United Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church
United Church of Christ
Episcopal Church Unitarian Universalist Association
Union of Reform Judaism
Progressive National Baptist Convention

Bookmark this page and watch as more and more church bodies make decisions for or against the medicinal use of medical marijuana.

The question is how much medical marijuana can you legally have in your possession. The amount itself is generally cut and dry. You are allowed to have up to 2 ounces of usable medical marijuana per patient. If you are growing your own, then according to Rob Corry Jr., Attorney at Law, there is a non-binding guideline which allows you 6 plants, three that are in a flowering stage and 3 that are in a vegetative stage.

The problem is, that 3 flowering plants can easily produce over two ounces of the medicinal herb and this makes it difficult to say the least, to stay within the legal guidelines the state has set forth. The good news is that the law does allow for a greater amount per patient if it is required for the condition but there is no clear guidelines as to what that amount could or should be. So, in theory, it is possible to have more than 2 ounces in your possession but you should have some kind of documentation to back up your claim if you have more than the law states.

As with anything you do in life, do it in moderation and follow the law. If you don’t look for trouble, you won’t find it.

The American Medical Assn. on Tuesday urged the federal government to reconsider its classification of marijuana as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use, a significant shift that puts the prestigious group behind calls for more research.

The nation’s largest physicians organization, with about 250,000 member doctors, the AMA has maintained since 1997 that marijuana should remain a Schedule I controlled substance, the most restrictive category, which also includes heroin and LSD.

In changing its policy, the group said its goal was to clear the way to conduct clinical research, develop cannabis-based medicines and devise alternative ways to deliver the drug.

“Despite more than 30 years of clinical research, only a small number of randomized, controlled trials have been conducted on smoked cannabis,” said Dr. Edward Langston, an AMA board member, noting that the limited number of studies was “insufficient to satisfy the current standards for a prescription drug product.”

This is a new position for the AMA and they do not directly advocate the use of medical marijuana directly. However they are in favor of more research on the benefits of medical marijuana. This is great news for medical marijuana advocates. The reason is that good quality clinical research has been hampered because of harsh drug laws in our country.

Because of the fact that the Obama administration has adopted a more relaxed policy toward medical marijuana, patients, caregivers and growers are not being prosecuted as often as they may have been in the past. It is still important to realize that even though states have relaxed or made “legal” medical marijuana, the federal law hasn’t changed. These laws are still severe and for now have simply had the enforcement of them altered. The hope of us all is that with the increasing number of voices advocating this change, which now includes the AMA, we will eventually be heard and recognized.

An interesting aspect of the AMA’s change in policy is that it fits in with a larger shift in the organization’s positions. Traditionally, the positions of the AMA have been on balance fairly politically conservative. However, this year, for example, the AMA has come out in favor of sweeping health care reform–despite its many years of trying to block similar reforms. This brings the position of the AMA more in line with the views of the physicians it represents. Arguably the most definitive survey on this subject to date (published last month in The New England Journal of Medicine) found that 72.5% of physicians support a public health care option (either or alone or with private options as well, the latter being by far the most popular view).

Cannabis or medical marijuana has been used in the treatment of migraines for quite a long time. Cannabis has been a well documented remedy for this condition. Throughout the latter half of the nineteenth century, many prominent physicians in Europe and North America advocated the use of cannabis extracts for the symptomatic and preventative treatment of headaches. To this day there still remains a lack of controlled clinical studies using medical marijuana as a treatment method for migraines. However, there is an abundance of anecdotal evidence on the effective use of cannabis in the treatment of migraines.

The cannabinoids found in medical grade marijuana have been shown to have properties such as dopamine-blocking and anti-inflammatory effects. This would suggest that they may be useful in treating migraines.

You may want to visit different dispensaries when trying to make a decision on who you want to purchase your meds from. It is important that the staff is knowledgeable about the cannabis strains they carry as well as the condition(s) that you may be suffering from. You should feel as comfortable with your caregiver as you do with your physician.

Below are a few questions that you might ask a prospective prospective caregiver.

