Medical Marijuana

THC is not the only compound in cannabis that assists us. While it is the substance that gets the user high, not all people want that feeling from the medicine they get. And because marijuana is a plant and can be bred and changed, giving the user no effects other than relief from symptoms. The solution for this is simple; hemp based CBD oil. This oil can be taken orally or applied topically and contains very little amounts of THC, which makes the oil perfect for children who need medicine for epilepsy, ADHD, and other afflictions.

The push for the legalization of the CBD oil (the law states that CBD oil derived from hemp plants containing less then 3% THC is completely legal, although oil taken from plants with a higher content then 3% is still illegal) came from the parents of many children who suffer with epilepsy. Seizures in children are especially difficult and not all medicines work to stop the episodes. The children who have been using CBD oil have shown amazing improvement in their walking, talking, eating, and overall function since adding the CBD to their daily routine, not to mention an extremely large decrease in seizures. There are at least a dozen states, however, that are pushing to legalize the use of all CBD oil for patients that need it.

Although these CBD laws seem like they're very positive, there is still some skepticism coming from marijuana supporters, with the belief that the CBD bills might hinder the rest of the movement. The deputy director NORML criticized the CBD bills that are building up around the country. The deputy director said that the laws are "unworkable" and don't have any genuine benefits. And there was a policy manager from the Drug Policy Alliance who stated that they were concerned that the new bills will "leave other reform effects behind". While the CBD is great for younger children and those who don't want the effects of THC, there are people who utilize the THC for their ailments too. But with a non-psychoactive cannabis plant that seems to be gaining more and more popularity, THC may be in trouble.

Hopefully, CBD and THC will be able to co-exist together in the same movement. It's difficult to tell where it will go from here and it's understandable that some people are worried about the movement. If CBD takes off (which it already is, as it appeals to those who really just aren't looking to get high), there is the potential for psychoactive cannabis to become less popular in the mainstream. But as always, only time will tell what will happen in this brand new industry.

Post tramautic stress disorder effects far more people in the world then most people realize. These people have fought for our freedom and the emotional toll of that fight sometimes leaves them needing a powerful medication that not only alleviates their symptoms but also allows them to eat, sleep, and function normally. Although PTSD is recognized as a mental disorder that is treatable by medicine, the states in which medical marijuana has been passed vary on the allowance of PTSD sufferers using cannabis, considering that there is absolutely no doctor recommended medicine designed to treat PTSD. With about eight million Americans suffering from PTSD annually, these people absolutely deserve a medicine that will help them overcome this anxious disorder.

Michigan is taking a step towards allowing PTSD sufferers to ingest cannabis for the disorder. State regulators have agreed to authorize the plant as a recognized therapy for PTSD. Members of the Medical Marihuana Review Panel voted to expand the state's qualifying afflictions list to include post traumatic stress disorder. The inclusion of PTSD is the first time that Michigan has updated the list since the voters passed medical cannabis in 2008.

There are only six other states that recognize PTSD as an affiliation that merits the use of medical marijuana. Connecticut, Oregon, Delaware, Nevada, New Mexico, and Maine all have stated that cannabis is a recognized use in therapy treatments of those suffering from PTSD. In the last year, Nevada, Maine, and Oregon changed their laws to include post traumatic stress disorder. Other medical states haven/t progressed to this point yet, leaving patients with PTSD to deal with their problems illegally, purchasing cannabis from illegal street dealers instead of medical dispensaries.

Michigan's step towards making cannabis more widely available will hopefully lead the way for other states that are on the fence about this matter as well. PTSD can absolutely be helped with cannabis, as the relaxing, anxiety releasing effects of cannabis help sufferers to live more normal and healthy. Especially since this disorder has no medical treatment, other then a regimen of anti-depressants, anti-anxiety, and whatever else the doctors prescribe in order to attempt to "help"