Remember the time when high schoolers’ were plagued with the 1980’s mantra, “Just Say No! to Drugs”? Here we are many decades later, having spent SO much money on the “War on Drugs”, only to fail – Most drug addicts today got started not on the street, but from doctor-prescribed opioid medications, usually for pain relief. I’ve read in mainstream newspapers how Cannabis extracts like have been helpful for cancer patients’ lack of hunger, children’s seizures and for a disabled person’s health issues. Let’s really look at the potential health benefits of legal, non-hallucinogenic, cannabis/marijuana products like CBD oil for nearly everything, as taught by a product maker’s training. It’s become so mainstream, you may soon see CBD oil in regular grocery store drinks like iced tea! (1)
Opioid Epidemic:
There is a huge epidemic of drug abuse in this country – For many people their first drug pusher wore the white coat of a doctor. That’s right – they came in for pain relief, were prescribed opioid drugs by the medical doctor, and became addicted. And this quote below states that addiction may come as soon as three days into “treatment.”
The opioid epidemic has cost the U.S. more than a trillion dollars since 2001, according to a new study, and may exceed another $500 billion over the next three years. Cite 3, bold added
By 2015, according to the CDC, enough pills were being prescribed for every American to be medicated around the clock for three straight weeks…But studies have now clearly shown that opioid medications can lead to dependency within just a matter of days, and so this flood of prescriptions led to a surge of addiction. And it also drove a steady rise in overdose fatalities. Cite 2, bold added
When the prescription expires, patients (that’s what they are) sometimes have to turn to illegal drugs like heroin to maintain their lives and avoid bottoming out in withdrawal. This is according to a PBS radio interview found here, which talked about the new proposed centers for legal drug injection sites for heroin in the US (Philadelphia) and in Europe to avoid accidental overdoses and death of community members due to unknown mixtures of stronger, more lethal drugs in the desired drug. This surprising task helps stop unsupervised overdose (so people using drugs can get medical care sooner). It is seen as a step toward getting people into drug treatment centers, and supporting them, instead of jailing them.
“The numbers are staggering. Almost half-a-million Americans have died in the last 15 years from an overdose, and the majority of those involve opioids. On average, 91 Americans are still dying every single day.” Cite 2
An opioid epidemic is ravaging parts of this country…Last year, overdoses killed some 64,000 people. It’s being compared to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s and ’90s. Cite 5
We know now that drugs like morphine can actually increase the sensation of pain, although its used for pain relief.
Opioid addiction is so widespread that it made it to the comedy news program The John Oliver Show on HBO:
Startling Numbers! How 75% of Heroin Addicts Got Started from Prescription Drugs given by doctors, from John Oliver’s show “Last Week Tonight” on HBO.
In 2000, almost SIX MILLION PRESCRIPTIONS were sold from just one drug manufacturer/pharmaceutical company! From Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (on HBO).
There were 2.6 million people with a substance use disorder (addiction) in 2015. What surprised me was the age – 12 YEARS OLD AND UP! From John Oliver’s show “Last Week Tonight” on HBO.
Faulty Logic: Barr Doctors to Stop War on Drugs?
So according to these facts, would barring doctors from practicing literally stop the War on Drugs, heroin addictions and overdose deaths?
Opioid Drug Addicts Mostly White:
And while researching this article, I found this surprising tidbit: Doctors are more reluctant to treat pain in Hispanics and African-Americans with opioid drugs or drugs at all. This hidden bias has inadvertently protected those populations from addiction and death. The result? Most opioid addicts and overdose deaths are caucasian. Read more here: PBS radio interview and transcript: Why Is The Opioid Epidemic Overwhelmingly White?, Cite 5
Safe-injection sites to lead to drug treatment, and do lower overdose deaths. Read more about Portugal’s opioid drug treatment results in the full article, or see the amazing results in Portugal, where as many as 1% of the entire population was addicted in the past:
Goulao’s revolutionary recommendation for Portugal was to remove the criminal penalties for all drug use — in other words, decriminalization. It would be combined with an intense focus on harm reduction, treatment and rehabilitation.