1. Are you a Colorado patient? Or JUST a Caregiver?
2. Have you ever been arrested for drugs or paraphernalia?
3. Are you insured?
4. Do you have patient testimonials?
5. Do you have a business Checking account for your Marijuana Caregivers business?
6. Is any of the medical marijuana keifed or rolled. (If they try sell you marijuana that has been keifed or rolled ensure that you are not paying top dollar for it.
7. Are there EVER any seeds in your medical grade marijuana?
8. Do you accept checks, credit cards, debit cards. (Don’t expect them to take checks)

Now ask yourself a few questions.

1. Do they really care about me or my condition?
2. What if I don’t live close by?
3. Will they be there for me whenever I call? Even late at night?
4. Do they make the attempt to check on me regularly?
5. Do they listen to me and show compassion?
6. Do they keep their word?
7. Is this a person I can trust?

These are a few things you might consider as a new patient. The care-giving business is really picking up here in southern Colorado and although there may be changes in the future, we all know medical marijuana is here to stay. With that being said, it is important for us to have systems and businesses in place to serve the community.

We invite you to stop by and ask us the questions you need answered. It is our sincere desire to help you find the best care and best quality medicine to help alleviate they symptoms of your condition(s).

Medical studies show heavy marijuana smokers have suffered severe bronchitis and respiratory infections. Vaporizing marijuana is an excellent way of reducing the irritating respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke. The vaporizer reduces the amount of tar you inhale. Their is quite a bit of tar in marijuana, tobacco and other herbs especially in Marijuana.

Also herbs are smoked on a recreational basis by millions of people across the world. These people can also take advantage of the benefits of a vaporizer.

The effect of vaporizing herbs is generally quite different to smoking. Some prefer the feeling of vaporizing and others prefer the feeling of smoking. Even if you prefer the feelings of smoking, it is very handy having a vaporizer. It can be used from time to time to reduce the harmful affects of smoking. For example if you have a sore throat and would like to consume your herbs. The vaporizer can be used and it should not irritate your throat. Or you may feel that your lungs are congested and need some improving, but you would like some herbs. Then vaporize your herbs and you should see improvements in your health. This is especially the case if you have a cold or the flu. The marijuana/herbs may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms caused by the cold. It may be just to painful to smoke when you throat is sore and lungs are conjested.

If you smoke marijuana and find that you are becoming tired and unmotivated and you do not want to quit using marijuana. Try vaporizing your marijuana and you will get more a of a clean headed high buzz.

Like tobacco, marijuana smoke contains toxins that are known to be hazardous to the respiratory system. Among them are the highly carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, a prime suspect in cigarette-related cancers. These toxins are essentially a byproduct of combustion, separate from the pharmaceutically active components of marijuana, known as cannabinoids, which include THC. When you burn marijuana it produces quite a lot of tar. Pipes and joints generally do not have proper filters. Bongs are not the answer, because you inhale concentrated smoke.

The vaporizer certainly reduces the level of tar. You will not have to worry about the harmful carcinogens your body is absorbing when you inhale marijuana smoke.

How to use a Marijuana Vaporizer

You take your marijuana buds and cut them up or grind them slightly. This helps increase the surface area. You then place the cannabis in to the cup style bowl and adjust the temperature. Each vaporizer is different so read the directions on how to control the temperature. The vaporization temperature will alter the affect of the herb.

How Does A Marijuana Vaporizer Work

As the heat is applied to your herbs the THC resins inside medical cannabis buds gets hot enough to vaporize. When this happens the good chemicals held within the small resins on the plants actually vaporize out into a thin mist (vapor). The vapor starts to thicken as it gathers inside a clear glass dome. The vapor is now ready to be inhaled through a long tube. Once the marijuana has been fully vaporized, you are left with the remains of the marijuana plant. The remaining chaff is the waste product. This is what you would have inhaled had you smoked the marijuana rather than vaporize it.

What Are The Benefits Of A Marijuana Vaporizer

The greatest benefit is that you do not inhale any of the harmful smoke produced by a marijuana cigarette (joint). However, through the vaporization process you still receive all the active chemical ingredients from the marijuana buds you place in the bowl. When you burn herbs harmful chemicals are created. Vaporizing your herbs reduces the number of harmful chemicals.

We are a Colorado Medical Marijuana Center and Caregiver company whose patients include people from all walks of life and all ages. Our patients suffer from a myriad of medical conditions. Their one common thread is that they no longer feel the pain that is normally associated with their condition(s). The reason is because we provide them with the highest quality medical marijuana in the state of Colorado.

