Medical Marijuana Costs Covered.

Man awarded $30,000 for medical marijuana costs

By Ian Mulgrew, Vancouver Sun June 22, 2011

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/health/awarded+medical+marijuana+costs/4985306/story.html#ixzz1Q1yPmNhf

According to a recently published article in the Regina Leader Post, police suspect that citizens are abusing the medical marijuana licensing program by using it to produce marijuana and selling it on the black market. The police are concerned that people with criminal records are obtaining these licenses and that it is encouraging the criminal behavior to repeat.

To obtain a license to grow marijuana however, a criminal record check is mandatory unless you are growing the marijuana for yourself.

Many criminal charges root from marijuana possession or trafficking, but it is often the result of not obtaining the license in due time.

For example, citizens who suffer from severe back pain often use marijuana for years before they are even aware that they can be using the herb legally. This means years of illegally purchasing and possessing it for a completely legitimate reason. Many of these people weren’t be lucky enough to get through those years without at least one confrontation with police, often leading to a drug conviction. One possession charge can redirect the path of their life dramatically, be it through lost job opportunities or traveling opportunities. It also prevents them from legally growing marijuana for at least 10 years, even for a fellow citizen who has been prescribed it.

When someone gets sick, their right to good health should not be jeopardized by past drug convictions. If they have been prescribed marijuana by their physician, they should also have the right to produce their own medicine, despite potential past history of possessing what may now be considered their medicine.

When someone is looking to be a designated grower, but has countless drug trafficking charges and convictions, it seems the license could be a “home-free” card to continue the illegal trade. These people however, are denied the ability to grow for someone else for at least 10 years after the last drug charge because the likelihood of repeating black market trade is high, especially because they don’t personally need the product they are growing. The mandatory criminal record check is then exercised and unless these citizens are growing for themselves, they are in a “10-year time-out” of the marijuana grow game.

With every government program, there are bound to be people who abuse it. There ability to abuse it is reflected by the structure of the program. Because the medical marijuana program is a grey area in itself, many are tempted to push the boundaries. Marijuana is sought out on the black market and in the medical community, drawing a fine line between it being legal and illegal. This makes it very difficult to control or distinguish who can legally possess it and who can’t , and the constant demand from the medical community and the black market makes distribution almost effortless for those seeking to sell.

The drug laws revolving around marijuana has torn up many families, friends and even communities through break and entries, house raids, drug charges, arrests and prison sentences.  The herb itself has proven to have medical benefits for countless conditions and has never directly killed anyone. Despite the concern of illegal distribution by those abusing the medical marijuana program, the potential that the herb has to harm most people is very small, and is without a doubt far less harmful than legal products sold everyday across the country such as alcohol and cigarettes, which appear to have little to no medical benefits at all.

Despite concern for citizens abusing the medical marijuana program, the harm rooted from this theory remains minute. Designated growers must be free of drug related charges for at least 10 years before they acquire their license and someone growing for their own quality of life has that human right.

Law enforcement would undoubtedly benefit from educating citizens while they are young in regards to marijuana use and the medical marijuana program to prevent unnecessary drug charges from happening in the first place. Those with interest in growing would be given the proper avenues to do it legally and legitimately, providing medical users an avenue for acquiring safe access to legal cannabis.

The medical marijuana program has potential to discourage criminal activity by allowing people to legally grow marijuana and others to legitimately possess and use it. It encourages people to get legal with their medications and is overall a very positive thing for our country.

Focusing on the few citizens who may abuse the program and blaming the program is like focusing on the crooked policeman for abusing his power and blaming it on the police force as a whole. One rotten apple does not mean the apple tree is a  bad thing, but instead perhaps that the bad apples sometimes get mixed up in the bunch and need to be filtered out with time.

The program as a whole, helps citizens improve their quality of life. The potential for criminal activity is through the result of the mixing of the legal and illegal aspects of marijuana.

Instead of re-considering the program’s role in supporting black market trade, perhaps marijuana’s role in our drug laws and society could be reconsidered, as the re-scheduling of it could potentially benefit more citizens than it’s classification currently does.

It is time to recognize the black market trades as symptoms of a bigger problem and to begin treating the real roots of the problems, instead of these symptoms.

Read Full Story

Related Links

MJ-How to Apply

How to Get Legal

Court Rules Pot laws Unconstitutional

Source: NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA)

Many bacterial infections possess multi-drug resistance. Arguably the most significant of these bacteria is methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus, more commonly known as MRSA or ‘the superbug.’ This bacterium is resistant to standard antibiotics, including penicillin. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, MRSA is responsible for nearly 20,000 hospital-stay related deaths annually in the United States.[1]

Published data demonstrates that cannabinoids possess strong antibacterial properties. In 2008, investigators at Italy’s Universita del Piemonte Orientale and Britain’s University of London, School of Pharmacy assessed the germ-fighting properties of five separate cannabinoids against various strains of multidrug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA. They reported that all of the compounds tested showed “potent antibacterial activity” and that cannabinoids were “exceptional” at halting the spread of MRSA.[2]

A second study published that same year reported that non-cannabinoid constituents in the plant also possess antibacterial properties against MRSA and malaria.[3]

Clinical trials regarding the use of cannabinoids for MRSA have been recommended, with some experts stating, “Cannabis sativa … represents an interesting source of antibacterial agents to address the problem of multidrug resistance in MRSA and other pathogenic bacteria.“[4]

REFERENCES

[1] Klevens et al. 2007. Invasive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association 298: 1763-1771.

[2] Appendino et al. 2008. Antibacterial cannabinoids from cannabis sativa: a structure study. Journal of Natural Products 71: 1427-1430.

[3] Radwan et al. 2008. Non-cannabinoid constituents from a high potency cannabis sativa variety. Phytochemistry 69: 26727-2633.

[4]Appendino et al. 2008. op. cit.

Related Links

MJ-How To Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Tourette’s Syndrome

Tourette’s syndrome (TS) is a complex neuropsychiatric disorder of unknown etiology that is characterized by involuntary vocal tics. Severity of this condition varies widely among patients. Though there is no cure for Tourette’s syndrome, the condition often improves with age. Experts estimate that 100,000 Americans are afflicted with TS.

A review of the scientific literature reveals several clinical trials investigating the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of TS. Writing in the March 1999 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry, investigators at Germany’s Medical School of Hanover, Department of Clinical Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, reported successful treatment of Tourette’s syndrome with a single dose of 10 mg of delta-9-THC in a 25-year-old male patient in an uncontrolled open clinical trial.[1] Investigators reported that the subject’s total tic severity score fell from 41 to 7 within two hours following cannabinoid therapy, and that improvement was observed for a total of seven hours. “For the first time, patients’ subjective experiences when smoking marijuana were confirmed by using a valid and reliable rating scale,” authors concluded.

Investigators again confirmed these preliminary results in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, single dose trial of THC in 12 adult TS patients. Researchers reported a “significant improvement of tics and obsessive-compulsive behavior (OCB) after treatment with delta-9-THC compared to placebo.”[2] Investigators reported no cognitive impairment in subjects following THC administration[3] and concluded, “THC is effective and safe in treating tics and OCB in TS.”[4]

Investigators confirmed these results in a second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 24 patients administered daily doses of up to 10 mg of THC over a six-week period. Researchers reported that subjects experienced a significant reduction in tics following long-term cannabinoid treatment,[5] and suffered no detrimental effects on learning, recall or verbal memory.[6] A trend toward significant improvement of verbal memory span during and after therapy was also observed.

Summarizing their findings in the October 2003 issue of the journal Expert Opinions in Pharmacotherapy, investigators concluded that in adult TS patients, “Therapy with delta-9-THC should be tried … if well established drugs either fail to improve tics or cause significant adverse effects.”[7]

REFERENCES

[1] Muller-Vahl et al. 1999. Treatment of Tourette’s syndrome with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. American Journal of Psychiatry 156: 495.

[2] Muller-Vahl et al. 2002. Treatment of Tourette’s syndrome with Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): a randomized crossover trial. Pharmacopsychiatry 35: 57-61.