A decade later, the number of addicts was halved and overdose deaths had dropped to just 30 a year for the entire country. The number has remained steady ever since.
Europe’s drug-monitoring agency says Portugal’s mortality rate from drugs is now more than four times lower than the European average.
Goulao says 90 per cent of public money spent fighting drugs in Portugal is channeled toward those health-care goals — just 10 per cent is spent on police enforcement. [Canada is almost the opposite.] Cite 7
[I wonder what the US is – ]
Update 3/8/22: After long lockdowns and isolation, which are really bad for anyone who needs addiction support, Denver has lost 450 people due to overdoses. This is double the annual fatality rate from two years previously. Source: Denver 9 News article, 3/8/22 [There were no other details at all, just two lines of text.]
We Need Natural, Health-Based Pain Relief That is Non-Addicting:
We need to address pain relief through more natural methods, like radically changing a person’s diet to greatly reduce grains (a source of Omega 6’s), reduce sugar (a super inflammatory food), add in herbs and spices like turmeric and ginger and others with anti-inflammatory effect, and increase Omega 3’s in the diet (found mainly in wild fish and grass-fed meat, dairy and eggs.) Sleep and homeopathy could maybe help healing. Herbal medicine may help the problem area heal. There is so much that we could talk about. I will write a longer post about this soon, but in the mean time you can read about the health importance of Omega 3:6 ratio here, and high-Omega 3 foods.
So in contrast to my past anti-drug public education, we are legalizing and using marijuana products for natural health relief. And whatever your stance is on getting high, at least marijuana is not addicting to the patient, turning them into drug addicts on heroin and other drugs.
Legal Marijuana Generates Tax Revenue:
I live in a legal-marijuana state, Colorado, where the growers and sellers pay high taxes to cities and state government. Last year in Fort Collins ten medical marijuana pharmacies sold an estimated $6 million in sales, raising $240,000 in tax revenue! (See funny note-at end) (Cite 8) [Fort Collins is a city with about 158,000 people in 2015.]
Let’s Talk About Cannabis/Marijuana for Pain Relief:
First, let’s define what Cannabis/Marijuana we’re talking about. Although the herb is Cannabis sativa, there are different plant strains that emphasize different chemical compounds and properties. Growers can emphasize or de-select different substances through plant cross-breeding, the same as other food crops.
The THC component is the part that causes mind hallucinations. This part may be the main compound that causes anxiety, panic, mood changes and confusion at higher doses. Cite 6, From Herbal Vade Mecum
The CBD component of the plant is the part that may benefit health, and does not cause hallucinogens at all. The CBD plant extracts are even allowed to be shipped as oil or capsules nationwide in the US, because it is not recognized as an illegal drug.
A thorough herb book states that Cannabis is antispasmodic, anlagesic (pain-relieving), causes euphoric moods (low doses), and then a sedative effect (low doses). Cite 6, From Herbal Vade Mecum
Different strains of the plant have been cross-bred to choose for higher amounts of either the THC or CBD part. This is similar to selecting peaches for their freestone pit traits, or berries for size and flavor. Plants high in THC automatically have low CBD, and this can cause the “bad high” with depression and burn out.
I have heard Cannabis called hemp, and I am unclear on the difference. Hemp fiber is very strong and useful as a textile, for things like strong bags. However, hemp food products like seeds and oils (as found in health stores) do not have similar effects to the CBD oil.
Historical Use of Cannabis:
Historically, Cannabis was given to patients around the 1920’s to reduce other addictions to things like laudanum (morphine formerly given to children and everyone) and alcohol.
In the 1930’s, Cannabis use was discouraged in the US. In Israel, research continued, with doctors finding Cannabis helpful in brain aging and function. In the 1980’s, researchers found “endcannabinoid receptors” (called ECS) in the human brain. Turns out that all mammals have them. These maintain balance between relying, eating, sleeping, protecting and forgetting. Diseases that are resistant to treatment like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s Disease have endocannabinoid receptor issues.
