{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/pain/9","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2032-markdown","title":"Care By Design Study Reveals CBD Provides Superior Relief for Migraines","slug":"care-by-design-study-reveals-cbd-provides-superior-relief-for-migraines","content":"[Care by Design](https://www.cbd.org/) , a premier manufacturer of high cannabidiol (CBD) products, is a well-known, trusted brand within the California cannabis industry. Their customer base is often new to cannabis and many are seeking medicinal benefits for a variety of conditions. Care By Design conducted a [recent study](https://www.cbd.org/largest-survey-patients-using-cbd) with over 600 people, from their customer base, to better understand why they use the products and the overall benefits received.\n\nThe results not only demonstrate that cannabis works for many medical conditions, but it confirms a [previous study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25255903) published in 2014 by Ryan-Ibarra, et al. Both of these studies show that that most common indication for medical cannabis use, about 31%, is for [chronic pain](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/562150d03232620006450000/top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain) and [arthritis](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a546996636300006230000/medical-marijuana-a-safe-alternative-for-arthritis-inflammation). Not surprisingly, 72-92% of patients using cannabis for these conditions found that it significantly decreased pain symptoms. \n\nAccording to the research, 4-8% of the patient base suffers from [migraines](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/559ac07d3664330006070000/taking-queues-from-the-past-medical-marijuana-can-provide-migraine-relief). Migraine pain significantly decreased in almost 100% of people taking the CBD-rich cannabis concentrates. This finding is particularly remarkable as most prescription medication does not perform nearly as well and most includes impactful side effects. Most participants indicated that their overall sense of wellbeing increased by about 88% after using the CBD-rich products. Participants suffering from [post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55fa22d93262620006740000/new-finds-on-ptsd-and-medical-marijuana) also indicated a much better sense of wellbeing after using the products with CBD-dominant cannabis medicine.\n\nPatients with chronic diseases get “worn down” and often have feelings of lethargy. Care by Design found that almost 40% of these patients had an increased energy level after using CBD-rich cannabis. This increase in energy levels was also seen in almost 60% in patients with inflammation, [fibromyalgia](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/559adb8865623000060f0000/relief-from-fibromyalgia-symptoms-the-case-for-medical-marijuana) and PTSD.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAABQAAAAPCAIAAABr+ngCAAAACXBIWXMAAAsTAAALEwEAmpwYAAADm0lEQVQozxXK209adwDA8R8w3Dqi1rrJuFQQRLSAFA6Oo1Z0ChwQBA6XAzLkKBdB1gqt3JSlylWw6VpA7Ew5abNsc00258yymcxucWmXvTTZHposy7I1W/qw/2Is+eT79AW0hf3uhfssb5PvJUTephwnlDgxiRPIEuEIEbn3iU9rzdo2gYcI22LTHWg6/U2bnzD5mlpfE0g99VF8d8bXMAf3nKG9pUjjRqyxsVbPpeq7udpHO7XP71TvZqrxcC0VqScjtbVIPRqpR1bqwfAuSCW3NzOV/EalmN4ppiv5RLmSLJeTpdJaMRfNF2PZUmyzEtuqJraq8a3ba9ny9Vwhmt28ll9/Lw8eFuOPduIH5UQzt34nk76dTh4UVo/LK0fF8FfFwJeF4FF+5WQ7fJi92kzH7iVje8novVT0w/WWGDi46fm6MP/xTd9earmRCB5teU7yzh9L5t+q8IuG5M/qpb+qfX98IPxuY/qLhOGbDcMPWePTkvFJyfR9wQz2Y/baNWdj1dVSv+oiVq0PV+cOopqTBHSWZD/LUH/PgRdFysty2z/bbc83239Ks86SwtOk+Ns4BLIeSwFHby2hd31ow2/a9xke+DWfBFWP/IrjAOfx8rlfYqS/N0j/ZkkvM+B5DDwNg7MQ6WyFdBp6HfhVmsi09roGSWh1GQTJziI7Jm0dndlHVQ8s8CEqOLV1PLG3PXNQfnWSfnZQH9s7j22sQxv3M7QfDPI0Yr5G1o8oBLoxoW5qSK8T6a0SvfOyziPVh+TIjRF1SqHKK5W3YCglH18c1rolOodIP3dJB8BbKsCYBIwpwJxuITNnKCw1lal9laU9x9TSmEgnU8dm6a09UwLG7HmmgcbUtTG1rzA0ZIYGUPoMZK4B9M4CrvF/HCOJayJzzVSe5TWehcZDO/nWLh5K7zW0c1Eqx0zhmMmc1jBH6jUAOuTtluNvyhd7FAHGyDIL8vUq/H2KgEgZVIwuK5U+JbwIw0utQgpcLPMOyPCLUi97GKeLPaCDPUFjT3X0Ief7Dd1C04UBlD7kYIvnOWK3ROYehz3vXPGqJ7z6K95J5cLYiBeCPIOX3+VI3BdFLtDO03UJDF2Cua4B8xsDph6BkS40sQYt/GG7WGaHlfPjo64J2DEJz6vedkIK15AU40uwfomNL0IBdxhlSmxssZUxZGGLrBwRyhHbhDJMCmEQZB9TYrMqh12NeRDMqW5xYWoXOu1CJrBxGPsP3eM1iHuY1Y8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/ee604/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png","srcSet":"/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/69585/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png 200w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/497c6/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png 400w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/ee604/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png 800w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/f3583/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png 1200w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/f90fa/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/58556/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/61e93/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp 200w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/1f5c5/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp 400w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/58556/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp 800w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/99238/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp 1200w,\n/static/1fa94d1ffc8b634ad8ccf6007454f928/5e0b8/c90601231721371bde4c7d8bae0ee898.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1912-markdown","title":"Top 14 Marijuana Strains for Different Kinds of Pain","slug":"top-14-marijuana-strains-for-different-kinds-of-pain","content":"Two studies paint a grim picture of the American landscape when it comes to pain and pain management. \n\nAccording to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, approximately [100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain](http://www.nap.edu/read/13172/chapter/2), defined as pain that lasts for weeks or months. Often this is due to an underlying medical issue such as inflammation, migraines, fibromyalgia or spinal injury, to name a few.\n\nMeanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control report that between 2001 and 2003, there was a [three-fold increase in the total number of deaths from opioid overdose](http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates), often prescribed as pain relievers. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Clinical Trials Show Marijuana Reduces Intensity of Pain\n\nThe good news is that an increasing number of medical organizations acknowledge the benefits of medical marijuana for pain management. \n\n* A 2011 UCSF study led by Dr. Donald Abrams observed the effect of cannabis when combined with certain opiates  and found that [after being exposed to vaporized cannabis for four days, participants reported increased pain relief](http://www.ucsf.edu/news/2011/12/11077/ucsf-study-finds-medical-marijuana-could-help-patients-reduce-pain-opiates) even though morphine levels in the bloodstream decreased, while oxycodone levels remained unchanged.\n* In a study conducted by Dr. Kevin Hill from Harvard Medical School, six trials suggested that [medical marijuana was an effective pain reliever](http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2338266) on patients suffering from chronic pain, neuropathic pain and multiple sclerosis. \n* In his study at the McGill University Health Centre and published by the _Canadian Medical Association Journal_, Mark Ware found that [an inhalation of 25 mg\nof medical cannabis with 9.5% THC helped reduce the intensity of pain](http://www.cmaj.ca/content/182/14/E694.abstract) over four years for patients suffering from non-cancer pain. \n\n### So Which Type of Marijuana Is Best for Pain Relief? \n\nGenerally, cannabis strains with high percentages of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), are most effective at pain relief. \n\n![Blueberry Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-e182ab45-d6e7-4f4a-bed1-147a7b35724f/original.jpg)\n**Blueberry Kush**\n\nBlueberry Kush is a hybrid strain that features a blueberry aroma and dark green buds and has been widely used as part of a pain management regimen. \n\n![White Widow](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-28da2679-f8ef-49d5-926d-eb8f5458d08f/original.jpg)\n**White Widow**\n\nAnother strain that's been getting attention when it comes to generalized pain is the Auto White Widow. The strain is also helpful for those suffering from insomnia and depression.\n\n### Try Grand Daddy Purple or Blue Dream for Migraines\n\n![Grand Daddy Purple](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-fbc47669-a0e9-4095-8ff8-82ecfa007120/original.jpg)\n**Grand Daddy Purple**\n\nTo treat migraines, Grand Daddy Purple is an indica strain that delivers cerebral euphoria to relieve headaches. \n\n![Blue Dream](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-2fa7b263-e137-45a2-8621-de65ffb6fb38/original.jpg)\n**Blue Dream**\n\nSimilarly, many migraine sufferers swear by the pain-relieving properties of Blue Dream. This hybrid strain can ease the user into cerebral invigoration and body relaxation.\n\n### Master Kush & AK-47 Help Treat Arthritis\n\n![Master Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-72472879-c2b4-4d8e-868d-99656083af9e/original.jpg)\n**Master Kush**\n\nMaster Kush has been doing wonders for patients suffering from arthritic pain. This strain provides a visual high before gradually providing full-body relaxation.\n \n![AK-47](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-6fee646a-f238-47c4-856b-45a418d93619/original.jpg)\n**AK-47**\n\nAlso used for arthritis, AK-47 is a popular strain with a high THC content. This sativa-dominant strain provides alertness along\nwith pain relief. \n\n### Combat Menstrual Cramps With Acapulco Gold or Alaskan Ice\n\n![Acapulco Gold](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-39afbcc3-79a3-410e-955b-d79e029627e0/original.jpg)\n**Acapulco Gold**\n\nAcapulco Gold is widely used by women suffering from menstrual cramps. This plant, whose buds resemble gold, has a 23% THC content.\n\n![Alaskan Ice](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-ab1c3bf3-b63b-4795-a5dc-09cbbf7c946e/original.jpg)\n**Alaskan Ice**\n\nAlaskan Ice is another option to consider when it comes to relieving the pain associated with menstrual cramps, as this potent sativa strain provides a euphoric high.\n\n### Critical Mass & Ace of Spades Help With Fibromyalgia\n\n![Critical Mass](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-99c1c352-0594-4ef2-8749-7db2562ad7fe/original.jpg)\n**Critical Mass**\n\nCritical Mass is a combination of Skunk #1 and Afghani strains and has a THC level of 19-22%, making it a good choice for treating fibromyalgia pain. \n\n![Ace of Spades](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-e89e3e9c-96d2-4500-a95d-e7a901c5659a/original.jpg)\n**Ace of Spades**\n\nAce of Spades is another strain to consider using for a wide range of medical symptoms and conditions including fibromyalgia\npain.