Medical Marijuana: The Replacement for Very Dangerous Drugs

Cannabis medicines were the “drugs of choice” in the US, until they were declared illegal.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - When I was ordered before the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners, the first question I was asked by Dr. Spokas, the chairman, from Ontario, Oregon, was “Dr. Leveque don’t you know that marijuana is very addicting and very dangerous?”

Frankly, I didn’t know or believe this and all of my experience with fifty years study and 4000 patients told me this was totally false, but when one is facing a “Spanish inquisition” with psychological “thumb screws” or “hanging”, I decided to answer “maybe for some people”. I didn’t believe a word of it.

I didn’t dare ask where he got his information but I assumed it came from the U.S. government, which has produced false propaganda for 70 plus years.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Law allows the use of marijuana for Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s rage, Glaucoma, chronic pain, chronic nausea, chronic spasms, Multiple Sclerosis and seizures.

As a retired Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, I accepted this with a grain of salt but when I started seeing patients, I was astonished and pleased that indeed the above conditions were “miraculously” alleviated by the use of medical marijuana.

I was further astonished when I was told by the patients “marijuana is much better than any prescription I have been given." Further questioning of patients indicated it was better that the morphine-like painkillers, such as Oxycontin, Percodan or Demerol.

They also said it was better than the Valium-like tranquilizers, such as Xanax, and Ambien, etc. and even the anti-depressants, such as Elavil, Trazadone, etc. and the really heavy anti-depressants, such as Prozac, Zoloft, etc.

Another, almost strange, report was that it was preferred to Aspirin and Tylenol, etc. because it worked faster with no stomach or liver damage.

For a retired Professor of Pharmacology, the patients’ reports were really a “blockbuster”.

The biggest surprise came really quickly by Viet Nam veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. They had been given every kind of medication, which gave minimal, if any, relief. Many sufferers simply turned to alcohol stupefaction to blot out PTSD battle stress. The latter had become a tragedy for many.

They had discovered in Viet Nam that marijuana was an excellent tranquilizer, better than any standard such drug or alcohol, and the facts back it up.

Literature review for current Marijuana Therapy led me to “O’Shaughnessy, The Journal of Cannabis in Clinical Practice”, a newspaper-like magazine published by a group of California Marijuana Specialists, providing the cutting edge for information on the subject.

California is the leading marijuana state with about 300,000 legal marijuana patients. I am not / was not surprised to see that the reports of the fifteen doctors in the journal correspond with my own experiences. In fact, Dr. Tod Mikuriya has found that marijuana provides relief for about 200 specific diseases.

It seems like marijuana could be / should be the first choice drug rather than the last.

Cannabis / marijuana medicines were at one time the “drugs of choice” in the United States, until they were declared illegal. The medicines containing cannabis were used for 100 specific medical problems through about 30 prescription medicines.

CANNABIS IS A PROVEN MEDICAL SUCCESS!

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Welcome Home, Tom

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Anonymous July 15, 2010 9:57 am (Pacific time)

I really need help getting medicinal marijuana. I don't know where to turn. I have spinal stenosis of the cervical and lumbar spine with degeneration of my discs along with bone spurs. i also suffer from chronic digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, migraines with TIA's and COPD. i have also recently been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that they think might be lupus. i know that pot is safer than all the pain meds. and steroids. can someone help me find a doctor in georgia.

Ruth April 4, 2009 7:04 pm (Pacific time)

we need medical marijuana in ky or decriminalize it so I can grow it again. I have rheumatoid arthritis and it sure helps with the pain.

Stoner July 21, 2008 9:18 am (Pacific time)

LEGALIZE IT!! IM TIRED OF RUNNING AWAY FROM POLICE WHEN SMOKNING POT!!LEGALIZE!!

RGD October 31, 2007 1:51 pm (Pacific time)

hely aint so bad

T Simps October 9, 2007 1:37 pm (Pacific time)

Marijuana is the best possible medication for people with ADD/ ADHD dissorder. I have come to this conclusion by many years of research of da Kronic... Jea hey hey hey

samurai September 23, 2007 11:47 pm (Pacific time)

We are better off today than we were eight years ago

yang August 29, 2007 4:36 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you very much.

bing July 21, 2007 1:45 pm (Pacific time)

Thank you!!