[3] Muller-Vahl et al. 2001. Influence of treatment of Tourette syndrome with delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) on neuropsychological performance. Pharmacopsychiatry 34: 19-24.

[4] Muller-Vahl et al. 2002. op. cit.

[5] Muller-Vahl et al. 2003. Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is effective in the treatment of tics in Tourette syndrome: a 6-week randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 64: 459-65.

[6] Muller-Vahl et al. 2003. Treatment of Tourette syndrome with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC): no influence on neuropsychological performance. Neuropsychopharmacology 28: 384-8.

[7] Kirsten Muller-Vahl. 2003. Cannabinoids reduce symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome. Expert Opinions in Pharmacotherapy 4: 1717-25.

Related Links

MJ-How To Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical disorder characterized by frequent interruptions in breathing of up to ten seconds or more during sleep. The condition is associated with numerous physiological disorders, including fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and stroke. Though sleep apnea often goes undiagnosed, it is estimated that approximately four percent of men and two percent of women ages 30 to 60 years old suffer from the disease.

One preclinical study is cited in the scientific literature investigating the role of cannabinoids on sleep-related apnea. Writing in the June 2002 issue of the journal of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, researchers at the University of Illinois (at Chicago) Department of Medicine reported “potent suppression” of sleep-related apnea in rats administered either exogenous or endogenous cannabinoids.[1] Investigators reported that doses of delta-9-THC and the endocannabinoid oleamide each stabilized respiration during sleep and blocked serotonin-induced exacerbation of sleep apnea in a statistically significant manner. No follow up investigations have taken place assessing the use of cannabinoids to treat this indication. However, several recent preclinical and clinical trials have reported on the use of THC, natural cannabis extracts and endocannabinoids to induce sleep[2-3] and/or improve sleep quality.[4]

REFERENCES

[1] Carley et al. 2002. Functional role for cannabinoids in respiratory stability during sleep. Sleep 25: 399-400.

[2] Murillo-Rodriguez et al. 2003. Anandamide enhances extracellular levels of adenosine and induces sleep: an in vivo microdialysis study. Sleep 26: 943-947.

[3] Nicholson et al. 2004. Effect of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on nocturnal sleep and early-morning behavior in young adults. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology 24: 305-313.

[4] Christine Perras. 2005. Sativex for the management of multiple sclerosis symptoms. Issues in Emerging Health Technologies 72: 1-4

Related Links

MJ-How to Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease of the joints characterized by pain, stiffness, and swelling, as well as an eventual loss of limb function. Rheumatoid arthritis is estimated to affect about one percent of the population, primarily women.

Use of cannabis to treat symptoms of RA is commonly self-reported by patients with the disease. In a 2005 anonymous questionnaire survey of medicinal cannabis patients in Australia, 25 percent reported using cannabinoids to treat RA.[1] A survey of British medical cannabis patients found that more than 20 percent of respondents reported using cannabis for symptoms of arthritis.[2] Nevertheless, few clinical trials investigating the use of cannabis for RA appear in the scientific literature.

In January 2006, investigators at the British Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease reported successful treatment of arthritis with cannabinoids in the first-ever controlled trial assessing the efficacy of natural cannabis extracts on RA.[3] Investigators reported that administration of cannabis extracts over a five week period produced statistically significant improvements in pain on movement, pain at rest, quality of sleep, inflammation and intensity of pain compared to placebo. No serious adverse effects were observed. Similar results had been reported in smaller Phase II trials investigating the use of orally administered cannabis extracts on symptoms of RA.[4]

Preclinical data also indicates that cannabinoids can moderate the progression of RA. Writing in the August 2000 issue of the Journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigators at London’s Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology reported that cannabidiol (CBD) administration suppressed progression of arthritis in vitro and in animals.[5] Administration of CBD after the onset of clinical symptoms protected joints against severe damage and “effectively blocked [the] progression of arthritis,” investigators concluded. Daily administration of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist HU-320 has also been reported to protect joints from damage and to ameliorate arthritis in animals.[6]

Summarizing the available literature in the September 2005 issue of the Journal of Neuroimmunology, researchers at Tokyo’s National Institute for Neuroscience concluded, “Cannabinoid therapy of RA could provide symptomatic relief of joint pain and swelling as well as suppressing joint destruction and disease progression.”[7]

REFERENCES

[1] Swift et al. 2005. Survey of Australians using cannabis for medical purposes. Harm Reduction Journal 4: 2-18.