\n\n### Spinal Injury Sufferers Should Try Purple Haze or Khalifa Kush\n\n![Purple Haze](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-49c3df0c-19a9-43da-964a-368070739a51/original.jpg)\n**Purple Haze**\n\nPatients suffering from spinal injury will like the euphoria-inducing effect of Purple Haze. This purplish plant has green and orange undertones with an earthy smell. \n\n![Khalifa Kush](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-3ae5c67f-6637-4f76-b869-aa498f5855f8/original.jpg)\n**Khalifa Kush**\n\nKhalifa Kush is also a good option for those who want to be up and running all throughout the day, as it provides an energy boost. This medical cannabis also leaves the patient with distinct cerebral buzz to help alleviate the pain.\n\n### Start With Mendo Purps & Bhang Skywalker OG if You Have MS\n\n![Mendo Purps](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-284f313d-9e74-4f81-ba40-34906bfde07f/original.jpg)\n**Mendo Purps**\n\nMendo Purps is an indica-dominant cannabis strain used to treat the symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It can also help relieve muscle spasms and fatigue. \n\n![Bhang Skywalker OG](https://hellomd-development.s3.amazonaws.com/articles-562150d03232620006450000-efe04a89-3972-462b-9ba1-0c2e8abd7e57/original.jpg)\n**Bhang Skywalker OG**\n\nIf you’re new to medical marijuana and want the therapeutic effects of the plant, you can\nalso try Bhang Skywalker OG, a strain with coconut oil that's infused with 25-35% THC, making it a strong sedative and a popular pain reliever.\n\nA growing body of scientific data now backs up the anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana relieves pain, helps folks stay focused and improves their overall quality of life. It may\nalso be an important weapon in the fight against opioid addiction. The key is finding the right strain to combat your pain so that you can live your best life—pain free.\n\n[Main Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/16210667@N02/9048590552/in/photolist-eMAoHW-bMntm-pQK2Ky-6J712H-8GpStT-9ZfBdP-8YgykV-jKBJtD-cq5vN7-eQ8SWp-7zF9jE-obwhvp-qYjA-3fCcUW-83KDDP-aLLLFc-nmqGR2-b5c3wM-6aMj5E-gH5cK4-gH59cn-pEU9mf-qhCRBQ-5YLeJp-62gr3v-aihCSC-9542b3-4tQDV1-aihCUy-9vCsAM-9EAdyE-ftq9RZ-TtxC2-dx6zu6-gjQqwC-m1HWCQ-95oQHQ-eDFDHf-9Pr2c7-ayqLuo-8Z4Ze9-rZERyb-83NLT9-83KExK-5J6NHw-5p4bNo-69hHvm-69dwor-NUCJL-7Cycuq)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5151515151515151,"src":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/14b42/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/f836f/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 200w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/2244e/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 400w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/14b42/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 800w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/47498/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/58556/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/61e93/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 200w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/1f5c5/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 400w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/58556/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 800w,\n/static/7a0066590e4356496a55e825f2576f74/99238/e9096d4eb8f9047db354a090a9ef9252.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1904-markdown","title":"Medical Marijuana Helps Treat Undesired Effects of Chemotherapy","slug":"medical-marijuana-helps-treat-undesired-effects-of-chemotherapy","content":"Too Bad Former President Carter Won't Have Easy Access to it\r\n------------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAccording to the National Cancer Institute, there'll be an [estimated\r\n1,658,370 new cases of cancer in\r\n2015](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/what-is-cancer/statistics)\r\nalone. The World Health Organization even has a grimmer number: new\r\ncases of cancer will rise to about [22 million in the next two\r\ndecades](http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/). Cancer\r\nhas become one of the most burdensome diseases to ever plague modern\r\nsociety.\r\n\r\nIn August 2015, former President Jimmy Carter announced that he has\r\nbecome one of the latest people to face the burden of this disease and\r\nthe subsequent horrors associated with its therapy. The [CNN\r\narticle](http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/20/health/carter-melanoma-treatment/)\r\nnotes that the former president had a surgery last May to remove a\r\n\"small mass\" on his liver, only to find out after several tests that the\r\nmass turned out to be Stage IV melanoma, a type of cancer that develops\r\nin the cells that produce the skin pigment, melanin.\r\n\r\nThis news came on the heels of another [news\r\narticle](http://www.newsweek.com/2015/07/31/keep-toke-alive-356032.html)\r\nthat details the benefits of medical marijuana to people who are facing\r\nthe horrors of chemotherapy. Not exactly the kind of therapy former\r\nPresident Carter opted for. However, the benefits of medical cannabis\r\nare worth emphasizing, given the range of undesirable side effects of\r\ncancer therapies, particularly chemotherapy.\r\n\r\nPerhaps one of the most popular applications of medical marijuana is its\r\nuse in reducing nausea and vomiting, a common side effect of\r\nchemotherapy. In the US, two drugs based on marijuana compounds have\r\nbeen approved for medical use. The first is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC),\r\nan active cannabis chemical that takes on a capsule form in Dronabinol\r\n(Marinol®). This drug has been approved by the FDA since 1985 to treat\r\nnausea and vomiting. Interestingly, Dronabinol also stimulate appetite,\r\nhelping you improve your food intake and maintain a healthy body weight,\r\nwhich allows you to function better and tolerate the effects of therapy.\r\nSimilarly, Nabilone (Cesamet®), a synthetic cannabinoid, is also used to\r\ntreat nausea and vomiting when no other drugs work.\r\n\r\nAnother common application of medical marijuana is in its use to relieve\r\npain. The evidence that supports its beneficial effects on a wide range\r\nof pain disorders is well established. Thus, if you're feeling cancer\r\npain, medical cannabis could be a welcomed part of your treatment\r\nregimen. In fact, a [research published in\r\n2008](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095921) done by Dr. Mellar\r\nDavis, Director of Research of the Harry R. Horvitz Center for\r\nPalliative Medicine, assessed Nabilone's efficacy in treating nausea and\r\nvomiting as well as in relieving pain by reviewing available treatment\r\ntrials and other published literature on the subject. The research shows\r\nthat while the drug is not as effective in acute pain, it has benefits\r\nin alleviating neuropathic pain.\r\n\r\nFurther, a new drug, Nabiximols, a mouth spray that contains equal\r\namount of cannabidiol (CBD) and THC, has been used in many countries to\r\ntreat neuropathic pain. Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany are a\r\nfew of the developed countries that approved the use of this drug in the\r\ntreatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) spasticity.\r\n\r\nCancer and chemotherapy will also take its toll on your mood. Many\r\npatients report taking the downward spiral to anxiety and depression,\r\nwhich makes cannabis a good antidote because of its anti-anxiety and\r\nantidepressant properties. In a\r\n[study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3079847/) headed by\r\nMateus Bergamaschi from the University of Sao Paulo, it is found that\r\nCBD reduces the anxiety of participants subjected to a simulated public\r\nspeaking test. The clinical trial of this study involved 12 participants\r\nwith social anxiety disorder (SAD), who received 600 mg CBD; 12\r\nparticipants with SAD who received placebo; and 12 participants without\r\nSAD were used as healthy control.\r\n\r\nA team from the University of Mississippi, headed by Abir T. El-Alfy,\r\nalso conducted another [study in\r\n2010](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/), which\r\nsought to assess the antidepressant-like effect of a form of THC and\r\nother cannabinoids on mice. The study's findings reported that\r\nphytocannabinoids exhibit antidepressant-like effects in animal models.\r\n\r\nWhile numerous studies provide evidence in the efficacy of medical\r\nmarijuana in alleviating the undesired side effects of chemotherapy, the\r\nreal controversy lies in its benefit in treating cancer itself. So far,\r\nthe medical community is divided on this issue; but current studies\r\nabound to establish the cancer-fighting activity of cannabis. A [2009\r\nstudy](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php) conducted by\r\na research team at Complutense University and University of Anglea in\r\nthe UK, headed by Dr. Peter McCormick, induced human breast tumors on\r\nmice to find out if THC will inhibit the growth of the tumor. The\r\nfindings show that THC exhibited anti-cancer properties.\r\n\r\nThere's wealth of scientific data and anecdotal evidence supporting the\r\nuse of medical cannabis in treating cancer-related symptoms and common\r\nside effects of chemotherapy. Furthermore, there's an explosion of\r\nfurther scientific studies geared towards providing evidence that\r\nmedical marijuana may be the wonder drug that many cancer patients have\r\nbeen waiting for.\r\n\r\nBack in 1979, former President Jimmy Carter ruffled some feathers\r\nfollowing his controversial stance in decriminalizing medical marijuana,\r\nwhich makes it even more regrettable that he won't have easy access to\r\nit while undergoing cancer therapy. This is because while Haleigh's Hope\r\nAct, Georgia's medical cannabis law, was enacted recently, it falls\r\nshort for many patients with debilitating conditions. Granted, the law\r\nmay be a step in the right direction, but patients from Georgia,\r\nincluding the former president, will still have to go through hurdles to\r\naccess medical cannabis.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/alendrathril/4255030518/in/photolist-7u19k9-eZyu3-hn1Q1R-eZytL-kLFxF-8pgMt6-zq4yYU-5EcFEA-5hxUac-7Yp6Mc-HeRGf-5ENwNp-abrxk6-4H3wr7-tLKbN-sDhcWy-bgyqyV-66nzGu-9Nr2sh-EPxi1-kH1GK-9pBrBH-9pEtA5-82oXTD-pLgzWT-tKbd3-Gj9AL-DkFRZ-9t9B1E-5FZKcV-57NxRi-5G51dy-5ENxea-eZytu-w5781-izfEG-6qW8Qh-55fz2o-HH3dx-gAHok1-5ENwCz-eZyvh-6qRXbi-9Jzx7S-rGNdor-5EpCj9-ciNADq-9RNtHp-5ESPWN-9KisF)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg","srcSet":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/f836f/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/2244e/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/14b42/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/16310/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/61e93/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 200w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/1f5c5/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 400w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/58556/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 800w,\n/static/122dcdf620cd4d2eae10746d276e2bb0/cc834/f4b4bd2c59e4548d8bec4215aa8614d1.