California State Medical Marijuana Patient Identification

Medical Cannabis:AIDS Patients in a Controlled Study Had Significant Pain Relief… AIDS patients suffering from debilitating nerve pain got as much or more relief by somking cannabis as they would typically get from prescription drugs — and with fewer side effects — according to a study conducted under rigorously controlled conditions with government-grown pot.

In a five-day study performed in a specially ventilated hospital ward where marijuana patients smoked three marijuana cigarettes a day, more than half the participants tallied significant reductions in pain.

By contrast, less than one-quarter of those who smoked “placebo” medical marijuana, which had its primary psychoactive ingredients removed, reported benefits, as measured by subjective pain reports and standardized neurological tests.

After writing articles recently on Morphine and prescription drugs used and abused as pain killers, I believe Marijuana is a better alternative. I do not have any personal experience with marijuana used for pain relief, but I was friends with a man whose wife used it before she died of complications from kidney failure.

His young wife first developed diabetes, then a heart attack. The medicine given to her for the heart attack killed her kidneys. She then had to endure dialysis three times a day at home. At the end she was nearly blind, and most of her body had stopped working. She was not even 45. He told me how much marijuana had helped her cope with the nausea, pain, and symptoms of her declining health. They did not get it legally, but from a friend who grew it out in the Colorado mountains. If it helped her with the debilitating disease pain, and made life tolerable, why did she have to obtain Marijuana illegally?

Morphine, OxyCotin, and other more dangerous pain killers are given to patients everyday. I think marijuana is probably less toxic, cheaper and safer. You don't inject marijuana either which prevents aids transmission and blown veins. According to physicians, it is very effective in treating the pain and nausea of AIDS, cancer patients, and other diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

There are many doctors both in favor and against using marijuana as a pain killer. I read a lot of research on the problems, addictions, and black market use of Morphine, Heroin, and OxyContin which are all opium derived. The drugs listed above are prescribed by current doctors to treat pain. I believe Marijuana is a safer alternative pain treatment.

Among the pro comments I read during my research, here is one from Lester Grinspoon, MD, Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, who stated in his article “The Medical Marijuana Problem,” published in Cannabis Health in Mar./Apr. 2006:”There are many thousands of patients who currently use cannabis as a medicine…There is no question about its safety. It is one of humanity's oldest medicines, used for thousands of years by millions of people, with very little evidence of significant toxic effects. More is known about its adverse effects than about those of most prescription drugs.”

According to a number of research reports on the use of medical marijuana, it has the least withdrawal symptoms of currently used pain killing prescription drugs, even in higher dosages. There are less dependence issues according to the research, and it is more easily tolerated by most patients. I feel patients should use it with the supervision of a doctor who is monitoring their overall disease and its symptoms. I think it should be legalized and regulated, so patients get a pure product. I feel it is a much better alternative to morphine, heroin, and OxyCotin where the drug overdose death rate is sky rocketing.

Deaths from opioid drugs such as morphine, heroin and OxyCotin tripled from 4000 in 1999 to 13,000 in 2006. Forty per cent of all poisoning deaths in the US in 2006 were caused from the abuse of opioid painkillers. These figures do not take into account the problem in black market drug traffic, hepatitis and AIDs transmission from used syringes.

Marijuana is not injected which is an advantage in regards to AIDS transmission and there are few deaths caused by the use of Marijuana. This does not mean its usage does not come without side effects. Still in my opinion, Marijuana should be legalized for use in pain management in certain diseases and to relieve dying patients. Visit the website below for some very excellent pros and cons on this subject, then make up your own mind.

References:

Pro-con.org on marijuana use: http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000141

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxycodone

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewresource.asp?resourceID=000141

WebMD Medical Reference: “Opioid Analgesics for Chronic Pain.”
Hall, A.J., Journal of the American Medical Association, Dec. 10, 2008; vol 300: pp 2613-2620.

Medical Marijuana:AIDS Patients in a Controlled Study Had Significant Pain Relief… AIDS patients suffering from debilitating nerve pain got as much or more relief by somking cannabis as they would typically get from prescription drugs — and with fewer side effects — according to a study conducted under rigorously controlled conditions with government-grown pot.

In a five-day study performed in a specially ventilated hospital ward where marijuana patients smoked three marijuana cigarettes a day, more than half the participants tallied significant reductions in pain.

By contrast, less than one-quarter of those who smoked “placebo” medical marijuana, which had its primary psychoactive ingredients removed, reported benefits, as measured by subjective pain reports and standardized neurological tests.