DOn June 21, 2007 4:00 pm (Pacific time)

ALCOHOL IS THE REAL KILLER! I hate it and it's overated and it cause way more problems IMO than any pill or plant can.(Well METH is real bad too). But 'Weed is the opposite, but it gets scorned. Funny how way back when "ALCOHOL" became illegal, but as history tells it came back to become legal and it's the worst killer of them all. Sad humans cannot see the truth and make the change or just BAN, ALCOHOL too. Good luck

Cannabinoid Market Forecasts June 1, 2007 12:37 pm (Pacific time)

…… And why don't they want to legalize this?.....hummmm big $$$. http://www.marketresearch.com/map/prod/1491414.html

J-dog May 31, 2007 8:36 am (Pacific time)

legalize marijuana

Osotan; May 30, 2007 3:08 am (Pacific time)

Legalization is for those who need it for medical purposes. For the rest of us, what's the problem with legalizing it? If we want to we can. Nobodies forcing anyone. I do it cause it is a lot of fun and makes me feel good too, a rather nice combo and I've not vomited once in over forty years. Gin, Jack Danials and Adolf Coors, all legal lobbied, and subsidized recreational drugs have, on the other hand, made me ..,quite ill quite frequently, leading me to so far successful threpy from Bill Wilson's Anonomys group. It's why I like Kool Aid now. I don't see the problem with Legalizing It!! Do it today!! and if some politicians in high office say they can't remember inhaling, I want to know where they got it!

Dan May 27, 2007 8:58 pm (Pacific time)

people need to stop thinking of cannabis as a bad drug for medical use just because it is used as a recreational drug by mostly irresponsible people. We think opiates are bad for people recreationally but we still use them as pain kills in the medical world. The same should go for cannabis

Richard Steeb May 23, 2007 10:05 am (Pacific time)

"It's one of the most satisfying experiences... to remove the stigma of criminality from an individual..." --Tod Mikuriya September 20, 1933 - May 20, 2007

ky toker May 23, 2007 8:03 am (Pacific time)

lets look at the big picture. which in America I think is money. All the people who would have to be let out of jail. I am sure they would also be afraid that people who have been jailed will sue. here in ky there are a few test farms growing hemp. its at the research stage. personally I think America could be out of debt in no time, if they allowed hemp and cannabis to be legalzed. it could make the money for the sale and also the time police, dea, etc saved on chasing stoners

larry May 23, 2007 2:29 am (Pacific time)

there are some very interesting views expresed here. Please visit my blog and feel free to post anything in regard to medical marijuana (especially for Texas). I don't know how to tell ya how to get there except ---do a google search for lcbeeson and follow the link to west texans for medical marijuana, thanks, LARRY.

John May 22, 2007 8:08 am (Pacific time)

I watched reefer madness and they said Marijuana was bad. They said it would make me uncontrollably angry and kill my friends. I believe all the propaganda our government puts out. Marijuana must be bad...or there would be a war on it...right?

Bombshelter.org May 20, 2007 2:11 pm (Pacific time)

Cannabis-Marijuana-Hemp is a gift from the Gods, literally. It is one of the original resource and medicine plants brought to the early human colonists on Earth. It is a central medicine/food/fiber in both the Vedic and Taoist traditions, considered even today as both "Royal" and "Holy"-- for thousands of years. In perspective, the last 50 years of prohibition brought on by chemical industrialists is the FESTERING ANOMOLY on the human race. Americans can barely raise their heads enough to acknowledge just how fascist this POLICE STATE is... putting families in prison for growing FLOWERS!

John May 20, 2007 12:56 pm (Pacific time)

I do not drink either, so forget about that argument. I do smoke cigarettes though, and I wish I could finally quit that. I know I'm not going to change anyones views by voicing mine, especially on this page. And I'm no saint, I've smoked pot and drank booze and decided it's not for me. That's all. Sure a lot of medical prescriptions treat symptoms, I would never say ALL the drugs that companies put out are good. That's crazy. But would you guys really deny that anything good comes from drugs produced from research, even from the big drug companies?

Greenknight May 20, 2007 3:54 am (Pacific time)

In truth, the vast majority of medical prescriptions just treat symptoms. Hemp does a better job of alleviating symptoms in many cases, and it should be available for those cases. If you can't tolerate it, John, then you shouldn't use it. Were you, by any chance, drunk when you tried it? It will give you the spins if you smoke it when you're very drunk.

John May 20, 2007 1:08 am (Pacific time)

"millions of successful treatments" Yes, there have been millions of people cured of illnesses with modern medicine. You don't really need statistics for that do you? Would you say that is not true? "I speak for everyone when I say... LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!" I'm sorry, you don't speak for me brother. Adam, if you've been depressed since your early teens, you need real help. Not dope. "Cannabis hemp,a seed bearing herb, is a holy gift of God's creation" Please, don't bring "God" into this. "is totally non-toxic" I find it toxic. It turns me green and makes me feel like puking. Does smoking it actually cure anything? I doubt it. Nothing anyone could measure or verify, except the person smoking it. It always seems to be ailments that can only be attested to by the person who says they need it: depression, pain,... Sure, if someone's dying of a terminal illness, I say give them whatever they want. Everyone else just wants to smoke a joint.

anonymous May 19, 2007 7:06 pm (Pacific time)

I think it should be Legalized it does wonders for back pain, and other injuries.

