Today in my Irvine clinic I had two patients who were suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). One was unfortunately physically and verbally abused by her boss and the second was involved in a very traumatic car accident where he lost one of his best friends. Both of these patients experienced a combination of difficulty sleeping, recurring nightmares, avoidance and depression.

A week ago I blogged about a women by them name of Sam who had been taking 12 Norco and 6 Oxycontin daily for the past 5 years. I was elated when after ONE WEEK she had decreased her opiate use to 4 Norco and 4 Oxycontin.

Proposition 215 allowed medical doctors to recommend the use of cannabis to their patients to relieve their symptoms. 14 years later this poor proposition has been raped and beaten worse then Hedda Nussbaum (see wikipedia for you non New Yorkers). It’s integrity has been stripped to its core. Greed and crime has taken over. It has been so abused by the professionals who intended to use it in their scope of practice that it has almost become a joke in California.

As medical director for medical cannabis of southern california I am well aware that many recreational users are taking advantage of Proposition 215 to use and cultivate. Unfortunately, recreational uses can walk into a physicians office and show them evidence that they one fractured their ankle or once spoke to their doctor about indigestion and walked out with a prescription for prilosec. They then produce this medical documentation to receive a recommendation to use cannabis for medicinal purposes.

As medical director for medical cannabis of southern california I often evaluate patients who take regular high doses of prednisone. Prednisone is the atomic bomb for inflammatory conditions such as crohns, ulcerative colitis, sever asthma and many other medical conditions. Unfortunately it’s effects do not come without significant side effects. Many patients can get relief of these side effects by using cannabis.

As medical director for medical cannabis of southern california I am amazed at the amount of patients who have difficulty falling asleep or wake up throughout the night. One of my 10 commandments when it comes to perfect health is “Thou shall get sleep. As your sleep goes so does your health.”

Tax and Regulate 2010 is a initiative being placed on the November ballot which would essentially legalize cannabis up to 1 ounce for personal use (RECREATIONAL AND MEDICINAL) for 21 years old and over. From what I understand, cities will still be able to determine whether or not it is legal in their particular city. There are restrictions about not using it in public or in the presence of a minor (<21y/o).

This morning a mother by the name of Anne brought her 21 year old autistic son to my Irvine office to be evaluated for treatment with cannabis. He suffers from sever autism; very agitated, violent, and is unable to speak at all. He requires 24/7 supervised care which his parents assume. Anne described never having any total relief from the stress of taking care of him.

This morning I had the pleasure of taking care of a 24 year old male who has been sober from heroine use for two years. He has managed to maintain sobriety using methadone and suboxone (Subutex). Both of these medications are opiates as well and can be equally addictive. Today was his last day of using subutex and he plans on using cannabis to manage any withdrawal symptoms that he experiences after finally stopping all opiate medications!

Recently there have been multiple medical clinics being investigated and shut down because the individuals that are providing recommendations are not medical doctors. ONLY medical doctors can recommend the use of cannabis as a medicine. Physician Assistants (PA’s) and Nurses CAN NOT recommend cannabis.