Marijuana Legalization is one of the most debated issues of the twenty first century. Use of the plant even dates back “further than 7,000 B.C. and was legal as recently as when Ronald Regan was a boy…” (Guither). The drug is the most commonly used illicit substance around the world and there are numerous slang terms for the plant such as cannabis, reefer, mary jane, weed, etc. Most Americans are familiar with the anti-marijuana commercials and the side effects of smoking pot as well as seeing athletes and celebrities reprimanded for the legal use and sale of cannabis. However, according to NORML (”The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws”) in 2008 “more than 80 million Americans admit that they have smoked in the past year.” This is a very large number considering how much money the United States government spends on advertising for the war against drugs. Many people agree that the drug is no more dangerous than the use of any other legal drugs such as the consumption of alcohol or cigarette smoking. For this reason, marijuana should be decriminalized and available to the public while regulated as cigarettes and alcohol.

The most obvious reason for a number of Americans to avoid marijuana is the belief that it is morally unethical. Jobs, that do drug testing, make it clear that it is not socially acceptable in the work place and that it will not be tolerated. Most Christians especially do not approve of smoking pot. Ironically, the Rastafarian religion has found numerous references to pot in the bible. For example, “…thou shalt eat the herb of the land (exodus 10:12)” (”BBC”).Though all religions vary in teachings, in general American parents are concerned that legalizing Marijuana sends the wrong message to children. Which is a good indication that most American parents of teenagers do not realize that “47% of high school students have tried marijuana” (Leachman 2). In 1936, “Reefer Madness”, a propaganda film framed as a documentary, warned parents and children of the dangers of the marijuana. The film was a far cry from reality and showed very unrealistic “scenes of high school kids smoking pot and quickly going insane, playing 'evil' jazz music, being committed, and going on a murder spree” (Murphy 1). “Reefer Madness” is now a musical and has been used for entertainment purposes because of its outdated and exaggerated views on marijuana.

For many people, marijuana is what is referred to as a gateway drug, or a seemingly harmless substance which may cause more serious addictions in the future. Joseph A. Califano says that “teens who drank, smoked cigarettes, and used marijuana at least once in the past month are more than 16 times as likely to use another drug like cocaine, heroin ,or LSD”(33) which are all very serious illicit drugs which can lead to severe health and legal consequences. For most of the American population it is considered to be common knowledge that marijuana is what gets people hooked on harder drugs. Despite this assumption, some believe that marijuana is not the cause at all and that most drug addicts begin substance abuse with legal drugs such as alcohol or cigarettes. According to the Institute of Medicine “ecause it is the most widely used illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug that most people encounter. Not surprisingly, most users do not begin with marijuana- they begin with alcohol and nicotine, usually when they are too young to do so legally”(36) It is understandable that”[people who enjoy the effects of marijuana are, logically, more likely to be willing to try other mood-altering drugs than are people who are not willing to try marijuana or who dislike its effects”(The Institute of Medicine 37).The Institute of Medicine also states that “illions of Americans have tried marijuana, but are not regular users. In 1996, 68.6 million people-32% of the U.S. population over 12 years old-had tried marijuana or hashish at least once in their life time, but only 5% were current users”(35). This does not mean that marijuana does not contribute to the amount of people who try hard drugs or become addicted to them. “Most people who smoke pot do not move on to other drugs, but then only 5% to 7% of cigarette smokers get lung cancer”, the lesson is that young people “who smoke pot are at vastly greater risk of moving on to harder drugs”(Califano 33). It would be easy to blame marijuana for drug dependency in America, but drugs that are legal in the U.S. are at fault as much or more because of their availability to the public.

For most educated Americans, it is known that marijuana has several harmful side effects. Health risks include memory loss, gum disease, lung and respiratory problems, and several mental health conditions that could become detrimental to a person's well-being. The most argued health issue is weather or not the drug is addictive. According to Tim Anderson “any people use marijuana compulsively even though it interferes with family, school, work and recreational activities” (226). Alcohol and nicotine are both legal drugs which are proven to be addictive and cause serious problems in the lives of people who become addictive. Why should the fact that marijuana is addictive keep it from being legalized when two other addictive substances are legally sold to the public? Alcohol can lead to the same poor choices as marijuana, such as unprotected sexual activity, neglect of responsibilities, or driving while impaired. Alcohol and nicotine are both proven to have as serious health consequences as marijuana. The Office of National Drug Control Policy states that “people who use marijuana on a regular basis often have the same breathing problems as tobacco users, such as chronic coughing and wheezing, more frequent acute chest illnesses, and a tendency toward obstructed airways”(228). More disconcerting than the physical health issues would be the mental health problems which may follow such as difficulty in “memory loss, distorted perception, trouble with thinking and problem solving, and anxiety” (Office of National Drug Control Policy 226).Regular marijuana users have also been shown to have double the chance of suffering from depression and anxiety, panic attacks, or thoughts of suicide later in life (ONDCP 226, “Drug Facts: Marijuana” 1). Alcohol is a depressant; these same effects hold true for alcoholics. “Is marijuana addictive? Yes, can be, in that some people use it to excess, in ways that are problematic for themselves and those around them, and find it hard to stop. But marijuana may very well be the least addictive and least damaging of all commonly used psychoactive drugs, including many that are now legal. Most people who smoke marijuana never become dependant. Withdrawal symptoms pale compared with those from other drugs. No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, which cannot be said for most other drugs. Marijuana is not associated with violent behavior and only minimally with reckless sexual behavior, and even heavy marijuana smokers smoke only a fraction of what cigarette addicts smoke. Lung cancers involving marijuana are rare” (Nadelmann 215).

