Copyright

© 2014 Jeff Ditchfield and Mel Thomas

ISBN 978-1-937866-02-0

Images © Jeff Ditchfield, Mel Thomas, Grow Magazine, Mandala Seeds, Centennial Seeds, Stoned
Rosie

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without express written
permission from the authors or publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote passages in any
review where appropriate credit is given. Permission is similarly granted for brief quotations in
articles with appropriate credit. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form other than those approved by the authors or publisher. This book
is written to enlighten and inform for educational purposes only and does not encourage any illegal
activities in any form whatsoever. It is illegal to grow and possess cannabis in most countries and
may result in arrest and a criminal conviction.
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to
do so.

—Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

Contents
INTRODUCTION
Why is Cannabis Illegal?
So Why is There Almost Global Prohibition of this Plant?
Quotes from Anslinger’s “Gore Files”
Sativex Spray

CHAPTER ONE
The Cannabis Plant
Cannabis Sativa
Cannabis Indica
Cannabis Ruderalis
Cannabis as a Crop
CHAPTER TWO
How Cannabis Works
Cannabis as Medicine
Side Effects
CHAPTER THREE
Administration
Medical Cannabis Today
Treating Internal Cancers with Cannabis Oil
Chemotherapy
Dosage (Cancer)
General Administration of Cannabis
Smoking
Vaporizers

Ingestion
Capsules
Cannabis Tinctures (Alcohol)
Cannabis Tincture (Glycerin)
Suppositories
Cannabis Cream for Topical Application
Intravenous (IV)
CHAPTER FOUR
Cannabis Cures
Conditions That Cannabis Can Assist With
CHAPTER FIVE
Making Cannabis Oil
Which Solvent?
Acetone
Ethanol
Isopropyl (ISO)
Step-by-Step Oil Extractions
Which Extraction Method to Use?
Crock Pot Extraction Method
QWISO
Butane Honey Oil (BHO)
Making Concentrated Cannabinoid Oil Without Solvents
Concentrated Cannabinoid Oil Without Solvents
Dosage Calculator for Infused Oil
How to Improve the Quality and Purity of Your Oils
Ice-Water Separation aka Isolator (Bubble Hash)
CHAPTER SIX
Hemp Nutrition and Health
The Healing Seed
Hemp Nut (Hulled Hemp Seed)
Hemp Seed in Traditional Medicines
Further Benefits of Hemp Seed
Recommended Dosage
Hemp Balls (Nai Lao Yi Qi)
Hemp Balls: A Contemporary Recipe
Hemp Milk
Hemp Nut Coleslaw
Juicing Raw Cannabis
CHAPTER SEVEN
The Cannabis Kitchen
Decarboxylating Cannabis
Canna-Flour
Canna-Butter
Potency and Dosage Calculator for Canna-Butter
Canna-Ghee
Canna-Infused Oil
Canna-lnfused Vinaigrette
Green Dragon Rum Infusion
Easy Canna-Edible Recipes
Contemporary Bhang Recipe
Hot Buttered Bhang
Quick and Simple Bhang Recipe
Chocolate Brownies Made with Cannabis-lnfused Oil
Cannabis Chocolate
Contemporary Lozenge Recipe
CHAPTER EIGHT
Medicinal Cannabis Growing
Nutrients
Humidity and Temperature
Light
Standard Lighting Schedule
Water Requirements
Germinating Seeds
Identifying Cannabis Gender
Basic Cloning
Vegetative Growth
Flowering
Harvesting
Curing
CHAPTER NINE
Frequently Asked Questions

APPENDIX I
Cancer-Fighting Foods
APPENDIX II
Marijuana Legal Issues
Miranda Rights in the U.S
Canada
European Union

APPENDIX III
Standardized Medication
Gas Chromatography
Calculating Dosage

References
Bibliography
About the Authors
Index
Genus C.sativa has two main species, C. indica and C.ruderalis.


INTRODUCTION

Why is Cannabis Illegal?

Referred to variously as marijuana, ganja, weed and herb amongst many
other slang terms, cannabis is one of the safest medicines available. As
well as giving us the dried buds that can be smoked, the plant produces
nutritious seeds from which healthy edible oils can be pressed, the plant
fibers are durable and versatile with many commercial uses, the crop is
environmentally beneficial and many parts of the plant were in use for
thousands of years before prohibition. Unlike many pharmaceutical
medications, there has never been a single recorded fatality from cannabis
use. No one has ever died as a direct result of ingesting cannabis, nor have
there been any instances of brain receptor damage through its use; unlike
alcohol and other drugs cannabis does not wear out the brain receptors, it
merely stimulates them. One estimate of THC’s lethal dose for humans
indicates that 1500 pounds (680 kilograms) of cannabis would have to be
smoked within 15 minutes (approximately) for the smoker to die. If you
wanted to kill someone using 1500 pounds of cannabis you would be
better advised to drop it on them.
LD50, also called median lethal dose, is the standard measure of the
toxicity of a material through ingestion, skin contact or injection. LD50 is
measured in micrograms (or milligrams) of the material per kilogram of
the test-animal’s body weight. The lower the amount, the more toxic the
material. The estimated LD50 (lethal threshold) for cannabis, established
in 1988 by the DEA’s appropriate fact-finder, is 1:20,000 or 1:40,000. In
layman’s terms this means that in order to induce death a cannabis smoker
would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much cannabis as is
contained in one 0.9 gram joint.1
Studies indicate that the effective dose of THC is at least 1000 times
lower than the estimated lethal dose (therapeutic ratio of 1000:1). Heroin
has a therapeutic ratio of 6:1, alcohol and Valium both have a ratio of 10:1.
Cocaine has a ratio of 15:1. Aspirin has a therapeutic ratio of 20:1; 20
times the recommended dose (40 tablets) can cause death and almost
certainly induce extensive internal bleeding. Drugs used to treat patients
with cancer, glaucoma and multiple sclerosis (MS) are all known to be
highly toxic; the ratio of some drugs used in antineoplastic (cancer
inhibiting) therapies have therapeutic ratios below 1.5:1.2
A small percentage of people may experience a negative or allergic
reaction to cannabis use and a few patients suffer especially high heart
rates and/or anxiety when being treated with cannabis oil, although this is
a comparatively low number and the effects are merely unpleasant and
cease when cannabis use is discontinued. Many bronchial asthma sufferers
benefit from both herbal cannabis and cannabis oil extracts but for some it
can serve as an additional irritant. However, for the overwhelming
majority of people, cannabis has demonstrated literally hundreds of
therapeutic uses.

So Why is There Almost Global Prohibition of this Plant?

Cannabis prohibition emanates from a commercial conspiracy that was
started in the 1920s. The word marijuana itself was first brought into the
English language by these early corporate offenders who needed to change
the public’s perception of the cannabis plant from a useful fiber and
medicine to a dangerous, addictive and destructive substance in order to
destroy the hemp industry and replace cannabis medicines and hemp fiber
products with their own toxic pharmaceutical drugs and petrochemical
products. They achieved this by manipulating the media and printing
fictitious stories connecting marijuana use and crime. The manipulation
continues to this day, as former CBS News president Richard Salant
explained when discussing the media’s role in manipulating the masses:
“Our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they
ought to have.”3
Cannabis prohibition is indisputably the result of a corrupt conspiracy
founded on lies, propaganda and misinformation that for decades has
denied society access to a benign and highly beneficial medicinal plant.

Female cannabis plant in flower.

Cannabis has been used medically for millennia.4 An article published

in The Economist on April 27, 2006, under the heading, “Marijuana is
medically useful, whether politicians like it or not,” stated:
“If Marijuana was unknown, and bio-prospectors were suddenly to find
it in some remote mountain crevice, its discovery would no doubt be
hailed as a medical breakthrough. Scientists would praise its potential for
treating everything from pain to cancer and marvel at its rich
pharmacopoeia; many of whose chemicals mimic vital molecules in the
human body.”5
The medicinal use of cannabis predates written history. Cannabis
preparations have traditionally been used as treatments for a wide variety
of conditions for thousands of years in India, China, the Middle East,
Southeast Asia, South Africa and South America. Furthermore, evidence
of medicinal cannabis use dating from 1600 BCE has been found in Egypt,
where it was used as a fumigant, topical salve and suppository.6
One of the earliest accounts of medical cannabis use can be found in
the Chinese pharmacopoeia text Pen-Tsao Kang-Mu (The Great Herbal),
which was written in 100 CE, but which actually dates back to the
Emperor Shen-Nung in 2800 BCE.7 The author Li Shih Chen referred to
works from previous writers who for centuries regarded cannabis and its
seeds as both a food and medicine. This early text correctly identifies the
flowering tops of cannabis plants (Ma-fen) as the most useful and potent
for the production of medicines, and recommends cannabis to treat
menstrual fatigue, fevers, arthritis and malaria, as well as being effective
as an analgesic. In the second century CE, Chinese surgeon Hua Tuo is
documented as using an anesthetic made from cannabis resin and wine
(Ma-yo) to perform painless complex surgical procedures, including limb
amputations.
The Greek physician and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides traveled
throughout the Roman and Greek empires to obtain material for his
publication Materia Medica, which includes references to the plant
Cannabis Sativa L. (from the Greek word kannabis), described as useful in
the manufacturing of rope, with the juice of the seeds reported to be
effective for treating earaches and diminishing sexual desire.8 Materia
Medica was translated and published throughout the known world and was
used as a medical reference resource up until the 16th Century. It was a
precursor to modern pharmacopoeias and is one of the most influential
herbalist books ever written.
America’s very first law concerning cannabis was enacted at
Jamestown Colony, Virginia in 1619. Far from prohibiting cannabis, the
law stated that all farmers were “ordered” to grow Indian hemp seed.9 The
U.S. Census of 1850 records 8,327 cannabis plantations in excess of 2,000
acres, all producing cannabis hemp for cloth, canvas and rope. Cannabis
first appeared in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia in 1851 (3rd edition) and until
prohibition was introduced, cannabis was the primary treatment for over
100 separate illnesses and diseases. By the time the 12th edition of the
Pharmacopeia was published, cannabis had been officially removed and its
use in medical research had been halted.
In the 1930s, the U.S. federal government backed the campaign of
Harry Anslinger and his newly formed Bureau of Narcotics. Anslinger was
a corrupt, racist bigot who in order to build up his new organization sought
to generate fear of cannabis use through propaganda and lies. Anslinger
created nationwide concern over a problem that did not exist by
demonizing marijuana through spurious tales of crime, violence and
insanity. The Bureau of Narcotics promoted what they called the “Gore
Files”; wild “reefer madness” tales of murder, violence, loose morals and
the effects cannabis had on the “degenerate races,” which cynically
exploited the endemic racism that was prevalent at the time. By associating
marijuana use with ethnic minorities he ensured that the majority of white
Americans would be sympathetic to any planned prohibition.
Plant in early stage of flowering.
The Following Quotes Are From Anslinger’s “Gore Files”:
“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the U.S., and most are
Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music,
jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes
white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and
any others.”10

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the

degenerate races.”11

“Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity,

criminality, and death.”12

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”13

“You smoke a joint and you’re likely to kill your brother.”14

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of

mankind.”15

The Bureau of Narcotics had a powerful and willing ally in the media
mogul William Randolph Hearst, who had invested heavily in the timber
industry to support his chain of national newspapers. To Hearst, hemp
paper was unwanted competition and he readily published lurid anti-
cannabis propaganda from the Bureau’s “Gore Files”, printing headlines
such as:

“Marihuana makes fiends of boys in thirty days - Hashish goads users

to bloodlust.”16
“Marihuana influenced negroes to look at white people in the eye, step
on white men’s shadows, and look at a white woman twice.”
Anti-cannabis propaganda from 1936.

“Marihuana is responsible for the raping of white women by crazed

negroes.”

“Three fourths of the crimes of violence in this country today are

committed by dope slaves, that is a matter of cold record.”17

Freshly ground cannabis.

Hearst and Anslinger were joined in the conspiracy by the Dupont

chemical corporation, and in 1937 Anslinger presented to Congress his
Marijuana Tax Act.18 Apart from some opposition from William C.
Woodward of the American Medical Association, the bill was passed after
very little discussion, and cannabis was effectively prohibited. Most
people did not realize that the “evil marijuana drug” that was referred to in
the tax act was in fact the cannabis plant that had been essential to the
early settlers and was a useful and well-known medicine.
Due to the racist corruption surrounding the use of the name
“marijuana,” from here onward we will call this plant by its correct name:
cannabis.
Today, there is renewed interest in the medical use of cannabis, with
numerous respected doctors and scientists researching its many and varied
indicators. A study sponsored by the State of California, conducted by the
University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research, and
published in The Open Neurology Journal (September 2012), concluded
that cannabis provides much-needed relief to chronic pain sufferers and
that more clinical trials are desperately needed:

“The classification of marijuana as a Schedule I drug as well as the

continuing controversy as to whether or not cannabis is of medical
value are obstacles to medical progress in this area…”19

“Based on evidence currently available the Schedule I classification is

not tenable; it is not accurate that cannabis has no medical value, or
that information on safety is lacking. It is true cannabis has some abuse
potential, but its profile more closely resembles drugs in Schedule III.
The continuing conflict between scientific evidence and political
ideology will hopefully be reconciled in a judicious manner.”

Multinational pharmaceutical companies are now growing tons of

cannabis plants at secret, heavily guarded locations, in order to extract just
two of the plant’s cannabinoids, mix them with alcohol, glycerin and a
small amount of peppermint for flavor, and market the end product as a
“mucosal” spray (which means you basically squirt it under your tongue)
called Sativex.
Sativex Spray
This cannabis-based product was developed by GW Pharmaceuticals in the
United Kingdom at heavily guarded farms where they grow over 20 tons
of cannabis annually. This is then processed and the cannabinoids THC
and CBD are extracted to be made into an alcohol-based tincture. They
charge patients around $190.00 (approximately) per 10-milliliter vial,
which is only enough to last the average multiple sclerosis (MS) patient 10
days.20 There are estimated to be 80,000 MS sufferers in the U.K. alone;
you do the math. If patients were allowed to grow their own cannabis they
could produce a generic copy of Sativex for $8 per 10 milliliters. The
authors have actually proved this and demonstrated the product at cannabis
conventions in both Barcelona and Valencia in 2013. There is a video
taken at Spannabis in Barcelona on their website (cannabiscure.info) that
verifies this.
Regardless of the enormous profits being made at the expense of sick
people, cannabis buds and oil are far superior to Sativex as you benefit
from the full and complex profile of cannabinoids, not just THC and CBD.
In addition, patients don’t experience any ulcers, burning sensations in the
mouth or the unpleasant aftertaste of alcohol that many who use Sativex
complain of.
In U.S. states such as California and Colorado, cannabis can be
purchased at state-sanctioned dispensaries, but according to the Controlled
Substances Act, cannabis is a Schedule I drug, listed alongside dangerous
narcotics. The American Chronic Pain Society says in ACPA Medications
& Chronic Pain, Supplement 2007:

“Some states allow the legal use of marijuana for health purposes
including pain, while the federal government continues to threaten
physicians with prosecution for prescribing it.”21

There have been two rulings since 2001, United States v. Oakland
Cannabis Buyers Cooperative and Gonzales v. Raich, which have
confirmed the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting buyers
and sellers even in states where cannabis has been approved for medical
use.22, 23 The FDA’s official stance on cannabis states:

“Marijuana has a high potential for abuse, has no currently accepted

medical use in treatment in the United States, and has a lack of
accepted safety for use under medical supervision.”24

Despite this fallacious statement, Sativex is licensed to Otsuka

Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in the United States as a treatment for spasticity
resulting from multiple sclerosis (MS), and as a possible treatment for the
side effects from conventional cancer therapies.25 Furthermore, synthetic
cannabinoids such as Nabilone and Cesamet are available as prescription
drugs in many countries.26, 27 These synthetic copies of cannabinoids are
expensive and compare poorly to cannabis plant extracts.
In April 2011, GW Pharmaceuticals entered into an exclusive license
agreement for Novartis Pharma AG to commercialize Sativex in Australia,
New Zealand, Asia and Africa.28 Under the agreement, GW
Pharmaceuticals received an upfront payment of $5 million and is eligible
for additional payments totaling $28.75 million upon the achievement of
set commercial sales targets. In addition, GW Pharmaceuticals will receive
royalties on all net sales.29 In 2009, the global pharmaceutical industry
market was valued at $837 billion and estimated to reach $1 trillion by
2014.30
The profits for pharmaceutical companies targeting the cancer market
expanded to $24 billion in 2004, with the highest growth rates occurring in
the antineoplastic (cancer inhibiting) class of drugs.31 The market for these
drugs was valued at around $43 billion in 2005 and $69 billion in 2010.32
Why would these multinational corporations be interested in researching
and promoting a cancer treatment that can be grown for free and is
difficult to effectively patent unless kept illegal?

Cannabis oil.

The following multiple-medicinal-use patent on a natural compound,

which is illegal under patent statutes, was recently granted to the U.S.
government by its own Patent Office:
Excerpt from U.S. Patent #6630507:33

“Cannabinoids have been found to have antioxidant properties,

unrelated to NMDA receptor antagonism. This new found property
makes cannabinoids useful in the treatment and prophylaxis of a wide
variety of oxidation associated diseases, such as ischemic, age-related,
inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The cannabinoids are found to
have particular application as neuro-protectants, for example in
 limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as
stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases,
such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia.
Non-psychoactive cannabinoids, such as cannabidiol, are particularly
advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered
with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses useful in the method of
the present invention. A particular disclosed class of cannabinoids
useful as neuro-protective antioxidants is formula (I) wherein the R
group is independently selected from the group consisting of H, CH3,
and COCH3.”

This is a complete contradiction to the U.S. government’s officially

stated policy with regard to medical cannabis use and clearly demonstrates
that cannabis prohibition is not about protecting health–it’s about
protecting corporate wealth.
Apart from the nutritional and health benefits gained from non-
psychoactive hemp seed and oils now legally available, there is
overwhelming evidence that cannabis oil made from the illegal plant
varieties can send many cancers into remission, particularly with regard to
breast cancer. The antitumor effects of herbal cannabis and cannabis oil
extracts have been well known since at least the 1970s, when the Medical
College of Virginia reported on August 18, 1974, that marijuana’s
psychoactive component, THC, slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast
cancers and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged
their lives by as much as 36%.34 Funded by the National Institutes of
Health and tasked with finding evidence that cannabis damages the
immune system, the study instead found that THC slowed the growth of
these three types of cancer: The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) quickly
shut down the Virginia study and all further research was halted.
In 1998, a research team at Madrid’s Complutense University
discovered that THC could selectively induce programmed death in brain
tumor cells without negatively impacting surrounding healthy cells.35
Further studies reported in the August 15, 2004 issue of Cancer Research,
the journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, that
cannabis constituents inhibited the spread of brain cancer in human tumor
biopsies.36
Led by Dr. Manuel Guzman, the Spanish team announced they had
destroyed incurable brain cancer tumors in rats by injecting them with
THC. This work still continues and the authors recently supplied the team
with a quantity of their laboratory tested 1:1 (THC:CBD) oil containing
40% CBD with total active cannabinoids at 80%. This oil was made using
the techniques described in this book, in later chapters, and research has
shown that CBD (cannabidiol)–a nontoxic, non-psychoactive chemical
compound found in the cannabis plant–acts as a more potent inhibitor of
cancer cell growth than other cannabinoids, including THC. The
compound is particularly efficacious in halting the spread of breast cancer
cells by triggering apoptosis (programmed cell death).
Scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco have
also shown that CBD, can stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive
cancers, stating:37

“We started by researching breast cancer, but now we’ve found that
cannabidiol works with many kinds of aggressive cancers; brain,
prostate and any kind in which these high levels of ID-1 are present.”

Even if only anecdotal evidence exists regarding the efficacy of

cannabis oil treatment on cancerous tumors in patients, then surely every
cancer sufferer has the right to be informed about this and given the
opportunity to try it. This is not a personal freedom argument but a
discussion regarding the fundamental human right to life. Access to a
potentially life-saving medication should not be subject to any laws
whatsoever. People denied cannabis oil treatment have died of cancers that
all of the available evidence suggests may have been entirely treatable. In
the following chapters we’ll look at the basic history and makeup of the
cannabis plant, how its beneficial contents can best be extracted and
administered and we’ll also detail the nutritional benefits that can be
derived from non-psychoactive varieties available such as hemp seeds and
cold pressed hemp oils. The aim is to help people make their own
informed decisions regarding cannabis use, regardless of the government’s
refusal to supply this information or allow cannabis use.
Maturing cannabis flower.


CHAPTER ONE

The Cannabis Plant

Cannabis sativa is a member of the Moraceae family and can grow to
between 3 and 15 feet (1 and 4.5 meters), depending on the variety.1
Landrace is the term used to describe a wild-growing cannabis strain that
has evolved in the isolation of a specific geographic region. Over time,
these isolated strains began to evolve their own distinct traits best suited
for survival in their region. Cannabis strains as we know them today are
the result of crossbreeding and hybridization of these distinct landraces.
Hemp is the common name for plants of the entire genus C. sativa,
although the term now refers only to cannabis strains cultivated for fiber
and not drug crops. Botanists still cannot agree as to which family
cannabis belongs; initially, it was classified as one of the Nettle family
(Urticaceae), although this was based more upon visual characteristic. It
was later reclassified into the Fig family (Moraceae). However, this is still
causing disagreement, so cannabis is now classified as Cannabaceae,
along with the genus of hop plants. In most studies, hemp and hops are not
separated from each other, but are reported as hops/hemp or
Cannabaceae.2
Cannabis is dioecious; meaning that the plant will be either male or
female. In unusual circumstances it can develop into a hermaphrodite
(monoecious) plant; this means that both male and female flowers appear
on the same plant. Only the female produces flowers containing significant
amounts of cannabinoids. These flowers are referred to as “buds” and they
are more potent if the female is unfertilized by the male. These flowers are
also known as sensimilla, meaning seedless in Spanish. Males and
hermaphrodites are of no use to the medical or recreational cannabis
consumer so growers must ensure that they cultivate only female plants by
either taking cuttings from an established female mother plant or by
starting the crop with feminized seeds to guarantee an all-female crop.
Young cannabis plant.

To regulate its development, the plant reads the amount of light it

receives using a hormone called phytochrome, which acts as a
photoreceptor, and is basically a pigment that plants use to detect light.
When a cannabis plant receives over 12 hours of uninterrupted daylight, it
deduces that it is early in the season and grows in what is referred to as the
vegetative stage. This is when growth is focused on developing roots,
branches and leaves. Once the amount of daylight falls below 12 hours, the
plant changes its growth cycle into the flowering stage. This occurs
naturally in the fall (autumn) as the plant prepares to breed and produce
seeds for the following year, before dying back. Indoor growers can
manipulate the light cycle without causing any problems to the plant by
using timing switches on artificial lights that force the plant into thinking
the season has changed. The flowering stage can be induced after as little
as two weeks’ vegetative growth. Outdoor growers can effect the same
response in their plants by covering them or placing them in a dark room
to ensure they are only receiving 12 hours of sunlight or less. There is no
difference in the cannabinoid content of plants flowered after only two
weeks’ vegetative growth when compared to those given a longer
vegetative period. The plants receiving the shorter period will simply be
smaller and yield less.
There are three distinct cannabis drug varieties grown specifically for
their compounds, a complex fusion of approximately 60 different
cannabinoids and over 400 active components, principally THC (delta-9-
tetrahydrocannabinol).3 These are:

Cannabis Sativa
This landrace originates from equatorial regions and its plants can reach
heights in excess of 15 feet (4.5 meters). They produce thin, spiky leaves
and massive colas (where the flowers or buds grow together tightly) that
are not very dense. Pure cannabis sativa strains are not generally used for
indoor cultivation due to their size and maturation time. Cannabis sativa
can take up four to eight times the space of a compact cannabis indica
variety. There are now many hybrid varieties available for grow room
cultivation, where the harvested flowers benefit from a high calyx-to-leaf
ratio (meaning there are less leaves to trim from the finished buds).
A sativa-dominant female hybrid plant.

Cannabis Indica
This landrace originates from the mountainous regions of Central Asia.
Local strains were collected from Kashmir, Pakistan, Northern India and
Nepal during the early 1960s and these native plants became the gene pool
for many of today’s varieties. They are characteristically stocky and hardy
plants that produce broad, maple-like leaves and rarely reach heights in
excess of 7 feet (2 meters) outdoors, producing heavy, tight flowers that
are high in psychoactive content. Cannabis indica or indica-dominant
hybrid plants are ideal for grow rooms and smaller medical cultivation set
ups.
An indica-dominant female hybrid plant.

Auto-flowering varieties like this Lowryder by The Joint Doctor contain ruderalis genetics
which means they do not require a "dark period" to induce flowering. They are the easiest
varieties to cultivate. This particular plant was grown by Jeff in Spain.

Cannabis Ruderalis
This is a debated third landrace of cannabis found in Russia, Poland and
other Eastern European countries. Schultes classified cannabis as having
three species–sativa, indica, and ruderalis– based on the formation of the
seedpods. There is still some debate as to whether there is justification for
this third category. The features of Cannabis ruderalis plants are large
seeds and weedy plants around 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall that produce lower
levels of THC than C. sativa or C. indica. However, it is a hardy plant that
flowers early, in most cases regardless of the photoperiod. This auto-
flowering gene has been bred into the strains of auto-flowers. Ruderalis
flowers tend to be sparse and do not produce the same yields as other
varieties, but it is a reasonable plant to use for medicinal cultivation as
some strains can be high in CBD.
Auto-flowering plants are crossbreeds between cannabis ruderalis
(which gives them the automatic flowering trait) and cannabis indica
and/or cannabis sativa strains. These plants are not dependent on the light
cycle to induce flowering; instead, the process triggers automatically when
the particular strain is ready. This is generally a few weeks after planting,
with a further five to seven weeks until harvest. The origins of auto-
flowering cannabis plants are the subject of much debate, but one theory is
that ruderalis genetics were introduced from a hybrid-cross of Mexican
sativa and Russian ruderalis plants. Another theory is that the early
genetics came from a Finnish hemp strain called Finola. Due to the lack of
vegetative period, auto-flowerers produce smaller plants with a slightly
lower THC content as a result of the cannabis ruderalis genetics, but they
are hardy plants that are well suited to both indoor and outdoor cultivation.

Cannabis as a Crop
Reproduction in cannabis plants takes place when the male (staminate)
pollen is united with the female (pistilate) cells. The stamen is simply the
biological name given to the male plant’s reproductive parts and the pistil
is the name given to the female counterparts. Medicinal cannabis is
principally grown for its flowering tops (also referred to as buds) and it is
only the female plant that produces these. The male flower’s sole purpose
is to fertilize the female plants. Once the flowers open they disperse
pollen, after which the plant dies back. As seeded buds are less desirable to
medical and recreational consumers, knowledgeable cultivators identify
any males in the crop and remove them, or cultivate crops of known
females taken as cuttings from mother plants.
Mature flower nearing harvest.
Dried, trimmed and cured bud.

Of the 400 or more chemical compounds found in cannabis plants, the

four main ones are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC),
cannabidiol (CBD), delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabinol (CBN).4
Apart from cannabidiol, these compounds are all psychoactive, the most
potent being delta-9-THC. Researchers from the University of
Saskatchewan have discovered the chemical pathway that Cannabis sativa
uses to create cannabinoids. Adjunct professor of biology Jon Page
described the pathway as an unusual one that has never before been seen in
plants, involving a specialized version of one enzyme called hexanoyl-
CoA synthetase, and another enzyme called olivetolic acid cyclase
(OAC).5 The professor states: “What cannabis has done is take a rare fatty
acid with a simple, six-carbon chain and use it as a building block to make
something chemically complex and pharmacologically active.”
Breeding and genetics define whether a cannabis strain is fiber hemp
or has high cannabinoid content. Hemp grown for its fiber and seeds
contains little THC, typically between 0.01% and 0.05% content compared
to well over 15% in herbal cannabis grown for recreational or therapeutic
use. Fiber hemp strains contain only trace amounts of psychoactive
compounds and none of these are contained within the seeds, so in most
parts of the world, hemp seeds and their oil are legally available from most
good grocery stores and health food outlets. Hemp seed is one of nature’s
super foods; high in protein and vitamins, it also provides a broad
spectrum of health benefits including improved digestion, increased and
sustained energy levels, rapid recovery from sickness or injury, lowered
cholesterol levels and reduced blood pressure, with an associated
improvement in blood circulation and natural blood sugar control. Regular
hemp seed has also been shown to boost the immune system and help to
prevent illness.
This hemp milk is made from fully de-hulled hemp seeds.

Cannabis hemp seed oil contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an

omega-6 fatty acid that is found mainly in plant-based oils.6 Omega-6 fatty
acid is also known as polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), one of the
essential fatty acids.7 These acids are necessary for optimum health, but
the body doesn’t naturally produce them. Along with omega-3 fatty acids,
omega-6 fatty acids play a crucial role in brain function, as well as growth
and development.8 They help stimulate skin and hair growth, maintain
bone strength and regulate the metabolism, and they play an important role
in maintaining the reproductive system.
Fiber hemp is grown outdoors in dense rows to encourage tall, upward
growth that produces very little foliage. Mature plants form a dense
canopy that blocks light and helps choke weed growth, leaving the
growing field in good condition the following season and substantially
reducing the farm workload. Hemp is one of the fastest-growing biomass
crops available; air-dried stem yields in Canada have ranged from 2.6
-14.0 tons of dry, retted stalks per hectare at 12% moisture (according to
records dating back to 1998). Hemp produces some of the strongest and
most versatile fibers known to man, which can be used to make products
ranging from cloth to plastics. Its seeds are both a nutritious food and an
excellent source of oil. The fiber from the stalk is still used in the modern
production of fabrics such as canvas and linen, and also in the manufacture
of specialty hemp papers, such as banknotes and high-quality printing
paper.
There are many ways to ingest cannabis.


CHAPTER TWO

How Cannabis Works

Recreational and medicinal-quality psychoactive cannabis comes in
several forms; herbal bud (dried flowering tops), resin (hash), kief, keef or
kif (sometimes keif), which are the powdery resin glands (or trichomes),
and oil. Referred to by many slang terms, cannabis is usually rolled into
cigarettes known as a joints, but can also be smoked in a pipe, vaporized,
made into milky or alcohol-based drinks and hot beverages, or eaten. If
cannabis is smoked, the effects are normally felt within minutes; if eaten,
the full effects can take up to an hour and are cumulative, often longer
lasting and the uptake can be more variable.
When inhaled, cannabis compounds (cannabinoids) rapidly enter the
bloodstream via the lungs, to be transported directly to the brain and other
parts of the body. The feeling of being stoned or high is caused by the
delta-9-THC binding to cannabinoid receptors in the brain.1 There are also
cannabinoid-like substances produced naturally by the brain itself, called
endocannabinoids. Researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem
identified the body’s own form of THC, and christened the internally
manufactured substance “anandamide” after the Sanskrit ananda, or bliss.2
Most of these receptors are found in parts of the brain that influence
pleasure, memory, thought, concentration and time perception. They are
also involved in cognition, pain perception and motor coordination.
A pure cannabis joint containing no tobacco.

Around one in 10 people have reported unpleasant experiences at some

point in their cannabis use, including confusion and anxiety. Interestingly,
the same person may have either pleasant or unpleasant effects depending
on their mood and circumstances. Side effects of cannabis use can include
increased pulse rate, visual and sleep disturbance, decreased blood
pressure, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, increased appetite and mild lethargy.
Heavy usage may possibly result in feelings of paranoia whilst under the
influence. However, these side effects are temporary and pass quickly,
mainly affecting people who have not used cannabis regularly. Cannabis
consumers are therefore advised to accustom themselves to its use with
smaller doses initially.
The most common effects of cannabis use are a sense of relaxation,
happiness, sleepiness and an enhanced appreciation of external stimuli,
with some consumers reporting that colors appear more intense. Many
report becoming more animated, with a corresponding release of
inhibitions, making them more talkative and humorous. Cannabis can also
heighten sexual thoughts, desires and experiences. In India, cannabis has
been used for thousands of years as an integral part of Tantric sex, which
is not about sexual gratification, but rather devotion and worship; at the
point of orgasm the devotee is said to be at one with the universe. Thought
processes become enhanced and many philosophers, musicians, writers,
poets and artists report using cannabis to increase their creativity. Many
consumers report that listening to music and viewing artistic works
become much more profound experiences whilst under the influence of
cannabis.
The amount of time cannabis takes to be felt is dependent on the route
of administration. Inhaling cannabis is the quickest way to administer a
dose; vaporized or smoked cannabinoid material arrives in the lungs very
quickly, entering the bloodstream and rapidly passing into the brain, and
becomes active within minutes, with its effects lasting for several hours. If
eaten, the cannabinoid compounds have to be absorbed from the stomach
and then pass through the liver, where a percentage is metabolized into 11-
Hydroxy-THC, which is four to five times more psychoactive than Delta9-
THC.3 It can take from 30 minutes to an hour to reach the brain, with the
full effects taking up to three hours.

Cannabis as Medicine
Pharmaceutical cannabis sprays are designed for “mucosal or sublingual
administration,” meaning that the patient sprays it under their tongue, and
the cannabinoids are then absorbed into the bloodstream via the mucus
membrane. This is quite an effective and convenient method of
administration, which allows the cannabinoids to reach the brain within 10
to 20 minutes. However, a significant amount actually ends up being
swallowed and absorbed through the gut, resulting in a sizable portion of
the medication having a delayed onset. This is far from ideal for medical
users who wish to accurately regulate their dosage. Many patients report
that the pharmaceutical industry’s expensive cannabis-based medications
are vastly inferior to the natural product. Vaporizing organically grown
cannabis buds is one of the most effective ways of self-medicating,
particularly for pain relief.
The very popular Volcano vaporizer.