[2] Ware et al. 2005. The medicinal use of cannabis in the UK: results of a nationwide survey. International Journal of Clinical Practice 59: 291-295.

[3] Blake et al. 2006. Preliminary assessment of the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a cannabis medicine (Sativex) in the treatment of pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 45: 50-52.

[4] No author. 2003. Cannabis-based medicines. Drugs in Research and Development 4: 306-309.

[5] Malfait et al. 2000. The nonpsychoactive cannabis constituent cannabidiol is an oral anti-arthritic therapeutic in murine. Journal of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 97: 9561-9566.

[6] Sumariwalla et al. 2004. A novel synthetic, nonpsychoactive cannabinoid acid (HU-320) with anti-inflammatory properties in murine collagen-induced arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatism 50: 985-998.

[7] Croxford and Yamamura. 2005. Cannabinoids and the immune system: potential for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Journal of Neuroimmunology 166: 3-18.

Related Links

MJ-How To Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Pruritus

Itching (pruritus) is a common symptom associated with numerous skin diseases, as well as a secondary symptom of numerous serious conditions such as renal failure and liver disease. Itching, unlike other skin sensations, is generally a result of CNS activities and typically goes untreated by standard medical therapies.

A review of the scientific literature reveals three clinical trials investigating the use of cannabinoids in the treatment of pruritus. Writing in the August 2002 issue of the American Journal of Gastroentrology, investigators from the University of Miami Department of Medicine reported successful treatment of pruritus with 5 mg of THC in three patients with cholestatic liver disease.[1] Prior to cannabinoid therapy, subjects had failed to respond to standard medications and had lost their ability to work. Following evening cannabinoid administration, all three patients reported a decrease in pruritus, as well as “marked improvement” in sleep and were eventually able to return to work. Resolution of depression was also reported in two out of three subjects. “Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol may be an effective alternative in patients with intractable cholestatic pruritus,” investigators concluded.

The following year, British researchers reported in the June 2003 issue of the journal Inflammation Research that the peripheral administration of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist HU-211 significantly reduced experimentally-induced itch in 12 subjects.[2] Investigators had previously reported that topical application of HU-210 on human skin reduced experimentally-induced pain and acute burning sensations.[3]

Most recently, researchers at Wroclaw, Poland’s University of Medicine, Department of Dermatology, reported that application of an endocannabinoid-based topical cream reduced uremic pruritus and xerosis (abnormal dryness of the skin) in hemodialysis patients.[4] Three weeks of twice-daily application of the cream “completely eliminated” pruritus in 38 percent of trial subjects and “significantly reduced” itching in others. Eighty-one percent of patients reported a “complete reduction” in xerosis following cannabinoid therapy.

In light of these encouraging preliminary results, some dermatology experts now believe that cannabinoids and the cannabinoid system may represent “promising new avenues for managing itch more effectively.”[5]

REFERENCES

[1] Neff et al. 2002. Preliminary observation with dronabinol in patients with intractable pruritus secondary to cholestatic liver disease. American Journal of Gastroenterology 97: 2117-2119.

[2] Dvorak et al. 2003. Histamine induced responses are attenuated by a cannabinoid receptor agonist in human skin (PDF). Inflammation Research 25: 238-245.

[3] Dvorak et al. 2003. Cannabinoid agonists attenuate capsaicin-induced responses in human skin. Pain 102: 283-288.

[4] Szepietowski et al. 2005. Efficacy and tolerance of the cream containing structured physiological lipid endocannabinoids in the treatment of uremic pruritus: a preliminary study. Acta Dermatovenerologic Croatica (Croatia) 13: 97-103.

[5] Paus et al. 2006. Frontiers in pruritus research: scratching the brain for more effective itch therapy. Journal of Clinical Investigation 116: 1174-1185.