The point is any substance, weather its caffeine or prescription drugs, can be abused and become addictive and harmful to a person, this should not mean that marijuana in particular should be illegal. Instead, marijuana should be legalized and regulated in the same way as alcohol and nicotine.

The first and possibly most essential reason for marijuana decriminalization is the many medical uses for the drug. A number of people with terminating illnesses have found relief from the use of marijuana. AIDS patients have shown an increase in appetite, as well as “cancer patients often smoke marijuana to battle the nausea caused by chemotherapy” (Rich 1). According to Ted Gottfried “arijuana has been effective in treating Glaucoma, a condition resulting from a pressure in the eyes, which the drug eases” the patient's pain (20). Marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes and can be beneficial to society but it is illegal, alcohol and nicotine are not effective as medicine for any diseases however they are both legal to the public. To supporters of marijuana legalization it is obvious why it should be legalized if only for medical use. The main concern for most patients would be the adverse affects of smoking marijuana may be more detrimental than the symptoms that the drug is meant to relieve. Luckily, less invasive ways to use the drug for medicine have been developed: “Pharmaceutical products containing marijuana's central ingredient, THC, are legally sold in the U.S., and more are emerging. Some people find the pill form satisfactory, and others consume it in teas or baked products” (Nadelmann 215). Even if patients decide smoke instead of one of the newer techniques, the effects on the person's health are minimal compared to the disease which it is helping to treat, especially since most of the diseases are fatal and incurable at this point in time.

Unlike cigarettes, marijuana has absolutely no harmful chemicals added before it is sold and smoked. For this reason alone pot is less likely to lead to cancer or lung problems. Lung cancer from the smoking of marijuana is rare and the use of tobacco is much more likely to result in respiratory complications and gum disease. In general, heavy users of marijuana still do not smoke as much as people who smoke cigarettes. Marijuana's health risks are significantly mild compared to legal substances and hard drugs. Infact many of the health risks are exaggerated or not sufficiently supported by scientific evidence: “In 1972, after reviewing the scientific evidence, the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse concluded that while marijuana was not entirely safe, its dangers had been grossly overstated. Since then, researchers have conducted thousands of studies of humans, animals, and cell cultures. None reveal any findings dramatically different from those described by the National Commission in 1972. In 1995, based on thirty years of scientific research editors of the British medical journal Lancet concluded that “the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health” (”Myths and Facts about Marijuana”1).

Some researchers will argue that the effects of marijuana are clearly visible regardless of scientific proof. The idea that marijuana leads to brain damage, has yet to be anything more than a theory. Scientists continue the study of the effects of marijuana on animals and humans:”None of the medical tests currently used to detect brain damage in humans have found harm from marijuana, even from long term high-dose use. An early study reported brain damage in rhesus monkeys after six months exposure to high concentrations of marijuana smoke. In a recent, more carefully conducted study, researchers found no evidence of brain abnormality in monkeys that were forced to inhale the equivalent of four to five marijuana cigarettes every day for a year. The claim that marijuana kills brain cells is based on a speculative report dating back a quarter of a century that has never been supported by any scientific study”(”Myths and Facts about Marijuana” 2).Though marijuana smoke is not necessarily a healthy habit, it is not any more harmful than the legal drugs that are being used everyday in the U.S.

Legalizing marijuana would not increase the number of people who abuse the drug; because it would be less taboo and not as thrilling if it is legal. When drugs are prohibited in America or in neighboring countries, use of the drug is actually increased. As determined by Dan Gardner, “he most frightening jumps in drug use the world has seen have happened after the introduction -or escalation- of drug prohibition” (132). He also believes that “tates with higher rates of drug incarceration experience higher rates of drug use” (133). If that is true, keeping marijuana illegal is counter productive to the fight against drug use in America. Legalization would cut down on the number of people in jail for marijuana related crimes. Instead of police chasing people, who may be illegally dealing drugs or in possession of marijuana, they can focus on catching criminals who are guilty of rape, burglary, or murder. Also if the number of people in jail were reduced tax payer's money would not be wasted and marijuana users could be productive members of society. According to District Attorney, Paul Gallegos, legalization of the drug “would probably reduce the value of marijuana pretty significantly, so we'd probably see a reduction if not a complete end to the ancillary crime associated with marijuana” (1). People who do not smoke pot now while it is illegal will most likely not start if it becomes legal due to religious beliefs or health concerns.