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1935-markdown","title":"Cannabis Shows Promise in Treating Crohn's Disease & Colitis","slug":"cannabis-shows-promise-in-treating-crohns-disease-and-colitis","content":"For people with Crohn's disease or colitis, life can mean always wondering when the condition will flare up and how bad the symptoms will be. Until now, treatments have been limited for these painful, life-altering conditions. Although some feel relief through a change in diet and prescription medication, people suffering from Crohn's disease and colitis were often left to manage the condition on their own.\r\n\r\nFortunately, both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease recently qualified for treatment with medical cannabis and, as a result, individuals who suffer from these conditions now have access to medical marijuana treatment in more states.\r\n\r\n### What Are the Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease & Colitis?\r\n\r\nCrohn's disease and colitis are gastrointestinal disorders that belong to a family of disorders known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Crohn's disease causes chronic inflammation throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and can cause painful swelling in any part of the GI tract from the esophagus to the rectum. Symptoms of Crohn's disease include rectal bleeding, severe abdominal pain and cramping, constipation, persistent diarrhea or a persistent feeling that the bowels are not entirely empty.\r\n\r\nUlcerative colitis is quite similar to Crohn's disease except for the fact that it affects only the innermost layer of the colon. The symptoms of Colitis are similar to Crohn's disease and include fever, decreased appetite, weight loss, fatigue and amenorrhea in women.\r\n\r\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \r\n\r\n### Why Is Marijuana Effective Medicine for Inflammatory Bowel Disease? \r\n\r\nAs is true with many disorders, cannabis has been used for centuries to treat the symptoms of Crohn's disease and colitis. Cannabis is an effective treatment for these disorders because it can significantly limit intestinal inflammation. According to a statement issued by The Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America in 2012, compounds found in the marijuana plant closely mimic endocannabinoids (molecules that occur naturally in the body) and have been shown to play an important part in decreasing gastrointestinal inflammation.\r\n\r\nAlthough the anti-inflammatory properties of medical cannabis hold true for all people, IBD patients have been shown to have more cannabinoid receptors in the tissue of the colon than people without IBD, which means that people affected by Crohn's disease and colitis are likely to respond to the anti-inflammatory properties of medical marijuana.\r\n\r\nAdditionally, researchers at the Institute of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at Chaim Sheba Medical Center found that inhaled medical cannabis can help improve the quality of life in people affected by Crohn's disease and colitis. This study also found that medical cannabis can stimulate the appetite in affected patients, resulting in healthy weight gain and an overall improvement in symptoms.\r\n\r\nThe same study also found that, after three months of treatment with medical marijuana, patients affected by Crohn's disease or colitis enjoyed:\r\n\r\n* A better quality of life\r\n* Greater ability to work a normal job\r\n* Increased ability to perform daily tasks and maintain a social life\r\n* A drastic decrease in pain reduction and mental anguish \r\n\r\nThese results were reported without accompanying side effects.\r\n\r\nFinally, researchers at the Sire Manchester Hospital in England published a study that found that [IBS patients who used medical cannabis reported improved diarrhea symptoms and a decrease in pain](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21795981).\r\n\r\nAs it stands now, there are dozens of high-quality studies that illustrate the fact that medical marijuana serves an important purpose in treating and relieving IBD symptoms. In addition to relieving pain, muscle cramps, anxiety, insomnia and inflammation, certain strains of cannabis also promote appetite, produce weight gain and enhance the mood of affected patients.\r\n\r\nRELATED: [MEDICAL MARIJUANA STUDY REVEALS “COMPLETE REMISSION: OF CROHN’S DISEASE](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55ccdde83634640006110000/medical-marijuana-study-reveals-complete-remission-of-crohns-disease)\r\n\r\n### Best Cannabis Strains for Crohn’s Disease or Colitis\r\n\r\nWhile it’s evident that cannabis is a valuable treatment option for patients with IBD, researchers found a variety of specific strains that are ideal for treating different aspects of the disease. These strains include:\r\n\r\n* **Cherry Pie** is a sativa-dominant strain that’s ideal for increasing appetite and soothing pain in IBD patients.\r\n* **Bubblegum** is an [indica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_indica) strain with a 20% CBD content, which contributes to its pain-relieving and anti-anxiety properties. It’s ideal for people who want to relieve discomfort and fatigue, diminish depression and lead a more normal life.\r\n* **Sour Grape** is an indica strain that can help IBD patients struggling to maintain a social life feel more lively and less depressed. This strain is also ideal for boosting appetite and relieving anxiety.\r\n* **American Beauty** is a sativa strain that’s potent enough to provide all-day pain relief while also easing insomnia and depression. Slightly stronger than some other strains used to treat IBS, American Beauty will leave you relaxed and comfortable for hours after use.\r\n\r\nColitis and Crohn's disease are both incredibly disruptive conditions that can affect people's ability to hold a job, maintain social relationships or even plan everyday events. Because the symptoms of these conditions are so unpredictable and painful, they often rob affected individuals of their ability to lead a normal life. Fortunately, the soothing effects of medicinal cannabis have the potential to treat some of these symptoms and help people with IBD live a healthier, more robust life despite their condition.\r\n\r\nPhoto credit: [Double-M](https://www.flickr.com/people/double-m2/)\r\n\r\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/14b42/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/f836f/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.jpg 200w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/2244e/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.jpg 400w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/14b42/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.jpg 800w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/16310/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/58556/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/61e93/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.webp 200w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/1f5c5/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.webp 400w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/58556/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.webp 800w,\n/static/c306efcb787c5b3225d99f385bed42b4/cc834/c47bc36b93d276ad4c7893766caeea3a.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1947-markdown","title":"Can CBD Oil Provide Pain Relief for Your Pet? ","slug":"can-cbd-oil-provide-pain-relief-for-your-pet","content":"Do pets and marijuana sounds like an alarming combination? At the very least it sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. As we learn more about the healing cannabinoids found within both the marijuana and hemp plant, perhaps it's time to consider a CBD-infused treat for your sick pet. Julianna Carella, founder of edibles companies [Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/) and [Treatibles](http://www.treatibles.com/) believes you should. Treatibles makes use of [CBD (cannabidiol) oil](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis) extracted from the hemp plant and is non-psychoactive to your pet. For a dog that is in pain, or an owner who would like an alternative to some of the harsh medications that are prescribed by vets, Treatibles offers a safe, viable alternative.\r\n\r\nCBD oil has recently received a lot of attention due to its effectiveness in easing the symptoms of a wide range of difficult-to-control conditions, including nausea, inflammation, seizures and anxiety, among others. Carella has heard from pet owners that they have seen “a reduction in chronic pain and less separation anxiety,” when their pets have been given Treatibles.\r\n\r\nWhen asked about the success of her product, Carella commented:\r\n\r\n>“It has actually been quite overwhelming how great the response has been. One of the first testimonials that came in at the beginning of this year came from a woman who was about to put her dog down because the animal was in a lot of pain. She gave her dog Treatibles and her dog’s demeanor changed for the better, was moving with a lot more ease, had less pain, and ultimately she cancelled the appointment to put her dog down. She called me in tears to tell me her story, which led to some media exposure. It was after this that the product started to fly off the shelves.”\r\n\r\nTreatibles is Carella’s second company, which follows the huge success of her San Francisco brand Auntie Dolores, a trusted provider of gourmet cannabis-infused edibles for humans. Asked why she chose to make a product for pets, Carella said:\r\n \r\n>“I am very interested in making products for families. Since CBD is non-psychoactive, and it offers such profound health benefits, I wanted to try a product line for animals. All animals, except insects, have an endocannabinoid system, which is built to receive the cannabinoids from the cannabis and hemp plants. It can be deduced that all animals, including our pets, could receive the positive effects from CBD.” \r\n\r\nThere is still a lot of stigma surrounding the use of cannabis, and some people worry that giving their animal CBD will get their pet stoned. This shouldn’t be a concern as CBD is non-psychoactive for both humans and pets. In fact, CBD is an antidote to the ‘high’ one feels after ingesting THC, meaning that ingesting CBD will lessen the psychoactive effects from THC. This is useful if your pet happens to eat a THC-laden edible or eats a joint off the street, which happened to one of my friend’s dog last year. Carella explained that “CBD can help your pet by counteracting the psychoactivity felt from the THC if they happen to ingest it accidentally.” \r\n\r\nJulianna talked about the negative connotations surrounding cannabis and pets:\r\n\r\n>“Treatibles grew slowly initially because there was some controversy. People were worried that we were giving pot to animals.  