 +0000

Arielle Gerard October 18, 2014

THC Helps Prevent Death From Traumatic Brain Injury

In a recent study titled “Effect of Marijuana Use on Outcomes in Traumatic Brain Injury” and published in The American Surgeon, researchers found that patients who had detectable levels of THC in their bodies were less likely than those who did not to die as a result of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The retrospective study examined the data of 446 cases of traumatic brain injuries over a three year period, involving patients who had been treated at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA.

Overall, 18.4% of patients traumatic brain injury in the sample had toxicology reports positive for the presence of THC, and the death rate for all cases examined was 9.9%. After adjusting for differences that may confound results (such as age, gender, and classification of injury), the death rate for TBI patients with THC-negative toxicology reports (i.e. without detectable levels of THC in their body) was 11.5%, but for traumatic brain injury patients with THC-positive reports was only 2.4%. Therefore, the survival of THC-positive TBI patients was approximately 80 times more than the survival of THC-negative TBI patients.

Interpretation Of The Study’s Results

The fact that this was a retrospective analysis, as opposed to a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial, limits the ability to determine a cause-effect relationship from the study (i.e. it cannot be determined from this study alone that THC is the direct cause of the decreased rate of death from TBI). Additionally, the frequency of cannabis use of the THC-positive patients and the method of delivery used by the traumatic brain injury patients (e.g. smoking, vaporizing, ingesting) was unknown.

“…therefore, the survival of THC-positive TBI patients was approximately 80 times more than the survival of THC-negative TBI patients.”

According to a Reuters article on the study, “One concern with the study, according to [Dr. David] Plurad (one of the study’s authors), is that the test for THC could not distinguish between occasional and regular users. A person could test positive after having used marijuana days or even weeks before.” This is largely due to the fact that THC is fat-soluble, and can therefore accumulate in your fat cells instead of being immediately excreted by the body, like water-soluble compounds.

Plurad also states that while similar studies conducted in the past found that alcohol was protective from TBI death, the presence/absence of THC in these studies was not controlled for. Therefore, the potential exists (“potential” being the key word) that the patients who had detectable levels of alcohol in their body in these studies also had THC in their system, which is what actually led to the neuroprotective results. Because of this, the validity of these past studies’ results may be limited. Additionally, the researchers in the currently reviewed study also examined the effect of alcohol on traumatic brain injury death rate, and found that “[alcohol] didn’t turn out to be as protective as the presence of the marijuana”.

More Evidence for Utility of Cannabinoid-Based Medicines

While the results of this study do not definitively prove that the use of cannabis (at levels resulting in physiologically detectable levels of THC) will help to prevent death in the case of a traumatic brain injury, they do lend to a growing body of evidence thatendogenous cannabinoids (i.e. those occurring naturally in our bodies, such as 2-AG) and exogenous cannabinoids (e.g. those found in the cannabis plant, or synthetic forms) may prevent or halt brain injury, even in infants.

For instance, a 2013 study published in Neuropharmacology found that when administered to piglets who had sustained hypoxic-ischemic brain injury (i.e. caused by low oxygen), CBD (cannabidiol), one of the most frequently occurring compounds in cannabis, “exerts robust neuroprotective effects… modulating excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation.”

A 2001 study published in Nature found that administration of 2-AG to mice that had sustained closed head injury prevented “secondary injury” that follows the primary closed head injury (e.g. it reduced the occurrence of brain edema, decreased size of the area of damage and death of cells in the hippocampus [an area of the brain involved in memory]) and improved recovery. According to an abcNEWS article on the study, “The cannabinoid, 2-AG, is believed to work in three ways. First, it reduces the levels of glutamate, a toxic molecule, released after injury. Second, it decreases the amount of free radicals and TNF (a chemical that induces inflammation) after injury. Third, it increases the blood supply to the brain. All three mechanisms are essential for limiting the damage done after the primary injury.”

In a 2006 study published in found that dexanabinol, a synthetic cannabinoid derivative, while found to be safe, was not effective in treating TBI (dexanabinol does not produce the intoxication caused by cannabis strains with psychoactive levels of THC because instead of binding to CB1 and CB2 receptors, it functions by blocking NMDA/glutamate receptors and neutralizing free radicals which can damage the body).

All of these findings signify a need for increased research into the effects of THC and other naturally occurring and synthetic cannabinoids on brain injury and as general neuroprotectiveagents, which may have roles in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, and others.

For information on reasonable expectations and safety in considering whole-plant medical cannabis use, as well as how you can advocate to move cannabis out of the Schedule I controlled substance classification in order to increase research on phytocannabinoids in the United States, click here.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE: http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/10/18/link-discovered-between-thc-and-decreased-traumatic-brain-injury-deaths/

Treating Cerebral Palsy Symptoms With Medical Marijuana

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:05:00 +0000

Arielle GerardJuly 07, 2014

What Is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an incurable disorder of brain development, generally manifesting by the age of 3. It leads to various signs and symptoms, including difficulties in controllingmovement (i.e. dysfunction in coordination, precision, and posture, spasticity/”stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes”, changes in muscle tone or reflexes, weakness, shaking/tremor).

Patients with cerebral palsy may experience pain (often as a result of stiff muscles), incontinence, sleep disturbance, developmental, hearing, speech and vision impairments, andother signs and symptoms. 35%-50% of children with cerebral palsy develop seizure disorders. While the damage to the brain which causes cerebral palsy does not generally worsen or improve over time, signs and symptoms may change.

The exact cause of cerebral palsy in each individual case is somewhat unknown, although there are strong probable causes such as bleeding in the brain, lack of oxygen delivery to the brain, damage as a result of trauma, and infections.

Medical Marijuana & Cerebral Palsy

To date, no high-quality evidence (e.g. results from studies using double-blinding, a placebo control, and/or randomization) has been gathered assessing the effects of medical cannabis on patients with cerebral palsy. However, the potential for cannabis as medicine for patients with cerebral palsy has been explored in some measure in the medical community with promising results.

“Data has been gathered evidencing the efficacy of strains of cannabis with varying cannabinoid ratios in controlling symptoms of cerebral palsy.”

In a survey study on pain treatments used by patients with cerebral calsy, the researchers found, “The treatment that was rated as providing the most relief was marijuana; however, less than 5% of the sample reported ever using this drug for pain.”

One case study published in the Reviews in Neurological Diseases found that a 45-year old man with cerebral palsy and epilepsy showed “marked improvement with the use of marijuana”.

Additionally and importantly, data has been gathered on other conditions (such as multiple sclerosis), evidencing the potential efficacy of cannabis in controlling symptoms often experienced by patients with cerebral palsy, including spasticity, neuropathic pain,chronic pain, sleep disturbance, and seizures.

While definitive cause-effect relationships cannot be evaluated by case studies, and self-reported improvements can potentially be caused by the “placebo effect”, anecdotal evidence gathered from patients struggling with cerebral palsy should be strongly considered. Although anecdotal evidence and self-reports cannot be used as factual evidence, due to the real-world significance of patient evaluation in assessing and determining clinical improvements in symptoms such as spasticity and pain, patients’ self-reports should not be discounted by medical professionals.

In most cases and under medical supervision, the safety profile of whole-plant cannabis allows for safe experimentation by adult patients seeking relief that may be provided by cannabis use. The following videos detail the personal stories of individuals with cerebral palsy who have found benefit from medical cannabis use.

Medical Marijuana May Help Manage Symptoms Of Cerebral Palsy

“Medical cannabis may be a potential add-on treatment option for the control of symptoms for patients with intractable symptoms which result from cerebral palsy.”

Cannabis has shown medical efficacy for symptoms such as spasticity, pain, and sleep disturbance in other conditions, and anecdotal evidence provides additional support for its use as a treatment option for cerebral palsy symptoms.

Given that cerebral palsy patients with intractable symptoms often need to explore other options when standard therapies fail, and that cannabis has a relatively low side-effect profile which allows for low-risk experimentation in most cases (under medical guidance), medical cannabis may be a potential add-on treatment option. More high-quality research needs to be conducted in order to assess whether or not cannabis is an effective treatment option for patients with cerebral palsy.

For information on reasonable expectations and safety in considering whole-plant medical cannabis use, as well as how you can advocate to move cannabis out of the Schedule I controlled substance classification in order to increase research on phytocannabinoids in the United States, click here.

A Look Into Mental Health and Medical Marijuana

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 20:02:00 +0000

Arielle Gerard July 18, 2014

One of the common questions relevant to the debate on medical marijuana use and legalization is, “How does cannabis affect mental illness?” To understand this question fully, it is necessary to understand some basics about the field of research, to assess the available evidence surrounding this question, and to consider the possible application of marijuana in treating symptoms of mental health conditions.

Why Do People Think Cannabis Causes Mental Illness?

Many studies have found that people who consume cannabis tend to be more likely to have various types of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. As a result of these studies, people have incorrectly inferred that marijuana use causes mental illness.

However, this assumption stems from a basic misunderstanding of research results; namely, the fact that correlation does not imply causation. You may have heard this before. So what does it mean, and why does it matter?

Correlational vs. Cause-Effect Relationships

Correlation is a link or association that is found between two variables. There can be a negative correlation between variables, meaning that when one variable increases in magnitude/frequency, the other decreases in magnitude/frequency. For example, the more you exercise, the less likely you are to gain weight.

You can also have a positive correlation between variables, meaning that when one variable increases in magnitude/frequency, the other does so as well. For example, the more often you eat high-salt foods, the more likely you are to develop certain health problems such as high blood pressure.

However, a correlational relationship is not equivalent to a cause-effect relationship. That is to say, just because there is a correlation between two variables, it does not mean that one caused the other. For instance, one of the most frequently cited examples of when correlation does not imply causation goes as follows: In the summertime, ice cream sales increase, and murders also increase. So that means that when people buy more ice cream, this causes people to have an increased desire to go out and kill people, right? Wrong!

There could be a third, unseen factor causing both an increase in ice cream sales and murders— heat! As the heat rises, people like to eat cold foods/desserts (e.g. ice cream). Heat may also cause people to become more agitated, angry, and frustrated, and they are more frequently outdoors in close proximity with other individuals. All of this together can unfortunately result in an increased murder rate.

“This misunderstanding of correlational relationships is also partially responsible for the widely-held belief in the ‘gateway theory.'”

Correlational relationships can be helpful in assessing, understanding data, and can help develop research that will assess the possibility of a cause-effect relationship between variables. But a causative link between two variables cannot be drawn from the mere existence of a correlation between them.

This misunderstanding of correlational relationships is also partially responsible for the widely-held belief in the “gateway theory”, which incorrectly asserts that cannabis use leads to a desire for more dangerous drugs, such as heroin or cocaine.
The Importance Of Understanding Selection Bias

The frequent conclusion that cannabis causes mental disorders, drawn from studies showing a link between marijuana use and mental illness, may be a directional misinterpretation. That is, it is very possible that users are more likely to utilize medical marijuana because they have a mental health disorder, and not that it actually leads to the development of mental health disorders. This can lead to a “selection bias” in studies.