Economically, the legalization of marijuana could be beneficial to the U.S. because it could be taxed and regulated like tobacco. NORML states that currently “Californians consume $1-$2 billion worth of medical marijuana per year, enough to generate some $100 million in sales tax” (2) or approximately 1.3 billion dollars a year! The Economy in America is suffering and hemp could be a major export and beneficial cash crop. The use of hemp in clothing and other products has been around for thousands of years. Infact the first woven fabrics are believed to have been constructed from the plant's stalks (Guither 1). Of course, clothing is not the only industrial use of hemp; “over the centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more” (Guither 1). According to Dan Stancliff California's sale of marijuana could lead the nation out of the recession if pot were legalized. The money would not only come from industrial use but also on “tourism picking up for the entire state, and especially for the Emerald Triangle, 'Green Tours' would have a new meaning, more importantly, legalizing marijuana would put an end to the Mexican cartels who infest our state and national forests with their huge destructive grows” (Stancliff 1). Presently, much of America's tax dollars are being spent on anti-drug programs and advertisements. Many supporters claim that “f drugs were decriminalized…much of the $50 billion spent annually by federal and state government agencies might be used in such critical areas as health care, education, low-cost housing, and programs to reduce dependency on drugs and alcohol”(Gottfried 68). The cost to enforce marijuana laws in the U.S. is an estimated $10-15 billion (Nadelmann 214). Most supporters of marijuana legalization agree with the opinion of Ethan A. Nadelmann:

“No drug is perfectly safe, and every psychoactive drug can be used in ways that are problematic, The federal government has spent billions of dollars on advertisements and anti-drug programs that preach the dangers of marijuana -that it's a gateway drug, and addictive in its own right, and dramatically more potent than it used to be, and responsible for all sorts of physical and social diseases as well as international terrorism. But the government has yet to repudiate the 1988 finding of the Drug Enforcement Administration's own administrative law judge, Frances Young. Who concluded after extensive testimony 'marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man',” (Nadelmann 214).

Instead of spending American tax dollars on advertisements which people will ignore, that money could go toward improving the lives of the citizens.

In the United States, the possession of marijuana lands more that 700,000 people in jail every year (Nadelmann 214), most of which have no other criminal records. That means that the number of people arrested for marijuana related crimes is “almost as the same number as are arrested each year for cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, and all other illicit drugs combined” (Nadelmann 214). Clearly the U.S. government has overreacted and over the years this view has grown without many of the view-holders fully aware of the facts. In the some countries the use and sale of marijuana is legal and regulated as tobacco. For example, Amsterdam allows people to buy marijuana at coffee shops and the country does not seem to have a problem with abuse of the drug.

“Young people who smoke marijuana are to do so in coffee shops that openly sell the drug. There are rules governing these coffee shops. They are not allowed to sell alcohol or hard drugs. They may dispense no more than five grams of marijuana or hashish in any single transaction. Drugs may not be advertised. The shops must not cause any nuisance to local neighborhoods” (Gottfried 92).

Not all Americans agree that the same success with pot would happen in the U.S. Amsterdam and the other European countries, which do not prohibit the sale of marijuana, rely more on public transportation than most citizens of the United States. If pot were legal to the American public for personal use, laws prohibiting driving under the influence of marijuana should be enforced much like the laws regarding drinking and driving.

For a number of United States citizens that idea of marijuana legalization is a subject in which lies a lot of gray area. There are people who are totally against the idea, others who think that legalization is an imperative part of improving the quality of life in America, and many who are undecided on the matter. However, a plethora of American people who believe that marijuana should be legalized are vocal enough to gain national attention. Nadelmann states that “Marijuana Prohibition is unique among American criminal laws. No other law is both enforced so widely and harshly and yet deemed so unnecessary by such a substantial portion of the populace” (213). Many people disagree with the use of marijuana because of moral views but the same groups also disagree with tobacco and alcohol, both of which are not prohibited by law. Marijuana is no more dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol and therefore, should be legally treated as equals.

Above the Influence. “Drug Facts: Marijuana.” http:// www.abovetheinluence.com/facts/drugs-marijuana.aspx#. (2009)

Anderson, Tim. “Marijuana should be Decriminalized.” http: //www.themountaineeronline.com. (18 Nov 2008).

BBC. “Worship.” http: //www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/rastafaria/customs/customs_1.shtml.(18 Mar 2009).

Califano Jr., Joseph A. “Marijuana is a gateway drug.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. San Diego: Green Haven, 2002.

Drug Policy. “Myths and Facts about Marijuana.” http:// www.drugpolicy.org /marijuana/factsmyths /#harms. (2009).