For some patients the high associated with herbal cannabis use is
undesirable. This is particularly true for those who need to medicate
regularly throughout the day. One of the most useful cannabinoids is
cannabidiol, or CBD, which unlike THC, binds poorly to the brain’s
receptors and can therefore work without getting patients stoned. A
company in Safed, Israel called Tikun Olam began its research on CBD-
enhanced cannabis strains in 2009. Recreational cannabis is illegal in
Israel, but medicinal use has been permitted since 1993. It is used to treat
over 9,000 people suffering from illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s,
multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Tikun Olam has now developed a strain called Avidekel, which contains
15.8% CBD but less than 1% THC.4 It remains to be seen how medical
cannabis users will benefit from this strain, as the pharmaceutical
companies making vast sums of money from their monopoly of cannabis-
based medications will try to ensure that the general prohibition of
cannabis continues so that patients can’t legally grow their own Avidekel-
type strains for vaporizing.
Commercially available strains that are high in CBD are now
becoming more readily available specifically bred for medical use. One
recommended seed company is the CBD Crew. The breeder behind this
project is the renowned Shantibaba, who cofounded Mr. Nice seeds with
Howard Marks. The authors produce their 1:1 (THC:CBD) 80%
cannabinoid content oil using the CBD Crew’s Skunk Haze strain. The
highest CBD strain the authors have verified is known as Juanita La
Lagrimosa and is produced by Reggae Seeds in Spain. This strain has been
laboratory tested and gives consistent results; it comes in at a massive
8.81% CBD content with 6.77% THC. More information on these strains
is available on the authors’ website, cannabiscure.info.
A close up view of female plant pistils.
Side Effects
A great deal of misinformation, unsupported by any reputable medical
evidence, is quoted with regard to cannabis use and mental health issues.
Starting in the 1920s, the prohibition conspiracy began with newspaper
headlines and fabricated stories detailing what they termed “Reefer
Madness.” Today, the Partnership for a Drug Free America has a budget of
around one million dollars a day, with the majority of their funding being
provided by pharmaceutical companies who pay substantial sums of
money to lobbyists and special interest groups to aggressively campaign
against any possibility of cannabis legalization.5 Cannabis does not cause
mental health problems; there is no evidence to support this claim. If
cannabis use caused mental illness, why would major pharmaceutical
companies be marketing cannabinoid-based medications? Furthermore, if
cannabis use caused schizophrenia there would be over 150,000,000
recreational users exhibiting an extraordinary range of symptoms
worldwide. This is not the case. Professor David Nutt from the U.K. gave
a lecture regarding cannabis and schizophrenia in 2009, referring to the
idea that stronger cannabis (known as “Skunk”, but not in reference to the
strain of the same name) has made smoking cannabis more dangerous, and
stated:

“Schizophrenia seems to be disappearing from the general population

even though cannabis use has increased markedly in the last 30 years.
When we were reviewing the general practice research database in the
U.K. from the University of Keele, research consistently and clearly
showed that psychosis and schizophrenia are still on the decline. So,
even though Skunk [a high cannabinoid content cannabis strain] has
been around now for 10 years, there has been no upswing in
schizophrenia. In fact, where people have looked, they haven’t found
any evidence linking cannabis use in a population and schizophrenia.”6
 In 2012, a report authored by Leweke et al was published with regard
to psychosis and schizophrenia and in stark contrast to the official
government assertions that cannabis causes schizophrenia, the study found
instead that cannabidiol (CBD) enhances anandamide signaling and
actually alleviates the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia and that CBD
was as effective as amisulpride, a standard antipsychotic.7
When Dr. Lester Grinspoon was the Associate Professor Emeritus of
Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and senior psychiatrist at the
Massachusetts Mental Health Center in Boston, he stated:

“If the brain produces its own cannabinoid-like substances, it doesn’t

make much sense that it would produce a substance which is going to
damage the brain.8 Indeed, long before it was discovered that there are
endogenous cannabinoids, the empirical evidence did not demonstrate
that cannabis damaged the brain.”
Pulp fiction.

Another spurious argument put forward by those wishing to keep

cannabis illegal is the “gateway” theory. The prohibitionists like to imply
that cannabis consumers will go on to become users of hard drugs such as
heroin and cocaine. This discredited theory is unsupported by any medical
evidence; in fact, researchers have reported that they have found that the
gateway theory argument can be better applied to alcohol and tobacco, as
these are actually the first drugs that most people experience.9 Cannabis
has also been shown to be a useful medication in the treatment of
alcoholism and drug addiction, and in medical trials it has been shown to
reduce the user’s cravings for cocaine. Research published in many peer-
reviewed scientific journals indicates that the cannabis plant’s addictive
potential is less than that of caffeine.10
This indica-dominant female has developed a purple hue during flowering.

The idea that cannabis is a gateway drug is so erroneous that modern

scientific journals rarely bother to publish work on the issue. It is a
scientifically established fact that the majority of people who try cannabis
do not progress to experimentation with harder drugs and in most cases
they do not even go on to use cannabis regularly.11
The third argument put forward to justify cannabis prohibition is even
more ridiculous, but nonetheless steadfastly repeated by politicians and
prohibitionists alike. When asked about the possibility of legalization, they
will claim that cannabis strains are now much stronger than they were in
the past, and therefore present a health risk. New strains may well have
more cannabinoid content, although many would argue that Thai sticks
and Afghani indica strains were just as potent 20 years ago. Irrespective of
this, cannabis is medically proven to be safe, regardless of its cannabinoid
content. If the cannabis of today is more potent, then the only side effect is
that users will become more stoned and more easily remedied by
consuming less.
The only recorded side effect of any note is known as “cannabis
hyperemesis” and, although non–life threatening, it produces unpleasant
and debilitating symptoms in a very small number of people.12 This rare
and unusual syndrome is associated with chronic cannabis use and was
recently reported in seven case reports of patients from Australia, with a
further eight well-documented cases in the United States. It is estimated
that there are approximately 750,000 people who regularly use cannabis in
Australia and over 17,000,000 users in the U.S., so the occurrence is
extremely uncommon.13, 14 Cannabis hyperemesis is characterized by
otherwise unexplained recurrent nausea and vomiting, compulsive bathing,
abdominal pain and excessive thirst. Ceasing cannabis use results in
complete symptomatic recovery. Abstaining totally from cannabis for 30
days before restarting consumption is a remedy for most sufferers, though
this condition could be very serious for cancer patients if it struck during a
course of cannabis oil treatment.
This portable vaporizer is a great way to administer your medical cannabis.


CHAPTER THREE

Administration
Cannabis is one of the safest and most effective medications known today,
with the potential to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. By the
early 19th century, the benefits of medicinal cannabis use had become
widely acknowledged in the West, having been brought to France by
Napoleon’s army as they returned from Egypt, where cannabis was
commonly used for its analgesic and sedative qualities.1 Medical cannabis
became universally accepted after extensive research by the Irish physician
William O’Shaughnessy, who published a paper in 1843 entitled On the
Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah, which is noted for having
introduced cannabis sativa to European and American medicine.2
O’Shaughnessy experimented with alcoholic tinctures and found this to be
an effective way of isolating the major psychoactive component found in
cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
From 1890 to 1937, Parke, Davis & Company (now part of the Pfizer
Group of Companies) marketed many formulations of medicinal cannabis,
including tinctures that were available by the pint or fluid ounce and
cannabis tablets that could be bought by the gram.3 It was also possible to
purchase powdered extracts, and even pressed flowering tops (dried
cannabis buds) for users to make their own preparations. All products and
formulations were proudly advertised by the company as “originating from
American home-grown cannabis.” Pfizer is now one of the world’s top
pharmaceutical companies; in 2009 it made $50 billion profit in annual
sales of prescription drugs, many of which replaced cannabis
medications.4

Mel Thomas inhaling pure CBD vapor from a vaporizer bag.

Another major manufacturer of cannabis preparations and still a

familiar name today is Eli Lilly & Co, who, from 1877 to 1935,
manufactured and sold fluid, solid, and powdered extracts, all of which
were stated to be manufactured from the flowering tops of the pistillate
plants of cannabis sativa.5 Merck and Squibb are also both well-known
pharmaceutical manufacturing companies that in the past have sold and
marketed cannabis preparations.6 The two companies extensively
advertised that they supplied dried flowering tops of the female cannabis
plant. In addition, Merck was also a manufacturer and supplier of cannabis
fluid extracts, tinctures, pills and cannabis oil made from infused tops.7
Alcohol-based tinctures are still used by pharmaceutical companies
today; indeed, Sativex, a cannabinoid-based medicine, is basically a
cannabis tincture spray. It has a cannabinoid profile of 51% THC and 49%
CBD suspended in alcohol and is produced using organic cannabis, just
like the tinctures made by Eli Lilly & Co over 150 years ago.8
A 2008 report by the Florida Medical Examiners Commission
concluded that prescription medications easily exceed illegal drugs as a
major cause of death.9 An analysis of 168,900 autopsies conducted in
Florida found that three times as many people were killed by
pharmaceutical drugs than by cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines put
together.10 Cocaine was responsible for 843 deaths, heroin for 121, and
methamphetamines for 25. Cannabis accounted for no deaths whatsoever.
In contrast, 2,328 people were killed by opioid painkillers, including
Vicodin and OxyContin, and 743 were killed by drugs containing
benzodiazepine, including Valium and Xanax.11
In the U.S., over 40,000 people are killed annually by aspirin and
painkillers.12 According to The American Journal of Medicine, over
100,000 patients are hospitalized annually for non-steroidal anti-
inflammatory drug (NSAID)–related gastrointestinal complications and at
least 16,500 deaths occur each year among arthritis patients alone.13 A
report in The New England Journal of Medicine stated:
“It has been estimated conservatively that 16,500 NSAID-related
deaths occur among patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis
every year in the United States.14 This figure is similar to the number of
deaths from AIDS and considerably greater than the number of deaths
from multiple myeloma, asthma, cervical cancer or Hodgkin’s disease. If
deaths from gastrointestinal toxic effects from NSAID were tabulated
separately in the National Vital Statistics reports, these effects would
constitute the 15th most common cause of death in the United States. Yet
these toxic effects remain mainly a ‘silent epidemic,’ with many
physicians and most patients unaware of the magnitude of the problem.
Furthermore the mortality statistics do not include deaths ascribed to the
use of over-the-counter NSAIDS.”
Surgeon W.B. O’Shaughnessy introduced cannabis into Western medicine in the 1840s.

Medical Cannabis Today

The two main cannabis strains used for medical cannabis are the cannabis
indica and cannabis sativa subspecies, which owing to their cannabinoid
profiles both differ in their medicinal properties. Cannabis strains are
available across the entire spectrum, from pure cannabis sativas to pure
cannabis indicas and combinations which are known as hybrids. The
resulting hybrid strains will grow and develop medicinal properties
relative to the dominant genetics they inherit; for example, cannabis indica
strains have more chlorophyll than cannabis sativa, and so grow and
mature faster. Furthermore, cannabis indica-dominant plants can have a
CBD/THC ratio four to five times that of cannabis sativa-dominant
hybrids. Auto-flowering plants containing cannabis rudralis genetics are
fine for medical use; just choose either an indica- or sativa-dominant
hybrid depending on your particular needs. The effects of cannabis sativa
are well known for inducing a THC cerebral high, hence they tend to be
used medicinally during the daytime. As the effects of cannabis indicas are
predominantly physical and sedative, they are best used for non-active
times of the day, being particularly beneficial when used before sleeping.
To determine the best strain for your condition it is important to
understand the different effects of these two subspecies:
Cannabis indica-dominant strains tend to have a more sedative effect
on the user and help to relieve stress and aid relaxation. These plants are
recommended for pain relief when vaporized, and for cancer treatment in
the form of an oil extraction. They can also help moderate nausea,
stimulate the appetite, and reduce intraocular pressure. Most medical
cannabis emanates from cannabis indica hybrids. A few examples of these
hybrid strains include: OG Kush, Master Kush, Purple Kush, White Rhino,
Blueberry, Grapefruit, Lemon Skunk and Northern Lights. Predominantly
cannabis indica strains are recommended for treating anxiety, cancer,
chronic pain, insomnia, muscle spasms and tremors, and for their
effectiveness for appetite stimulation, increase in dopamine production,
nausea reduction and sedative action.
As the female flower approaches harvest, the white pistils turn brown.

Cannabis sativa-dominant strains are more energizing, enhance a

feeling of well-being and stimulate the neurotransmitter serotonin, a type
of chemical that helps relay signals from one area of the brain to another.
Of the approximately 40 million brain cells we have, most are influenced
either directly or indirectly by serotonin, which also acts on the central
nervous system and, amongst other things, is responsible for mood and
appetite regulation. Consumption of pure cannabis sativa strains can often
induce paranoia attacks and irregular heartbeat, so hybrids also containing
cannabis indica are preferred for medicinal use. These hybrids are useful
for the antidepressant properties they possess, without inducing the
paranoia associated with purebred cannabis sativa, but they rarely have
any pain-blocking attributes, so cannabis indicas are preferred for use as
analgesics.
The high THC content of many cannabis sativa hybrids is useful in
treating any conditions where CBD content is not so useful, such as
glaucoma and multiple sclerosis. Common cannabis sativa-dominant
hybrids include Haze, Kali Mist, Jack Herer, Willy Nelson and Cheese.
Cannabis sativa-dominant strains are recommended for use in treating
depression, chronic fatigue syndrome, loss of appetite, cancer, migraines,
nausea and as a daytime medication.

Treating Internal Cancers with Cannabis Oil

Providing the treatment is started early enough, the oral administration of
cannabis oil benefits most patients diagnosed with cancer.
If you’re a cancer patient beginning treatment with cannabis oil, it is
recommended that you make some dietary changes and it is advisable to
cut out red meat altogether. Use more hemp seed, oily fish and vegetables
such as broccoli, spinach, corn or potatoes for your protein (see appendix
I). Do not drink alcohol as this would be adding additional complications.
It has been shown that regularly drinking around 3 units of alcohol a day (a
large glass of wine) can increase the risk of mouth, throat, esophageal,
breast and bowel cancers.
Rick Simpson, in his work, advises that patients should also take high
doses of vitamin C daily. The authors have themselves been successfully
treating cancer patients for over a decade using cannabis oil and whilst
they advise making a dietary change they don’t agree with Simpson on this
issue. The claim that vitamin C is useful in the treatment of cancer is
largely attributable to Linus Pauling, PhD.15 In 1976 and 1978, he and a
Scottish surgeon, Ewan Cameron, reported that patients treated with high
doses of vitamin C (10,000 milligrams per day) had survived three to four
times longer than similar patients who did not receive vitamin C
supplements.

Bud Buddies 1:1 ratio CBD:THC cannabis oil as produced by the authors.

Extensive studies have been carried out on Linus Pauling’s claims that
high-dose vitamin C prolonged the life of cancer patients, and these found
that the claims were based on improper statistical analysis of data.
Subsequent clinical trials found no benefit from his recommendations.
Case reports also indicate that very high doses of vitamin C can cause
kidney damage and interfere with the body’s ability to absorb copper;
therefore even if supplementary vitamin C is eventually found to have
some use in fighting cancer, that role is not likely to be extensive. Vitamin
C is a potent antioxidant that does help the body protect its cells, and there
is no harm in taking up to 1000 milligrams daily as a supplement.16
However, it won’t cure cancer and may give you diarrhea, which will
cause dehydration. If you do wish to increase your intake, it is far better to
do this by consuming foods that are high in vitamin C content.

Adopting a healthy Mediterranean-style diet is proven to reduce cancer.

Other than these changes, all you require is the cannabis oil itself. Do
not buy this from dealers on the black market as the purity will not be
sufficiently high. Make a pure, high-quality oil yourself using a cannabis
indica variety high in CBD content such as Skunk Haze (from the CBD
Crew) and follow the techniques described in this book. One pound of
dried cannabis flowers will produce around two ounces of high-grade
cannabis oil, which is sufficient to treat even the most serious of cancers, if
taken early enough.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the general term for pharmaceutical cancer-inhibiting
drugs. There is conflicting advice given on whether cancer patients should
use cannabis oil before or during chemotherapy. Recently, a team of
researchers looking into why cancer cells are so resilient discovered that
chemotherapy seriously damages healthy cells and subsequently triggers
them to release a protein that sustains and fuels tumor growth, making the
tumor highly resistant to future treatment.17 Reporting their findings in the
journal Nature Medicine, the scientists state that their findings were
“completely unexpected.” After extensive research, Dr. Peter Nelson and
his team at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found
that chemotherapy helps cancer to survive, grow faster, and resist
treatment.18
The team was trying to explain why cancer is so resilient in the body,
yet so easy to kill in the lab, and realized that the culprit is the interaction
of chemotherapy and healthy cells surrounding the targeted tumors. When
used on cancer, chemotherapy slows or stops the reproduction of rapidly
dividing cells found in tumors, but it also damages the DNA of
neighboring fibroblast cells, which normally help heal wounds. These cells
then produce 30 times more than normal of a protein called WNT16B.
This protein encouraged prostate tumors to grow and spread into
surrounding tissue, as well as to resist chemotherapy. The team examined
cancer cells from prostate, breast and ovarian cancer patients who had
been treated with chemotherapy and found similar results. It is up to the
patient to make an informed decision as to whether he or she wishes to
undergo chemotherapy or not but certainly the earlier you start cannabis
oil treatment the better.

Dosage (Cancer)
The general consensus is that cancer sufferers require a treatment course
total of 2 ounces (56 grams) of cannabis oil, to be ingested over a three-
month period for maximum effectiveness. The dose is gradually built up to
1 gram a day. After this, many survivors continue a maintenance dose to
keep the cancer at bay; this varies between individuals and the severity of
their illness, but averages at 100-200 milligrams daily. The oil produced
using the techniques we describe will be extremely potent, so patients are
advised to begin their treatment with very small doses starting off with
dabs the size of a match head to be taken four times a day. For initial doses
patients generally find that having the oil in a syringe enables them to
easily squeeze the required amount onto their finger and then place this
into the mouth.

Bud Buddies 1:1 CBD:THC oil.

The dose should be increased slowly every three to five days

depending on the patient’s tolerance, until they are able to take one gram
daily. A set of digital scales accurate to a tenth of a gram are required to
enable patients to accurately measure their consumption, however, it is not
possible to overdose on cannabis oil and your body will not become
dependent. Medically a patient has to be in remission for five years before
being declared cancer-free, so once the course has been completed, it is
recommended that you continue a maintenance dose of cannabis oil, the
general consensus being between one tenth to one fifth of a gram per day.

General Administration of Cannabis

There are basically five methods of administering cannabis: inhalation
(smoking), ingestion (eating), suppositories (anally), topically (creams)
and also by intravenous injection (IV).
When choosing a route of administration it is important to exercise
caution and build up your dose slowly. The side effects of over-consuming
cannabinoids wear off quickly and will not have any detrimental long-term
effects, but the immediate experience can be unpleasant for some
individuals. The two most widely used routes of administration are
inhalation and ingestion.

Smoking
Vaporizing or smoking cannabis is the preferred method for pain relief, as
the effects are felt very quickly. When cannabinoids are drawn into the
lungs, they rapidly enter the bloodstream, with the initial effects being felt
within 20 seconds. First-time consumers who choose to try inhalation are
advised to leave at least ten minutes between medications so they can
gauge the effects. It is much easier to get the correct dosage when you
inhale cannabis; as soon as you feel the effect you wish for, you should
stop inhaling.
For most smokers, the preferred method is the traditional joint, which
is simply made using cigarette papers rolled into a cigarette containing
cannabis; it is not recommended that you include tobacco. When you
smoke a joint, the combustion occurring at the tip generates temperatures
of around 1,112°F (600°C); when you draw (inhale) the temperature rises
to around 1,652°F (900°C). These temperatures deliver the cannabinoids.
However, the act of combustion also creates harmful gases such as
benzene and toluene. There are conflicting arguments concerning the
harmful effects of smoking cannabis. Some studies have indicated that
smoking cannabis without tobacco is much less harmful than when they
are consumed together, but other studies have concluded that even the
smoking of cannabis without tobacco is damaging.

Consuming cannabis with tobacco is not recommended.

The results from one of the most comprehensive studies ever carried
out on cannabis use and lung disorders was published in The Journal of the
American Medical Association.19 Researchers working on a long-term
study of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (the Coronary Artery Risk
Development in Young Adults or CARDIA study) tested the lung function
of 5,115 young adults over the course of 20 years, starting in 1985 when
they were aged between 18 and 30. Whilst tobacco smokers showed the
expected decrease in lung function, the research found that cannabis
smoke had unexpected and seemingly positive effects. Low to moderate
users actually showed increased lung capacity compared to non-smokers
on two tests. The first test, known as FEV1, is the amount of air someone
breathes out in the first second after taking the deepest possible breath;
FVC is the second test and records the total volume of air exhaled after the
deepest inhalation. Dr. Mark Pletcher, Associate Professor of
Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of California, San
Francisco and the lead author of the study, stated:

A pure cannabis joint containing no tobacco.

“FEV1 and FVC both actually increased with moderate and occasional
use of marijuana. That was a bit of a surprise, there are clearly adverse
effects from tobacco use and marijuana smoke has a lot of the same
constituents as tobacco smoke does so we thought it might have some of
the same harmful effects. It’s a weird effect to see and we couldn’t make it
go away.”20
Results indicate that smoking cannabis, even regularly and heavily,
does not lead to lung cancer. Donald Tashkin of the University of
California at Los Angeles, a pulmonologist who has studied cannabis for
30 years, states:
“We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between
marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more
positive with heavier use. What we found instead was no association at all,
and even a suggestion of some protective effect.”21
Water-cooled pipes or bongs can also be used for inhalation, and many
medical users choose this method. Smaller hand held pipes can also be
used, and as long as you choose a small bowl model designed specifically
for cannabis, the fumes inhaled when smoking will not be unnecessarily
hot. Pipes and bongs are readily available for purchase online if you do not
have a suitable store nearby. It should be remembered that smoking is not
a very efficient method of delivering your medication, as the act of
combustion destroys over 50% of the cannabinoids.

Vaporizers
A much more efficient and precise method of inhalation is a specially
designed vaporizer. These units don’t actually burn the cannabis material,
but instead gently heat to set temperatures that release the cannabinoids as
a mild vapor that can be inhaled.
A vaporizer does not use combustion, so none of the cannabinoids are
consumed by flame, making a vaporizer very economical. With a quality
vaporizer you are receiving 100% of the cannabinoids from your herbal
cannabis, as opposed to losing over half of the cannabinoids through
combustion when smoking. Vaporizers are usually portable and can be
carried with you, with some being small enough to place in your pocket.
The non-portable types are larger, and ideally you should purchase one
that includes a variable temperature function that gives more precise
delivery of the cannabinoids. The ability to choose the temperature at
which you vaporize will allow you to administer the cannabinoids you
wish, and, whether your desire is to medicate or get high, this essential
facility gives you total control. It is the higher temperatures involved in
smoking that are responsible for the production of carcinogenic
hydrocarbons, and these are almost completely eliminated by the use of a
quality vaporizer, as the lack of combustion suppresses the formulation of
the health-damaging compounds. In 2007, a study of vaporization
conducted at the San Francisco General Hospital concluded:

Volcano vaporizer. The vapor is collected in the bag for inhaling.

“Vaporization is a safe and effective cannabinoid delivery mode for

patients who desire the rapid onset of action associated with inhalation
while avoiding the respiratory risks of smoking, as they significantly
reduced the intake of gaseous combustion toxins, including carbon
monoxide.”22
The vaporizer used by the 18 participants in the study was a Volcano
Vaporizer, manufactured by Storz & Bickel, which was chosen for its
reliability, efficiency and its accurate temperature control. Many Volcano
owners find that its advantages more than compensate for its lack of
portability. The Volcano is known as a “bag type” vaporizer, and works by
generating heat via a thermostatically controlled heating element. When
the desired temperature is reached, the operator activates a fan that blows
the hot air through the chamber containing the cannabis. The air passing
through the ground cannabis in the chamber is collected in a plastic bag,
and then inhaled via a mouthpiece attachment. As well as efficiently
vaporizing ground and dried cannabis buds, a good quality vaporizer
should also be capable of vaporizing cannabis oil and hashish.
Researchers reported that vaporization resulted in higher plasma
concentrations of THC compared to smoked cannabis for up to 60 minutes
following inhalation. Investigators also reported that subjects self-titrated
their intake of cannabis vapor, taking smaller and less frequent puffs when
exposed to stronger cannabis. On average, the Volcano vaporizer exposed
subjects to 54% of the applied dose of THC. Previous studies have shown
that as much as 80% of the THC burned in cigarettes or water pipes is lost
in slipstream smoke.
Variable heat settings allow you to select which cannabinoid you prefer to vaporize.

To get the best from your vaporizer, you have to be aware of the
cannabinoid profile of the cannabis you are vaporizing, as you will only
obtain high levels of CBD if it is actually present. If you wish mainly to
experience the effects of THC, do not set your temperature control above
320°F (160°C). After a couple of bags, you can increase the temperature to
allow the release of CBD or you may wish to save the already vaporized
cannabis for later use. To get the best out of your vaporizer, you should
experiment; you may find that vaporizing THC during the day and re-
vaporizing the same cannabis at a higher temperature in the evening is a
good regimen. As an alternative to re-vaporizing you may prefer to use the
remaining cannabinoids in an edible form or cannabis preparation.

CANNABINOID RECOMMENDED TEMPERATURES

THC 284-320°F (140-160°C)
CBD 320-356°F (160-180°C)
CBN 365°F (185°C)
CBC 428°F (220°C)

Temperatures in excess of 446°F (230°C) will produce benzene and

other harmful chemicals.
The cannabis plant also produces terpenoid essential oils, which are
responsible for its distinctive aromas and tastes and also have beneficial
medicinal properties. Like the cannabinoids, they evaporate at set
temperatures.

TERPENOID PROPERTIES TEMP

ß-caryophyllene Anti-inflammatory 248°F (120°C)
a-pinene Bronchodilator stimulant 312°F (156°C)
ß-myrcene Analgesic & Anti-inflammatory 330°F (166°C)
d-limonene Antidepressant 350°F (177°C)
linalool Sedative 388°F (198°C)
pulegone Sedative 435°F (224°C)

The inhalation of cannabinoid oils in this fashion is referred to as

“dabbing,” and the amount of oil (dab) used per dose will usually vary
between 0.1 and 0.8 of a gram.

Ingestion
There are many edible preparations of cannabis. Patients who are ingesting
or eating cannabis for the first time should be cautious as the effects can
take between 30 minutes to three hours to be felt, depending on the
preparation and the metabolism of the individual. With such a wide
variance it’s possible to inadvertently take an additional dose before the
full effects of the initial dose have been felt.
It is important when ingesting cannabis to know the cannabinoid
content of the preparation being consumed. This is much easier if you are
making the edibles yourself, as you have complete control over the
potency and strength. If you live in an area where medical cannabis is legal
and you obtain your cannabis edibles and preparations from a dispensary,
the cannabinoid content should be clearly displayed on the product. When
ingesting cannabis, it is far more effective to consume your necessary dose
on an empty stomach.

Capsules
These are useful for ease of administration and monitoring dose, so many
patients choose to encapsulate their cannabinoid oil concentrate. Empty
500-milligram capsules made from plant starch are available online. The
capsules come in two halves and you fill one half with oil at your required
dosage, then close the cap with the other half.

1:1 CBD:THC cannabis oil preparations.

Cannabis Tinctures (Alcohol)
These are an excellent way to utilize the plant’s medicinal ingredients, and
a good alternative to smoking. Tinctures are easy to make and involve
soaking your dried cannabis buds in ethanol or ethyl alcohol. The proof
listed on commercial alcohol refers to the percentage of ethanol that the
drink contains. The proof is twice the percentage (purity), so 70 proof
means that the mixture contains 35% ethanol. The higher the alcohol
content, the better the extraction. High-proof spirits such as Everclear 95%
pure grain alcohol can be difficult to obtain, but if you have access to these
products, they are ideal to use.
When you are making a tincture, the cannabis used must be absolutely
dry and decarboxylated by gently heating in an oven at 110°C (230°F) to
activate the cannabinoids. The process of heating converts the cannabinoid
acids such as THCA into THC. It is advisable to chop but not finely grind
the material before use. The cannabis should be soaked from between one
and 10 days, with around seven days being adequate. The recommended
minimum effective ratio to use is one gram of bud per 35 milliliters (one
fluid ounce) of alcohol, with up to eight grams per 35 milliliters used for
those preferring a stronger tincture. Place the solution into a sealed jar that
you can periodically shake to assist in the process. Throughout the soaking
period use only enough ethanol to cover the plant material. To make what
is known as a “cold extraction”, place the jar in the freezer compartment of
your refrigerator and remove periodically to shake the container. This cold
extraction can be completed in around four days, but is not necessary for
good results.
Cannabis oil can be easily made at home using kitchen equipment.

Once the soaking process has finished, strain the solution, and then
further purify it by filtering through a coffee filter. Store the tincture in a
cool dark place, preferably in a bottle with a dropper. Because of the
varying strengths of tinctures, patients should experiment with small doses
until the desired effect is achieved. Administer under the tongue using the
dropper.
You can further concentrate the tincture by reducing the volume of the
alcohol by evaporation; the more alcohol you evaporate the more potent
the tincture will be. Evaporate too much though, and you will have an oil
and not a tincture!

Cannabis Tincture (Glycerin)

For those who prefer not to use alcohol, food-grade glycerin is an
alternative solvent. Using ½ gallon (64 fluid ounces) of food-grade
glycerin will be sufficient to process three ounces (84 grams) of quality
cannabis buds. Again, the more cannabis you add, the more potent and
stronger it will be. Unlike the “cold tincture” method with the alcohol
tincture, a glycerin tincture requires some heat to assist the absorption of
the cannabinoids. The plant material should be finely ground and placed
into a crock pot (slow cooker) on the lowest setting, and left to heat for at
least 12 hours with the lid on. Ensure the setting is low enough not to burn
the mixture. After the heating process allow the mixture to cool and strain
as before.

Suppositories
The most common form of suppository is the rectal suppository, a very
effective method of administration for the delivery of cannabinoids.
Suppositories are designed to dissolve or melt and this allows the active
ingredients (in this case cannabinoids) to enter the bloodstream via the
blood vessels lining the rectum. There are many advantages to this method
of administration:

Works faster than when taken orally.

Avoids the production of the very psychoactive 11-Hydroxy-THC.
Requires a lower dose due to increased bioavailability.
Very effective for delivering cannabinoids to people who cannot take
them orally due to nausea and vomiting.
The effects are longer lasting.

Suppositories are very easy to make. Add half a gram of oil to three
grams of natural cocoa butter, slowly melt, and mix thoroughly.
Professional suppository molds are available online, or alternatively you
can create a simple mold by wrapping tin foil round your little finger. If
you have made capsules for oral application, these can also be used as a
suppository. However, some people may find that they need to apply a
small amount of lubricant to aid insertion.
Studies indicate that using THC-HS suppositories for rectal
administration offers around twice the bioavailability of oral
administration.23 Converting THC into the ester THC-HS makes it water
soluble, improving uptake and bioavailability. However, the esterfication
of cannabinoids is beyond the scope of this book.

Preparing to fill capsules with cannabis oil.

From our own studies, we have found that using half-gram oil capsules
as suppositories is twice as effective as when they are taken orally. To put
this into context, it means that you are using the oil you have more
efficiently and require less.
Cannabis Cream for Topical Application
Cannabis cream is recommended to help with arthritis and has also been
successful for some psoriasis sufferers. To convert cannabis oil into a
cream, simply melt cocoa butter or beeswax and mix thoroughly with the
oil. Add 50 milliliters of oil to 100 grams of cocoa butter or beeswax.
Cannabis oil can also be applied directly to the skin without the need to
make a cream preparation and this is the recommended method for treating
skin cancer, burns and warts.

Intravenous (IV)
In 1968 Henderson and Pugsley first described the syndrome of emesis,
myalgia and hypotension following the IV injection of broth derived from
boiled cannabis that was then strained through cotton cloth.24 The
syndrome has at least 25 known cases in the English language literature,
all prior to 1983. Symptoms include myalgia, nausea and vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain and weakness. In at least seven cases, cotton was
used to strain the broth before injecting and it is noteworthy that “cotton
fever” has been reported following the IV use of heroin reclaimed from
previously used cotton filters and also consists of emesis, myalgia and
fever. Thus, it partially resembles the IV marijuana syndrome. All known
patients recovered with normal care, with an average hospital stay of 9
days.
Cannabis-based creams can offer relief for many skin conditions.

The psychoactive constituents of cannabis are terpenoids. These are

not water soluble and thus not suitable for a broth-type preparation for
injection with any efficacy. A laboratory setting for injection of
cannabinoids would use a lipid soluble intravenous emulsion vehicle such
as soy lecithin for injection. Additionally, the cannabinoids would need to
be decarboxylated in order to cross the blood-brain barrier. 25
Cannabinoid crystals are evident even on the plant’s smallest buds. These crystals are
commonly known as trichomes. They also appear here on the plant’s sugar leaves.


CHAPTER FOUR

Cannabis Cures
Studies carried out in California to determine why patients used cannabis
for medicinal purposes reported that it relieved pain, muscle spasms,
headaches, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, depression, cramps, panic attacks,
diarrhea and itching.
Others reported that cannabis improved sleep, relaxation, appetite,
concentration and energy. Many patients use it to prevent side effects from
medication or to treat anger issues, involuntary muscle movements and
seizures whilst others used it as a substitute for prescription drugs and
alcohol. It can be argued that recreational cannabis use is also of medical
benefit in that it relieves stress and thereby acts as a preventative treatment
for many stress-related conditions.
If you are diagnosed with any of the conditions that can be treated with
cannabis, you are advised to consult with your physician before you begin
self-medicating. However, in some countries, such as the U.K., a doctor
has a duty to report any illegal drug use that may impair a patient’s ability
to drive, so such a confession could have consequences.
Many medical practitioners are becoming aware of the benefits of
cannabis medication and most will have no objection to you using it
alongside any treatment you may be receiving.

Case History: Corrie Yelland

Corrie Yelland is a remarkable and determined lady who refused serious
radiation treatment and against all odds cured her terminal cancer using
only cannabis oil.1 In May of 2007 she suffered a heart attack and
subsequently had a double heart bypass. As a result of the heart surgery
she suffered with chronic debilitating pain from a maligned sternum and
post sternotomy neuralgia/syndrome. She was constantly in pain and
ingesting large amounts of various painkillers, and at night, even after
taking sleeping pills, she would wake in agony within two hours of falling
asleep.
In July of 2011, already coping with two spots of skin cancer on her
collarbone, she was stunned to be diagnosed with anal canal cancer.
Following two surgeries, the doctors told her that they could not remove
all of the cancer and she would have to endure a regime of radiation
treatments. She was informed that this was the worst area of the body to
radiate as the radiation beam would hit both her coccyx and pubic bone
potentially causing permanent damage. Additionally, she would suffer
second and third degree burns vaginally and rectally, and there was a good
possibility both her vagina and rectum would fuse shut from the burns and
subsequent scarring.
Refusing to accept this was her only option, Corrie began to research
alternatives and discovered information regarding the benefits of cannabis
oil. She began a course of treatment soon after. As well as ingesting the
cannabis oil, she topically applied it to the skin cancer on her collarbone.
Within 48 hours, there were visible changes to the skin cancer. In just over
a week, the two spots were completely gone. Elated, she continued
ingesting the oil in the hope it would work on the other cancer attacking
her body. Two weeks into her treatment regime the pain in her sternum, as
well as the nerve pain, had become almost non-existent. Before using
cannabis, Corrie typically took 10-15 Tylenol 3 per day, along with other
drugs, which she managed to reduce to half a Tylenol 3 per day once
treatment had began.
Corrie had met a woman from Texas diagnosed at the same time as her
with the identical cancer. They gave each other support and felt fortunate
to have found each other as they were identical in many respects: they
were the same age, had gone through the same diagnostic procedure, were
at the same stage of the cancer and both had radiation recommended as
treatment. The Texan lady chose to have the radiation. Sadly she died in
March 2012 as a result of infection from radiation burns. She left behind a
husband and 12-year-old daughter.

Medical marijuana is now available in many U.S. states.

Corrie continued ingesting the oil on a daily basis, slowly increasing

the amount she was taking. She also began filling gelatin capsules with a
mixture of the cannabis oil and olive oil and inserting them rectally. On
September 20, 2012, she saw her specialist/surgeon again and heard the
news she had only dared to hope for. “It’s gone! I can’t find anything at
all. If it wasn’t for the scar tissue I would never have known you had ever
had cancer.” She received confirmation that the cancer was confirmed to
be 100% clear. You can read more of this remarkable story and view her
medical notes, et cetera at the authors’ website:
www.cannabiscure.info/files/corrie.htm.

Conditions That Cannabis Can Assist With Include:

Alcohol and Opiate Abuse
Cannabis can ease both the physical and psychological effects associated
with withdrawal from both of these addictive substances. No clinical trials
concerning the efficacy of cannabis as a substitute for alcohol are
available, apart from the work of Tod Mikuriya in 1970, who describes
patients using cannabis to successfully discontinue abusing alcohol.2
(Cannabis as a Pharmacological Harm Reducer 1997–unpublished). Tod
Hiro Mikuriya was a psychiatrist and an advocate for the legalization of
the use of cannabis for medical purposes, and, quite fittingly, he is
regarded as the grandfather of the medical cannabis movement in the
United States.
A healthy and vigorous indica-dominant female in flower.