There was a lot of education necessary for people to learn the difference between CBD and THC and how these products were safe for pets. After people started to use our product and see the benefits, it started taking off and people started sending in testimonials and talking about us on social media.”\r\n\r\nInitially, Treatibles did contain some THC, although it wasn’t enough to get an animal high. Carella said “We included just enough THC to cause an entourage effect, which is the synergy that happens when different elements of the whole plant work together. In a perfect world, an 18:1 CBD to THC ratio is the perfect formula, but we are unable to ship that over state lines.” Treatibles now offers a purely CBD product although Carella indicates “there is still a synergy that occurs as there is more than just CBD within the high-quality hemp oil. Our proprietary formula includes multiple non-psychoactive cannabinoids”\r\n\r\n[Treatibles is always lab tested](http://www.treatibles.com/#!thc-vs-cbd/cd9c), which is important in the mostly unregulated world of cannabis and Carella stands behind the consistency and safety of her product. Each Treatibles pet treat is infused with 1mg of CBD (small dog bone size) and Carella recommends one mg of CBD per 10 pounds of dog’s weight. After learning about Treatibles I decided to try the CBD-rich treat with with my own dog, Desmond, a 14-year-old rat terrier who suffers from a severely arthritic shoulder. After eating Treatibles for only a few days Desmond showed great improvement and even seems to have a small smile on his face after eating his treats.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/ee604/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png","srcSet":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/69585/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 200w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/497c6/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 400w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/ee604/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 800w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/3aed7/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.png 1152w","srcWebp":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/58556/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/61e93/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 200w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/1f5c5/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 400w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/58556/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 800w,\n/static/62cfa5ddc78662bee3aa73954a85c62c/9246f/4039ff6653562813dfc99a5c043a6d68.webp 1152w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1918-markdown","title":"Canadian HIV/AIDS Researchers Support Medical Marijuana Over Opioids","slug":"canadian-hivaids-researchers-support-medical-marijuana-over-opioids","content":"Vancouver-based HIV/AIDS researchers argue in a newly published editorial that Canadian doctors should use medical marijuana instead of frequently abused opioids to treat patients with neuropathic pain, as well as many other conditions that cannabis has been proven to help with. \n\n### Doctors Frustrated by Slow Government Action on Cannabis\n\nDr. Thomas Kerr, Dr. Julio Montaner and Research Associate Stephanie Lake of the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS [accused the Canadian Medical Association of ignoring peer-reviewed cannabis studies](https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/researchers-urge-medical-marijuana-over-opioids-to-treat-neuropathic-pain/article26733746/?ref=http://www.theglobeandmail.com&). According to Dr. Kerr, five recent randomized control trials and two systemic reviews found that cannabis helps with neuropathic pain. However, doctors still don’t like to prescribe medical marijuana as it hasn’t been approved by Health Canada, the government department that oversees healthcare issues in the country. \n\nRELATED: [CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER’S CASE FOR MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/576ead4d16f3ba0007000174/canadian-prime-ministers-case-for-marijuana-legalization)\n\n“The evidence supporting the therapeutic use of cannabis is actually much stronger than the use of other drugs that are used to treat the same condition and it also seems, in many cases, that cannabis has a more favorable side-effect profile,” Dr. Kerr said. He also mentioned that opioids such as oxycodone, morphine and hydromorphine are increasingly prescribed and contributed to almost half of all overdose deaths in the country.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en) \n\n### Medicinal Marijuana Effective at Reducing Opioid-Related Deaths\n\nDr. Kerr also commented, “Opioids are killing people right now. There is no association with cannabis and mortality, and yet North America is in the midst of, really, what is a public-health emergency associated to opioid deaths. If doctors prescribed more cannabis to those with chronic pain, they may cut down on these deaths.” \n\nResearch in the U.S. shows that fatal overdoses dropped by 25% in states that enacted medicinal marijuana laws. Dr. Kerr states that medicinal cannabis has also proven to relieve spasticity and the wasting associated with HIV/AIDS, as well as nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/violet96/7478658228/in/photolist-coS5xf-rnUHWR-k3cKpU-6vmHTU-4UAxsu-6KMfsR-h38Qpq-7QsAJW-7bcPXT-cKkPXf-66FtVn-xKMDVo-6XozFo-7sZEn-4Ytuaq-9GQvPh-aiwvq5-a2MB7-nncmcJ-7PV2vn-9zmihK-5SMf14-oNSA6d-yB6nFy-yMzfSL-qCvPtp-7MeiXE-obco3j-9Viurb-sejH16-52uHAv-pp7YBE-goCmpj-sGS1UD-iCT7CE-4QTDnm-veQ41f-5JywNQ-hgrWBb-zeen7c-pb9vUY-6CWBgP-cfLSYC-6mdMbb-d2RuYE-dwLgYp-wN61eQ-pLM4Fq-aWz48r-8yYFSu)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n\n\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/14b42/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/f836f/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.jpg 200w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/2244e/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.jpg 400w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/14b42/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.jpg 800w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/47498/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.jpg 1200w","srcWebp":"/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/58556/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/61e93/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.webp 200w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/1f5c5/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.webp 400w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/58556/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.webp 800w,\n/static/7a9d248d4d3d457dbf20a2a31e1a1776/99238/eb633f281be5f375c92cb30fe2013d5c.webp 1200w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1932-markdown","title":"Cannabis Coffee and Tea - A New Frontier in the Edibles Market","slug":"cannabis-coffee-and-tea-a-new-frontier-in-the-edibles-market","content":"HelloMD sat down to chat with Jill Amen, co founder of [House of Jane - Jane's Brew](http://www.houseofjane.com/), to learn about her company’s fast and furious rise within the cannabis-infused edibles market. House of Jane offers a variety of high-end gourmet coffees, teas, hot chocolates & edibles to a wide variety of cannabis consumers. To date, Jane's Brew is offered in 127 dispensaries across the state of California and has been a trending brand since winning their first award at the Hempcon conference in 2014. Jill is upbeat and passionate about the Jane’s Brew product line and is a strong believer in and advocate for the medicinal benefits of cannabis.\n\n**What was the inspiration for starting Jane’s Brew?**\n>My grown son Trey and I were in Amsterdam a few years ago and I was very inspired by the coffee houses there and the array of cannabis products that were offered. However, I don’t like to smoke pot. So what I really wanted was to find a method of ingestion that made sense to me. I don’t have a sweet tooth as I don’t eat sugar, so I thought, ‘What do I drink every day?’. That’s when it hit me, I drink coffee and tea and that this could be a great vehicle for a cannabis-infused product. When we came back to the States I started to do R&D for our product line and to get back into the industry and well, here we are today! We started out in 2014 and did a very soft launch that year with a small group of clubs in the Orange County area. Afterwards, we did our actual launch in January 2015.\n\n**Soon after you launched, Jane’s Brew won an award at Hempcon. You have been going through the stratosphere ever since that happened, right?**\n>Yes, thank goodness! One of the products we entered into Hempcon was our [creamer](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!janes-brew-cannabis-non-dairy-creamers/c1ld); everyone loves our French vanilla creamer. I think it was the regular hot chocolate that won. We invested so much time and energy in creating our products right before we even launched and we continue to make adjustments along the way. This is an interesting industry and an interesting time. There are a lot of little things that happen in our industry every day. I believe the saying is ‘every 3 weeks in this industry is 6 months [in any other]’. \n\n**Do you feel that your product is a good introduction for people who are trying cannabis for the first time?**\n>Yes, absolutely. We are conversing with patients all of the time. They want to know and understand the benefits of cannabis, especially those who are trying it for the first time. Many people are intrigued by the consumption of cannabis through our coffees and teas because it seems like a very natural way to take medication. We do get a lot of feedback from people who have tried our products who say, “Oh my goodness, I am so glad you are here.” It makes me feel really good to hear the positive feedback.\n\n**Since you have started, whom have you found to be your target demographic?**\n>Our core demographic is people like you and me, people in the forty plus market. We are professionals, we are busy with some stress in our life, and we have families: that is our target market.  Also, a lot of our target market hasn’t even tried cannabis yet, or doesn’t even know what [CBD (cannabidiol)](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55e12afb6539390006040000/cbd-oil-breaking-the-stereotypes-of-cannabis) is. Our goal is to educate people and let them know what the positive effects of CBD may be for them. Many of our products are CBD-focused without any psycho-activity at all. Many people do not realize that you can take cannabis for medicinal reasons and not get high or stoned. When we launched, I knew that we would hit a slightly older demographic because of interest in wellness as well as experience with illness. The one thing that did surprise us is that people in their 20s also seem to really appreciate and seek out our products.