Gardner, Dan. “Legalizing Drugs would not cause an increase in Drug Use.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. Green Haven: San Diego, 2002.

Gottfried, Ted. Should Drugs be Legalized? Brookfield: Twenty First Century, 2000.

Guither, Pete. “A Brief History of the Criminalization of Cannabis.” http:// Marijuana.drugwarrant.com. (2009).

The Institute of Medicine. “Marijuana Use does not lead to Harder Drugs.” Espejo, Roman. Drug Abuse. San Diego: Green Haven, 2002.

Leachman, Dr.Mackenzie. “Welcome to High School: What to Expect of your teenager through High School.” http://www.pld.fcps.net/welcom/htm. (19 Mar 2009).

Murphy, Kevin and Dan Studney. “Reefer Madness History.” http: //web. archive.org/web/20060328163232/ www.reefer=madness-movie.com/index.html. (2005).

Nadelmann, Ethan A. “An End to Marijuana Prohibition”. Goldberg, Raymond. Taking Sides: Drugs and Society. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

NORML. “NORML Statement on the Cultivation of Industrial Hemp.”http://www.norml.com/index.cfm? group_ID=5447. (11 Dec 2006).

Office of National Drug Control Policy. “Marijuana and the Truth behind 10 Popular Misperceptions.” Goldberg, Raymond. Taking Sides: Drugs and Society. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.

Rich, Alex K. “Legalization of Marijuana: an overview.” Points of View: Legalization of Marijuana. http: //search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=puh&AN=23554883&site=pov-live. (Feb 2007).

Stancliff, Dan. “California can lead the nation out of this depression by legalizing Marijuana.” http:// www.times-standard.com/ci_11865538?source=most=viewed. (08 Mar 2009)

Tam, Donna.” Marijuana Legalization Supporters say Bill could save Billions.” http: //www.times- standard.com/localnews/ci_11865543. (08 Mar 2009).

Marijuana Medicine can help with many ailments. With the recent death of Michael Jackson due to prescribed medications| more and more patients are examining their pill bottles and cannot help but be curious as to what their future holds. Doctors are so swift to write prescriptions for anti-depressants, painkillers, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Most medical cannabis patients feel that they cannot function on the medications that they have been prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, etc. and find that they function very well on medical marijuana.

If you are planning on visiting a distant land, then plan on spending some time finding out as much as you can about the particular country and culture you are visiting. You should never think that you will get by on your amazing American charm, and you should never be too naïve or cocky when it comes to learning someone else's social customs. So this means that you must do your homework and find out as much as you can about this cultural experience, especially if you have never been out of the states before. This article is a brief overview of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Cultural Etiquette and will give you some of the basic rules of traveling out of the country and things you should do to make your trip go smoothly.

I have already discussed the basic first step with you, which is finding out as much as possible about the country you are visiting. You should learn all about the people, customs, and forbidden things that you will encounter in their society. It would not be a bad idea to find out the names of the President or King of the country. It also would not hurt to learn about the local cuisine. Learning simple yet helpful things about the country itself can help if you happen to get into a crazy situation and can't find your way out of it. Once again don't be cocky and think that just because you are American you don't have to adjust or change who you are for anyone or any culture. You should never go into another person's country thinking that you don't have to follow their rules just because you are from New York or Los Angeles. Many Americans are informal, but don't think that you can go somewhere else and get away with what you may get away with here. Do your research and try your best to fit in, because more than likely the people you are visiting won't care how American you are, you better follow their rules.

Learn the language. I am not saying to go out and take a 5-year Swahili course, although it wouldn't hurt. Take time out to learn basic words and phrases so that you can communicate with the locals, even if it is a bare minimum. Imagine having to go to the restroom so bad and nobody can understand you when you ask them where it is. Or imagine being served a plate of raw snails because you couldn't read the menu. Learning basic sentences can and will help you on your journey. It would be a great idea to take along a simple language book and keep it by your side, just in case your memory isn't that good.

Ok, so you are visiting a country that speaks English, no big deal right? You don't have to learn the language because you already know it. Wrong, think again, you have to remember that Americans tend to use slang while we are talking to one another, and this slang will sound like gibberish to foreigners. Asking a person “Where's your crib?” or “This city is so cool” will probably cause confusion to them. Try to speak basic Standard English and leave out all of the extra jargon.

Take along your business card. This will help because many countries base the way that they treat people on their status. It is also nice to have one side of your business card printed in the language that is most commonly used in the country you are visiting. This is also great for making international contacts and keeping close international friendships. You should research when the best time to present your card to others would be and how to accept when a card is given to you. You should always treat the card that is given to you with respect. Don't just throw it down or away but put it somewhere for future viewing. You should present your card between your thumb and index finger with the side you would like them to read facing up. This makes it easier for the person to take the card and to read it quickly.

