The Medical Cannabis Guidebook. Mel Thomas
168,900 autopsies conducted in Florida found that three times as many people were killed by pharmaceutical drugs than by cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines put together.10 Cocaine was responsible for 843 deaths, heroin for 121, and methamphetamines for 25. Cannabis accounted for no deaths whatsoever. In contrast, 2,328 people were killed by opioid painkillers, including Vicodin and OxyContin, and 743 were killed by drugs containing benzodiazepine, including Valium and Xanax.11
In the U.S., over 40,000 people are killed annually by aspirin and painkillers.12 According to The American Journal of Medicine, over 100,000 patients are hospitalized annually for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)–related gastrointestinal complications and at least 16,500 deaths occur each year among arthritis patients alone.13 A report in The New England Journal of Medicine stated:
“It has been estimated conservatively that 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur among patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis every year in the United States.14 This figure is similar to the number of deaths from AIDS and considerably greater than the number of deaths from multiple myeloma, asthma, cervical cancer or Hodgkin’s disease. If deaths from gastrointestinal toxic effects from NSAID were tabulated separately in the National Vital Statistics reports, these effects would constitute the 15th most common cause of death in the United States. Yet these toxic effects remain mainly a ‘silent epidemic,’ with many physicians and most patients unaware of the magnitude of the problem. Furthermore the mortality statistics do not include deaths ascribed to the use of over-the-counter NSAIDS.”
Surgeon W.B. O’Shaughnessy introduced cannabis into Western medicine in the 1840s.
The two main cannabis strains used for medical cannabis are the cannabis indica and cannabis sativa subspecies, which owing to their cannabinoid profiles both differ in their medicinal properties. Cannabis strains are available across the entire spectrum, from pure cannabis sativas to pure cannabis indicas and combinations which are known as hybrids. The resulting hybrid strains will grow and develop medicinal properties relative to the dominant genetics they inherit; for example, cannabis indica strains have more chlorophyll than cannabis sativa, and so grow and mature faster. Furthermore, cannabis indica-dominant plants can have a CBD/THC ratio four to five times that of cannabis sativa-dominant hybrids. Auto-flowering plants containing cannabis rudralis genetics are fine for medical use; just choose either an indica- or sativa-dominant hybrid depending on your particular needs. The effects of cannabis sativa are well known for inducing a THC cerebral high, hence they tend to be used medicinally during the daytime. As the effects of cannabis indicas are predominantly physical and sedative, they are best used for non-active times of the day, being particularly beneficial when used before sleeping. To determine the best strain for your condition it is important to understand the different effects of these two subspecies:
Cannabis indica-dominant strains tend to have a more sedative effect on the user and help to relieve stress and aid relaxation. These plants are recommended for pain relief when vaporized, and for cancer treatment in the form of an oil extraction. They can also help moderate nausea, stimulate the appetite, and reduce intraocular pressure. Most medical cannabis emanates from cannabis indica hybrids. A few examples of these hybrid strains include: OG Kush, Master Kush, Purple Kush, White Rhino, Blueberry, Grapefruit, Lemon Skunk and Northern Lights. Predominantly cannabis indica strains are recommended for treating anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, insomnia, muscle spasms and tremors, and for their effectiveness for appetite stimulation, increase in dopamine production, nausea reduction and sedative action.
As the female flower approaches harvest, the white pistils turn brown.
Cannabis sativa-dominant strains are more energizing, enhance a feeling of well-being and stimulate the neurotransmitter serotonin, a type of chemical that helps relay signals from one area of the brain to another. Of the approximately 40 million brain cells we have, most are influenced either directly or indirectly by serotonin, which also acts on the central nervous system and, amongst other things, is responsible for mood and appetite regulation. Consumption of pure cannabis sativa strains can often induce paranoia attacks and irregular heartbeat, so hybrids also containing cannabis indica are preferred for medicinal use. These hybrids are useful for the antidepressant properties they possess, without inducing the paranoia associated with purebred cannabis sativa, but they rarely have any pain-blocking attributes, so cannabis indicas are preferred for use as analgesics.
The high THC content of many cannabis sativa hybrids is useful in treating any conditions where CBD content is not so useful, such as glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. Common cannabis sativa-dominant hybrids include Haze, Kali Mist, Jack Herer, Willy Nelson and Cheese. Cannabis sativa-dominant strains are recommended for use in treating depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, loss of appetite, cancer, migraines, nausea and as a daytime medication.
Treating Internal Cancers with Cannabis Oil
Providing the treatment is started early enough, the oral administration of cannabis oil benefits most patients diagnosed with cancer.
If you’re a cancer patient beginning treatment with cannabis oil, it is recommended that you make some dietary changes and it is advisable to cut out red meat altogether. Use more hemp seed, oily fish and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, corn or potatoes for your protein (see appendix I). Do not drink alcohol as this would be adding additional complications. It has been shown that regularly drinking around 3 units of alcohol a day (a large glass of wine) can increase the risk of mouth, throat, esophageal, breast and bowel cancers.
Rick Simpson, in his work, advises that patients should also take high doses of vitamin C daily. The authors have themselves been successfully treating cancer patients for over a decade using cannabis oil and whilst they advise making a dietary change they don’t agree with Simpson on this issue. The claim that vitamin C is useful in the treatment of cancer is largely attributable to Linus Pauling, PhD.15 In 1976 and 1978, he and a Scottish surgeon, Ewan Cameron, reported that patients treated with high doses of vitamin C (10,000 milligrams per day) had survived three to four times longer than similar patients who did not receive vitamin C supplements.
Bud Buddies 1:1 ratio CBD:THC cannabis oil as produced by the authors.
Extensive studies have been carried out on Linus Pauling’s claims that high-dose vitamin C prolonged the life of cancer patients, and these found that the claims were based on improper statistical analysis of data. Subsequent clinical trials found no benefit from his recommendations. Case reports also indicate that very high doses of vitamin C can cause kidney damage and interfere with the body’s ability to absorb copper; therefore even if supplementary vitamin C is eventually found to have some use in fighting cancer, that role is not likely to be extensive. Vitamin C is a potent antioxidant that does help the body protect its cells, and there is no harm in taking up to 1000 milligrams daily as a supplement.16 However, it won’t cure cancer and may give you diarrhea, which will cause dehydration. If you do wish to increase your intake, it is far better to do this by consuming foods that are high in vitamin C content.