Cannabis Infused Medical Marijuana Products

Did the guy dispensing you your massage oil forget to tell you it contains an ingredient that you are allergic to? Or are you going to find out that it has peanut oil in it, after that full body massage you have been looking forward to all day?

How about that edible you just ate, did you know it had alcohol in it before you bought it, or were you made aware of that fact after you ate it, and started craving a drink – after years of being sober?

My point is, a lot of people are out there claiming to make medicines that are good for everything under the sun, but when it comes down to it, the people buying these medicines know nothing about them, and some of the people making and selling them seem to know little more than that.

The best advice I can give you is, educate yourself!

If you just don’t want to make your own products, that’s what your caregiver should be there for. A good caregiver will spend as much time as they can, learning – in order to take care of their patients and provide them with SAFE medicine they need.

Where to get Medical Marijuana Infused Products

At the very least, if you are going to go to someone other than your caregiver to get a “medical marijuana infused product”, know that you should be able to ask them questions about their product, and get a full and honest answer from them at all times. If not, or they seem too bothered to answer your questions, then this person is not there for your health, they are there to make money – period!

If someone can not explain to you how their product was made, or how it works, then it is not to be considered medicine. After all, people who practice medicine should know about the medicines they are trying to sell, shouldn‘t they?

Next time you go to buy an infused product from someone, ask them a couple simple questions and see how they respond.

If you ask, “why is it made that way?” and they answer, “because the you tube video” or “So and So, said so” then please, reconsider your purchase, and go get your infused cannabis product from someone who at least cares enough about the people they are selling it to, to do their homework, and understand how their products are supposed to work for the people they are trying to peddle them to.

To be medicine, your health care products should be made by someone knowledgeable of the compounds being used, as well as familiar with at least some basic human anatomy.

To be medicine, the product you are using, should be made in a clean and sterol environment. Do you know how many hands have handled that little plastic container your “medicine” came in, before it had your medicine put in it?

Were those containers you ordered off the internet sterol and then stored properly, or were they the overstock that has been sitting in a moldy warehouse somewhere collecting impurities that might make the user sick when they apply them?

As someone who has been actively studying herbal remedies for a couple years now, I can tell you that there is a lot more to making your own medicine, than following some you tube recipe and throwing a price tag on it.

Those out there that are buying these product, please ask questions, be aware, and educate yourselves as much as possible.

For those out there making/selling these products, I suggest the same. More and more people are educating themselves these days. If the person buying your product knows more about it than you do, chances are – you have some more homework to do!

If you come across someone who tells you THEY make a cannabis infused “medicine” and they try to sell it to you, ask them a couple simple questions about it! This is the easiest way to find out if they know anything about the cannabis infused product they are trying to sell you.

Past Experiences

I recently had a woman give me a sample of her cannabis infused “balm” that she claimed was “medicine” and presented it as a product SHE MADE. “This is the topical I make” – she says.

I took a look at it and decided to feel this person out to see how knowledgeable she was in making topical preparations. As someone who has been studying up on the subject, I was really curious to find out how much more homework I had to do before being on the level of other people who were “making cannabis infused medicine” and selling it for profit.

“How did you get the cannabis in there?” I asked. “Did you infuse the cannabis into one of the other ingredients, or add it in on it’s own?”

A look of bewilderment came across her face and I could tell I just confused the hell out of her, as she looked like a deer caught in headlights.

“Oh, um, uh… I’m not sure. I have a partner that makes it for me actually and I don’t know the process.”

I asked a similar question about the “cannabis infused medical marijuana soap” that this same person told me “she makes”. Again, I got the same kind of answer. “Oh, um I don’t know if it’s a melt n pour soap base or not. I would have to ask my partner”.

Now this person clearly had no knowledge of the cannabis infused products she was “selling”. Her answers were always similar when asking how a product worked, or how it was made. As a matter of fact, the only answers she knew for sure was, how much it costs, and how many she had available.

This person was NOT making cannabis infused medicines. This person was simply “selling” me something that I clearly had more knowledge of than they did. It was pretty apparent that she was not used to dealing with people that were informed and willing to ask a couple questions.

The bottom line is – if someone doesn’t care enough to at least learn how “their products” are made, so that they can answer some simple questions, then they likely don’t care enough about their product and the people buying it. They are simply selling you something and counting on you being as uninformed as they are.