Direct eye contact can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on where you are going. Do your research. Some countries consider direct eye contact as being rude, aggressive, or challenging, while others will expect you to stare them right in the face.

Kissing in some countries shows a wonderful display of affection toward the other person whether you know them or not. The most common is “air kissing” or the basic smooch smooch on both cheeks. In America we are more likely to give a firm handshake to one another to show a sign of respect, however, in most countries, handshakes are limp and lifeless, so don't go for the firm handshake. If the person shakes your hand loosely then you try to mimic their action. Some cultures don't want any type of body contact when meeting another person because it is taboo or forbidden. They will probably not like it if you pat them on the back or extend your hand for a handshake, the best option would be to study their cultural customs and abide by them so you don't get into any trouble.

Gifts are a wonderful part of meeting and greeting others. In many countries it is customary to bring a gift when invited to a home or business. For businesses, you will want to do your research because what is acceptable in one country may be strictly forbidden in another. It may not be acceptable for a U.S. businesswoman to present a gift to a male businessman. The women should probably wait to see if she receives a gift from them before giving one. Wrapping the gift is very important in certain countries. The outside of the gift can be just as special as the inside. You should find out what are acceptable colors and styles when it comes to wrapping gifts. Don't try to impress your counterpart with an expensive gift; it may make you seem materialistic. Flowers work very well as gifts especially if you are invited to a home as an honored guest. Be careful when choosing flowers, the type of flower can vary from country to country, so once again do your research.

Conduct yourself at the dinner table the way that your foreign hosts will want you to. Here it may be rude or gross to burp at the table, however, in some countries it is a compliment to the chef. Don't be rude if the host is serving something that you don't like to eat, try it anyways or at least try not to be too overtly grossed out. Learn how you should hold your cup of tea or what dish you should eat first. Scarfing down your food may be rude so try to observe how everyone else is eating, and if you don't know what something is or how to do something, don't be afraid to ask.

Personal space will have a big impact on you when you leave this country. In some countries, the people will be so close together that they will almost be touching, in other countries, the gap may be much farther apart. Study how close the natives are together when they are speaking to one another and try to copy them.

As in this country, always respect your elders. Listen to them when they speak, rise when they enter the room, always treat them with respect. In many countries the elders are highly respected and treated well. In some Asian countries, young people will rise to give their seat to the elderly on a bus. Remember they have been here much longer than you and they deserve your respect.

Research the proper attire that you should wear. In Islamic countries, women are encouraged to cover their hair with the hijab, or headscarf. Wearing what the locals wear will help you to fit in and also give a good impression that you are trying to connect with them and respect their rules and customs. When going on business trips, find out if it is better to wear a business suit or a dashiki.

Green works wonderful in the United States of America, but it may not work where you are planning on visiting. You should estimate or decide how much money you plan on spending and then you should get your green traded in for foreign dollars once you arrive in the country. This will help you to save money because surcharges are placed on each currency exchange transaction.

Don't forget your passport and definitely don't lose it. Your passport and or visa will get you back home God willing, so you should do your best to take very good care of it. You should make sure your passport will still be valid at least six months from the time your arrived and you should check with a travel agent to see if you will need a visa along with your passport. Make sure your passport has your name, address, telephone number of someone to be contacted in case of an emergency, and your photo. You should also keep an extra copy of your photo in another location aside from your passport just in case.

You will need to do some basic but important things before your trip; here is the list.

• Update insurance policies and will, just in case you happen to die on your trip (which I hope that you do not).
• Leave a copy of our power of attorney and itinerary information with a family member or friend.
• Find out if your insurance covers you for theft abroad.
• Find out how to report the loss of a credit card or information. You should probably write down the 1-800 number on the back of the card and keep it in a safe location just in case this happens.
• Carry only basic credit cards and identification with you, try to limit other documents because they may be required to be searched.
• Keep your U.S. identification or driver's license on you at all times. Make sure these have your photo on it.
• You should get an international driver's permit if it is required for the country you are visiting.
• Make at least two copies of credit card numbers, traveler's check numbers, telephone numbers to report lost or stolen cards, and airline ticket numbers.

If you have medical problems you definitely should see your doctor before going abroad. You should have the doctor write out any prescriptions that you may be taking just in case of an emergency. If you think that you will need a doctor abroad, you should check out the American Board of Medical specialist and it's 22 certifying member boards, which may be located at the local library. Take along a copy of your prescriptions, a full supply of any prescription medication you will need, an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses, extra contact cases, international vaccine record certifying you have had all of your vaccinations, list of your blood type, allergies, medical conditions, and special requirements.

