My New Rx - MS-Cotin vs Marijuana

I am amazed how the medical community, opps, strike that, the Government gets involved in what Perscriptions are best for me. How I long for the day I can make a couple of brownies and eat them when I need relief from my pain. The doctor was looking at my perscription of Hydrocodone and decided it was time to put me on a Time release pain killer. This does work great and I love the fact that I can take it before work and I am good until night when the kids are getting into bed. I do not have to carry my Rx Bottle around anymore and I don't get the fatigue from the "come down" effect until it is almost time for bed. Great Drug and awesome pain killer. Of course since I am one of those that has to worry about side effects with medication I had to look it up. MS-ContinSide Effects & Drug Interactions - Information found Here Not to shabby for a chemical created in a Lab. But: Constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, sedation, nausea, vomiting, sweating, dysphoria, and euphoria. These top the list of Most Frequently Observed... Marijuana = This is what kills me, the Government (McCain, you have said this before) view of Marijuana is that people want it for medical purposes so they can get High, or a feeling of Euphoria. Well MS-Cotin gives that feeling also, make it illegal. One issue I have with all the opioid based medication I have been put on is the Nausea I get from it. This really sucks since I was up to 200 pounds (my ideal weight) and now have a hard time getting back above 190. Eating just 2 times a day because I have to force myself is not good. Marijuana = One of the main benefits of Marijuana is the ease of Nausea in Chemotherapy patients, and help AIDS Patients feel hunger to stop the wasting away most of them go though. Why not use it for pain so I can actually get back on my well fed diet of 5 meals a day? ohhh, Nooo I feel a rant coming on...

Now I know I am starting to sound as Biased as I am on this subject where I am supose to and always wanted to post Facts instead of my opinion. Anyway, here I go... How in the hell can Mr. (I am not a doctor) Politician tell me that MS-Cotin is a safe drug for use with chronic pain and talk about the sterotypical crap they heard from Mrs. Nancy Reagan in the "Just Say No" Campaign. Or lets talk to those D.A.R.E officers that used to come to my school as I was growing up to talk to me about the hazards of Marijuana. The D.A.R.E project by the way that has not received funding in a long time in many states, that any of the officers that are still on the Drug Campaign are on it under a new acronym LEAP Mr. Politician please let me know your background of Marijuana use and let me know if you have ever had it for Pain Management. Sure I have used it for Medical purposes and know the effects of to much Marijuana will put me to sleep and may make me a little more light headed. Guess what I am now on a medication that is MORE Likely to get me addicted, and if I take to much I can fall asleep and never wake up. This drug scares the crap out of me and many others that have realized that they have addictive personalities. Look at the WARNINGS associated with my new medication, but it is okay for me to take this time released version so I have a feeling of euphoria for 12 hours instead of 2 hours... Mr. (I don't want to know the facts) Politician, Please let me know how this plant that is 100% natural can kill me and why it is a federal offence for me to use it for my pain.

Now since my rant is over I would like to discuss the whole "Serious Side Effects of Marijuana" One of the side effect I would really like to talk about is the mild to severe anxiety. This is something that I can not speak about with facts but I can speak of it in my own experience. When I smoked Marijuana in the US as a teenager it was against the law, I did have Parinoid feelings and was very nervous because I was afraid I would get arrested. However, when I used Marijuana in Europe I was not breaking the law, actually I was using under the advice of a doctor and in a place that it was socially acceptable. I had no worries, did not have any anxiety and felt the wonder of a pain free walk around the city. Now, I would like to return to my new medication, under the side effects again,

alterations of mood (nervousness, apprehension, depression, floating feelings

Not to good, So I guess Marijuana is not the only drug out there that people claim to be nervous about ;) But when you look even farther into the details of MS-Cotin on the Central Nervous System you also notice that it says, "uncoordinated muscle movements," would that be like the reported "clumsiness, loss of coordination," that you get from Marijuana? Now here is another issue I have with most medications, insomnia, I have had a problem with insomnia for a very long time, I do not like the fact that this medication I am on makes it even harder for me to sleep. If I had my choice I would look for something that would be more like tiredness, sleepiness, lethargy, I wonder what would have that side effect? Now a subject that I hate, when it come to this medication...

Gastrointestinal: Dry mouth, biliary tract spasm, laryngospasm, anorexia, diarrhea, cramps, taste alteration, constipation, ileus, intestinal obstruction, increases in hepatic enzymes

That is not anything that I would ever want from any of my medication but unfortunatly if I would like to stay out of Jail I will have to deal with it. There is another reason why I am on medication, this is do to Muscle spasms I get in my Legs and feet. One great thing was when I tried Marijuana I was able to sit there and my legs did not twitch at all for as long as I had any effects of the marijuana and for quite a time after the effects were gone. MS-Cotin may cause muscle tremors, once again the side effects look like a perfect fit for me. I am not going to sit here and talk bad about MS-Cotin because I really do like this medication it helps with the pain for a long time and I don't get any side effects that I can't live with (except the Headache's really hurt, and I love to eat and the Nausea sucks). When you look at all the "BAD" things that we are told about Marijuana and all the reasons these Politicians will not allow these laws to be passed I really do not think they are doing the correct comparison of the medications that they are supporting. The side effects and dangers of most perscribed medications are much more dangerous to the body than anything that Marijuana can cause. If you are on medication for any reason look into the side effects and warnings, do some research on these medications and you may change your view of Marijuana. This isn't just for perscription medications either, Even over the counter medications have more dangers than Marijuana, Check it out.