Cannabis was listed as a treatment for delirium tremens in medical

texts of the 1800s.3 There are also 19th-Century references to the use of
cannabis as a substitute for opiates. These were among the first
documented uses of medical cannabis by European physicians.
It is apparent from reading the old medical texts that many of the new
cannabis preparations and methods of administration around today are not
new discoveries. They are, for the most part, just rediscoveries.
The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that
more than 80,0004 annual deaths are attributed to alcohol use alone.
Untreated and severe alcohol withdrawal can kill you, mainly due to
seizures. Fortunately, these fatalities are almost completely preventable if
people are properly weaned off alcohol using gradually decreasing
amounts of alcohol itself or medication. In contrast, the CDC does not
even have a category for deaths caused by the use of cannabis because
there have never been any.

Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia amongst the elderly,
and with the ever-increasing population, cases of Alzheimer’s disease are
expected to triple over the next 50 years.5 Investigation shows that
cannabis can prevent the formation of deposits in the brain associated with
this degenerative disease. Researchers at the Scripps Research Institute in
California found that the active component of cannabis, Delta9-
tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase
(AChE) as well as prevents AChE-induced amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta)
accumulation, the key indicator of Alzheimer’s disease.6 There is also
research concluding that amongst the other cannabis compounds,
cannabidiol (CBD), which has no psychotropic effect, may represent a
very promising agent with the highest prospect for therapeutic use in
Alzheimer’s patients, many of whom would find that the effect of THC
alone could actually add to the confusion they experience.
Whilst THC is recognized as an important compound in the treatment
of dementia, it needs to be administered with a corresponding or even
higher value of CBD, which research has shown will lessen the
psychotropic effect of THC on the elderly patient. This can easily be
achieved by careful selection of the cannabis strain used for medication
and high CBD content cannabis strains are recommended for use in the
treatment of dementia patients. There are pharmaceutical medicines that
can treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but there is no cure. Some
medicines will keep memory loss and other symptoms from progressing
but this is a short-term solution. Compared to drugs currently prescribed
for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, THC in particular has been
shown to be a considerably superior inhibitor of Abeta accumulation.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is characterized by the death of
motor neurons leading to loss of limb control, breathing, swallowing,
speech and widespread cellular dysfunction.7 The condition refers to a
disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary
muscle movement. This is a fatal, degenerative disease marked by
progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. Research has shown that
cannabis may help ALS patients by relieving pain, spasticity, drooling and
appetite loss. In scientific studies it has been shown that THC, along with
other cannabinoids, can benefit laboratory mice specifically bred with
ALS. This mounting evidence of cannabinoids halting the progression of
the condition has started to change the attitudes of doctors, and prominent
researchers have recently called for ALS clinical trials with cannabinoids
on humans.

Case History: Cathy Jordan8

Cathy Jordan was diagnosed with ALS in 1986 and given 3-5 years to live
by her neurologist. Cathy began using cannabis to treat her ALS in the late
1980s. Nearly 3 decades later she is still alive and coping with ALS.
Initially, doctors wouldn’t accept that cannabis could be responsible for
Cathy’s survival and informed her that smoking anything would impair her
lung function. Cathy asked her doctors if they would take a drug if it was
neuroprotective, an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. They replied that
they would and asked her if she knew one, she informed them she did and
it was cannabis. Cathy has said, “There are ALS patients’ associations that
fight for the right of patients to die with dignity. But what about my right
to life? Keeping my medicine illegal removes my right to life.”

Dried and chopped cannabis bud ready for use.

Anorexia Nervosa
The prescription drug Olanzapine has been shown to be effective in
treating certain aspects of this condition as it increases appetite, causes the
body to store fat and helps to raise body mass index. However, the drug
can have serious side effects including hives, difficulty breathing, swelling
of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, high blood sugar, numbness or
weakness, confusion, problems with vision, speech, or balance, fever,
chills, body aches, flu-like symptoms, sores in the mouth and throat,
swelling in the hands or feet and many other complications.9 Cannabis has
none of these side effects and can increase appetite and ease anxiety.10 Dr.
Elliot Berry, a consultant to the World Health Organization, has conducted
a trial using cannabis oil to treat this eating disorder. Early results show
that cannabinoids stimulate a chemical in the brain that effectively boosts
appetite. In another unrelated trial it was reported that after 21 days of
inpatient cannabis smoking, both body weight gain and caloric
consumption were higher in casual and heavy users than in the control
subjects who did not use cannabis.11, 12, 13

Arthritis (Rheumatoid or Osteoarthritis)

Rheumatoid arthritis is caused by a malfunction of the immune system.
Instead of fighting bacteria or viruses, the body attacks the synovial
membranes, which facilitate the movement of joints, eventually destroying
cartilage and eroding bones. This manifests as a painful and debilitating
inflammation of one or more joints. A joint is the area where two bones
contact. When the body metabolizes THC it generates chemicals that
include at least one that is an anti-inflammatory, THC also achieves relief
from the pain associated with the condition.14 Cannabidiol (CBD) is also
useful in the treatment of arthritis and has been found to minimize
destruction of the joints in laboratory rats and mice. Cannabis is beneficial
not only when smoked by patients who seek relief from the symptoms, but
it also works extremely well when applied topically as a cream.

Asthma
Cannabis use has been shown to ease asthma attacks in patients. Asthma is
the shortness of breath and wheezing caused by spasms of the bronchial
tubes, overproduction of mucus and swelling of the mucous membranes; it
kills more than 4,000 U.S. citizens each year. Clinical research shows that
THC acts as a bronchial dilator, clearing blocked air passageways and
allowing free breathing. The New England Journal of Medicine published
a 1973 study that claimed that, “Marihuana smoke, unlike cigarette smoke,
causes broncho-dilation rather than broncho-constriction [narrowing of the
air passages] and, unlike opiates, does not cause central respiratory
depression.”15 Cannabis smoke at 2.6% THC content causes a fall of 38%
in airway resistance and an increase of 44% in airway conductivity.16
However, it is recommended that asthma sufferers use a vaporizer to
relieve their symptoms rather than any other method of delivery.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is one of the most common psychiatric disorders of childhood, and
is characterized by persistent impairments in attention and concentration
with the associated symptoms of impulsivity and hyperactivity.
Over 6.4 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with
ADHD, and two thirds of those are currently taking drugs to control
ADHD, fueling a $9-billion-a-year industry.17 Although ADHD is most
commonly treated with amphetamine-derived formulations, pure
methamphetamine is actually approved by the FDA for the treatment of
ADHD–they just prefer to call it Desoxyn (methamphetamine
hydrochloride).18 There is also growing concern about the use of Ritalin,
the most widely prescribed drug for ADHD, and many parents and
professionals are worried about side effects, including damage to the
cardiovascular and nervous systems. A lack of dopamine is believed to be
one of the primary underlying factors in ADHD.19 This is the reason why
stimulants are such an effective and commonly prescribed treatment, as
stimulants mainly act to increase dopamine levels. Dysfunction of the
dopamine (DA) system explains some of the clinical manifestations of
attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and it is thought that the
body releases its own natural cannabinoids as a protective response to the
onset of ADHD-related symptoms. This would explain why ADHD
sufferers gain relief from cannabis use.

Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis (also known as arteriosclerotic vascular disease or ASVD)
is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the
accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol. It is commonly
referred to as a hardening or furring of the arteries, but is a disease where
cholesterol deposits form on the inner surfaces of the arteries, obstructing
blood flow. Cannabinoids, acting via both CB2 and CB1 receptor
modulation, have an important role in immune system regulation. Because
inflammation plays a key role in atherogenesis, cannabinoids can
potentially affect atherogenesis via modulation of the immune system. In a
pioneering study by Steffens et al, oral administration of low-dose THC (1
milligram per kilogram/day) was shown to inhibit progression of
atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic root and abdominal aorta via activation
of CB2 receptors on these cells.20

Autism
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that appears
within the first 3 years of life and mainly affects communication and social
skills. The cause of the disorder is not known but is linked to abnormal
brain chemistry. Pharmaceutical medications are available to deal with the
behavioral consequences of the disorder, but not the disorder itself. These
pharmaceuticals have a host of serious side effects that include permanent
tics (involuntary muscle movement) and diabetes, as well as being highly
toxic chemicals. In 2000 researchers at the University of California at
Irvine discovered that because of the interaction between the cannabinoids
in the cannabis plant and the body’s own natural endocannabinoid system
it could be used to treat autism along with Parkinson’s disease and
schizophrenia.21 Cannabinoids not only regulate emotion and focus but
also serve as a neuroprotective preventing the further degradation of brain
cells. Moderating an autistic person’s mood consistently is best achieved
with an oral dose of cannabis that can be adjusted according to need.

Case History: Marie Myung-Ok Lee22

Marie is a novelist who teaches at Columbia University and writes for
Slate, Salon, The New York Times, and The Guardian. Marie has been
treating her autistic son with legally acquired medical cannabis for several
years. It has helped calm her son’s gastrointestinal pain and decrease his
associated violent behavior. Cannabis has allowed them to forego the use
of pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs that were used to control aggressive
outbursts, but were totally ineffective at alleviating his pain. Marie has
written several essays regarding cannabis and autism and these can be
found online. She states that, “In our case, I would call our experiment a
qualified success. Not because cannabis has cured J, who’s now 11, or
anything near it. But it’s alleviated some of his severest symptoms so that
he, my husband and I can actually enjoy each other, rather than being held
hostage by his autism in a house full of screams, destruction and three very
unhappy people.”

Bipolar Disorder
This is a psychiatric disorder characterized by extreme mood swings,
ranging between episodes of acute euphoria, mania and severe depression.
Cannabis is extremely beneficial in treating this condition (see
Depression). Bipolar disorder is conventionally treated with lithium salts
and anticonvulsant drugs, which can have serious side effects. Many
sufferers report that cannabis is more effective than conventional anti-
manic medication and can relieve the side effects associated with lithium
use. Reports from the Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York show that
patients with bipolar I (BD I) disorder who regularly used cannabis
performed better on tests of attention, processing speed and working
memory than other BD I patients.23

Cancer
Referred to medically as a malignant neoplasm, cancer is a broad group of
various diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. High
concentrations of CBD found in cannabis oil have been shown to block the
activity of a gene called Id-1, which is believed to be responsible for the
aggressive spread of cancer cells away from the original tumor site (a
process called metastasis). Research has shown that CBD can also reverse
aggressive human brain cancers; it appears to have a similar effect on
breast cancer cells, and is also highly effective in the treatment of lung
cancer. A study by Complutense University of Madrid discovered that
THC also has anticancer effects when treating brain tumors.24 They found
that the chemicals in cannabis promote the death of cancer cells by causing
them to feed upon themselves in a process called autophagy.
Conventional medical practice uses surgery, highly toxic antineoplastic
drugs, and/or the destruction of body tissue by radiation, which is energy
directed at the tumor. It can range from what we think of as light photons
to particles like electrons or even something as large as a carbon ion.
Chemotherapy is classed as drug treatment and these are the main tools for
treating cancer. Surgery is effective if carried out early enough, but
chemotherapy is also commonly employed to treat patients and studies
have raised serious questions about its efficacy–in particular the role it
plays in hastening and even causing the death of late-stage cancer
sufferers. One study carried out following patient outcome and deaths
looked at the cases of 600 cancer sufferers who had passed on within 30
days of treatment.25 The study found that approximately one in four of
such deaths had either occurred far more rapidly, or been caused by
chemotherapy. The study also revealed that two out of five patients had
suffered significant poisoning from the treatment.
Moreover, a team of researchers studying cancer cell resilience
discovered that chemotherapy seriously damages healthy cells and triggers
them to release a protein that sustains and fuels tumor growth. Reporting
their findings in Nature Medicine, the scientists reported that the results
were completely unexpected and showed there was significant DNA
damage from chemotherapy, using tissue derived from men with prostate
cancer.26 Furthermore, the tumors became highly resistant to future
treatment. If you have recurring cancerous tumors, there is no effective
conventional cure.
Studies published in The Lancet reported that use of the
pharmaceutical drug Tamoxifen reduced the breast cancer death rate by
one third.27 The National Cancer Institute’s breast cancer prevention trial
stated that there was a 49% decrease in the incidence of this cancer in
women who took it for five years.28 However, when we examined the
figures, we discovered that the risk of developing breast cancer without
using the drug is only 1.3% and its use caused a reduction to 0.68%. That
represents a 49% difference between these two reported numbers, but just
a little over half of 1% difference (0.62%) in real terms. This is how the
statistics are manipulated in favor of toxic pharmaceutical drugs.
Tamoxifen is a controversial synthetic hormone also sold in England as
Nolvadex.29 This toxic drug earns an estimated $500 million a year for the
pharmaceutical companies; it’s sold to women after breast surgery to
prevent cancer from spreading to the other breast. Science News of March
4, l989 reported slight benefits (9% in one study, 6% in another) but a
Swedish trial indicated a 400% increased risk of endometrial cancer for
those who took Tamoxifen over a 5-year period.30, 31 Current guidelines
for Tamoxifen recommend that patients take the drug for 5 years. The
ATLAS study suggests that taking Tamoxifen for 10 years greatly
increases a woman’s survival rate from estrogen-positive breast cancers.32
The ATLAS study was sponsored by none other than the drug
manufacturer AstraZeneca that currently markets and manufactures
Nolvadex, a brand-name version of the drug Tamoxifen. By doubling the
number of years women take Tamoxifen, AstraZeneca doubles its profit!
Tamoxifen is known to cause cancer of the uterus, ovaries and
gastrointestinal tract and is shown to cause liver cancer. In 1996, a division
of the World Health Organization declared Tamoxifen a Group I
carcinogen for the uterus.33 R. J. Kedar of King’s College School of
Medicine and Dentistry in London studied 61 women in a Tamoxifen trial
and said: “Our study detected endometrial abnormalities at various times
from the first tablet of Tamoxifen.”34 The endometrium appeared
abnormally thick in 24 of these women (39%) and 10 of these underwent
potentially precancerous changes. Other permanent damage includes
osteoporosis, retina damage, optic nerve damage and cataracts. The half
percent reduction in breast cancer rates is insignificant compared to the
increased incidence of other cancers and diseases.
The medical use of cannabis causes none of these life-threatening
complications. A team of researchers at the California Pacific Medical
Center Research Institute who have been researching the benefits of CBD
have concluded that it can provide a nontoxic alternative to chemotherapy
for cancer treatments.35 Dr Sean McAllister stated:
“Right now we have a limited range of options in treating aggressive
forms of cancer. Those treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be effective
but they can also be extremely toxic and difficult for patients. This
compound offers the hope of a nontoxic therapy that could achieve the
same results without any of the painful side effects.”

Case History: Bradley Jones

“I’m a 39-year-old married family man with an 8-year-old boy and twin
girls. I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in August 2008, with a tumor the
size of an apple. During 2008 and November 2009 I took many
conventional therapies including chemotherapy in tablet form combined
with radiotherapy. As the weeks went by the side effects of the
chemotherapy increased and it was hard to take the tablets knowing that
they would make me feel worse. The radiotherapy burnt me so badly that
my skin blackened and I could no longer walk. I recovered from these
treatments and the tumor had reduced to the size of a pea. As it had
reduced I could now have a procedure called Pappillion. This was a
clinical trial and involved my tumor being zapped by a device that was
inserted into my rectum. I endured three sessions and it was very, very
painful. Three months later and my tumor was growing again. I now
suffered another intrusive surgery called a THAMES; this involved them
again going up my rectum but this time with a laser scalpel to cut the
tumor away, after this operation I was informed that I should have a
colostomy operation. After this painful operation I was subjected to more
bouts of chemotherapy and after the third I felt as if I was dying. At the
time, death would have been a welcome release. Over time I recovered and
regular CT scans showed that I was cancer free, until one scan showed
hotspots on my lungs; three on the left lung and two on the right. I was
devastated! In February 2010 I had the bottom of my left lung removed. A
biopsy found that it was bowel cancer that had spread to my lungs. I
started to research other treatments for my condition and started to read
about cannabis oil curing cancer.
I was very lucky to be put in touch with the authors of this book and I
arranged to meet them. After asking me many questions I was given a
syringe full of oil. Under guidance I took a small blob and swallowed it.
The first effects could be felt within an hour, I felt the tightness and pain
leave my chest and ribs and I could breathe more deeply and easily. I then
began to feel a warm sensation and started to feel very stoned. I took the
oil daily in small amounts four times a day and slowly increased the dose
up to a gram a day. At my next meeting with my oncologist to discuss my
latest scan results he informed me that the tumors on my right lung had
reduced. I was lost for words. My new guardian angels again supplied me
with another syringe of oil and I continued with the treatment. The oil also
had a very positive effect on my anxiety and I did not feel at all anxious
when I was taking it. I also managed to gain the weight I had lost from the
chemotherapy. The oil gave me my appetite back and I gained enough
weight to get back to a healthy and stable size.
Then came the news I’d been praying for: my wife and I attended an
appointment with my oncologist and he commented on how well and
healthy I looked. He seemed very pleased that I had put some weight on.
After reading through my file he said, “The hotspots have reduced further
on both sides at this moment in time. You are cancer free.” Yet despite all
this my oncologist isn’t interested in the results I have achieved through
use of cannabis oil. I feel totally let down by him and his attitude; he
wasn’t pleased or excited by my results and in fact he appeared lost and
out of his depth. However, despite everything I am still cancer free and
happy to report that cannabis oil has saved my life.”

Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CECD)

Research has been carried out into many of the conditions that cannabis
has been shown to successfully treat and according to a study by Ethan B.
Russo, who is the Senior Medical Advisor to GW Pharmaceuticals, the
company responsible for producing Sativex, the medical benefits of
cannabis could be due to a deficiency in the brain’s own endocannabinoid
system, which closely mirrors the cannabinoids found in the cannabis
plant.36 The study examined the interesting concept that clinical
endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD) could be the underlying cause of
migraine, bromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, and other functional
conditions alleviated by clinical cannabis.
Since the discovery of the human brain’s own endogenous cannabinoid
(endocannabinoid) system, we now have a better understanding of how
cannabis may alleviate these conditions by boosting the body’s own
naturally produced cannabinoids and it may be that many of these
conditions are in fact due to patients not producing enough cannabinoids
themselves.
A capsule support makes accurate filling far easier.

Cystic Fibrosis
This condition is an inherited genetic disorder that is caused when two
particular genes fail to function correctly. Symptoms include disruption of
the endocrine glands that affect the pancreas, intestine, bronchial and
sweat glands. Breathing and digestion are impaired by mucus. Medical
cannabis use has been shown to reduce the severity of the condition and
ease breathing (See Asthma).

Depression
There have been some controversial yet widely publicized studies linking
depression to chronic use of cannabis. However, a peer-reviewed and well
documented study that reviewed thousands of chronic, heavy cannabis
users found normal rates of depression, once other factors such as alcohol
use, gender and illness were accounted for.37 It has been known for many
years that depletion of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain leads to
depression. Cannabis sativa varieties used in moderation have been shown
to help combat clinical depression by increasing the production of
serotonin.
When scientists looked at the overall death rates of research
participants they discovered that those taking antidepressants had a 32%
higher risk of death from other causes compared to non-users. In a survey,
72% of American doctors said they had prescribed antidepressants to
children under 18, but only 16% of those said they felt comfortable doing
so, and only 8% said they had adequate training to treat childhood
depression. The United Nations has recently criticized the U.S. for
overprescribing psychiatric drugs, as they consume 80% of the world’s
methylphenidate (generic of Ritalin).38
Antidepressants fail to help about half the people who take them, and a
study in laboratory mice helps to explain why. Most antidepressants,
including the commonly used Prozac and Zoloft, work by increasing the
amount of serotonin, a message-carrying brain chemical made deep in the
middle of the brain by cells known as raphe neurons. In January 2010
researchers at Columbia University Medical Center in New York reported
that genetically engineered mice that had too much of one type of
serotonin receptor in this region of the brain were less likely to respond to
antidepressants. According to Columbia University’s Rene Hen:
“These receptors dampen the activity of these (serotonin-producing)
neurons. Too much of them dampen these neurons too much, it puts too
much brake on the system.”39
In October 2007 a new neurobiological study by Dr. Gabriella Gobbi
of McGill University found that THC is an effective antidepressant at low
doses.40 However, at higher doses, the effect reverses itself and can
actually worsen depression. This study offers the first evidence that
cannabis can also increase serotonin, at least at lower doses. When
laboratory rats were injected with the synthetic cannabinoid WIN55,212-2
and then tested with the Forced Swim test to measure “depression,” the
researchers observed an antidepressant effect of cannabinoids paralleled by
an increased activity in the neurons that produce serotonin. However,
increasing the cannabinoid dose beyond a set point completely undid the
benefits.

Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic diseases in which a person suffers
from high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough
insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This
produces symptoms including polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia
(increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger). Medical cannabis use
has been shown to help patients by stabilizing blood sugars, suppressing
arterial inflammation common in diabetes sufferers, preventing
inflammation of nerves and reducing the pain of neuropathy. It also acts as
an antispasmodic agent, relieves muscle cramps and the pain of
gastrointestinal disorders and acts as a vasodilator to help keep blood
vessels open thereby causing lower blood pressure, which is vital for
diabetics. Topical application of cannabis oil or cream has been shown to
relieve neuropathic pain and tingling in hands and feet, and also reduce
diabetic restless leg syndrome.

Dystonia
This is a severely painful neurological disorder causing involuntary muscle
spasms and twisting of the limbs. A case study published in The Journal of
Pain and Symptom Management reported improvement of the symptoms
in a 42-year-old chronic pain patient, whose subjective pain score fell from
nine out of 10 to zero following cannabis inhalation, and did not require
any additional analgesic medication for the following 48 hours.41 It is
reported that no other treatment to date had resulted in such dramatic
improvement in the patient’s condition. Cannabidiol was given in doses,
increasing from 100 to 600 milligrams per day, to five patients with
idiopathic dystonia, along with previously administered treatments. Dose-
related improvement ranging from 20% to 50% was noted in all patients.

Emphysema
Sufferers exhibit a gradual deterioration of the lungs caused by pollution
and tobacco smoking. The lung air sacs become distended and rupture.
Symptoms include breathlessness and blue lips. Cannabis aids in
expansion of the bronchii and bronchioles allowing higher oxygenation in
patients. This is not a cure but provides tremendous relief for patients (See
Asthma).

Epilepsy
This is a medical disorder involving episodes of irregular electrical
discharge within the brain, characterized by the periodic sudden loss or
impairment of consciousness, often accompanied by convulsions.
Cannabis is shown to reduce the frequency of attacks and researchers have
discovered that three compounds found in medical cannabis can help to
reduce and control seizures. CBD was tested on 15 epileptic patients, of
whom 8 were given doses of 300mg. The remainder were assigned a
placebo and treated for over four months, whilst continuing their past
anticonvulsant drugs. Of the eight CBD-treated patients, four remained
free of seizures, three showed partial improvements and one showed no
response.

Fibromyalgia (FM or FMS)

People with fibromyalgia typically experience pain in their joints and
muscles and may also suffer from frequent headaches and fatigue. This
medical disorder is characterized by chronic widespread pain and
allodynia, which is a heightened and painful response to skin contact or
touch. Even light pressure is agonizing for many sufferers. This
debilitating affliction causes aching muscles, sleep disorders and fatigue.
Our bodies naturally make pain relievers called endorphins, but they also
make other substances that can trigger pain relief in the endocannabinoid
system. Fibromyalgia patients typically experience multiple areas of pain
in the body and they often take multiple drugs for other symptoms, which
can include difficulty sleeping, restless legs syndrome, depression, and
anxiety. Cannabis uniquely has the ability to treat multiple symptoms.
There is no known cure for fibromyalgia; it is notoriously difficult to treat
and only 35–40% of people with the chronic pain condition get relief from
the available medications. However, sufferers report a reduction in pain
and improved sleep patterns from regular medical cannabis use. Lynda is a
48-year-old mother of three who lives in upstate New York, and was
diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2000. She is quoted on the website Health
(.com) as saying, “I would use [cannabis] when the burning pains started
down my spine or my right arm, and shortly after, I found I could continue
with housework and actually get more done.”

Glaucoma
This is caused by high pressure inside the eyeball that damages the optic
disk. Typical treatments have serious side effects and have little effect on
end-stage glaucoma. Cannabis lowers intraocular pressures dramatically,
with none of the side effects, and is highly recommended as a treatment.
When patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma were tested with a
dose of 19 milligrams of THC, seven out of 11 showed a 30% fall in
intraocular pressure.

Glioma
This is the term for a tumor in the brain or spine. Malignant Glioma is very
difficult to treat and the average survival time from diagnosis is only 40 to
50 weeks. THC has been shown to kill the Glioma cancer cells and is an
effective treatment; many patients owe their lives to medical cannabis. A
report published by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology based at the Complutense University in Madrid, with regard to
cannabis and cancer treatment (particularly Glioma) states:
“Cannabinoids, the active components of Cannabis sativa L., act in the
body by mimicking endogenous substances, the endocannabinoids that
activate specific cell surface receptors. Cannabinoids exert various
palliative effects in cancer patients. In addition, cannabinoids inhibit the
growth of different types of tumor cells, including Glioma cells, in
laboratory animals.42 They do so by modulating key cell signaling
pathways, mostly the endoplasmic reticulum stress response, thereby
inducing antitumor actions such as the apoptotic death of tumor cells and
the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Of interest, cannabinoids seem to be
selective antitumor compounds, as they kill Glioma cells, but not their
non-transformed astroglial counterparts.”

Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C kills over 15,000 people in the U.S. every year, and whilst
there is no vaccine currently available, there is new hope in nanoparticle
technology.43 More tests need to be carried out and the current treatment
for hepatitis C still involves interferon medication. Its side effects can
induce flu-like symptoms, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea,
muscle or joint pain and depression. According to a report published in the
October 2006 European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, a
Northern California study involving 71 participants demonstrated that
moderate cannabis use may relieve interferon’s side effects, helping people
with hepatitis C stick with the full treatment regimen.44 Researchers state
that cannabis’s influence on hepatitis C is due to side-effect management,
rather than an antiviral effect. Lead researcher Diana Sylvestre, MD, of the
University of California at San Francisco emphasized that the benefit was
primarily due to improved ability to stay on adequate doses of interferon
and/or ribavirin.
Herpes
Herpes simplex is a viral disease from the herpesviridae family caused by
both herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Infection
causes small, painful recurring blisters and inflammation, most commonly
at the junction of skin and mucous membrane in the mouth, nose or
genitals. THC has been shown to have a beneficial effect when used in the
treatment of herpes. A topical application reduces the healing time of
blisters and regular cannabis use reduces the frequency of attacks.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can adversely affect the rate at which the heart works
and is very destructive to the body. Poor sleeping patterns, diet, stress and
overuse of alcohol can all contribute to an increase in blood pressure and
cannabis use is helpful in relieving many of the causes of high blood
pressure. Abnormally high blood pressure is known as hypertension and
generally affects middle-aged men. However, most of us are going to
suffer from cardiovascular disease at some point, as it is the number one
cause of death in both men and women. Preliminary studies show that
cannabinoids can lower blood pressure by dilating the blood vessels. This
is despite cannabis use initially speeding up the heart rate in some users,
thereby increasing blood pressure. However, for patients suffering from
orthostatic hypertension or postural hypertension (a medical condition
consisting of a sudden increase in blood pressure when a person stands
up), cannabis use will actually cause blood pressure to lower.

HIV
Many people with HIV/AIDS use medical cannabis to combat wasting and
other symptoms (See Anorexia Nervosa) and there are indications that
cannabis use and a dietary supplement of hemp seeds has a positive
influence on the body’s immune system. Medical cannabis use for AIDS
patients is proven to be beneficial, is extremely cost effective and offers an
alternative for patients in third world countries who simply cannot afford
expensive AIDS medicines. The supply of AIDS medication is big
business. The pharmaceutical industry recently sued the South African
government for breaking international patent laws. South Africa had tried
to provide their desperately ill citizens with affordable copies of expensive
AIDS medicines in a purely humanitarian act. The pharmaceutical
companies indicated to the South Africans that they would be interested in
helping them with the growing epidemic, providing it was shown to be
financially beneficial.

Case History: Henry J. Sizluski, Jr.45

Henry has been living with HIV and herpes for over 24 years now.
Previous to his cannabis use he was on pharmaceutical drugs that left him
weak and his weight had dropped dramatically. He has relied on medical
cannabis to help him deal with a variety of conditions, including the side
effects of other medications. Cannabis has allowed him to reduce his
dependency on pharmaceutical drugs and he now medicates with cannabis
in tincture form, as well as smoking the buds from the plant. Henry has
been able to regain the weight he had lost from wasting syndrome, and
now has a correctly fitting prosthetic leg due to the increase in his body
size, making it easier for him to walk again.
You can view Henry’s full and informative video on the authors’
website: www.cannabiscure.info/files/cannabis_treatment_3

Huntington’s Disease
Disappointingly, a study by the University of Arizona found no
improvement in Huntington’s disease sufferers during a clinical trial that
used only cannabidiol, not THC or the full profile of cannabinoids.46
However, research led by Dr. Javier Fernandez-Ruiz published in the
Journal of Neuroscience Research studied the effects of both THC and
CBD on Huntington’s disease.47 This study was not carried out on human
patients but tested on rodents, and THC did show positive effects. In the
human striatum (forebrain), CB1 receptors are the most common receptors
for THC and Huntington’s patients have been shown to have reduced
levels of CB1 receptors in this area. Researchers administered high doses
of THC to CB1-impaired rodents so as to over-activate their reduced CB1
receptors. It was shown that THC improved their motor function, slowed
the disease symptom progression and improved the volume of their
striatum.

Incontinence
Cannabinoids have been shown to reduce incontinence episodes without
affecting voiding in patients with multiple sclerosis.48 The study observed
630 patients who received either an oral administration of cannabis extract,
THC or a placebo. Those receiving the active cannabis treatments showed
significant effects over the placebo. The findings demonstrated a clinical
effect of medical cannabis on incontinence episodes in patients with MS.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Medically, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) refers to a group of
inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine:
Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the colon that produces
ulceration of the inside wall. Its primary symptom is bloody, chronic
diarrhea, often containing pus and mucus, and associated with
abdominal pain and weight and appetite loss. This is a chronic illness
with no known cure.
Crohn’s disease is an inflammation of the small and/or large
intestine, with accompanying pain, cramping, tenderness, gas, fever,
nausea and diarrhea. Though usually mild, in serious cases bleeding
may occur and may sometimes be massive. This is also a chronic
illness with no known cure.
Proctitis is an inflammation of the rectum and is characterized by
 bloody stools, a frequent urge to defecate but inability to do so and
sometimes diarrhea.

Beneficial effects of cannabis treatment have been reported for

appetite, pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, activity and depression. Patients
also reported that cannabis use resulted in weight gain, fewer stools per
day and less severe flare-ups. Patients not only report significant relief of
their symptoms, but are also able to reduce the amount of prescribed
immunosuppressive medications.

Insomnia
Cannabis has been shown to have a beneficial effect in helping sufferers or
chronic insomnia, who report positive results from moderate consumption
one hour before retiring. THC does not differ from conventional hypnotics
in reducing rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. When THC was
administered orally as a hydroalcoholic solution in doses of 10, 20 and 30
milligrams, subjects fell asleep faster after having mood alterations
consistent with a high. Some degree of a hangover the following day
follows larger doses. Ingestion can be very beneficial in treating insomnia
and a dose of cannabis oil or an edible an hour before bed certainly
benefits most sufferers.

Lack of Appetite (See Anorexia Nervosa)

One common side effect of taking cannabis is a powerful urge to eat,
sometimes known as the “munchies.” Dr Kunos, scientific director of the
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at the National
Institutes of Health in the United States, carried out studies into the brain’s
own natural endocannabinoids to see if they had the same effect on
appetite as cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.49 Together with colleagues
from Italy, Japan and the U.S., he found that, just like cannabis, natural
endocannabinoids did indeed stimulate the appetite. This may go some
way to explain why endocannabinoids are found in human breast milk and
it is thought this has some function in stimulating babies to feed.
One of the most fascinating aspects of cannabis in relation to appetite
is the effect of cannabis on body weight. Researchers have found that the
cannabis can induce weight loss in those that are overweight and yet
induce weight gain in people who are underweight. Currently no other
drug can perform this dual function. Doctors can prescribe drugs for
weight gain and weight loss but they cannot prescribe a drug that can do
both.
Studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that
nationally in the U.S., rates of obesity were approximately one third lower
in individuals who smoked cannabis at least three times a week.50 The
results were compared to people who have never used cannabis, and even
after adjusting for other factors such as cigarette smoking, health, age and
gender, the conclusion was that there is an inexplicable connection.
Researchers analyzed data from over 52,000 participants in two large
national surveys of the American population. The first survey found that
22% of those who did not smoke cannabis were obese, compared with just
14% of regular cannabis smokers. The second survey found that 25% of
nonsmokers were obese, compared with 17% of regular cannabis users.

Leukemia
Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells. It starts in the bone marrow, the soft
tissue inside most bones where blood cells are made. Studies have shown
that THC kills leukemia cells. Cannabis oil is an effective treatment for
this condition. Exposure of leukemia cells to cannabidiol has been shown
to cause CB2-mediated reduction in cell viability and generation of
leukemia apoptosis (programmed cell death).51 Furthermore, cannabidiol
treatment led to a significant decrease in tumors.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Cannabinoids are unaffected by the mechanism that superbugs like MRSA
use to resist antibiotics. Scientists from Italy and the United Kingdom
published research in The Journal of Natural Products reporting that
cannabis-based creams could also be developed to treat persistent skin
infections. 52
Juiced organic oranges and fresh cannabis leaves; delicious!
Migraines
Many people confuse migraine headaches with cervicogenic headaches
that arise from problems originating in the structures of the neck. Migraine
headaches are usually unilateral (affecting one half of the head) and
pulsating, lasting from 4 to 72 hours with symptoms of nausea, vomiting
and sensitivity to light. It was once thought that migraines were initiated
exclusively by problems with the blood vessels within the brain. However,
the root causes of migraines are still unclear and there is new research that
suggests they could be caused by CECD (see clinical endocannabinoid
deficiency). Cannabis use is one of the most effective treatments for
chronic, debilitating migraine attacks. Sufferers report that cannabis buds
administered with a vaporizer give sustained relief within a very short
period of time.

Multiple Sclerosis
MS is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central
nervous system). In medical trials it was found that although THC does not
halt the progress of multiple sclerosis, it does help to ease symptoms
dramatically. Studies show that a dosage of 5 milligrams per day of THC
produced relief from symptoms.53 According to clinical trial data
published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, “The
oral administration of cannabis extracts significantly reduces muscle
stiffness in patients with MS.”

