medicalcannabisawareness's blog

1) Cannabis' power to control spasticity and convulsions has been applied in folk medicine for thousands of years.

The first European report of this effect was published in the 1830s by Dr. William O'Shaughnessy, who stated that "The [medical] profession has gained an anti-convulsive remedy of the greatest value." Dr. J. Russell Reynolds, who was Queen Victoria's personal physician for 30 years and administered cannabis to her, praised the anti-convulsive virtue of hemp. He wrote that "There are many cases of so-called epilepsy... in which India hemp (Cannabis Indica) is the most useful agent with which I am acquainted."

2) According to a survey on the recommendation of cannabis in California, cannabis is indicated for over 250 conditions.

Cannabis is most importantly indicated as an antiemetic for the treatment of nausea and anorexia associated with treatments for cancer, AIDS, and hepatitis. Cannabis also acts as an antispasmodic and anticonvulsant and is indicated for neurological conditions such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and spasms.

3) “Cannabis Indica was applied to every conceivable spasm or convulsion, from simple stomach cramps to tetanus, epilepsy and rabies.” (‘Article on Indian Medicinal Practice.’ Journal of Psychoactive Drugs vol 13, 1981).

4) “Patients have found it (Cannabis) useful as an anti-convulsant”. (Prof. Lester Grinspoon, Harvard University,USA) (June 1995 - Journal of the American Medical Assoc.)

5) Medical World News reported in 1971: “Cannabis … is probably the most potent anti-epileptic known to medicine today.” (Mikuriya, Marijuana Medical Papers 1829-1972, page xxii

6) Cannabis is beneficial for 60%+ of all epileptics. It is definitely the best treatment for many, but not all types of epilepsy, and for victims' post-seizure mental traumas. Cannabis extract is more effective than Dilantin (a commonly prescribed anti-epileptic with severe side effects). (Jack Herer. ‘The Emperor Wears No Clothes” book extract.)

7) In animal seizure models CBD [cannabidiol] has been shown to have anticonvulsant properties with potential in grand mal, cortical focal, and complex partial seizures. (Denis Petro, M.D., in his 1997 paper "Seizure Disorders" published in the 1997 book)

8) “Cannabidiol (CBD) appears to be a potent anti-convulsant in animals. There is very limited evidence…..

……on the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids in humans with epilepsy.”

“In one study of 15 patients , (whose epilepsy was not controlled by conventional anti-convulsants) 8 were given CBD and 7 were given placebos. 4 of the 8 patients were free of seizures in the study period, 3 were improved and 1 of the 7 who had the placebo showed a little clinical improvement“. (CBD benefited 7 out of the 8).

“Despite (this) suggestive evidence of efficacy, there has been no further research on the anti-convulsant properties of CBD. This may be because more effective anti-convulsant drugs exist and Pharmaceutical companies have no interest in marketing a naturally occurring substance that cannot be patented.”.

(National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre. Sydney, NSW. Wayne Hall, Louisa Degenhardt, Michael Lynskey - 2001 Monograph Series No.25. National Drug Strategy)

Note: Under the medical criterias of Harm, Safety, Efficacy, Potency and Reliability, medical cannabis has proven itself time and time again to both sufferers and applicators (Researchers, Professors, Physicians etc) with flying colours. The proof is in the proverbial “pudding.”

 It’s time the scientists took their heads out of the test tubes and started talking to the people who really do know…the patients!

TESTIMONY -  I had my first seizure at 15. The older I got, the more often the grand mal seizures would occur. After having an automobile accident because of seizing, I aggressively sought an answer for this problem. There was no answer, just experiments. My physicians put me on so much medication, the whites of my eyes were yellow because they were destroying my liver. I was also experiencing kidney problems for the first time in my life. Even after being medicated, I was still having seizures. At that point I decided to stop relying on traditional medication. I have been smoking cannabis for almost three years without having one seizure.