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#1326460 - 02/20/12 11:49 PM
Re: The Legal (???) High - more dangerous effects
[Re: bluezone]
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Ayuveda
Senior Member
Registered: 04/05/10
Posts: 6367
Loc: Imagine
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Any substance producing smoke and inhaled may cause some degree of lung damage. According to this study cannabis smoking seems to produce very little - at most.
Also note cannabis may be used in non-smoking forms such as tinctures.
Marijuana smoke is not damaging to the lungs like tobacco smoke, study finds. But that conclusion probably will not change minds in the legalization debate.
Marijuana smoke is not damaging to the lungs like tobacco smoke, study finds.
January 11, 2012|By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times
Marijuana smoke does not damage lungs in the same manner as tobacco smoke, according to a study released Tuesday. But that conclusion probably will not change minds as to whether the drug should be legalized.
The study found that smoking marijuana on an occasional basis does not appear to significantly damage the lungs. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Assn., the paper supports previous research that has also failed to find a link between low or moderate exposure to marijuana smoke and lung damage. Marijuana contains many of the same chemicals as tobacco smoke.
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Researchers led by Mark Pletcher at UC San Francisco studied 5,115 men and women in four U.S. cities regarding their current and lifetime exposure to tobacco smoke and marijuana smoke and their lung function. The exposure to marijuana smoke was expressed by "joint years," with smoking 365 joints or filled pipe bowls being equal to one joint year.
The study showed that lung function declined with increased exposure to tobacco smoke. However, that same pattern was not seen with marijuana smoke. There was no evidence of lung function damage with seven joint years (or smoking one joint a day for seven years.) After 10 years, there was some decline in lung function as measured by the speed at which a person can blow out air.
"Our findings suggest that occasional use of marijuana for [medical] purposes may not be associated with adverse consequences on pulmonary function," Pletcher said in a news release. "On the other hand, our findings do suggest an accelerated decline in pulmonary function with heavier use -- either very frequent use or frequent use over many years -- and a resulting need for caution and moderation when marijuana use is considered."
Understanding the pros and cons of marijuana use is of growing interest as marijuana usage rates rise and as states considered legalization of marijuana for medical or even recreational purposes. Pro-legalization advocates said the study shows marijuana can be used safely.
"To those familiar with the science of cannabis, JAMA’s [Journal of the American Medical Assn.'s] findings should come as no great surprise," said Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, in a blog post. He adds that marijuana can be used in ways that avoid most lung irritation.
". . .ingestion of cannabis via alternative methods such as edibles, liquid tinctures, or via vaporization — a process whereby the plant’s cannabinoids are heated to the point of vaporization but below the point of combustion -- virtually eliminates consumers’ exposure to such unwanted risk factors and has been determined to be a ‘safe and effective’ method of ingestion in clinical trial settings," Armentano said.
_________________________
Sometimes, tear gas can make you see better.
-graffiti in Athens
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#1335311 - 03/29/12 03:24 PM
Re: The Legal (???) High - more dangerous effects
[Re: teedoff27]
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teedoff27
Senior Member
Registered: 10/11/11
Posts: 1717
Loc: S2Hphoto
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New York really knows how to take the fun out of everything  
Synthetic marijuana banned from sale in New York State
http://www.9wsyr.com/news/local/story/Sy...krPq2mUGbQ.cspx
Albany (WSYR-TV) -- Synthetic marijuana products can no longer be sold in New York State. Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav R. Shah, issued an order Thursday putting the ban into effect.
Synthetic marijuana, also known as Spice, K-2, Happy Shaman, Mr. Nice Guy and Galaxy Gold, consist of plant material coated by chemicals that mimic THC -- the active ingredient in marijuana.
The products have been at the center of growing concern throughout New York and across the nation.
Synthetic marijuana products are being legally sold in convenience stores, smoke shops and tobacco stores statewide, including several in Central New York.
The order states: “Synthetic cannabinoids have been linked to severe adverse reactions, including death and acute renal failure, and commonly cause an increased heart rate; paranoid behavior, agitation and irritability; nausea and vomiting; confusion; drowsiness; headache; hypertension; seizures; and loss of consciousness."
The Commissioner’s order seeks to end sales of synthetic marijuana products immediately. It also calls upon local health officials to distribute the order and make sure local retailers are in compliance.
_________________________
Spiritual people INSPIRE me
Religious people FRIGHTEN me
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#1336063 - 04/02/12 11:13 PM
Re: The Legal (???) High - more dangerous effects
[Re: teedoff27]
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twocats
Silver Member
Registered: 02/09/10
Posts: 10776
Loc: NYS
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Sorry, no witness, but how about a patent?
http://stopthedrugwar.org/speakeasy/2008/jul/23/significance_us_govt_cannabinoid
The Significance of US Govt Cannabinoid Patent 6,630,507
Brinna Nanda
When I was at the Patients Out of Time Medical Cannabis conference in Asilomar this last April, I overheard a remark that startled me: "The US Government has a patent on cannabis." I couldn't locate the person who made the comment, so I went home and did some online research. Sure enough, patent number 6,630,507 states unequivocally that cannabinoids are useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases including auto-immune disorders, stroke, trauma, Parkinson's, Alzeheimer's and HIV dementia. The patent, awarded in 2003, is based on research done by the National Institute of Health, and is assigned to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
So, why is this important? Here is a legal document, in the public domain, which flies in the face of the US Government's stated position with regard to the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance having no "currently accepted medical use". Believe me, citing this patent stops the "medical marijuana is a myth" advocates dead in their tracks. They simply cannot argue with it. The forces that would keep cannabis illegal are vocal and well funded, but they are not impervious to persistent effort. The lynch pin in the War on Drugs is cannabis. Without the suppression and interdiction of this popular and widely used substance, there simply would not be enough "illegal drug use" going on to justify the huge amount of money and resources spent on "fighting drugs."
I believe disseminating information about this patent as widely as possible, and to as many people as possible is a crucial strategy in loosening that lynch pin, and changing public perception about cannabis. I, personally, downloaded the first page of this patent and sent a copy (with the assignee highlighted) to every one of my elected representatives. I have also included information about it in "letters to the editor" referencing any cannabis related news story I come across, I use it as an argument in every State medical cannabis and decriminalization initiative, and have mentioned it in all my comments to online posts and blogs of the same nature. I would be delighted if everyone who believes the War on Drugs is a failed and destructive policy, would do the same, until the existence of this irrefutable patent becomes widely held public knowledge, and government 's rhetoric is shown to be as hollow as a busted drum.
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Dismiss whatever insults your own soul.
Walt Whitman
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