According to one source, selection bias is defined by “systematic differences between comparison groups in prognosis or responsiveness to treatment”. Most studies conducted evaluating the impact of marijuana on mental illness have used recreational consumers as participants, and therefore begin the study with inherent selection bias.

Some people with mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, or psychotic mental disorders may choose to self-medicate with marijuana, individuals with schizophrenia may be more likely to use marijuana possibly due to their genetic makeup, and certain psychotic illnesses which already exist may be exacerbated by marijuana use. Therefore, the results of many studies which find links between marijuana use and mental health disorders do not provide sufficient evidence that marijuana causes mental illness; the group that consumes cannabis is likely inherently different than their counterparts from the outset of the study.

If there are differences between the two groups before the study has even begun, it is impossible to assess whether differing results for the two groups (i.e. mental illness or no mental illness) is due to cannabis use or due to some other factor that made the two groups different in the first place. Therefore, these studies using self-selected recreational consumers as participants do not provide valid evidence that cannabis causes mental illness.

Additionally, a recent retrospective study conducted at Harvard shows that marijuana use does not cause schizophrenia specifically.

How To Measure The Connection Between Cannabis, Mental Illness

So how can we definitively answer the question of whether or not marijuana causes mental illness? One of the highest quality study designs available to assess this question would employ a longitudinal design (i.e. the participants’ progress would be assessed over time, preferably for several years).

The researchers would randomly select individuals from a certain pool, thereby creating a group that is representative of the entire population. The representative sample would then be randomly divided into a “consumption” group or a control group that does not consume cannabis.

The consumption group would be assigned to use a certain amount of cannabis over time, whereas the control group would use none. After several years, the researchers would assess whether or not mental health issue incidence was different between the two groups.

There are few issues with conducting this type of study. For instance, these studies are of long duration, and therefore participant dropout rates may be high. Also, the legal status of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance and ethical considerations may limit the ability for researchers to undertake such a study.

Intoxication, Withdrawal, And Exacerbation

Cannabis with an approximated THC content of at least 2% often produces psychoactive effects when inhaled or ingested. Examples of these potential effects include euphoria, paranoia, anxiety, depression, a distorted sense of time, magical thinking.

While there is a low risk of dependence with marijuana use, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do exist. Their effects are generally mild, but this suggests that there is potential for both a psychological and physiological dependence in some users. When necessary to decrease dosage and frequency of medical marijuana, tapering is suggested and may minimize the experience of withdrawal. Symptoms of cannabis withdrawal include irritability, anxiety, and sleep disturbance.

“Ideally, medical marijuana should be used under the supervision of a medical professional so that any progress and potentially harmful side effects can be continually monitored and addressed.”

The experiences of an altered mental state, potentially caused by intoxication and withdrawal, are short in duration and there is no evidence to suggest that they are the result of an underlying mental illness caused by cannabis consumption.

However, there is some evidence to suggest that cannabis use may exacerbate certain underlying mental health conditions in both adults and adolescents. In the review “Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke”, Grant et al. state the following: “Although unlikely to be a factor in the application of cannabinoids for pain, there is concern that early adolescent use of cannabis may heighten later risk of psychosis, and evidence that genetic variation (single nucleotide polymorphisms) heightens vulnerability.”

Additionally, it has been suggested, though not proven, that cannabis may interrupt proper brain development if use begins early in life. For this reason, medical marijuana should primarily be used by adolescent patients only when their condition is severely debilitating and other treatments are ineffective, or have a highly unfavorable side-effect profile. Ideally, medical marijuana should be used under the supervision of a medical professional so that progress and potentially harmful side effects can be continually monitored and addressed.

Cannabis As A Potential Treatment For Certain Mental Illnesses

Not only is there a lack of valid and reliable evidence in support of the statement that marijuana causes mental illness, but cannabinoids and whole-plant marijuana actually may be useful as a treatment option for certain mental health issues. These include anxiety, general psychosis, schizophrenia (1, 2), depression, social anxiety disorder (SAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcoholism and addiction.

“There is ample existing scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that marijuana can help reduce PTSD symptoms. However, the clinical research hasn’t been allowed to happen yet.” – Rick Doblin

According to MAPS founder and executive director Rick Doblin, PhD, “There is ample existing scientific and anecdotal evidence suggesting that marijuana can help reduce PTSD symptoms. However, the clinical research hasn’t been allowed to happen yet. For example, pure THC has been shown to reduce PTSD-like behavior in animals, and survey research clearly shows that thousands of people with PTSD use marijuana to cope with PTSD symptoms. In order to discover the real safety and therapeutic effectiveness of marijuana in humans with PTSD, we need clinical trials comparing subjects using marijuana to those using no marijuana, and to those using different strains with various combinations of THC and CBD, which has anti-anxiety properties.”

While relatively rare, some individuals who develop a problematic dependence on marijuana may need counseling in order to help them find alternative coping methods. However, due to the debilitation associated with these disorders, difficulties in treatment, and the safety profile of cannabis use, investigation into its relevance as a potential treatment option for mental health issues is needed.

Much more research needs to be conducted in this area before it can be stated that medical marijuana is a useful treatment for mental health conditions or their symptoms. However, the preliminary data does provide additional evidence to justify a strong challenging of the blanket statement that “marijuana causes mental illness”.
Conclusion

Despite the need for more research, the data gathered thus far does not provide sufficient evidence to suggest that cannabis causes mental illness. In fact, it may even be useful as an adjunct therapy for the treatment of certain mental health disorders or their symptoms.

However, due to the possible exacerbation of psychotic mental illness that medical marijuana has the potential to cause, it should be used under the supervision of a physician who is aware of the patient’s current physical status and full medical (including mental health, family, and social) history.

If medical marijuana patients begin to notice any unusual changes in mood, behavior, thinking, speech, memory, or any other unusual symptoms, they are encouraged to speak with their healthcare provider immediately.

Main Reference: “Understanding Marijuana” by Dr. Mitch Earleywine

Cannabis-Based Medicine For Patients Living With Multiple Sclerosis

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:56:00 +0000

Arielle GerardJune 08, 2014

What Is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune, inflammatory condition which is caused by an attack from the body’s immune system on the myelin sheath that surrounds nerve cells in the central nervous system (CNS). The myelin sheath provides insulation to these cells to allow for fast conduction of signals throughout the body; destruction slows the speed of signals from the CNS to the body’s peripheral nervous system (PNS). This condition can also lead to destruction of the nerves themselves, which is irreversible.

Due to the fact that the CNS is the “command center” for the body, MS can cause problems in numerous body systems. Multiple Sclerosis (and the current treatments available for its treatment) can cause bladder infection and dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, depression, fatigue, itching, emotional changes, pain, sexual problems, tremors, dizziness and vertigo, gait (walking) difficulties,sleep disturbance, and more.

One major symptom of Multiple Sclerosis is referred to as spasticity. It can cause overactive reflexes, involuntary movements, difficulty with care and hygiene, abnormal posture, contractures, pain, bone and joint deformities, and more. Needless to say, Multiple Sclerosis causes a severely decreased quality of life for patients. There is currently no cure for Multiple Sclerosis, which is why research for new treatments for symptom relief and disease progression is imperative.
Results From The Largest Study On Cannabis, MS To Date

One of the largest studies gauging the effect of medical cannabis on patients with Multiple Sclerosis was one of 630 participants conducted by Zajicek et al. in 2003 at 33 centers. Results showed that participants who used whole-plant cannabis-based medicine (CBM) extracts did not experience an improvement in objective measurements of spasticity measured by the Ashworth scale – a tool used to assess objective measures of spasticity, including tone, resistance, and rigidity in body extremities.

“Patients in the CBM extract or ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) CBM groups reported improvements in “pain, sleep quality, spasms, and spasticity.” – Zajicek et al.

However, in self-reports, patients in the CBM extract or ∆-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) CBM groups reported improvements in “pain, sleep quality, spasms, and spasticity,… though no effect was noted with respect to irritability, depression, tiredness, tremor or energy.”

In comparing the lack of efficacy for spasticity as measured by the Ashworth Scale to other treatment options available for Multiple Sclerosis, Zajicek et al. importantly note the following:

“When assessing our results, it should be acknowledged that the degree of evidence for many of the commonly used drugs to combat [Multiple Sclerosis] symptoms is weak… One study [of a commonly used medication for Multiple Sclerosis] noted a difference in Ashworth scores comparing active treatment with placebo, whereas the other showed no effect. Neither of these studies detailed any difference in walking times [, another measure of disability caused by Multiple Sclerosis], and even when a significant effect was obtained in the Ashworth score, there was no different in pain measures or sleep quality on active medication.”

In contrast, medical cannabis did show efficacy in improvement of pain and sleep quality. Additionally and importantly, at the 12-month follow-up, “muscle spasticity measured by the Ashworth scale was significantly improved in the THC-treated [CBM] group. The Rivermead Mobility Index [a test of functional mobility] was also improved, indicative of reduced disability.”
Using Objective Reporting Measures When Treating MS

So if medical cannabis did not show immediate efficacy on the Ashworth Scale in such as large study, this treatment option is not effective a good treatment option for Multiple Sclerosis, right? The answer to this question is a strong and resounding “no”; comprehension of the reasoning for this requires a basic understanding of tools used in research.

Validity tests (those that gauge whether or not a tool is accurate/whether it measures what it is designed to measure) and reliability tests (those that gauge the ability of a tool to produce the same results when administered multiple times in the same conditions) are performed on tools like the Ashworth Scale, in order to help us to understand their real-world or clinical utility.

Zajicek et al. noted in their large 2003 study, “The limitations of the Ashworth scale in measuring the highly complex symptom of spasticity are well known, and there is a need to develop new patient-oriented scales to enable measurement of what matters to them.”

Due to the fact that the Ashworth scale is not a fully valid measure of spasticity, performance on it should not be used in the assessment of treatment efficacy. Whether medical cannabis is able to produce significant change in the Ashworth Scale therefore does not properly measure the efficacy of medical cannabis on spasticity.

Additionally, there are many other symptoms experienced by patients with Multiple Sclerosis than just spasticity (such as pain, weakness, etc.), and treatment efficacy should not be gauged solely on changes in that one symptom.

According to Vaney et al., “…it must be questioned if disturbance of muscle tone by strong anti-spastic agents is in every case clinically meaningful as disability in Multiple Sclerosis patients seems more clearly related to weakness than to spasticity.”

In a study using CBM capsules with 2.5 mg THC and 0.9 mg cannabidiol (CBD), these same researchers found that “there were no statistically significant differences associated with active treatment [i.e. medical cannabis] compared to placebo, but trends in favor of active treatment were seen for spasm frequency, mobility and getting to sleep.”

“Treatment with smoked cannabis resulted in a significant reduction in patient [modified Ashworth Scale] scores.” – Corey-Bloom et al.

Further, studies have shown improvement in objective ratings of spasticity. Using the modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), a study conducted in 2012 by Corey-Bloom et al. found that “treatment with smoked cannabis resulted in a significant reduction in patient scores… In addition, treatment reduced pain scores on a visual analogue scale [a self-report measure].”

