The cannabinoid acids in cannabis have been found to have anti-proliferative, anti-neoplastic, anti-inflammatory, anti-epileptic, anti-ischemic, anti-diabetic, anti-psychotic, anti-nausea, anti-spasmodic, antibiotic, anti-anxiety, and anti-depressant functions. The anti-neoplastic action of cannabis—inhibiting development of malignant cells—was recognized in the 1970s and patented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003. There are few other plants or medicines that can boast such a multifaceted resume of ailments to alleviate, and those other plants and medicines tend to have almost double the side effects and addictive properties.

A cannabis concentrate was applied to an 8-month old twice a day for 30 days as an alternative to chemotherapy and radiation treatment for the newborn’s midbrain tumor. At the end of the 30 days the tumor had reduced significantly and the child was also able to avoid the long-term affects of such intensive treatments initially offered. The child was also able to stay home in the care of their parents as opposed to an extended hospitalization that would have racked up substantial medical costs. If any new parents had a young child of their own and were offered a treatment that could reduce their child’s tumor in a month, it seems ludicrous to avoid looking further into said solution.

A 6-year-old patient with a severe, intractable form of childhood epilepsy, was tried on 11 anti-epileptics, including experimental European drugs. He was finally placed on a drug commonly used to prevent seizures, but continued having 300-400 seizures a day. An ointment produced from cannabis with an increased amount of cannabidiol, a compound patented by HHS, has reduced his seizures to one every 3-4 days. This treatment allows the child to have less seizures per year than he had in a day using run-of-the-mill medicines.

With the fear of children getting high off medical marijuana essentially erased by the emergence of these cannabis compounds, most of which aren’t ingested, it seems that the mind-altering effects of morphine or other common painkillers greatly outweighs the effects of cannabis.

There is no other area in medicine where the heavy hand of federal funding and political agenda compromise valid and reproducible findings to this extent. To advance disease prevention and benign therapy, we must re-examine our preconceptions.

Read more:

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2013/01/07/medical-marijuana-is-safe-for-children

The post Studies Show Benefit of Medical Marijuana for Children appeared first on Growing Medical.

- Any part of the marijuana plant that holds THC (leaves, stems, nugs, etc.)

- 1-2 bottles of 90% alcohol

- Mason or Ball jar or similar container

- A method of straining (French press, fine colander)

- Sheet of glass (the bigger, the better)

- Razor blades

- Wax Paper

Procedure:

Compile the parts of the marijuana plant into the jar. Proceed to fill the jar with alcohol until the alcohol level is about halfway up the pile of marijuana leaves and stems. You don’t want to have more alcohol than marijuana in the jar at any point. Next, shake the jar so the alcohol makes contact with all of the marijuana contents of the jar. This process does not need to take any longer than 10 minutes before moving on. Empty the contents of the entire jar into your straining device to separate the pieces of the plant from the now THC-filled alcohol. Once apart, slowly pour the alcohol onto the sheet of glass. Allow the alcohol to evaporate and dry on the glass until it is no longer wet to the touch. Feel free to layer the alcohol onto the glass as you see fit. Using the razor blades, carve off all the remnants on the glass. Take the waxy hash oil from the razor blades and compile it all together into a single ball or coin shape on the wax paper. Repeat until jar or container of THC-filled alcohol is gone. The color of the hash oil should be a dark green upon completion.

The post How2Make: Hash Oil appeared first on Growing Medical.

The Flowering Period for Jack Herer

Jack Herer takes between 50-70 days to flower and plants can range from 150-180 cm during that time. This plant yields up to 125g per plant. It is typical for growers to account for the longer flowering period by harvesting a week or two in advance to get this strain onto the market in a more reasonable time frame.

Awards and Recognition

The legendary Jack Herer has won 14 awards at the Cannabis Cup in numerous categories. Last year the strain’s namesake, Jack Herer, won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the High Times Medical Cannabis Cup in Los Angeles, CA.  His son, Dan, accepted the award for his late father who was recognized as a trailblazer for the modern cannabis movement.

Read more:

http://nugs.com/article/jack-herer-strain-review.html

The post Jack Herer appeared first on Growing Medical.