Many people are unfamiliar with the fact that medical marijuana can be a very effective alternative to highly addictive prescribed drugs that are normally associated with certain illnesses and diseases. Some common conditions and symptoms that can be effectively treated using medical marijuana include:

• Cancer
• Nausea
• Glaucoma
• Seizures
• Diabetes
• Chron’s

There are many other conditions and illnesses that can be effectively treated. If you have any condition that includes some type of pain and/or inflammation you may be a candidate for an alternative medical marijuana treatment schedule.

People are sometimes hesitant to apply for a medical marijuana license because they don’t know where to go, what to do, or who they can trust. They assume that the process is complicated and difficult. Colorado Alternative Care Services is dedicated to making the application process as simple as possible for all interested parties. ALL inquiries and medical records are kept in the strictest confidence. Our privacy policies are strong and secure.

Colorado Alternative Care Services is a full-service medical marijuana dispensary with doctors on call and available to evaluate your records and conditions. Our main concern and ultimate goal is to give our patients a higher quality of life through alternative medical marijuana treatments.

If you are unsure about anything, we can answer your questions and provide you with any information you require. We are happy to complete the entire licensing process for you. You will need to send $90 to CDPHE for the state application fee. If you choose to have us do the entire process for you, we guarantee that everything will be done in accordance with Colorado state law and that all required paperwork will be filed quickly and efficiently.

Call today and begin living the life that you used to enjoy.

719-635-5963

0-4-287 – ARTICLE XVIII – Miscellaneous Art. XVIII – Miscellaneous

Section 14. Medical use of marijuana for persons suffering from debilitating medical conditions. (1) As used in this section, these terms are defined as follows:

(a) “Debilitating medical condition” means:

(I) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or treatment for such conditions;

(II) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition, or treatment for such conditions, which produces, for a specific patient, one or more of the following, and for which, in the professional opinion of the patient’s physician, such condition or conditions reasonably may be alleviated by the medical use of marijuana: cachexia; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including those that are characteristic of epilepsy; or persistent muscle spasms, including those that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or

(III) Any other medical condition, or treatment for such condition, approved by the state health agency, pursuant to its rule making authority or its approval of any petition submitted by a patient or physician as provided in this section.

(b) “Medical use” means the acquisition, possession, production, use, or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia related to the administration of such marijuana to address the symptoms or effects of a patient’s debilitating medical condition, which may be authorized only after a diagnosis of the patient’s debilitating medical condition by a physician or physicians, as provided by this section.

(c) “Parent” means a custodial mother or father of a patient under the age of eighteen years, any person having custody of a patient under the age of eighteen years, or any person serving as a legal guardian for a patient under the age of eighteen years.

(d) “Patient” means a person who has a debilitating medical condition.

(e) “Physician” means a doctor of medicine who maintains, in good standing, a license to practice medicine issued by the state of Colorado.

(f) “Primary care-giver” means a person, other than the patient and the patient’s physician, who is eighteen years of age or older and has significant responsibility for managing the well-being of a patient who has a debilitating medical condition.

(g) “Registry identification card” means that document, issued by the state health agency, which identifies a patient authorized to engage in the medical use of marijuana and such patient’s primary care-giver, if any has been designated.

(h) “State health agency” means that public health related entity of state government designated by the governor to establish and maintain a confidential registry of patients authorized to engage in the medical use of marijuana and enact rules to administer this program.

(i) “Usable form of marijuana” means the seeds, leaves, buds, and flowers of the plant (genus) cannabis, and any mixture or preparation thereof, which are appropriate for medical use as provided in this section, but excludes the plant’s stalks, stems, and roots.

(j) “Written documentation” means a statement signed by a patient’s physician or copies of the patient’s pertinent medical records.

(2) (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (5), (6), and (8) of this section, a patient or primary care-giver charged with a violation of the state’s criminal laws related to the patient’s medical use of marijuana will be deemed to have established an affirmative defense to such allegation where:

(I) The patient was previously diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition;

(II) The patient was advised by his or her physician, in the context of a bona fide physician-patient relationship, that the patient might benefit from the medical use of marijuana in connection with a debilitating medical condition; and

(III) The patient and his or her primary care-giver were collectively in possession of amounts of marijuana only as permitted under this section.

