Epilepsy Talk

Medical Marijuana — It’s Here to Stay… | March 27, 2021

Let’s face it. The time has come.

Even the FDA has opened its eyes with new clinical trials.

Although the AMA chooses to keep their heads in the sand. For now.

It used to be popular to debate the merits and dangers of medical marijuana.

For example, it could lead to addiction. Like cocaine. (Oh please!)

But now, there’s clinically proven scientific proof, with more to come…

“After 4,000 years of humans taking cannabis for epilepsy, we have scientific evidence it works.” — Orrin Devinsky MD, Harvard University, on results from his team’s late-stage clinical trial of cannabidiol to treat Dravet syndrome.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

Ever since Dr. Sanjay Gupta — a practicing neurosurgeon — used his CNN special “Weed” to show how CBD cannabis medicine helped a six-year-old child with Dravet Syndrome reduce her seizures from 300 per week to just a few per month, doctors, patients and their families have been clamoring for access.

(CBD — or Cannabidiol — is a compound in cannabis that has medical effects but does not make people feel “stoned”.)

Here’s how it works…

Medical researchers believe cannabidiol provides therapeutic benefit by interacting with receptors in the brain and spinal cord. Including interaction with many other neurotransmitter/neuromodulator systems, for a reach that extends nearly throughout the body.

Moreover, researchers say current knowledge of the cannabinoid system suggests the existence of other cannabinoid receptors yet to be discovered.

The proof is unmistakably present. Especially for those with drug resistant epilepsy.

Take the story of Regan Engelhardt…

After experimenting with different strains and CBD ratios, Regan Engelhardt’s daily seizure frequency fell from 50 seizures per night down to five.

Before cannabis, her seizures dramatically altered her ability to walk, sleep, eat, or drink. She had been hospitalized for dehydration as a result.

According to her mother, the pharmaceutical medications delayed her ability to walk until the age of 2 and left her “catatonic.”

Currently, Regan’s cannabis medicine has allowed her to be weaned off one pharmaceutical medication, has increased focus, and is able to sleep through the night.

“You see so much more light back in her eyes” her mother Suzie says.“ Just a couple of weeks ago I wondered if she would ever come back.”

“In the coming months, if the FDA is comfortable about how things are going, there will be a number of senior epileptologists in major university centers throughout the US, each treating a couple of dozen patients with various epilepsies,” said Dr. Geoffrey Guy, MD.

The debate is over. It’s time to get down to business.

NOTE: Each state has its own guidelines regarding the cultivation, possession and use of medical marijuana.
To find information about each state’s rules, regulations and standards go to  https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/legal-medical-marijuana-states-and-dc/

Articles of Interest:

When Cannabis Goes Corporate http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/25/business/international/when-cannabis-goes-corporate.html?emc=edit_hh_20140527&nl=health&nlid=27745593&_r=0

Cannabis Helping Children with Severe Epilepsy http://www.wakingtimes.com/2012/07/17/cannabis-helping-children-severe-epilepsy/

Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s Pot Confessional Gets Global Headlines http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/09/health/gupta-weed-reaction/

Too High? Medical Marijuana Dispensing Machine’s Stock Increases 3,000% http://venturebeat.com/2012/11/17/too-high-medical-marijuana-dispensing-machine-companys-stock-increases-3000/

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Resources:
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881
http://thejointblog.com/breaking-fda-approves-trials-cannabis-based-epilepsy-medicine/
http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AMA/43043?xid=nl_mpt_guptaguide_2013-11-20&utm_source=guptaguide&utm_medium=email&utm_content=mpt&utm_campaign=11
http://www.medicaldaily.com/fda-approves-marijuana-based-epilepsy-drug-use-kids-clinical-trials-261998
https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/marijuana-policy-should-be-guided-evidence-not-ballot

 

 

Posted in Epilepsy, Medication Issues, News, Research
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14 Comments »

  1. Good morning! I cannot open the link to read the entire article

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

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    Comment by LYNNE PORFIDO — March 27, 2021 @ 8:48 AM

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  2. Reblogged this on Disablities & Mental Health Issues.

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    Comment by Kenneth — March 27, 2021 @ 8:50 AM

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  3. Told ya so.