Muscle Spasms
An antispasmodic is a drug that suppresses muscle spasms seen in
neurologic conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal
cord disease. Trials show that cannabis helps relieve peripheral muscular
pain and cramping as effectively as pharmaceutical medications such as
baclofen, tizanidine, and dantrolene, with no side effects. Clinical trials
conducted by Jody Corey-Bloom, MD, PhD, of the University of
California San Diego have shown smoking cannabis cuts spasticity and
pain that is resistant to conventional therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Spasticity scores on the modified Ashworth scale dropped by an average
2.74 points more with smoked cannabis than with placebo.54 A difference
of 2 or more points is considered clinically meaningful on the 30-point
Ashworth scale indicating mobility of elbows, hips, and knees. The trial
included 30 patients with treatment-resistant spasticity randomized to
double-blind use of a placebo cigarette or smoked cannabis, once daily for
3 days with crossover after an 11-day washout period. Pain scores,
although relatively low to begin with at an average 12 or 13 points on the
100-point Visual Analogue Scale, fell by an additional 5.28 points with
cannabis use. (Corey-Bloom J, et al - Smoked cannabis for spasticity in
multiple sclerosis: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial).55

Nausea and Vomiting

Cannabinoids are extremely effective in treating nausea, vomiting and
general sickness in many patients. It is particularly useful for cancer
patients who choose to undergo chemotherapy and is recommended. THC
is found to be superior to either Prochloperazine or Metoclopramide for
pediatric cancer patients.56

Osteoporosis
Studies indicate that cannabis use may protect against osteoporosis,
otherwise known as brittle bone disease. In normal bone growth, there is a
balance between osteoblasts (the bone-forming cells) and osteoclasts (the
bone-reabsorbing cells).57 As we age, the osteoblasts slow down but
osteoclasts continue to function normally and in some cases actually
increase activity, which leads to the condition. Recently, the main
components of the endocannabinoid system, namely the CB1 and CB2
receptors, along with the two main endocannabinoids, Anandamide and 2-
AG, have been found in the human skeleton and they are reported to be
involved in the regulation of bone metabolism.
CB1 receptor deficiency is believed to cause osteoporosis due to a
marked increase in bone reabsorption, with an associated reduction in bone
formation leading to increased fat cells in the bone marrow. During trials,
this fat accumulation was prevented by cannabis use. Scientists now
believe that the main physiologic involvement of specific CB2 receptors is
to maintain a balance of bone remodeling, thus protecting the skeleton
against age-related bone loss. Investigators at the Bone Laboratory of the
Hebrew University in Jerusalem reported in the January 2006 issue of the
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that the administration
of the synthetic cannabinoid agonist HU-308 slowed the development of
osteoporosis, stimulated bone building and reduced bone loss.58

Pain Relief (Analgesia)

Prescription drug abuse is a pandemic problem in the United States today,
with more than five million Americans now addicted to painkilling drugs
such as OxyContin (oxycodone).59 The analgesic or pain-relieving effects
of cannabis are due in part to its chemical similarity to compounds
produced naturally in the body, but without the potential for addiction. The
endocannabinoids produced by our bodies are normally released by the
brain under conditions of high stress or pain. Researchers at the University
of California, San Diego School of Medicine, found that cannabis
significantly reduces HIV-related neuropathic pain when added to a
patient’s already-prescribed pain-management regimen, and is an effective
option for pain relief in those whose pain is not controlled with current
medications.60
A further study was carried out by researchers from McGill University
in Canada, funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health and published in
the peer-reviewed Canadian Medical Association Journal. They reported
that smoking cannabis from a pipe could significantly reduce chronic pain
in patients with damaged nerves, adding that improvements in sleep and
anxiety were also helpful to sufferers. In another unconnected study, THC
administered intravenously to dental patients in doses of 44 nanograms per
kilogram before undergoing tooth extraction was shown to produce a
longer-lasting and positive analgesic effect compared to other analgesics,
with no significant side effects noted.61
Cannabis is also known to make anesthetic far more “efficient,” so if
you are scheduled to undergo general anesthesia for whatever reason you
are advised not to use any for at least 12 hours prior to the operation. If
you are under the influence of cannabis, your anesthetist will panic as you
will go too far under when they administer the drug. You can use as much
cannabis as you require once the anesthetic has worn off.

Parkinson’s Syndrome
Also known as Parkinson’s disease, this is a degenerative disorder of the
brain that leads to shaking (tremors) and difficulty with walking,
movement and coordination. Cannabis is very effective at reducing, and in
some instances completely stopping, the tremors and shaking (see Clinical
Endocannabinoid Deficiency). The cannabinoids need to be taken at
regular intervals to maintain the effect, and the condition is not cured by
cannabis use, but it does provide relief from symptoms of sufferers.
In two patients with Parkinson’s syndrome and coexisting dystonia
who received doses of over 300 milligrams per day, it was reported that it
exacerbated the hypokinesia and resting tremor, indicating there could be
an aggravating action in such patients. 62

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a severe anxiety disorder that can develop
after exposure to any event that involves psychological trauma. Cannabis
reduces the emotional impact of traumatic memories through synergistic
mechanisms that make it easier for people with PTSD to sleep and feel less
anxious, with reduced flashback memories. Whilst Israel allows medical
cannabis use for any of its soldiers suffering from PTSD, an effort to
persuade the U.S. administration to legalize cannabis for disabled war
veterans who suffer from the condition was met with rejection from the
White House. Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug
Control Policy, stated in June 201, that cannabis is not a benign drug and
does not meet standards of safe or effective medicine.63 This is incorrect.
One in five Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffer from PTSD, and those
who do seek treatment are prescribed expensive pharmaceutical drugs. Of
these, nearly 20% will be given dangerous opioid-based narcotics like
OxyContin and Vicodin instead of cannabis. According to a new study
reported in The Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers
found that whilst less than 7% of veterans without any mental health
problems were prescribed addictive opiate painkillers, almost 18% with
PTSD received a prescription for them.64
Opioid-based drugs are totally unsuitable for PTSD treatment and it is
alarming that Vicodin is one of the top U.S. pharmaceutical products
prescribed, when medical cannabis is far superior in terms of efficacy and
cost. OxyContin is a $3 billion business and even more profitable than
Vicodin for the pharmaceutical companies and their investors.65 We can
safely assume that the Office of National Drug Control Policy is fully
aware of these statistics, and there is surely something morally wrong in
denying combat veterans appropriate medication that not only works, but
has been requested by the veterans themselves. PTSD has been recognized
in combat veterans since Roman times, but it is only recently that the
military has been forced to address the issue. It was found after the
Falklands war in 1982 that returning British soldiers were badly affected
by the brutal fighting and within ten years more veterans had committed
suicide than died in the actual conflict.66
A “blunt.” A cannabis joint rolled with a cigar wrapper.

According to HealthDay News (March 2012), suicides among U.S.

soldiers rose 80% from 2004 to 2008.67 An Army study found that as
many as 40% of these suicides may have been linked to combat experience
in Iraq. Lead researcher Michelle Canham-Chervak, a senior
epidemiologist, stated:
“Our study confirmed earlier studies by other military researchers that
found increased risk of suicide among those who experience mental-health
diagnoses associated with the stresses of war.”
Michael Krawitz, Executive Director of Veterans for Medical
Cannabis Access (VMCA) and a plaintiff in Americans for Safe Access v.
Drug Enforcement Agency, admits that the Veterans association (VA) is
trying to make progress. “The Army and Veterans Administration are
trying their best to deal with these issues and have gotten pretty creative:
employing meditation, yoga and even service dogs to assist [veterans]
dealing with PTSD. But they haven’t yet discovered cannabis.”68

Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS, also called PMT or premenstrual tension) is
a collection of physical and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s
menstrual cycle. Studies indicate that moderate cannabis use can aid in the
relief of painful stomach pains and cramps that are sometimes associated
with this syndrome. It can also have a positive effect on a sufferer’s mood
and mental state.

Pregnancy
Current drug education literature still maintains that genetic damage is
passed on by female cannabis users to their unborn children. This
misinformation stems from unsubstantiated claims dating back to the late
1960s, when warnings that cannabis-caused birth defects were falsely
predicted. Despite later studies disproving this, sponsored agencies
continue to claim this as fact, citing studies carried out on rodents, where
large doses of THC administered at specific times during pregnancy were
shown to be detrimental. Because the effects of drugs on fetal development
differ substantially across species, these findings are of no real relevance
to humans, and studies with primates show no evidence of fetal harm from
cannabis use. In one case, researchers exposed chimpanzees to high doses
of THC for up to 152 days and found no resultant change in the sexual
behavior, fertility or health of their offspring.
Research on human children examining the effects of prenatal
exposure to cannabis have found no detrimental indications in cannabis-
exposed babies in terms of health, temperament, personality, sleeping
patterns, eating habits, psycho-motor ability, physical development or
mental functioning. In fact other studies indicate that babies actually
benefit from exposure to cannabinoids whilst in the womb. However,
when researchers looked at black and Caucasian children separately, they
found slightly lower scores on two subscales of the IQ test. In neither case
did the frequency or quantity of the mothers’ cannabis use affect the
outcomes. This makes it extremely unlikely that they were actually caused
by cannabis use. Nevertheless, this study is now cited as evidence that
using cannabis during pregnancy impairs the intellectual capacity of
children.
Melanie Dreher, RN, PhD, FAAN, coauthor of Women and Cannabis:
Medicine, Science, and Sociology, is the Dean of the University of Iowa’s
College of Nursing and also holds the post of Associate Director for the
University’s Department of Nursing and Patient Services. She has honor
degrees in nursing, anthropology and philosophy, and a PhD in
anthropology from Columbia University. Alongside her achievements as a
widely published researcher, writer and college administrator, Dreher is
also a professor and lecturer at several institutions, including the
University of the West Indies. She recently served as president of the
120,000-member Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society
and is an internationally well-respected academic.
Cannabis was used as legal medicine until fairly recently.

Dreher has carried out an extensive study of pregnant women in

Jamaica, which was later published in the American Journal of Pediatrics
(1994) indicating that cannabis was being used in a cultural and medical
context as a way to relieve morning sickness or nausea, prevent depression
and fatigue, and to improve appetite.69 Dreher acknowledges that such use
is discouraged at Jamaican state prenatal clinics, but found that many
women still consider cannabis to hold therapeutic benefits to both
themselves and their unborn children. She studied a cross section of
women who both used and abstained from cannabis during their pregnancy
and then examined the babies one year after birth.
 During the 30-day test period, it was expected that there would be a
marked difference in the babies, specifically with regard to birth weight
and neurological tests. Unexpectedly, it was discovered that children of the
women who smoked cannabis regularly during pregnancy were more
socially skilled, had better organization skills and improved sleeping
patterns, were less prone to stress-related anxiety and made eye contact
more readily. Those infants who had been most heavily exposed to
cannabinoids indicated that:

The quality of their alertness was higher.

Motor and autonomic systems were more robust.
They were inclined to be less irritable.
They were less likely to demonstrate any imbalance of tone.
They required less examiner facilitation to become organized.
They displayed better self-regulation.
They were more socially responsible and autonomically stable.

Dr. Dreher continues to argue against the restrictions placed on

academics and scientists with regard to research concerning cannabinoid
use during pregnancy, and objects strongly to the manner in which the
public is deliberately misinformed. Furthermore, because women often
face severe legal sanctions, including loss of custody, for admitting to
cannabis use during pregnancy, most mothers refuse to divulge such
information. Dreher recently wrote of how she had carried out an Internet
search regarding pregnancy and cannabis. Typical of the disinformation
she found was an article entitled, “Exposure to marijuana in the womb
may harm your fetuses [sic] brain.” The article stated, “Over the past
decade several studies have linked behavior problems and lower IQ scores
in children to prenatal use of marijuana.” This statement is both inaccurate
and untrue.
Cannabis medicine.

Several major scientific studies have found that human breast milk
naturally contains an abundance of the same cannabinoids found in
cannabis, and one of its functions is to protect the cells against viruses,
harmful bacteria, cancer and other malignancies. It has also been found
that without these cannabinoids in breast milk, babies would not have the
inclination to eat and promote growth. A study on the endocannabinoid
receptor system published in the European Journal of Pharmacology
(2004) states:
“Endocannabinoids have been detected in maternal milk and activation
of CB1 (cannabinoid receptor type 1) receptors appears to be critical for
milk sucking by apparently activating oral-motor musculature.”70
A survey conducted by the directors of the Vancouver Island
Compassion Society and the BC Compassion Club, published in the
journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, reported that
cannabis is therapeutic in the treatment of both morning sickness and
hyperemesis gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness, causing
severe nausea and/or vomiting that prevents adequate intake of food and
fluids).71 Of the 84 women who responded to the anonymous
questionnaire, almost half said that they had used cannabis intermittently
during their pregnancy to treat symptoms of vomiting, nausea and appetite
loss. Of these, 92% said that cannabis was “effective or extremely
effective” in combating their symptoms and whilst most women chose to
self-administer cannabis by smoking, 31% also reported benefit from
consuming canna-edibles, and 8% reported using cannabis-based oils or
tinctures. It is not recommended that any form of tobacco be used during
pregnancy.

Premature Ejaculation
Premature ejaculation in men is conventionally perceived as
“psychological.” This seems less tenable when anecdotes support the claim
that cannabis prolongs latency (time interval) and proof is apparent in the
dose responsive delay in ejaculation in rats noted in experiments with HU
210, a powerful CB1 agonist. An agonist is a chemical that binds to some
receptor of a cell and triggers a response by that cell.72
Australian research shows men who smoked cannabis daily were found
to be four times more likely to have trouble reaching orgasm than those
who did not, according to the La Trobe University study.73 Professor
Anthony Smith said whilst the habit often had a significant impact on a
man’s sex life, the effects were not always something the smokers would
consider a sexual health problem. “The findings suggest that men are self-
medicating with cannabis to delay orgasm,” said Professor Smith from the
Melbourne-based University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health
and Society. The study took in more than 8600 people, aged 16 to 64, who
were surveyed by telephone as part of the Australian Longitudinal Study
of Health and Relationships.

Pruritus
This is chronic itching caused by a complex process involving different
neurotransmitters, the hormonal system and blood vessels of the skin,
psyche and other systems. Positive effects have been reported by a number
of patients who have used cannabis to alleviate symptoms. Researchers at
the Wroclaw University, Poland, investigated the effects of a cannabis-
based ointment on 21 patients with pruritus due to end-stage failure of
kidney function.74 All patients applied the cream twice daily for a period
of three weeks. Pruritus was completely eliminated in eight of the patients,
with a noticeable improvement in the other test subjects.

Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that affects the skin. It occurs when the
immune system mistakes the skin cells as a pathogen, and sends out faulty
signals. Cannabis is used by many patients to treat psoriasis; the positive
reaction is thought to be due to the anti-inflammatory properties of
cannabinoids and their regulatory effects on the immune system. Regular
topical applications of a cannabis-based cream or lotion can be beneficial
and effective for many sufferers.
Left image shows the results of medically prescribed treatment with the chemotherapy drug
Methotrexate. Side effects: Nausea, fever, diarrhea, abnormal liver function and increased
risk of infection. Right image is the same arm treated with cannabis oil applied topically 3
times a day for 9 days. Side effects: Can now go swimming with her family for the first time.

Sickle-Cell Disease
Sufferers of sickle-cell anemia inherit a disease that is passed down
through families, resulting in red blood cells forming an abnormal sickle or
crescent shape within the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen and are
normally shaped like a disc. Cannabis does not cure sickle-cell anemia, but
is highly effective in managing pain. Cannabis also acts as a powerful anti-
inflammatory without any side effects. The ocular (eyes and vision) effects
of sickle-cell disease result from vascular occlusion, which may occur in
the conjunctiva, iris, retina and choroid. Cannabis provides neuro-
protective effects that may reduce the incidence of retinopathy and
neuropathy.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Cannabinoids have been shown to be effective in reducing spasticity, and
reports by individuals with these injuries have revealed a beneficial effect
from cannabis use. The relaxing effect of cannabis on muscles in patients
with spinal cord injury–related spasticity is due to an anti-spastic effect
rather than a general relaxation response. According to data published in
the Journal of Neurotoxicity Research, the administration of cannabidiol
(CBD) improves mobility in rats with spinal cord injuries.75 Investigators
at the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil assessed the impact of CBD on
motor function in rats with cryogenically (frozen) induced spinal cord
injury.76 The animals received injections of a placebo or CBD immediately
before, three hours after and daily for six days after surgery. Researchers
reported that cannabidiol-treated rats exhibited higher locomotor skills at
the end of one week. Researchers reported, “Cannabidiol improved
locomotor functional recovery and reduced injury extent, suggesting that it
could be useful in the treatment of spinal cord lesions.”77

Strokes
A stroke is extremely serious and can cause permanent neurological
damage, complications and death. Risk factors for stroke include old age,
high blood pressure, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA),
diabetes, high cholesterol, cigarette-smoking and arterial fibrillation.
Extracts from cannabis plants could have some efficacy in preventing
brain damage after stroke, according to a team led by the British-born
biologist Aidan Hampson at the U.S. National Institute for Mental Health
in Maryland.78 They discovered that THC and cannabidiol each act to
prevent damage to brain tissue under laboratory conditions. Rats that were
given cannabis decreased the size of their stroke by 50% and their brain
injury was lessened by as much as 50%.
Cannabis oil-based cream for topical application.

Tourette’s Syndrome
This is a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive involuntary
movements and vocalizations. In extreme cases, this condition causes the
patient to move their limbs, shout, use inappropriate language and, in
many cases, spit at people. It is very distressing for both sufferers and their
families. There have been a number of studies investigating the therapeutic
benefit of cannabinoids in treating tics associated with Tourette’s. One of
these studies (Muller-Vahl et al, 1998) found that when interviewed, 17 of
64 patients with tics admitted using cannabis, and 14 of these said that it
reduced tics, premonitory urges and obsessive compulsive disorders
(OCD).79
Another study reported a case report of a 25-year-old man with tics,
ADHD, OCD and self-injurious behavior, who found that the use of
tetrahydrocannabinoid (THC) helped with many of these symptoms
(Muller-Vahl et al, 1999).80 A single dose of THC was shown to reduce
his tic score on the YGTSS from 41 to 7, two hours after treatment. The
patient also reported reduced premonitory urges and neuropsychological
testing indicated improvements in signal detection and sustained attention.
Medical cannabis has been shown to reduce the compulsion for patients to
behave in socially unacceptable or inappropriate ways and control
involuntary limb movement.

Ulcers and Warts

Ulcers can be cured internally by ingesting high-quality cannabis oil.
External ulcers, warts and moles can be removed by topically applying
cannabis oil and covering with a breathable plaster. The most effective
coverings are the strips you cut to size yourself.
Acetone is an organic solvent that evaporates rapidly.


CHAPTER FIVE

Making Cannabis Oil

When properly made, cannabis oils are the ultimate extract for potency and
purity. The oil is produced by adding dried cannabis plant material to a
solvent, which is then evaporated off, leaving behind the extracted
cannabinoid oil. There is an ongoing and wide-ranging debate as to which
solvents and manufacturing methods produce the best oil; however, the
method chosen will depend on your geographical location and the
availability of suitable solvents for the extraction process. Regardless of
the extraction method used, cannabis oil extracts are very versatile in their
application.

Which Solvent?
We do not recommend using any particular solvent; your choice of solvent
for an oil extraction will depend on local availability and your own
personal preferences. The most common solvents used in the manufacture
of cannabis oils are naphtha, acetone, butane, ethanol and isopropyl
alcohol. Whichever solvent you choose, you must take care during the oil-
making process as all these solvents are highly flammable.
All solvent evaporation MUST be done outdoors in a well-vented area,
away from heat sources and naked flames!
Generally solvents fall into one of two categories: they are either polar
or nonpolar. Polar solvents are soluble in water, and therefore they will
also extract water-soluble compounds from the plant as well as the
cannabinoids. Nonpolar solvents are not soluble in water, and therefore
they will extract less of the water-soluble compounds from the plant
material. It is worth noting that acetone is an interesting solvent as it is
classed as both polar and nonpolar. It is polar—that is part of the reason it
mixes with water—but it is also soluble with non-polar substances like
hydrocarbons.
One of the secrets to making high-grade oil extractions is the complete
evaporation of the solvent: quality cannabis oils do not contain solvent.
You must read the Health and Safety information supplied with the solvent
and take great care when carrying out any extraction process.
All the solvents below will extract cannabinoids.

Acetone: Boiling Point 135°F (57°C)

Acetone is an organic solvent that evaporates rapidly, and for this reason it
is considered by many to be one of the safest solvents to use for oil
extractions. Acetone has a low toxicity if it is ingested or inhaled, and it is
rated as a safe substance for food use as it is produced and disposed of
naturally in the human body through normal metabolic processes. Acetone
is both a polar and nonpolar solvent, which means that it will extract some
additional compounds other than the cannabinoids from the cannabis
material. It is available in various purities; if this is to be your solvent of
choice then you are advised to seek out acetone of 99.9% purity.

Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol or Grain Alcohol): Boiling Point

172°F (78°C)
Ethanol is the active ingredient in alcoholic drinks, and in its concentrated
form it is an efficient solvent for making cannabis oils. However, due to
the potential for abuse, many countries have restrictions on the strength
and availability of strong alcohols and consequently they can be extremely
difficult to obtain. For example, Everclear is a 190° proof (95% ABV)
clear grain alcohol and the favored solvent for making F.E.C.O. (Full
Extract Cannabis Oil). However it is only available in some American
states.

Isopropyl (ISO) Boiling Point 180°F (82°C)

Isopropyl alcohol is generally more widely available and cheaper than
ethanol. However, it is another polar solvent, so it will also readily
dissolve the water-soluble compounds from the cannabis plant material.
Some oil makers feel that although polar solvents extract the cannabinoids
sought, the extraction of the other substances is undesirable.

Isopropyl alcohol is another polar solvent.

Even though we do not recommend any one particular solvent or

process over another we recommend that you do not use Isopropanol (IPA)
rubbing alcohol, as this contains additives to make it undrinkable. IPA can
also contain detergents and dyes.
Naphtha: Boiling Point 86-194°F (30-90°C)
Naphtha is a colorless or reddish-brown, flammable hydrocarbon. Its
characteristics are very similar to gasoline, and it is commonly used as
lighter fluid or as a fuel for camping stoves. Generally speaking, less dense
(lighter) naphthas will have a higher paraffin content. Naphtha may be
carcinogenic, and frequently products sold as naphtha contain impurities
which may also have harmful properties of their own.
Inhalation of naphtha vapor can cause symptoms of intoxication, and
in severe cases it can be responsible for the depression of the central
nervous system. Symptoms of exposure can also include loss of appetite,
muscle weakness, impairment of motor action, dizziness and drowsiness.
Prolonged exposure to the skin can cause irritation; over exposure may
also cause drying and cracking of the skin and associated dermatitis.
People suffering from impaired respiratory function may be more
susceptible to the effects of naphtha inhalation. As always, evaporate
outdoors in a well-ventilated area.

STEP-BY-STEP Crockpot Extraction

1. Completely dry the cannabis in an oven at 230°F.

2. Break up the dried bud, add your solvent, and shake or stir vigorously.

3. Filter the plant solvent mixture through a funnel lined with a coffee filter.

4. After being filtered it should be an amber-colored liquid.

5. Pour the liquid into a crock pot or rice cooker with the lid removed and turn it on. The
solvent will burn away. This is volatile and dangerous. Do it outdoors and away from open
flames.

6. Once most of the solvent is evaporated pour the solution into a glass container and put it in
a coffee warmer for the final evaporation process.

Which Method?
When you have chosen your solvent, you will need to consider which
method you are going to use to make your extraction.
The first step common to all methods is the decarboxylation of all the
cannabis material to be used in the extraction. Decarboxylation is a
chemical reaction that releases carbon dioxide (CO2). When this occurs a
chemical reaction takes place in which carboxylic acids loose a carbon
atom from a carbon chain. This process converts the cannabinoid acids;
For instance, THCA converts to THC, the psychoactive compound of
cannabis. Gently heating activates all of the cannabinoids in this way and
the better the quality of cannabis used, the better the resultant oil will be.
Use top-grade cannabis buds for the best results and completely dry the
cannabis in an oven at 230°F (110°C). Once the plant material has been
removed and allowed to cool, take off all the stems and break the plant
material into small pieces. This will allow the solvent to mix freely and
ensure the efficient extraction of the cannabinoid oils. You should use
enough solvent to completely cover and soak the cannabis plant material.

Crock Pot Extraction Method

This method uses a crock pot (slow cooker) to complete the solvent
evaporation. You can also use a rice cooker to complete the process in the
same way.
Place the bone-dry cannabis material into a container and cover with
your solvent of choice. Shake or stir vigorously. The longer you agitate the
mixture, the more cannabinoids you will extract. However, if you use a
polar solvent like ethanol, then short exposures are preferred as polar
solvents also extract water-soluble materials such as chlorophyll from the
plant.
Filter the plant solvent mixture through a funnel lined with a coffee
filter; if you are only making a small amount a cafetière is a convenient
and quick way to remove the bulk of the plant material, but you still need
to carry out the final filtration through a coffee filter which removes the
empty trichomes and other fine contaminants. If you have filtered your
solution correctly you will be left with an amber-looking liquid.
This is the finished product.

Pour the liquid into a crock pot or rice cooker and with the lid removed
and turn it on. As the cooker heats up the solvent will start to boil away.
Be careful, as boiling solvents are very volatile. This process must be
performed outdoors in a well-ventilated area away from any naked flames.
Once the majority of the solvent has been evaporated, it should be
poured into a glass container and placed onto a coffee warmer for the final
evaporation process. This can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, and is
complete when there is no more bubbling from the oil.
Allow the oil to cool slightly, and carefully draw up the oil into a clean
syringe ready for storage or immediate use.

QWISO
This is an acronym for Quick Wash Isopropyl Oil, which literally means a
“quick wash,” typically taking under a minute. This method produces very
high-quality oil with high cannabinoid content. Isopropyl alcohol is highly
flammable so the final evaporation process must be carried out using a
portable electric hot plate set up outside, or in a very well-ventilated area
with no naked flames. For this technique, you will require a suitable
quantity of isopropyl alcohol (99% purity), two large glass storage jars, a
small flat Pyrex dish and a larger metal oven dish that the smaller Pyrex
dish will fit into, along with a strainer and a coffee filter.

STEP-BY-STEP Decarboxylated Cannabis Oil Production

1. Equipment required: still or rice cooker; assorted glassware; funnels & filters; hotplate
with variable temperature control; and laser thermometer.

2. For the best quality oil, use bud. You can use trim but your yield will be reduced.
3. Dry plant material yields more oil.

4. Spread evenly on a baking tray.

5. Dry in an oven. Max temperature 230°F (110°C).

6. When ‘bone dry,’ allow to cool before breaking up the bud, removing any large stems.

7. Ready for extraction.

8. Carefully place in a large glass jar.

9. Add your solvent of choice.

10. Screw on the top and shake vigorously.

11. Pour through a sieve to remove the majority of the plant material.

12. Remove the finer particles by filtering through unbleached fine coffee filters.

13. After filtering you need to evaporate off the solvent.

14. A rice cooker can be used to boil off your solvent. Always do this outdoors!

15. The boiling solvent will be very volatile and there is a risk of explosion. So, no naked
flames!

16. Or you can use a still to recover the majority of your solvent.
17. Switch off before all the solvent and (after leaving to cool) carefully pour into a suitable
receptacle.

18. For this batch the authors used a still. The ceramic rings seen here aid the evaporation
process.

19. For the final stage, transfer the oil to a hotplate with variable temperature control. The
authors use a magnetic hotplate stirrer. This useful device keeps your oil moving.
20. Dropping in a magnetic stirrer.

21. You can control the speed of the magnetic stirrer bar. Keeping your oil moving helps to
avoid ‘hotspots.’

22. Once all your solvent has evaporated (after all bubbling has ceased), hold the temperature
between 221°F (105°C) and 230°F (110°C) for 2 hours, after this your oil will be
decarboxylated.
23. Avoid going above 248°F (120°C) or your oil will lose beneficial terpenoids.

24. While the oil is still warm you can pull it into a syringe. These 1 milliliter syringes are
great for administering small doses.

25. Having your oil(s) tested at a reputable laboratory and learning from the results is
essential for the serious oil maker.

Break up your decarboxylated plant material and place it into a glass

storage jar or similar container with a secure lid.
Next, pour on enough isopropyl alcohol to cover the plant material
completely, and vigorously shake the jar for around 20 to 30 seconds.
 ISO is a polar solvent, so only exposing the plant material for a short
time limits the amount of chlorophyll and other water-soluble substances
that may be extracted.
The mixture is then strained into a second container to separate the
solvent from the plant material. Again, final filtration is via a coffee filter.
The liquid is then evaporated on a hot plate, or, if your hot plate gets
too hot, place the Pyrex dish containing the solvent into a larger metal dish
or bowl of hot water and place this on the hot plate.
Do not use a gas hob or any heat source with a naked flame as the
fumes from the isopropyl alcohol can ignite.
You should be left with golden amber oil once the alcohol has been
completely removed (when all bubbling has ceased).
Use a clean blade (a craft knife is ideal) to scrape and collect the oil.

Butane Honey Oil (BHO)

This is also referred to as honey oil and is made by using butane as a
solvent, but this is a very dangerous process and must be carried out in a
well-ventilated area, always outdoors! Butane fumes accumulating in a
room can ignite from the slightest spark, even static electricity. There have
been many instances of fires caused by people using butane as an
extraction solvent and some fire departments in the U.S. have gone so far
as to issue warnings against its use. There are many companies who sell
ready-made butane gas extraction kits and they are readily available
online. The best advice we can give is to not attempt this extraction
process; if you decide to do so then wear protective clothing and always
carry out the procedure outdoors away from any flame source.
Butane has a very low flash point (31.1°F or -0.1°C) and is most
commonly used as a gas lighter fuel, but it is also extremely efficient at
removing cannabinoids from dried plant material. An important factor in
BHO production is the purity of the butane: only use refined or purified
butane gas.
STEP-BY-STEP BHO Production

1. The equipment for making butane honey oil.

2. Grind up your bud.

3. You can buy BHO extraction tubes or make your own out of a stainless steel pipe and
fitting like the authors.

4. Load your extraction tube.

5. Pack the plant material, but not too tightly.

6. This homemade stainless steel tube has a 25 micron mesh filter but we also use a fine grade
lab filter.

7. Use a high quality butane.

8. You can hold the tube in your hand but it will get very cold so use a stand.
9. Empty a full can through the tube. You may need more than one depending on the size of
your extraction tube.

10. Collect the solvent in a shallow pyrex dish.

11. Looking good.

12. Take a slightly larger pyrex dish and fill with boiling water.

13. Place the dish with the butane on top.

14. The heat from the hot water raises the temperature, thus aiding evaporation or ‘purging.’

15. You can assist by ‘pricking’ and bursting the trapped butane.
16. As time goes by, the bubbles will be fewer and smaller.

17. Use a clean ‘blade’ to collect your BHO.

18. The oil mats are great.

19. Still needs work.

20. By working the oil ‘manually’ you can expel the remaining butane.

21. Good stuff!

22. By using a vacuum chamber you can remove all the traces of butane to create ‘shatter.’

23. Getting there.

24. Made from Amnesia Haze bud.

25. Would make a good sun filter.

26. Butane evaporating.

27. Final product.

The use of butane stove fuel should be avoided due to the addition of
methyl mercaptan, which is added to aid the detection of leaks. This
chemical also adds an unpleasant taste that is impossible to eliminate from
the resultant honey oil.
Butane gases labeled as R-600 refrigerant or as refined or purified
cigarette lighter fuel are generally free from contaminants, and these will
produce the cleanest oils.
If you wish to carry out this process we do not recommend making the
extraction tube yourself, as butane can affect many materials and it is also
capable of dissolving some plastics. Glass is a safe material for BHO
extractors and they can easily be purchased online and come with
complete instructions.
The BHO process involves filling the extraction tube with very dry,
finely chopped plant material through which butane is forced under
pressure. As the liquid butane passes through the material in the tube, it
dissolves the cannabinoid oils, and the resultant liquid is expelled from the
tube to be collected in a Pyrex dish.
Owing to the low boiling point of butane, all that is needed to aid
evaporation is to place the dish containing the liquid butane into a larger
dish of hot water, but be careful to ensure that the hot water does not
contaminate the butane in the Pyrex dish.
This extraction process produces very potent cannabis oil.

Making Concentrated Cannabinoid Oil Without Solvents

All of the solvents previously discussed have potential hazards associated
with their use and/or the consumption of residual amounts contained
within the oil extract.
It is possible to make concentrated cannabis oil without resorting to the
use of solvents by infusing cannabis with an oil such as olive, sunflower or
preferably cold pressed hemp seed oil. The drawback to this method is that
the infused oil cannot be concentrated by evaporation; however, if you
reduce the volume of plant material by making isolator (ice hash) first you
can then produce a more concentrated oil.
In an article entitled, “Cannabis Oil: chemical evaluation of an
upcoming cannabis-based medicine” - produced by Luigi L Romano and
Arno Hazekamp from The Department of Pharmacy, University of Siena,
Italy and The Plant Metabolomics group, Institute of Biology, Leiden
University, The Netherlands, regarding the extraction of cannabinoids for
medical use, they state:
“Of the solvents tested, this leaves olive oil as the most optimal choice
for preparation of cannabis oils for self-medication. Olive oil is cheap, not
flammable or toxic, and the oil needs to be heated up only to the boiling
point of water (by placing a glass container with the product in a pan of
boiling water) so no over-heating of the oil may occur. After cooling down
and filtering the oil, e.g. by using a French coffee press, the product is
immediately ready for consumption. As a trade-off, however, olive oil
extract cannot be concentrated by evaporation, which means patients will
need to consume a larger volume of it in order to get the same therapeutic
effects.”
Concentrated Cannabinoid Oil Without Solvents
Preparation Time: 2 hours

Equipment: Cafetière (French press)

Ingredients
100 grams of isolator (ice hash composing of unpressed trichomes, aka kiff, kief, kif)
200 milliliters Oil
Pan of Water

Instructions
1. If you wish to retain the terpenes and prefer to consume the plants phytocannabinoids such as
THC-A, et cetera, then there is no need for decarboxylation. If you wish to consume activated
cannabinoids containing THC and CBD in its psychoactive form, then the Isolator must first be
decarboxylated.
2. Half fill the pan with water and simmer.
3. Pour your oil into the cafetière and add in the Isolator hash.

4. Carefully place the cafetière into the pan of water

5. Leave for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
6. Ensure that the pan does not boil dry and top up with water if required.
7. After 2 hours, allow to cool.
8. Remove the cafetière from the pan.
9. Slowly and carefully press the plunger.
10. Pour the concentrated infusion into a clean glass receptacle or jar.
Some basic equipment required for extraction.

Dosage Calculator for Infused Oil

Depending on the quality and the strain, 1 pound (448 grams) of cannabis
will produce around 2 ounces (55–60 grams) of concentrated cannabinoid
oil if made with a solvent. This solventless oil extraction method using
Isolator (ice hash) also requires a pound of cannabis flowers and this will
yield in the region of 100 grams.
The 200 milliliters of infused oil used in this method contains the same
amount of cannabinoids as 50 grams of concentrated oil made with a
solvent.

How to Improve the Quality and Purity of Your Oils

In researching this book we have reviewed and studied hundreds of
forensic and laboratory reports, with the most obvious conclusion being
that the variance between the quality of the oil samples is the total amount
of activated cannabinoids that are present.
To see if we could improve on some of the methodology, and therefore
improve the quality of oil generally, we conducted a series of experiments
in conjunction with the cannabis oil organization Bud Buddies. We
submitted our oil samples to a reputable laboratory for analysis, and the
results showed a distinct difference between the oils made with polar and
nonpolar solvents, with the nonpolar solvents producing a better
extraction. Acetone performed well despite having both properties.
Nonpolar solvents do not readily dissolve water-soluble compounds, so
plant matter can be exposed to these solvents for longer periods than polar
ones without extracting any unwanted contaminants.
One of the easiest ways to improve on the quality of your oils is to
filter correctly. Poor filtration means contamination and that reduces the
quality of the end product. Poorly filtered oils also burn easily, whereas
correctly filtered oil will not burn on a coffee-warming hot plate. The
addition of unwanted contaminants results in heat being absorbed, which
raises the temperature and can cause your oil to burn. Filtration through
the coffee filter takes a long time, but this step is essential in all cannabis
oil preparation.
As polar solvents like ISO and ethanol also extract water-soluble
compounds, you can reduce the amounts extracted by freezing the
cannabis and the solvent. To be really effective, you also need to freeze the
receptacle used in the extraction process. By freezing, the cannabinoid oils
are extracted but the water-soluble elements remain in the frozen plant
material. The solvent is then strained and filtered before the extraction
process.
You can also increase the purity of oil made with polar solvents by
reducing the amount of plant material used in the extraction. The
cannabinoids are all contained within the trichome, so by removing the
trichomes you drastically reduce the amount of plant material and
therefore the amount of solvent required is also dramatically reduced.