This training was given by CV Products. Cannabis and CBD oil cannot be sold to treat any condition, and no claims can be made. Cite 4
Cannabinoid Receptors in Humans:
It turns out our body has natural THC and CBD. If our body can’t balance its own chemicals, having balanced Omega 3 to 6 (in a ration of about 1:3, not 1:25) can help us be more sensitive to CBD in any form. Most of us today eat grains, and our meat and milk animals eat grains, so most of us are off balance with super high omega 6 (sorry – 1:20+ Omega 3:6). This is explained in more detail in this post about keeping Omega 3 and 6 in balance, and sources of Omega 3 foods (of which most of us need more.)
Like other herbal products, there is no certain dose for anyone, nor can the company tell someone when they may feel better.
Exercise and Being Fit Helps CBD Sensitivity:
The more physically fit someone is, the more endcannabinoid receptors they will have. So working out can increase effectiveness (and I would argue, also enhance our own feel good hormones and help our immune system take out the trash.)
CBD Receptor Locations in the Human Body:
There are two kinds of receptors: CBD1 and CBD 2. Most CBD1 receptors are in the brain, but also all over the body.
Most CBD2 receptors are in the immune system. CBD oil can help reduce something called FACH, and help the body use its own chemicals, and reduce inflammation.
CV Products: Seller of Cannabis Products like CBD Oil:
CV Products markets something called “red label” which is 4 mg CBDA and 1 mg of CBD. These acid bound cannabinoids can’t cross the blood brain barrier. (Remember – there is no exact dose for people.) This one is recommended (by a company selling it) for replacing NSAIDs for pain relief, muscle soreness and gut issues like nausea.
The makers’ “green color” label is heated. They market this for generally happy and healthy people with minor roadblocks like a new physical or emotional issues. This product can affect the brain.
The company’s “gold” product is a steam distillate, so its more concentrated. It is more fat soluble, so its more easily absorbed. They suggest it for people whose ECS receptors are lacking or turned off. Examples of conditions where it could be tried include traumatic brain injury, nerve degeneration, chronic pain, autoimmune, severe migraines and other extreme conditions. If there are many issues, they recommend treating the most major first. One doctor use this product externally, and topically on skin with a laser. (cold laser?)
Doses of CBD Oil:
The company states that doses can range from 1-1500 mg per day. Most people’s dose can be 1-15 mg. Half of people could use 15-50 mg. And for rarer conditions, 50-100 mg. Again, like other herbal products, there is no certain dose for anyone, nor can the company tell someone a dose.
The company suggests starting with a low dose and moving up from there. Feeling bad could indicate too high a dose. It is unknown whether it is safe during pregnancy and lactation, and with children. I will note that a mainstream newspaper reported that it was having positive effects on children’s seizures; I think the child patient was in Texas.
Affordability of CBD Oil and Cannabis Products:
According to CV Products’ consumer website, CBD Oil capsules range in price from $30 for 30 capsules of 10 mg dose, $60 for 60 capsules of 10 mg dose, to nearly $70 for 60 capsules of 15 mg. If (as mentioned above) most people find what they need at a 15 mg/day dose, this would mean that this supplement would cost $30-35 per month. (This is similar to many other vitamin supplements.) I’m surprised, because my first thought was that it was $90 for 1 bottle from looking at the price list – perhaps I was looking at the concentrated gold herbal product?
Cannabis Products and Job-Related Drug Tests:
Most job drug tests for THC not CBD. The company recommended that you avoid CBD oil use completely if there is a chance that you might be tested. Beware – drug tests with military, parole and probation are stricter than normal and even CBD products will cause a drug test “fail.”
Legal Issues Between States and Federal Government:
In January 2018, the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (or DEA) is trying to make illegal all extracts from hemp, but Congress is pushing back.