\n\n**Do you associate your products as being helpful for any specific illnesses?**\n>We have stayed away from all claims. I believe that as more people are educated about cannabis they will absolutely understand how our products can be helpful to them and their condition specifically. In terms of education, we want to teach people about the benefits of consuming edibles verses inhalation, but we don’t talk about specific illnesses.\n\n**A lot of your products have a high CBD component, with that I’m assuming some of your products may have higher levels of THC as well. How do you go about dosing a tea or coffee beverage practically?**\n>Our products come in multiple doses. For example, our [chamomile tea](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!janes-brew-cannabis-infused-teas/c1gh9) comes in 20mg tea bags. The first time, someone may want to share a glass of that 20mg, or put half of it away for the next day. You can also brew the tea in a communal format. Say, I am having a 420 evening with other medical patients, I may brew a 200mg container of tea, but I’ll make 12-20 servings out of that when I add ice and dilute it some. \n\n>Our new bottled beverages are coming out dosed at 80mgs. In the future we want to include a small dosing cup in the package so people can actually measure out a unit to try it before they continue to drink the rest of the bottle. Secondly, we have a CBD version of the bottled product that will come out soon, as well as a 20mg bottle.  We introduce by market demand, 80mgs is not a very high dose for most of the market we are serving at the present time.\n\n**There is a lot of negative media these days surrounding the edibles market and the potential problems with dosing. Do you find that putting yourself in the category of edibles is beneficial to Jane’s brew?**\n>The truth is that we are classified under edibles because our cannabis products are consumed orally. I have often thought about coining my own name for our beverages as a new category in the market. I have a few ideas, but I haven’t done anything with it yet. So at this point in time, our goal is to best educate people regarding the benefits of our edibles and how to dose appropriately. \n\n>The most important thing I think we do is to educate the bud masters who are responsible for selling our products in the dispensaries. We do not want our product abused or for people to have a bad experience. In everything we publish, we talk about beginning with doses as small as 5-10mgs per serving, waiting at least an hour, then evaluating if dosing needs to be adjusted. Our [Jane’s Brew Oath](http://www.houseofjane.com/#!join-janes-army/c209p) is really our philosophy that encompasses all of these ideas. \n\n**Could you explain the Jane’s Brew Oath philosophy for us?**\n>I think there is an element about who Jane is; Jane is a very free, but responsible, spirit. We ask that people, if they choose, to take an oath for responsible consumption of cannabis. We believe people should have a right to do what they choose, as long as it is not harming others. They should have an opportunity to be inspired, creative, energized, and strive for wellness. They should also be very responsible when communicating this message with others. Essentially, I would say that is a lot of what the message is about. It is all to enjoy the benefits of cannabis. \n\n\n**Do you do laboratory testing on the products you bring to market? How do you manage the consistency of your products?**\n>We triple lab test our products using three different labs because it is very important to us to make sure that all lab results are consistent with one another. We test at our oil stage to make sure the product is calibrated for what we understand the percentage of components to be and for microbes and other additives. Our second level of testing is at powder stage, we convert all of our oils to a powder form for the manufacturing of our product, where we test for similar components as the first stage. Lastly, we test at the finished product level. We post lab results every month--not all of them, however, because we have far too many--on our website so people can look at the results and feel secure that our products are free of pesticides or microbial issues. \n\n**Do you feel that rigorous lab testing sets you apart from some of the other product companies out there?**\n>Yes and no. I think the industry is changing quite a bit. I think that anyone who wants to be taken seriously in the market will lab test. The dispensaries that we work with require lab testing and will lab test independently themselves. It’s important for the health and safety of our consumers.\n\n**What are your favorite products from Jane’s Brew?**\n>I love our bottled products, especially the unsweetened ones because I don’t drink sweetened tea. For the evening, my favorite beverage is our chamomile tea. Every night I drink a cup of chamomile tea and watch some TV, then I head to bed and I am ready for a good night’s sleep. The tea is very natural and herbal; there is never a hangover when you wake up after drinking cannabis tea like there is with some sleeping pills. \n\n**Where can people buy Jane’s Brew products?**\n>We have our products in127 different dispensaries, as far north as Shasta and all the way down to San Diego, and everywhere in between. We also work with a delivery service that distributes to  individual patients in California regardless of their location. So if you go through our website it will take you to an online ordering page. \n\n**Wrapping up, is there anything else you would like to say?**\n>I really think people need to educate themselves. They can go on our site or a number of quality sources online to learn more about cannabis. It is not only about Jane’s Brew products, patients should know what products are and understand them before medicating.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/14b42/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg","srcSet":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/f836f/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/2244e/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 400w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/14b42/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 800w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/47498/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 1200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/7d1a7/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.jpg 1218w","srcWebp":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/58556/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/61e93/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/1f5c5/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 400w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/58556/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 800w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/99238/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 1200w,\n/static/0158bc7747c1b1913e8aec7798aafcee/cedc7/5c80a3c9f01bf0fb14049b5ec91aae08.webp 1218w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1905-markdown","title":"Cannabis for Anxiety and Stress Disorders","slug":"cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders","content":"Stress and anxiety have become two of the most prevalent sources of\r\nillness in modern society. The Anxiety and Depression Association of\r\nAmerica concluded that anxiety disorders are the number-one [most common\r\ncategory of mood\r\ndisorder](http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics) in\r\nthe country, and the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that\r\nat least 40 million Americans, nearly one in five, struggle with\r\nanxiety.\r\n\r\nStatistics and Symptoms of PTSD\r\n-------------------------------\r\n\r\nAt the same time, the number of [diagnoses for\r\nPTSD,](https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg10-14.html)\r\nor post-traumatic stress disorder, have been steadily increasing. PTSD\r\nis a stress and anxiety condition resulting from exposure to extreme\r\ntrauma or the trauma of a loved one.\r\n\r\nThe U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs [estimates that 31.3\r\nmillion](http://www.washingtondc.va.gov/news/VA_PTSD_Research_Study.asp)\r\nAmericans, 20 percent of the population, will experience PTSD symptoms\r\nat some point in their lives. These symptoms include \"being bombarded by\r\nintrusive thoughts; avoiding people, places, and things; and\r\nexperiencing hyper awareness.\"\r\n\r\nOther common symptoms of PTSD are persistent nightmares with\r\naccompanying insomnia, unexpected triggers for re-experiencing the\r\ntrauma, flashbacks, adrenaline and hormone surges, extreme risk-taking\r\nbehavior and suicidal depression.\r\n\r\nThe Cost of Mistreatment\r\n------------------------\r\n\r\nAlthough PTSD has been most often associated with soldiers returning\r\nfrom war and survivors of rape attacks, the number of PTSD cases has\r\nexpanded as physicians have realized that other kinds of extreme trauma\r\ncan induce the same pathology.\r\n\r\nSandro Galea, an epidemiologist and chairman at the National Academy of\r\nSciences, stated starkly, \"We are at the cusp of a [wave of\r\nPTSD](http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/06/20/ptsd-va-pentagon-scientists-institute-medicine/10764991/),\"\r\ndue to the ongoing nature of foreign wars along with failures in current\r\ntherapy options for PTSD sufferers. By some estimates, [misdiagnosis and\r\nmistreatment of\r\nPTSD](http://healmyptsd.com/education/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-statistics)\r\nhas cost over $42.3 billion. One treatment that is gaining greater\r\nacceptance now is the medicinal application of cannabis.\r\n\r\nNew Mexico as a Testing Ground\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nNew Mexico became the first U.S. state to authorize [medical cannabis as\r\na treatment for\r\nPTSD](http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140522104850.htm) in\r\n2009 after many years of effective but unauthorized use, especially by\r\ndischarged soldiers. A study of the program's successful outcomes,\r\ntitled *\"*PTSD Symptom Reports of Patients Evaluated for the New Mexico\r\nMedical Cannabis Program,\" was published in the Journal of Psychoactive\r\nDrugs in 2014. It was then presented to the New Mexico Legislative\r\nHealth & Human Services Committee to clear up questions about medical\r\nmarijuana as a treatment option.\r\n\r\nThe study found that patients reported that cannabis use resulted in a\r\n75 percent reduction on average in the three major categories of PTSD\r\nsymptoms: re-experiencing, avoidance and hyper-arousal. The report also\r\nspecified that there was a \"lack of any harm or problems in functioning\"\r\nas a result of cannabis use by the patients.