Related Links

MJ-How to Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a degenerative skeletal disease characterized by a deterioration of bone tissue. Patients with osteoporosis are at risk for suffering multiple fractures and other serious disabilities. Approximately 10 million Americans over age 50 suffer from osteoporosis, according to the US Surgeon General’s office, and another 34 million are at risk for developing the disease.

Initial references regarding the potential use of cannabinoids to protect against the onset of osteoporosis are available in the scientific literature beginning in the early 1990s.[1] To date, however, no clinical work has taken place investigating the use of cannabis for this indication.

Writing in the January 2006 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, investigators at the Bone Laboratory of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem reported that the administration of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist HU-308 slowed the development of osteoporosis, stimulated bone building and reduced bone loss in animals.[2] Follow up research published in the Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences in 2007 reported that the activation of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor reduced experimentally-induced bone loss and stimulated bone formation.[3] Investigators have previously reported that mice deficient in the CB2 cannabinoid receptor experienced age-accelerated bone loss reminiscent of human osteoporosis.[4]

Scientists now speculate that the main physiologic involvement of specific endocannabinoid receptors (CB2 receptors) is to maintain “bone remodeling at balance, thus protecting the skeleton against age-related bone loss,”[5] leading some experts to believe that cannabinoids may be “a promising target novel target for anti-osteoporotic drug development.“[6]

REFERENCES:

[1] Vratislav Schrieber. 1995. Endocrinology 1994-1995. Casopis Lekaru Ceskych (Czech Republic) 134: 535-536.

[2] Ofek et al. 2006. Peripheral cannabinoid receptor, CB2, regulates bone mass. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 103: 696-701.

[3] Itia Bab. 2007. Regulation of Skeletal Remodeling by the Endocannabinoid System. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1116: 414-422.

[4] Ofek et al. 2006. op. cit.

[5] Bab et al. 2009. Cannabinoids and the skeleton: from marijuana to reversal of bone loss. Annals of Medicine 41: 560-567.

[6] Itia Bab. 2007. op. cit.

Related Links

MJ-How to Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is defined as a loss of bladder control. Incontinence can result from several biological factors, including weak bladder muscles and inflammation, as well as from nerve damage associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease. More than one in ten Americans over age 65 is estimated to suffer from incontinence, particularly women.

Several recent clinical trials indicate that cannabinoid therapy may reduce incidents of incontinence. Writing in the February 2003 issue of the journal Clinical Rehabilitation, investigators at Oxford’s Centre for Enablement in Britain reported that self-administered doses of whole-plant cannabinoid extracts improved bladder control compared to placebo in patients suffering from MS and spinal cord injury.[1]

Investigators at London’s Institute for Neurology followed up these initial findings in an open-label pilot study of cannabis-based extracts for bladder dysfunction in 15 patients with advanced multiple sclerosis. Following cannabinoid therapy, “urinary urgency, the number of and volume of incontinence episodes, frequency and nocturia all decreased significantly,” investigators determined. “Cannabis-based medicinal extracts are a safe and effective treatment for urinary and other problems in patients with advanced MS.”[2]

These findings were confirmed in 2006 in a multi-center, randomized placebo-controlled trial involving 630 patients administered oral doses of cannabis extracts or THC. Researchers reported that subjects administered cannabis extracts experienced a 38 percent reduction in incontinence episodes from baseline to the end of treatment, while patients administered THC experienced a 33 percent reduction, suggesting a “clinical effect of cannabis on incontinence episodes.”[3]

Most recently, preclinical data presented at the 2006 annual meeting of the American Urological Association indicated that cannabis analogs can reduce bladder inflammation and bladder over-activity in animals.[4]

In light of these findings, experts have recommended the use of cannabinoids as potential ’second-line’ agents for treating incontinence.[5]

REFERENCES

[1] Wade et al. 2003. A preliminary controlled study to determine whether whole-plant cannabis extracts can improve intractable neurogenic symptoms. Clinical Rehabilitation 17: 21-29.

