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Today I took care of a 58 year old women who suffered from Sjogrens Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis who had tried medical marijuana recently and found relief of her symptoms. Her arthritis mostly affected her hands and shoulders and required multiple drugs for pain management. She had been on Bextra then Vioxx then Celebrex but had to stop all of them because of kidney disease. She was at her “wits end” and wanted an alternative to help her get some relief and sleep throughout the night.

Lately I have been seeing more and more patients with PTSD looking to medical marijuana as an alternative to the medications that their psychiatrists have prescribed. Because I have an office in Long Beach next to the VA and also take care of many Marines from Camp Pendleton I am seeing more and more how cannabis is helping them.

To all my amazing patients: this is just a friendly reminder that if you are not going to be able to make your appointment to PLEASE PICK UP THE PHONE AND LET US KNOW. We understand that things come up and your schedule changes but by letting us know aren’t going to make it we can book another patient for your time slot. It really helps our office and staff to get that call!

Much has been in the news (and rightfully so) this past weekend about the 2 deaths involving robberies at w medical marijuana collectives. First I give my sincere condolences to the family members who suffered this tragic loss.

I do want to put patients at ease and explain that these isolated incidents are just that. Although there are some dispensaries located in areas that I would never personally go, there are plenty in areas where I would send my Mother without thinking about it. Most operate very peacefully day after day.

It is unfortunate that many cannabis collectives (dispensaries) are being told to close their doors or be subject to $2500.00/day fines and criminal prosecution. Many of them are probably taking care of some legitimate patients. On the other hand a good percentage are catering to the recreational user. This is where the industry has shot itself in the foot.

The Orange County Register posted an article today stating that a superior court judge ordered ALL legal cannabis dispensaries (collectives) to shut down immediately. One of his reasons is that a city can not create a Land-Use Ordinance that violates federal law. He elaborated that since cannabis is illegal federally it is illegal for a city to create an ordinance that allows for collectives to legally operate. WOW!

As medical director of Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often evaluate patients suffering from ADD/ADHD who are taking stimulants like Concerta and want a medical marijuana recommendation to combat its side effects. Today I evaluated a 21 year old male college student who had been taking Concerta for the past year but had to stop because it was causing a significant lack of appetite, weight loss and insomnia. These are very common complaints from patients who are treated with stimulants. Although he said he could focus slightly more the insomnia and lack of appetite was causing more difficulties than the ADHD itself. He had been using cannabis for the past month with excellent results and wanted to speak with me about getting a medical marijuana recommendation.

As medical director of Medical Cannabis of Southern California I often meet patients who are combat veterans and are in need of help. One of the blessings in my life was the opportunity to serve along side the Marines of 1st Battalion 4th Marines in Iraq from January-September 2003. I witnessed combat from the front lines and experienced the buffet of emotions that our troops go through on a daily basis. Now that I am honorably discharged I can openly discuss the benefits of using cannabis to take care of:

Today in my Irvine office I had the honor of taking care of Kathryn R. She is an amazing 83 year old women who developed peripheral neuropathy (pain originating from damage to the nerves themselves) from taking a drug called amiodarone to treat her atrial fibrillation. When I introduced myself to her she said “you are my last hope.”