This affirmative defense shall not exclude the assertion of any other defense where a patient or primary care-giver is charged with a violation of state law related to the patient’s medical use of marijuana.

(b) Effective June 1, 2001, it shall be an exception from the state’s criminal laws for any patient or primary care-giver in lawful possession of a registry identification card to engage or assist in the medical use of marijuana, except as otherwise provided in subsections (5) and (8) of this section.

(c) It shall be an exception from the state’s criminal laws for any physician to:

(I) Advise a patient whom the physician has diagnosed as having a debilitating medical condition, about the risks and benefits of medical use of marijuana or that he or she might benefit from the medical use of marijuana, provided that such advice is based upon the physician’s contemporaneous assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition and a bona fide physician-patient relationship; or

(II) Provide a patient with written documentation, based upon the physician’s contemporaneous assessment of the patient’s medical history and current medical condition and a bona fide physician-patient relationship, stating that the patient has a debilitating medical condition and might benefit from the medical use of marijuana.

No physician shall be denied any rights or privileges for the acts authorized by this subsection.

(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, no person, including a patient or primary care-giver, shall be entitled to the protection of this section for his or her acquisition, possession, manufacture, production, use, sale, distribution, dispensing, or transportation of marijuana for any use other than medical use.

(e) Any property interest that is possessed, owned, or used in connection with the medical use of marijuana or acts incidental to such use, shall not be harmed, neglected, injured, or destroyed while in the possession of state or local law enforcement officials where such property has been seized in connection with the claimed medical use of marijuana. Any such property interest shall not be forfeited under any provision of state law providing for the forfeiture of property other than as a sentence imposed after conviction of a criminal offense or entry of a plea of guilty to such offense. Marijuana and paraphernalia seized by state or local law enforcement officials from a patient or primary care-giver in connection with the claimed medical use of marijuana shall be returned immediately upon the determination of the district attorney or his or her designee that the patient or primary care-giver is entitled to the protection contained in this section as may be evidenced, for example, by a decision not to prosecute, the dismissal of charges, or acquittal.

(3) The state health agency shall create and maintain a confidential registry of patients who have applied for and are entitled to receive a registry identification card according to the criteria set forth in this subsection, effective June 1, 2001.

(a) No person shall be permitted to gain access to any information about patients in the state health agency’s confidential registry, or any information otherwise maintained by the state health agency about physicians and primary care-givers, except for authorized employees of the state health agency in the course of their official duties and authorized employees of state or local law enforcement agencies which have stopped or arrested a person who claims to be engaged in the medical use of marijuana and in possession of a registry identification card or its functional equivalent, pursuant to paragraph (e) of this subsection (3). Authorized employees of state or local law enforcement agencies shall be granted access to the information contained within the state health agency’s confidential registry only for the purpose of verifying that an individual who has presented a registry identification card to a state or local law enforcement official is lawfully in possession of such card.

(b) In order to be placed on the state’s confidential registry for the medical use of marijuana, a patient must reside in Colorado and submit the completed application form adopted by the state health agency, including the following information, to the state health agency:

(I) The original or a copy of written documentation stating that the patient has been diagnosed with a debilitating medical condition and the physician’s conclusion that the patient might benefit from the medical use of marijuana;

(II) The name, address, date of birth, and social security number of the patient;

(III) The name, address, and telephone number of the patient’s physician; and

(IV) The name and address of the patient’s primary care-giver, if one is designated at the time of application.

(c) Within thirty days of receiving the information referred to in subparagraphs (3) (b) (I)-(IV), the state health agency shall verify medical information contained in the patient’s written documentation. The agency shall notify the applicant that his or her application for a registry identification card has been denied if the agency’s review of such documentation discloses that: the information required pursuant to paragraph (3) (b) of this section has not been provided or has been falsified; the documentation fails to state that the patient has a debilitating medical condition specified in this section or by state health agency rule; or the physician does not have a license to practice medicine issued by the state of Colorado. Otherwise, not more than five days after verifying such information, the state health agency shall issue one serially numbered registry identification card to the patient, stating:

(I) The patient’s name, address, date of birth, and social security number;

(II) That the patient’s name has been certified to the state health agency as a person who has a debilitating medical condition, whereby the patient may address such condition with the medical use of marijuana;

(III) The date of issuance of the registry identification card and the date of expiration of such card, which shall be one year from the date of issuance; and

(IV) The name and address of the patient’s primary care-giver, if any is designated at the time of application.