\r\n\r\nHow Different Strains Affect Various Symptoms\r\n---------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nCBD and THC are the best studied of the\r\n[cannabinoids,](http://adai.uw.edu/marijuana/factsheets/cannabinoids.htm)\r\nwhich also include CBG, CBC, CBN and CBDL. Strains with higher CBD have\r\nbeen shown to be more effective at treating anxiety-related symptoms\r\nwhile THC strains simulate the body's natural mechanism for [blocking\r\nout harmful\r\nmemories.](http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/cannabis-like-brain-chemi/)\r\n\r\nThe University of Buffalo reported in the Journal of Neuroscience that\r\nits [study on\r\nendocannabinoids](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/34/44/14560.short)\r\ndemonstrated the role that these chemicals play in counteracting chronic\r\nstress and regulating hyper-arousal. Endocannabinoids operate on the\r\nsame system of receptors as marijuana cannabinoids like THC, suggesting\r\nthat strains higher in THC should be considered when these kinds of\r\nsymptoms present more strongly in the patient.\r\n\r\nPTSD and Cannabinoids in the Real World\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nJack Stiegelman, a veteran of an Afghanistan deployment who [founded\r\nVets For\r\nCannabis](http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-2015-ptsd-cannabis-can-researchers-cut-through-politics-find-1993297)\r\nafter a back injury, reported immediate results from a strain that\r\ntreated pain and stress relief. He said, \"The rage wasn't there anymore.\r\nIt helped with the stabbing pains and relaxed my back spasms, and it\r\nhelped me think clearly and stay in tune with my body ... I took medical\r\nmarijuana to stop some of the effects of the other medications.\"\r\n\r\nThat same reason is behind why psychiatrist Sue Sisley has led a\r\nnational campaign for greater research into medical marijuana and how it\r\ncould help vets fighting suicidal depression. She pointed out, \"We do\r\nhave an epidemic of veteran suicide in this country. The question is, is\r\nthe epidemic related to untreated or underdiagnosed PTSD, and could\r\nmarijuana help deal with that epidemic?\" She also pointed out that\r\nmedical marijuana is a more practical, less potentially dangerous\r\nsolution because it eliminates the likelihood of unknown drug\r\ninteractions.\r\n\r\nSisley summed up her argument for cannabis-based treatments, \"PTSD has\r\nsuch a broad constellation of symptoms, and you can end up taking eight,\r\n10 medicines to manage a single syndrome. This plant enabled them to\r\nwalk away from all of these drugs.\"\r\n\r\nNew Vistas for Medical Marijuana Research\r\n-----------------------------------------\r\n\r\nA great deal of research is underway across the country as 23 states and\r\nthe District of Columbia have [approved medical\r\nmarijuana](http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881)\r\nfor treatment of illnesses like PTSD and anxiety-related mood disorders.\r\nIn 2016, [five more\r\nstates](http://time.com/3748075/marijuana-legalization-2016/) will be\r\ndeciding whether to allow medical marijuana for these kinds of\r\ntreatments. Public opinion is opening up, but now additional scientific\r\nresearch needs to follow to make sure patients are receiving the right\r\nform of treatment. Today, it requires the careful evaluation by a\r\nmedical professional to determine which strain is most effective in each\r\nindividual case. Consult a healthcare professional for more information\r\nabout this complex and rapidly changing field of research.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34389013@N06/5346207005)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4598540145985401,"src":"/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/14b42/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg","srcSet":"/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/f836f/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg 200w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/2244e/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg 400w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/14b42/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg 800w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/47498/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg 1200w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/748b1/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.jpg 1492w","srcWebp":"/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/58556/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/61e93/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp 200w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/1f5c5/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp 400w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/58556/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp 800w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/99238/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp 1200w,\n/static/5775ad63843def88b4ab8c5c29117378/5538b/1688948ffdbe56d163b100d46d44a9d5.webp 1492w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1946-markdown","title":"New Finds on PTSD and Medical Marijuana","slug":"new-finds-on-ptsd-and-medical-marijuana","content":"Although Colorado recently declined to approve medical marijuana for the\r\ntreatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a growing body of\r\nresearch shows a strong connection between the endocannabinoid system\r\nand PTSD.\r\n\r\nPTSD and the Endocannabinoid System\r\n-----------------------------------\r\n\r\nPTSD involves a series of conditioned fear responses. In the words of\r\nDr. Alexander Neumeister of the NYU School of Medicine, \"\\[PTSD\\] is an\r\nillness where people cannot forget what they have experienced.\"\r\nIncreasingly, it appears that the endocannabinoid system may play a\r\nlarge role in protecting against it. This may be due to both the number\r\nof cannabinoid receptors in the brain and the levels of cannabinoids\r\npresent. PTSD sufferers tend to have more [cannabinoid\r\nreceptors](http://www.nature.com/mp/journal/v18/n9/abs/mp201361a.html)\r\nthan others, along with lower levels of at least one endocannabinoid.\r\n\r\nLow Cannabinoid Levels Increase the Likelihood of PTSD\r\n------------------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nA 2013 study published in the journal\r\n*[Psychoneuroendocrinology](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24035186)*\r\nsuggests that the role of the endocannabinoid system in protecting\r\nagainst PTSD may be critical. A joint effort between U.S. and Canadian\r\nresearchers, the study examined 46 subjects who were in the vicinity of\r\nthe World Trade Center during the 9/11 attacks. Of the participants, 24\r\nsuffered from PTSD while 22 did not. Researchers discovered that those\r\nwho experienced PTSD symptoms also had lower concentrations of\r\nanandamide -- one of the body's naturally-occurring cannabinoids -- than\r\nthose without PTSD.\r\n\r\nThe cannabinoid receptors concentrated in the brain and nervous system\r\nthat mediate many functions, including emotional learning and adaptation\r\nto stress, are called CB1 receptors. They're also involved in fear\r\nextinction, which is defined as a decline in conditioned fear responses.\r\nWhen the brain experiences deficits in cannabinoids, this can interfere\r\nwith CB1 signaling. Improper CB1 signaling can result in the hallmark\r\nsymptoms of PTSD, including impaired fear extinction, poor memory\r\nconsolidation, and chronic anxiety.\r\n\r\nFurther research, including a 2013 study conducted at the NYU Langone\r\nMedical Center, supports this idea. The study, published in *[Molecular\r\nPsychiatry](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23670490)*, used positron\r\nemission tomography to look at the brains of subjects with PTSD and\r\nwithout. The study included 60 people, and found that not only did\r\nsubjects with PTSD have lower anandamide, they also had more CB1\r\nreceptors in the areas of the brain associated with fear and anxiety.\r\nThis suggests that using cannabis to increase cannabinoid levels may be\r\nan effective tool for the treatment of PTSD.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/91262622@N02/14084495579)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5037593984962405,"src":"/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/14b42/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg","srcSet":"/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/f836f/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg 200w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/2244e/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg 400w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/14b42/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg 800w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/47498/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg 1200w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/a6974/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.jpg 1536w","srcWebp":"/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/58556/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/61e93/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp 200w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/1f5c5/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp 400w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/58556/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp 800w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/99238/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp 1200w,\n/static/7b4af705563d1a4f00b1e3ccedb4bde6/d5052/c891394c5167258d84119da6f8ae70f2.webp 1536w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1954-markdown","title":"Auntie Dolores: The Forefront of the Gourmet Edibles Movement","slug":"auntie-dolores-the-forefront-of-the-gourmet-edibles-movement","content":"[Auntie Dolores](http://auntiedolores.com/), a gourmet cannabis edibles company, was founded by Julianna Carella in 2008. The idea was hatched in the ever popular Dolores Park in San Francisco during a time when the cannabis industry was still in its infancy. Except for the ubiquitous home made ‘pot brownie’ and the odd gummy bear, Julianna was hard pressed to find other edible choices in the marketplace. Inspired by the gourmet foods movement in her hometown, Julianna surged forward to provide gourmet edibles to a sophisticated crowd of cannabis patients and enthusiasts. Auntie Dolores took off quickly and is now represented by hundreds of dispensaries across California with big plans for future expansion. HelloMD spoke with Julianna to get to know more about her company and the philosophy behind it. \r\n\r\n\r\n**When you launched Auntie Dolores, what were your first products offered?**\r\n>The first unique product that became very popular was the savory pretzel. They are vegan and low glycemic. After the pretzels became popular, we developed our chili lime peanuts and the caramel corn. We’ve always had brownies and cookies, which are a staple in most dispensaries. Yet our brownies are vegan, low glycemic, and made with coconut oil and coconut sugar. We wanted to make something that not only tasted great, but was healthier than other products out in the market. We wanted to appeal to a wider clientele with both great flavors and new savory products. At the time we started Auntie Dolores, everything was made with white sugar and white flour and with extremely unhealthy ingredients.