A little homework isn’t too much to ask from someone claiming to “make cannabis medicine” – is it?

Medical Marijuana Edibles

Other Popular Methods for Consuming Medical Marijuana

Medicated Marijuana Capsules are another great way to ingest medical marijuana without smoking it. There are many different methods, or recipes for making marijuana capsules. The best idea is to experiment with the various methods and recipes, until you find the method that is right for you. Unlike smoking and vaporizing, when you eat a capsule that has medical marijuana in it, it takes nearly an hour to take effect in most people.

Also, the resulting “high” or medicated feeling most people get from eating capsules is said to be stronger in many cases than with smoking marijuana, and is also said to “feel” different. Many users experience what they call a “full body” high after ingesting medicated capsules, instead of the cerebral “high” or medicated feeling they usually feel after smoking it. The effects are often said to last longer when taking medicated capsules, compared to smoking marijuana.

When using medicated marijuana capsules for the first time, it is recommended that you start small, and increase dose size as you become more familiar with the effects. Taking just 1 capsule may be all you need when using capsules made from a very potent strain. 3-4 capsules may be needed if using a poor quality of marijuana, or if the capsules are made too weak. Experiment!

Types of Medical Marijuana Edibles

Medicated Marijuana Edibles are another great alternative to smoking marijuana. Medical marijuana edibles could be any form of food, or beverage, that has been infused with, or prepared with marijuana as an ingredient. Brownies, cookies and cakes are some of the more traditional marijuana edibles, but I’ve been seeing an increase in medicated candies, lollipops, and other yummy treats lately. A knack for cooking and a little imagination can go a long way when making medicated edibles, again I encourage experimentation, and making some friends that have experience with cooking with marijuana.

Just like the capsules above, marijuana edibles are said to have a full body effect, and take around an hour to begin working in most patients. Experiment with different recipes and dosages until you find the right one for you. I recommend starting with low-medium strength cannabutter recipe, and using it for baking. By making weaker or stronger butter, you can regulate how strong your medicated treats will turn out.

Does Medical Marijuana Have to Be Smoked?

Does Medical Marijuana Have to Be Smoked?

Medical marijuana is no doubt healthier for you than many of the prescription pills on the market today. Many people however do not like the idea of smoking anything to take away their pain, or help them feel better.

This brings the question, does medical marijuana have to be smoked, or are there other ways to use marijuana as medicine, without the stigma that comes with smoking?

The truth is, there are many ways to use medical marijuana without smoking it, and some of these methods of using marijuana as medicine – don’t even get you “high”!

Many people still prefer smoking medical marijuana over other methods, for various reasons. The main reason many medical marijuana users like to smoke their medicine is, it is the fastest acting method of use. When you smoke marijuana, the cannabinoids (compounds that contain the medical properties) are absorbed by the lungs and into the bloodstream. The results are felt almost instantaneous.

Also, when smoking marijuana for medical use, it is easy to regulate dose. For example, you first wake up and are in pain. In many cases, a few puffs from a joint (rolled marijuana cigarette), or pipe is enough to get you up and moving, without making you too “medicated” or “high” feeling. Other times, like before bed, may require a patient to use more. In this case they just take a few extra puffs, and get a little more of the “effect”.

Other methods of using medical marijuana include:

  • Using a Vaporizer
  • Medicated Marijuana Capsules
  • Medical Marijuana Edibles
  • Marijuana Infused Oils
  • Medicated Topical Balms/Rubs
  • Marijuana Tinctures

The above methods of using marijuana medically, seem to be the most popular these days.

Vaporizing medical marijuana involves using a vaporizer, to heat your medicine to a point just below combustion and then inhaling those vapors, just like you would if you were smoking. The resulting vapors are much easier to inhale than smoke, and they contain all the healthy-medical properties you want from medical marijuana, without the harmful byproducts that may be contained in smoke of ANY form.

Much like smoking, vaporizing your medical marijuana is also a very fast acting method. This makes vaporizing medical marijuana, the second most preferred method of use, for many patients.

Allergy, Asthma And Immunology

To anyone who suffers from allergic reactions or bronchial asthma, the subject of allergy asthma and immunology is one of great importance. Of all the various matters included in basic allergy and asthma maintenance, allergy asthma and immunology is by far one of the most critical.

Allergy Asthma and Immunology

When it comes to allergy asthma and immunology, it is essential to be conscious that there are certain vaccines you should possess already or should go to get, in order to strengthen your immune system and prevent it from failing, especially during an allergic reaction or bronchial asthma attack.

Acquiring Information

If you are curious in finding out more information about allergy asthma and immunology, there are several resources on hand that you can take advantage of to find out more. There is the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology for instance.

They offer up just about all the info you could possibly conceive of on this matter, everything from blueprints on how to assist you in finding an allergist/immunologist to topics of the month. Their topic of the month for this month for illustration focuses on food allergies on a stick, and the gambles of summer eating.

They talk about how for the 12 million Americans with food allergies, avoidance of certain nutrients is a must for safely eating their way through summer events. They push the fact that anyone with food allergic reactions planning on attending country carnivals, music festivals, and even family picnics should be very conservative with what they are eating and how the food has been cooked.

Another allergy asthma and immunology resource you might want to check off is The Allergy Clinic. They are a remarkable company, one that prides themselves on paying lots of attention to those little details that they know will make the biggest difference. They offer advice on finding help with allergies with hypoallergenic bedding and clothing.

They offer a great deal of information on medication in particular, as there are quite a lot of different medicinal drugs that can be extremely good in helping to lighten your allergic reaction symptoms. They want to get the news out on which medicinal drugs are safe to ingest and them which you should stay away from, to assure your optimum health.

Allergic Reactions and bronchial asthma can both be very problematic to handle and live with, as the tons of sufferers round the planet recognize, but as long as you engage in proper care of yourself and discipline yourself consistently to stay up to date with news, you should be able to manage your asthma and live a satisfying and typical life.

Marijuana Psychological Harms

Psychological Harms

There are clinical reports of some individuals reaching psychosis-like states, like schizophrenia, depression or mania, after using marijuana. However, there is no marijuana-psychosis, more likely marijuana can trigger a person’s predisposed psychosis. That is, marijuana does not cause the psychosis, but an individual may already have a psychological disorder that is dormant and marijuana could possibly awaken the disorder. Marijuana alone does not produce a psychosis lasting past the period of intoxication.

Schizophrenia

People with psychiatric disorders are more likely to abuse drugs than the general population. Schizophrenics use marijuana in a higher percentage of the general population, but tend to not use alcohol or cocaine as much as the general population. Schizophrenics are at a higher risk for adverse psychiatric effects when using marijuana and heavy use can precipitate a schizophrenic episode. But marijuana does not cause the psychotic disorder.

Cognition

There was a time that marijuana research made it appear as if there was a structural change in the brain of heavy marijuana users, but modern research has disproved those studies. While a person is intoxicated they tend to perform poorly in auditory functions, and this is due to reduction of blood flow to the temporal lobe of the brain.

Blood flow is actually increased to the frontal lobes and lateral cerebellum. Heavy marijuana users often can continue to have subtle defects in cognitive tasks up to one day of abstinence. There is little evidence that there are any longer term effects in cognitive ability, and little evidence that moderate users have any cognitive defects after the intoxication wears off.

Psychomotor Performance

While a person is under the influence of marijuana they have reduced psychomotor performance. This can include body sway, hand steadiness, rotary pursuit, driving and flying simulation, divided attention, sustained attention, and the digit-symbol substitution test. No one should drive a vehicle or operate dangerous equipment while under the influence of marijuana.
Amotivational Syndrome

Amotivational Syndrome is a broad phrase often used to describe such things as the act of dropping out of social activities, or the lack of interest in school, work, or goal-related activities. While many people who have traits of the so called AS may use marijuana, marijuana is not the cause of their behavior. There is no causal relationship between marijuana smoking and AS.

Marijuana Health Effects

Marijuana does have negative health effects. The marijuana debate is so clouded in group think on both sides of the issue that one side thinks it is the worst thing ever and the other side thinks there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. It is my goal to once again attempt to tell it like it is and let you make your own judgment. I will tell you now that I am going to conclude that while marijuana is bad for the user and that heavy marijuana users are taking unnecessary risks I feel that a moderate user of marijuana is at less risk than a moderate tobacco smoker or a heavy alcohol consumer.