Check to see if your health insurance is willing to cover you abroad. You may be excited to know that in some countries, insurance is not required and medical treatment is much cheaper than in the states. However, you will need to be cautious of some treatment facilities. You may also want to get international coverage while you are on your trip, just in case of an emergency.

Try not to look like a tourist. Hawaiian shirts, cameras, binoculars and other tourist paraphernalia will draw immediate attention to you. You want to make sure to dress casual, don't look too much like a traveler, and try to carry your valuables underneath your clothing. Avoid using fanny packs and outside purses.

Tag all of your baggage with your name, home address, phone number and emergency contact information. You should also put your information inside of the luggage just in case the tag happens to fall off. You should secure your luggage with locks; however, they can be broken into, so for more security place a piece of nylon filament tape around the suitcase.

Hotel safety is very important. You should consult a travel agency on the best and safest hotels in the country. You should make your own travel arrangements and reservations, you should use your employer's business address if going on a business trip, you should NOT identify your company, and you should use your own personal credit card to pay your bills. You are very vulnerable while traveling from the airport to the hotel because there are people that wait around to rob tourists who don't have a clue, the best thing to do is to get to your hotel as soon as possible and don't hang around the airport talking or taking pictures, get to your room.

What you should look for in a hotel is very important. You want to feel safe and secure while traveling out of the country. You should ask the hotel for a room between the second and seventh floor. You want to be in a room that is above ground and does not have easy window or sliding door glass access. You also want a room that is not near an elevator or stairwell. When you get to the hotel, scope it out and find the closest fire exits and nearest phones outside of your room just in case of an emergency. Make sure that your room door is secure and locked and always keep your door closed and or locked.

If you are feeling sick, don't waste time thinking that you are going to be ok. Foreign lands can sometimes bring foreign diseases. Get checked out or get to the nearest U.S. embassy to gain access to the local physicians and medical facilities.

Find out where the U.S. Embassy is located in the country you are in. If something should happen you would probably want to locate and get to the U.S. Embassy as soon as possible.

Be safe while traveling. Try to stay out of the crime scene. Here are a few tips for staying safe.

• Never leave your luggage unattended in public areas.
• Never accept packages from strangers.
• Don't look like a tourist; we already went over this one. You should avoid wearing expensive jewelry and don't carry large amounts of money on you.
• When exchanging money only deal with authorized agents.
• Do not publicize your travel plans, or discuss your information with people you don't know.
• Always inspect any gifts you may receive from business or personal contacts.
• You should never pack money, traveler's checks, or expensive valuables in your checked luggage.
• Try to get all of your money exchanged before going abroad, this way you will avoid being a target and getting your money stolen.

When renting a car, you should choose a common model and have the car rental place take all of the markings that will identify that the car is a rental. You should make sure you have universal door locks, power windows, and air conditioner. These luxuries may help to keep you out of a jam and out of the way of thieves targeting tourists. Air conditioners will help because you don't have to role down the windows. With open windows you are allowing unknown persons to come inside of your vehicle. You should always keep your door locked, avoid driving after dark, never leave valuables in your car, do not park the car on the street overnight, if the hotel does not have a parking garage, park your car in a well lit area.

Don't try to bring drugs back with you. We have all heard of Amsterdam and their legality of marijuana and other drugs, but you have to remember, these drugs are illegal in the U.S. and it is illegal to leave the country with paraphernalia. Be smart and don't travel with illegal substances.

Get street smart. Know where you are. Try to know your surroundings. Find out where the U.S. Embassy is located, where the police and fire stations are. Take alternative routes when leaving and returning from your hotel, so that no one can track you down. Learn how to call locally and know the exact amount of change you will need in order to use a pay phone. Keep extra change on you at all times just in case you need to make a local call. Don't go out jogging or walking alone, especially at night in unknown lands. Be careful entering public restrooms and try not to do so alone. Be aware of scams where people may spill a drink on you while someone else is stealing your wallet. Be street smart, not street dumb.

If you are arrested in a foreign country you will probably freak out and think that it is the end. There is hope, however, there are a few tips you will need to follow to get you out of the mess.

• Ask to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate that is representing your country. You will probably have to bug them in order to get this phone call, but don't give up.
• Never provoke the arresting officer.
• Admit or volunteer nothing.
• Never sign anything, especially if it is written in another language. Ask for an attorney or an embassy representative to look over the document before signing it.
• Ask for identification when the person arrives from the embassy. You don't want to end up in more trouble.
• Don't agree to anything. The police may try to bribe you so that you can get out, or they may try to threaten you. Don't agree!!!
• Once you are out contact the local embassy right away and get out of their country.

I hope that this will help you God willing.

Marijuana Medicine has a long history of helping, With the recent death of Michael Jackson due to prescribed medications| more and more patients looking at the prescription drugs and cannot help but be curious as to what their future holds. Doctors are so swift to write prescriptions for anti-depressants, painkillers, sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Most medical cannabis patients feel that they cannot function on the medications that they have been prescribed for pain, insomnia, depression, etc. and find that they function very well on medical marijuana.

