April 15, 2012

Medical marijuana that doesn't get you high.

This tests the good faith of those who favor access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

I particularly like the horticulturalist's name: Bill Althouse.
McAhren and Althouse started trying to breed up the CBD and breed down the THC, hoping to find a sweet spot that would provide a plant that offered optimal medicinal value with no high.

A few weeks ago, they hit the jackpot. McAhren and Althouse proudly showed me two tall, gangly plants of the new marijuana strain they call A Todo Madre – “perfect” – their miracle plant....

Althouse, who was abused as a child and was diagnosed with PTSD, is a licensed medical marijuana user as well as a producer. He tried the new plant and found it relieved his anxiety but didn’t make him feel high. “It’s a sense of well-being rather than a sense of euphoria or a high,” he said. Smoking the CBD strain didn’t bring any big “aha” moment, Althouse said. “It’s like, ‘I had a great day today.’ ”

46 comments:

Chase said...

This tests the good faith of those who favor access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

You got that right!

Bring it on and let's see who's the hypocrites/liars and who's sincere!

madAsHell said...

yeah....they told me if I voted for McCain, they would take the buzz out of my reefers!

SteveR said...

I'm not sure this will catch on. Most "medical marijuana" users want to get high.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

It sounds like drinking near beer.

What is the point?

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

To ask the question is to know the answer.

Mark O said...

Let's smoke some shit.

cubanbob said...

Can this substance be made in to a pill form? If so, it would be a wonderful thing for those who need pain relief. While smoking this for of weed is preferable to being in pain, smoking anything can't be good for one's health so if a pill version of it were available would accomplish the intended effect, pain relief, without the more serious side effects.

In the meantime, it's time for the republican party to get more in touch with it's libertarian wing and start to reconsider the drug laws, particularly with respects to marijuana. The price of the drug war far exceeds the benefit. Too many resources are devoted to the drug war and the war is too corrupting, it's time to rethink this.

garage mahal said...

This tests the good faith of those who favor access to marijuana for medicinal purposes.

From the last post:

But if government’s job is also to remedy many of life’s inequities, you may want a stronger centralized government, unchecked by competition.


Sounds like medical pot opponents favor a stronger centralized government that micromanages every drug produced, right down to what part of the drug effects which brain receptors?

William said...

I used to jog five miles four or five times a week. After finishing a run, I felt exultant and happy--like I had just done something worthwhile and important. The trouble with doing things that are worthwhile and important is that you first have to identify something that's worthwhile and important and then you have to go to all that bother actually doing worthwhile and important stuff. It is so much easier to just go joggng.....There will definitely be a market for this variety of marijuana. You get a feeling of well being without the nagging feeling that you're being self indulgent. It's like jogging without the sneakers. Part of a feeling of well being is the feeling of being virtuous which this drug now offers.

Ron said...

[James Earl Jones voice] It's an Althousian weed that bears bitter fruit...

I got nuthin' else... I've always wanted to say that around here...

bagoh20 said...

If a product has two benefits, why would eliminating one be better? It's like decaffeinated coffee. I guess it would appeal to some, but the majority are gonna want the free extra benefit. If it cost a lot less, then maybe you got something.

Ann Althouse said...

"Sounds like medical pot opponents favor a stronger centralized government that micromanages every drug produced, right down to what part of the drug effects which brain receptors?"

I think a lot of what is done under the "medical" heading is bogus. Most people getting medical marijuana seem to be abusing the system. We'd find something out if we limited medical marijuana to something that didn't get you high.

I personally believe that if people are using marijuana as an intoxicant, it shouldn't be based on a con and limited to people who participate in the con.

I don't think freedom should depend on willingness to lie and cheat.

Wince said...

Well, for licensed medical marijuana users who are heavy machinery operators and work in other drug-tested occupations it's good news.

Just guessing, but I suspect many "sufferers" will report no pain mitigation benefit without the THC.

And I agree with Althouse on the perniciousness of "to the 'con' go the spoils", which is so pervasive in what the government does.

garage mahal...
Sounds like medical pot opponents favor a stronger centralized government that micromanages every drug produced, right down to what part of the drug effects which brain receptors?

Sounds like the FDA status quo with respect to all legal drugs.

Anonymous said...