Ice-Water Separation aka Isolator (Bubble Hash)

This is an extraction technique for separating the trichomes from the
cannabis plant material. This process requires ice, water and agitation and
filtration bags with variously sized screens. Cannabinoids are insoluble in
water, but if you place cannabis plant material into cold water, the
trichomes will become brittle. If they are then agitated, they will be
dislodged from the plant into the cold water. Ideally, the temperature
should be one or two degrees above freezing and this is achieved by
adding plenty of ice to the water during the process. The cold water is then
strained through the various bags that have very fine mesh screens in their
base. The first bag in the system is a mesh of around 220 microns (a
micron is a millionth of a meter), which removes the majority of the plant
material. The trichomes are collected by the remaining bags, which have
smaller meshes. Some of the finest screens are as small as 25 microns, and
these finer screen grades produce very potent bubble hash. This hash can
then be further processed to make a high-quality, medical-grade oil.
Bubble hash.
It’s not just the buds of the cannabis plant that are good for your health.


CHAPTER SIX

Hemp Nutrition and Health

The importance of good nutrition in maintaining optimum health cannot be
overemphasized, considering the modern Western diet. As Dr. Alejandro
Junger stated, “The problem is we are not eating food anymore, we are
eating food-like products.”1 We are the descendants of hunter-gatherers,
and our ancestors primarily ate vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, roots, fish and
meat. This diet was high in healthy fats and protein, but low in grain and
sugar-derived carbohydrates. The average person’s diet today is not what
we have evolved to live on and we now suffer more chronic and
debilitating diseases than ever before. Particularly within Western society
today, a large percentage of people are overfed and undernourished with
large amounts of trans fat, refined sugar, cereal, bread, potatoes or
pasteurized milk products comprising their diet. Eating a diet that is high
in trans fat can raise the level of cholesterol in the blood increasing the risk
of cancer and heart disease. Although traditional medical advice, based on
a decades-old, misconstrued study by Nathan Pritikin, led many of us to
believe that saturated fat was the enemy of good health and a major cause
of heart disease, it is now thought that saturated fat is essential for good
health-especially of the brain, cells, liver and for effective absorption of
vitamins and minerals as well as protection against disease. Modern
studies show that in fact trans fats (unsaturated fats with trans-isomer fatty
acids), excessive consumption of carbs and sugars and a diet low in fat can
be incredibly dangerous. The proliferation of processed food into our
modern diets has caused many of the medical issues mentioned above, and
the obsession with “low-fat” alternatives to fatty products means that
sugars and carbs sneak into our diets under the guise of being healthy. A
diverse diet based in unprocessed, whole foods with good quality fats and
proteins, healthy grains and pseudocereals, lots of fruit and vegetables and
limited amounts of sugar is your best bet for a healthy body–and hemp can
be an important part of such a diet.

Commercially available hemp seed and oil.

It was not until the 20th century that obesity became a global health
issue, and the World Health Organization recognized it as a worldwide
epidemic.2 In 2008, the organization estimated that 1.5 billion adults were
overweight, and of these, over 200 million men and nearly 300 million
women were obese.3 Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive fat
accumulation that may impair health; a body mass index (BMI) greater
than or equal to 25 is classified as overweight, and a BMI greater than or
equal to 30 is labeled obesity. Furthermore, in 2010, more than 40 million
children under five were categorized as overweight. The American
Institute for Cancer Research’s second expert report, Food, Nutrition,
Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective,
confirms the relationship between excess body fat and increased cancer
risk.4 According to the scientific literature, there is convincing evidence
that body fat increases risk for cancers of the esophagus, pancreas, colon
and rectum, endometrium, kidney, and breast cancer (in postmenopausal
women).

The Healing Seed

The seed of cannabis sativa L. has been an important food source and
medicine for thousands of years. Eaten raw, the cannabis seed was
certainly used by prehistoric humans, yet, as a direct consequence of
prohibition, the true potential of this super food has not been exploited to
any great extent within Western culture. The ancient Chinese medical text
Pen-Tsao Kang-Mu states, “The Ancients used this medicine to remain
fertile, strong and vigorous.”5 The compiler of this epic Chinese Materia
Medica, Li Shih Chen (1518-1593), writes that in ancient times, varieties
of ma zi (the hemp seed plant) were readily distinguishable from drug
crops. One variety originated on Mao Luo Island in the Eastern Sea, and
its seeds were reported to be as large as those from the lotus plant.
Hemp seeds can be successfully used as part of a healthy, calorie-
controlled diet, and have been found to leave individuals feeling more
energetic, fuller and far less likely to crave starches, carbohydrates or
sugary snacks.
Hemp can be grown in poor soil and produces an abundant crop within
a short growing season. If used to its full potential, it could be of real
benefit in areas suffering from food shortages. The plant is easily grown
without pesticides or herbicides, and besides its highly nutritious seed, it
yields a strong fiber that can be used for weaving cloth and utilized as a
building material for the construction of shelters. Hemp can be fertilized
with organic waste, and if fertilizer is properly applied, the crop may be
grown for decades on the same soil with no corresponding drop in yield. If
it can’t be grown in a region that requires food aid (due to drought, civil
unrest or warfare), it can be imported cheaply as it is light to ship and easy
to prepare. Yet as a food resource it is suppressed, undervalued and largely
ignored in the West, although hemp seed has long been valued as a
nutritional food source throughout Asia, India, Russia and Eastern Europe.
In Russia, hemp seed is used as a substitute for dietary fats such as butter
and hydrogenated margarine. In China, street vendors still sell roasted
hemp seeds that are purchased as a popular snack, and houmayou, a soup
containing hemp seed oil, is traditionally eaten twice a day in some rural
areas. Hemp seed has always been part of the Japanese diet and can be
found in Asian restaurants and grocery stores as shichimi, used for
seasoning, and asanomi, which are basically tofu burgers with a hemp seed
coating. Cannabis is still used in rural Cambodia and Laos to flavor soups,
but generally it is the stalks and leaves that are used in much the same way
as Westerners would use herbs.
The meat of the shelled hemp seed resembles that of other cultivated
grains, including wheat and rye, and does not contain any psychoactive
compounds. Hemp seeds can be eaten raw, ground into a meal, sprouted,
made into nondairy milk products, prepared as tea, brewed into beer or
used in cooking. They are obtainable as a legal food product and becoming
increasingly available in North America and Europe. Products now readily
obtainable include cereal bars, pasta, muesli, bread, waffles, hemp tofu, a
variety of spreads and hemp nut butters, along with bottled hemp seed oil.
Technically classified as a nut, cannabis seed contains rich translucent
oil, high in amino and fatty acids, which are 90% unsaturated. However, if
you wish to benefit from the full profile of amino acids, it is better to
consume hemp seeds uncooked as some amino acids are destroyed by
heating. The seeds typically contain around 33% protein, second only to
soy (35%), but are more easily digestible and their primarily globular
proteins are one of the most complete forms of protein available from
plants. Hemp seed’s overall protein content of over 30 grams per 100
grams of seed is better than that found in nuts, other seeds, dairy products,
fish, meat or poultry. Hemp protein also has high arginine content,
typically 123 milligrams per gram of protein, and histidine at 27
milligrams per gram of protein. Arginine is classified as a semi-essential or
conditionally essential amino acid, whereas histidine is an essential amino
acid for humans. It was initially thought that it was only essential for
infants, but longer-term studies established that it is also essential for
adults. Hemp seed is also high in the sulfur-containing amino acids
methionine at 23 milligrams per gram of protein and cysteine at 16
milligrams per gram of protein, which the body needs for proper enzyme
formation. Hemp seeds also contain a high antioxidant content in the form
of alpha, beta, gamma, delta-tocopherol and alpha-tocotrienol.
Essential nutrients are not produced by the body and must be obtained
from a dietary source. Nonessential nutrients are those nutrients that can be
made by the body, but these are also absorbed from consumed food. The
majority of animals ultimately derive their essential nutrients from plants.
For humans these include essential fatty acids, essential amino acids,
vitamins, and certain dietary minerals.
A hemp plant grown by Centennial Seeds.

No one food source has them all, but hemp seed comes close, and its
amino acid profile is almost complete when compared to more common
sources of protein such as meat, milk, eggs and soy. It has an omega-3
content even higher than walnuts, which contain 6.3%.
Once harvested, the seeds not destined for sale as hemp nut are cleaned
and cold pressed in a dark and oxygen-free environment to preserve the
product. This produces high-quality polyunsaturated oil and crushed seed
hulls known as “seed cake,” which can be ground into flour that is 41%
protein but gluten-free, and which has been approved by the U.S. Celiac
Society as a safe ingredient for anyone suffering from gluten allergy. No
known allergies exist to hemp foods and the fat content of shelled hemp
seed is relatively low compared to other nuts and seeds. Hemp food
products have low cholesterol content and contain high concentrations of
natural phytosterols that have a well-documented cholesterol lowering
effect.

Hemp Nut (Hulled Hemp Seed)

Another process, called “de-hulling,” removes the seed coat, leaving the
hemp nut. There is no significant difference in the medicinal or nutritional
content of hulled hemp seeds, they are simply more convenient to use and
can be purchased cheaply online. They can be consumed alone, or used
instead of other grains, seeds and nuts in recipes. Only 6.6% of the total
calories in shelled hemp seed come from saturated fat compared to 14% of
saturated fat calories common in the modern diet.
The hemp nut consists mainly of oil, typically around 44%, 33%
protein and dietary fiber and 12% other carbohydrates (predominantly
from residues of the hull). In addition, the nut contains vitamins,
particularly the vitamin E complex, phytosterols and trace minerals.
Overall, hemp’s advantage over other seeds is its fatty acid profile and its
protein, which contains all of the essential amino acids in nutritionally
significant amounts and in a desirable ratio.
Most oil seeds contain linoleic acid (LA), an essential fatty acid (EFA)
from the “omega-6” family, yet they offer little alpha-linolenic acid
(ALA), the other EFA from the “omega- 3” family. Humans should ingest
these EFAs in an omega-6/omega-3 ratio of about 4:1.
Another hemp plant grown by Centennial Seeds. Industrial hemp producers can use male
plants like this for many different purposes.

Since seed oil and animal fat, both low in omega-3, account for most
of our fat intake, Western diets typically have omega-6/omega-3 ratios of
10:1 or more, which is far too rich in omega-6 and correspondingly too
deficient in omega-3. This imbalance is a cofactor in a wide range of
common illnesses, including cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, diabetes,
skin and mood disorders.

Hemp Seed in Traditional Medicines

Hemp seed has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for
more than 2000 years and is known as Huo Ma Ren. It is still employed
today as a recuperating energizer and for tonification (bu fa), which is a
treatment designed to address poor functioning of the body’s vital organs.
In Chinese culture, qi (chi) forms an essential part of any living being and
is the central underlying principle in TCM; qi is frequently referred to as
life force, life energy or energy flow, and practitioners regard any
deficiency of this energy as the main cause of disease in the body. This
deficiency is also referred to as asthenia syndrome in Western medicine,
which is represented medically by a number of different conditions,
including: lack of muscle strength, sickness, dizziness or fatigue. This can
result from inherited factors present at birth or acquired factors such as
poor diet, emotional disturbance, chronic and major illness, childbirth,
environmental influences or aging. Hemp seed is prescribed for the
treatment of many ailments, but is said by the Chinese to particularly help
moisten and nourish the intestines, spleen and stomach. It is prescribed to
treat constipation, aid recuperation after fever, disease or childbirth and the
seed is believed to nourish the body’s Yin (the dark force opposing Yang
in Chinese philosophy), remove heat from the body (high temperatures and
fever) and promote healing of sores (taken orally or applied topically as
hemp seed oil).
Cannabis was readily available as medicine, prior to prohibition.

Ayurveda (Ayurvedic) is a system of medicine that originated in India

several thousand years ago. The term Ayurveda combines two Sanskrit
words: ayur, which means life, and veda, which means science or
knowledge. Ayurveda literally translated means the science of life. Hemp
seed is known as Vijaya Siddhi. Vijaya means “victorious” and cannabis is
said to be victorious over many illnesses and diseases. Hemp seed and
hemp seed oil are prescribed in Ayurvedic medicine as a demulcent
laxative (meaning an agent that forms a soothing protective film when
administered onto a mucous membrane), an anti-inflammatory, and a
nervous system restorative, as well as a cardiac tonic to reduce low-density
lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and fatty deposits. It is similarly
prescribed for the treatment of ulcers and inflamed mucous membranes.
As oil, it is recommended to reduce inflammation in eczema, psoriasis and
acne.
The basis of Ayurvedic medicine are the three doshas: Vata, Pitta and
Kapha. The doshas are general body types and basically refer to small,
medium and large, but dosha also specifies the patterns of how our bodies
use energy. Vata spends energy, Pitta manages it and Kapha stores it.
Hemp seed’s Ayurvedic actions are referred to as Snigdha (demulcent),
Rasayana (rejuvenating), Anuloma (redirecting the flow of Vata
downwards) and Vibandha hara (alleviating constipation). When the
doshas are balanced the body is said to be in homeostasis (a state of zero
change), and this is considered to be the perfect state of health.

Further Benefits of Hemp Seed

A study published in the Journal of International Medical Research
reports that hemp seeds have successfully been used to treat
atherosclerosis, eczema and ADHD. They are also a useful bulk-forming
laxative that can improve the frequency and consistency of stools.
Furthermore, according to the University of Michigan, hemp seed extract
contains an unidentified compound that is thought to help boost learning
and memory function, as well as enhance the immune system.6
Researchers there discovered that hemp seeds stimulate a brain chemical
called calcineurin, which plays a key role in healthy brain synapse activity.
The Journal of Pharmacology, Biology and Behavior published the results
of a study that showed that calcineurin increased both brain and immune
function in mice. A follow-up study showed that calcineurin could repair
learning and memory skills that had been previously affected by chemical
drug addiction.7
The high amounts of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as the
phytosterol content, found in shelled hemp nut are known to have a
beneficial effect on cardiovascular health, by reducing blood cholesterol
levels, reducing arterial thrombosis and decreasing the thickening of artery
walls with fat deposits that cause atherosclerosis. Furthermore,
phytosterols have been shown to reduce total serum cholesterol by an
average of 10% and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by an
average of 13%. Phytosterols may offer protection against colon, breast
and prostate cancers.
The health benefits of cannabis have always been recognized.

A diet containing the correct balance of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty

acids may also help delay or reduce neurodegenerative disorders such as
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s syndrome. Additionally, gamma-linolenic
acid (GLA) contained in hemp seed has been found to be effective in
treating rheumatoid arthritis and active synovitis, and may also be helpful
for osteoporosis sufferers. There is further evidence to suggest a beneficial
role for hemp seeds in combating irritating skin disorders.
As the oil in hemp seed is known to inhibit platelets (tiny cells that
help with blood-clotting) anyone taking anticoagulant drugs should be
aware that there is a theoretical possibility that bleeding could occur. This
is only speculative; if there is an issue it is caused by the toxic
pharmaceutical drugs, not hemp seed. Overdose or drug interactions with
the oral anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin) can lead to lethal toxicity, as
can exposure to super-warfarin (also known as long-acting anticoagulants).
Warfarin is the primary toxic agent used in rat poison; rodents that ingest it
crawl away and bleed to death from all orifices. If you are taking toxic
anticoagulants you are advised to consult your physician before starting
any hemp seed treatment.

Recommended Dosage
The typical minimum dosage of raw hemp seed in treatments is between
10 and 30 grams per day. They can be eaten raw, sprinkled on cereal and
toast or mashed and powdered before being added to food or drink mixes.
This amount is confirmed by the University of Michigan, who recommend
that the dosage of shelled hemp seed is 15 grams or one heaped tablespoon
twice daily.8 There is no potential for overdose unless you are taking
warfarin, and this dosage can be supplemented with additional hemp seed
in your meals, snacks and salads. You can take up to 60 grams a day,
which is four heaped tablespoons, and this is the recommended maximum.
If you do overindulge on hemp seed products, be aware that it can have a
laxative effect. If this is unwanted, simply eat less. The proportion of
linoleic and alpha-linolenic acid in one tablespoon (15 milligrams) per day
of hemp seed oil can also readily provide all of the body’s daily
requirements of Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs).
Cannabinoids are produced within the glands of the cannabis plant
itself, so the seeds do not contain any significant amounts of psychoactive
compounds. Cannabis seeds from drug crops are also cannabinoid free,
although occasionally tiny particles of resin can stick to the seed casing
resulting in minor traces. However, this does not apply to commercial
hemp seed. It is physically impossible to experience a high from using
hemp seed or hemp seed oil, even when it has been heated. Studies have
been conducted to examine if hemp products could adversely affect
consumers required to undergo mandatory drug testing in the workplace.
Over a trial period volunteers were given a selection of foods containing
hemp nut. The results indicated that none of the volunteers had
cannabinoid levels consistent with recreational cannabis use.

Hemp Seed Smoothies

One of the easiest ways of consuming hulled hemp seeds is in smoothies.
Just mix a tablespoon of organic hulled hemp seed with fruit and juice of
your choice in a blender. You can optionally add yogurt to produce a
thicker consistency. This makes a good protein shake with a complete dose
of amino acids and EFAs. Protein is one of the fundamental building
blocks of muscle and is particularly recommended for those who are
exercising on a regular basis. Athletes, bodybuilders and sportsmen
especially can benefit from hemp-based drinks that are a nutritious
alternative to dairy or soy-based protein supplements.
Hemp Balls (Nai Lao Yi Qi)
This recipe appears in the ancient Chinese Pen-T’sao Kang-Mu, and as well as helping to restore qi
energy, it is also recommended to stave off hunger for long periods. The cooking process will
destroy amino acids, but as it is one of the first recorded medicinal treatments using hemp seed it is
worth mentioning.

Ingredients
2 quarts hulled hemp seed
1 quart soy beans

1. Boil together until soft, drain and then heat gently in a pan, stirring frequently until they become
dry.
2. Remove them from the heat, allow them to cool and then grind into a powder with a mortar and
pestle or coffee bean grinder.
3. Combine with a small quantity of honey to act as a binder; add small amounts and stir the
ingredients together in a bowl until the mixture reaches the required consistency.
4. It should adhere together but not be overly sticky. Hand roll the substance into small balls. These
are eaten twice daily. If you wish to experiment with this recipe, we recommend that the minimum
size you make each ball is one ounce in weight (28 grams).

Hemp seed placed into a baking tray either for toasting to make a tasty snack or to crush the
seeds to remove the hull. To dehull simply cover with clear film and gently crush the seeds
with a hammer.
Hemp Nut Salad
Salads are a great way of eating your 2 tablespoons of raw hemp seeds a
day. Simply sprinkle 1 tablespoon of hulled hemp seed per portion of
tossed salad. It is recommended that organic hemp oil be used in the
dressing. Try 1 part hemp oil, 1 part white vinegar and the juice of a
freshly squeezed lemon. Increase or reduce the quantities to taste, and
season with ground black pepper.

Toasted Hemp Seeds

Heating damages the amino acids contained within the seeds, but this
snack is a far healthier alternative to potato chips or pretzels. Toast your
hulled hemp seeds in a pan until light brown, and add salt and pepper to
taste.

Hemp Seed Weight-Loss Plan

If you consume more calories than you are using, your body will store fat.
If you are overweight you can lose one to two pounds of body fat per week
following this simple diet. Hemp seed is used to provide a filling and
healthy alternative protein. If you are obese or have any condition that may
be affected by dieting please consult your physician beforehand, but this is
a sensible eating plan and will ensure the fat stays off. A calorie-controlled
diet is the most effective way to lose weight and maintain a healthy Body
Mass Index (BMI); you will live longer, suffer fewer illnesses and have
more energy. You don’t require any fad diet books or expensive weight-
loss supplements. Most of these fad diets shed pounds very quickly, but
nearly all of them do not have a lasting effect. The pounds that seem to
drop off so miraculously are mostly bodily fluids lost through dehydration.
In fact, some studies have shown that as many as 90% of all dieters regain
the weight within a year of losing it and many put on even more weight.
Delicious and healthy hemp seed balls.
Hemp Balls: A Contemporary Recipe
These are a modern twist on Hemp Balls (Nai Lao Yio Qi) and can be made with cannabis-infused
olive oil, but our recipe uses commercially available hemp oil. The balls are designed to be used by
patients who suffer from digestive problems and can be used as a complete meal replacement.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes.

Ingredients:
4 cups hulled hemp seed
4 cups of oats
3 cups desiccated or grated raw coconut
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup hemp oil
400 grams honey
4 cups hemp flour to dust the finished balls. This can be purchased from any good health food
store. Hemp seeds do not mill into flour readily; they become butter because of the high oil
content. In order to get flour, you need to remove the oils.

1. Mix the ingredients thoroughly, lastly adding the honey as a binder. It is preferable to first put the
hemp and sunflower seeds through a coffee bean grinder if you have one, but this is optional.
2. Divide the mixture into 24 servings and hand-shape into round balls. These will be slightly sticky
and can then be coated with the hemp flour.

Makes 24 servings.
Hemp Milk
Organic hemp milk is a legal, healthy alternative to dairy milk. You can purchase the ready-made
product in good stores, but it is cheap and easy to make yourself. Fresh-shelled hemp seed milk has
a white to slightly green or gray appearance and a pleasant taste. You can experiment with flavors
by adding almonds, vanilla or figs, which all complement the taste of hemp nut.

Preparation Time: 2 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 cup shelled hemp seeds (hemp nuts)
5-6 cups cold water (previously boiled and allowed to cool)
1. Combine the water and hemp nut in a blender. You can create the desired thickness by using
more or less water.
2. Blend on a high-speed setting for 2 to 3 minutes, or until creamy and smooth.
3. To strain (if required): pour the blended mixture through a cheesecloth and squeeze into a bowl.
You should be left with a thin coating of pulp on the inside of the cloth, which you can rinse off.
4. To sweeten (if required): add fruit, maple syrup or honey. Blend until smooth. Optionally you can
then strain the milk again through a cheesecloth. Hemp milk will keep for three days if refrigerated
in a sealed container.

Makes: 6-7 cups.

Tasty cannabis edibles; bread with cannabutter is a great treat!

Simply count your calories by using either an inexpensive food calorie

guidebook or Googling a free online guide. Plan your three meals a day
with breakfast being the most important; eat less in the evening if you can.
Write down the calorie content of each meal and add up the total.
An average man requires around 2,500 calories a day to maintain his
weight. For an average woman the figure is around 2,000 calories a day.
These values can vary depending on age and levels of physical activity.
The ideal calorie intake to lose weight is at least 500 calories below
maintenance level, and never more than 1000 calories below. There are
approximately 3,500 calories in a pound of stored body fat. So, if you
create a 3,500 calorie shortage over the course of a week, you will lose one
pound of body fat.
Cut out red meat, sugar, alcohol, processed foods, white bread, pasta
and dairy products completely. Replace potatoes and white rice
carbohydrates with raw hulled hemp seeds, legumes, whole grains and
other fresh vegetables. Whole grains such as brown or wild rice, oats,
barley and rye, or foods made from them, contain all the essential parts
and naturally occurring nutrients of the entire grain seed and are a good
source of fiber. Quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat are classified as
“pseudo-grains” but are normally listed alongside true cereal grains
because their nutritional profile, preparation, and use are so similar.
Hemp Nut Coleslaw
Delicious, healthy and nutritious coleslaw can also be made with raw ingredients.

Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
1 cup of shredded red cabbage
1 finely chopped clove of garlic
1 finely chopped chili (optional)
1 chopped red onion
1 chopped scallion, chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
¼ cup of hulled hemp seeds 2 tablespoons of hemp oil salt and pepper to taste.

1. Combine the ingredients in a salad bowl and toss well.

Hemp seed.
 Legumes are also high in fiber and are classified as plants with seed
pods that split into two halves. Edible seeds from plants in the legume
family include beans, peas, lentils, soybeans, and peanuts and these should
all be included in your diet plan.
Be cautious of eating too much fruit as they contain sugars in the form
of fructose. It is possible to realize a healthy diet without fruit, but fruit
does make it easier to achieve certain vitamin levels. Fruits high in sugar
include: tangerines, cherries, grapes, mangos, figs and bananas. Low sugar
fruits include: lemon, lime, rhubarb, raspberries, blackberries and
cranberries.
Replace your fish and poultry protein as often as you like with raw
hemp seeds. If you are a vegetarian, simply include hemp seeds with your
fresh vegetable dishes. There are only 340 kcal per 60 grams of hulled
hemp seeds, which equals your four heaped tablespoons a day, and eating
a good breakfast that includes hemp seeds should leave you free of
significant hunger until mid afternoon.
Drink plenty of water. Most people are unaware of how much water
they should be drinking daily and many of us are in a constant state of
dehydration without even realizing it. The process of burning calories
requires an adequate supply of water in order to function efficiently and
dehydration slows down the fat-burning process. Studies have produced
varying recommendations over the years, but realistically your water needs
depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and
where you live. The Institute of Medicine has determined that an adequate
intake for men is roughly 3 quarts (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day
and for women, 2.3 quarts (about 9 cups) a day.
It is important that you add an exercise regime to boost your weight
loss. Walk more, take the stairs not the elevator, ride a bicycle, jog or
swim if you can, join a gym or exercise at home. If you are obese, ill or
unfit please consult your physician before exercising. Losing weight
utilizing hulled hemp seeds really is as simple as this.
Hemp Seed Oil
This healthy and nutritious oil is increasingly becoming available in
grocery stores and health food shops. It has all the benefits of hulled hemp
seeds and is also one of the best known sources of the Essential Fatty
Acids omega-3 and omega-6. Hemp oil is also a rich source of vitamins A
and E, which are powerful antioxidants. Unlike flaxseed oil, hemp oil can
be used continuously without developing a deficiency or other imbalance
of EFAs and the ratio of the two EFAs is 3.38, closely approximating the
4.0 average ratio recommended by the World Health Organization. In
addition, the biological metabolites of the two EFAs, gamma-linolenic
acid (18:3 omega-6; “GLA”) and stearidonic acid (18:4 omega-3; “SDA”),
are also present in hemp seed oil. Hemp oil also has effective anti-
inflammatory properties. Anywhere you use regular cooking or dressing
oil you can use hemp oil. Its nutty flavor and light texture are perfect for
salad dressings, sauces or drizzling over vegetables. It is the preferred oil
for many internationally acclaimed chefs, and is both full of natural
enzymes and cholesterol-free.

Juicing Raw Cannabis

Raw cannabis contains THCA (A refers to acid) and CBDA, which must
be heated to produce THC and CBD. This is the reason for
decarboxylating or simply smoking the dried flowers. Test results show
that heating converts 300 milligrams of non-psychoactive THC acid into 5
milligrams of psychoactive THC, and whilst the 5 milligrams retains its
medicinal value it is a small percentage of the original THCA. THC acid
isn’t psychoactive in its raw state but still has therapeutic value and
patients can gain much higher concentrations of the non-psychoactive
cannabinoids without experiencing the associated high. However, THCA
converts naturally into THC, and therefore it is important that only fresh
leaves are used if the aim is not to ingest the psychoactive THC
compounds.
Hemp oil makes a superb salad dressing.

While there are close to 70 cannabinoids known to have therapeutic

effects, CBD is quickly becoming the second most important (after THC).
Most of the varieties today contain large amounts of THCA which, when
heated, provides THC. CBDA-dominant strains are being developed, but
the main problem faced by medical users, who either purchase their
cannabis on the black market or grow from seed, is the lack of consistency
in strains. Identically named strains from different breeders can have
differing cannabinoid content. David Suzuki, the academic, science
broadcaster and environmental activist asserts that cannabis grown for
recreational purposes is found to contain increasingly high levels of THC
and little CBD.
According to Dr. William Courtney, an MD from California, cannabis
leaves contain the highest CBDA levels and are best harvested when the
plant is between 70 to 85 days old. After 90 days they rapidly produce
more THCA. CBDA has been proven to treat many medical conditions and
acts as an anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antidepressant, antipsychotic,
antioxidant, a sedative and is believed to have beneficial immune-
modulatory properties. It has also been shown to relieve convulsions,
inflammation, anxiety and nausea, and inhibit cancer cell growth.
However, patients can also obtain this benefit from CBD, and this is
delivered far more effectively through vaporizing or the use of medicinal
cannabis oils produced by extraction.

STEP-BY-STEP Cannabis Juicing

1. Preparing the ingredients for juicing fresh, raw cannabis fan leaves. You can also just add
fruit juice.

2. Freshly picked fan leaves from an organic plant. Choose only leaves with a healthy color
from a vigorous plant.
3. The collected fan leaves are placed into a colander and thoroughly washed under running
cold water.

4. The freshly washed leaves are removed from the running water and shaken to remove any
excess liquid.

5. The leaves are placed into the blender along with any fruit or vegetables you wish to add.
You can experiment with different flavors.
6. For this juice we have added a few slices of fresh, organic lemon, apple and a small amount
of chopped fresh ginger.

7. The ingredients are thoroughly blended together in the juicer for 1 to 2 minutes.

8. Place a colander into a good size jug and strain the freshly blended ingredients. Squeeze the
remaining pulp.
9. Here we are using the back of a spoon to squeeze the remaining pulp but you can also
simply squeeze the pulp by hand.

10. The juice can be consumed as it is or used as a base for delicious and healthy fruit juice
cocktails.

11. Ice can be added to the fresh juice to make a healthy and refreshing summer drink.
12. Fresh orange juice has been added, but you can use any combination and carrot juice
works well.

Cannabis infused juice.

Dr. Courtney is one of the main proponents of the raw cannabis juicing
treatment and has presented anecdotal evidence of the benefits, claiming
that at least one patient has benefited tremendously from its use. This
patient is his wife Kristen and her story is undoubtedly remarkable.
 Kristen Courtney was suffering from joint inflammation and an array
of autoimmune conditions, including interstitial cystitis and lupus, that
caused her organs and other tissues to swell.9 She was prescribed over 40
different anti-inflammatory, antibiotic and painkilling medications in an
unsuccessful attempt to combat the symptoms and had developed steroid
toxicity. She was told by her doctors that she might possibly make it to her
thirtieth birthday. In desperation, Kristen moved to California, where she
could legally grow her own medicine, and began juicing cannabis leaves
on a daily basis. Kristen’s condition improved significantly, and today her
pain has been completely eliminated and she has stopped using any other
painkillers. Kristen’s story is available to view on YouTube.
Do not use any leaves that appear discolored or over fertilized. The plant should not be in
flower. Vigorous growth is indicated by these healthy looking cannabis leaves.
Lush green foliage on flowering plants.

However, Michael Backes of the Abatin Wellness Center in California,

a well-respected medical cannabis dispensary backed by state-of-the-art
analytical testing, stated in response to Dr. Courtney’s claims:
“Dr. William Courtney has been researching juicing cannabis for
several years. The young woman in the video, Kristen, is his wife.
Courtney makes some very plausible points, but his claims really do need
to be subjected to randomized, controlled clinical trials. Courtney’s claim
that raw cannabis is not psychoactive is true, but only for pristine, fresh
cannabis.10 Disturb the gland heads on a living cannabis plant of a strain
that contains THC and the process of converting its non-psychoactive
THCA to psychoactive THC begins, albeit slowly.”
Professor Manuel Guzman, from the Complutense University in
Madrid, is involved in the study of how the active components of cannabis
(the cannabinoids) act in the body, with special emphasis on the molecular
mechanisms of that action, and on understanding how cannabinoids
control cell generation and death.11 We have some involvement with the
professor and specifically asked him the following question with regard to
ingesting raw cannabis:
“Phytocannabinoids produced by the plant do not bond with
cannabinoid receptors, so when they are ingested fresh from an immature
plant, what exactly are they doing in the body, if anything?”
His response does give some validation to the juicing theory:
“Yes, most (but not all) of the cannabinoids in the fresh plant are
carboxylated and bind to CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors with low
(but some) affinity. Then it is not an all-or-none issue. In addition,
carboxylated THC may bind to additional as yet unknown molecular
targets beyond cannabinoid receptors in the body. In short, the fresh plant
is clearly less psychoactive than the treated/cured plant, but we still have
to learn much more on the pharmacology of carboxylated cannabinoids.”
In response to the same question, Dr. Paul Hornby, a very well-
respected authority in biological and biochemical science stated:
“In answer to your question, nobody knows, since it’s never been
thoroughly studied, but judging from the biochemistry of the cannabinoid
molecules, even if not activated (decarboxylated) and may not bind the
receptor, they still are antioxidants, anti-microbial and have some anti-
inflammatory action.”
However, the latest research is from the Department of Molecular
Biology at the Daiichi University of Pharmacy in Japan.12 This research
indicates that CBDA inhibits migration of the highly invasive MDA-MB-
231 human breast cancer cells. The data now suggests for the first time
that CBDA found in raw cannabis offers a real potential in stopping cancer
cell migration, including aggressive breast cancers.
If you do have access to sufficient fresh cannabis leaf and wish to see
if you can benefit from juicing, then it is recommended that patients juice
around 20 freshly picked cannabis leaves per day for at least 45 days of
juicing. To counteract the bitterness, patients mix the cannabis juice (1
part) with carrot juice (10 parts) and the juice should be consumed three
times daily. This is only realistically possible if you can cultivate your own
crop, and unfortunately for most patients, growing several large cannabis
plants in the vegetative stage in order to provide yourself with enough
fresh leaves for juicing will never be a viable option.
Many patients advise juicing whole, seeded cannabis buds instead of
the leaf, and this may have some merit. By using seeded flowers, you are
not only benefiting from an increased level of cannabinoid acids, but from
the seed content as well. The medical benefits of large doses of acidic
cannabinoids have not been subjected to controlled clinical trials, and all
of the evidence at this point is anecdotal. Fresh cannabis plant material can
harbor a wide range of pathogenic microbes, so anyone with a
compromised immune system would be well advised to exercise caution
when juicing.
A healthy diet is essential when using medicinal cannabis.


CHAPTER SEVEN

The Cannabis Kitchen

Eating cannabis is an effective delivery method, and the cannabis
concentrates and extracts in this chapter will allow you to easily convert
any conventional recipe into an effective medicinal or recreational snack
or meal. There is little point in preparing a huge, calorie-laden meal and
then adding cannabis to it, as the digestive process simply takes too long
and diminishes the effects. It is better to prepare simple dishes that are
easily digested. In order to convert the active components of cannabis, the
plant material still has to be heated when preparing edibles, but the
important thing to understand is that, once ingested, it can take between 30
minutes to an hour and a half before the first stages of the high are even
noticed. After this, the euphoric state continues to increase. It may then
last from four to eight hours, and in some cases, may last even longer and
be far more powerful than smoking the same amount. Cannabis edibles can
produce a very intense, almost psychedelic experience, particularly if you
overdo the amount ingested. It is advisable to experiment with smaller
quantities until you are satisfied with the effect produced.
The psychopharmacological effects of ingested cannabis are very
different from those experienced after inhaling smoke or vapor into the
lungs, as many of the active components in cannabis are altered or
destroyed during combustion. When cannabis has been ingested, the peaks
of the experience tend to appear in successive waves, and these are far
stronger than users will experience through smoking, with the effects
lasting much longer. This is partly due to enzymes and other fluids in our
digestive system that subtly alter the structure of the cannabinoids, but also
due to the delayed onset of the effects after ingestion as there is an absence
of any immediate sensation which would indicate to the cannabis smoker
that enough has been taken. When eaten, some of the THC is metabolized
by the liver into 11-Hydroxy-THC, which is four to five times more
psychoactive. It is not possible to have a toxic reaction to the ingested
cannabis unless you suffer from one of the extremely rare cases of
cannabis hyperemesis; however, if you ingest too much you will almost
certainly fall into a deep, unconscious sleep, and this could last for over 12
hours. If you are feeling the effects of ingesting too much cannabis, then a
tablespoon of honey in warm water can help to reduce the intensity.

