There Is No Pain Killing Medication Less Toxic Than Cannabis, Period
No other pain relieving medication is less toxic than cannabis, not even aspirin or Tylenol.
If deaths from toxic effects from NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and Aleve were tabulated separately in the National Vital Statistics reports, these drug toxicities would constitute the 15th most common cause of death in the United States. This is why cannabis as medicine can be an excellent choice as a substitute for more toxic pain killers. As patients become more attuned to the benefits of cannabis as an inexpensive natural pain reliever that doesn’t have death as a side-effect, many forward thinking doctors are recognizing the amazing benefits of low-toxic cannabis for pain and inflammation.
Substitution of less harmful medicines for more harmful drugs is intelligent medicine. Cannabis is the least toxic of any pain reliever by almost any measure. It has never caused a single death ever. Cannabis does not have to be smoked to be effective, and medical cannabis patients don’t have to get ‘high’ to experience pain relief. Over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (aka Advil, etc) kill more Americans than most people are aware.
The July 1998 issue of The American Journal of Medicine stated the following: “Conservative calculations estimate that approximately 107,000 patients are hospitalized annually for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-related gastrointestinal (GI) complications and at least 16,500 NSAID-related deaths occur each year among arthritis patients alone. The figures of all NSAID users would be overwhelming, yet the scope of this problem is generally under-appreciated.” Medical cannabis has never killed a single patient.
And again in June 1999 the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine issued a similar statement: “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. This figure is similar to the number of deaths from the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome 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 NSAIDs 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.” Again, medical cannabis has never killed a single patient.
A recent study in Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management notes that the number of deaths and hospitalizations from GI bleeding due to NSAIDs has remained unchanged since the 1999 study.
“From 1999 to 2007, the number of U.S. poisoning deaths involving any opioid analgesic (e.g., oxycodone, methadone, or hydrocodone) more than tripled, from 4,041 to 14,459, or 36% of the 40,059 total poisoning deaths in 2007. In 1999, opioid analgesics were involved in 20% of the 19,741 poisoning deaths. During 1999–2007, the number of poisoning deaths involving specified drugs other than opioid analgesics increased from 9,262 to 12,790, and the number involving nonspecified drugs increased from 3,608 to 8,947.”http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm5932.pdf
The use of cannabis to treat pain is intelligent medicine. Let the healing begin….
In health, -Dr. Jake Felice
“Marijuana, in it’s natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man … One must reasonably conclude that there is accepted safety for use of marijuana under medical supervision. To conclude otherwise, on the record, would be unreasonable, arbitrary, and capricious” – DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis J. young, 1988
Author: Dr. Jake Felice
Source: Cannabis Matrix
The Author
2 Comments
Dear Doctor/s,
I’ve suffered from Fibromyalgia for over the past 40 years (I’m now 71). Like many of the stories I’ve read, I’ve had every test you can imagine and tried every medication under the sun, until I was finally put on various types of narcotics until I graduated up to 400MG of Kadian a day; plus Xanax, break through Nucynta, Flexeril, (as needed) Crestor for high cholesterol and L-Thyroxine for Hypo-Thyroid. (Which I have been taking now for nearly 15 years just in order to function; although I must admit I have never been pain free in spite of taking enough medication that would probably kill an elephant!) In addition, on two separate occasions I became Clinically Depression and was subjected to Shock Therapy. Inbetween, I also had several major surgeries and thought surely I would die from the last one since the pain was so excruciating afterwards as no one seemed to care that giving me a Percocet every 4 hours compared to the high doses of narcotics I had been used to taking, was like giving me an aspirin after having 7 inches of my colon removed! Now to my present situation and that of my dear husband who had a botched back surgery that has left him unable to stand up and barely walk, and is in constant pain. He is 80 years old and is also suffering from kidney failure. We were both seeing the same pain management doctor until he up and left us with no one to take his place despite all of my searching and inquiries. Our Primary doctor is totally against the narcotics we had been given and his only “help” has been to wean us both off of our meds. When I brought up the subject of the Medical Cannabis he was all for it, but couldn’t prescribe it for us? He did give us one name of a “pain management “doctor, but when I looked him up on the internet, I was totally aghast at his reviews!! Our problem is that we are willing to try the MedicalCannabis, but are unable to find a doctor anywhere near our home in Newton, NJ who can prescribe and monitor the medication for us. Is there anyone you know who can help us? I would greatly appreciate any information about how to find a doctor who truly believes in “Do NO HARM”! At our age and with our problems, it is shameful to be denied medication that might ease our suffering.
Thank you in advance,
Most Sincerely,
Pam
Hi Pam – One cannot help but be moved by your words. I set up this website to educate people about the benefits of medical cannabis, and your story certainly underscores the need for the laws to change so everyone can have access to this powerful, natural medicine. However, that is not the world we currently live in. Many cannot legally access full strength medical cannabis where they live.
To that end, we recommend the products from Green Flower Botanicals (http://greenflowerbotanicals.com). They sell the highest quality full-spectrum hemp oil (cannabis oil with low THC) and ship to all 50 states. Many have found relief from chronic pain by using these all natural, cannabinoid and terpene-rich hemp oils. Since they contain little to no THC, but are rich in CBD, one get much of the benefit of medical cannabis, but without the psychoactive effects, making them safe for older patients and/or any who don’t want those effects.
For all serious health issues, they recommend one of their higher potency oils, such as our 500mg or 750mg MCT-based tinctures. You simply put 3-4 drops under or on your tongue and swish it around to get it absorbed into your system, a couple of times a day. You can increase dosage as needed for pain relief. I use these myself, as do many of my family members and friends.
You can save 10% off every order by using the coupon code ANGUS in your cart at checkout. I hope you’ll visit their site, read through their many testimonials, and consider giving their products a try.
Thanks for sharing,
Angus