(d) Except for patients applying pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, where the state health agency, within thirty-five days of receipt of an application, fails to issue a registry identification card or fails to issue verbal or written notice of denial of such application, the patient’s application for such card will be deemed to have been approved. Receipt shall be deemed to have occurred upon delivery to the state health agency, or deposit in the United States mails. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no application shall be deemed received prior to June 1, 2001. A patient who is questioned by any state or local law enforcement official about his or her medical use of marijuana shall provide a copy of the application submitted to the state health agency, including the written documentation and proof of the date of mailing or other transmission of the written documentation for delivery to the state health agency, which shall be accorded the same legal effect as a registry identification card, until such time as the patient receives notice that the application has been denied.

(e) A patient whose application has been denied by the state health agency may not reapply during the six months following the date of the denial and may not use an application for a registry identification card as provided in paragraph (3) (d) of this section. The denial of a registry identification card shall be considered a final agency action. Only the patient whose application has been denied shall have standing to contest the agency action.

(f) When there has been a change in the name, address, physician, or primary care- giver of a patient who has qualified for a registry identification card, that patient must notify the state health agency of any such change within ten days. A patient who has not designated a primary care-giver at the time of application to the state health agency may do so in writing at any time during the effective period of the registry identification card, and the primary care-giver may act in this capacity after such designation. To maintain an effective registry identification card, a patient must annually resubmit, at least thirty days prior to the expiration date stated on the registry identification card, updated written documentation to the state health agency, as well as the name and address of the patient’s primary care-giver, if any is designated at such time.

(g) Authorized employees of state or local law enforcement agencies shall immediately notify the state health agency when any person in possession of a registry identification card has been determined by a court of law to have willfully violated the provisions of this section or its implementing legislation, or has pled guilty to such offense.

(h) A patient who no longer has a debilitating medical condition shall return his or her registry identification card to the state health agency within twenty-four hours of receiving such diagnosis by his or her physician.

(i) The state health agency may determine and levy reasonable fees to pay for any direct or indirect administrative costs associated with its role in this program.

(4) (a) A patient may engage in the medical use of marijuana, with no more marijuana than is medically necessary to address a debilitating medical condition. A patient’s medical use of marijuana, within the following limits, is lawful:

(I) No more than two ounces of a usable form of marijuana; and

(II) No more than six marijuana plants, with three or fewer being mature, flowering plants that are producing a usable form of marijuana.

(b) For quantities of marijuana in excess of these amounts, a patient or his or her primary care-giver may raise as an affirmative defense to charges of violation of state law that such greater amounts were medically necessary to address the patient’s debilitating medical condition.

(5) (a) No patient shall:

(I) Engage in the medical use of marijuana in a way that endangers the health or well-being of any person; or

(II) Engage in the medical use of marijuana in plain view of, or in a place open to, the general public.

(b) In addition to any other penalties provided by law, the state health agency shall revoke for a period of one year the registry identification card of any patient found to have willfully violated the provisions of this section or the implementing legislation adopted by the general assembly.

(6) Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) (a) and (3) (d) of this section, no patient under eighteen years of age shall engage in the medical use of marijuana unless:

(a) Two physicians have diagnosed the patient as having a debilitating medical condition;

(b) One of the physicians referred to in paragraph (6) (a) has explained the possible risks and benefits of medical use of marijuana to the patient and each of the patient’s parents residing in Colorado;

(c) The physicians referred to in paragraph (6) (b) has provided the patient with the written documentation, specified in subparagraph (3) (b) (I);

(d) Each of the patient’s parents residing in Colorado consent in writing to the state health agency to permit the patient to engage in the medical use of marijuana;

(e) A parent residing in Colorado consents in writing to serve as a patient’s primary care-giver;

(f) A parent serving as a primary care-giver completes and submits an application for a registry identification card as provided in subparagraph (3) (b) of this section and the written consents referred to in paragraph (6) (d) to the state health agency;

(g) The state health agency approves the patient’s application and transmits the patient’s registry identification card to the parent designated as a primary care-giver;

(h) The patient and primary care-giver collectively possess amounts of marijuana no greater than those specified in subparagraph (4) (a) (I) and (II); and

(i) The primary care-giver controls the acquisition of such marijuana and the dosage and frequency of its use by the patient.

