UCLA's Dr. Donald Tashkin states he would be in favor of legalization of marijuana.  Why?  After all he did study chronic marijuana smokers and the effects of heavy long term marijuana smoking on the lungs with regards to lung cancer and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).  Prior to the study he hypothesized there would be a link between heavy marijuana smoking and lung cancer or COPD.  Guess what?  He was wrong!  To his surprise the study concluded otherwise. 

"What we found instead was no association and even a suggestion of some protective effect," says Tashkin, whose research was the largest case-control study ever conducted. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Tobacco smokers in the study had as much as a 21-fold increase in lung cancer risk, and developed COPD more often in the study.  Researchers found marijuana did not impair lung function. (perhaps this is why Michael Phelps was able to win 8 gold medals in the Bejing Olympics... of course in all fairness he did win the medals prior to getting caught on camera smoking marijuana).

Tashkin, supported by other research, concluded that THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), an active ingredient in marijuana, has an "anti-tumoral effect" in which "cells die earlier before they age enough to develop mutations that might lead to lung cancer." 

"Early on, when our research appeared as if there would be a negative impact on lung health, I was opposed to legalization because I thought it would lead to increased use and that would lead to increased health effects," Tashkin says.

"But at this point, I'd be in favor of legalization. I wouldn't encourage anybody to smoke any substances, because of the potential for harm. But I don't think it should be stigmatized as an illegal substance.

"Tobacco smoking causes far more harm. And in terms of an intoxicant, alcohol causes far more harm," Tashkin stated.

And of course this is ONLY in reference to smoking marijuana.  It doesn't take into consideration the other methods of medicating, such as vaporizing marijuana and marijuana edibles. 

So you're sick, and you prefer to medicate with medical marijuana to ease your pain and symptoms. After all it is non-toxic and is well known to aid sleep, appetite, and mood, not to mention medical marijuana can ease pain and suffering of anxiety, pain, glaucoma, MS, wasting syndrome, nausea, and many other ailments.  So you visit your Dr. and he or she agrees that your ailment may benefit from the use of medical marijuana, AND that your sickness is on the list of "approved" ailments by the Colorado Department of Health.  So.. you send in your application to be listed as a medical marijuana patient with the State of Colorado and your Dr. recommendation along with the required fees to the State of Colorado Health Dept. Division of Medical Marijuana.  Do you think you're legal to use medical marijuana?  You're NOT!  It doesn't matter that your Dr. and you both agree that medical marijuana is a good option.  You must WAIT for the Colorado Dept. of Health to APPROVE your medical marijuana application.  But WAIT!  They are backlogged NINE MONTHS on medical marijuana applications!   Although it would seem that a decision about your health would be between you and your Dr.  and NOT involve the Government.  Well think again.  However the good news is you don't have to wait the entire NINE MONTHS! 

Colorado medical marijuana patients need to remember that their medical marijuajna card or application is valid 35 days AFTER they send in their medical marijuana application to the Colorado Department of Health (we know it sucks that you have to wait considering this is a matter of health, however it could be much worse if the law required you to wait for your card to return in the mail). 

IF you are currently an actively licensed medical marijuana patient in Colorado you should be sure to review your expiration date so you can reapply 35 days before the expiration date on your medical marijuana card, and not be caught in a 35 day waiting period of being unable to obtain your medical marijuana from a medical marijuana center if you wait until the final expiration date to reapply.  In other words always renew and reapply for your card at least 35 days before the expiration of your existing medical marijuana card. 

Since the Colorado Dept. of Health is backlogged up to 9 months on processing medical marijuana ID cards, you are not considered legal for the first 35 days UNLESS by some miracle the Colorado Dept. of Health catches up with their back log of medical marijuana applications, and sends out your medical marijuana card within days.  Therefore it is important you carry the following on you at all times to prove you have applied to be a medical marijuana patient: 

1. A copy of your medical marijuana application form. 

2.  A copy of PROOF of mailing (certified mail receipt) 

3.  Proof of payment (money order receipt)

If you are a medical marijuana patient who is growing your own marijuana plants, you should also keep a copy of all of the above items at your home, so if anyone wants to verify that you are a legitimate patient your family can show a copy of your medical marijuana papers if you are not home. 

Veterans can now obtain medical marijuana, in States with Medical Marijuana laws,  without fear of telling their V.A. Dr. 

Click Here to get the full story on this policy change by the Veteran's Administration, a branch of the Federal Government, which has many marijuana activists cheering since the Federal Government has completely failed to acknowledge the medical benefits of marijuana.....  at least publicly.  Even though the Federal Government did file patent # 6,630,507 stating that cannabinoids were effective in treating and preventing a wide variety of diseases.  The patent is assigned to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Marijuana Facts AND a Very Nice Soundtrack!