JOE May 19, 2007 3:30 pm (Pacific time)

I AGREE

Anonymous May 19, 2007 3:02 pm (Pacific time)

Medical Journals listing iatrogenic (doctor) causes of death total over 800,000/year officially. "Death by Medicine" reported that this is low because their are few reporting requirements. Cannabis hemp,a seed bearing herb, is a holy gift of God's creation, is totally non-toxic, and was banned from free agricultural commerce by the use of racism, lies, trickery, and deceit. Following the dirty money back to the banks and petrochemical complexs. Pitty the grossly naive. Prohibition is a direct attack on Mother Nature, commerce, liberty and sovereignty. PEACE

Alan May 19, 2007 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

Is it me, or do the neo-cons employ a new technique when they argue. They call all dissenting opinions conspiracy theories. I guess every single thing has become politicized, especially health issues. Hey everyone, stop listening to faux news; legalize marijuana and hemp now.

Adam M May 19, 2007 8:59 am (Pacific time)

I have been diagnosed with depression since early teens, and the only drug that's actually helped without forming an addiction has been Marijuana. Unfortunately, I don't live in Cali and have been arrested twice for possesion. There is no doubt our law makers made and continue to make a grave mistake on marijuana laws.

Jordan May 19, 2007 8:46 am (Pacific time)

Then I think I speak for everyone when I say... LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!.

rick May 19, 2007 1:45 am (Pacific time)

seriously, i know i speak for millions, LEGALIZE CANNABIS!!!!!!!!!

Tony C. May 18, 2007 11:24 pm (Pacific time)

5 bucks says the guy below me can't come up with any statistics to support his "millions of successful treatments" claim. If you want to swallow a ton of chemicals, be my guest, but atleast let me have my smokable alternative.

John May 18, 2007 9:14 pm (Pacific time)

Typical "conspiracy theory" attitude you guys all have. Makes me sick. Sure it was used in ancient times, they had a lot less options back then. We have modern science and technology. Everyone focuses on the modern medicine horror stories instead of the the millions of successful treatments offered today because of research and advanced medicine. "All we need are a few simple herbs to cure everything, but big business and the government won't let us have them because of their greed". Give me a break.

The Mad Scot May 18, 2007 7:34 pm (Pacific time)

I have watched a number of my friends with terminal illness find a pain free existence and have their cancer disappear with herbals and their pain alleviated with the use of the Herb. I worked in ancient times and the government can't control it now, so it is outlawed. Time to outlaw Govetnment.

Gee May 18, 2007 7:22 pm (Pacific time)

It's people like you who make the world what it is today. Kudos to Dr. Phillip Leveque. I concur.

Lazerus May 18, 2007 7:17 pm (Pacific time)

Marijuana is the LEAST dangerous illegal drug that is commonly used in the United States. How many deaths have EVER been documented with marijuana as the culprit? NONE! Cannabis has many, many DOCUMENTED medical benefits, and the possible side effects are miniscule compared to the "legal alternatives" side effects-- I'd rather have the bloodshot eyes, increased hunger, dry mouth, and reduced coordination caused by marijuana than the serious effects that legal perscription drugs can have-- liver failure, high blood pressure, seizures, psychotic episodes... Need I say more?

Steve F May 18, 2007 6:57 pm (Pacific time)

A quote from a recent review "If cannabis had not been banned and was an alterative to alcohol, we would be living in a very different world today"

M.L. May 18, 2007 6:23 pm (Pacific time)

I find it ironic that those who oppose legalizing cannabis and make these decisions and laws for the good of society, have no problem discussing that issue over a nice, safe, non-addicting martini or healthy, wholesome gin and tonic.

JMark May 18, 2007 4:45 pm (Pacific time)

@Tom P That's right Tom. That's what happens when political power shifts from the people to the few with money. It's called fascism but that word is apparently inappropriate to describe any level of American society today.

Tom P May 18, 2007 2:53 pm (Pacific time)

But if marijuana became legal, the alcohol companies and tobacco companies might lose money! Who cares about helping out the everyday American when we should be trying harder to line the pockets of these huge corporations.

Drew May 18, 2007 2:48 pm (Pacific time)

Unfortunately, it's not just politics, it's also greed. Ever try to grow your own aspirin?

Wes May 18, 2007 2:34 pm (Pacific time)

It's about time people started to realize that politics has played a much bigger role in drug law than science.

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