Medical Marijuana Under Fire in California

I was watching a special on Medical Marijuana in California that aired on 60 minutes the other night. They were talking about the way the law is being abused by certain providers and patients. This story was pretty upsetting to me while watching it. It portrayed California as everyone looking for an easy way to get Marijuana. "Show up at this doctor and give him $100 and he will write the perscription for you." There are a couple of points that they didn't discuss that made me think. First and and formost, why California? there are 11 other states right now with Medical Marijuana legalized and we do not have these issues. Prop 215 in California was the first one to pass in the country since the Federal Government stopped allowing it while Geaorge Bush Senior was President. Could it be that California needs to re-evaluate the way the bill is written. Right now there is no certain ailement that Marijuana is for, there isn't a list of illnesses that a Doctor is told he can or can't perscribe it for. Is it the best medicine for the issue with the least amount of risk? That is what the Doctors are suppose to be asking and that is what they are suppose to be perscribing it for. There are many types of medication out there that will do the same as others but the doctors do thier risk assesment and perscribe the best for that patient. The next issue that brings up in my mind is why are we not talking about those that go to the doctor to get their perscription Pain medications so they can abuse them? Yes, I agree the ability to tell a doctor that the toe nail on my little toe hurts so I need Marijuana is not a good thing, but will he give me Hydrocordone? Probably not, then why are we as a federal government looking at this issue in this way. It is not that California is abusing the Medical Marijuana bill. California is abusing the Perscription Medication laws. Why are we singling out Marijuana. Ohh, this is probably because there are Medical Marijuana Shops. This is the big problem, lets let the state provide perscriptions for medical marijuana but not allow the Pharmacy to get that percription to the people. Lets make them come up with other means to get it. This to me is the Federal Governments issue. You, the Ferderal Government, have been providing Marijuana for medical purposes for years. You have found a method that works but you refuse to see that this is useful and will not accept the Doctors that write these perscriptions. Let the Doctor treat it like a perscription medication and let the patient receive it like a perscription medication. Let it be manufactured like a medication and treat those that manufacture it like they are providing a medication. This is not saying Provide a centralized area that grows and packages Marijuana. That is the federal Governments issue, it is always up to the patient to provide it for themselves or they want it centralized. Let it be like any other perscription medication. There are different types of the same medication now, that is why you can go to the pharmacy and get the "generic" version to save money. California was the first state to legalize the medical use of Marijuana, their law was very generic when written, the laws have been written differently in each state that has legalized the use of Marijuana, I think it is time for the Federal Government to Legalize it federally this will stop the many issues that we currently see with the California Pot Shops. It will also give Doctors in all states to provide their own risk analysis of their patients to see what medication is the right medication for them. This is my Opinion and I know it differs from a lot of those that want Medical Marijuana but I am a Veteran so even the state laws will not effect me. Plus, Hydrocordone, been on it for 3 years... Just try to get me off that stuff...

Marijuana vs. Aspirin

Most people use products that are more damaging to the body with out any thought to what they are doing to the body just because they were raised to think it is safe. Although heavy use of marijuana is not safe it is a lot safer than most of the common used drugs in today's market. This is article one and I am going to compare the effects of two popular pain killers, Marijuana and Aspirin.

Lets start with the history of Marijuana first. Marijuana can be traced back for thousands of years to almost every culture in the worlds history. Up until the Marijuana was prohibited by the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 the US Pharmacopoeia listed cannabis as the drug of choice for over 100 different diseases. This reference was the reference used by doctors since 1820. Cannabis was added to the US Pharmacopoeia in 1870. Since recorded history Marijuana has never been found to cause death by overdose.

The History of Aspirin is not so long and distinguished. Aspirin patented on March 6, 1889 by Bayer who also had the trademark for Heroin. Aspirin causes an average of 500 deaths per year. This is from a Medication that is used for pain and heart disease.

Now that we understand the history of the two pain medications lets look at the legality of both। While Marijuana does have side effects and is know to assist in over 100 diseases without causing any deaths it has been prohibited by the US Federal Government since 1937. Marijuana side effects include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception (sights, sounds, time, touch); difficulty in thinking and problem solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks. THESE SIDE EFFECTS DO NOT LAST AFTER THE MARIJUANA WEARS OFF. There have been research results that indicate that Marijuana can cause respiratory irritations among heavy marijuana users if smoked. This can be easily solved by switching to vaporized marijuana or taking marijuana orally. Marijuana has not been linked in any research to lung cancer.