It is going to appear as if I am describing a very dangerous drug at times, but if I was writing a similar article on alcohol or tobacco I believe that it would look just as bad if not worse. This is because I want to avoid oversimplifying the issue or ignoring facts. I am going to start by discussing general conclusions of medical researchers in terms of marijuana’s health effects and then I will go into a detailed examination using the 1999 Institute of Medicine’s Marijuana as Medicine: Assessing the Scientific Base.

Marijuana Health Effects (Hazards)

We currently know more about marijuana and its health hazards than most prescription drugs. According to Dr. Lester Grinspoon, in 5,000 years of medical and non-medical use marijuana has not caused a single overdose death. In general it has much less side effects than most prescription.

Dr. Grinspoon is careful to point out that the most hazardous aspect of marijuana usage is the smoke inhaled by the user. This is an interesting point because most marijuana users are not exposed to as much smoke as a tobacco user, and only smoke as much marijuana as necessary to reach their desired effects. Because of that fact, marijuana that is engineered to have a higher level of THC will be safer to the user since less volume of smoke will be required to reach the same desired “high.” Using devices like a water bong or a vaporizer can decrease the associated health.

Dr Lynn Zimmer and Dr. John Morgan in their book Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts state that after decades of research there is still little evidence of significant hazards for the moderate marijuana user. The most serious health risk that a heavy user of marijuana faces is probably.

Even the World Health Organization allegedly slanted a report they made on marijuana and health risks. Robin Room and Susan Bondy of the Addiction Research Foundation of Toronto and an Australian Wayne Hall presented their scientific research to the WHO that suggested that marijuana might pose fewer health risks than tobacco or alcohol. The WHO chose to not include this research in their report. Room said that he and his fellow researchers concluded that even if the use of marijuana increased substantially in the future, the drug’s health impact was

Recreational Marijuana

Marijuana as a medicine; Marijuana has a long history of being used as a medicine, even dating as far back as 2737 BCE. Cannabis offers medical benefits to an extremely wide variety of conditions.

From providing relief from nausea and vomiting as well as many different types of chronic pain, to stimulation of appetite amongst chemo and Aids patients, to decreasing pressure in the eye (beneficial to glaucoma patients), to relieving gastrointestinal illness, and even reducing or calming many different types of muscle spasms and seizures, it is a very diverse product that has helped a countless number of patients.

It has also been known to help those with mental disorders such as anxiety, PTSD, anorexia, and sleep disorders. Since marijuana has been illegal under federal law in the U.S., along with most other countries all over the world, sadly there has been very little research on the impact of medical cannabis and how truly effective (or ineffective) it can be for certain conditions.

While we are not medical experts and recommend you consult your physician before trying any new medications, we honestly believe that the healing benefits of medical marijuana are not only there but abundant.

Cannabis should not be suppressed by our government and should be widely available to patients as an alternative option to many deadly over the counter drugs and treatments. We are thrilled to be apart of this movement as marijuana breaks out of the black market and evolves into a legal, transparent, beneficial industry to the patients and community alike.

Medical marijuana in Colorado:

In November 2000, Coloradans passed Amendment 20 establishing the Medical Marijuana Registry. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment maintains a confidential database of patients who have applied for a registry identification card for the medical use of marijuana. Registry identification cards are available to Colorado residents and valid only in Colorado.

Per the Colorado constitution, medical marijuana may be recommended for the following:

  • Cancer
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV or AIDS positive
  • Cachexia
  • Persistent muscle spasms
  • Seizures
  • Severe nausea
  • Severe pain

Since the Medical Marijuana Registry Program began in 2001, no new conditions have been added.

A colorado medical marijuana license protects patients in not only allowing them legal access to medical marijuana, but in allowing them to grow up to 6 plants at home for personal use (half of which can be in flower), and have up to 2 ounces in their possession at any given time. The license is valid for 1 year after the issue date, afterwords a patient would have to renew their license by visiting a physician and obtaining a new recommendation. There are physicians all over the state who issue medical marijuana licenses, and there are a few in our area we happily recommend to residents seeking to obtain their medical marijuana license.

Please check out the Colorado Department of Health and Environments page on medical marijuana for more information and commonly asked questions.

Harvest Market

Earth Is Learning and Teaching.