No difference was found between medical cannabis and placebo groups on a timed walk test. However, scores on a test of cognitive function showed lower scores for participants on active treatment compared to the placebo group.
Using Subjective Reporting Measures When Treating MS

So what tools should researchers utilize to measure improvements in spasticity symptoms for patients with Multiple Sclerosis? In a 2010 meta-analysis of the efficacy of oromucosal CBM and MS, Wade et al. stated the following:

“The 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale is recommended as a preferred outcome measure in the assessment of interventions in chronic pain, but has not been widely used in studies of anti-spasticity medications. It has the benefit of allowing the patient to express their own daily experience of spasticity and has recently been validated… it is a suitable assessment tool and possibly an alternative to the Ashworth Scale which several research groups have criticized.”

The researchers “found that global impression of change (GIC) was significantly improved for patients on active treatment [i.e. medical cannabis]. Participants on active treatments were significantly less likely to experience spasticity compared to placebo participants, based on self-reports of Visual Analogue Scale and Numerical Rating Scale.”

In scientific study, self-report measures are considered unreliable because humans possess bias by nature, often unintentionally. Scientists understandably desire facts and not opinions, which is the reason why objective measures and double-blinding are used as elements of the gold-standard for determining treatment efficacy.

However, a study by Collin et al. (2007), which found efficacy of CBM using self-report measures addresses this issue in relation to CBM treatment and Multiple Sclerosis. The researchers mention in the “Discussion” section of their study that although their work was criticized for the utilization of a self-report measure, it may actually be superior to observer-rated measures.

One reason for this is the lack of “clinical relevance” that objective measurements provide; when “real world” patients with spasticity go to see their physician, the physician often merely asks either the patient or their caregiver how the patient has been feeling about their spasticity. Very rarely are objective measures like the Ashworth Scale utilized.

Additionally, utilization of the 11-point Numeric Rating Scale is meant to provide a broader view of the patient’s experience of their spasticity. It does so by measuring spasticity over 24 hours, not at only one point in time, thereby gaining a better idea of the patient’s quality of life.

As noted by Collin et al., “there is increasing acceptance that a patient reported outcome measure is appropriate for spasticity.” The NRS is frequently used for pain assessment in the clinic, with at least a 30% reduction in pain after treatment signifying that the treatment provided a “clinically meaningful reduction in pain”.

While it is unclear whether or not the same gauge is appropriate to assess whether or not the NRS can be used to accurately measure spasticity with reliabilty, 40% of the original CBM group in this study experienced a >30% improvement in their spasticity. This improvement was found in addition to those already provided by the participants’ prescribed medications for anti-spasticity, which they were required to continue throughout the trial.

The researchers note, “Small improvements in the patients[’] experience may lead to large changes in quality of life… The ideal objective measure of spasticity does not exist. Using the NRS [for spasticity research] as in pain research appears to be a reasonable compromise.”
Evidence For Efficacy Of Cannabis-Based Medicine On MS

Multiple studies have shown the benefits of medical cannabis for patients with Multiple Sclerosis experiencing a wide range of symptoms. Novotna et al. (2011) conducted a Phase III placebo-controlled trial on cannabis-based medicine (CBM) as an add-on therapy for MS symptoms. The CBM add-on produced a “highly significant” difference in the Numeric Rating Scale, as well as improvements in self-reports of spasm frequency, sleep disturbance, and perspective of the caregiver and clinical regarding global impression of change for the patient.

In 2007, Collin et al. conducted a study on the effects of CBM on patients with Multiple Sclerosis and found that oromucosal CBM significantly improved daily subject-recorded Numerical Rating Scale of spasticity. However, there was no significant difference between placebo and active treatment [i.e. medical cannabis] on Ashworth Score and the Motricity Index [an objective measure of muscle power]. 57% of participants on active treatment vs. 48% of control participants experienced an improved global impression of change of symptoms.

Numerous studies have also shown the efficacy of medical cannabis in treating neuropathic pain, which is the most common pain type experienced by patients with Multiple Sclerosis. These include “A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Trial of Cannabis Cigarettes in Neuropathic Pain” by Wilsey et al. (2008) and “Smoked cannabis for chronic neuropathic pain: a randomized controlled trial” by Ware et al. (2010), which also showed improvements in ability to fall asleep, improved quality of sleep, and well-tolerated and minimal adverse events.

Additionally, “A Preliminary Controlled Study to Determine Whether Whole-Plant Cannabis Extracts

Can Improve Intractable Neurogenic Symptoms” by Wade et al. (2003), which used oromucosal

CBM, found improvements in pain, impaired bladder control, muscle spasms and spasticity with medical cannabis treatment.

CBM As Treatment Of The Disease, Not Just The Symptoms

There is some evidence that suggests that medical cannabis may be useful beyond symptom control for patients with Multiple Sclerosis, and may be able to act as direct treatment of the disease.

“Preclinical evidence has emerged supporting th[e] hypothes[is]… that…activation of CB2 receptors expressed by T cells within the central nervous system will decrease inflammation in MS and possibly also slow progression of the disease.” – Pertwee et al.

A study by Pertwee et al. (2007) conducted a review on cannabinoids and their effect on Multiple Sclerosis, found that there is evidence to suggest that cannabinoids may work not only as a treatment for MS symptoms, but also the direct treatment of the disease.

This is believed to occur through activation of cannabinoid receptors which “may suppress some of the pathological changes that give rise to these signs and symptoms”.

The researchers note, “signs and symptoms of this disease can be ameliorated by cannabinoid receptor agonists at doses that do not provoke unacceptably severe adverse events. Preclinical evidence has emerged supporting th[e] hypothes[is]… that…activation of CB2 receptors expressed by T cells within the central nervous system will decrease inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis and possibly also slow progression of the disease.

Cognitive Effects Of Cannabis On People With MS

To date, some of the evidence that suggests that medical cannabis is a harmful treatment option for patients with Multiple Sclerosis points to the fact that on cognitive tests, MS patients who use medical cannabis may perform worse in comparison to Multiple Sclerosis patients who did not use medical cannabis.

Given that the disease itself can cause cognitive declines, these results represent an understandable concern. However, when discussing conditions like Multiple Sclerosis with debilitating symptoms, maintenance of optimal cognition is not the most important issue.

A patient using medical cannabis with decreased pain, greater ease in sleeping, decreased self-reports of spasticity, and/or an increase in global perception of their health, is a medical success.
CBM Is A Safe, Effective Treatment Option For Patients With MS

Given its low risk of negative side effects and low risk of dependence, CBM may be an effective treatment option to be used in conjunction with other efficacious treatments for patients with both typical and intractable Multiple Sclerosis symptoms. However, medical cannabis is not an optimal treatment option for everyone.

“It would be beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis to have safe, legal access to various forms of medical cannabis, with use authorized and monitored by their healthcare provider.”

To gain a better understanding of the CBM and its effects on Multiple Sclerosis, more research needs to be conducted using proper tools in order to assess its effects.

With that said, increased research for any medication is always warranted – even for those that have been legal and commonly used for decades. Thus, this is not a strong enough reason to maintain prohibition on medical cannabis for patients with Multiple Sclerosis.

The evidenced overall safety of medical cannabis in various forms, along with its shown efficacy for various symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, seems to support its use for patients who are suffering. This is especially true of those with intractable symptoms which cannot be ameliorated by other therapies.

In turn, it would be beneficial for patients with multiple sclerosis to have safe, legal access to various forms of medical cannabis, with use authorized and monitored by their healthcare provider.

http://www.medicaljane.com/2014/06/08/cannabis-classroom-cannabis-based-medicine-for-patients-living-with-multiple-sclerosis/

For information on reasonable expectations and safety in considering whole-plant medical cannabis use, as well as how you can advocate to move cannabis out of the Schedule I controlled substance classification in order to increase research on phytocannabinoids in the United States, click here.

Various Cannabis Consumption Methods

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:47:00 +0000

Dr. Malik Burnett May 08, 2014

Within the rapidly growing medical marijuana movement, individuals have developed many different methods of cannabis consumption. Naturally this phenomena can come with associated positives and negatives.

On the positive side, these products allow the therapeutic potential of the plant to be realized for many different medical conditions.

On the other hand, these different methods of consumption potentially create confusion for patients, who end up having to experiment with different methods in order to achieve optimal relief.
Methods of Consumption and How They Differ

When considering cannabis consumption methods, there are two basic concepts which come into play – route of entry into the body and time of effect.

Inhalation of Cannabis

When most people think about cannabis, the first thought that comes to mind is smoking, whether it be through blunts, joints, pipes, or bongs. While this may be the most popular method of consumption it is not the healthiest method. In addition to smoking, cannabis can also be inhaled via vaporization and there are numerous products to help facilitate this process.

“Consuming cannabis via inhalation has the shortest time of effect of all routes of entry.”

When you inhale cannabis, the majority of cannabinoids, enter the body through the lungs, where they are passed along directly into your blood stream.

Due to this direct exchange, consuming cannabis via inhalation has the shortest time of effect of all routes of entry.

In a study done by Huestis and colleagues subjects who consumed cannabis via inhalation reported feeling the effects of the medication within minutes, with peak effects around the hour mark and total duration of effects around two hours. However, it is important to note that there can be significant variation in these times due to factors, such as cannabinoid content, depth and length of inhalation (a.k.a. smoking style), and previous cannabis exposure (tolerance).

From a health standpoint, a comparison of smoked cannabis to vaporization reveals that there potential advantages associated with vaporization which include more efficient cannabinoid extraction and a decreased exposure to toxic elements such as carbon monoxide and tar, which are derived from smoking.

Oral Intake of Cannabis

In addition to inhalation, cannabis can be consumed orally. Affectionately known as edibles, cannabis consumed orally enters the blood stream after being digested, or broken down in the stomach and is absorbed in the intestines.

Subjects who consume cannabis orally usually report feeling the effects within thirty minutes, with peak effects around the one hour mark and total duration of effects ranging as long as six hours.

The reasons for this can be attributed to the process of digestion, in which edibles have to be broken down from their original food state to a molecular cannabinoid state in order to be absorbed. The gradual nature of the digestion process accounts for the longer effects of this method of consumption.

It is also important to note, that factors such as the amount of food consumed prior to medicating, strength of the product and even a person’s metabolism can all affect the overall experience.
Sublingual/Oral-mucosal

Before you swallow, cannabis can also enter the blood stream. Under the tongue and within the mouth there are a large number of blood vessels which can absorb cannabinoids.

Common examples of these type of medications include dissolvable strips, sublingual sprays, or medicated lozenges or tinctures.

The time of onset for this method of consumption is similar to those seen in general oral consumption, however, some studies have reported an earlier time to effect.
Cannabis Topicals

Cannabinoids, much like the active ingredients in other medications, can also be absorbed through the skin. The skin has a relatively complex absorption process that majorly involves a chemical’s ability to dissolve in H20.

Examples of topical products include creams, balms and even patches much the like the ones often used to quit smoking cigarettes.

While not widely studied, there is research which shows that topical application of cannabinoids has an onset of action within minutes locally (i.e. creams and balms applied to a joint), with duration of these effects lasting one to two hours. Individuals who used patches reported onset of action within two hours and duration of effect lasting upwards of two days.