While marijuana is prohibited in the US, with minor side effects and multiple benefits to the drug, any age child can go to a store and purchase aspirin over the counter. The effects of aspirin can be very dangerous. Heartburn; nausea; upset stomach; rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; black or bloody stools; confusion; diarrhea; dizziness; drowsiness; hearing loss; ringing in the ears; severe or persistent stomach pain; unusual bruising; vomiting; Reye syndrome.

In the book, 'The Science of Marijuana' by Dr. Leslie Iversen of the Oxford University Department of Pharmacology said “Tetrahydrocannabinol is a very safe drug,” she said. “Even such apparently innocuous medicines as aspirin and related steroidal anti-inflammatory compounds are not safe.” So if safety is your concern, cannabis is clearly a much better choice than aspirin. By eating it or using it in a vaporizer, Marijuana would be the wonder drug, Safe and effective.

Am I a Pot Head Now?

This is in response to a comment made by one of my friends today. I have become a member of NORML and MPP both are lobbyist against the criminalization of Marijuana and both are trying to get bills passed to legalize marijuana. I believe just like them that there is a lot of good that can come from cannabis. The ability for the farmers of this country to grow cannabis would free up a lot of other resources that have deteriorated our environment. Please look up the uses of cannabis and you will notice that it could be a very profitable crop for the US for products that we export and it has nothing with rolling joints. I also am a firm believer that Marijuana has many benefits to the medical community and they are still researching those benefits. They do know that it can help Chemo patients with nausea, It can help AIDS patients with their appetite, They are using it for those with chronic Pain, and they are using it to help those that have eating disorders. I for a fact know that my life would have a lot less pain in it if I was able to eat a pot brownie instead of taking Vicodin. I also know for a fact that I can take Marijuana for 2 years straight and quit cold turkey but if I took vicodin for 2 months straight I would have a hard time getting off of it. I am also a firm believer that Marijuana is classed as a Type 1 Narcotic along with Heroin and Cocaine. I do not believe that this is the correct classification. I believe that Even Coffee and Alcohol are both more addictive. I also know that Alcohol and Nicotine are both more hazardous to your health. When i was growing up i was told that one Joint was like smoking a full pack of Cigarettes. Current research is now saying that one Joint is like smoking 5 cigarettes. The Way I was raised and taught about marijuana was mostly made up of myths because I back then the government was not allowing the proper research. Current research shows that not only is it a great medical device the side effects and damage that it does is not nearly as bad as most of the prescription medications that are allowed by the FDA. I have had worse side effects from some of the over the counter medications I have taken. I am also a firm believer that the War on Drugs is a failure. The amount of money that is spent on fighting Marijuana could be used for a lot of better Wars… How about the war on teachers and Nurses Pay. How about the War on illiterate children, how about the war on Health Care. Last year over 60% of drug related arrests were for small amounts of Marijuana. (under an Ounce) These arrests now spend Jail time for these offenses. (NY has already decriminalized Marijuana so it would only be $100 Fine) But then you add in the bad drug arrests, Those who sell marijuana… What would happen if it was sold in Coffee shops like over in The Netherlands? If we wanted to sell Marijuana we could Tax it 114% to make it comparable to how much it sells now. We would get the drug dealers off the street and opening coffee shops, (You think Star-bucks is all over the place now) The money we would save by chasing these Pot Heads down and Trials for them is nothing compared to the amount of money we could make by Taxing it. Even if we were to tax it like Alcohol and Cigarettes we would make enough in one year to lower everyones income tax. So far there are a few presidential candidate’s that are for Ending the war on Drugs. pay attention to them and then find out why the others will not even touch the issue. Most of the time it is because they do not want the Stigma of “Soft on Drugs” They do not have a good argument on why marijuana can not be used for medical purposes. Most states that were getting close to the legalization of Marijuana for medical purposes have stopped everything because of the Presidents issues. President Bush said when he first took office, “Let the States Decide” So 12 states have made it legal. Lately the DEA has been making arrests in those states because they have found the other statement made by the President, “If the federal and state governments do not agree then the federal law is the one that counts. So even though there are Medical Marijuana users in these states legally they are getting arrested. Anyway if you do not believe me on any of these please feel free to debate me on it. I am up for it. I have been sending letters and fighting my Senators about it so I would be more than willing to discuss this with any of those that feel they need to disagree. But My first argument is “Its my body why can the Government stop me from doing it?” But before you answer that remember they let me smoke while drinking a bottle of JACK. .. So to finalize this blog, “Am I a pot head now?” No I am not a Pot head. I have not taken anything that is illegal for me to take. I did Smoke in Amsterdam since it was legal and the pain I deal with everyday was completely gone. Will I start making Marijuana butter to make brownies and Cookies with? No, I follow the laws of the US and NY State, I will not break any laws. I will not stick up for anyone that does willingly break the law. I am currently using my voice as a registered voter to make people think about the things I believe in. Do I have a selfish Motive? Yes I do, I just filled my prescription again for 800mg of Motrin… It does not do anything. it takes a little edge off the pain but it still Flipping hurts. I know I can not go back to Vicodin, Percocet, or Codeine because I will easily abuse those and there is such thing of overdose (been close a few times) Marijuana will not allow you to overdose on it.