Herbs and spices are nutritional powerhouses.

As the cannabinoids in cannabis will not dissolve in water, most

edibles require some form of extraction method, either into a fat, oil or
alcohol medium. Cannabinoids can also be extracted by simmering your
plant material in full fat milk as they will readily dissolve into these fats,
and this is the method used to prepare the Indian cannabis drink known as
bhang. Most cannabis cookery books rely heavily on the use of cannabis
butter, which is a very effective method for administering cannabinoids.
Canna-flour is ideal for making bread and for use in cakes and pastries.
Cannabis tincture is a concentrated cannabinoid extract dissolved in
alcohol that is easily added to meals and drinks, as alcohol solutions are
readily assimilated, even in the absence of digestive secretions, and easily
absorbed through the stomach lining. Honey and other sugars are also
rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal capillaries;
however, THC does not dissolve readily in sugars and therefore the degree
of absorption is limited. A small quantity of sugar contained within alcohol
or an oil-based edible does facilitate absorption, but too much sugar will
interfere with the digestion of the cannabinoid loaded fats. Canna-butter or
ghee is used for baking and can also be used as a spread, for example on
toasted bread or fruit cakes. Canna-infused oils are a useful addition to
salad dressing, and they can be used in most recipes as a replacement for
butter, particularly if you are lactose intolerant or avoiding dairy products.
Heated and ground cannabis buds can also be sprinkled onto cereals or
added to savory dishes without any need for preparing a canna-edible dish.

Decarboxylating Cannabis
Freshly harvested cannabis will contain a large amount of THC in the form
of tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). This acid is not psychoactive, but
as the plant material dries it converts to active THC by a natural process
known as decarboxylation. Most of the acid will convert to THC during a
period of up to two years, but by then most of the THC will have oxidized
into cannabinol. The heating process is used to speed decarboxylation
within the plant material, either in the form of smoking or gentle cooking
for edibles. Amino acids have a two-carbon bond. One of these carbons is
part of a group called the carboxyl group. The decarboxylating process
causes the removal of a carboxyl group within the cannabis material, in
order to convert the cannabinoids into substances that will produce a
psychoactive effect. The resultant plant material can then be used to make
your concentrates.

Effect of heating time and temperature on the THC content of n-

hexane marijuana extract after heating on the glass surface in an open
reactor

Source: Journal of Chromatography 520 (1990)

It is good practice to make your cannabis concentrates as potent as

possible as the strong taste of raw cannabis can be quite overpowering, so
the more potent the concentrate, the less you require in your recipes. Using
concentrates alongside conventional ingredients results in a better-tasting
product. For example, if a cake recipe calls for 200 grams of butter, then it
is preferable to use 100 grams of your cannabis butter alongside 100 grams
of regular butter. To decarboxylate your plant material, take your cannabis
bud or trim and spread it evenly on a baking tray or ovenproof plate, then
place into an oven set on 223°F (106°C). Don’t set the temperature any
higher as the additional heat will vaporize the cannabinoids. After 25
minutes, using oven gloves remove the cannabis from the oven and it
should be dry and crisp.
Basic Canna-Concentrates: Canna-Flour
Preparation Time: 10 minutes

Equipment: Coffee grinder or food processor.

Ingredients:
Any quantity of decarboxylated cannabis material.

Place the decarboxylated plant material into an herb grinder or food processor, and process for a
few minutes until finely powdered.

Place a fine sieve over a collection bowl and sift the powder, discarding any stalks or leaf veins.

Always strain your cannabutter extremely well.

Bread made solely from canna-flour can have a strong residual flavor for most tastes, and many
people find that one part canna-flour to two parts of regular flour is a good combination. The flour
is ideal for making bread and pastries and it also makes palatable cookies, but for cakes it is a little
heavy, and it is better to use canna-butter instead.
Canna-Butter
Preparation Time: Around 12 hours

Equipment: 1 slow cooker (also known as a crock pot). One French press (also known as a coffee
press, coffee plunger or cafetière à piston).

Ingredients:
1 pound of unsalted butter
2 pints of water and 2 ounces of premium, high-grade cannabis (leaf trimmings are fine to use but
not as strong so it is advisable to add 25% more).

Break up your dried cannabis and place this into a slow cooker with the butter and water. Set the
temperature to high and once all of the butter has melted, turn the heat setting to low. The addition
of the water helps to keep the temperature down, and the additional volume allows for more plant
material to be added, particularly if you are using trimmings. As cannabinoids are soluble in fats
and oils but not water, they will be absorbed into the butter, so allow the mixture to simmer on a
low heat for 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. After the allotted time, turn off the heat and allow
the mixture to cool.

STEP-BY-STEP Canna-Butter

1. Butter.
2. Using a crock pot to gently heat the butter and cannabis.

3. Filtering using a french coffee press.

4. Place the filtered butter into a plastic container.

5. Store in the fridge.

6. Cut the plastic container to remove the set butter.

Once it has cooled (but is still warm), carefully ladle the mixture from the slow cooker into a sieve
suspended over a clean pan. Pour boiling water over the plant material in the sieve, and use the back
of a large spoon or ladle to expel as much liquid from the vegetable matter as possible. Complete
the final filtering process by carefully pouring the butter and water mix into your coffee press, and
pushing down on the plunger. It is possible to strain the mixture through muslin or cheesecloth, but
it is much easier to use a coffee press. Pour the sieved liquid into a clean plastic bottle for storage
and place the container upside down in your refrigerator overnight, ensuring that it is vertical and
cannot fall over. When you remove the bottle from the refrigerator the next day, the butter will have
solidified.
Hold the plastic bottle containing the solidified canna-butter over a large bowl or washbasin, and
slowly unscrew the cap. The water will now flow out, leaving you with the just the canna-butter.
Using a box cutter, sharp knife or scissors, carefully cut open the plastic bottle and remove the
canna-butter. This can now be cut into 1-ounce (28 grams) portions that can be frozen for long-term
storage.

Potency and Dosage Calculator for Canna-Butter

Using 1 pound of butter and 2 ounces of bud will result in the extract from ⅛ of an ounce (3.5
grams) of cannabis per ounce (28 grams) of canna-butter.

Canna-Ghee
Ghee is clarified (purified) butter that originated in Asia and is commonly used in Indian,
Bangladeshi, Nepali, Pakistani and Iranian cuisine and ritual. Canna-ghee is made from canna-
butter and will keep for many months without the need for refrigeration.

Preparation Time: 1 hour

Equipment: One medium-sized saucepan, a fine sieve or larger sieve with two layers of muslin
cloth and one large spoon.

Ingredients:
1 pound of canna-butter.

To convert canna-butter into ghee, you will need to place a quantity into a medium-sized saucepan
and cook uncovered on a low to medium heat until all of the butter has melted. Slowly increase the
heat until the liquid butter is simmering (but do not allow to boil).
Cannabis simmering in ghee.

Allow ghee to cool before straining.

Continue cooking whilst stirring occasionally until the butter starts to foam. If you hear a crackling
noise, the butter has begun to boil and you should reduce the heat setting. Froth will begin to appear
on the surface; remove this with the spoon and discard. Continue this process until no more froth
appears, and the ghee becomes a clear golden-yellow liquid, indicating the butter has clarified. Be
careful not to overcook the ghee or burn the solids. If the milk solids appear dark in color, or if the
liquid ghee turns dark brown, you have overcooked it.

Let the ghee cool for about 20 minutes, and then strain it though a very fine strainer or 2 layers of
muslin cloth placed inside a sieve. Make sure all the milk solids are strained out, and repeat the
process if needed. Store your canna-ghee in a clean, dry and airtight container. It will keep for over
2 months without the need for refrigeration.
Ghee Potency and Dosage Calculator
Your canna-butter will already contain the extract from ⅛ of an ounce (3.5 grams) of cannabis per
ounce of butter (28 grams), and during the production of ghee you can expect to lose as much as
25% of the original volume. This increases the potency of your ghee proportionately but is far from
an accurate guide. Just be advised that you will require less ghee than canna-butter when preparing
your canna-edibles.
Canna-lnfused Oil
This is an edible infusion and not a medical-grade extract; it is not to be confused with medicinal
hemp oil, which is extracted from the cannabis flowers using solvents.

Preparation Time: 2 hours

STEP-BY-STEP Cannabis-lnfused Oil

1. Add dried and finely ground cannabis to the oil.

2. Simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.

3. Filter the oil using a coffee plunger.

4. Store the oil in its original bottle.

Equipment: 1 slow cooker, a coffee grinder (or food processor), French press and a fine sieve.

Ingredients:
1 quart of vegetable oil (hemp oil, olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower or vegetable oil), 2 ounces of
cannabis buds or leaf trimmings.

Place one quart of your chosen oil into your slow cooker. Set the controls to low, and, adding your
dried and ground cannabis, simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Allow to cool, and then
carefully ladle the oil from the slow cooker into the coffee plunger. Once filtered, pour the oil back
into the original bottle.

This infused cannabis oil can be used in salad dressings, baking or simply drizzled over fresh bread.
Rather than using your canna-infused oil as a salad dressing you can use it to make vinaigrette that
will liven up any salad. It can also be used in stir fries or as a marinade.
Canna-lnfused Vinaigrette
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
Any amount of canna-infused oil
An equal amount of balsamic vinegar
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic
½ teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons mustard (optional)
salt and pepper to taste

Combine and serve.

Dosage Calculator for Infused Oil

1 quart of oil is equivalent to approximately 64 tablespoons, so if you have used 2 ounces (56
grams) of cannabis buds then four tablespoons will contain the extract from ⅛ of an ounce (3.5
grams) of cannabis.
Green Dragon Rum Infusion
Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Equipment: Coffee grinder, saucepan, small storage jar, cooking thermometer, fine strainer.

Ingredients:
2 ounces of rum (white or dark), ⅛ ounce of ground dried cannabis buds.

Finely grind your herbal cannabis, and then add 2 ounces of rum to your storage jar. Place the
storage jar into a saucepan of water and simmer for 20 minutes. Maintain the water temperature at
around 155°F. Strain the mixture and as with all of these concentrates and edibles store them safely
away from children in a refrigerator or cool dark area.

Dosage Calculator for Green Dragon

Taken alone 1 to 2 tablespoons will give you a noticeable effect that can last for several hours.

STEP-BY-STEP Alcohol Infusion

1. Equipment required for alcohol infusion.

2. Soak the dried cannabis buds in alcohol.

3. Filter the liquid.

4. Store in a dropper bottle.

Easy Canna-Edible Recipes

A Traditional Bhang Preparation
This is an ancient and popular drink in India, made from flowers of the
cannabis plant. It has special religious significance during the festivals of
Holi, Maha Shivratri and Kali Puja. It is prepared by grinding cannabis
buds and mixing them with milk, ghee and spices. The following recipes
are taken from On the Preparation of the Indian Hemp by W. B.
O’Shaughnessy (1843):
“Sidhee, subjee, or bhang [cannabis] is used with water as a drink,
which is thus prepared. About three tola weights [35 grams] are well
washed with cold water, and rubbed to powder, mixed with black pepper,
cucumber and melon seeds, sugar, 30 cl. of milk, and an equal quantity of
water. This is considered sufficient to intoxicate a habituated person. Half
the quantity is enough for a novice. This composition is chiefly used by the
Mohammeds of the better classes.”
A second recipe is also described by O’Shaughnessy:
“The same quantity of sidhee [cannabis] is washed and ground, mixed
with black pepper, and a liter of cold water added. This is drunk at one
sitting. This is the favorite beverage of the Hindus who practice this vice,
especially the Birjobassies, and many of the Rajpootana soldiery. From
either of these beverages intoxication will ensue in half an hour. Almost
invariably the inebriation is of the most cheerful kind, causing the person
to sing and dance, to eat food with great relish, and to see aphrodisiac
enjoyments. In persons of quarrelsome disposition it occasions, as might
be expected, an exasperation of their natural tendency. The intoxication
lasts about three hours, when sleep supervenes. No nausea or sickness of
stomach succeeds, nor are the bowels at all affected; next day there is
slight giddiness and vascularity of the eyes, but no other symptom worth
recording.”
Contemporary Bhang Recipe
Preparation Time: 20 minutes

Equipment: Coffee grinder (or food processor), French press, large bowl.

Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 ounce of decarboxylated marijuana
4 cups warm milk
2 tablespoons blanched and chopped almonds
⅛ teaspoon garam masala (cloves, cinnamon, and cardamom)
¼ teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon rosewater
1 cup sugar

Bring the water to a rapid boil and pour into a clean receptacle containing your cannabis. Let stand
for 10 minutes. Strain the water and cannabis using your coffee press, collect the water and save.
Squeeze as much liquid as possible from the cannabis pulp and then, whilst still in the coffee
grinder, add two teaspoons of warm milk. Strain the cannabis through your coffee press again and
squeeze out as much milk as you can.
This delicious and healthy Bhang takes only 20 minutes to prepare.

Repeat this process 5 times. Collect all the milk that has been extracted and save. By this time the
cannabis will have turned into a pulpy mass. Remove from the coffee press, and add the chopped
almonds and some more warm milk. Grind this until a fine paste is formed. Strain and squeeze this
paste in your coffee press and collect the extract as before.

Repeat a few more times until all that is left are some fibers and nut meal. Discard the residue.
Combine all the liquids that have been collected, including the water the cannabis was brewed in.
Add to this the garam masala, dried ginger and rosewater. Add the sugar and remaining milk. Chill
and serve immediately.
Hot Buttered Bhang (2 servings)
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
55 grams butter or ghee
10 to 15 grams good cannabis tops or leaves
¼ liter vodka
powdered cardamom (optional)
honey (optional)
whipped cream (optional)

Melt the butter in a saucepan. Crumble in the cannabis and stir. Continue stirring over medium heat
for 1 minute. While the mixture is still hot and sizzling, add the vodka. Be cautious that the hot
butter does not make the mixture spatter. It is best to pour in the vodka swiftly.

Continue to boil for 30 seconds or more, stirring all the while. The cardamom may be added during
the boiling. The longer you boil, the less alcohol the drink will have. After boiling for desired time
strain the liquids. Press the mash with a spoon to remove all the liquids. The effects may be felt in
less than 15 minutes.
Quick and Simple Bhang Recipe
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
⅛ ounce unsalted butter
2 cups milk
4 grams of decarboxylated and ground cannabis
pinch of cinnamon and/or nutmeg

Melt butter in pan, add ground cannabis, and simmer for 1 minute, then add milk and spices.
Simmer gently for a further 3 minutes, then remove from the heat, chill and serve. The bhang can be
sweetened with a little honey if required.
Chocolate Brownies Made with Cannabis-lnfused Oil
Preparation Time: 45 minutes

Brownies are a typical choice, but avocado brownies are a healthy alternative.

Ingredients:
5 ounces plain chocolate chopped into small pieces
½ cup canna-infused oil
7.5 ounces (1 cup) of light Muscovado (brown) sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
½ cup of all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
4 tablespoons of cocoa powder
3 ounces ⅓ of a cup) of chopped walnuts or pecan nuts
4 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a shallow 7.5-inch-square cake tin. Melt the plain chocolate
in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Beat the canna-infused oil, sugar,
eggs and vanilla essence together in a large bowl. Stir in the melted chocolate and continue to beat
well, until evenly mixed and smooth.

Sift the flour and the cocoa powder into the bowl and fold in thoroughly. Stir in the chopped nuts
and chocolate chips, tip into the prepared tin and spread evenly to the edges. Bake the mix for 30 to
35 minutes, or until the top is firm and crusty. Cool in the tin before cutting into squares.

You can also substitute one third of the regular organic self-raising flour for canna-flour for a
stronger, more rustic-tasting brownie.
Cannabis Chocolate
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Equipment: A saucepan, a glass bowl and a chocolate mold or ice-cube tray.

Ingredients:
1 ounce of decarboxylated and finely ground cannabis buds
14 ounces of chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids).

STEP-BY-STEP Cannabis Chocolate

1. Chocolate and cannabis buds.

2. Break up chocolate.
3. Melt over boiling water.

4. Add the cannabis through a sieve.

Place a glass bowl on top of a saucepan containing simmering water (not boiling). Ensure that the
water does not come into contact with the bowl as you want to use the steam of the simmering
water to gently melt your chocolate.

Break up your chocolate into pieces and place in the bowl. Allow the chocolate to melt slowly and
gradually. When your chocolate is fully melted, you can add your ground cannabis and mix
thoroughly. Carefully spoon the mix into your chosen mold or ice-cube tray.

When the tray is full, gently raise it up 4 inches and then drop it onto your worktop. This removes
any trapped air from within the chocolate and gives a better finished product. Place the mold into a
refrigerator and allow it to set. You could wrap your chocolates in foil wrappings, which are
available on eBay, to give a professional finish to your chocolates.

5. Stir in the cannabis gently.

6. Pour the mixture into molds and cool.

7. Finished canna chocolate.

8. Foil wrappers give a professional finish.

Turmeric and other spices can help boost your immune system. Use them often.
Cannabis Lozenges
Lozenges have been used to administer herbal medicines for hundreds of
years and are fairly simple to make at home. As lozenges are dissolved in
the mouth the increase in sublingual absorption means your medication
enters the bloodstream far more quickly than regular cannabis edibles.
Contemporary Lozenge Recipe
Preparation Time: 15 minutes

Equipment: Large saucepan, sugar thermometer (also referred to as a candy thermometer), lightly
oiled ice-cube tray, metal spoon.

Ingredients:
½ cup light corn syrup
¼ cup white sugar
¼ cup canna-butter
¼ teaspoon salt
one sachet or ⅛ cup of powdered drink mix of your choice to add flavor

Combine sugar, salt, corn syrup and butter in a large saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring
constantly. Once the mixture is bubbling, lower the heat and continue until your thermometer reads
270°F, before stirring in one sachet of your chosen powdered drink mix. Using a spoon, pour the
mixture into your lightly oiled ice-cube tray (only partly fill each section) to make 20 lozenges.
Sativa-dominant female plant nearing harvest.


CHAPTER EIGHT

Medicinal Cannabis Growing

It is illegal to grow cannabis in most countries; however, the following
information could save your life, and it is disgraceful that cancer sufferers
have to make the choice between being a dead law-abiding citizen or a
cancer-surviving criminal. The cost of cannabis available on the black
market makes the treatment of many of the conditions that can be
alleviated or cured through medical cannabis use prohibitively expensive
for most patients, and cancer sufferers are particularly badly affected as
they require at least a pound of high quality cannabis buds to make an oil
extraction. Furthermore, the quality of illicitly produced cannabis can vary
considerably and as there is no such thing as quality control in illegal
cannabis production, there is no guarantee that the product has not been
contaminated with noxious pesticides or chemicals, nor that other
substances have not been added to the crop. Adulterated cannabis known
as “grit weed” can have anything from sand to silicon sprinkled onto the
buds before harvest in an attempt to increase their weight.
In order to benefit from the plant’s medicinal properties, the only
answer for many patients is to cultivate their own crop. Cultivating
cannabis is a fairly straightforward process and only requires a basic
understanding of the plant’s nutritional and environmental requirements.
Cannabis is a hardy plant that grows in diverse and sometimes challenging
environments, and it requires no specialist knowledge or equipment to
produce enough high-quality buds to treat any of the conditions for which
it is recommended.

Young seedlings in pots.

The Basics
There is nothing complicated about growing cannabis. The advice we give
here is geared toward producing enough dried cannabis to treat you, using
simple techniques and readily available equipment. All cannabis plants,
regardless of variety, have the same basic requirements:
Nutrients and pH in the correct balance.
Humidity and temperature within the correct range.
Light of the correct spectrum.
Water at the correct temperature.
Air rich in carbon dioxide and well circulated.

Nutrients
These will initially be supplied by your compost mix. Avoid peat and
choose a multipurpose loam or organic-based compost. Mix it 50/50 with
perlite. Your compost will have enough nutrients within it to sustain plant
growth for several weeks depending on the pot size used, after which time
you will need to feed the plants. Plant fertilizers have what is known as an
N-P-K rating, which refers to the percentages of (N) nitrogen, (P)
phosphorus and (K) potassium that the mix contains. During the vegetative
stage cannabis uses more nitrogen, whilst during the flowering stage more
phosphorous is required. Any compost mix or plant food recommended for
tomatoes is fine to use for your crop, but specialist organic “Grow” and
“Bloom” fertilizers specifically designed for cannabis are recommended
and available online. Do not overfeed your plants–little and often is best–
and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. As soil quality can vary
enormously, outdoor plants are better cultivated in large pots containing a
compost and Perlite mix.
Mixing compost and Perlite.
Young seedling with its first set of true leaves emerging, and cotyledons still visible.

pH
Cannabis does not like acidic soil, so the compost mix pH should be
between 6.0 and 7.0. You can purchase a simple test probe at your garden
store. Compost mixes are very forgiving as they naturally buffer pH
themselves. Home remedies to raise or lower pH are:

pH up: Baking soda. Water plants with ½ teaspoon/gallon.

pH down: Lemon juice. Water plants with 1 to 2 teaspoons/gallon.

Humidity and Temperature

Humidity is best kept between 40 to 60% during the vegetative phase and
40 to 50% during flowering. The optimal day temperature range for
cannabis is 75 to 85°F. The temperature can be allowed to drop during the
night. You can buy a combined humidity and thermometer gauge at your
garden store.

Light
Sunshine is all you require when growing outside. Indoor growers use
artificial light from either HID (high intensity discharge) lamps,
specifically HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps that are suitable for
vegetative growth and flowering, or LEDs (light emitting diodes). LEDs
are expensive, but do not consume much electricity. Smaller fluorescent
and CF (compact fluorescent) lights are ideal for rooting cuttings and
starting young seedlings. Lights should be hung as close as possible to the
plants without damaging them. Place your hand above your crop to test the
heat. If it’s too hot for your hand, it is going to harm your crop.
A cannabis indica dominant female, grown outdoors.

LED lighting recommendations: 1 x 600-watt draw LED lamp will

cover a 4 foot x 4 foot area and should return one pound of dried buds, but
the cost of these units is high and out of most medical growers’ budgets.
HPS lighting recommendations: HPS lamps are inexpensive,
particularly low-bay industrial HPS lamps, which are fine to use. You
require at least 50 watts of light per one square foot of garden and will get
better results using a 600-watt HPS, as that is the most efficient. A simpler
guide is:

1 x 250-watt HPS illuminates a 2 feet x 2 feet garden (4 plants/4 to 5

ounce yield)
1 x 400-watt HPS for a 2.5 feet x 2.5 feet garden (6 plants/9 to 12 ounce
yield)
1 x 600-watt HPS for a 4 feet x 4 feet garden (9 plants/16 to 18 ounce
yield)

Standard Lighting Schedule

From germination until the flowering stage, plants remain under a regime
of 18 hours of light and 6 hours of darkness. Flowering is induced by
changing the light schedule to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
Plants receive a minimum of two weeks vegetative growth and eight
weeks of flowering.

The Gas Lantern Schedule

Otherwise known as the 12-1 lighting regime, this can save you on average
30 to 50% on your electricity costs, but it also reduces yield. Vegetative
growth: 12 hours lights on, 5.5 lights off, 1 hour lights on, 5.5 lights off,
and repeat schedule. Flowering: first two weeks 11 hours on, 13 off, the
next two weeks 10.5 hours on, 13.5 off, following two weeks 10 hours on,
14 off, following two weeks 9.5 hours on, 14.5 off, and the last two weeks
9 hours on and 15 hours off. Plants receive a minimum of two weeks
vegetative growth and eight of flowering.
An HPS lamp used for indoor cultivation.
Auto-Flowering Lighting Schedule
There is no requirement to change the lighting cycle when using auto-
flowers. The standard practice is to set your schedule to 18 hours on and 6
hours off. Better yields can be obtained at 20 hours on, 4 hours off, but you
have a corresponding rise in electricity consumption. The secret with auto-
flowering strains is to achieve a balance between yield and energy cost.
Plants will trigger flowering automatically after three weeks of vegetative
growth with a further five to seven weeks of flowering. Yields will also be
less using auto-flowering varieties.

Water Requirements
One of the most common mistakes made by novice growers is to over-
water their crop. Warning signs to look out for if you are over-watering
include yellowing leaves and slow growth. In order to determine whether a
plant needs watering, it is better to lift the pot and gauge its weight. You
will soon become accustomed to judging whether or not the plant requires
water. Check the pH of your water using an inexpensive aquarium test kit.
Some plant feeds are specifically designed for use in hard or soft water
areas. One way to determine if your water is hard is to check how it lathers
with soap; hard water will have difficulty lathering. In comparison, soft
water will lather easily. Rainwater is fine to use.

Air and Carbon Dioxide Requirements

Indoor gardens require that the air temperature be maintained within the
ideal range and recirculated. HID lights emit heat so an air extraction
system needs to be fitted. You can purchase an “inline” four-inch fan
online. This should vent out of the grow space with ducting, and is better
purified through a carbon filter to eliminate any pungent odors although
this depends on your situation and is not always necessary. Air circulation
is best provided using office desk fans blowing over the crop. Carbon
dioxide (CO2) needs to be supplied to the plants so a passive vent (open
but with no fan drawing air in) needs to be fitted. There is no requirement
to add additional carbon dioxide using CO2 cylinders. Simply ensure that
your extraction system draws in a good supply of fresh air from the
outside.

Seeds
High-quality cannabis seeds are readily available for purchase on the
Internet; however, it makes good sense to have them delivered to an
address where no cultivation will take place. Many companies state that
they will not ship seeds to the U.S. We have a selection of medical seeds
on our website and our supplier ships worldwide, including to the U.S.
When germinating regular cannabis seeds you will get a fairly consistent
mix of 50% male and 50% female plants. Many medical growers, who
have no access to female cuttings from a known, established and reliable
source, start their crop with feminized seeds. These seeds are 100% female
but produced by a process that used to be referred to as “hermaphroditic
breeding.” Although feminized seeds are a good way to start an all-female
garden, it still takes longer to produce a crop than if you were starting with
cuttings taken from a mother plant. It is not advisable to use a plant grown
from feminized seeds as a mother plant, and the breeders producing these
seeds privately acknowledge this. They are not interested in breeding
genetically stable plants that can provide regular cuttings because they
want growers to continue purchasing their feminized seeds. It is far better
to select a mother plant from regular seeds of known variety and genetics.
The mother does not have to be grown from seed, and you can take clones
from a clone without any problems.
An auto-flowering plant.
Cannabis seeds sprouting.

Germinating Seeds
Many growers germinate seeds by simply planting them into their chosen
medium and ensuring they are kept warm and moist. This works well
using fine seed compost. Others like to germinate their seeds on saturated
tissue paper placed into a shallow dish, but by far the best method is to
soak the seeds in a glass of water. After a couple of days the seed casings
will split and you will see a root emerging. Remove the seeds and place
them into small pots containing fine seed compost. “Damping off” is a
fungal infection that attacks the base of the plant stem, killing young
seedlings. Give seedlings the best possible start by cleaning all your
equipment thoroughly before starting your crop; a dilute 5% bleach
solution will kill any fungal spores. Low light levels, low temperatures,
high humidity and waterlogged compost all contribute to damping off and
should be avoided.
Carefully place the sprouted seedling into fine compost.

A young seedling developing its second set of true leaves.

Identifying Cannabis Gender

Even if you are using feminized seeds, it is important to be able to
distinguish between male and female plants. When the main flowers first
appear they are undifferentiated, which simply means that you can’t tell
either sex. Soon the male flowers can be recognized by their curved claw
shape, followed by the appearance of round and pointed flower buds with
five segments. In male flowers, five white petals approximately inch (5
millimeters) in length make up the calyx, which is the body of individual
flowers. Male petals hang down, and five stamens also approximately
inch (5 millimeters) in length emerge. Stamens produce pollen in
structures called anthers.

Male cannabis flowers.

The female calyxes will swell and are easier to distinguish at a younger
age than males. The first female calyxes tend to lack paired pistils, which
are white pollen-catching structures; however, these soon appear in
abundance. As soon as you see two white hairs appear you can confirm
your plant is female. Male plants do not produce pistils but some cannabis
plants, especially hybrids, produce small nonflowering limbs at each node
and these are often confused with male flowers. You must wait until the
actual flowers form before positively determining the sex of your plants.
Young seedlings can be forced into flower as soon as they reach three
inches (8 centimeters) by placing them into a dark area for 12 hours each
day. After two weeks they should show signs of gender, but if they
haven’t, remove them from the cycle and place them back into the
vegetative cycle, as they will still develop small flowers that can be
identified. This technique does slow down the plant growth rate and can
badly stretch the young plants. It is also suggested that plants treated in
this way yield less.
This female plant has just been sexed by the experts at Mandala Seeds in Spain.

Basic Cloning
Cloning, or the taking of cuttings, allows you to cultivate all-female crops
with known characteristics. When you take a clone from a female plant,
the resultant offspring will be an exact genetic replica of the mother. The
mother is generally kept in a dedicated grow area under a vegetative grow
cycle. You can take cuttings from mothers in early flower but it is not
advisable.
Equipment: Sharp razor or scissors, rooting gel, clear plastic
propagator with lid, fine seed compost, plant mister bottle and small plant
pots or Styro-foam cups with drainage holes pierced into the base.
Start by selecting a vigorous growing tip on your chosen female.
Ensure that the tip is at least 2 inches (5 centimeters approximately) long,
and preferably longer. Cut the tip from the mother plant above the nearest
node (the area of a plant’s stem from which the leaves grow). The female
will go on to produce two fresh growing tips from below the site you have
just cut, doubling the number of cuttings that can be taken next time. Re-
cut the clone’s stem at a slight angle to expose more surface area, and dip
the same end into a horticultural rooting gel. The clone is then placed into
your seed compost and kept in a high-sided propagator. Ensure you have a
humid environment for the first few days at least. It is helpful to remove
the propagator lid on a daily basis and wipe any excess moisture from the
inside using a cloth. Mist the clones daily with a spray bottle for the first
few days. Roots should develop within 10 to 14 days.

STEP-BY-STEP Cloning
1. Equipment required to successfully clone cannabis plants using peat pellets in this instance.

2. Prepare your peat pellets (Jiffy cubes) by soaking. Jiffy coir pellets are a peat-free
alternative.

3. Select a vigorous, healthy side shoot from lower down on the plant and cut.
4. Using a sharp pair of scissors or sharp craft knife make a clean cut and remove the side
shoot.

5. Remove excess leaves lower down the side shoots using a sharp scalpel or craft knife.

6. The stem is then cut at a 45° angle to expose more surface area and improve the strike rate.
7. A rimmed and cut clone ready for dipping into rooting hormone to help increase the strike
rate.

8. Dip the root of the cutting into a rooting hormone. Gels are more effective than powders
but you can also use honey.

9. Insert the stem of the new clone into a pre-prepared Jiffy cube and place into a plant
propagator.
10. Use a mister to give the new clones a fine spray of water at room temperature.

11. A high-sided plant propagator is ideal for keeping the humidity constant for young clones.

12. Newly formed roots can be seen emerging from the sides of the Jiffy cube after 10 to 14
days.

A healthy aero clone.

Pot Sizes
As a general rule you will require one gallon of pot size per foot of plant.
Outdoor growers require a minimum of five gallons but most indoor grows
will be fine with a three-gallon pot. Starting in smaller pots and
transplanting as your indoor garden develops is recommended for several
reasons. Most importantly you maximize the use of space and light
available, but repotting also helps prevent plants from becoming root-
bound, whilst also providing a fresh boost of nutrients and pH buffering.

Vegetative Growth
As soon as your cannabis plants have developed roots, they are ready for
the vegetative growing process. Indoor crops are generally left in the
vegetative stage for between two weeks to a month before flowering is
induced by switching the light cycle.
During the vegetative growth stage, it is advisable to either pinch out
the main growing tip or train the plants to produce a compact, higher
yielding crop. Lower branches that receive less light and will only produce
sparse buds should also be removed. When the growing tip is removed
from the cannabis plant’s main stem two more shoots will grow from the
nodes beneath the cut and this also encourages more growth on the lower
branches. Super-cropping is similar to pinching out the main growing tips,
but the tip is not removed. This allows the main cola or bud to continue to
grow. Crush the innermost part of the main stem below the main cola with
your index finger and thumb, ensuring you don’t damage the hard outer
layer of the stem. This should be done no more than once a week.
Crushing this inner part of the stem causes it to become thicker and lower
branches increase their growth. Similar results can be achieved by bending
the main stem or tying it down. Mesh can be stretched horizontally over
the crop and the tops bent to grow beneath it; in this way you increase the
light the buds receive. Outdoor gardeners should also employ these
training techniques to keep their plants short and bushy.
A healthy young seedling in early vegetative growth.
Plant in veg in my garden.

Flowering
After two weeks, or when plants are around 8 to 12 inches tall with good
stem development, indoor growers should switch the light cycle to induce
flowering. The plants will stretch out slightly as they begin to bloom, but
after two weeks they will settle down and concentrate on flower
production. Your fertilizer should be changed to a “bloom” formulation,
and you should cease all super-cropping techniques. Unless using auto-
flowering strains, outdoor growers are dependent on the change in season
but can induce flowering earlier by covering plants for 12 hours out of 24.
Don’t interrupt your light cycles and ensure that no unwanted light is
entering your indoor garden as this will disrupt flowering.

Harvesting
After eight weeks of the flowering regime, predominantly cannabis indica
varieties will be ready to harvest. Predominantly cannabis sativa varieties
may take one to two weeks longer. The seed suppliers will advise you on
flowering times. The buds should be sticky and covered with translucent
resin, and 50% of the white pistils should have turned brown. Cut the
plants at the stem and hang them in a dark area at room temperature. They
will dry in around 10 to 14 days. Don’t try to speed this process up by
applying heat. It is better to be patient and let this process occur naturally.
If you are making oil there is no requirement to wait this long for the
plants to dry. The main purpose of slow drying is to remove chlorophyll to
improve the taste of the cannabis buds.
This indica-dominant female shows good bud development as it nears harvesting.

Curing
The curing process breaks down chlorophyll even more and improves
flavor in the finished product. We would recommend a minimum of two
weeks curing, but the longer the buds are left, the better they will be. Place
the dried buds loosely into airtight glass jars in a cool, dark area. The jars
should be opened once a day and the buds checked to ensure they are not
sweating too much. If they are, they should be removed and further dried.
After one week to ten days, the airing process is reduced to a weekly
check. Failure to vent the jars will cause moisture buildup and mold will
develop, ruining your harvest. If you are making the buds into oil then this
process is not required.

The 12-Week Medical Grow

This system will produce enough dried cannabis buds to enable patients to
make sufficient cannabis oil for a three-month treatment, which is the
recommended dosage for cancer sufferers.
Equipment: 9 feminized cannabis indica–dominant seeds, one 4-foot-
square grow tent, one 600-watt High Pressure Sodium lamp, nutrients,
compost, Perlite, nine 3-gallon pots, one 4-inch inline fan, one 4-inch desk
fan, 4-inch ducting, one time-switch capable of carrying a 600-watt load,
one carbon filter (optional).
Grow tents are easy to set up and come with vent sleeves and hanging
straps fitted as standard, and they can be purchased cheaply on eBay. Fit
the extraction fan and any ducting at the top of the tent with the light
hanging beneath it and fitted to your heavy-duty timer. Hang the desk fan
so it can be directed over the plants. Germinate your seedlings and place
them into the pots. Your seedlings will require three to four weeks in the
vegetative stage from germination. After this, begin the flowering cycle. It
is recommended that you use the standard 18 hours vegetative growth/12
hours flowering lighting regime for this. After eight weeks in the flowering
cycle, you can harvest. After drying, the crop can then be processed into
cannabis oil, further cured for vaporizing or used for edibles and drinks.