Smoking the CBD strain didn’t bring any big “aha” moment, Althouse said. “It’s like, ‘I had a great day today.’ ”

This sounds like the fictional "allswell" that is genetically engineered into the food supply in Anathem

Jaske said...

I have no doubt many medical marijuana users abuse the sysrem, but it seems to me that this particular plant would not work for the cancer patients that smoke it to overcome nausea from chemtherapy. It's the THC in the plaqnt that gives them their appetite back.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/THC#Appetite_and_taste

edutcher said...

The Blonde has always said the effect of marijuana can be achieved through dispensing other meds IV-push, so this is no surprise.

Revenant said...

Neat. But is it actually effective, or is he just experiencing a placebo effect because he wants it to work?

It would be nice to find out, but I don't see the government allowing studies.

rhhardin said...

They already have empty calories that don't taste good.

Try any breakfast bar.

~Nina said...

Most people hiding behind medical marijuana laws are abusing the system. Believe me. There are two "medical marijuana" dispensaries within blocks of my home. The clientele is pretty homogenous. Mostly young white males in their twenties and thirties who ride up on their skateboards and scooters, wheeeeeee!, buy their designer marijuana, and scoot on back to work at Zynga or Bloomspot or LivingSocial or CloudTalk or Klout or Twitter or Ubisoft or...well, you get the picture.

Not exactly PTSD sufferers, or cancer patients, or whatever the usual excuse is. They have, um, "anxiety disorder", or some such manufactured BS "ailment", they pony up the $200 - $300 for their card, and they're good to go.

Idiots. I wouldn't mind so much if they'd at least learn some sidewalk manners and wash more often, grubby, rude little pests that they are.

ndspinelli said...

good job stifling debate and having just a few comments, professor. Shoot yourself in the foot much?

Oh, and you're looking pretty paunchy @ the rally. Maybe smoke some indica cannabis[doesn't increase appetite] and lay off the vino!

SteveR said...

@ndspinelli

Her blog and you are unimportant as a commenter or otherwise. We don't visit to get your opinion. Bust off on some of your own pictures Adonis

ndspinelli said...

Steve, Just who are the "we" to whom you refer? Are you the official spokesman for all commenters?

ndspinelli said...

The professor talks out of her ass using vague terms like "I think" and "I personally believe". I present informed opinions and they're summarily deleted. This is like the Kremlin.

ndspinelli said...

And Steve, I believe edutcher is the annoited spokesman being President of ASS[Althouse Syncophant Society]. I'm guessing you're a loyal member of ASS?

Kirk Parker said...

Wait -- are you talking genetically engineered here? Oh holy cognitive dissonance!!!

Kirk Parker said...

O unwanted person, if this really were like the Kremlin, you'd disappear without a trace.

SteveR said...

@ndspinelli

For some one who is butt hurt so easily perhaps you should try not being so intent on being a snarky asshole. I know what you are about and why. People like you have come and gone since the beginning of this blog, you are neither original nor clever.

SteveR said...

@ndspinelli

For some one who is butt hurt so easily perhaps you should try not being so intent on being a snarky asshole. I know what you are about and why. People like you have come and gone since the beginning of this blog.

ndspinelli said...

Kirk Parker, I routinely dissappear w/o a trace. Of course, there is little evidence of that. I've been deleted @ least 200 times since Bloody Sunday in December 2011. There is no "deleted by blog administrator", I'm just gone.

The professor and her husband detest me. I wear their scorn like a badge of honor.

ndspinelli said...

SteveR, I will not be intimidated by you, or anyone. I'm tough, blue collar, and damn proud of it. I've seen nothing of substance from you. How do you know what I'm about? In the words of the Who, "Who the fuck are you..dooo doo, doo doo. I say, who the fuck are you?"

God, An Original A-hole said...

This sounds like the golden ticket to me, as a person for whom medical marijuana is the most effective treatment for a rather debilitating condition. I don't want the high. I would simply like an alleviation of my symptoms, thank you very much.

It's too bad Obama mocks my reason for pursuing medical marijuana. Too bad that Althouse mocks it. Too bad Althouse & Meade's fellow Republicans mock it. To them, it is all about the "high", and to them it seems that the idea of marijuana as medicine is just plain ludicrous. Since the need for medical marijuana has never existed for them, it can't possibly exist for anyone else, right?

ndspinelli said...

