Mental Illness | October 27, 2008 | 17 comments

Depression - Cannabis - Euphoria

source: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/october272008/leveque_102308.php

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JackHerer
Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician Pharmacologist and Toxicologist.

Marijuana leaf
Image courtesy: c-ville.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - The Merck Manual indicates 20 percent of women and 12 percent of men will suffer clinical depression. This is a rather depressing world we’re living in.

Antidepressant drugs are among the most prescribed medications but their adverse side effects can often be paradoxically lethal with suicide being prominent.

Todays TV news presents a new electromagnetic machine for depression which stimulates the brain which probably causes cannabinoid secretions which makes patient subjects feel better. It had better, a treatment series costs 6 thousand dollars.

Well, I have a surprise for some people. The U.S. Govt says cannabis as an alleged drug causes euphoria which (surprise surprise) causes euphoria which is addicting. Imagine, a very safe replacement for amphetamine, once the most prescribed and addicting mood stimulants being replaced with cannabis.

The U.S. Govt estimates about 70 million cannabis users. I have medically interviewed at least 4000 of them. Almost all were long time users. None complained of adverse euphoria.

If such a high percentage of the population have clinical depression certainly many of my 4000 patients had depression which unfortunately is not an acceptable condition for an Oregon medical marijuana permit. The Oregon “egg heads” in charge of the program will not accept ANY psychological problem – it must be physical!

This is really strange. One of my largest patient groups are PTSD Veterans (about 400 of them). Most found out in Vietnam that cannabis gives best relief for battle stress. Whether battle stress produces/causes depression may be arguable. For a Combat Infantryman his only real relief is a “million dollar wound” which will get him away from certain death. If that doesn’t cause depression nothing will. Anxiety and blood curdling fear are certainly part of this PTSD syndrome. The worst factor is that once a person has PTSD, there is usually no escape…most people know that severe battle Veterans cannot talk about their experiences it hurts too much.

When these PTSD Veterans get/got home with nightmares etc., the VA doctors and non-doctors prescribed every kind of drug available. The Vets usually found out most of their drugs made them worse. They rediscovered cannabis but the VA non-doctors said you can’t use illegal drugs (even if they work best) and have VA treatment. How absurd. Believe it or not the VA system is supposed to HELP Vets.

In the meantime, with 70 million cannabis users many vets are using. Alternately many are alcoholics or tobacco addicts. Both of these cause hundreds of thousands of deaths. Cannabis has never killed anybody.

YES CANNABIS WILL ALLEVIATE DEPRESSION.
  1. groups:
    Mental Illness
  2. tags:
    Marijuana,  Hemp,  Drug War,  Ganja,  3 more
  3. recommended by:
    Vierotchka
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17 comments // Depression - Cannabis - Euphoria

  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  

    • Big pharma wants you to take their drugs for the rest of your life . Though I do not use weed for my depression, there are many nutritional alternatives that have made a difference for me . Wish this was a legal option though . Being healthier overall, by avoiding big pharma drugs - that are often worse than you know (side effects wise) is always my preference . It is just common sense that it be legal .

    • 3 years ago
  • andieviacurrent
  • rainbowryan420
  • schobiz
    • 0
      schobiz  

    • This is no surprise at all. I sincerely hope that within my generation we will have enough compassion and sense to allow research and usage of many alternative medicines (psychedelics for example). These substances have the potential to alleviate and cure modern medical conditions and even more importantly can also help to revitalize our spiritual inclinations. The funniest part about all of this (and perhaps the saddest) is that we would only be returning to what our ancestors have known and practiced for thousands of years.

    • 3 years ago
  • keviar
  • pjacobs51
  • lifestudentno83
    • 0
      lifestudentno83  

    • The only thing that depresses me anymore is not having any canabis to smoke.

      But since quitting temporarily I've had more stress, anger, and headaches to deal with. I probably would be more depressed if the world didn't piss me off so badly.

    • 3 years ago
  • unimatrix0
    • 0
      unimatrix0  

    • There is no doubt about the healing powers of smoking pot. It is a cure for mind, body and spirit. A gentle, euphoric intoxication that has the power to bring peace and pleasure. Feed your head.

    • 3 years ago
  • MizPiz
    • 0
      MizPiz  

    • Its official: Either our government are THE dumbest sacks of shit that have ever existed, our government actually hates America so much they just want us to suffer, or both

      perhaps all three (Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, anyone?)

    • 3 years ago
  • GeoffNI
    • 0
      GeoffNI  
    • Image

    • I never smoke the stuff, but some my friends who do believe it has some negative effects on them after years of smoking.

      It appears that Running is considered a great treatment for depression.

    • 3 years ago
  • oR2o
    • 0
      oR2o  
    • GeoffNI:

      And after year of activity it has been shown to have negative effect on the body...

      Everything in moderation... Sometimes the negative compensate for the negatives.

      There is a medication that has shown great potential for reversing Multiple Sclerosis... Only problem is that it must kill all white blood cells and leave you open to becoming susceptible to viruses and bacteria that may kill you. You decide for me... Which is a better aproach as it stands today?
      My approach is Let ME decide not the Government.

    • 3 years ago
  • Vierotchka
    • 0
      Vierotchka  
    • GeoffNI:

      I've been using it for over 40 years with no negative effects whatsoever and a great many positive ones.

      Running and physical exertion make the body produce endomorphins which give a sense of euphoria and well being - just like morphine - but the minute a person ceases to practice strenuous exercise or sports such as running, depression sets in, with withdrawal symptoms almost as bad as those that junkies suffer when going cold turkey. Cannabis does not have this effect.

    • 3 years ago
  • rainbowryan420
  • GeoffNI
    • 0
      GeoffNI  
    • GeoffNI:

      Running is a lifestyle change, and not a one time cure for depression. I would prefer to run and have daily aerobic exercise than smoke dope. Also don't recommend Tobacco or Alcohol.

    • 3 years ago
  • oR2o
    • 0
      oR2o  

    • Oh, someday we may have the right to do with the weeds of this world. This Plant and its sibling could possible solve 90% of the issues that we are trying to solve around the world .
      Some day I will have a natural product that will alleviate many of my Multiple Sclerosis issues and then, I may not be depressed and wont need it for that issue.

    • 3 years ago
  • silent_line
    • 0
      silent_line  

    • cannabis is the most under estimated drug ever theirs so much scientific evidence that it is good yet we will let criminals and schizophrenics blame their problems on this plant.

      When will we wake up and smell the coffee this plant was put here for a reason and the fact that only one country in the whole world realizes this and makes it available to every one is just so silly we have freedom of speech and the freedom to vote but as humans shouldn't we have the right to use this substance in the same way we use alcohol.

    • 3 years ago
  • daledrops
    • 0
      daledrops  

    • smoking the good herb as well as eating it has definately helped me combat my blues... this IS NOT NEW, nor is it NEWS- we have known these things. it's only now that the government is choosing to agree. what a waster

    • 3 years ago
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