Hopefully, some of the ideas outlined here serve as a guide in helping you use your cannabis responsibly. After all, nobody wants to find themselves in a situation where they have accidentally consumed too much cannabis and are faced with a fit of anxiety.

FROM THE MJ DIRECTORY Visit the directory

Study: Cannabinoid Therapies May Help Treat Stress-Induced Anxiety Disorders

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:32:00 +0000

Drake Dorm August 11, 2014

Cannabis is considered by many people to be a natural source of stress relief. In fact, an Israeli study published last year validates this claim, suggesting that “cannabinoid system activation could represent a novel approach to the treatment of cognitive deficits that accompany a variety of stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders.”

Hoping to expand on these findings, a team of researchers from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee published a study in last month’s issue of Translational Psychiatry. Their results suggest that increasing one’s levels of endocannabinoids, particularly anandamide, could be a viable treatment for stress-induced anxiety.

What Is Anandamide?

Anandamide is an endocannabinoid, which means our body produces it naturally. It operates in a similar manner to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and effects the CB1 receptors as well as the CB2 receptors.

Past research has shown that anandamide can fight against human breast cancer andaggressive skin cancer, among other benefits. It is also likely that anandamide plays a role in many of the benefits offered by cannabidiol (CBD), considering the fact that CBD inhibits the production of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH), an enzyme that degrades anandamide.

A few months ago, we published a piece about the apparent relationship between CBD and social anxiety. However, the study offered little evidence as to the mechanisms underlying the cannabinoid’s benefits.

That being said, it’s entirely possible that anandamide was responsible for the significant improvement in anxiety experienced by patients in the previous study. The research performed at Vanderbilt University seems to increase the likelihood of this hypothesis.
Increased Anandamide May Help Treat Stress-Induced Anxiety

In order to test the relationship between anandamide and stress-induced anxiety, theVanderbilt research team conducted a series of tests using mice as subjects. First, they shocked the mice’s feet six times for two seconds each to induce stress – there was a one-minute interval between each shock.

24 hours later, the mice were subjected to a number of behavioral assays to determine whether this foot-shock would result in an anxious response. The results of two different tests suggested that the mice were in fact dealing with anxiety, according to the research team.

“The endocannabinoid was able to reverse the stress-induced state of anxiety in mice.”

In an attempt to counter the effects of this anxiety, the researchers administered an inhibitor of fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) to prevent the enzyme from degrading anandamide. Their results suggest that the endocannabinoid was able to reverse the stress-induced state of anxiety in mice.

How Can Medical Cannabis Help Treat Stress And Anxiety?

Perhaps more interesting, the Vanderbilt research team reported that anandamide levels throughout the brain were reduced 24 hours after shocking the mice’s feet. This was negatively-correlated with their experience of anxiety (more anandamide = less anxiety), which lead researchers to the conclusion that “central anandamide levels predict acute stress-induced anxiety.”

The Vanderbilt research team explains that their findings “strongly support the utility of anandamide augmentation as a therapeutic approach for stress-related affective and anxiety disorders.”

Considering that cannabidiol (CBD) can inhibit the degradation of anandamide and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can mimic its effects, one can reasonably infer that cannabis-based therapies may help counter stress-induced anxiety. Of course, more research will be necessary to verify the effectiveness of such treatments.

Aquaponics: Hydroponics Meets Aquafarming

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:31:00 +0000

Zach Reichard January 13, 2013

A report done recently by the UK’s Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) has discovered that about 1.2-2 billion tons of the food produced in developed countries is either wasted by poor storage, bad distribution, or rigorous quality standards. The current wasteful behavior is extremely ignorant, and accounts for 30-50% of the worlds produced food. Spoiling 2 billion tons of food also means that 35% of the world’s fresh water supplies are being wasted. Modern day agriculture uses 2.7 trillion cubic meters of water a year, which amounts to about 70% of the world’s freshwater use.

“…Engineers will play a crucial role in preventing future food loss and waste by developing more and more efficient ways of growing, transporting and storing foods.” - Tim Fox, IMechE Head of Energy & Environment

Nearly 12 million hectares of the world’s drylands, a piece of land the size of the United Kingdom, are being lost to a process called desertification every year. While droughts or floods can accelerate the degradation process, often times over-cultivation, overgrazing, deforestation, and faulty irrigation systems are to blame for the desert-like conditions. Although these drylands are losing their natural agricultural capabilities due to degradation, all is not lost.

IMechE reports that just one hectare of land can provide enough rice or potato for twenty-two people a year.

What this statistic suggests, is if alternative growing techniques were to be adopted, sustainable food systems could be easily created in places where in-ground agriculture is simply impossible around the world.

Alternative Growing Technique Using Fish Waste

One particular alternative method that has gained popularity goes by the name of Aquaponics,and is a combination of two traditional food production techniques, Hydroponics & Aquaculture. The concept is based around the idea of raising fish and growing plants together in one integrated, and soil-less system. The fish and the plants form a symbiotic relationship in which the fish are providing the plants with a food source, and the plants are acting as a natural filter to cleanse the water the fish live in. When operated inside a climate-controlled greenhouse, aquaponics systems are capable of producing premium quality, organic plants and fish anywhere, during any time of the year.
How does Aquaponics work?

The key component to a thriving aquaponics system is the beneficial bacteria responsible for converting fish waste, decaying plant matter, and uneaten food into ammonia and other compounds that are consumed by the plants. This naturally occurring, nitrifying bacteria, inhabit every and all surfaces of your aquaponics system, especially the grow medium in the hydroponics system.

While more than 50% of the waste produced by fish is ammonia-based urine, the other 50% is excreted in the form of fecal matter. The waste, along with decaying plant matter and un-eaten fish food, are then converted into to ammonia as well through a process called mineralization. Next the nitrifying bacterium converts the ammonia into nitrite, and then to nitrate, which plants readily uptake as nutrients. This leaves the water safe and clean so that it may be recycled back to the aquaculture tanks.

Although aquaponics systems are made up of about seven components, the three main components are the aquaculture tanks designated to raising the fish, the hydroponics bed for growing the plants, and the controlled beneficial bacteria. In order to help you fully understand aquaponics, we will first explain it’s two counterparts; Hydroponics & Aquaculture. When you look at how the pieces work independently, it is evident that aquaponics is nothing more than simple biology working its magic in a highly controlled environment.

Aquaculture

Aquaculture (also known as aqua-farming) is the raising of aquatic animals such as fish, snails, shrimp, or crustaceans (typically for food) in a symbiotic environment. It is reported that global aquaculture operations can account for producing half of the fish, and shellfish that is consumed by humans each year. However, a natural result of aquaculture is effluent rich water resulting from either uneaten fish food, or waste products from animals being raised. This requires a large amount of solids removal as well as bio-filtration.

Over the years farmers have experimented with new sustainable practices to lessen the biological and chemical pollution caused by their animals, as well as the dumping of waste water into the earth. Some farmers have experimented with dumping the nutrient rich water over their crops, as well as adding the solid waste to their compost to treat land. This is one of the discoveries that led to the the development of aquaponics.

Hydroponics

Hydroponics has been experimented with by The United States since the 40’s. The technique was developed at Purdue University, and worked by alternately flooding and draining a container holding gravel and the plant roots. This gave the plants a perfect balance of nutrient rich water and air. According to a 1938 Times magazine article, this technique was used during World War II in order to grow produce for large amount of people on the inhospitable Pacific Islands. While hydroponics has come a long way since then, the basics remain the same. It is a soil-less method of growing plants in which the roots are directly immersed in nutrient-rich water that is constantly being cleansed, oxygenated, and recycled back to the plant by a hydroponics pump. Plants are grown in an inert medium, such as gravel, expanded clay, or perlite, and almost any plant will grow in a hydroponics system. The system saves water costs, makes it easier to control and utilize nutrients (lower nutrition costs), and no nutrition pollution is poured into the earth like with typical farming methods.

Combining Aquafarming and Hydroponics

When you combine the two methods, you end up with an organic, self-sustaining mini ecosystem. The only thing you have to add once the tank has developed the beneficial bacteria, is the fish food. This saves thousands of dollars in nutrient costs, and hours of time that would have been spent mixing nutrient solutions if you were using a hydroponics system.

“Since no water escapes the system,aquaponics uses about one-tenth the amount of water as conventional farming, and nutrients are used much more efficiently.“

After allowing effluents from the fish to build up in the aquaculture tanks, the water is led to the plants in the hydroponics system, where the plants filter it out as food. Once the plants have absorbed their required nutrients, the remaining water (and a nontoxic level of leftover nutrients) are re-circulated straight back to the aquaculture tanks as clean, breathable water for the fish. In addition, plants can be grown very close, allowing you to grow much higher volumes of plants per square foot. The ability to stock high densities of fish allows plants to be grown rapidly in aquaponics systems. However, like nature, aquaponics is all about balance. There are many factors that go into aquaponics, and it is definitely not an ideal growing technique for unexperienced growers.

Although Tilapia are the most popular type of

fish raised in the systems (for food purposes), farmers have been known to raise anything from goldfish to large mouth bass. The number of fish that can be raised in each tank is dependent upon the size of tank, and mode of filtration you are using. In larger tanks with proper filtration, growers sometimes stock up to ½ lb of fish per gallon, while smaller aquarium grows are typically limited to one gallon per ½ inch of fish.

The number of plants you can grow in an aquaponics system is a factor of the number & size of the fish, and the amount of food added daily. Some plants like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and other flowering plantshave higher nutritional demands than others, and will only thrive in a heavily stocked, time-honored system. The most popular plants grown in aquaponics include lettuce, spinach, arugula, basil, mint, watercress, chives, and most common houseplants.
Where is Aquaponics being used?

Many gardeners are building systems in their backyards, capable of producing hundreds of pounds of fish and vegetables a year. Home aquariums can even be combined with mini gardens that sit on top of the tanks in some of the simplest systems. Since these systems model biological cycles in a natural habitat, schools are building mini aquaponics systems in classrooms for educational purposes. Aquaponics is also being used commercially, but there are currently a limited number of large-scale operations. What are more prevalent are smaller operations like urban farms that are growing vegetables, fish, and herbs to sell to local restaurants and at farmers markets.

With the organic and healthy eating craze spreading like wildfire in the U.S., urban aquaponic farms are sprouting up providing ‘foodies’ everywhere with direct access to fresh and organically grown fruits, vegetables, and fish. In addition, many non profits are working to establish sustainable communities in undeveloped countries, as well as urban settings where agriculture was thought to be out of the question. The Urban Farming Guys is a public charity from inner-city Kansas dedicated to transforming entire communities into thriving and sustainable places for the next generation. They are providing everything from job creation, to healthy food directly onto plates of less fortunate community members. The Urban Farming Guys have even begun experimenting with solar powered aquaponics that would provide an alternative farming method to third world countries, where electricity is often times intermittent.