\r\n\r\n\r\n**I read on your website that the Latin root of Dolores is ‘Dolore’ which means pain. Naming your company Auntie Dolores is meant to represent anti-pain. When you created your company were you thinking about targeting the medicinal community?**\r\n>Absolutely, there are many, many people who are using cannabis as medicine and we wanted to reach those people. However, we also want to appeal to a wide array of people, whether they are using it for pain management, anxiety, epilepsy, or just to feel good.\r\n\r\n**Is it fair to say that you are aiming to create gourmet foods that are also healthy?**\r\n>Yes. The first thing we always start with is the flavor of our foods. Cannabis can usually be tasted so we are interested in finding ingredients that can mask the flavor of cannabis really well. We have found that the savory products do a great job of that. We also include super-foods in our products because it is a way of making edibles an overall healthier experience. \r\n\r\n>Coconut oil, which is a common ingredient for us, and cannabis have a lot of the same health benefits and they work well together. A lot of the super-foods, like cacao for instance, are really good for you and have a strong flavor that helps to mask the cannabis flavor, so that is an example of how we might select an ingredient. Almost all of our products have coconut oil in them. We love coconut oil! \r\n\r\n**It sounds as if you were ahead of the coconut oil movement which is so popular now.**\r\n>Coconut oil used to get a bad wrap as a saturated fat, but it has a lot of health benefits, as we all know now. It also does a great job of extracting cannabinoids because of the high fat content. We use CO2 extracted cannabis oil infused into coconut oil to bring cannabis into our products.\r\n\r\n\r\n**What is good about CO2 extracted cannabis oil?**\r\n>It is so concentrated so you can really achieve a better flavor with that product, because you are using such a small amount. You end up with high potency, without the flavor of cannabis, which is ideal. With CO2 cannabis oil, you’re using a lot less oil because it is so concentrated which creates more consistent potency and an overall better flavor. \r\n\r\n\r\n**Elderly patients are beginning to discover cannabis as a form of medicine for a variety of ailments. How do you educate  a less experienced patient population on how to use your products effectively and safely?
**\r\n>Over the years we have gained insight into the elderly community and how they use our products. For instance, I recently heard from an elderly woman who told me that she eats one caramel corn a night right before bed to help her sleep. A lot of elderly patients choose to use our products for arthritis, and they tend to only need one or two savory crackers at a time because their tolerance is fairly low. \r\n\r\n>Our products are designed so you can eat a little bit or a lot, but it also depends on the person’s tolerance level. The dosage is on the package, each pretzel has 3 mg so you may only need 3 or 4 of those pretzels to give you a 10 mg dosage, which is often enough. You can experience the analgesic effects without feeling high, if you know how to regulate your dosage. I think people who have had difficulty with edibles, who have had a bad experience with them, find our products a lot easier to work with because they can eat 2 pretzels and have the effect they are looking for. It’s important to start slowly as everyone is different but we do state dosages on our packaging very clearly.\r\n\r\n**You have some new CBD (cannabidiol) products coming out, can you tell me a little about that?**\r\n>We have secured a great source for CBD and it took us a long time. Now that we have a consistent source, we are in the process of developing new products. We hope to sell our CBD edibles worldwide. \r\n\r\n**Is the CBD hemp derived?**\r\n>Yes, the CBD we use for our international products is derived from Hemp.  We chose to use hemp-derived CBD so that we can sell this product outside of California, being that it is below the legal THC threshold. That way, if someone is interested in the CBD products, you will perhaps have better access to those products. Also, you can independently mix them with THC if you want. Our 50mg CBD brownie and our 10mg THC brownie combined will create a 5:1 ratio (CBD:THC) or you can take a 100mg THC brownie and our 50mg CBD brownie for a 1:2 ratio (CBD:THC). The brownies are small and low in calories and many patients combine to get the effect they are looking for.  There are many different combinations you can create or you can just have the CBD brownie on its own. \r\n\r\n**Are the hemp derived CBD products as effective as cannabis derived CBD products on the market today?**\r\n>Yes, CBD is CBD. There are a lot of misconceptions about CBD. We have sourced a superior form of CBD that is free of heavy metals and other contaminants. Usually the concentrations of THC in marijuana are going to be hard to take out, but if you start with CBD in hemp, where there is no THC present, it is easier to get a pure CBD product. It is advantageous to have both CBD and THC in a product, but that is not something we can ship it across the country. \r\n\r\n**What is most exciting development within Auntie Dolores right now?**\r\n>We are extremely excited about launching our line of CBD products. We’ve only had the CBD brownie out for a few weeks and the response has been overwhelming. We are also looking forward to when the price of CBD comes down to the price of THC. CBD has a lot of great applications but it can be 4 times as expensive as THC, so we are having to charge so much more for our CBD products. We look forward to the day when we can give access to everyone who wants CBD products at a fair and balanced price point.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,/9j/2wBDABALDA4MChAODQ4SERATGCgaGBYWGDEjJR0oOjM9PDkzODdASFxOQERXRTc4UG1RV19iZ2hnPk1xeXBkeFxlZ2P/2wBDARESEhgVGC8aGi9jQjhCY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2NjY2P/wgARCAAQABQDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFwAAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMFBP/EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAAbM9+MOsLEP/xAAaEAACAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwECERIj/9oACAEBAAEFAoFN12jK2yifXmT/xAAXEQEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABEBEh/9oACAEDAQE/AQK2P//EABQRAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABD/2gAIAQIBAT8BP//EABsQAAEEAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAiExEBEy/9oACAEBAAY/Ai4fSYXSwN6gs//EABsQAAMBAAMBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABESExQVHw/9oACAEBAAE/IUi6LLrSn3hKJLQti0g1NFwyCnqH/9oADAMBAAIAAwAAABA8H//EABgRAAIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABETFB/9oACAEDAQE/EGGdsIP/xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEQH/2gAIAQIBAT8QuK//xAAcEAEAAwACAwAAAAAAAAAAAAABABEhMUFhcbH/2gAIAQEAAT8QQx4eYLC1GLSaZ0ahlDPcGstAZo5zLpAulRnyslbo7yf/2Q==","aspectRatio":1.2903225806451613,"src":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg","srcSet":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/f836f/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/2244e/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/33aa5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.jpg 768w","srcWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/61e93/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 200w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/1f5c5/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 400w,\n/static/e4c93fc5ad37b4bf5dbf809664de85da/7f8e9/d3512a02960b3efad954ba0d9204eebd.webp 768w","sizes":"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1915-markdown","title":"Marijuana Brings Relief to Women Suffering From PMS Symptoms","slug":"marijuana-brings-relief-to-women-suffering-from-pms-symptoms","content":"For thousands of years, people have been aware of the therapeutic properties of cannabis. However, it wasn't until [the 1800s that women started relying on marijuana](http://fusion.net/story/49411/weed-use-in-history/) to treat their PMS symptoms.\n\nQueen Victoria was one of the first women to use marijuana for menstrual cramps. Her personal physician, Sir J.R. Reynolds, [prescribed cannabis to her\nIn 1890](http://greencrosscenter.com/marijuana-card-doctor/2012/02/premenstrual-syndrome-medical-marijuana-and-queen-victoria/) after Dr. W.B. O'Shaughnessy brought it to England in 1824. The Queen found marijuana so effective that she later used it for morning sickness and obstetrical anesthesia.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_/?hl=en) \n\n### Modern Pharmaceuticals for PMS Cause Side Effects\n\nAs marijuana grew in popularity, measures to prohibit its recreational use made it hard for women to access marijuana for their PMS symptoms. The [advent of modern pharmacology at the turn of the 20th century](http://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/pdf/10.2217/pme.12.18) led to the creation of new treatments for menstrual cramps. Most women still use those solutions today including painkillers, muscle relaxants and antidepressants.\n\nHowever, many of these treatments cause unwanted side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, and constipation. Wouldn’t it be wise, then, to look back to history for a better way to treat menstrual cramps with cannabis? \n\nRELATED: [MEDICAL MARIJUANA MAY ALLEVIATE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH PMS](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a4121d38323000065b0000/medical-marijuana-may-alleviate-symptoms-associated-with-pms)\n\n### Anecdotal Evidence Says Marijuana Helps Relieve Menstrual Cramps\n\nBecause federal law classifies cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, it’s [very difficult for researchers to study marijuana's effect](http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-04/why-its-so-hard-scientists-study-pot) on menstrual cramps. But there’s research that shows [marijuana can relieve pain](http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/news/20100830/marijuana-relieves-chronic-pain-research-show), while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can decrease anxiety and nausea—both of which may help take the edge off menstrual cramps. \n\nBut where research is lacking, women report anecdotally that [cannabis products help ease cramps, back pain and even cycle-related migraines](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56be5b9d17c1c1000c000061/menstrual-cramps-be-damned-with-new-cannabis-vaginal-suppository).\n\nAs more states move towards legalizing marijuana for medical use, more people are beginning to look to marijuana in treating PMS symptoms. In some states, doctors already [prescribe marijuana to cancer patients](http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/physicalsideeffects/chemotherapyeffects/marijuana-and-cancer) because it helps treat pain and nausea.