The evolutionary process is based upon trial and error, balance and chaos, creation and destruction, life-death-rebirth. Earth is inherently learning as it evolves, improving itself through greater complexity and diversity, keeping what works and discarding what does not. Mindfully re-engaging in the Earth Learning process means that humans can learn to do the same as part of our daily lives. By paying close attention, humans may recognize that Earth is constantly teaching; its living systems offer humanity a time-tested model for ecological sustainability.

Earth Is Slow, Culture Is Fast

Humans are the only species to develop the capability to change and dominate its environment on such a large-scale, rather than adapt to it. Adaptation is the key to the evolutionary process. Slow change is good for life. This is what Earth has been doing since its inception. Rapid change does not give humanity, any other species, or even the living Earth, time to adapt. It is time to slow down and rejoin the life community in the evolutionary process, and begin to adapt human lifestyles, so that they align with the planet’s natural rhythms and the life support systems that sustain the biosphere. This does not mean that quality of life must be sacrificed. Indeed, quality of life may improve considerably if the frenetic pace of modern life slowed down and allowed more time to reflect on what is truly important and to relate to the less tangible enjoyments of life.

Earth Is Primary, Humans Are Derivative

All beings, including humans, are ultimately dependent on Earth and its life support systems. No amount of technology can replace these living systems. Humans are products of Earth and yet they race to undermine the integrity of the living systems that sustain all life. At the core of the vast number of unsustainable patterns is the assumption that humans are the chosen species and should inherit Earth’s bounty at the expense of all others. Humans can adopt an Earth-centered mindset that generates empathy for and is inclusive of the other-than-human. This includes recognizing the inherent rights of all sentient beings to share in Earth community and their intrinsic value as members of that community. By adopting an Earth-centered mindset, humanity can begin to strengthen its connection, both spiritual and physical, to life. Human understanding of their place in nature is an essential thought for the transition to a more sustainable future.

In the News

Essential Earth Learning Concepts

The following is a summary of the most important and vital concepts for Earth Learning dedicated to the awareness and formation of a benign global Earth ethic that may very well be the most important step in human evolution.

There Is No Environment

To most people the word “environment” implies some object somewhere else. Yet, there is no environment separate from humanity.  What is done to Earth is done to fellow humans and to the community of life that is Earth. The interconnectedness and interdependence of Earth’s life web depends on a complex diversity of species to function as a healthy community. The human body itself is a complex ecosystem.

Many of its functions, such as breathing and digesting, are assisted and performed by organisms that humans simply could not live without. Human outer skin often acts less like a barrier and more like a sponge. Just as a tree is not separate from the soil that feeds its roots, the water that flows everywhere inside and out, and the air it breathes. In Sustainable Living systems boundaries exist for purposes of identity, not separation.

Earth Is Alive

For centuries humans have believed that Earth was an object, a rock floating in space, with living beings on its surface. How, many believe that Earth is a living, breathing, self-sustaining and self-educating organism. According to current science, Earth is 4.5 billion years old. It is still changing and evolving with greater complexity and diversity in its life forms. It takes a diverse ecosystem to be resilient enough to withstand natural disturbances. Complexity and diversity mean that Earth is not putting all it eggs in one basket.

However, many assert that human impact on the natural world and the resulting loss of biological diversity are drastically diminishing Earth’s capacity to sustain life. The global extinction we are currently facing means that we are permanently loosing unique life forms at higher rates than during any of the previous five mass extinctions that have occurred on this planet combined. This phenomenon threatens the life-sustaining capacity of Earth.

Evolution Is Not A Theory

The Universe began at a given point some 13.7 billion years ago or so and has been expanding and increasing in complexity ever since. Earth continues to evolve within this context. Life has evolved here as an integral part of this planet. Humanity shares an inherent and inherited genetic memory, passed down from the first life forms. Yet, some humans feel threatened by the concept of evolution. They fail to notice two crucial things. The first is that the evolution of life is quite the miracle, with any one of a billion things that could have gone wrong along the way.

The second crucial issue is that evolution presents a far more powerful, deliberate, and awe-inspiring set of events than any one-time, instant creation. Teaching evolution as an integral part of Earth Literacy is a vital way of communicating that humanity is inextricably connected to Earth. By ignoring or rejecting evolution, many humans are basically saying that they do not belong on Earth. They, in effect, reject their rich and vibrant inheritance and their rightful place in the community of life.