# Ask the Medical Marijuana care giver. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 9, 2012, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200 "2012-09-09T14:59:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/21 "2012-09-10T13:59:36Z")
> [@Alan\_Smithee](#): > > \As a result, the only people who will issue the recommendations are doctors whose practices consist solely of issuing medical marijuana recommendations. These are sometimes associated with a particular marijuana dispensary, and sometimes have their own storefront. They often guarantee that they will not charge you if they deny your recommendation, so they have a clear financial incentive to find some symptom that will permit them to recommend medical marijuana. Obviously since they can’t maintain a regular practice, they have to do things to be competitive in the market that exists. I’m certainly not suggesting that [this documentary music video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRm1yqSmsGY) bears any semblance to my personal experience! Interesting. When denied by Mom’s pain specialist. I went to a MMJ dispensary, and they gave me a list of doctors that are sympathetic to MMJ. The doc that recommended this only makes house calls, so he does not have a regular practice. He used to be an ER doc. For what it’s worth, I have not made any purchases at the dispensary that gave me the doctor recommendations. And the doctor did not recommend any. He seems genuinely concerned for my Mom’s health, and want’s us to keep in touch on how it’s going. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/22 "2012-09-10T14:48:32Z")
> [@MetroGnome](#): > > This is the first time I’ve heard of marijuana being used topically. Color me enlightened but skeptical. What’s in the salve? What are the effects? Is it a general analgesic? Does enough (or any) THC get absorbed to induce a high? I’m all for legalized marijuana (medicinal or not) but my main skepticism is with how a topically applied salve aleviates pain associated with a crushed vertebrae. I was skeptical too. One of my mom’s problems is that muscles are constantly under strain to try to support her back. This at least seems to provide some relief from that. She says that at least she is sleeping better. She also says that it can make her feel a bit ‘loopy’ but not nearly as bad as the other pain drugs that she just can’t tolerate. I did rub some of the salve on my wrist and lower arm. I would say that it made my arm feel relaxed, light. It did not make me high. The salves that we have been able to purchase at dispensaries have a great deal of menthol in them. The warming effect from that may have been what was helping, but my mom can’t stand the smell. So that’s when I decided to make some for her from raw MMJ. As to what’s in the salve. By volume, one part coconut oil, one part paraffin (gonna use beeswax next time) one part MMJ (simmered in the coconut oil and strained through cheesecloth) vitamin E oil and vanilla extract for a nice smell. Surgery is out, she has had spinoplasty where glue is injected into the vertebrae to try to stabilize it. Didn’t help. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/23 "2012-09-10T15:25:49Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > My dad currently takes opiates for his back pain (plus alcohol yay!) I am pretty sure the pain pills make him “goofy” and definitely spacey and by the end of the day he’s totally annoying to be around. > > Did your mom take drugs for her pain and did they make her high? Was she spacey? > > How does she act now with MJ instead? I keep thinking I want to hook my dad up (although we’re in Ohio) but I feel I’d just be trading one annoying legal habit for an annoying illegal one. My mom took drugs for her pain. She says it make her spacy and did not help the pain. From a personal perspective, I haven’t see any change in her attitude or demeanor. But I have to temper that, since I only see her about once a week. I live 100 miles away. This is all new to my mom, and I am watching as close as I can. Both my Wife and I see that she is walking better, and seems to be in less pain. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/24 "2012-09-10T20:51:02Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > 1- She does not and will not smoke it. We are using edibles and topicals. As far as the state of Colorado is concerned, it is perfectly legal. And I’m not sure what ‘legal’ THC based meds are. Do they even make perscription THC pills? [Marinol.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinol#Marinol) ---
**Author:** ![ExcitedIdiot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ea5d25/32.png) [@ExcitedIdiot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExcitedIdiot)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/25 "2012-09-10T22:18:09Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > Is mass manufacturing of THC practical? It IS mass manufactured. It’s called [Marinol](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000403/). THC is only one of the active ingredients of marijuana, which could explain why it isn’t as effective as marijuana at treating some symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![mariposalabrown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@mariposalabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mariposalabrown)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/26 "2012-09-10T22:21:11Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > 2- Not concerned in the least. If the Feds did somewhow crack down on Colorado, I would be more than happy to sit before a jury. In any case, even if I didn’t have a card, less than an ounce (or is it two) of MJ is just a slap on the wrist in Colorado. And when you see a loved one in pain like this, you do everything you can to help. Same here, glad to see you write this. You aren’t going to get prison for life for a couple plants that the state said you can have and are registered for. My husband would gladly go to jail for the cause at this point, risk versus reward, it’s worth it for us. I could barely stand living with him on Percocet, I have no problem trading the pills for a round of “Honey, where are my glasses?” once a week. (near the backdoor where you traded them for sunglasses to go outside) ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/27 "2012-09-10T23:20:19Z")
Thanks **Smapti** and **ExcitedIdiot** re information about Marinol It was never mentioned to us. From what I read, cannabis indica with a higher CBD componant (as apposed to cannibus sativa which has a higher THC content) would be better for my mom. I’m trying to figure it out, and NEVER thought that I would be making MMJ salve for my 83 year old mother. It seems to be helping. Never say never. Thanks again for everyones responses. Keep 'em coming. ---
**Author:** ![getitrite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@getitrite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/getitrite)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2012, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/28 "2012-09-10T23:59:49Z")
I currently live in a state that does now allow for the use of MMJ, in 1987 while driving truck went into a tornado, truck was fine but My back wasn’t HNP L1-5 vertibral body burst fracture L3, would do the surgery thing I was only 38 but after looking for 3 years for a way to fix it with out destroying it, found a new procedure at the time, percutaneous discectomy. That was more that 10 years ago, went through a lot of pain pills, I am now allergic to vicoden, and a few others. Then I found MJ, Oh what a relief it was, the spasms, the pain, but I know its illegal in this state. Still do it. Now I getting old enought to not care, only smoke a couple time a week, the effect is more long lasting than any pharm they have. Thank goodness your mom has you. and yes both of the active ingredients are important in the pain relief. one is relaxing the other is releaving. and Thanks for the thread ---
**Author:** ![rhythmonly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@rhythmonly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhythmonly)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200/29 "2012-09-11T22:21:17Z")
There’s a new processed pill called Idrasil. It’s supposed to contain THC, CBD and CBN. It’s also supposed to have an advantage over other MMJ treatments because the pills are uniform in dosage. It’s being touted for Hospice/Pallitive Care patients as a “cheaper” alternative for opiate-based drugs. I asked about Idrasil at a Dispensary, but apparently pissed the guy behind the counter off. “That’s fine if you want to pay 750 dollars a bottle.” I thought that was a little ridiculous, so I contacted the manufacturer. The cost for a bottle of 50 pills is $ 562.50 (which includes Tax and Shipping). But you can get a sample bottle of 10 pills for just 50 bucks! I was wondering how I’d obtain the pills after winning the Lottery, but I was informed that they use UPS. Think I’ll pass on it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-medical-marijuana-care-giver/634200.md?page=1)