Our Visit to New Roots Aqua Farm

We visited an urban farm with a similar mission here in San Diego. The farm is located in City Heights, one of the most diverse, highly concentrated areas of retail outlets, restaurants, and supermarkets in the area. On our way to the farm we drove past concrete building after concrete building until finally, like an oasis in the desert, IRC New Roots Aqua Farm appeared on the left side of the street. The farm sat atop a concrete lot situated directly across the street from a number of ten-story high rises. In the middle of the nursery was a greenhouse containing a 1,200 square foot aquaponics system in which trays of basil, lettuce, tomatoes, and kale were thriving in extremely close quarters. One of the experienced farmers informed us that they could grow corn as close as 3″ to each other. We found this astonishing.

In addition, the farm pumps water from the tanks, out of the greenhouse to fertilize the outdoor crops. They also grew their own fish food in order to cut back on costs, and provide their fish with organic food. They explained to us that Duckweed was the perfect fish food to grow because it multiplied so quickly, and required little to no maintenance. In addition, the Duckweed tanks provide the perfect habitat for New Root’s baby fish to develop in until they can be moved to the larger tanks.

New Roots Aqua Farm harvest’s hormone-free tilapia in 700-gallon fish tanks, as well as organic vegetables and herbs which are sold at the City Heights Farmers’ Market every Saturday. The farm also has a very experienced grower onsite who offers plans for personal aquaponics systems. However, the operators of the farm explained to us that the farm’s main purpose is to provide the community access to locally grown, organic food that they would otherwise never get from city grocery stores such as Ralph’s. They also aim to provide the neighborhood’s large refugee population with an educational resource for those interested in growing their own food, as many did in their native countries.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a part of San Diego’s Food Security and Community Health (FSCH) program that aims to create sustainable, locally-grown, culturally-appropriate foods for San Diego’s low-income communities. City Heights residents interested in farming are invited to use one of 80 spaces designated for families to grow their own plots in the heart of the neighborhood, at the New Roots Community Farm. It is a great way for refugee families to gain direct access to nutrition, and provide some with their first opportunity to reconnect with the land in the United States. Michelle Obama referred to the IRC’s, New Roots Community Farm as a, “model for communities around the country.”

For additional information about aquaponics as well as FAQ, please visit Aquaponics.com.

Article Sources:
http://www.rtcc.org/we-must-correct-image-of-desertification-and-find-practical-solutions/
http://www.rtcc.org/colossal-food-waste-hitting-energy-land-and-water-supplies/
http://www.imeche.org/Libraries/News/Global_Food_Waste_Not_Want_Not.sflb.ashx
http://ezinearticles.com/?Hydroponics-Used-In-World-War-II-To-Feed-US-Troops&id=1207739
http://aquaponics.com/page/aquaponic-systems

Cannabidiol (CBD) in the Management of Schizophrenia

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 19:26:00 +0000

Arielle Gerard

March 02, 2015

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A recent systematic review published in Schizophrenia Research in March 2015 finds that the use of cannabidiol (CBD), a phytocannabinoid (i.e. a cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant) may be helpful in the management of psychotic symptoms (which are characterized by a “lossof contact with reality”), such as those experienced by individuals with schizophrenia.
What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a psychotic mental health disorder (one characterized by “abnormal thinking and perception”) with co-occurring changes in mood and behavior. Symptoms may include:
delusions [i.e. strongly held beliefs in something even though there is a significant amount of evidence to disprove that viewpoint]
hallucinations [e.g. hearing or seeing something that isn’t there)
disorganized speech/movement
difficulties showing emotion
difficulties performing certain everyday activities [e.g. staying clean]
psychological changes [e.g. loss of interest in activities, withdrawal from social interactions]

While the exact cause of schizophrenia is not fully understood, the evidence that is currently available shows that it is likely the result of a mix of genetic predisposition (i.e it ‘runs in the family’) and environmental factors (e.g. certain viral infections, immune dysfunction, stress, malnutrition in utero [i.e. before birth]). This results in modified signaling of dopamine and serotonin (neurotransmitters- compounds that modulate the stimulation of neurons [i.e. specialized cells of the nervous system that communicate with each other, resulting in thinking, remembering, moving, etc.]).
“Positive symptoms” (i.e. those that the individual gains, such as delusions and hallucinations, may be caused by an increase in signaling of these systems insubcortical areas (“deeper” areas of the brain, including those involved in the control of sensation, integration of signals from various areas of the brain, movement, emotion, sleep, attention, etc.).
“Negative symptoms” (i.e. those that the individual loses, like drive or social interaction) may be caused by a decrease in signaling in the prefrontal cortex (an area of the brain involved in modulating planning, judgment, personality, decision-making, concentration, social behavior, etc.).
Current Management Options

Although there is no cure for schizophrenia, symptoms can be managed with medication and supportive services. However, current antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia may have side effects that limit patient compliance (i.e. patients with schizophrenia may stop taking their medications because they prefer the experience of symptoms caused by their disorder to the experience of negative side effects caused by medications).

Conventional antipsychotics have mild and severe side effects, which include “dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, drowsiness and dizziness which usually disappear after a few weeks to more serious side effects such as trouble with muscle control, pacing, tremors and facial ticks”. Newer atypical antipsychotics have fewer side effects, but can still cause weight gain, tremors (i.e. repetitive tightening/loosening of muscles; shaking), rigidity (i.e. inability to move or difficulty performing movement), spasms (i.e. sudden contraction/tightening of muscles).

For this reason, development of safe, effective medications for patients with schizophrenia that have few side effects is essential for helping to increase patient compliance, which will lead to increased ease for patients in managing symptoms long-term.
Findings of the Review

Researchers found that cannabidiol may be useful in preventing or modulating:
short-term psychotic symptoms or cognition deficits associated with whole-plant cannabis use and isolated THC administration the likelihood of developing permanent psychosis given the use of whole-plant cannabis.

The conclusion of this review adds to increasing evidence that targeted and controlled modulation of the endocannabinoid system may help to reduce symptoms of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia. For example, another review published in January 2014 in European Neuropsychopharmacology also found that cannabidiol may be useful as an antipsychotic agent.

There is currently little compelling evidence to support the stance that the use of whole-plant cannabis causes mental illness (e.g. it is possible that associations found between cannabis use and psychotic symptoms may be the result of a tendency for individuals predisposed to psychosis to self-medicate with cannabis, rather than the result of cannabis use causing the disorder). However, long-term whole-plant cannabis, especially varietals with higher concentrations of THC, may cause (1) early onset in predisposed individuals or (2) exacerbation of psychotic symptoms. Additionally, studies have found that patients with schizophrenia have increased cannabinoid levels in their spinal fluid and increased cannabinoid signaling in certain areas of the brain as a result of an increased number of cannabinoid receptors. Therefore, inhibition of some of these pathways may also be beneficial for patients.

The authors examined:

Category 1: ‘studies that investigated the impact of CBD/THC ratio in cannabis on measures relevant for psychosis’

Category 2: ‘neuropsychological studies [those that assess a psychological response that is associated with a particular structure or pathway in the brain] that examined the ability of CBD to block the acute psychotic effects of THC or ketamine [a medication that sedates, relieves pain, and causes memory loss] in healthy volunteers’

Category 3: ‘neuroimaging studies with acute CBD administration to healthy volunteers’

Category 4: ‘studies with CBD administration to patients with psychotic symptoms, including small-scale clinical trials with CBD’

Category 1:

For this group of 8 studies, researchers found that in general, “use of cannabis with high CBD content is associated with significantly fewer positive symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, better cognitive function and both lower risk for developing psychosis as well as a later age of onset of the illness compared to cannabis with low CBD/THC ratios.

Although one of the studies found no difference in psychosis-modulating effects of low vs. high CBD, users of cannabis with higher levels of cannabidiol showed no memory impairment while users of cannabis with lower levels of cannabidiol showed noticeable impairment while intoxicated (but not when sober).

Category 2:

From the seven studies in this group, the authors concluded, “Altogether, neuropsychological studies with CBD administration in healthy volunteers indicate that CBD has the ability to attenuate [i.e. reduce] acute psychotic and anxiogenic [i.e. anxiety-causing] effects as well as cognitive [i.e. thinking, judging, attention, planning, etc.] impairment induced [i.e. caused] by the administration of THC.”

However, in one study, administration of ketamine (a medication that induces schizophrenia-like symptoms) after pre-treatment with 600 mg CBD trended towards a decrease the psychotic symptom known as “depersonalization” (i.e. a lack of or modified attachment to reality; individual feels that they are unable to control their behavior; may feel that they are in a dream) but increased psychomotor activity (i.e. learned, controlled movements) in participants. Bestresults were noted when THC and CBD were administered together, rather than when there was pre-treatment with CBD.

Also, studies varied in: the CBD/THC ratios used (one study found prevention of psychotic symptoms with a higher CBD/THC ratio [i.e. more CBD], and an increase in symptoms with a lower CBD/THC ratio [i.e. less CBD]) and method and timing of administration

These factors limit the ability to fully interpret these findings and make generalizations about CBD/THC administration on psychotic symptoms. However, it is important to note that use of only CBD (without THC) was well-tolerated and resulted in: “minimal psychoactive effects…
increased self-reported ratings [i.e. response provided by the participant] on scalesmeasuring how ‘quick-witted’ and ‘clear-minded’ participants felt… and decreased self-reported ratings on ‘energetic arousal’… as the only significant effects observed after the administration of CBD only (…tested vs baseline and not vs placebo [the latter provides higher quality results])”

Category 3:

There were nine studies in this category: three performed with EEGs (monitoring of electrical brain activity) and six performed with fMRI (magnetic imaging that detects changes in blood flow).

An EEG study found that administration of cannabis extract (THC and CBD) helped to improve the processing of auditory (i.e. sound/hearing) information (which is usually reduced in patients with schizophrenia) more than the use of THC alone. In another study, in healthy volunteers, short-term reduction in auditory processing caused by THC administration was not reversed by subsequent administration of cannabis extract (THC and CBD). In another, participants with certain CB1 (cannabinoid receptor 1) gene forms experienced reductions in auditory processing with THC administration, but not with cannabis extract (THC and CBD) administration. Therefore, CBD seemed to provide a protective effect against reductions in auditory processing.

Regarding the fMRI studies of healthy participants, the authors noted that with CBD administration, although there were trends towards (1) less anxiety in participants while emotional processing information and (2) faster reaction time while performing an attention task, it did not have any effect on actual task performance or experience of psychotic-type symptoms. It was also found that CBD and THC seemed to have opposite effects on certain portions of the brain involved in modulating hearing, sight, attention, and anxiety, which may explain why THC may exacerbate psychotic symptoms while CBD may prevent or dampen them.
Category 4:

Analysis of five small-scale studies with humans as participants led the researchers to note that patients appeared to “exhibit significant clinical improvement after four weeks of CBD treatment”. In one small-scale trial with 28 individuals with schizophrenia, attention (which can be reduced in schizophrenia) improved more in individuals taking the placebo and 300 mg CBD than in those taking 600 mg CBD (i.e. CBD may have had no impact, and higher CBD resulted in decreased performance compared even to placebo) and there was no impact on schizophrenia symptoms.