Advice for Disabled Growers

It is always advisable to have help from your caregiver when setting up,
not only for assembling the system, but also for filling the pots with the
compost mix. If you have trouble bending, the grow tent can be raised
providing there is enough clearance between the top of the tent and your
ceiling.
A fully functioning indoor tent grow under HPS lighting.
 Many disabled and wheelchair users find it easier to set up what is
known as a “lazy Susan.” This is basically a rotating base that the plants
are grown on. These are constructed using a heavy-duty lazy Susan
bearing, available online. The bearing needs to be fitted centrally to a
plywood base that sits in the bottom of the tent. The rotating top that the
plants will sit on can be either plywood or a heavy mesh, but it needs to be
cut to give clearance when rotated. This makes tending and watering the
plants far easier.
Blind users find the lazy Susan particularly effective and use talking
scales to weigh the pots so that the crop isn’t over-watered. Many blind
growers also place a graduated bamboo cane into each pot to help gauge
the height of their individual plants.
Watering can become a problem for many disabled users who have
trouble lifting, so most impaired growers use a pressure sprayer with a
hose or lance attachment. If you can lift, it is better to use a small and
lightweight, well-balanced plastic watering can with a long narrow spout
for reaching into your pots. There are designs available that incorporate a
push button at the top of the handle to control the flow of water from the
spout, and where the filling hole is covered by a sliding cover to prevent
spillage.
A view of the HPS lamps in this indoor grow.
This leaf demonstrates nutrient burn and imbalance in the plant.

Troubleshooting
The worst problem you may get will be insect attacks, and these are easily
treated by spraying. As a general rule, it is better to only use pesticides
labeled as safe for food crops. Pyrethrins are organic neurotoxins that
attack the nervous systems of all insects. When used in smaller doses they
have an insect repellent effect. Spider mites are the most damaging pest
attack you can suffer but they can be treated using either Neem oil or a
specialist spray you can easily source online. Signs of spider mite
infestation are seen on the leaves, which will appear speckled as the pests
feed on the underside of the leaf. If you have a serious attack, you may see
small webs and tiny spider-like insects crawling over the plant.
Freshly prepared Bud Buddies 1:1 CBD:THC cannabis oil extraction for medical use.


CHAPTER NINE

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between hemp seed oil and cannabis oil?
A: Cannabis oil is a concentrated extract of cannabinoids made from the
buds of the illegal drug varieties. Hemp seed oil is made from pressing the
oil from seeds of the non-psychoactive commercial hemp plant.

Q: Which cannabis varieties are recommended for making medical

cannabis oil?
A: That very much depends on what you want the oil to achieve. The
condition you need to treat will determine which variety you choose,
depending on whether you require high THC or CBD content. Oil made
from a plant that has 50/50 THC and CBD will produce oil with the same
cannabinoid profile.

Q: What is the maximum dose of cannabis oil you should take in a 24-
hour period?
A: If you are taking it to relieve symptoms then consume as much as you
require. The consensus regarding cancer treatment is a minimum of a gram
per day.

Q: Is it better to take the oil just before bedtime or do you suggest

spreading the dose throughout the day?
A: It is preferable to take the dose throughout the day, but some people
prefer to take their daily dose before bedtime.
Female flowering.

Q: I have just started on a three-month oil treatment for cancer; when will
I become more tolerant to the oil and feel less sleepy?
A: Sleep is an important part of the curing process, but as your dosage
increases so should your tolerance.

Q: What is meant by a “maintenance dose,” and what dosage is

recommended?
A: The dose varies between 0.1 and 0.3 grams per day, generally
administered by cancer patients who have taken a full course of oil
previously.

Q: Is the evidence that cannabis oil cures cancer purely anecdotal or have
there been medical trials?
A: So far all the scientific studies concerning cannabis have been carried
out in laboratories, and they have shown conclusively that cannabinoids
can kill cancer cells.

Q: How long does it take to grow enough cannabis to make sufficient oil
to treat cancer?
A: A 4-foot-square area can provide a pound of cannabis every four
months.

Q: Do you treat skin cancer with cannabis ointment, or do you need to

complete a three-month oil ingestion treatment as well?
A: Do both if possible, however the consensus is that a topical application
is best.

Q: Is it safe to treat children with cannabis oil?

A: Cannabis has very low toxicity and there is no medical reason why it
cannot be administered, although obviously the dosage will be less.

Q: Can you make cannabis oil from seeded female flowers?

A: Yes, but bear in mind that seeded cannabis bud has less than half the
cannabinoid content of unseeded sensimilla.

Q: What is the best method for storing cannabis oil?

A: Keep it in your refrigerator but make sure that it cannot be accessed by
children.
Legumes are low in fat but high in protein, fiber, and nutrients.


APPENDIX I

Cancer-Fighting Foods
The best diet for fighting cancer should include unprocessed,
predominantly plant-based foods, which includes a variety of vegetables,
fruits, whole grains, nuts and beans. Fiber, folate and carotenoids all
contribute to the cancer-fighting ability of these foods. Fiber in any form
decreases the risk of colorectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer risk is
lessened with adequate intake of folate. Try to eat your vegetables either
raw or lightly steamed, and choose organic produce whenever possible.
Eating red meat substantially raises the risk of cancer or heart disease
death; data collected over 28 years reveals a striking link, and it is
recommended that you choose fish or poultry instead. Hemp seed should
be included in your diet and can replace meat or fish proteins.
Studies have suggested that dairy products may be linked to increased
risk for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and possibly for ovarian and
breast cancers.1 Dairy-product consumption increases levels of insulin-like
growth factor I (IGF-1) in the bloodstream. IGF-1 is a potent stimulus for
cancer cell growth, so it is advisable to either eliminate or at least reduce
consumption. The following foods can help inhibit cancer cell growth and
are recommended:
Avocados are rich in glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that attacks
free radicals in the body by blocking intestinal absorption of certain fats.
Beans, lentils and peas are high in fiber and have components that
inhibit cancer reproduction in laboratory studies. The phytochemicals,
saponin, protease inhibitors and phytic acid appear to protect cells from
damage.

Dried and ground herbal cannabis.

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and cauliflower contain indole-3-

carbinol that helps combat breast cancer by converting a cancer-promoting
estrogen into a more protective variety. Broccoli and Brussels sprouts also
have the phytochemical sulforaphane, a product of glucoraphanin that is
believed to aid in preventing colon and rectal cancer. Broccoli,
cauliflower, kale, Brussels sprouts and cabbage contain two antioxidants,
lutein and zeaxanthin, that may help decrease prostate and other cancers.
Chili peppers contain capsaicin, which may neutralize certain cancer-
causing substances (nitrosamines) and help prevent stomach cancers.
Dandelion Tea: Research indicates that dandelion root extract forces a
very aggressive and drug-resistant type of blood cancer cell, known as
chronic monocytic myeloid leukemia, to essentially commit suicide, a
process called apoptosis. Repeated treatment with low dose dandelion root
extract is said to be effective in killing cancerous cells, whilst leaving
healthy cells undamaged.
Flax contains lignans, which may have an antioxidant effect and block
or suppress cancerous changes. Flax is also high in omega-3 fatty acids,
which are thought to protect against colon cancer and heart disease.
Garlic has immune-enhancing allium compounds (dialyl sultides) that
appear to increase the activity of immune cells that fight cancer and
indirectly help break down cancer-causing substances. These substances
also help block carcinogens from entering cells and slow tumor
development. Garlic can reduce risk of stomach cancer by half and
colorectal cancer by two-thirds when compared to those who eat little or
no garlic. The more garlic consumed, the less the risk of these cancers.
Grapes (red) contain bioflavonoids, powerful antioxidants that work as
cancer preventatives. Grapes are also a rich source of resveratrol, which
inhibits the enzymes that can stimulate cancer-cell growth and suppress
immune response. They also contain ellagic acid, a compound that blocks
enzymes that are necessary for cancer cells to develop–this appears to help
slow the growth of tumors.
Recent evidence-based research suggests garlic may be effective against some diseases.

Nuts and seeds are packed full of nutrients.

Hemp Seed and hemp seed oil are known to have anticancer, anti-
inflammatory effects and improve the body’s ability to respond to insulin.
 Kale has indoles, which are nitrogen compounds that may help stop the
conversion of certain lesions to cancerous cells in estrogen-sensitive
tissues. In addition, isothiocyanates, phytochemicals found in kale, are
thought to suppress tumor growth and block cancer-causing substances
from reaching their targets. Kale, spinach, collard greens, mustard greens,
romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce and swiss chard are all common, dark-green
leafy vegetables. The carotenoids in green leafy vegetables, also known as
leutein and zeozanthan, act as antioxidants throughout the body.
Mushrooms appear to help the body fight cancer and build the immune
system, mainly shiitake, maitake, reishi, Agaricus blazei Murill, and
Coriolus Versicolor. These mushrooms contain polysaccharides, especially
Lentinan, which are powerful compounds that help in building immunity.
They are a source of Beta Glucan. They also have a protein called lectin,
which attacks cancerous cells and prevents them from multiplying. They
also contain Thioproline. These mushrooms can also stimulate the
production of interferon in the body.
Nuts contain the antioxidants quercetin and campferol that may
suppress the growth of cancers. Brazil nut contains 80 micrograms of
selenium, which is important for those with prostate cancer.
Berries are loaded with antioxidants, protecting your body against inflammation and free
radical molecules that can damage cells and organs.

Oranges and other citrus fruits contain monoterpenes, believed to help

prevent cancer by sweeping carcinogens out of the body. Some studies
show that grapefruit may inhibit the proliferation of breast-cancer cells in
vitro. Oranges and lemons contain limonene, which stimulates cancer-
killing immune cells.
Raspberries contain many vitamins, minerals, plant compounds and
antioxidants known as anthocyanins, all of which may protect against
cancer. According to a recent research study reported by Cancer Research,
rats fed diets of 5% to 10% black raspberries saw the number of
esophageal tumors decrease. Research reported in the journal Nutrition
and Cancer in May 2002 shows black raspberries may also thwart colon
cancer. Black raspberries are rich in antioxidants, thought to have even
more cancer-preventing properties than blueberries and strawberries.
Berries are considered good sources of vitamin C, fiber, ellagic acid and
other phytochemicals. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR)
states that ellagic acid is a phytochemical that has antioxidant powers,
decreases carcinogens and slows reproduction of cancer cells.
Sweet Potatoes (Yams) contain many anticancer properties, including
betacarotene, which may protect DNA in the cell nucleus from cancer-
causing chemicals outside the nuclear membrane.
Teas: Green tea and black tea contain certain antioxidants known as
polyphenols (catechins), which appear to prevent cancer cells from
dividing. Green tea is rated as the most effective, followed by the more
common black tea; however, herbal teas do not show this benefit.
According to a report in the July 2001 issue of the Journal of Cellular
Biochemistry, the polyphenols that are abundant in green tea, red wine and
olive oil, may protect against various types of cancer. Dry green tea leaves,
which are about 40% polyphenols by weight, may also reduce the risk of
cancer of the stomach, lung, colon, rectum, liver and pancreas. AICR
reports green tea has the highest concentration of catechins, which have
shown potential for preventing cancer cell development in laboratory
studies. Population studies show that groups of people who consume high
amounts of green tea have lower incidence of bladder, colon, stomach,
pancreatic and esophageal cancers.
Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that attacks roaming
oxygen molecules, known as free radicals, which are suspected of
triggering cancer. It appears that the hotter the weather, the more lycopene
tomatoes produce. Watermelons, carrots and red peppers also contain these
substances, but in lesser quantities. Scientists in Israel have shown that
lycopene can kill mouth cancer cells, and an increased intake of lycopene
has already been linked to a reduced risk of breast, prostate, pancreas and
colorectal cancer.
Tea is derived from a particular plant (Camellia sinensis) and includes only four varieties.
Herbal teas are technically not teas but an infusion.

A variety of grains, spices, pulses, and legumes will help you stay healthy.
 Turmeric (curcumin) is a polyphenol from the turmeric plant. It has a
variety of properties that include antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory
and antiseptic action. It has also been shown to fight cancer by influencing
mutagenesis, oncogene expression, cell cycle regulation, apoptosis,
tumorigenesis and metastasis. Turmeric has been traditionally used in
India as a disinfectant and treatment for laryngitis, bronchitis, and
diabetes. It is responsible for the yellow color of Indian curry and
American mustard. Curcumin, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-
inflammatory properties, is the most active constituent of turmeric and has
been shown to limit cell growth in multiple cancers, and in addition,
curcumin affects a variety of growth-factor receptors and cell-adhesion
molecules involved in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis.
Whole grains contain fiber, which protects against colorectal cancer.
Whole grains are also sources of antioxidants, lignans and saponins. These
components have shown cancer-fighting properties.
White pistils are evident on this maturing female plant.


APPENDIX II

Marijuana Legal Issues

Currently, sick people are being arrested and punished for using medical
cannabis when the purpose of law in any democratic country is first and
foremost to protect members of its society from harm. Common law (also
known as case law or precedent) originated in England in the Middle
Ages, and it is implemented in most former colonies of the British Empire,
including the United States of America and Canada. English law still
provides the basis for many American legal traditions and policies,
although it has no superseding jurisdiction. The essence of English
common law is that it is upheld by judges sitting in courts, applying
common sense and their knowledge of legal precedent to the facts of the
case before them. The laws in place should be fair, just and reasonable,
with any punishments proportionate to the given crime and based on
sensible decisions made by compassionate judges.
Individuals needing to use cannabis to cure illness are some of the
most vulnerable in society and the very people that the law was designed
to protect. The prohibition of cannabis can in no way be considered fair,
just or reasonable. The system of law designed to protect the weakest in
society was, and still is, being manipulated by powerful individuals with a
purely commercial agenda. Every argument that was put forward to ensure
cannabis became illegal has been proven to be false and fraudulent. In
essence, the prohibition of cannabis was a corrupt venture, and therefore
an illegal undertaking. Furthermore, any person or persons who continue
to sustain the criminalization of cannabis are themselves party to this very
same corrupt and illegal act.

The roots are beginning to emerge on this clone.

If you are arrested for any cannabis-related offense, try to stay calm
and remember that you do not have to say anything to the police officers.
You should not be intimidated into answering questions until you have
spoken to a legal adviser. Give only your name, address and telephone
number, and your immediate family and employer’s numbers if asked. Do
not resist arrest, even if you are innocent, as you will be charged with
resisting arrest and they may possibly hurt you.
Do not regard the arresting officers as people who are there to help
you, regardless of how they speak to you; it is the police officer’s duty to
get you to incriminate yourself. Anything you say can and will be later
used against you in any possible court proceedings.
Do not speak to anyone apart from your legal adviser. If you’re
arrested with somebody else do not talk to them about the incident. Police
vehicles and holding cells are equipped to make video or audio recordings.
You have a right to make one phone call but the telephone you use will
also be equipped to make an audio recording of your conversation. You
have the right not to incriminate yourself. It is the responsibility of the
police to prove the charge against you. Warnings regarding the right not to
incriminate yourself originated in England in 1912, when the Judges Rules
were introduced. These stated that:
“When a police member has admissible evidence to suspect a person of
an offense and wishes to question that suspect about the offense, the
officer should first caution the person that he is entitled to remain silent.”
The giving of this caution in England does not require a suspect to
confirm that they understand the caution. Furthermore, the invoking of this
right to silence does not prohibit officers from asking further questions.
This is not the case in the U.S., where the police cannot interrogate a
suspect further unless they waive their right.

Miranda Rights in the U.S.

A Miranda warning is a criminal procedure rule that law enforcement must
make in order to protect you from a violation of your Fifth Amendment
right against induced self-incrimination. However, in the case of Berghuis
v. Thompkins, the Court held that unless a suspect actually states that he is
relying on this right, his subsequent voluntary statements can be used in
court and police can continue to interrogate the said person. The Fifth
Amendment right is the right to remain silent, the right to refuse to answer
questions or to otherwise communicate information. Therefore, before any
interview takes place the suspect must be advised:

They have the right to remain silent. Anything the suspect says can be
used against them.
They have the right to have an attorney present before and during the
questioning.
They have the right, if they can’t afford an attorney, to have a attorney
appointed at public expense to represent them before and during the
questioning.

Canada
Equivalent rights exist in Canada consistent with the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms. The right to silence is protected under section 7 and section
11(c). The accused may not be compelled as a witness against themselves
in criminal proceedings, and therefore only voluntary statements made to
police are admissible as evidence. Under the Charter, an arrested person
also has the right:

To be informed promptly of the reasons.

To retain and instruct counsel without delay and be informed of that right.
To have the validity of the detention determined by way of habeas corpus
and to be released if the detention is not lawful.

European Union
Known as The Reding Rights, those suspected of a criminal offense must
receive information about their basic rights during criminal proceedings.
These are that they have the right:

To a lawyer.
To be informed of the charge.
To interpretation and translation for those who do not understand the
language of the proceedings.
To remain silent and to be brought promptly before a court following
arrest.

They are also informed that:

They will be given a letter spelling out their rights in writing.

The letter of rights will be easy to understand, without legal jargon.
It will be made available in a language the suspect understands.
It will contain practical details about the person’s rights.

Know Your Rights

Habeous corpus was conceived to protect against tyranny and the abuse of
the judicial system and is Latin for “you may have the body.” It is a writ
that requires a person detained by the authorities be brought before a court
of law so that the legality of the detention may be examined. The act was
passed by the English Parliament in 1679, but the first recorded use of the
principle was in 1305. However, other writs with the same effect appear to
precede the English Magna Carta of 1215. Although rarely used nowadays,
it can be demanded by anyone who believes they are unlawfully detained
and without it you can be imprisoned indefinitely without trial. Habeas
corpus rights have been gradually eroded and weakened for over a decade
now and the U.S. Patriot Act is just one of the latest efforts to chip away at
it.
Young plants developing under fluorescent lighting.

Samuel R. Caldwell was the first person convicted of selling cannabis

under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. On the very same day the Marijuana
Tax Stamp Act was enacted (Oct. 2, 1937) the FBI and Denver, Colorado
police raided the Lexington Hotel and arrested Samuel R. Caldwell, 58, an
unemployed laborer and his alleged customer. Caldwell became the first
ever cannabis seller convicted under U.S. federal law. His customer was
found guilty of possession. Samuel R. Caldwell sold three cannabis
cigarettes, and was sentenced to 4 years of hard labor at Leavenworth
Penitentiary, in addition to a $1,000 fine. Caldwell was incarcerated in
1937, at age 58, and released in 1940 at age 60. He died one year after his
release.
Evaporating on a hot plate.


APPENDIX III

Standardized Medication
If you are making cannabis oil yourself to treat any of the medical
conditions that we have detailed in this book, have selected a good quality
strain and have carefully followed the instructions given, then your oil
should be of sufficient quality to treat the most serious of conditions. This
section is designed to help those who wish to learn more advanced
techniques for making cannabis oil preparations.
Once you have decided on the cannabinoid profile you require, for
example either a high THC or CBD content, and have grown, then
processed your selected strain of plants into oil, then the next step in
standardizing the medication you are producing is to have your oil
laboratory-tested to give you an analysis of the cannabinoid content. When
you know the specific percentages of cannabinoids contained in your oil
you can accurately calculate the dosage of any medical preparations you
make. This is useful when producing capsules and suppositories and
allows you to produce medications of varying strengths. This is
particularly important when treating children and the elderly as you can
moderate the dosage required. There are many companies who will test
your oil and the cost is dependent on the method you require them to use.
There are three types of test a laboratory can carry out; however, only
HPLC will identify how successful your decarboxylation has been and
identify phytocannabinoids, GC is not accurate enough.
Gas Chromatography (GC)
Gas chromatography involves the oil sample being vaporized and injected
onto the head of a chromatographic column where it can be analyzed. The
sample is transported through the column by a flow of chemically inert
gas. Commonly used gases include nitrogen, helium, argon and carbon
dioxide. The carrier gas system also contains a molecular sieve to remove
water and other impurities. This is a common type of chromatography used
in analytical chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can
be vaporized without decomposition. This is the simplest test you can have
carried out on your oil and subsequently the least expensive. The results
will give you an overall cannabinoid percentage and also give you the
percentages broken down into THC, CBD and CBN.

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

This method combines the features of gas chromatography alongside mass
spectrometry to identify different substances within a test sample. GC with
flame ionization or MS detection is now an established method for the
analysis of cannabis. Derivatization (conversion into a derivative
originating from the original to aid in identification) is necessary when
information about cannabinoid acids and the dominating cannabinoids in
the sample is required.
The total cannabinoid content, i.e. the amount of neutral cannabinoids
plus the neutral cannabinoids formed by decarboxylation of the acidic
cannabinoids, is determined when the GC analysis is performed without
derivatization.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

This is the most expensive but thorough test you can have performed on
your samples. High-performance liquid chromatography allows the
simultaneous determination of neutral and acidic phytocannabinoids
without derivatization. Reversed phase columns and preferably solvent
programmed gradient systems are used for the separation of major and
minor cannabinoids and their corresponding acids for chemotyping (ratio
acidic/neutral cannabinoids), studying the effect of manufacturing
processes and storage conditions and batch comparison if required.
Detection is usually performed by UV and diode array photometers, as
well as by fluorescence, electrochemically and also MS.
The laboratory will send you a lab report detailing the overall
cannabinoid content and the percentages of THC, CBD, et cetera.
Depending on the type of testing you have had carried out the report may
also include the terpene percentages and other information. The two main
cannabinoids we are interested in are THC and CBD and in order to
standardize the medications you are preparing obviously the overall
percentage is required. For example, test results on the oil we produced
from the Skunk Haze variety supplied to us by the CBD crew came back
with an almost perfect 1:1 THC to CBD ratio and the overall active
cannabinoid content was 80%. This allows us to accurately calculate the
amount of cannabinoids we add to our preparations.
Capsules filled with a standardized dose of cannabis oil.

Calculating Dosage
After studying the laboratory report we were able to ascertain that our oil
was the perfect cannabinoid profile that we required in order to make a
generic copy of Sativex.

Signal 1: DAD1 A, Sig = 219,4 Ref = 450,80

Source. www.budbuddies.co.uk

The analysis report (below) shows that each gram of this oil contains
398.9 milligrams of CBD and 330.7 milligrams of THC.
Each bottle of Sativex contains 270 milligrams of CBD and 250
milligrams of THC, 680 milligrams of the Bud Buddies oil contains 271
milligrams of CBD and 225 milligrams of THC.
To administer 50 milligrams of CBD from the above oil you simply
place 125 milligrams in a capsule. However, to administer smaller
amounts it is beneficial to dilute the concentrated oil in non-psychoactive
hemp or olive oil to act as a carrier.
Sativex spray. To the left is a generic version produced by the authors that is far superior to
Sativex and cost around $8.00 to produce.

This grow room is producing some wonderful medication.

 One gram of the above oil contains 398 milligrams of CBD; therefore,
if added to 10 grams of hemp seed oil or olive oil, each gram (1000
milligrams) would then contain 39.8 milligrams. If you place 0.5 gram
(500 milligrams) of this oil into a capsule each one would contain 19.9
milligrams of CBD.
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2. Quizlet, “BBH143: How Drugs Work”, http://quizlet.com/19333522/bbh-143-how-drugs-work-
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3. Peter Kershaw, Economic Solutions: The Incredible Story of How You and America are Being
Bankrupted & What You Can Do to Avoid the Wipeout, (self-published, 1997), 29
4. “History of Marijuana as Medicine–2900 BC to Present”,
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6. “Evidence Found of Ancient Marijuana Use”, Albany Times Union, May 20, 1993,
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2007), 116.
8. Gerald E. Wickens, Economic Botany: Principles and Practices, (Springer, 2004)
9. The Federal Observer, “Get Hemp to Jive, Man: Part II”,
http://www.federalobserver.com/archive.php?aid=2825
10. “Anslinger’s Lies”, http://www.ukcia.org/potculture/20/lies.html
11. “Prohibition Then and Now”, notnowsilly.blogspot.com/2012/10/prohibition-then-and-
now.html
12. “Mary Jane: Legal or Not?” http://33345569.nhd.weebly.com/why-marijuana-is-illegal.html
13. “Harry Anslinger Quotes”, http://quotes.liberty-
tree.ca/quote_blog/Harry.Anslinger.Quote.37DC14
14. “Mary Jane: Legal or Not?” http://33345569.nhd.weebly.com/why-marijuana-is-illegal.html
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16. “Why Hemp is Confused with Marijuana”, http://marijuana-tax-act-1937.blogspot.com/
17. “Reefer Madness Propaganda Through the Ages”,
www.electricemporer.com/eecdrom/HTML/EMP/AA/ECH23.HTM
18. Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marihuana_Tax_Act_of_1937
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(2012), doi: 10.2174/1874205X01206010018
20. ‘The Real Dope on Marinol and Sativex”,
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and-medical-marijuana
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25. GW Pharmaceuticals, “Second Phase III Sativex Cancer Pain Trial Commences”,
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Cancers”, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208.html

Chapter One: The Cannabis Plant

1. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis
2. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabaceae
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Chapter Two: How Cannabis Works

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7. F. M Lewke, et al, “Cannabidiol Enhances Anandamide Signaling and Alleviates Psychotic
Symptoms of Schizophrenia”, Transl Psychiatry, v.2 (3) (2012), doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.15,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3316151/
8. “Marijuana: A Medical Marvel”, http://www.the-
forbiddenknowledge.com/hardtruth/hemp_conspiracy.htm
9. Lynn E. Fiellin, et al, “Previous Use of Alcohol, Cigarettes, and Marijuana and Subsequent
Abuse of Prescription Opioids in Young Adults”, Journal of Adolescent Health, vol. 2 issue 2,
158-163, (February 2013) doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.06.010
10. Philip J. Hilts, “Relative Addictiveness of Drugs”, New York Times, (Aug 2, 1994)
http://www.tfy.drugsense.org/tfy/addictvn.htm
11. “Gateway Therory”, http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/43#sthash.NkC4RGg7.dpbs
12. DA Simonetto, et al., “Cannabinoid Hyperemesis: A Case Series of 98 Patients”, Mayo Clinic
Proceedings, 87(2), 114-9 (February 2012), doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2011.10.005,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22305024
13. “Torch the Joint”, http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/31556.html
14. “Marijuana Fact Sheet”, www.whitehouse.gov/sites/.../marijuana_fact_sheet_jw_10-5-10.pdf

Chapter Three: Administration

1. “History of the Medical Use of Marijuana”, http://www.skunked.co.uk/articles/marijuana-
history.htm
2. W. B. O’Shaughnessy, On the Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah, Provincial
Medical Journal and Retrospect of the Medical Sciences, Vol. 5, No. 122 (Jan. 28, 1843), 343-
347
3. “Subject: Medical Cannabis Use”, http://www.new-territory.net/cann_uses.txt
4. “Pfizer, Set to Lose Lipitor, Feels No Pain With King Buy”, Forbes (2012),
http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/12/pfizer-king-acquisition-markets-equities-healthcare.html
5. “Eli Lilly and Cannabis”, http://theweedscene.com/eli-lilly-and-cannabis/
6. Thomas w. Loker, The History and Evolution of Healthcare in America: The Untold Backstory of
Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, and Why Healthcare Needs Reform, (iUniverse.com, 2012),
90
7. “A History of Cannabis Use for Stress and Depression: Rough Copies”
http://www.cannabisculture.com/node/24099
8. “Patented Pot vs. the Herbal Gold Standard”, http://www.cannabisculture.com/node/19879
9. “Medical Cannabis DEA”, http://www.scribd.com/doc/24836142/Medical-Cannabis-DEA-
Judge-Francis-Young
10. “Florida Medical Examiners Commission 2008 Interim Report of Drugs Identified in Deceased
Persons”, http://web.docuticker.com/go/docubase/27642
11. “Prescription Drugs Kill 300 Percent More Americans Than Illegal Drugs”,
http://www.thebetter-healthstore.com/newsletter/11-13-08_November_05.html
12. “40,000 Deaths in USA Caused by Aspirin and Painkillers Every Year”,
http://adjusthealth.info/health-news/89-40000-deaths-in-usa-caused-by-aspirin-and-painkillers-
every-year
13. “Short Lesson in Medicine”, http://drsircus.com/medicine/short-lesson-in-medicine
14. Roman Bystrianyk, “Toxic and Deadly NSAIDS – An Investigative Report”,
http://www.healthsentinel.com/joomla/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=2446:toxic-and-deadly-
nsaids&catid=39:reports&Itemid=52
15. Dr. Hilary Roberts, “Vitamin C: Linus Pauling Was Right All Along. A Doctor’s Opinion”,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/12154.php
16. American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatmentsandsideeffects/comple-
mentaryandalternativemedicine/herbsvitamin-sandminerals/vitamin-c
17. “Chemo Can Damage Healthy Cells: Study”, New Zealand Herald,
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10824989
18. “Chemotherapy Can Inadvertently Encourage Cancer Growth”,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248661.php
19. “Smoking Marijuana Not Bad for the Lungs”,
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240146.php
20. “Study: Smoking Marijuana Not Linked With Lung Damage”,
http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/10/study-smoking-marijuana-not-linked-with-lung-damage/
21. “Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection”, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html
22. “Pot’s Active Ingredient Halts Lung Cancer Growth, Study Says”,
http://cannabisnews.com/news/22/thread22888.shtml
23 MA Elsohly, et al. “Rectal Bioavailability Of Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol from the
Hemisuccinate Ester in Monkeys”, Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 80(10) (Oct 1991),
942-5
24. “Collapse After Intravenous Injection of Hashish”.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1986226/
25. Intravenous Marijuana Syndrome: Daniel Brandenburg, MD, Richard Wernick, MD.

Chapter Four: Cannabis Cures

1. “Corrie Yelland’s Story”, http://www.whale.to/cancer/corrie_yelland.html
2. Dr. Tod Mikuriya, “Cannabis as a Substitute for Alcohol a Harm Reduction Approach”,
http://harmreductioncenter.blogspot.com/2011/02/cannabis-as-substitute-for-alcohol-harm.html
3. “The History of Marijuana”, http://www.michaels-house.com/marijuana-rehab/history-of-
marijuana/
4. “Alcohol and Public Health: Alcohol-Related Disease Impact”, http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-
sheets/alcohol-use.htm
5. “Alzheimer’s to Triple by 2050 as Baby Boomers Age”,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/06/us-usa-alzheimers-idUSBRE9151AT20130206
6. “Marijuana’s Active Ingredient Shown to Inhibit Primary Marker of Alzheimer’s Disease”,
http://www.scripps.edu/news/press/2006/080906.html
7. D. Amtmann, et al., “Survey of Cannabis Use in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis”,
The American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 21(2) (Mar 2004), 95-104,
8. “Medicial Cannabis Helps ALS Patient Outlive Her Own Doctors”,
http://www.freedomisgreen.com/medical-cannabis-helps-als-patient-outlive-her-own-doctors/
9. “What is Zyprexa?”. http://www.goodtherapy.org/drugs/zyprexa-olanzapine.html
10. “Cannabis May Help Anorexia”, News.com.au, http://www.news.com.au/breaking-
news/cannabis-may-help-anorexia/story-e6frfkp9-1111114332888
11. J Corey-Bloom, et al., “Smoked Cannabis for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized,
Placebo-Controlled Trial”, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(10), (July 2012), 1143-
50, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.110837
12. “Mouse Model Links Alcohol Intake to Marijuana-Like Brain Compounds: New Pathway
Presents Target for Medication Development”, http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2003/niaaa-
20.htm
13. Yann le Strat and Bernard Le Foll, “Obesity and Cannabis Use: Results From 2 Representative
National Surveys”, American Journal of Epidemiology, (Aug 2011), doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr200
14. Richard A. Lovett, “Marijuana Has Anti-Inflammatory That Won’t Get You High”, National
Geographic News, http://news.nationalgeo-graphic.com/news/2008/06/080624-marijuana.html
15. “Can Marijuana Help People with Asthma or Other Breathing Disorders?”, http://medical-
marijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000132
16. www.jddt.in/index.php/jddt/article/download/54/63
17. “More Diagnoses of Hyperactivity Causing Concern”, New York Times,
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/01/health/more-diagnoses-of-hyper-activity-causing-
concern.html
18. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methamphetamine
19. “ADHD Seems To Be Linked To Low Dopamine Brain Activity”, http://www.medicalnews-
today.com/articles/79070.php
20. Steffens S, Mach F., “Cannabinoid Receptors in Atherosclerosis”, Curr Opin Lipidol.
2006;17:519–526
21. “Effects of Cannabis Therapy on Endogenous Cannabinoids”,
http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=155:effects-of-
cannabis-therapy-on-endogenous-cannabinoids&catid=41:research-studies&Itemid=135
22. “Why I Give My Autistic Son Pot, Part 4”,
http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2011/05/why_i_give_my_autistic_son_pot_part_
23. “Cannabis Enhances Bipolar Patients’ Neurocognitive Performance”, http://www.med-
icalnewstoday.com/articles/249006.php
24. “Active Ingredient in Marijuana Kills Brain Cancer Cells”,
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=7235037&page=1
25. “Chemotherapy Can Do More Harm Than Good”,
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2008/12/02/chemotherapy-can-do-more-harm-
than-good.aspx
26. “Cancer Chemotherapy Backfires”, http://www.natureasia.com/en/research/highlight/1822
27. Dr. Christina Davis, et al. “Long-term effects of continuing adjuvant tamoxifen to 10 years
versus stopping at 5 years after diagnosis of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: ATLAS,
a randomised trial”, The Lancet, Vol. 381, issue 9869, (Mar 2013), doi:10.1016/S0140-
6736(12)61963-1
28. Redmond CK, Wickerham DL, Cronin W, et al., “The NSABP breast cancer prevention trial
(BCPT): a progress report.” [Abstract] Proceedings of the American Society of Clinical
Oncology 12: A-78, 69, 1993.
29. “IVAX Ges US Go-Ahead for Generic Novaldex”,
http://www.thepharmaletter.com/file/83790/ivax-gets-us-go-ahead-for-generic-nolvadex.html
30. Betty Martini, “Tamoxifen, Tears and Terror”,
http://www.holisticmed.com/toxic/tamoxifen.shtml
31. “Health Fears Over Cancer Drug”, BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/466134.stm
32. Dr. Christina Davis, et al. “Long-term effects of continuing adjuvant tamoxifen to 10 years
versus stopping at 5 years after diagnosis of oestrogen receptor-positive breast cancer: ATLAS,
a randomised trial”, The Lancet, Vol. 381, issue 9869, (Mar 2013), doi:10.1016/S0140-
6736(12)61963-1
33. www.sciencenews.org/pages/pdfs/data/1996/149-09/14909-03.pdf
34. Betty Martini, “Tamoxifen, Tears and Terror”,
http://www.holisticmed.com/toxic/tamoxifen.shtml
35. “Cannabis Compound Stops Spread of Breast Cancer: Researchers”, CBC News,
http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/story/2007/11/19/cannabis-cancer.html
36. www.nel.edu/pdf_/25_12/NEL251204R02_Russo_.pdf
37. L. Degenhardt, et al., “The relationship between cannabis use, depression and anxiety among
Australian adults: findings from the National Survey of Mental Health and Well-Being.”, Social
Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 36(5) (May 2001), 219-227
38. Tina Minkowitz, “The U.N. Asks the U.S. to Defend its Use of Forced Psychiatric Drugging”,
http://www.madinamerica.com/2013/04/unasks-the-united-states-to-defend-its-practice-of-
forced-psychiatric-drugging/
39. “Study in Mice Shows Why Antidepressants Often Fail”,
http://www.foxnews.com/story/2010/01/14/study-in-mice-shows-why-antide-pressants-often-
fail/
40. “Cannabis: Potent Anti-Depressant In Low Doses, Worsens Depression At High Doses”,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071023183937.htm
41. A. Chaterjee, et al., “A dramatic response to inhaled cannabis in a woman with central thalamic
pain and dystonia”, Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 24(1) (July 2002), 4-6,
42. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17952650
43. “Hepatitis C Now Kills More Americans Than HIV”, http://health.usnews.com/health-
 news/news/articles/2012/02/20/hepatitis-c-now-kills-more-americans-than-hiv
44. http://www.hepatitis-central.com/mt/archives/2007/06/the_pros_and_co.html
45. “AIDS Patient Turns to Medical Marijuana for Relief”, http://www.herbal-smoke.net/aids-
patient-turns-to-medical-marijuana-for-relief/
46. P. Conroe, et al., “Controlled clinical trial of cannabidiol in Huntington’s disease”,
Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior, 40(3) (Nov 1991), 701-708
47. www.qahda.com/HQ_Newsletter_July_2011.pdf
48. “Alternative therapies for overactive bladder: Cannabis and urge incontinence”,
link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11884-008-0033-4
49. “Mouse Model Links Alcohol Intake to Marijuana-Like Brain Compounds New Pathway
Presents Target for Medication Development”, http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/jan2003/niaaa-
20.htm
50. Yann le Strat and Bernard Le Foll, “Obesity and Cannabis Use: Results From 2 Representative
National Surveys”, American Journal of Epidemiology, (Aug 2011), doi: 10.1093/aje/kwr200
51. Robert J. McKallip, et al., “Cannabidiol-Induced Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells: A Novel
Role of Cannabidiol in the Regulation of p22phoxand Nox4 Expression”, Molecular
Pharmacology vol. 70 no.3 (Sep 2006), 897-908,
52. “Chemicals in Cannabis May Fight MRSA”,
http://www.webmd.com/news/20080904/marijuana-chemicals-may-fight-mrsa
53. “Multiple Sclerosis and Extract of Cannabis (MUSEC): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-
controlled phase III trial to determine the efficacy and safety of a standardised oral extract of
Cannabis sativa for the symptomatic relief of muscle stiffness and pain in Multiple Sclerosis
(MS)”, http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN42223114
54. J Corey-Bloom, et al., “Smoked Cannabis for Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized,
Placebo-Controlled Trial”, Canadian Medical Association Journal, 184(10), (July 2012), 1143-
50, doi: 10.1503/cmaj.110837
55. “Study: Cannabis Extracts Mitigate Muscle Stiffness in Multiple Sclerosis Patients”,
http://norml.org/news/2012/07/26/study-cannabis-extracts-mitigate-muscle-stiffness-in-
multiple-sclerosis-patients
56. cannabis.cluster005.ovh.net/data/pdf/2001-01-1.pdf
57. “Medical Marijuana Possible Treatment for Osteoporosis”, http://naturalsociety.com/medical-
marijuana-possible-treatment-osteoporosis/
58. http://norml.org/library/item/osteoporosis
59. “More Than Five Million Americans Abuse Painkillers Every Month”. http://www.besmart-
bewell.com/media/painkillers.htm
60. “Medicinal Marijuana Effective for Neuropathic Pain in HIV”, http://ucsdnews.ucsd.edu/news-
rel/health/08-08MedMarijHIV.asp
61. cannabis.cluster005.ovh.net/data/pdf/2001-01-1.pdf
62. med.org/studies/ww_en_db_study_show.php?s_id=14
63. www.cannabisculture.com/content/.../White-House-No-Marijuana-PTSD
64. www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research.../V20N1.pdf
65. “Generic OxyContin Pains the FDA”, http://on-
line.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324345804578422691805851784.html
66. “Suicide Among War Veterans is a Scourge of Military Conflicts”,
http://www.open.ac.uk/platform/blogs/society-matters/suicide-among-war-veterans-scourge-
military-conflicts
67. “U.S. Army Suicides Rising Sharply, Study Finds”, http://health.usnews.com/health-
news/news/articles/2012/03/08/us-army-suicides-rising-sharply-study-finds
68. http://homecomingvets.com/
69. Melanie C. Dreher, et al., “Prenatal Marijuana Exposure and Neonatal Outcomes in Jamaica:
An Ethnographic Study”, Pediatrics, 93(2) (Feb 1994), 254-260
70. “Cannabinoids, Like Those Found in Marijuana, Occur Naturally in Human Breast Milk”,
http://www.naturalnews.com/036526_cannabinoids_breast_milk_THC.html
71. “CN BC: Marijuana Effective Against Morning Sickness: Study”,
http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1583/a06.html?269296
72. Ferrari F, Ottani A, Giuliani D., “Inhibitory effects of the cannabinoid agonist HU 210 on rat
sexual behaviour”, Physiology and Behavior 69 (2000); 547–554
73. “Cannabis Plays Havoc With Men’s Orgasms”,
http://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2009/article/cannabis-plays-havoc-with-mens-orgasms
74. “Cannabis-like Cream Effective Combating Pruritus, Stidy Says”,
http://norml.org/news/2005/12/15/cannabis-like-cream-effective-combating-pruritus-study-says
75. E. Del-Bel, et al., “Cannabidiol-treated rats exhibited higher motor score after cryogenic spinal
cord injury”, Neurotoxicity Research 21(3), (Apr 2012), 271-280, doi: 10.1007/s12640-011-
9273-8.
76. “Report Highlights Danger of Irish-Grown Cannabis”, http://www.coloradodispen-
saryproducts.com/tag/cbd/
77. “Cannabinoid Improves Locomotor Function, Reducse Injury in Animal Model of Spinal Cord
Injury”, http://norml.org/news/2011/11/17/cannabinoid-improves-locomotor-function-reduces-
injury-in-animal-model-of-spinal-cord-injury
78. “Federal Study Suggests Marijuana May Prevent Brain Damage in Stroke Victims”,
http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle-old/049/study.shtml
79. K.R. Muller-Vahl, “Cannabinoids Reduce Symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome”, Expert Opinion
on Pharmacotherapy, 4(10) (Oct 2003), 1717-1725,
80. Clare M. Eddy and Hugh E. Rickards, “Treatment Strategies for Tics in Tourette Syndrome”,
Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders 4(1) (Jan 2011), 25-45, doi:
10.1177/1756285610390261

