Hello-
I'm a medical grower/provider in Oregon where we have no formal dispensary system. My patients find my crop very useful and effective. I check for mold in every jar by inspecting representational buds with a microscope. I take this seriously as I use the stuff myself and am familiar with the dangers of mold inhalation. I also grow organically, although I have no certifcation. I do, however, invite my patients to tour my grow room and I am transparent regarding my methods and resource inputs. I would be open to having my product "professionally" tested, but I don't see that is really an option, especially since my state does not allow me to sell other than a minimal "costs incurred" fee. I don't even charge that much, actually, since my patients are not well-off financially and as we all know growing top-shelf meds is not cheap.
Anyway, I was recently criticized by an aquaintence for "playing doctor" and selling "recreational" grade herb as medicine. His concern is that there are dangerous "opportunistic infections" within.
Here's some of what he said:
"my complaint about medical marijuana is that real medicine is standardized, tested for contaminants, and dispensed in metered doses. It's hard to monitor treatment and progression if you don't know how much you're getting dose to dose. It's hard to stay healthy if you don't know what else you're getting with it. (Opportunistic infections are a known, avoidable complication.)
...
There's not much documented risk of ingesting insecticide residue. There *are* cases of patients dying from opportunistic infections. "Natural" pathogens that have naturally coexisted with marijuana and other herbs for thousands of years, and have naturally infected people. Natural pathogens that I will bet you $1000 are in those bags you've just heat sealed. That's why real medications are standardized, purified, and tested: to prevent legitimately needy sick people from harming themselves.
...
What nobody seems to understand is that "medical" means higher levels of care and more regulations, not fewer. You can drive your recreational car wherever you want, but if you're driving a "medical" car it needs to have more highly trained drivers, standardized medical vehicles, and stricter maintenance schedules. Recreational SCUBA air is not tested or administered with as much care as medical oxygen. I'm actually also in favor of recreational marijuana (and recreational SCUBA, and recreational driving) I just don't like seeing everyone getting it backwards.
"
First of all - can anyone confirm or deny his claim that there are DEATHS attributed to medical MJ? I have not heard of this.
Also, what are the "opportunistic infections"? Mold? Are these not present also on any farmers market produce, chinese medicine, or herbs intended for tea? Are there some MJ specific pathogens I am not aware of?
I have my own resonses to this guy percolating, but I would like to address him with a level head, so while I am cooling off, I would appreciate you informed feedback to his complaints.
I still hold that until such time as there is a decent system in place to handle medical marijuana, the way we're doing it is fine (and will be fine after such systems are in place). I don't sense much real risk among conscious growers - and the real problem is to find conscious growers. The "opportunistic infections" seem to be profit-based growers. While I am not a doctor, and don't pretend to be, I do take the heath of my patients (a term I don't even like, but is standard) is of great concern and I would never knowingly do anything to jeapordize them. Seeing first-hand, however, the efficacy of my medicine DOES renew my commitment to provide.
I'm a medical grower/provider in Oregon where we have no formal dispensary system. My patients find my crop very useful and effective. I check for mold in every jar by inspecting representational buds with a microscope. I take this seriously as I use the stuff myself and am familiar with the dangers of mold inhalation. I also grow organically, although I have no certifcation. I do, however, invite my patients to tour my grow room and I am transparent regarding my methods and resource inputs. I would be open to having my product "professionally" tested, but I don't see that is really an option, especially since my state does not allow me to sell other than a minimal "costs incurred" fee. I don't even charge that much, actually, since my patients are not well-off financially and as we all know growing top-shelf meds is not cheap.
Anyway, I was recently criticized by an aquaintence for "playing doctor" and selling "recreational" grade herb as medicine. His concern is that there are dangerous "opportunistic infections" within.
Here's some of what he said:
"my complaint about medical marijuana is that real medicine is standardized, tested for contaminants, and dispensed in metered doses. It's hard to monitor treatment and progression if you don't know how much you're getting dose to dose. It's hard to stay healthy if you don't know what else you're getting with it. (Opportunistic infections are a known, avoidable complication.)
...
There's not much documented risk of ingesting insecticide residue. There *are* cases of patients dying from opportunistic infections. "Natural" pathogens that have naturally coexisted with marijuana and other herbs for thousands of years, and have naturally infected people. Natural pathogens that I will bet you $1000 are in those bags you've just heat sealed. That's why real medications are standardized, purified, and tested: to prevent legitimately needy sick people from harming themselves.
...
What nobody seems to understand is that "medical" means higher levels of care and more regulations, not fewer. You can drive your recreational car wherever you want, but if you're driving a "medical" car it needs to have more highly trained drivers, standardized medical vehicles, and stricter maintenance schedules. Recreational SCUBA air is not tested or administered with as much care as medical oxygen. I'm actually also in favor of recreational marijuana (and recreational SCUBA, and recreational driving) I just don't like seeing everyone getting it backwards.
"
First of all - can anyone confirm or deny his claim that there are DEATHS attributed to medical MJ? I have not heard of this.
Also, what are the "opportunistic infections"? Mold? Are these not present also on any farmers market produce, chinese medicine, or herbs intended for tea? Are there some MJ specific pathogens I am not aware of?
I have my own resonses to this guy percolating, but I would like to address him with a level head, so while I am cooling off, I would appreciate you informed feedback to his complaints.
I still hold that until such time as there is a decent system in place to handle medical marijuana, the way we're doing it is fine (and will be fine after such systems are in place). I don't sense much real risk among conscious growers - and the real problem is to find conscious growers. The "opportunistic infections" seem to be profit-based growers. While I am not a doctor, and don't pretend to be, I do take the heath of my patients (a term I don't even like, but is standard) is of great concern and I would never knowingly do anything to jeapordize them. Seeing first-hand, however, the efficacy of my medicine DOES renew my commitment to provide.