(7) Not later than March 1, 2001, the governor shall designate, by executive order, the state health agency as defined in paragraph (1) (g) of this section.

(8) Not later than April 30, 2001, the General Assembly shall define such terms and enact such legislation as may be necessary for implementation of this section, as well as determine and enact criminal penalties for:

(a) Fraudulent representation of a medical condition by a patient to a physician, state health agency, or state or local law enforcement official for the purpose of falsely obtaining a registry identification card or avoiding arrest and prosecution;

(b) Fraudulent use or theft of any person’s registry identification card to acquire, possess, produce, use, sell, distribute, or transport marijuana, including but not limited to cards that are required to be returned where patients are no longer diagnosed as having a debilitating medical condition;

(c) Fraudulent production or counterfeiting of, or tampering with, one or more registry identification cards; or

(d) Breach of confidentiality of information provided to or by the state health agency.

(9) Not later than June 1, 2001, the state health agency shall develop and make available to residents of Colorado an application form for persons seeking to be listed on the confidential registry of patients. By such date, the state health agency shall also enact rules of administration, including but not limited to rules governing the establishment and confidentiality of the registry, the verification of medical information, the issuance and form of registry identification cards, communications with law enforcement officials about registry identification cards that have been suspended where a patient is no longer diagnosed as having a debilitating medical condition, and the manner in which the agency may consider adding debilitating medical conditions to the list provided in this section. Beginning June 1, 2001, the state health agency shall accept physician or patient initiated petitions to add debilitating medical conditions to the list provided in this section and, after such hearing as the state health agency deems appropriate, shall approve or deny such petitions within one hundred eighty days of submission. The decision to approve or deny a petition shall be considered a final agency action.

(10) (a) No governmental, private, or any other health insurance provider shall be required to be liable for any claim for reimbursement for the medical use of marijuana.

(b) Nothing in this section shall require any employer to accommodate the medical use of marijuana in any work place.

(11) Unless otherwise provided by this section, all provisions of this section shall become effective upon official declaration of the vote hereon by proclamation of the governor, pursuant to article V, section (1) (4), and shall apply to acts or offenses committed on or after that date.

Enacted by the People November 7, 2000 — Effective upon proclamation of the Governor.

Estimates show that over 30 million people suffer from arthritis each year. Many of those sufferers have severe joint pain that does not allow them to do the activities they know and love. Even though there are many treatments for arthritic conditions, the biggest problem is that many of them are harmful to your body in other ways. To date, nothing has been found that can reverse the disease and generally it only gets worse as you age, which is why most treatment options focus on pain relief and supplements that help to rebuild cartilage.

For the last 30 or 40 years there has been a lot of controversy over the use of cannabis or marijuana as it is commonly known. Much of this controversy is because of the “hippie” age and the use (or mis-use) of the medicinal plant for getting “high.” However, for hundreds of years marijuana has been used for treating illness and disease. Now that states like Colorado are passing legislation that allows the medical use of marijuana, it is not surprising that more and more people are interested in learning how the use of marijuana can help in treating their pain.

There has been plenty of research done to learn the effects of using the drug in treating joint conditions and as an alternative for other available prescription pain relievers. In 1986, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a pill known as Marinol. The key component in Marinol is THC, a component found in marijuana. This pill was and still is used today for the treatment of nausea from chemothearpy. It has been determined that Marinol (Dronabinol, THC), acts differently than marijuana when smoked and is not as effective.

Aspirin is one of the most commonly prescribed over the counter medications for Arthritis. The problem with this is that aspirin is believe to cause more than 1,000 deaths annually in the United States. Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs are also routinely used for arthritis treatment. These drugs have been the cause of more than 7,600 annual deaths and 70,000 hospitalizations. The long-term use of tylenol (acetaminophen) is considered to be one of the common causes of end-stage renal disease. What this is all boiling down to is the fact that marijuana, when smoked several times a day is often as effective (or sometimes more effective) than NSAIDs or acetaminophen in arthritis treatment, and without any reports of death.

It could be many more years before we finally know the answer to cure arthritic symptoms. However, if you are seeking a way to treat the pain and inflammation that is debilitating you today then medical marijuana may be a better option than what you are currently using.