Chapter Six: Hemp Nutrition and Health

1. http://www.fuelrunning.com/quotes/2013/01/10/the-problem-is-we-are-not-eating-food-anymore-
we-are-eating-food-like-products-dr-alejandro-junger-hungry-for-change-film/
2. www.who.int/entity/dietphysicalactivity/media/en/gsfs_obesity.pdf
3. “Does Adaptation to a Global Life Explain the “Obesity Epidemic”?,
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/healthandsocialcare/2013/04/16/does-adaptation-to-a-global-life-explain-
the-obesity-epidemic/
4. “Landmark Reprot: Excess Body Fat Causes Cancer”, http://preventcancer.aicr.org/site/News2?
 page=NewsArticle&id=12898&news_iv_ctrl=0&abbr=pr_
5. Chris Conrad, Hemp for Health; The Medical and Nutritional Uses of Cannabis Sativa, (UK;
Healing Arts Press 1997)
6. “Shelled Hemp Seed”. http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-4393002
7. J. Luo et al.,”Extract from Fructus cannabis activating calcineurin improved learning and
memory in mice with chemical drug-induced dysmnesia”; Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 24(11)
(2003), 1137-1142
8. “Shelled Hemp Seed”, http://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/hn-4393002#hn-4393002-uses
9. “Is Juicing Raw Cannabis the Miracle Health Cure That Some of its Proponents Believe it to
Be?” http://www.alternet.org/personal-health/juicing-raw-cannabis-miracle-health-cure-some-
its-proponents-believe-it-be
10. “Why The Raw Cannabis Juicing Trend May Not Be all its Juiced Up To Be”,
http://boingboing.net/2012/01/10/why-the-raw-cannabis-juicing.html
11. “Cannabis Compound May Stop Metastatic Breast Cancer”,
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Healthday/story?id=4509456&page=2
12. S.Takeda, et al., “Cannabidiolic acid, a major cannabinoid in fiber-type cannabis, is an inhibitor
of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell migration”, Toxicology Letters, 214(3), (Nov 2012), 314-
319, doi: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2012.08.029

Appendix 1: Cancer-Fighting Foods

1. “Dairy Products Increase Risk of Prostate Cancer”, http://www.pcrm.org/health/mednews/dairy-
products-increase-risk-of-prostate-cancer
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Professor Manuel Guzman (right): “You [Jeff] are combining what you see in the clinics with
the best in the research field with the needs of cancer patients and you put that information
together in a rational manner and I also think in a very valuable manner.”

About the Authors

Jeff Ditchfield is a successful author, outspoken campaigner and activist.
He was one of the original founders of Bud Buddies, an organization that
supplied cannabis free of charge for medicinal users from 2002 to 2007.
His organization was a nonprofit venture that was operated out of medical
necessity, yet he was eventually prosecuted for supplying cannabis. After a
lengthy trial he was found not guilty by a jury of his peers. However, this
angered the authorities so much that they took the case to the Court of
Appeal and he was unconstitutionally declared guilty despite the jury’s
lawful decision to acquit him. Undeterred, Jeff sent every member of the
U.K. government a cannabis plant and drug tested a Chief Constable who
reluctantly agreed whilst giving a press interview. Jeff has lectured at The
Royal College of General Practitioners and John Moores University on the
medicinal application of cannabis and is the former proprietor of The
Beggars Belief, the first cannabis coffee shop in Wales. Jeff is
internationally acclaimed and respected for his research and testing of
cannabis-based oils and preparations for medical use.

Mel Thomas is a former commercial grower who was one of the first to
introduce Skunk cannabis to the U.K. It was in Holland that he first
learned how to make cannabis oil and perfected the art over many years.
Eventually arrested he was charged with producing skunk cannabis valued
at £2.8 million; the trial judge called him, “A horticultural expert involved
in a resolute and successful attempt to produce cannabis on a commercial
scale.” Convicted of producing cannabis he was sentenced to five years
imprisonment and held as a category “A” prisoner on a maximum-security
wing in one of Europe’s most secure jails. Mel also campaigns against
cannabis prohibition and his first book, Cannabis Cultivation has now
been in print for over ten years, being one of the top five best-selling
cultivation books ever written. As well as radio show appearances Mel has
written numerous articles for Skunk magazine, Releaf, Weed World,
Cannabis Culture and Grow Magazine based in Germany and is an
outspoken critic of the pharmaceutical industry and government policies,
particularly as two family members suffer from conditions that cannabis
can alleviate; namely multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s syndrome.
Index
A
Abatin Wellness Center, 128
acetone, 84
acne, 113
administration methods, 13, 32–43
capsules, 38
ingestion, 15, 32, 38, 131–33
inhalation. see smoking, as administration method; vaporization
intravenous injection, 32, 42–43
mucosal sublingual administration, 15–16
sublingual absorption, 149
suppositories, 32, 41–42
tinctures, 39–41
topical applications. see topical applications
alcohol, and alcoholism, viii, 21, 28, 47, 49
alcohol tinctures, 39–40
allergic reactions, viii
allodynia, 62
Alzheimer’s disease, xviii, 49–50, 115
American Chronic Pain Society, xvi
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), 50
anal administration (suppositories), 32, 41–42
anandamide, 13, 18, 70
anesthesia, effect of cannabis on, 71
anorexia nervosa, 51, 66–67
anti-cannabis prohibition, viii–ix, x–xiv, 18, 19, 21
antidepressants, 59–60
antioxidants, xvii–xviii, 180, 181, 182
anxiety, viii, 28, 45, 58. see also post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
appetite, 14, 26, 28, 45, 58, 66–67
arthritis, 25–26, 42, 52, 115
aspirin, viii
asthenia syndrome, 112
asthma, viii, 52
AstraZeneca, 56
atherosclerosis (ASVD), 53, 113
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 52–53, 81, 113
Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, 77
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 53–54
autoimmune diseases, xvii–xviii
Ayurvedic medicine, 112–13

B
Backes, Michael, 128
BC Compassion Club, 77
benzene, 33, 37
benzodiazepine, 25
Berry, Elliot, 51
bipolar disorder, 54, 59–60
blood pressure, 14, 42–43, 61, 64
brain, 13, 58, 113
breast cancer, xviii, 31, 55–56, 129
brittle bone disease, 70
bubble hash/isolator, 102–3
buds, 7–9, 13
burns, 42
butane honey oil (BHO), 93–99

C
calcineurin, 113
Caldwell, Samuel R., 191
Cameron, Ewan, 29
cancer, viii, xviii–xix, 16, 28, 46, 55–58
apoptosis, xviii, 181, 185
ATLAS study, 56
bowel cancer, 57–58
breast cancer, xviii, 31, 55–56, 129
cannabis oil treatment, 28–32
chemotherapy, 30–31, 55, 70
dandelion tea, 181
and diet, 30, 105–7, 179–85
dosages, 31–32
glioma, 62–63
skin cancer, 42, 46–47
Tamoxifen, 56
Canham-Chervak, Michelle, 73–74
cannabidiol. see CBD (cannabidiol)
cannabinoid oil, concentrated without solvents, 99–101
cannabinoids, xvii–xviii, 15, 44
cannabis oil analysis, 193–95
 extraction methods, for edibles, 132–34
phytocannabinoids, 128–29
Sativex spray, xv, 24, 195–97
synthetic, xvi
vaporization temperatures, 35–36, 37
cannabinol. see CBN (cannabinol)
cannabis, vii–viii, xix, 9, 13, 14. see also research studies
adulterated product, 151
decarboxylation process, 87, 89–92, 133–34
medicinal use, historical overview, ix–x, 23–24, 45
prohibition history, viii–ix, x–xiv, 18–21, 187
as Schedule I drug, xv, xvi
cannabis cultivation, 1–3, 7–9, 127
auto-flowering strains, 6, 7, 158, 159
basic requirements, 152–53
carbon dioxide requirements, 158
clones, and cloning, 9, 156, 163–66
curing process, 170
damping off, 161
disabled growers, 170–72
female plants, 1–3, 17, 20, 161–62, 163
feminized seeds, 3, 160
flowering stage, 3, 153, 154, 156, 168
gender identification, 161–62, 163
germination, 160–61
grow tents, 170
harvesting, 169
humidity, 154
indica strains, 5, 20, 26, 28, 30, 48, 155
indoor growing systems, 5, 154, 156, 157
insect attacks, 173
light, and lighting, 154, 156, 157, 158
light cycle manipulation, 3, 156
male plants, 1–3, 7, 161–62
nutrients, 153, 168
odor control, 158
pH levels, 154, 158
ruderalis strains, 6, 7
sativa strains, 3, 5, 26, 28, 150
seedlings, 156, 162
seeds, 158, 160
sensimilla, 177
super-cropping, 167
 temperature, 154, 158
troubleshooting, 173
12-week medical grow, 170
vegetative stage, 3, 153, 154, 166–67
water requirements, 158
cannabis hyperemesis, 21, 132
cannabis oil
allergic/negative reactions, viii
basic preparation, 87
butane honey oil (BHO), 93–99
in cancer treatment, 28–32, 55–58
vs. Canna-Infused Oil, 138–39
CBD:THC ratio, 29, 31
concentrated, without solvents, 99–101
crockpot extraction, 86, 87–88
decarboxylation process, 87, 89–92
dosage calculator, 101, 195–97
dosages, 31–32, 92, 175–76
filtration, 102
vs. hemp seed oil, 175
ice hash, 99, 100
ice-water separation (bubble hash/isolator), 102–3
ingestion of, 81
laboratory analysis, 92, 101–2, 193–95
leukemia, 67
QWISO (Quick Wash Isopropyl Oil), 88, 93
skin disorders, 42, 43, 78, 81
solvents, 83–87
standardized medication, 193–97
storage, 177
topical application, 42
yields, 101
cannabis strains by name
Amnesia Haze, 98
Avidekel, 16
Blueberry, 28
Cheese, 28
Grapefruit, 28
Haze, 28
Jack Herer, 28
Juanita La Lagrimosa, 16
Kali Mist, 28
Lemon Skunk, 28
 Lowryder, 6
Master Kush, 28
Northern Lights, 28
OG Kush, 28
Purple Kush, 28
Skunk Haze, 16, 30
White Rhino, 28
Willy Nelson, 28
canna-concentrates, 134. see also recipes
capsules, 38
carbon monoxide, 36
cardiovascular disease, 64
CARDIA study, 33–34
and diet, 105–7, 113–14, 179–85
case histories
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), 50
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 54
bowel cancer, 57–58
cannabis juicing, 126
HIV/AIDS, 64–65
skin cancer, 46–47
CBD (cannabidiol), xviii, 7, 9, 122–23, 129
and anandamide signaling, 18
cancer research, xix, 55
CBD:THC ratio, 26, 31
daytime medication, 16
in dementia treatment, 49–50
medicinal properties, 16, 61
Sativex spray, xv, 24, 195–97
CBN (cannabinol), 9
celiac disease, and hemp seed flour, 110
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 49
Cesamet, xvi
CF (compact fluorescent) lights, 156
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, 190
chemotherapy, 30–31, 55
children, treatment of, 60, 177
cholesterol, 113, 114
chronic fatigue syndrome, 28
chronic monocytic myeloid leukemia, 181
chronic pain. see pain relief
clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD), 58, 69, 71
clones, and cloning, 9, 156, 160, 163, 166
step-by-step, 164–65
cocaine, viii, 21, 25
cold extraction tincture method, 40
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 77
concentration, 45
Corey-Bloom, Jody, 69–70
cotton fever, 43
Coumadin, and drug interactions, 115
Courtney, Kristen, 126, 128
Courtney, William, 123, 126, 128
cramps, 45, 61, 74
creativity, 14
Crohn’s disease, 16, 66
cystic fibrosis, 59

D
dabbing, 38
dandelion tea, 181
decarboxylation process, 39, 87
cannabis oil, 89–92
for edibles, 133–34
laboratory analysis, 193
delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, 9
delta-9-THC, 15
chemical pathway of cannabinoids, 9
and endocannabinoids, 13
depression, 28, 45, 59–60
derivatization, 194
Desoxyn, 53
diabetes mellitus, 60–61
diarrhea, 45, 66
diet
antioxidants, 180, 181, 182, 184
and cancer, 30, 105–7, 179–85
dandelion tea, 181
fiber, 179, 185
fruit, 179, 181, 183, 184
green leafy vegetables, 182
hemp seeds, 9–11, 28, 179, 182
nuts, seeds, berries, 182–83
phytochemicals, 179–80, 183
polyphenols, 184
 saturated fat, 105
teas, 184
trans fat, 105–6
turmeric, 185
dosages, viii
accuracy of measurement, 32
adapting for ingestion, 131–33
calculating, 195–97
cancer, 31–32
cannabis oil, 31–32, 92, 175–76
Canna-Butter, 137
Canna-Ghee, 138
Canna-Infused Oil, 140
Green Dragon Rum Infusion, 140
hemp seed, 115–16
inhalation/smoking administration, 32
juicing, 129
maintenance dose, 177
Dreher, Melanie, Women and Cannabis: Medicine, Science, and Sociology, 75–76
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), xviii, 74
drug interactions, 115
dry mouth, 14
Dupont chemical corporation, xiv
dystonia, 61, 72

E
Economist, The, ix
eczema, 113
11-Hydroxy-THC, 15
Eli Lilly & Co., 24
emesis syndrome, 42–43
emphysema, 61
endocannabinoids, 13, 67
and bone metabolism, 70
clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD), 58
in human breast milk, 76–77
epilepsy, 61–62
essential fatty acids, 10, 110, 112, 113–15, 122
ester THC-HS, 41
ethanol, 84, 102
F
Fernandez-Ruiz, Javier, 65
fibromyalgia (FM/FMS), 62
flax, 181
Florida Medical Examiners Commission, 24–25

G
gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), 10, 115, 122
garlic, 181
gas chromatography (GC), 193, 194
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 194
gas lantern schedule, 156
ghee, 133, 137–38
glaucoma, viii, 26, 28, 62
glioma, 62–63
glycerin tinctures, 41
Gobbi, Gabriella, 60
Gonzales v. Raich, xvi
“Gore Files”, xii–xiii
grain alcohol, 84
Grinspoon, Lester, 18–19
grit weed, 151
Guzman, Manuel, xviii, 128–29
GW Pharmaceuticals, xv–xvi, 58

H
Hampson, Aidan, 79–80
headache. see migraine/headache
health, and nutrition, 105–7, 179–85
HealthDay News, 73
Hearst, William Randolph, xii–xiv
heart disease. see cardiovascular disease
hemp, 1, 109, 111
commercial uses, vii, x, 11, 107
vs. herbal cannabis, 9
media manipulation of public perception, viii–ix
hemp seed, 28, 116–20
in Ayurvedic medicine, 112–13
as dietary supplement, 64, 107–10, 179, 182
drug interactions, 115
gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), 115
 as gluten-free flour, 110
health benefits, 9–11, 113–15
hemp nut (hulled hemp seed), 110, 112
as laxative, 113, 115
nutrient values, 108, 110
omega-3 fatty acids, 10, 110, 112, 113–15
omega-6 fatty acids, 10, 110, 112, 113–15
recommended dosage, 115–16
in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 112
weight-loss plan, 117, 120–22
hemp seed oil, 122
vs. cannabis oil, 175
as dietary supplement, 182
skin disorders, 113
Hen, Rene, 60
hepatitis C, 63
hermaphrodites, 1–3
heroin, viii, 25
herpes, 63–64
hexanoyl-CoA synthetase, 9
HID (high intensity discharge) lamps, 154, 158
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 193, 194–95
histidine, 108
HIV dementia, xviii
HIV/AIDS, 64–65, 71
honey, 132, 133
Hornby, Paul, 129
HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps, 156, 157
Hua Tuo, x
Huntington’s disease, 65
hybrid strains, 1, 26, 28, 162
hyperemesis, 21, 132
hyperemesis gravidarum, 77
hypertension, 64
hypotension, 42–43

I
ice hash, 99, 100
ice-water separation (bubble hash/isolator), 102–3
immune system regulation, 53, 64
incontinence, 65
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 65–66
ingestion, as administration method, 15, 32, 38, 77
cannabis hyperemesis, 21, 132
dosage, determining, 131
extraction methods, for edibles, 132–34
oils, canna-infused, 133
onset and duration of effect, 131–33
sublingual absorption, 149
tinctures, 133
inhalation. see smoking, as administration method; vaporization
insomnia. see sleep disorders
interferon, 63, 182
intravenous injection, 32, 42–43, 71
isolator, 100, 102–3
isopropanol rubbing alcohol, 85
isopropyl alcohol, 84–85, 102
QWISO (Quick Wash Isopropyl Oil), 88, 93
itching, 45, 78

J
Jones, Bradley, 57–58
Jordan, Cathy, 50
juicing, 122–23, 128–29
step-by-step, 124–25
Junger, Alejandro, 105

K
Kedar, R. J., 56
Kerlikowske, Gil, 72
kief, 13
Krawitz, Michael, 74

L
laboratory analysis
gas chromatography (GC), 193, 194
gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS), 194
high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), 193, 194–95
lactose intolerance, 133
landrace strains, 1
LD50 (median lethal dose), vii–viii
LEDs (light emitting diodes), 156
Lee, Marie Myung-Ok, 54
legal issues
cannabis-related offenses, 187–89
habeas corpus, 190–91
right to remain silent, 189–90
legal rulings, xvi
Americans for Safe Access v. Drug Enforcement Agency, 74
Berghuis v. Thompkins, 189
United States v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers Cooperative, xvi
U.S. patent law, xvii–xviii
lethargy, 14
leukemia, xviii, 67
Li Shih Chen, x, 107
light, and lighting, 154, 156, 157
auto-flowering strains, 158
gas lantern schedule, 156
light cycle manipulation, 3, 156, 168
Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), 50
lung cancer, xviii, 33–34, 55

M
marijuana. see cannabis
Marijuana Tax Act, xiv, 191
Marks, Howard, 16
Materia Medica, x
McAllister, Sean, 57
medical conditions benefitted
acne, 113
alcoholism, 21, 47, 49
Alzheimer’s disease, xviii, 49–50, 115
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), 50
anorexia nervosa, 51, 66–67
anxiety, 28, 45, 58
appetite, 14, 26, 28, 45, 58, 66–67
arthritis, 42, 52
asthenia syndrome, 112
asthma, viii, 52
atherosclerosis (ASVD), 53, 113
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), 52–53, 81, 113
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 53–54
autoimmune diseases, xvii–xviii
bipolar disorder, 54
blood pressure, 14, 61, 64
burns, 42
cancer, viii, 16, 26, 28, 55–58, 62–63
cardiovascular disease, 33–34, 64
chronic fatigue syndrome, 28
clinical endocannabinoid deficiency (CECD), 58, 69, 71
concentration, 45
cramps, 45, 61, 74
Crohn’s disease, 16, 66
cystic fibrosis, 59
depression, 28, 45, 59–60
diabetes mellitus, 60–61
diarrhea, 45
drug addiction, 21
dystonia, 61, 72
eczema, 113
emphysema, 61
epilepsy, 61–62
fibromyalgia (FM/FMS), 62
glaucoma, 26, 28, 62
glioma, 62–63
hepatitis C, 63
herpes, 63–64
HIV dementia, xviii
HIV/AIDS, 64–65, 71
Huntington’s disease, 65
hyperemesis gravidarum, 77
incontinence, 65
inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), 65–66
insomnia. see sleep disorders
itching, 45, 78
leukemia, 67
Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), 50
mental health issues, 18–19
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 67, 69
migraine/headache, 28, 45, 62, 69
morning sickness, 75–76, 77
multiple sclerosis (MS), viii, xv–xvi, 16, 28, 65, 69
muscle spasms/tremors, 28, 45, 61, 69–70, 71–72
nausea, 26, 28, 45, 70
obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), 81
opiate abuse, 47, 49
osteoporosis, 70, 115
pain relief, xiv, 16, 26, 28, 45, 71
 panic attacks, 45
Parkinson’s disease, xviii, 16, 54, 71–72, 115
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 16, 72–74
pregnancy, and fetal development, 74–77
premature ejaculation, 77
premenstrual syndrome (PMS), 74
proctitis, 66
pruritus, 78
psoriasis, 42, 78, 113
rheumatoid arthritis, 52, 115
schizophrenia, 18–19, 54
sickle-cell anemia, 79
skin cancer, 42, 177
skin disorders, 42, 43, 78, 113, 115
sleep disorders, 28, 45, 62, 66
spasticity, 69–70, 79
spinal cord injuries, 79
stress relief, 45
stroke, 79–80
synovitis, 115
Tourette’s syndrome, 80–81
ulcerative colitis, 66
ulcers, 81
vomiting, 45, 70
warts, 42, 81
Merck, 24
methamphetamines, 25
methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), 67, 69
Methotrexate, 78
Metoclopramide, 70
migraine/headache, 28, 45, 62, 69
Mikuriya, Tod Hiro, 47, 49
milk, for cannabinoid extraction, 132
Miranda Rights (U.S.), 189
morning sickness, 75–76, 77
mortality statistics, 24–26, 49, 59–60
MRSA (methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus), 67, 69
mucosal sublingual administration, 15–16
multiple sclerosis (MS), 16, 28, 65, 69
Sativex spray, xv–xvi, 24, 195–97
therapeutic ratio, pharmaceutical therapies, viii
muscle spasms/tremors, 28, 45, 61, 69–70, 71–72
myalgia, 42–43
N
Nabilone, xvi
nanoparticle technology, 63
naphtha, 87
nausea, 26, 28, 45, 70
Neem oil, 173
Nelson, Peter, 30–31
Nolvadex, 56
nonpolar solvents, 83–84, 102
Novartis Pharma AG, xvi
NSAID-related deaths, 25–26
Nutt, David, 18

o
obesity, 67, 106–7
obsessive compulsive disorders (OCD), 81
oils, canna-infused, 133, 138–39, 140
olivetolic acid cyclase (OAC), 9
omega-3 fatty acids, 10, 110, 112, 113–15, 122, 181
omega-6 fatty acids, 10, 110, 112, 113–15, 122
On the Preparations of the Indian Hemp, or Gunjah (O’Shaughnessy), 23, 141
opiate abuse, 47, 49
opioid drugs, and PTSD, 72–74
opioid painkillers, 25
O’Shaughnessy, William, 23, 25, 141
osteoarthritis, 25–26, 52
osteoporosis, 70, 115
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., xvi
ovarian cancer, 31
OxyContin (oxycodone), 25, 71, 72

P
Page, Jon, 9
pain relief, xiv, 45, 62, 71
indica strains, 26, 28
inhalation/smoking administration, 32–35
topical applications, 52, 61
vaporization administration, 16
panic attacks, 45
paranoia, 14, 28
Parke, Davis & Company, 23–24
Parkinson’s disease, xviii, 16, 54, 71–72, 115
Partnership for a Drug Free America, 18
Pauling, Linus, 29
Pedanius Dioscorides, x
Pen-Tsao Kang-Mu (The Great Herbal), x, 107
Pfizer Group, 23–24
pH levels, 154, 158
pharmaceutical industry, xiv–xvi, 18, 23–24, 56
Pharmacopoeia (U.S.), x
physician consultations, 45
phytocannabinoids, 128–29
phytosterols, 113–14
Pletcher, Mark, 33–34
polar solvents, 83–84, 87, 102
polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), 10
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 16, 72–74
pregnancy, and fetal development, 74–77
premature ejaculation, 77
premenstrual syndrome (PMS), 74
prescription medications, viii, 24–26, 60, 71
Pritikin, Nathan, 105
Procholoperazine, 70
proctitis, 66
prostate cancer, 31, 55
Prozac, 60
pruritus, 78
psoriasis, 42, 78, 113
psychoactive chemical compounds, 9
PTSD. see post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Q
QWISO (Quick Wash Isopropyl Oil), 88, 93

R
recipes
bhang, 132
Cannabis Chocolate, 146–47
Cannabis Lozenges, 149
Canna-Butter, 132–33, 135–37, 149
Canna-Flour, 134–35
Canna-Ghee, 137–38
 Canna-Infused Oil, 138–39, 140, 144–46
Chocolate Brownies with Canna-Infused Oil, 144–46
Contemporary Bhang, 142–43
Green Dragon Rum Infusion, 140–41
Hemp Balls, Contemporary, 118
Hemp Balls (Nai Lao Yi Qi), 116
Hemp Milk, 119
Hemp Nut Coleslaw, 120
Hemp Nut Salad, 117
Hemp Seed Smoothies, 116
Hot Buttered Bhang, 144
Quick and Simple Bhang, 144
Toasted Hemp Seeds, 117
Traditional Bhang, 141–42
Reding Rights (European Union), 190
“Reefer Madness”, 18, 19
research studies, 177
American Association for Cancer Research, xviii
American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), 183, 184
American Journal of Epidemiology, 67
American Journal of Medicine, 25
American Journal of Pediatrics, 75
ATLAS study, 56
Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships, 77
California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, xix, 56–57
Canadian Institutes of Health, 71
Canadian Medical Association Journal, 71
Cancer Research, xviii
CARDIA study, 33–34
Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (Univ. of California), xiv–xv
Columbia University Medical Center, 60
Complutense University (Madrid), 55, 63, 128
Daiichi University of Pharmacy (Japan), 129
European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 63
European Journal of Pharmacology, 76–77
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 30–31
GW Pharmaceuticals, 58
Hebrew University (Jerusalem), 13, 70
Henderson and Pugsley, 42
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 184
Journal of International Medical Research, 113
Journal of Natural Products, The, 69
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 69
 Journal of Neuroscience Research, 65
Journal of Neurotoxicity Research, 79
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, The, 61
Journal of Pharmacology, Biology and Behavior, 113
Journal of the American Medical Association, 33–34, 72
King’s College School of Medicine and Dentistry, 56
Lancet, The, 55–56
Leweke et al, 18
McGill University, 60, 71
Medical College of Virginia, xviii
Muller-Vahl et al, 80–81
National Cancer Institute, 56
National Institute for Mental Health, 79–80
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 66–67
National Institutes of Health, xviii, 66–67
Nature Medicine, 30, 55
New England Journal of Medicine, 52
Nutrition and Cancer, 183
Open Neurology Journal, The, xiv
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 70
San Diego School of Medicine, 71
San Francisco General Hospital, 36
Science News, 56
Scripps Research Institute, 49
Steffens et al, 53
University of California (Irvine), 54
University of California (San Diego), 69–70
University of Michigan, 113
University of Saskatchewan, 9
Zucker Hillside Hospital, 54
restless leg syndrome, 61, 62
resveratrol, 181
rheumatoid arthritis, 25–26, 52, 115
Ritalin, 53
Russo, Ethan B., 58

s
Salant, Richard, viii
Sativex spray, xv–xvi, 24, 195–97
schizophrenia, 18–19, 54
seed banks
CBD Crew, 16, 30
 Centennial Seeds, 109, 111
The Joint Doctor, 6
Mandala Seeds, 163
Mr. Nice Seeds, 16
Reggae Seeds, 16
serotonin, 28, 59, 60
Shantibaba, 16
sickle-cell anemia, 79
side effects, 14, 65
cannabis hyperemesis, 21
chemotherapy, 30–31, 55, 70
emesis syndrome, 42–43
interferon, 63
Olanzapine, 51
radiation treatments, 46
Sizluski, Henry J., Jr., 64–65
skin cancer, 42, 46–47
skin disorders, 42, 43, 78, 113, 115
sleep disorders, 14, 28, 45, 62, 66
Smith, Anthony, 77
smoking, as administration method, 13, 15, 32–36, 77. see also vaporization
solvents, 83–87
acetone, 84, 102
butane, 93
ethanol, 84, 102
isopropyl alcohol, 84–85, 102
naphtha, 85, 87
olive oil, 99–100
safety issues, 83–84, 85, 87, 88, 91, 93
Spannabis, xv
spasticity, 69–70, 79
spinal cord injuries, 79
Squibb, 24
statistics manipulation, 56
stearidoric acid, 122
stress relief, 45
stroke, 79–80
super-cropping, 167
suppositories (anal administration), 32, 41–42
Suzuki, David, 123
Sylvestre, Diana, 63
synovitis, 115
T
Tamoxifen, 56
Tashkin, Donald, 34
terpenoid essential oils, 38, 43
THC, 9, 122, 123
as antidepressant, 60
as bronchial dilator, 52
CBD:THC ratio, 26, 31
ester THC-HS, 41
extraction methods, 132–34
lung cancer, xviii
median lethal dose, vii–viii
metabolization of, 15
ruderalis strains, 7
Sativex spray, xv, 24, 195–97
vaporization concentrations, 36
therapeutic ratio, viii
Tikun Olam, 16
tinctures, 23, 24, 77, 133
alcohol, 39–40
glycerin, 41
tobacco use, 32–34
topical applications, 32, 42, 80, 177
for arthritis, 52
herpes, 63–64
neuropathic pain, 61
pruritus, 78
psoriasis, 78
skin infection, 69
Tourette’s syndrome, 80–81
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), 112
tumor growth, and chemotherapy, 30–31
12-week medical grow, 170

u
ulcerative colitis, 66
ulcers, 81
U.S. Celiac Society, 110

v
valium, viii, 25
Vancouver Island Compassion Society, 77
vaporization, 15, 16, 26, 35–38, 52, 69. see also smoking, as administration method
Veterans for Medical Cannabis Access (VMCA), 74
Vicodin, 25, 72
vitamin A, 122
vitamin C, 28–29
vitamin E, 122
vomiting, 45, 70

w
Warfarin, and drug interactions, 115
warts, 42, 81
water requirements, 158
weight loss, 67, 117, 120–22
Women and Cannabis: Medicine, Science, and Sociology (Dreher), 75–76
Woodward, William C., xiv
World Health Organization, 51, 56

x
Xanax, 25

Y
Yelland, Corrie, 46–47

Z
Zoloft, 60