“Mainstream acceptance of cannabidiol (CBD) as a safe medicine took another leap forward. Last week [estimated Jan. 8th, 2018], 28 members of the US Congress asked a federal appeals court to reject the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) argument that CBD is a Schedule 1 drug…Their argument was that the DEA is acting “blatantly contrary” to the 2014 Farm Bill, when it took the stance that CBD is a marijuana extract and therefore illegal.
“The Farm Bill’s definition of industrial hemp includes any part of the plant, including the flower,” the Congress members argued, and concluded that the DEA’s rule regarding CBD was an “abuse of DEA’s administrative procedure and rulemaking authority.”
Upon the DEA’s official announcement that US Attorney General Jeff Sessions was reversing the Cole Memorandum—introduced by the Obama Administration—which was introduced to protect US state level marijuana licensing programs from federal enforcement.” Source: Baystreet.ca website
More Information About the Cannabis Company, CV Products:
CV Products is a publicly traded company. In Jan. 2017, it’s stock was worth 43 cents a share. (source: MarketWatch.com) According to Yahoo Finance, the Las Vegas, Nevada, company has 38 full-time employees.
This Baystreet.ca website article about CV Products described the company’s operations:
“CV Sciences, is a life science company, focused on developing and commercializing novel therapeutics utilizing synthetic Cannabidiol (CBD). The company operates through two segments, Specialty Pharmaceutical and Consumer Product. It also manufactures, markets, and sells plant-based CBD products under PlusCBD brand for a range of market sectors, including nutraceutical, beauty care, specialty foods, and vape. CV Sciences, Inc. is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.”
You may read more here at Network News Wire.com. (The latter recommends several Cannabis product manufacturers as an investment vehicle.)
If you enjoyed this article about opioid addiction and its costs, marijuana/cannabis products, THC and CBD oil products, please Share it with your friends, using the social media buttons below. Have you tried CBD oil for pain relief? Let me know in the Comments below.
Want to sign up for my newsletter? Includes healthy recipes, nutrition and herbalism tips, and more. It’s free, and once a month. Just click here to sign up in 10 seconds.
And learn how to Raise Your Immunity Through Herbs, Nutrition and Lifestyle Methods with my online course. Thanks!
Funny Note: Although Cannabis is legal as a crop and product in Colorado, that is a state law. Banks are legislated by national laws, and they are are waiting to see if the government will crack down on this legalization or not. So although these businesses make a ton of money, they can’t deposit any of it in banks. What does this mean? They are a cash-only business. They have to buy supplies with cash, give their employees their pay in cash, and literally do everything in cash. There are business people with thousands of dollars of cash in safes.
Disclaimer:
The CBD oil and products training was given by CV Products in November 2017 in Boulder, Colorado. I should state that although the talk was free, we were provided a dinner and one cocktail. I am not an affiliate, and was not influenced in any way in writing this post.
There are no affiliate links in this post.
Citations:
1 – Baystreet.ca article: The publicly traded company Phivida.com may soon market drinks with CBD oil in them. These may include ice tea, tinctures (herbs in alcohol, similar to vanilla extract), and Vitamin Shots.
2 – https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/opioid-addiction-biggest-drug-epidemic-u-s-history-howd-get
3 – https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/02/13/585199746/cost-of-u-s-opioid-epidemic-since-2001-is-1-trillion-and-climbing
4 – The CBD oil and products training was given by CV Products in November 2017 in Boulder, Colorado.
5 – https://www.npr.org/2017/11/04/562137082/why-is-the-opioid-epidemic-overwhelmingly-white
6 – Herbal Vade Mecum, an amazing herbal medicine book by Gazmend Skenderi, Herbacy Press publisher, 2003
7 – http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/portugal-heroin-decriminalization/
8 – https://www.coloradoan.com/story/money/2014/09/10/marijuana-sales-adding-thousands-city-tax-coffers/15420495/