I thank you, God. But be careful God, you're challenging false prophets and their sycophants.

ndspinelli said...

And God, a little background. For those who think wine is only to "get high", they would project that same reality to cannabis. Most folks look upon wine, beer, liquor as something that is about social engagement. People who have friends like to meet and have a couple drinks. Those who are friendless, that just doesn't compute.

SteveR said...

Spinelli

You revealed yourself. Sure. Tough.

Wince said...

ndspinelli said...
Oh, and you're looking pretty paunchy @ the rally. Maybe smoke some indica cannabis[doesn't increase appetite] and lay off the vino!

Hey, my thought when I first saw the picture was "who's the hot blonde in the center of the picture!"

Seriously, that's exactly what I said, either out loud or to myself (sometimes it's hard for me to distinguish).

Granted, I didn't have my glasses on and it was the reduced embed image, but that also means I didn't know it was Althouse. In any event, it was the silhouette that caught my attention, and I didn't know it wasn't a much younger woman until I enlarged the image.

Obviously, I'm a blurter on these comment threads, so it was all I could do at the time to keep my reaction to myself, but I didn't want Althouse to get a big head.

Actually I was going to also mention that Meade looked much younger too with the beard and shades.

Anyway, I find it reassuring that my honest, unbiased reaction to the image was diametrically opposed to ndspinelli's.

I also have a suspicion that ndspinelli's first reaction might of been the same as mine (notice he says "I saw you looking pretty...), "Dr. Freud call you office", but he'd hate to admit it -- and so he tried to do the exact opposite.

He enlarged the image and instead of recognizing that it was a great looking woman of sixty years, he decided he was in a position to go in for the kill.

What a miserable piece of shit you are.

leslyn said...

I took a nap and had a dream about that marijuana that doesn't get you high.

It was VERY pleasant.

leslyn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Methadras said...

It was all about weed being a medicine, right? RIGHT? Let's see how that shit smells.

bagoh20 said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
bagoh20 said...

I don't use medical weed, but I think all medicine is better if it makes you feel good as well as doing whatever. Would you think it preferable that nutrition be bland and tasteless, lest we enjoy it. After all, we just need a well rounded gruel pumped into our gullet three times a day from an effective yet nondescript nozzle of medium size.

leslyn said...

@bayou--just FYI, "walter" is a stalker. I hope he doesn't get fixated on you from the photo thread. But if he does...well, he might lose interest in following me around.

scrubjay said...

Users will probably rename "Todo Madre" as "Todo Mierda".

The definition of conservative remains "The nagging fear that someone, somewhere is having a good time."

SGT Ted said...

The CBDs are also effective against joint pain.

But, it really depends on what you are trying to treat. I use it for PTSD, instead of Zoloft. With Zoloft, I was becoming dangerous to myself. And those types of drugs aren't very good for your brain over the long run.

Funny how they're not concerned about getting rid of the "high" of Morphine or Hydrocodone or Oxycontin, which are far more addictive and nasty to your brains fucntioning than pot.

Just the Devil Weed, MaryJane.

Which reveals more about the Puritan Streak in American culture than it does about medical marijuana users.

You actually ENJOYED your medicine? Can't have that, better outlaw it. Take this Synthetic Opiate Dirivitive instead. You'll function even less and be all dopey and stupid, while we maintain the profits from our drug patent. Lord knows, we can't patent a plant, so we better get it outlawed.

If you really knew the xenophobia, racism and crony corporatism that led to marijuanas outlawing in the 1930s, you'd be embarrassed at what was done in your name and call for repeal.

Nathan Alexander said...

The definition of conservative remains "The nagging fear that someone, somewhere is having a good time."

That's only true if the definition of liberal is "The nagging fear that someone, somewhere is having a good time doing something that isn't taboo-defying sex."

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Unknown said...

Contrary to Steve R's belief, most medical marijuana users do NOT seek to get high. We want to be free of pain yet still able to think clearly and do our jobs each day. Since Cannatonic has been the only strain so far in NM with high CBD/low TCH, it sells out quickly. Now that my dispensary carries ATM regularly, patients can get needed relief and a sense of well-being without a head high. Thank you Bill Althouse!!