\n\nAnd so it follows that marijuana may benefit women who are having menstrual cramps. Cannabis may also offer many other therapeutic effects, including the relaxation of the muscles responsible for cramps. Marijuana has also been shown to help with anxiety and insomnia, two things many women deal with during PMS.\n\n### Best Cannabis Products for PMS Symptoms\n\nSo how can you add marijuana to your life to help ease menstrual cramps and other PMS symptoms? Here are a few of our favorite options.\n\n* A marijuana strain that people say is great for cramps is [Blue Dream](https://www.hellomd.com/strains/5a70be4e6c30440008cafd14/blue-dream). People report that it’s effective at relieving pain and promoting whole body relaxation.\n\n* If you feel your cycle coming on, a marijuana-infused chocolate chip cookie might be just the thing you need. The effects of the cookie won’t take hold right away, so it’s perfect when cramps have just begun and may not be very strong.  \n\n* Full Moon Balancing Elixir is something you can take before cramps start. It’s a mix of THC and herbs that you can microdose (take in small amounts every few hours) to relieve symptoms the week before that time of the month.\n\nPhoto credit: [TipsTimesAdmin](https://www.flickr.com/people/tipstimesadmin/)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.1111111111111112,"src":"/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/939b9/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.jpg","srcSet":"/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/f836f/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.jpg 200w,\n/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/2244e/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.jpg 400w,\n/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/939b9/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.jpg 545w","srcWebp":"/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/6272d/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/61e93/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.webp 200w,\n/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/1f5c5/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.webp 400w,\n/static/831077643e895ec2c36b367652d56c05/6272d/be2530917eef89bff09bc8399a541827.webp 545w","sizes":"(max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1928-markdown","title":"Cannabinoids: Chemical Compounds with Huge Therapeutic Potential","slug":"cannabinoids-chemical-compounds-with-huge-therapeutic-potential","content":"The therapeutic properties of the cannabis plant have been known for\r\nmore than [5000\r\nyears](http://www.maps.org/research-archive/mmj/grinspoon_history_cannabis_medicine.pdf).\r\nHowever, it was not until\r\n[1896](http://thecompassionchronicles.com/2013/12/30/cannabinoids-illinois-adams-and-discovering-cannabidiol/)\r\nthat three researchers -- Wood, Spivey and Easterfield -- discovered\r\nthat cannabinoids, natural compounds unique to the plant, were behind\r\nthese effects. Working with the resin of Indian hemp in a laboratory in\r\nBoston, Massachusetts, they isolated and named the first cannabinoid\r\ncompound, known as cannabinol (CBN). Their discovery was one of many\r\nthat led to a paradigm shift in research into human health and disease.\r\n\r\nOne Discovery Leads to Another\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nIn 1940, more than four decades after the discovery of CBN, Roger Adams\r\nisolated and identified another cannabinoid, cannabidiol (CBD), while\r\nworking with red oil extract made from Minnesota wild hemp at the\r\nUniversity of Illinois. After Adams's discovery, it was 24 years until\r\nthe next breakthrough in cannabinoid science.\r\n\r\nWorking at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Raphael Mechoulam identified\r\ndelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the substance responsible for much\r\nof the psychoactive, or mood-altering, effects of cannabis. Since the\r\ndiscovery of THC, there have been rapid advances in the isolation and\r\nidentification of cannabinoids. So far, [over\r\n85](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2866040/) unique\r\ncannabinoids have been identified.\r\n\r\nFurther Breakthroughs in Cannabinoid Science\r\n--------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAs researchers continued to learn more about cannabinoids, it appeared\r\nincreasingly likely that the effects of cannabinoids must be mediated by\r\na family of receptors. It was not until 1988 that the first of these\r\nreceptors, [cannabinoid receptor type\r\n1](http://www.drugscience.org/Petition/C3D.html) (CB1) was revealed by\r\n[Allyn Howlett](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2848184) and William\r\nDevane of St. Louis University Medical School, Missouri.\r\n\r\nSince then, CB1 receptors have been found in large numbers in several\r\nareas of the human brain, including the basal ganglia (affecting motor\r\nactivity), neocortex (thinking), hippocampus (short-term memory),\r\ncerebellum (motor coordination), periaqueductal gray (pain perception),\r\nand hypothalamus and limbic cortex (appetite and sedation).\r\n\r\nThese receptors are also found to a lesser extent in the dorsal horn of\r\nthe spinal cord (affecting pain perception) and on immune cells. A few\r\nyears after the discovery of CB1, a [second\r\nreceptor](http://www.gwpharm.com/Research%20History.aspx), cannabinoid\r\nreceptor type 2 (CB2), was identified by researchers [Munro, Thomas and\r\nAbu-Shaar](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7689702) from the MRC\r\nLaboratory of Molecular Biology in Cambridge, United Kingdom. CB2\r\nreceptors are predominantly found in immune cells and tissues, with the\r\ngreatest density in the spleen. Activation of these receptors reduces\r\ninflammation, a precursor to many diseases.\r\n\r\nDiscovery of a New Molecular Signalling System\r\n----------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe discovery of cannabinoid receptors fueled speculation that the body\r\nmust produce compounds that bind to the receptors. The first such\r\ncompound, anandamide (AEA), was isolated by [Raphael\r\nMechoulam](http://www.sciencemag.org/content/258/5090/1946) and his team\r\nat Hebrew University in Jerusalem in 1992.\r\n\r\nA couple of years later, a second compound, 2-arachidonoylglycerol\r\n(2-AG), was discovered and in the following decade several other\r\ncompounds capable of activating the cannabinoid receptors were\r\nidentified. These compounds, together with the receptors, make up the\r\nendocannabinoid system.\r\n\r\nManipulation of the Endocannabinoid System\r\n------------------------------------------\r\n\r\n[Research](http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1361971-overview# a4)\r\nindicated that the [endocannabinoid\r\nsystem](http://norml.org/library/item/introduction-to-the-endocannabinoid-system)\r\nmediates a number of physiological functions vital for survival. More\r\nimportantly, it suggested that modulating the activity of the\r\nendocannabinoid system using cannabinoids may be the key to treating a\r\nbroad range of diseases and symptoms.\r\n\r\nCurrently, THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoids of medical\r\ninterest.\r\n[THC](http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine)\r\nhas been found to increase appetite and reduce nausea, and may help\r\ndecrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. CBD may be\r\nuseful in controlling epileptic seizures, reducing pain and\r\ninflammation, and quelling mental illnesses and addictions.\r\n\r\nResearchers Hone Synthetic Cannabinoids\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nContinued research into the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids led to\r\nthe creation of synthetic cannabinoids -- chemicals created to mimic the\r\neffects of natural cannabinoids. Two THC-based medications,\r\n[dronabinol](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607054.html)\r\n(Marinol) and\r\n[nabilone](http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a607048.html)\r\n(Cesamet), showed clinical benefit and were subsequently approved by the\r\nU.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention or treatment\r\nof chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Other cannabis-based\r\nmedications are currently in development.\r\n\r\nCombined Approach Offers Greater Hope\r\n-------------------------------------\r\n\r\nResearch has yet to reveal the exact mechanisms by which all of the\r\ncannabinoids in the cannabis family of plants exert their therapeutic\r\neffects, but evidence suggests that these compounds work better together\r\nthan alone: a discovery termed the entourage effect. Support for this\r\neffect derives from comparisons of the effect of the whole cannabis\r\nplant with that of the drug Marinol. When Marinol became available as a\r\nmedicine in the mid-1980s, researchers believed that it would have the\r\nsame effect as the entire cannabis plant. However,\r\n[patients](http://www.coloradonorml.org/information/marijuana/medical/marinol-vs-natural-plant)\r\nprescribed Marinol frequently reported greater psychoactive effects --\r\ncaused, in part, by the lack of CBD, which is believed to modulate the\r\npsychoactivity of the THC.\r\n\r\nAdvocates Call For Overhaul of Marijuana Laws\r\n---------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nThe ability of cannabinoids to work together to treat a variety of\r\nailments while causing minimal adverse side effects has led to calls for\r\nmedical marijuana --the use of the cannabis plant or its basic extracts\r\nfor medical purposes -- to be legalized. [Twenty-three\r\nstates](https://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/state-laws-related-to-marijuana)\r\nand Washington, DC, have already passed laws allowing marijuana to be\r\nused for a variety of medical conditions. However, many people are still\r\nunable to obtain, possess or cultivate marijuana for their own medicinal\r\nuse without breaking the law.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/34402227@N03/4968163345)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.2345679012345678,"src":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg","srcSet":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/f836f/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/2244e/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/bd8e6/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.jpg 487w","srcWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/61e93/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 200w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/1f5c5/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 400w,\n/static/433d8eeddf29b114224c689e0e82c545/10051/6162c38246fa78235422389aca895d30.webp 487w","sizes":"(max-width: 487px) 100vw, 487px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":96,"numPages":11,"currentPage":9,"id":5599,"name":"Pain","slug":"pain","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}