[2] Brady et al. 2004. An open label pilot study of cannabis-based extracts for bladder dysfunction in advanced multiple sclerosis. Multiple Sclerosis 10: 425-433.

[3] Freeman et al. 2006. The effect of cannabis on urge incontinence in patients with multiple sclerosis: a multicentre, randomized placebo-controlled trial. The International Urogynecology Journal 17: 636-641.

[4] University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Press Release. May 21, 2006. ” Marijuana-derived drug suppresses bladder pain in animal models.”

[5] Kalsi and Fowler. 2005. Therapy insight: bladder dysfunction associated with multiple sclerosis. Nature Clinical Practice Neurology 2: 492-501.

Related Links

MJ-How To Apply

How To Get Legal

Source: NORML(National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws)

Hypertension

High blood pressure, or hypertension, afflicts an estimated one in four American adults. This condition puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels and greatly increases the risk of stroke and heart disease.

Emerging research indicates that the endogenous cannabinoid system plays a role in regulating blood pressure, though its mechanism of action is not well understood.[1] Animal studies demonstrate that anandamide and other endocannabinoids profoundly suppress cardiac contractility in hypertension and can normalize blood pressure,[2-3] leading some experts to speculate that the manipulation of the endocannabinoid system “may offer novel therapeutic approaches in a variety of cardiovascular disorders.“[4]

The administration of natural cannabinoids has yielded conflicting cardiovascular effects on humans and laboratory animals.[5-9] The vascular response in humans administered cannabis in experimental conditions is typically characterized by a mild increase in heart rate and blood pressure. However, complete tolerance to these effects develops quickly and potential health risks appear minimal.[10-11]

In animals, cannabinoid administration in animals is typically associated with vasodilation, transient bradycardia and hypotension,[12] as well as an inhibition of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) progression.[13-15] The administration of synthetic cannabinoids have also been shown to lower blood pressure in animals and have not been associated with cardiotoxicity in humans.[16]

At this time, research assessing the clinical use of cannabinoids for hypertension is in its infancy though further investigation appears warranted.[17]

REFERENCES

[1] Franjo Grotenhermen. 2006. Clinical pharmacodynamics of cannabinoids. In Russo et al (Eds) Handbook of Cannabis Therapeutics. Binghampton, New York: Haworth Press.

[2] Batkai et al. 2004. Endocannabinoids acting at cannabinoid-1 receptors regulate cardiovascular function in hypertension. Circulation 110: 1996-220.

[3] Pacher et al. 2005. Blood pressure regulation by endocannabinoids and their receptors (PDF). Neuropharmacology 48: 1130-1138.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Cecilia Hillard. 2000. Endocannabinoids and vascular function. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics. 294: 27-32.

[6] Kunos et al. 2000. Endocannabinoids as cardiovascular modulators. Chemistry and Physics of Lipids 108: 159-168.

[7] Reese Jones. 2002. Cardiovascular system effects of marijuana. Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 42: 58-63.

[8] Ribuot et al. 2005. Cardiac and vascular effects of cannabinoids: toward a therapeutic use? Annales de Cardiologie et d’Angeiologie (France) 54: 89-96.

[9] Steven Karch. 2006. Cannabis and cardiotoxicity. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. 2: 13-18.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Rodondi et al. 2006. Marijuana use, diet, body mass index and cardiovascular risk factors. American Journal of Cardiology 98: 478-484.

[12] Reese Jones. 2002. op. cit.

[13] Steffens and Mach. 2006. Towards a therapeutic use of selective CB2 cannabinoid receptor ligands for atherosclerosis. Future Cardiology 2: 49-53.

[14] Steffens et al. 2005. Low dose oral cannabinoid therapy reduces progression of atherosclerosis in mice. Nature 434: 782-786.

[15] Steffens and Mach. 2006. Cannabinoid receptors in atherosclerosis. Current Opinion in Lipidology 17: 519-526.

[16] Steven Karch. 2006. op. cit.

[17]Francois Mach. 2006. New anti-inflammatory agents to reduce atherosclerosis. Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry 112: 130-137.

Related Links

MJ-How To Apply

How To Get Legal