Do you think patients should have the right to use medical marijuana?

EmmaG, RN · Dec 13, 2007

I mentioned earlier - there is a doc in Santa Cruz who writes Rx for pot for no real medical reasons and my nephew, a highway patrolman, regularly stops KIDS under the influence with this docs Rx.

And who is ultimately at fault there? Why punish those who are otherwise law abiding and use the drug responsibly and for legitimate reasons? There are docs who irresponsibly dole out scripts for legal painkillers to anyone who walks through their door. Should we outlaw Vicodin and oxycodone as well?

allnurses Guide · Dec 13, 2007

And who is ultimately at fault there? Why punish those who are otherwise law abiding and use the drug responsibly and for legitimate reasons? There are docs who irresponsibly dole out scripts for legal painkillers to anyone who walks through their door. Should we outlaw Vicodin and oxycodone as well?

My point is that most of the support for this is from people who just want to use pot "recreationally", not medically. (I'm not speaking of anyone here on allnurses).

Vicodin and oxycodone work for pain. Research into pot for the most part points to not much nausea relief and that there are better legal medicines available.

steph

EmmaG, RN · Dec 13, 2007

My point is that most of the support for this is from people who just want to use pot "recreationally", not medically. (I'm not speaking of anyone here on allnurses).
Vicodin and oxycodone work for pain. Research into pot for the most part points to not much nausea relief and that there are better legal medicines available.
steph

Understood. What I don't understand is why it would be necessary to use the plant itself, rather than something like Marinol (which in my experience has worked well for many patients).

BTW (and perhaps a bit off topic)

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20040815/marijuana-stall-brain-tumor-growth

allnurses Guide · Dec 13, 2007

This thread is funny . . . .it pops up every once in awhile.

Thanks for the link. :smokin:

steph

Understood. What I don't understand is why it would be necessary to use the plant itself, rather than something like Marinol (which in my experience has worked well for many patients).
BTW (and perhaps a bit off topic)
http://www.webmd.com/cancer/news/20040815/marijuana-stall-brain-tumor-growth

MQ Edna · Dec 17, 2007

It should be legalized, period. Whether or not you use it "medically" is really not the point. Alcohol is a far more dangerous drug than cannabis will ever be, but of course that one is legal.

If you are going to compare cannabis to meth, heroin and crack you might as well compare near-beer to tequila. Meth, heroin, crack/cocaine etc. are synthetic drugs that are 1,000,000,000 times worse than marijuana. No one is talking about the legalization of these hard drugs. What I'm saying is that a plant that grows naturally all over the world that makes you hungry, goofy and sleepy should not be demonized when a substance that leads to extreme addiction (psychological and physical) and causes the death of thosands of people every year is completly legal (alcohol).

I REALLY don't understand the point of it's illegality. If a kid is going to the ER because they "feel funny" after smoking a j, that's because they're stupid... it has nothing to do with the drug itself. The LD50 of marijuana is so astronomical you would have to consume an impossible amount before you even start to seriously immediately risk your life.

Yea, smoking marijuana may cause cancer, but so can an other product that is also 100% legal and MORE addicting the heroin. (tobacco).

I have yet to hear a good, solid and convincing argument that would ever convince me that this drug should remain illegal and out of the hands of responsible users. Kids will always do stupid crap and they are irresponsible by nature. If it's out there they are going to try it.... but a part of that reason is because we have mystified and demonized the stupid plant to such an extent it makes kids want to do it MORE. Legalize it. Tax it. Use hemp for millions of different products. Regulate it (make a legal age at which it can be consumed and make the penalties strong for abusing it outside of designated areas where it can be consumed.

The world has not ended in Amsterdam...

Sabby_NC · Dec 17, 2007

I have had good results with Marinol but are we talking about actually allowing patients to :smokin: the stuff DUDEEEEE?

I really do not know anything about the stuff but know of a friend who smokes it for severe back pain!

He states it works well for that.

Hmmmmmm me thinks I need to surf the net and read more about the properties of the stuff and how it actually is going to benefit nausea in our patients.

Never tried it but the smell of it made me feel sick!:uhoh21:

MQ Edna · Dec 17, 2007

I have had good results with Marinol but are we talking about actually allowing patients to :smokin: the stuff DUDEEEEE?
I really do not know anything about the stuff but know of a friend who smokes it for severe back pain!
He states it works well for that.
Hmmmmmm me thinks I need to surf the net and read more about the properties of the stuff and how it actually is going to benefit nausea in our patients.
Never tried it but the smell of it made me feel sick!:uhoh21:

http://www.erowid.org/plants/cannabis/cannabis.shtml

EmmaG, RN · Dec 24, 2007

Never tried it but the smell of it made me feel sick!:uhoh21:

The smell of the smoke itself doesn't bother me; can't stand the smell of someone after they've smoked it though.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 26, 2007

Im waiting untill I turn 65, then when I retire if Im still alive. I fully plan to get a little hydroponics kit and grow 2 plants of marijuana for private use. Then no one will know if Im just stoned, or have Alzheimers, or Mad Cow disease, Or dementia. Only I will know the difference

Murseintraining78 · Dec 27, 2007

Not sure if anyone has seen this but there is a new study out done at UCSD that shows that people that used more marijuana actually reported an increase in the the pain rating so it may help but only to a certain point. There is really no need for it if it can be prescribed with Marinol.

teeituptom, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2007

ahhh lets just fire one up

danissa, LPN, LVN · Dec 27, 2007

but surely Tom, it would interfere with your golfing? What about stopping to quench your "munchies" at each hole...you'd never get a round in!! :lol2: