Medical marijuana

[jacee]

/veteran-rcmp-officer-stripped-of-his-uniform-for-publicly-smoking-medical-marijuana-in-his-red-serge

A veteran RCMP officer was stripped of his uniform and chastised by the federal justice minister Thursday after he was filmed smoking medical marijuana in what he said was a bid to to raise awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the RCMP.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay condemned New Brunswick Cpl. Ron Francis, saying the display sets a poor example for Canadians.

"My observation is the same as for politicians, police: they fall in a similar category in the sense that it sets a very poor example to flout the law, he said.

Cpl. Francis has not been accused of breaking the law; he smoked a legally prescribed joint in front of a video camera while wearing red serge.

OK I get the red serge issue, and the 'protest' was a little over the top.

But Justice Minister Peter MacKay should know that smoking your own legal medical marijuana is not against the law.

.

Edited November 29, 2013 by jacee

[The_Squid]

Dumb move; career ending. Hope the officer gets the help he needs.

[Guest Derek L]

My question, why is Pot prescribed for PTSD? Wouldn’t that be akin to a doctor telling a patient suffering from a mental illness to take a couple of slugs of whiskey prior to interacting with people…….

As I’ve stated prior, I’ve no real issues with medical marijuana (or talk of legalizing pot in general) and can fathom pot being used as a “painkiller”, but treating a mental disorder with a mind altering substance that can cause impairment? Seems rather strange…..

[Bonam]

but treating a mental disorder with a mind altering substance that can cause impairment?

That describes most every drug used to treat most any mental disorder.

[Guest Derek L]

That describes most every drug used to treat most any mental disorder.

Does it really? I’ve several friends/family members that suffer varying degrees of anxiety (which PTSD is a form of) and though quite obviously prescribed pills will alter the mind, I would disagree over causing impairment like pot or booze……

[The_Squid]

Pot is a relaxant... Of course it may help anxiety. Pot is not the same as booze. Not even close. You should do a little reading on the subject.

[dre]

Does it really? I’ve several friends/family members that suffer varying degrees of anxiety (which PTSD is a form of) and though quite obviously prescribed pills will alter the mind, I would disagree over causing impairment like pot or booze……

Oh yeah? Ever tried any the benzos they give to phyc patients? PTSD is regularly treated with drugs like Lorazapam, and Klonopin... tranquilizers that slow you mental and physical reaction times and most certainly can impair you. Especially if you take too much.

[hitops]

Oh yeah? Ever tried any the benzos they give to phyc patients? PTSD is regularly treated with drugs like Lorazapam, and Klonopin... tranquilizers that slow you mental and physical reaction times and most certainly can impair you. Especially if you take too much.

Yep. I say this as a physician - basically the entire approach to treating mental illness of any kind is to prescribe substances that are poorly understood and all serve more or less to numb you out. When you're snowed, anxiety, depression, etc all decrease......along with every other cognitive process. It's an extremely inelegant, blunt hammer of an approach but unfortunately the best we have right now.

[GostHacked]

My question, why is Pot prescribed for PTSD? Wouldn’t that be akin to a doctor telling a patient suffering from a mental illness to take a couple of slugs of whiskey prior to interacting with people…….

The effects on the brain are different. Alcohol is a depressent. My personal experience is that pot helps me shut my brain off. All of the day's thoughts and events racing through my head panic, worry, ect, the pot let all that go so I can relax and enjoy being around my friends. Much of that is situational and environmental, and at times it can be too much for any person to handle. You have those days.

As I’ve stated prior, I’ve no real issues with medical marijuana (or talk of legalizing pot in general) and can fathom pot being used as a “painkiller”, but treating a mental disorder with a mind altering substance that can cause impairment? Seems rather strange…..

Educate yourself on canabanoids and how the human brain is the only one that has receptors specifically for canabanoids.

There is also another substance within pot that does not get you high, but has benefits to the human body and brain. It can help seizures as well as many other things.

How much mind altering do you think happens when you give a child ritalin while the child's brain is still developing? I've experienced the unwanted side effects of some medication (for depression). It was easier dealing with the depression than the mind numbing effects of the pharmeceutical drugs. Sure pot zones me out, but I don't get paranoid or jittery or any of the side effects as one would from the prescribed drugs.

[GostHacked]

Does it really? I’ve several friends/family members that suffer varying degrees of anxiety (which PTSD is a form of) and though quite obviously prescribed pills will alter the mind, I would disagree over causing impairment like pot or booze……

You can smoke an ounce of weed and your side effects will be minimal, and you won't die unless you are allergic to it.

Compared to the majority of prescribed drugs with the warning label pamphlet you get with it telling you about the dangers of it even if you take the recommended dose.

[Guest Derek L]

Oh yeah? Ever tried any the benzos they give to phyc patients? PTSD is regularly treated with drugs like Lorazapam, and Klonopin... tranquilizers that slow you mental and physical reaction times and most certainly can impair you. Especially if you take too much.

Nope.....But the overwhelming majority of sufferers of anxiety are prescribed pills like ativan, valium or xanax, and though depending on the dosage, doesn’t alter ones ability to go to work or drive……….The subject in the OP was prescribed a daily dose of pot the equivalent of 9-15 “joints”…..

[PIK]

Does everybody have PTSD now. Is this becoming the new abused program.

[Moonlight Graham]

Does everybody have PTSD now. Is this becoming the new abused program.

Seriously bro?

[Moonlight Graham]

As I’ve stated prior, I’ve no real issues with medical marijuana (or talk of legalizing pot in general) and can fathom pot being used as a “painkiller”, but treating a mental disorder with a mind altering substance that can cause impairment? Seems rather strange…..

I completely agree.

[Moonlight Graham]

Oh yeah? Ever tried any the benzos they give to phyc patients? PTSD is regularly treated with drugs like Lorazapam, and Klonopin... tranquilizers that slow you mental and physical reaction times and most certainly can impair you. Especially if you take too much.

Anxiety causes adrenalin and other stimulant chemicals to be released in your body and mind. Anxiety medications like benzodiazepines and SSRI's obviously have side-effects like sleepiness etc., but the whole point is to counteract you from being wired out of your skull. It's far better to feel a bit sluggish at points during the day than to suffer a serious anxiety disorder.

As my friend below points out, these drugs are medically the best we have right now, and far better than any other drug solution. They are FAR better than marijuana. At least you can work and drive and have your wits about you while on the pills vs being stoned on mary-jane.

Of course, most anxiety disorders should also be treated with psychotherapy as well in order to help heal the root causes of the disorders & to learn to deal with them without (or with less) medications.

Yep. I say this as a physician - basically the entire approach to treating mental illness of any kind is to prescribe substances that are poorly understood and all serve more or less to numb you out. When you're snowed, anxiety, depression, etc all decrease......along with every other cognitive process. It's an extremely inelegant, blunt hammer of an approach but unfortunately the best we have right now.

[BubberMiley]

They are FAR better than marijuana.

In that they can kill you and marijuana can't? In that drug companies are better able to profit from them? Because your point about driving on pills is completely wrong. They are no less "mind-altering." Edited November 29, 2013 by BubberMiley

[PIK]

Seriously bro?

Yes I am .

[Moonlight Graham]

In that they can kill you and marijuana can't? In that drug companies are better able to profit from them? Because your point about driving on pills is completely wrong. They are no less "mind-altering."

Taking a bottle of advil can kill you also. These pills can be habit forming, that's probably the worst that can be said about them in terms of side-effects for the vast majority. Pot is less dangerous in terms of OD'ing but will alter your state of consciousness far more than any anxiety medication. You can also drive perfectly fine on SSRI's, and the same with benzodiazepines unless you're taking amounts so absurdly high that you can fall asleep at any time or you're just starting on the pills and don't know how you'll react in terms of drowsiness. Pot makes you stoned, meaning you're effed out of your mind. Benzodiazepines and SSRI's don't turn you into giddy blob of glassy-eyed uselessness unlike pot, but (unless in rare extreme ill-reaction) actually helps your state of mind in most cases if you're extremely anxious ie: you are less paranoid & neurotic, reduced feelings of panic/panic attacks, less stressed/anxious, better concentration (possibly offset sometimes by drowsy side-effects) etc.

Pot can mellow you out and reduce pain/anxiety etc., but it can also make you more paranoid, and it destroys your ability to function or think properly while high. I mean, you're stoned!! You can't work most jobs properly while stoned, but you can work most jobs properly while on Benzodiazepines and SSRI's and most other anxiety meds.

[cybercoma]

Does everybody have PTSD now. Is this becoming the new abused program.

I guess you're better qualified at diagnosing this guy by reading a single news article about him than his own doctors that evaluated him, tried anti-depressants and a modified work program. Do you have any idea why he has PTSD? Did you even bother taking the time to read that part of the story? I find your comment completely ignorant and distasteful, as well as an insult to others suffering from mental illnesses.

[cybercoma]

In that they can kill you and marijuana can't? In that drug companies are better able to profit from them? Because your point about driving on pills is completely wrong. They are no less "mind-altering."

In fact, isn't that the point of them: they're mind-altering?

[The_Squid]

What drug for the treatment of mental illness is NOT mind altering???

To say that you shouldn't treat mental illness with a mind altering substance is a bizarre argument.

Edited November 30, 2013 by The_Squid

[eyeball]

Does everybody have PTSD now. Is this becoming the new abused program.

Well, you have to be sick with something to get pot, why not PTSD? Why not a stubbed toe? What did Americans have to be sick with to get booze back when they needed a doctor's prescription to drink it legally?

What a pile of crap legalization is turning into via the medicinal route. I've got half a mind to vote against it in BC given the direction it's being steered. I'd rather leave it in the hands of the bikers than hand it over to a bunch of big corporations in cahoots with Ottawa.

Edited November 30, 2013 by eyeball

[cybercoma]

Not allowing people to grow it themselves is idiotic. Remember when people were getting sick because the licensed providers early on were grinding up stems and leaves? Christ. Just make the stuff legal already.

[dre]

Pot is less dangerous in terms of OD'ing but will alter your state of consciousness far more than any anxiety medication

Not Lorazapam (branded as Attivan). Its a fairly strong tranquilizer. Take two or three and its almost impossible to even stay awake, never mind operate heavy equipment. Its also more addictive than pot. SSRIs are a different story... but the drugs used to treat actual anxiety attacks like Lorazapam and Klonoprin can seriously impair you.

Edited November 30, 2013 by dre

[dre]

What drug for the treatment of mental illness is NOT mind altering???

To say that you shouldn't treat mental illness with a mind altering substance is a bizarre argument.

I think the argument is more over short term impairment.