Medical cannabis is the use of the components of the marijuana plant for relief of a multitude of medical symptoms and terminal illnesses. A review of the study literature in 2002 shows that the benefits of medically used cannabis to be effective relief for a variety of symptoms. There have been numerous studies all over the world in major countries that lead the world in medical advances indicating the use to be beneficial. The most recent study in the United Kingdom found the use promising in even more neurological disorders and chronic pain sufferers than first indicated.

The studies have proven the use of medical marijuana to be most beneficial for muscle spasm and skeletal disorders such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and partial seizures, spasms of cerebral palsy and spinal injuries. It was also indicated as a bronchodilator for asthma. The oldest indication for the use of marijuana is for nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy drugs. It also reduces chronic loss of appetite for cancer and AIDS patients, and reduces the inflammatory process in inflammatory bowel diseases and rheumatoid arthritis. Now the studies are headed in the direction of mental illness such as bipolar, depression, mood disorders attention deficit disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. This is only a tip of the iceberg. There are many other conditions that are being trialed for the use of cannabis. The Australian Parliamentary Library at www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rn/20 has conducted many studies

Cannabidiol also known as “CBD” is the component of the marijuana plant that is found to be of the greatest benefit. This component is extracted and is what is used for the medical purposes described above. Studies have actually found that CBD inhibits the growth of the cancer cell, so it is definitely leading to some promising interventions for terminal illness. The use of medical marijuana has been approved in certain states in the United States, but remains a federal crime. It is available only by prescription and each state has its own statutes on how much one is allowed to grow and possess. There are some synthetic derivatives that are available is various forms. Nabilone approved for use in 1985 is in pill form, but most cancer patients have difficulty swallowing this pill because of the mouth sores and the irritated throats from all the vomiting. It was then converted into a crystallized powder that can be sprinkled on anything the patient likes. Marinol approved in 1992 is in pill form only, and sativex approved in Canada in 1995 and 1997 is a sublingual spray.

Patients are allowed to cultivate and smoke the plant if they so chose, and as said before each state has their own laws governing the amount one can possess. The effects of smoking marijuana are immediate; which is very different than waiting for a pill to disintegrate and migrate throughout the bloodstream to become effective. Eight States started to approve the use in 1970 and more in 1980 as more studies were proving the benefits, even though these state approvals defied the policies of the federal government.

Since the proof has become overwhelming there have been twelve medical organizations that have supported the use of medical marijuana including The American Medical Association. Although there are some organizations that have not come on board, even though it helps the patients they represent. Organizations such as American Cancer Society, The National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

There is criticism against the use of medical marijuana; in 2006 the FDA advised against smoking the drug because smoking is harmful. According to the website Wikipedia, the Institute of Medicine conducted studies that showed there were no benefits for any of these conditions and that smoking marijuana is highly addictive and does not mitigate any symptoms or promote treatment None of the studies claim to reverse or cure these diseases, the use is merely a way to keep these patients more comfortable and give them back a certain quality of life that they may not have had if not for the medical use of marijuana.

Availability is not as widespread as one would think with all the new evidence. It is available is Austria, Canada, Spain and the United States. An example of one of the thirteen states that has approved marijuana use for medical purposes is Rhode Island. The State allows a patient under the care of a practitioner for the following diseases cachexia, cancer, glaucoma, hepatitis C, debilitating pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe muscle spasm, multiple sclerosis, crohns, IBS and alzheimers disease. The patient or the primary caregiver may legally possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana and/or twelve plants stored at an indoor facility. The state does have a registry and issues identification cards stating the marijuana is for medical purposes and is legal for them to carry. Most states have similar laws and similar amounts stated in the law. Each state has their own website to see what the regulations are; however, you can find Rhode Island's regulations at www.health.state.ri.us if you need an application and believe you fall within these guidelines the website is www.health.ri.gov/hsr/mmp/index.php.

It has been used all through history ancient Greece, ancient India, Ancient Egypt, Medieval Islamic world all used cannabis for the same symptoms that we are studying now; everything from glaucoma to mental illness to spastic muscle diseases. The studies need to continue to find out more about its benefits. If it makes a terminally ill person more comfortable during their illness and in their last days, why shouldn't they have that right? Would you take away a cancer patient's morphine during the same time frame because it's addictive?

There are some other studies that can be referenced through their websites:

Cannabidiol A novel inhibitor of Id-I gene expression in aggressive breast cancer cells

Cannabis in the Ancient World Cannabis Effects www.lycos.com/info/cannibas-effects

Synthetic THC / Marinol www.ardpark.org/marinol_research.htm