These states include Rhode Island, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, Nevada, Maine, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.

Medical marijuana passed in Massachusetts this past November, but the state has already pushed towards recreational use in under 6 months. The preamble of the bill that was referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary states that the governor and General Court “acknowledge that 100 years of criminalization in the Commonwealth has failed to stop the production, distribution and use of marijuana, and that sustained enforcement efforts cannot reasonably be expected to accomplish that goal,” and “respect the personal autonomy of adults, where freedom supposes responsibility”. These bullet points in the bill seem to affirm that marijuana will enter the legal realm that alcohol found itself in after the long prohibition battles in the 20th century.

The bill also states that legalizing marijuana will not alter current laws on operating a motor vehicle and details the seven new licenses that would come into effect (cultivating, processing, trade, retail, import, research and farmer-processor-retailer).

Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Philadelphia) went on record about marijuana legalization, stating, “I acknowledge that it may take a while. But like same-sex marriage, this will inevitably happen. Demographics and exposure will in time defeat irrational fears, old wives tales and bad science. This bill furthers the discussion, which hastens the day.”

The bill being referred to was proposed by Sen. Leach to legalize the possession and regulated sale of marijuana for adults. Sales would be allowed in state stores or beer distributors, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. However, due to the difference in legislative process between Pennsylvania and places like Washington and Colorado, the vote on this bill does not come from the public and in fact will be up to the state itself to decide.

Assemblyman Joe Hogan (D-Las Vegas) introduced a bill Monday, that would decriminalize marijuana in the state of Nevada. ”We’ve wasted a tremendous amount of money spoiling teenagers lives, chasing them around until we can arrest them for something,” Hogan told the Las Vegas Sun. “And marijuana is not just a harmless plant. The medical benefits are remarkable.”

The state already allows medical marijuana usage, although there’s still no way for patients to legally obtain it. That may change with separate legislation from Sen. Tick Segerblom (D-Las Vegas), which would create a dispensary system, although Segerblom does not support recreational use at this point.

If these eight states all pass recreational marijuana, that would make 10 states total in America that made the progressive step forward in this regard. At 20%, these states would still be a significant minority, but they would accurately portray how quickly this issue has bypassed the legislative hurdles of a variety of state governments and the type of upswing fostered in favor of marijuana nationwide.

Read more:

http://www.businessinsider.com/legalize-marijuana-2013-3?op=1

The post Marijuana Legalization Steadily Approaching for 8 States appeared first on Growing Medical.

-Tea (your favorite variety)

-Cup

-1 tsp. of butter

-Marijuana

Procedure:

Like other herbs, marijuana may be made into a tea. Boil the water first and pour it over the marijuana. Let it steep for longer than you would for common black tea; approximately an hour and a half.  Add 1 tsp. of marijuana or regular butter. The effects are similar to eating it. It is easy to make marijuana tea and can be combined with mint or any other herbal tea flavors to enhance it’s taste. THC is only very slightly soluble in boiling water. Adding either some alcohol, oil, or butter to the mix will help the THC dissolve. An ounce of whole milk or a half ounce of hard liquor to a cup of boiling water increases the tea’s potency quite a bit. A chai-type drink, made with marijuana leaves, spices, butter and milk would dissolve even more of the THC. Making tea by just boiling the leaves will not release as much psychoactive THC. Since marijuana’s pigments and terpenoids (the components responsible for its flavor) are water-soluble, this tea looks and smells more promising than its effect will be. However, these non-cannabinoids may also have medicinal properties, as could other water-solubles.

Read more:

http://www.thestonerscookbook.com/recipe.php/recipe/marijuana-tea-weed-tea

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If the legislative aspect of the inception of recreational marijuana goes as planned, Washington state could see prospective stores opening by December 2013. Some topics such as the concern over marijuana stores proximity to certain public institutions like schools, libraries, and  playgrounds and annual fees for marijuana businesses are threatening the ability for recreational growers to make a living off this cash crop. However, legislators are confident that tight restrictions in their Pacific state will cultivate business and are slated to begin processing and approving marijuana retail and producer licenses in August to allow for stores to open by their December deadline.