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Tom — March 27, 2021 @ 2:24 PM

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  4. My pharmacist who I have known & trusted now for 30 years, tells me that CBD OILS in their liquid forms are not all balanced in their concentration ratios when you can get different amounts of CBD with every dosage you take. He studied all of this about these CBD’s, and with ALL THE LABELS I HAVE READ, not 1 of them say that the CBD is for 1 type of seizure or another type, & HOW are you to know when you read labels of CBD, if that CBD is going to be good for YOUR SEIZURE CONDITION of these OTC bottles you can buy anywhere ? My pharmacist, said they will never put that on ANY CBD label, so he advised me for 1 reason among others to stay away from CBD oil, unless a neurologist knows what type of CBD treat a specific type of seizure condition, and they probably guess at that as well as we would do.

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by James D — March 27, 2021 @ 7:02 PM

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    • For Arthur, it’s been a course of trial and error (lots of trials and errors), until he found a compound that worked for him.

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      Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — March 28, 2021 @ 9:41 AM

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  5. Medical Cannabis is a real helper, but just like all things some find it a savior and some find it no help at all and even making things worse, This is why it needs to be Federally Legalized, research research research which only happens today in very few Nations… when I was a kid I heard these crazy potheads talking this bs about Cannabinoids, CBD’s and some kinda lies about the brain receptors and Cannabis… Turns out the freaking potheads were CORRECT… Imagine that… We need real medical science to study the benefits of cannabis and people need to be able to purchase the exact type of THC, CBD and CBR they need to deal with their medical needs… Black market weed doesn’t come with labels. .

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Pyrotek40 — March 28, 2021 @ 5:18 PM

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  6. Thank you for this. I have personally been saved by cannabis. I have. 1:1 THC CBD mix I use in several forms from tinctures to flower. I was diagnosed 10 years ago and started to use 7 years ago after my neurologist at Barrows in Phoenix recommended to help with my constant nausea from our fabulous aed cocktails and auras.
    5 years ago I started to experience drop seizures. I found if I instantly smoked when I started to feel my auras I would either not experience the seizure or it’s at least less severe. I’ve experienced brain damage from hitting the floor so hard so anything I can do to help with the drop seizures is potentially saving my life.
    I’m a traveling healthcare administrator and fear getting arrested as I fly and go to prohibition states. It’s so sad that I have to fear using my life saving medicine because of close minded thinking.
    For those reading comments- go to the experts with questions. I never talk to my pharmacist about dosing. I speak with my prescribing physician (I have my medical card) and someone at my favorite dispensary. Most cannabis shops have experts to help guide you to the right products. Ask a lot of questions and then play around for what works for you. It’s not like you can overdose on cannabis.
    Cannabis has allowed me to continue working in a high stress field, especially in 2020. I plead for everyone to support total federal legalization.

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Jennifer — March 29, 2021 @ 7:15 AM

    Reply

    • Jennifer, that’s fabulous and I’m so happy for you. (Except for the flying glitch.)

      Thanks ever so much. Unfortunately the consultants have not worked for Arthur and he has been forced to go from dispensary to dispensary, looking for ANY advice and the right combination, until he found one that worked for him.

      As you said, what works for one, certainly doesn’t work for all. Especially with something as fragile and unique as medical cannabis.

      Like

      Comment by Phylis Feiner Johnson — March 29, 2021 @ 10:11 AM

      Reply

  7. To bad that it is not covered by insurance and it is so stupidly expensive that disabled people cant afford it and the quality is very crappy 😕

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Scott Moody — April 8, 2021 @ 11:13 AM

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  8. This is great news and a win for a lot of people globally. A plant once demonized has now come back to help millions who need it and for positive reasons.

    Liked by 1 person

    Comment by Optimal Health — April 18, 2021 @ 5:26 AM

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    About the author

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    Phylis Feiner Johnson

    I've been a professional copywriter for over 35 years. I also had epilepsy for decades. My mission is advocacy; to increase education, awareness and funding for epilepsy research. Together, we can make a huge difference. If not changing the world, at least helping each other, with wisdom, compassion and sharing.

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