However, in a small, double-blind, randomized clinical trial (a type of study likely to produce relatively accurate results), researchers found that when administered separately, the administration of cannabidiol and amisulpride (a conventional antipsychotic) both resulted in statistically significant improvements (i.e. it is unlikely that the results occurred by chance) in symptoms as measured by the PANSS (a measure for schizophrenia symptoms) and theBPRS (a measure for various mental health symptoms, including hallucinations, anxiety, and abnormal behavior). It was also importantly noted by authors that the side effect profile of cannabidiol (i.e. “tolerability”/safety) was “markedly superior” to that of amisulpride.

Conclusion

According to the researchers, “The first small-scale clinical studies with CBD treatment of patients with psychotic symptoms further confirm the potential of CBD as an effective, safe and well-tolerated antipsychotic compound, although large randomised clinical trials [i.e. the “gold standard” for clinical research studies, likely to produce the most accurate results] will be needed before this novel therapy can be introduced into clinical practice.”

Increased research will help to clarify (1) whether or not standardized doses of certain cannabinoids (including phytocannabinoids like cannabidiol) are useful in the prevention/management of psychotic symptoms, if so, (2) which ratios of cannabinoids, timing patterns, and delivery methods are best for the management of psychotic symptoms for patients with disorders like schizophrenia. Moving cannabis out of the inappropriate Schedule Iclassification will help to increase research on cannabinoids in the United States (see below for more details on how you can get involved).

Disclaimer: Although there is no compelling evidence to support the idea that the use of whole-plant, raw cannabis causes schizophrenia or psychotic symptoms, it is very important to note that use of whole-plant cannabis, especially with higher concentrations of THC (the main psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis), may lead to premature development orexacerbation of schizophrenic symptoms and co-occurring poor management, and therefore should not be used by individuals with a personal or family history of psychotic disorders or conditions that may predispose to psychosis. At this point in time, whole-plant cannabis (regardless of cannabinoid ratio/concentration) is NOT recommended for the treatment of schizophrenia.

For information on reasonable expectations and safety in considering whole-plant medical cannabis use, as well as how you can advocate to move cannabis out of the Schedule I controlled substance classification in order to increase research on phytocannabinoids in the United States, click here.

What Is Hemp? Understanding The Differences Between Hemp and Cannabis

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:51:00 +0000

Written By

Matthew Price

January 14, 2015

The terms hemp and cannabis (frequently referred to as “marijuana”) are often used interchangeably, although they do carry separate connotations that you should make yourself familiar with.

Differentiating Between Hemp and Cannabis

Prohibition has spurred a lack of education surrounding the cannabis plant. This has led to countless rumors about what makes hemp different from cannabis. Everything from “hemp plants are male and cannabis plants are female” to “cannabis is a drug and the other is not” are incorrectly being preached as common knowledge to unknowing bystanders. So, how are these terms supposed to be used? Let’s find out.

“Health Canada defines hemp as products of Cannabis Sativa which contain less than 0.3 percent THC, whereas US law defines hemp as all parts of any Cannabis Sativaplant containing no psychoactive properties, except for defined exceptions.”

According to a 1976 study published by the International Association of Plant Taxonomy concluded “both hemp varieties and marijuana varieties are of the same genus, Cannabis, and the same species, Cannabis Sativa. Further, there are countless varieties that fall into further classifications within the species Cannabis Sativa.”

However, depending on how the plant is grown and utilized will determine which term is correct. For instance, the term cannabis (or marijuana) is used when describing a Cannabis Sativaplant that is bred for its potent, resinous glands (known as trichomes). These trichomes contain high amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid most known for its psychoactive properties.

Hemp, on the hand, is used to describe aCannabis Sativa plant that contains only trace amounts of THC. Hemp is a high-growing plant, typically bred for industrial uses such as oils and topical ointments, as well as fiber for clothing, construction, and much more.

Only products made from industrial hemp (less than 0.3% THC) are legal to sell, buy, consume, and ship. This single factor (0.3%) is how mostpeople distinguish between what is classified as “hemp” and what is classified as “cannabis.” This limit has led to mass controversy (for good reason), which we will dive into a bit later. But first, let’s take a look at how hemp is utilized all over the world.
Industrial Hemp Uses

From hemp apparel and accessories to diets and hempseed oil cosmetics, the plant is seemingly found everywhere you look. Hemp can be made into wax, resin, rope, cloth paper and fuel, among many other things.

Hemp for Paper

One of the reasons hemp is so valuable is because of its fiber length and strength. These long bast fibers have been used to make paper almost for 2 millennia. Thomas Jefferson draftedboth the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution on hemp paper.

Until the early 19th century,

hemp and flax were the two chief paper-making materials. In historical times, paper was processed from hemp rag. Using hemp directly for paper was considered too expensive, due to its lack of demand at the time. Wood-based paper came into use when mechanical and chemical pulping was developed in the mid 1800s in Germany and England. Today, at least 95% of paper is made from wood pulp. This makes little sense when considering hemp can easily produce much more paper per acre than wood pulp alternatives.

The hemp paper process also utilizes less energy and fewer chemicals than tree paper processing and doesn’t create the harmful dioxins, chloroform, or any of the other 2,000 chlorinated organic compounds that have been

identified as byproducts of the

wood paper process.

According to Hemp: A New Crop with New Uses for North America, “the primary bast fibers in the bark are 5–40 mm long, and are amalgamated in fiber bundles which can be 1–5 m long (secondary bast fibers are about 2 mm long). The woody core fibers are short—about 0.55 mm—and like hardwood fibers are cemented together with considerable lignin. The core fibers are generally considered too short for high grade paper applications (a length of 3 mm is considered ideal), and too much lignin is present.”
Hemp for Food

Studies have shown consumption of raw hemp seeds can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, accelerate weight loss, improve one’s immune system, control blood sugar levels, and even reduce inflammation. This makes hemp seeds extremely nutritious. They contain a bundle of essential amino acids and fatty-acids. This may explain why the “hemp for food” industry is growing rapidly and has increased over 300 percent, to an estimated 25,000 products, in the past few years.

In its raw form, hemp has the second highest amount of protein of any food (soy being the highest). However, because the hemp seed’s protein more closely resembles the protein found in human blood, it is much easier to digest than soy protein. Hemp seeds can be eaten whole, pressed into oil, or ground into flour for baking.

In America, products derived from hemp seed, such as hemp seed spreads, hemp seed energy bars, hemp seed meal, and hemp oil – are widely available in natural food stores such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s supermarkets.
Hemp for Health & Body

Hemp seed oil is perfectly suited for hair and skin care. Its nutritional value, combined with its moisturizing and replenishing EFA’s, make it one of the best vegetable body care foundations. Hemp seed oil’s EFA complement includes polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3, omega-6, omega-9, linoleic acid, and gamma linoleic acids (GLA’s). Although they are very effective in skin care maintenance, GLA’s are rarely found in natural oils. Hemp is an excellent source of GLA’s.

Additionally, oil derived from hemp seed has shown promise in treating eczema (chronic dry skin) in patients, although whole-plant cannabis oil has been proven to be more effective in treating more severe skin disorders, like skin cancer.
Hemp for Fuel

Hemp seeds have provided a combustible fuel oil throughout human history. Basically, hemp can provide two types of fuel:

1. Hemp biodiesel – made from the oil of the (pressed) hemp seed.
2. Hemp ethanol/methanol – made from the fermented stalk.

The concept of using oil derived from vegetables as an engine fuel is nothing new. In 1895, Dr. Rudolf Diesel developed the first diesel engine to run on vegetable oil — peanut oil to be exact. When you press the hemp seeds and extract the oil, you are actually creating hemp biodiesel. Additionally, through processes such as gasification, hemp can be used to make both ethanol and methanol.
The Controversy of Classifying Hemp vs. Cannabis

The international definition of hemp (as opposed to cannabis) was developed by a Canadian researcher in 1971 who goes by the name of Ernest Small. Small’s arbitrary 0.3 percent THC limit has become standard around the world as the official limit for legal hemp, after he published a little-known, but very influential book titled The Species Problem in Cannabis.

“There is not any natural point at which the cannabinoid content can be used to distinguish strains of hemp and marijuana. – Ernest Small”

In this same book, Small discusses how “there is not any natural point at which the cannabinoid content can be used to distinguish strains of hemp and marijuana.” Despite this, Small continued to “draw an arbitrary line on the continuum of cannabis types, and decided that 0.3 percent THC in a sifted batch of cannabis flowers was the difference between hemp and marijuana.” As you can imagine, this has led to some controversy and confusion as to what truly constitutes the difference between hemp and cannabis.

Additionally, your location will determine your understanding of what constitutes hemp vs cannabis. For instance, Health Canada defines hemp as products of Cannabis Sativa which contain less than 0.3 percent THC, whereas U.S. law defines hemp as all parts of anyCannabis Sativa plant containing no psychoactive properties, except for defined exceptions.

A recent court case between Hemp Industries Association v. DEA concluded “the DEA can regulate foodstuffs containing natural THC if it is contained within marijuana, and can regulate synthetic THC of any kind. But they cannot regulate naturally-occurring THC not contained within or derived from marijuana—i.e., non-psychoactive hemp products— because non-psychoactive hemp is not included in Schedule I.”

( READ MORE ON THIS ARTICLE HERE )

http://www.medicaljane.com/2015/01/14/the-differences-between-hemp-and-cannabis/

CANNABIS COMPANIES

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 17 Mar 2015 18:12:00 +0000

Thanks to Medicaljane.com we've used their list of trusted Cannabis Companies.

420PR Group

We help build community to national awareness and credibility to your products/services via media relations...

420 Train Wreck

420 Train Wreck is an internet radio station that focuses on playing psychedelic stoner rock, space and heavy groove...

420 Gourmet

420 Gourmet is a full service cannabis infusion company.

420 Extractions

420 Extractions is a full service cannabis extraction company.

420 Patients

420 Patients is a national medical marijuana patient & caregiver network. 420patients.com employs a dedicated...

420Delivery.Club

420.Delivery.Club is a not for profit medical marijuana dispensary committed to providing the very best in...

7 Leaf Marketing

Download your FREE copy of Direct Marketing for Smarties, Cannabis Edition today …

1 Percent

1 Percent features vaporizers, rolling papers, hemp, glass pipes and more. Secure online ordering and discreet...

420Rentals.com

Website to list and find marijuana friendly vacation rentals, rooms, roommates and related services.

420careers.com

A job board website for the marijuana industry.

710 Savant

710 Savant is an extraction company based in Michigan. They provide patients with high-quality concentrates in a...

420 Culture

Our focus is the progressive growth of the cannabis culture and industry. By focusing on recognizing quality within the...

710 Labs

Based in Colorado, 710 Labs is an extraction company that specializes in butane extractions (BHO). The company took...

420 Investor

420 Investor is the hub for anyone interested in investing in the Green Rush. Legalization of medical and recreational...

420 Interactive

420 Interactive is a design and marketing firm with a focus on creating beautiful, user-friendly websites and growing...

710 Purged

Based in California, 710 Purged is a cannabis concentrate company that is best known for their impressive showing at...