Colorado has been fighting the same battle as Washington, but in their own distinct way. For instance, the western state has been paying a bit more attention to the medical marijuana side of the debate. Their initial legislation, if approved, would give a one-year grace period for medical marijuana dispensaries in good standing to become both  medical and retail organizations. Colorado feels that the experience of dispensary professionals should not go unnoticed as they put forth the foundation that lead to this point in history and should not be forgotten.

Members of Colorado’s joint marijuana committee met this past Friday to review and approve any number of the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force’s 58 recommendations for how to commercially produce marijuana within the state. The Denver Post reports that members of the committee have until the end of March to write the recommendations into a bill, which would have to be approved during the current legislative session that ends May 8.

Colorado has also proposed a residency restriction so that those who apply to open a marijuana retail business must have been living in the state for two full years. The task force also recommended that out-of-state visitors to the state be allowed to purchase recreational marijuana as long as the consumer was over 21 years of age. This recommendation would hope to boost the tourism levels in Colorado and create a monopoly of their own on marijuana tourism specifically.

Source:

http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/03/22/marijuana-legalization-stores-colorado-washington

The post Colorado, Washington Trying to Get the Rules Straight appeared first on Growing Medical.

The Pacific state accepted Botec Analysis Co.’s initial bid to lead them through this progressive legislative and economic territory.

Out of the 112 potential bidders for the opportunity to become the official marijuana consultant of Washington state, officials chose a firm from America’s other coast. The team’s record on drug and crime policy is world-renowned so it was no surprise that word had spread across our country.

The Liquor Control Board, along with the prospective help of Botec Analysis, has until the end of the year to make a final decision on the sale and taxation of marijuana, with the preliminary framework modeling itself after state alcohol regulations.

The board has taken a hands-on approach with this decision in order to gain understanding from all angles. They have traveled to grow operations along the Pacific states and orchestrated their own scientific research in order to remove any obstacle from the path of the voter-based law.

Dr. Mark Kleiman, a professor of public policy at UCLA, heads the 30-member team that has agreed to join forces with Steep Hill Labs, the premier American cannabis testing facility, and the RAND corporation, a nonprofit research facility that helps improve policy and decision making. Both organizations are based out of California. There are also four key sub-contracts labeled as Product and Industry Knowledge, Project Quality Standards and Testing, Product Usage and Consumption Validation, and Product Regulation.

The announcement was made on March 19, which sparked the 10-day challenge buffer for the 111 losing bidders to reattempt to stake claim to the consulting contract.

The firm itself will be compensated a competitive rate of $292 per hour for a project that could set a national precedence for the future of marijuana. The groundbreaking research alone will benefit the understanding of the effects of marijuana for states where those laws have been voted in for medicinal purposes.

Sources:

http://news.yahoo.com/washington-state-names-pot-czar-legalizing-marijuana-221135262.html

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/03/19/2521145/massachusetts-firm-picked-to-advise.html

http://liq.wa.gov/pressreleases/botec_sellected_mj_consultant

The post Washington to Enlist Cambridge, MA Firm for Recreational Marijuana Consultation appeared first on Growing Medical.

• 1.5 pounds ground beef
• 1/2 cup cannabis olive oil or butter
• 1/2 pound Italian-style sausage
• 1 red onion (chopped)
• 3 garlic cloves (pressed or minced)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 2 cans whole tomatoes
• 12 oz. tomato paste
• 24 oz. ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs (slightly beaten)
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• 2 tbsp. fresh parsley
• 1 lbs. mozzarella cheese
• 12 lasagna noodles
• 1 tbsp. dry parsley
• 1 tbsp. dry basil
• 1 tbsp. dry oregano
• 1 tsp. pepper
• Cooking spray

Directions:

Get out a frying pan over medium heat and brown the ground beef and lasagna, along with the onion and garlic. Once browned, add the salt, dry parsley, oregano, basil, cannabis olive oil, cans of whole tomatoes and tomato paste. Simmer over medium-low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Cook lasagna noodles as per instructions on the package, drain of water and set aside for the time being. Get out a 13 x 9 baking pan and spray with the cooking spray. In a mixing bowl combine the ricotta cheese, pepper, fresh parsley, eggs, Parmesan cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese. In the baking pan layer noodles on the bottom, followed by the meat mixture and cheese mixture. Repeat again, as necessary. Garnish the top with the remaining half-pound of mozzarella cheese. Bake in a preheated oven of 375 degrees F, for 32 to 38 minutes or until done.

