There have been a lot of interesting articles that I have read suggesting the use of marijuana (cannabis) to treat various illnesses, from arthritis, cancer, multiple sclerosis ,  to ebola, and many other ailments.
When it is used as a medicinal treatment; it does a lot more good to actually eat the leaves (usually by putting them into a smoothie and drinking it) than it does to smoke it, as is usually done.
Even a different part of the plant is used , from what I have read. When you smoke pot in order to get high, the buds are used, and they are the most potent part.
When you are using it as a medicine, then it is the leaves that are used, and it does not have the side effects that smoking cannabis has.


I personally think that anyone should be able to use any kind of plant that they want to enhance their health, or even just because they enjoy using it.
If it were legal to use where I live, I would definitely try growing some and putting the leaves in a smoothie .
If it can be a possible way to stop viruses like ebola, which are not responding to most other treatments at present; then I would certainly use it for that, as well.


http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/10/18/doctor-suggests-that-marijuana-can-protect-you-from-ebola/

I believe that it is okay to use anytime. It has been proven time and time again that it can help those suffering with certain medical conditions. Why can't congressman see that? Maybe they do and just do not care?

I do not think it is an appropriate drug for medical treatment.  I have heard that it doesn't even take pain away really, it just makes you feel disassociated with it, as if it isn't yours, but you are still actually feeling it.  Hard to understand but that is how it was described to me by someone who had tried it. It also stinks, and those who don't smoke it do not want to smell it. 

Dancing Lady, I can see the validity of your statement when we are only referring to people who smoke pot that is grown and designed to get you high.
I cannot see how it relates to using the leaves as a herbal medicinal treatment, which is what I was describing, if you read my opening post.
  Also, there is a huge difference between smoking a substance and using it in a green smoothie.
 Green smoothies do NOT stink !

Just about any substance can be misused and abused.
Look at all of the legal pain medications that are being prescribed for people nowdays. Some of those are the most addicting drugs available; and they are also sold on the black market just for people who want to take them to get high. 
That does not mean that they should not be used by someone who needs a medication to treat pain, just because they are also used by some people as a recreational drug.

If you have links to the articles you are talking about that say using cannabis leaves as a medical treatment is not helpful, please share those links for us ? ?

I can't see any harm coming from using marijuana for medicinal purposes.  My eighty-two year old mother has recently started baking it into her carrot cake and eats a small piece of it before bed to help her relax and get to sleep.  She has neuroprasy and has a hard time finding any relief for it.  No medication ever takes away all pain so I don't see the fact that marijuana doesn't really either, being a valid argument against it.  I have tried Lyrica and other pain medications meant for nerve pain and they did nothing for it. My mother suffers from severe nerve pain in her feet and if marijuana helps her (and it must or she wouldn't use it) then I'm all for it.  it is cheaper for her to use than any of the prescribed medications she gets and its not hurting her. Other things she has tried to help her sleep and to relieve her of her pain just make her feel dopey still the next day.  With marijuana the effects wear off before morning and she doesn't have that hangover effect. Believe me, my mother would never take something if it was not effective.  She is a miser and hates to spend money and she is also very old fashioned.  If she can see past the smokescreen of propaganda that has been put up around the marijuana issue, then I would think others can.

DancingLady (06:37pm Wed, Nov 12, 2014)

I do not think it is an appropriate drug for medical treatment.  I have heard that it doesn't even take pain away really, it just makes you feel disassociated with it, as if it isn't yours, but you are still actually feeling it.  Hard to understand but that is how it was described to me by someone who had tried it. It also stinks, and those who don't smoke it do not want to smell it. 

As someone who's been in agony and had pain meds that do that, I can say that's the best thing in the world. You know you're in pain and if it's getting worse but it doesn't affect you and you can do what you need to.

Pethidine, which is delivered via a "green whistle" (inhaler) does that. I've had it in the back of an ambulance several times, most notably when my gallbladder was falling apart. I was unconscious on the floor in and out for over an hour before they found me and after using that I was able to stay conscious and stand up and walk to the ambulance. Before it I was on the floor because I couldn't hold myself up, and I was in and out of consciousness. Anyway it made me feel safer than taking morphine because I was still aware of what was happening in my body - I'd know if the pain spread, moved, changed...all of which could indicate a life threatening situation where a gallstone has escaped and hit other organs.

I don't think judging weed based on this is even valid, when we have other medications that already do it and are widely used.


Also it does have a HEAP of medical properties and can help cure cancer as well as other ailments, so I think it's a win .