4Front Advisors

Based upon years of experience and leveraging the know-how of the top operators in the industry, 4Front Advisors...

3-D Denver’s Discreet Dispensary, LLC

Founded in 2010, 3D Cannabis Center is a medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis dispensary. They are...

5280 Inn

5280 Inn is considered to be a “hotel in the mile high manner.” Catering to the recent uprising cannabis...

3rd Generation Family

3rd Generation Family is a California-based company that serves as an umbrella for a group of breeders in the state...

420 Studios

420 Studios is a marketing company focusing on clients in the cannabis sector. They provide multi-dimensional...

420 Science

420 Science is a company based in Austin, TX that was founded by Matt LaPrairie and Gary Kanning in March...

710 KAN

Created in Detroit, the 710 KAN is a new product that was introduced to the cannabis industry in early 2013. The 710...

710 Pen

Based in Los Angeles, the 710 Pen company was founded in 2012. They are the distributors of the 710 Pen and the 710...

7th Floor, LLC

7th Floor, LLC is a vaporizer company based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado. They are responsible for a number of...

WATCH BREAL.TV HERE.

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:40:00 +0000

How To Buy Marijuana Seeds Online Guide - GrowWeedEasy.com's 2015 Seedbank Review

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Sat, 14 Mar 2015 21:12:00 +0000

" At GrowWeedEasy.com, we maintain this cannabis seed bank list which includes the top seed banks & breeders as well as evaluates each one based on customer service, reliability, and quality of seeds. "

http://www.growweedeasy.com/seeds

We wanted to make it easy for you to see, at a glance, which seed banks ship to which parts of the world.

So who should you choose to get your marijuana seeds from?

Each of the marijuana seedbanks, marijuana seed vendors, and marijuana breeders listed on this page have legendary customer service, and will gladly answer all your questions about your seed orders. If you ever have a problem with any order, I highly recommend contacting the seedbank right away as they will quickly take care of you.

Click Here For List Of Safety Precautions
When Buying Marijuana Seeds Online

USA Residents Please Note:
For USA residents, international orders will not go through if you try to use a pre-paid debit or credit card. This used to be a way to add security to your order (purchase a pre-paid card in cash, then use that to make your online order) but these cards no longer work with any international order due to a change in laws that occured in 2012.

GrowWeedEasy Cannabis Seed Bank List of 2015
GrowWeedEasy.com Has Put Together This List
Of Recommended Sources For Marijuana Seeds

Nirvana
http://www.nirvanashop.com/en/

Located: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Ships: Worldwide Except Australia

Pros

10 free mixed seeds with every order!
Fast, Discreet Shipping - At GrowWeedEasy.com, we believe Nirvana is one of the most stealthyseed vendors - seeds arrive quickly, on time, with inconspicuous packaging.
Responsive & Caring Customer Service - they actually breed and grow their strains in house, so they can accurately answer your questions
Well-established - Nirvana has been breeding and selling top-quality seeds for decades (they offered cannabis seeds by mail-order before the internet, so they have a lot of experience providing seeds around the world)
Read customer reviews about each strain and leave your own reviews
Promptly ships more seeds for free if you have any problems or if seeds do not arrive
Accepts a wide variety of payment options (bank draft, cash, credit)
Visit them in person if you’re in Amsterdam!

Cons

Since they breed their own seeds (hence their slogan "straight from the source"), they only carry strains developed by Nirvana. This means you have a much smaller selection than a huge "seed bank."
Sorry, no seeds shipped to Australia

From a GrowWeedEasy.com reader: “I've ordered from Nirvana 3 times, and I can't recommend them highly enough. All 3 times I purchased feminized seeds. Price after shipping was roughly $60 for 10 seeds. Delivery was very stealthy and took 1 - 1 1/2 weeks. The first time I bought from them, it took a little longer to arrive, and I contacted them with my concerns. They shipped out another order the same day, and were extremely helpful and polite. I ended up receiving both packages after all. 100% of seeds have germinated and been female.”

We grow Nirvana Strains - View a grow journal featuring two of their famous strains

Seedsman
http://www.seedsman.com/en/

Located: U.K.
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Free seed promotions & huge selection of strains
Choose one of their "Guaranteed Delivery Products" when checking out (you'll see it on the lower left side at checkout) for guaranteed stealth shipping. This ensures your seeds will get to you no matter what.
They carry only trusted strains by reputable breeders. They also breed and grow their own strains in-house. They make it easy to find a strain for your needs and grow space - use their seed selector to find a suitable strain
Long-lasting & trusted company - providing cannabis seeds since 2003; they have made a name for themselves as a trusted seed source
Accepts a wide variety of payment options (bank transfer, cash, credit cards, debit cards, checks, postal orders, money orders, Bitcoin - recommended for discounts and nobody but you and the seller can know what you are buying)

Cons

Like with other seedbanks, getting a "Guaranteed Delivery Product" is a must to protect against lost goods. This raises the overall cost of purchasing seeds from this company.
Getting a "Guaranteed Delivery Product" combined with the price of shipping can make ordering from this place pricey.

AliBongo
http://www.alibongo.co.uk/

Located: U.K.
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Professional vender with great customer service
16 years of retail experience
Has a physical shop you can visit in Norfolk, UK.
Many payment methods including cheques or postal orders, Western Union Bank Transfer and all major debit/credit cards, except American Express

Cons

Website looks SKETCHY (but don't let that fool you, they're a great company!)
No stealth shipping option and unfortunately they won't reship if seeds are confiscated (contact their customer support for more info) - still, most growers have reported that they've received orders without a problem

Hemp Depot
http://hempdepot.ca

Located: Canada
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Ship seeds promptly even with regular shipping
Offers many unique and hard-to-find strains
Often ships with free seeds
Stealthy packaging

Cons:

Does not take credit cards
Cumbersome ordering policy (meant to protect your privacy). You send in an order form then wait for them to process and mail it out.

Seedbay
http://seedbay.com

Located: U.K.
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Features current listings from a variety of breeders - basically a marketplace to buy/trade/sell seeds
Accepts money orders, postal orders, cashiers check, through credit from your Seedbay account and/or cash

Cons

Does not accept credit cards
Can't track your shipment
Can be a bit confusing to get started, but they will help you

Dr. GreenThumb
http://drgreenthumb.com/

Located: Canada
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Ships worldwide
Stealthy Shipping
Accepts check, money order, or bank draft

Cons

Does not accept credit cards
Small selection of strains
Website looks like it was built in the 90s - Don't worry, despite the spammy looking website, this is a proven & trusted seed vender!

Sea of Seeds
http://www.seaofseeds.com/

Located: U.K.
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Free seeds with just about every order
Good prices
Cheap shipping
Accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including most credit/debit cards, UK postal orders and cash

Cons

If you order with a debit/credit card, they can only ship seeds to your billing address
Not as big a selection as some of the other major seed sources
Website can be hard to navigate, so it may be difficult to find what you're looking for even if you know the name of the strain
Relatively new seed bank

Peakseeds BC
http://www.peakseedsbc.com/seeds.htm

Located: Canada
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Free world-wide shipping
Offers some unique strains

Cons

Seeds are only sold in packs of ten only (20 pack for mixed seeds)
Relatively small selection of strains available
Only payment options are cash or a blank money order (must be negotiable in Canada)
"Stealth" Shipping option is pretty expensive compared to other seed sources

Serious Seeds
http://seriousseeds.com/

Located: Netherlands
Ships: Worldwide Except USA and Australia

Pros

High quality strains and genetics
Keep your original packaging and they will replace any seeds for free if you run into problems

Cons

Unique ordering process requires you transfer money directly into their bank account
No Shipping to USA or Australia

Sannie's Seed Shop
http://www.sanniesshop.com/

Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Stealthy Shipping
Even so, will keep resending seeds until you receive them
Bonuses for repeat customers
Pay with credit card, bank transfer or cash
Unique strains with quality genetics

Cons

Does not accept money orders or checks
Only sells strains bred by Sannie, so relatively small selection of stains

Sensi Seeds
http://sensiseeds.com/cannabis-seeds

Located: Amsterdam, Netherlands
No USA. Ships To Select Countries listed here:
http://sensiseeds.com/faq/country.asp

Pros:

Big selection of high quality strains
One of the few online sources of legitimate Jack Herer and Master Kush seeds

Cons:

Sorry, no seeds shipped to United States, Canada, or Australia

Sensible Seeds
http://www.sensibleseeds.com/

Located: U.K. (not "Original" Sensible Seeds from Spain)
Ships: Worldwide

Pros

Prompt shipping, extra stealth options and guaranteed shipping. The last time I ordered from this company, the seeds arrived on my doorstep (in the US) just 8 days after placing the order.
Huge selection - nearly 3,000 strains from top breeders around the world
They keep you informed about what's going on with your order throughout the process, and will send a personal email the day before your seeds arrive to let you know to expect them.
Quickly ships more seeds for free if you have any problems
All seeds are stored in a specially controlled environment
Accepts a wide variety of payment methods, including telephone order, Western Union Transfer, Bank transfer, Check, Money Order, Cash, Mail order and most major Debit/Credit cards

Cons

Like with other seedbanks, getting a guarantee on your order is a great way to protect against lost goods, and this raises the overall cost of purchasing seeds.

Seed Finder (Seed Search Engine)
http://en.seedfinder.eu/

Which strain should I get for my first grow?

There's lots of great information about strains online, and via the Seed Finder link above. My best suggestion is to do a little research and grow a strain that seems interesting to you. If you're still not sure, a great option for first time growers is Northern Lights, since this strain is potent, stays short, is easy to grow, and has a relatively low smell compared to most other strains.

Safety Precautions when Buying Marijuana Seeds online

When ordering marijuana seeds online, It is important to research all applicable laws in your area regarding purchasing and possessing cannabis seeds. Just because a marijuana seed bank or marijuana breeder is willing to ship to your location doesn't necessarily mean that it is legal for you to have possession of marijuana seeds at your location.

Don't tell your friends that you're growing! This may seem like it's common sense, but this is the number one most common reason cannabis growers are caught, because they told a friend who told a friend who told the wrong person. Hundreds of seeds get confiscated every day, but no one gets into trouble. Don't worry about seeds; worry about a friend or family member finding out! No matter how much you trust someone, you can never trust someone else as closely as yourself. Never ever tell anyone you grow your own weed, for any reason. It's tempting to brag about your awesome growing skills and top-shelf bud, but you never want to even hint that you know how to grow to anyone! If other people are talking about growing marijuana, bite your lip and act dumb!
You likely will not be able to use a pre-paid credit card. Using a pre-paid card purchased with cash used to be a way to order seeds online without tying the order to your real cards or address. But unless the pre-paid card specifically states it can be used internationally, it will not be accepted when making international orders.
Be Patient! In my experience ordering cannabis seeds online from overseas, my cannabis seeds have generally arrived 1-4 weeks after my initial order.

How do I germinate marijuana seeds?

If you have done your research and are now considering purchasing cannabis seeds online, then you may be surprised to learn that it is actually very reliable and safe to buy your marijuana seeds online from a reputable seed bank.