Sources:

http://www.cannabissearch.com/edibles/lazy-lasagna/

The post Lazy Lasagna appeared first on Growing Medical.

The Nebula strain is a well-respected hybrid that can have big effects and a big yield. One crystal-covered plant can produce 500g of high THC percent marijuana. This strain has shown success growing both outdoors and indoors, making the Nebula strain one of the most versatile varieties. The large bud sizes have been linked to a high level of light exposure, so an indoor garden may lend itself better to those in favor of such a plant. The buds themselves are known to be a mix of dark and light green with bright red hairs and crystals that look like sugar in the sun. The smell gives away the fact that the strain is a hybrid with a sour and floral combination. It is dominantly used to relieve ailments such as insomnia, anxiety and pain with its distinctive high. Nebula delivers a high that provides energy and stimulation if you’re up and moving, but can create a body high that would be enough to carry that insomniac comfortably to sleep.

The Flowering Period for Nebula

If grown indoors, the Nebula strain takes about 60-65 days’ worth of flowering time but when attempted outdoors the plant needs around 9 weeks of flowering time in a temperate zone before the first frost. They have also seen bountiful success when grown in plots together as opposed to a single, secluded plant at a time.  The THC content is set around 15-18% based on how it’s grown.

Awards and Recognition

The Nebula strain was awarded first prize at the 2005 Copa La Bella Flor in Spain, second place in the 2005 Cannabis Cup, and third prize in the hydro category at the 2004 Highlife Cup.

Sources:

http://www.cannabiscupwinners.com/cannabiscup/269-2011-cannabis-cup.html

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The Massachusetts DPH is scheduled to file a draft of the state’s official medical marijuana measures by next Friday.

The deadline for the filing of a state mandate on the voter-approved use of medicinal marijuana in the Bay State is vastly approaching and the public awaits the criteria for its legal consumption.

The Massachusetts Public Health Council, which is comprised of local physicians, educational directors, and home care professionals, will review the proposed regulations on April 10 to decide whether it speaks to the benefit of the health field in the state.

On Wednesday Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley took a more immediate step towards the creation of Massachusetts dispensaries when she announced that total bans by a specific town or city was not allowed. This leaves the decision in the hands of state-appointed and qualified officials as opposed to allowing each town to determine if a legal organization can settle within their borders as Wakefield, Reading and Melrose already attempted.

“Some towns are resistant and others are more welcoming,” said Matt Simon who is a representative of the Marijuana Policy Project. “Trying to find towns that are most comfortable with what’s happening is a good idea for dispensary owners.” He also stated enforcement of the regulations is up to dispensary owners to deal with local resistance in order to create an effective program.

The initiative received 63 percent of the DPH’s votes and permits a limit of 35 legal medicinal dispensaries within the state at any given time, or one per county.

“The better job [dispensary owners] are able to do of getting local approval and making local officials and governments comfortable with these facilities and where they’re operated will contribute to the success of the program,” Simon said.

The parameters of the law passed in November insist on direct outlines for zoning privileges and start up processes for dispensaries as well as appropriate quantities and values for the prospective medical marijuana users and caregivers. The DPH has the ability to either mimic the policies already established in other states or create a truly distinct set of standards that appeal to each institution that has its hat in the ring.

“Keeping it nonprofit means that people are not trying to make a quick buck off of the program,” Simon said. “A lot of people are more comfortable with that idea of dispensaries being nonprofit.”

Sources:

http://dailyfreepress.com/2013/03/20/dept-of-public-health-drafts-regulations-for-medical-marijuana/

The post Mass Department of Public Health to Draft Medical Marijuana Regulations appeared first on Growing Medical.