Ordering weed seeds online from a seed bank will allow you to purchase feminized seeds (all-female marijuana seeds) and will also let you pick the exact strain to match your size and time requirements.

Having only female weed seeds is a huge advantage for the small grower who won't be breeding new strains and may have limited space and doesn't want to have to waste time and energy on throwing away half their cannabis plants at the flowering stage because they ended up being male cannabis plants.

Easy access to get incredibly potent cannabis strains is another great reason many growers choose to buy weed seeds online.

Common Question: Where do I get marijuana seeds?

You have 2 real options:

Use random bagseed that you find
Buy seeds of specific marijuana strains online

Wanna learn how to buy marijuana seeds online at a cannabis seed bank, marijuana breeder, or other vendor?

Before anyone can start growing marijuana they have to first get their hands on marijuana seeds or marijuana clones.

Marijuana seeds are often the easiest for new growers to start with since - unlike marijuana clones - they don't require access to someone who is already growing marijuana plants.

More Information About Using the Nirvana Shop for buying cannabis seeds online.

One of the best things about Nirvana is the fact that customers are allowed to leave reviews for strains that they've purchased. You get so much extra information in the reviews and often this has been helpful during my grows.

For those who don't want to have to deal with male plants, they have a proven selection of Femininzed Seeds.

We have always had great customer service from Nirvana Shop, and have received our orders quickly and discretely.

Nirvana has been around for over 10 years and has a great reputation on the internet.

Try searching google for "nirvana shop" and you will read nothing but glowing reviews. In the few instances where they have made a mistake, the customer service team has a reputation for going above and beyond to make things right.

In addition, all seeds come with free stealth shipping which will ensure that your seeds will make it. I don't want to go into details on the internet about what they do, but let me just say that I was pleasantly surprised at how my cannabis seeds arrived with their free stealth shipping.

If you're not sure which cannabis strains to get seeds for, I highly recommend feminized Northern Lights or feminized Aurora Indica for beginners. Both are hardy strains that provide great yields and have potent medicinal effects.

Northern Lights has a particularly short growing period, so you can be harvesting your buds in only 2-3 months!

Visit the Nirvana Shop and order your seeds today!

Jump to...

How do I germinate seeds?

How do I grow cannabis?

How long does it take to grow?

1 0-Step Quick Start Guide

The tips and advice in this article about buying marijuana seeds online are only meant to be used by those who can legally buy marijuana seeds and grow marijuana according to all applicable laws. We do not in any way recommend that you use this information if it is not legal for you to do so. Please do not proceed to read any of the following information if you are committing a crime by following the steps outlined in this article, even if you are growing for pain relief, medical research, or any other reasonable purpose.

MARIJUANA STILL DEEMED MORE DANGEROUS THAN ALCOHOL?

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Sat, 07 Mar 2015 23:44:00 +0000

Posted by Johnny Green at 8:00 AM on

March 6, 2015

Ending Marijuana Prohibition

Posted By Johnny Green March 6, 2015There is a new NORML Chapter in Oregon. The Portland NORML Chapter was started earlier this year, and recently held its first membership meeting. I’m very excited to see what the chapter does. This is a crucial time for marijuana reform in Oregon, as Oregon Measure 91 gets implemented. The original marijuana legalization initiative’s language has been under attack by the Oregon Legislature since the session started. There are efforts to try to combine the medical marijuana program with the recreational one, lower possession and cultivation limits, give cities the power to ban marijuana sales in city limits without a vote by the city’s citizens, and many other things.

The citizens voted for specific language, so why the Oregon Legislature thinks this is an opportunity to gut the initiative and drastically alter it is beyond me. But that’s why Portland NORML’s chapter is so important. They are a very talented group of people that I know will work as hard as they can to defend the marijuana consumer, whether it be medical or recreational. Below is an infographic that Portland NORML put together:

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Fri, 27 Feb 2015 00:13:00 +0000

http://www.wweek.com/portland/mobile/blogs/blogView/id:32885

IOS notifications on android?

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 05:37:00 +0000

http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/22/iphone-notifications-on-android-wear/?ncid=rss_truncated

Better hotel WiFi is now on the market

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Fri, 20 Feb 2015 08:17:00 +0000

http://skift.com/2015/02/19/the-next-generation-of-hotel-wi-fi-is-finally-coming-on-line/

THE SMARTEST CITIES IN AMERICA LOVE CANNABIS

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 03:53:00 +0000

Does cannabis use and a college degree go hand-in-hand? A survey by 247wallst.com reveals the "The Most Educated Cities in America" – and the top three are all 420-friendly.

The survey ranked cities across the nation based on the percentage of residents aged 25 or older with a bachelor's degree or greater level of education. The top three most educated cities are all college towns with thriving cannabis industries in states employing different models of marijuana regulation.

The cultures surrounding large institutes of higher learning have always expressed a more evolved attitude toward marijuana, but the correlation between educated communities and cannabis law reform has rarely been illustrated. As tales of smoking pot and brain damage continue to resonate among naysayers, evidence that cannabis is not a drag on society continues to roll in.

Demographic information regarding income levels and poverty statistics were included in the survey listing, per 2013 US government data.

Corvallis, Oregon

Bachelor’s degree or higher: 52.2 percent
Median household income: $47,808 (188th lowest)
Median earnings — bachelor’s degree: $36,211 (18th lowest)
Poverty rate: 23.1 percent (23rd highest)
College: Oregon State University, enrollment nearly 25,000
Statewide marijuana legalization: Passed but not in effect

In November of 2014 Oregon voters legalized adult use of marijuana, but the survey was done before that vote was taken. The state has enjoyed a strong medical program for years, and some communities have permitted the patient support industry to enhance the lives of their qualifying citizens.

Corvallis has done just that, and has been successful at it. A recent article featured in the local paper describes the relationship between the city's four dispensaries and the police chief with the word "trust."

The chief has a "perspective that allows us to grow with him," said Brock Binder, the owner of High Quality Compassion. "He’s provided an environment that allows us to do that.”

The community could use the economic boost. With a 23.1 percent poverty rate and a median household income near the bottom of the charts, Corvallis will benefit from the jobs created by the patient support industry in a way the other two of the top three cities cannot.

Oregon State University's Corvallis Campus offers a course titled "Marijuana Policy in the 21st Century," perhaps educating the next wave of cannabusiness operators. The class began this term and enrollment was at capacity.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

Bachelor’s degree or higher: 53.5 percent
Median household income: $59,660 (46th highest)
Median earnings — bachelor’s degree: $46,829 (136th highest)
Poverty rate: 16.7 percent (174th highest)
College: University of Michigan, enrollment 44,000
Statewide marijuana legalization: None

Ann Arbor has a long history of cannabis law reform practices. John Sinclair's 1969 arrest and sentence of 10 years in prison for possession of two joints sparked a cannabis revolution nationwide. The concert held in Ann Arbor to rally support for his cause featured John Lennon and is the stuff of rock legend. That case sparked the city to decriminalize the possession of marijuana, reducing the crime to a ticketable offense with a penalty of $5. The possession ordinance is still in effect today, although the price of a violation has risen with inflation.

That concert was the genesis for a long-standing tradition of celebrating the wonderfulness of the marijuana plant in an annual gathering on the U of M campus, a rally of national significance now known as Hash Bash and The Monroe Street Fair. Past speakers have included presidential candidates, heads of national organizations and top elected officials.

Michigan's medical marijuana law was passed in 2008 but there are no rules governing a distribution network. Much like in Oregon, cities in the Great Lakes State have accepted or banned marijuana commerce as they saw fit. The Ann Arbor Medical Cannabis Guild is a dispensary organization that has established strong relations with city officials despite the absence of state sanction for the industry. Ten dispensaries are scattered around the city, and neighboring Ypsilanti has licensed a half-dozen more, with no evidence of disruption to the communities they serve.

Boulder, Colorado

Bachelor’s degree or higher: 53.5 percent
Median household income: $59,660 (46th highest)
Median earnings — bachelor’s degree: $46,829 (136th highest)
Poverty rate: 16.7 percent (174th highest)
College: University of Colorado at Boulder, enrollment 23,000
Statewide marijuana legalization: Yes

No state has seen its marijuana use more scrutinized than Colorado's. International reporters and continental spin doctors has evaluated the industry – and the effects of full legalization of marijuana use by adults – from every conceivable angle. Most of the attention has focused on two centers of the state's marijuana trade and activity: Boulder and Denver.

Colorado has enjoyed a medical marijuana law for many years and certain urban centers have become accustomed to the presence of a formerly vilified industry. Boulder's integration with the cannabis industry is a more measured approach than Denver has taken. The Boulder Revised Code mandates that "persons or locations with over six plants or 2 ounces of product become a business under our local code and each business in our city limits must have a valid and compliant city Medical Marijuana Business (MMB) license, along with a state license from the State Medical Marijuana Enforcement Division, to legally operate."

Considering each Colorado resident 21 and over can legally purchase one ounce of marijuana from a dispensary and several residents may be gathered in a single home to celebrate life and plot world domination, this policy seems less enlightened than one would associate with the nation's most educated city for 2014. Nevertheless, Boulder does sport a thriving industry of both medical and adult-use marijuana distribution centers and is an integral part of the cannabis scene in Colorado.

America's Smartest Cities Love Pot
BY RICK THOMPSON · MON FEB 02, 2015

Grow Hack: Germinating Seeds via HIGHTIMES.com

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 03:50:00 +0000

BY SIRIUS J · MON FEB 02, 2015

Germination can be frustrating: you might have just invested a pretty penny in some seeds, waited a long time for them in the mail or gone to some great lengths to acquire them one way or another. Even if they’re just some random bag seeds you never expected to get, waiting for the first signs of life can be nerve-racking.

To avoid the wait and to be more successful germinating all around, there’s one thing to keep on mind that often gets overlooked: proper soil temperature. Germination rates for the seedlings of any plant are highly temperature dependent; most seedlings like warmer temperatures during the day and cold at night.

Some seeds like it hotter and some a little cooler. The tomato plant, which is often compared to cannabis in terms of cultivation, prefers a soil temperature of 85 °F for germination. Hot-blooded corn and cucumber seeds like 95 °F and have trouble popping below around 55 °F, while spinach seeds are most comfortable at 70 °F but can still germinate at 35 °F. All plants generally take longer to germinate when it’s chilly, and keeping temperatures above 75 °F should keep germination time under a week.

Another issue to consider is night temperature; colder nights at around 60 °F are healthy for seedlings and mature plants alike.

To help foster a good germination environment, try keeping a lamp over your seedlings during the day and monitor the temperature with a thermometer. Incandescent or high pressure sodium bulbs will generate heat and warm you seedlings plenty, while fluorescent and LED lights won’t provide much heat all. If the seeds are in a room that gets chilly at night, turning off the light will fulfill the plants need for a cool nocturnal environment. A simple timer and a 60 W incandescent bulb are pretty much all you need to help solve the temperature issue if you only have a handful of seeds.

(Photo by Ed Borg)

GET THE DIGITAL HIGH TIMES MAGAZINE

noreply@blogger.com (Blunt Headed) — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 03:49:00 +0000