Copyright © 2016 Nishi Whiteley, all rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopied, recorded, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher and author. Requests for permission from the publisher should be sent to [email protected]. Disclaimer The contents of this book, all text, graphics, images, tables, and studies are for informational purposes only. The content is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This book is written as an introductory guide to cannabis. You are urged to read all the referenced studies, books, websites, and videos to deepen your understanding of cannabis. This information is not meant to prevent, alleviate, or cure any disease or disorder. Always seek the advice of a physician, doctor or chiropractor, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. This information is not intended to promote the misuse of cannabis or any other drug. If you suspect you are abusing drugs, we urge you to seek professional medical help. Neither the publisher nor the author shall be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion within this book or on our website. Chronic Relief: A Guide to Cannabis for the Terminally and Chronically Ill Author: Nishi Whiteley Foreword: Ethan Russo, M.D. Editors: Kurt Wilson and Anne Tara Szostek Index: Theresa Raymond Cover & Interior Design: Jeanette Dickens Cover Photo: Mojave Richmond, Enhancements by Drew Rice ISBN: 978-0-9971491-0-4 PCN/LCCN: 2016947106 Publisher: Alivio, LLC Austin, Texas Website: http://mychronicrelief.com Contents Foreword . xi Disclaimer . xv Prologue . xvii Intention .................................................xvii Why Chronic Relief ........................................xviii Coming Full Circle .........................................xviii I Wish I Were a Fairy Godmother .............................xix Why Does This Book Matter? ................................. xx How to Use This Book .......................................xxi Chapter One: NADINE: . 1 Moving Nadine Forward ...................................... 4 Chapter Two: Cannabis Introduction: Is It Snake Oil or Real Medicine? . 7 The Difference between Medical Marijuana and Hemp ........... 12 An Abbreviated History of Cannabis .......................... 15 Cannabis Prohibition: Rooted in Fear, Greed, and Misinformation ............................... 17 The Cannabis Revolution .................................... 23 Pioneers of the Cannabis Movement ........................... 25 Legality .................................................... 27 The DEA Ignores Their Own Advisors ......................... 29 Chapter Three: The Science of Cannabis . 33 The Endocannabinoid System – The Reason Cannabis Works ..... 37 The Cannabinoid Receptors ............................... 39 Agonist and Antagonist. 41 Endocannabinoids: AEA and 2AG ......................... 42 Introducing the Cannabinoids ................................ 43 Therapeutic Effects of Various Cannabinoids ................ 50 Decarboxylation – How to Activate Cannabis ................... 52 Terpenes ................................................... 53 Therapeutic Effects of Select Terpenes ...................... 56 Fingerprinting .............................................. 59 v Chapter Four: Your Body’s Control Center . 61 The ECS: Our Internal Harm Reduction System ................. 61 The Nervous System ......................................... 62 Feed Your ECS with Essential Fatty Acids ................... 65 The Brain: The Master Organ ................................. 65 Neurotransmitters ....................................... 66 Keeping the Brain Healthy ................................ 67 Aging in the Brain and Body .............................. 69 Protecting the Brain as You Age. 71 Cognition .................................................. 72 Chapter Five: The Common Denominators of Illness . 75 Oxidation .................................................. 75 Inflammation .............................................. 77 Monitoring Inflammation through Blood Testing ............ 79 Inflammation Related Disease ............................. 80 How Cannabis Reduces Inflammation ...................... 82 Pain ....................................................... 84 My Story: Using Cannabis to Manage Pain .................. 85 Relieving Chronic Pain ................................... 87 The American Pain Epidemic .............................. 95 Chapter Six: Diseases and Symptoms Benefited by Cannabis . 99 Cancer .................................................... 99 Anxiety and Depression ....................................101 Neurodegenerative Disorders ................................103 ALS ......................................................103 Elder Care and Alzheimer’s ..................................104 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) .......................107 Other Conditions Cannabis Can Help ........................109 Why Is Cannabis So Safe? ...................................113 The Research Conundrum ..................................114 Why It’s Harder to Research Cannabis than LSD. .116 Chasing the Research Rabbits ................................119 Chapter Seven: The Benefits of Whole Plant Cannabis vs . Currently Legal Medicines and Intoxicants . 123 Cannabis vs. Prescription Pharmaceutical Medications .........123 Cannabis vs. Alcohol .......................................126 Cannabis vs. Tobacco .......................................129 Cannabis and the Lungs .................................132 Chapter Eight: Cannabis Guide . 137 What Is Your Health Strategy? ...............................137 Checklist for Better Living ...............................141 vi Prevention Plan ........................................143 Recovery Plan ..........................................144 Maintenance and Management Plan. 145 Disease Curing Plan ....................................147 Palliative Care Plan .....................................148 Risks, Side Effects, and How You Might Feel – What to Expect ...149 Risks and Harm Reduction ...............................149 Possible Positive Effects ..................................154 Contraindications and Cautions – Who Should NOT Use Cannabis?. 160 Before You Inhale or Ingest ..................................166 Don’t Let Perfect Be the Enemy of Good ......................169 Using the Whole Plant: Making the Most of Your Medicine ......170 Cannabis Plant Uses ....................................171 Varieties: Indica vs. Sativa ..................................172 Potency and Quality ........................................174 What to Buy? ..............................................176 What to Ask For ...........................................177 Weights and Pricing ........................................178 Mold, Bacteria, and Other Biologicals .........................178 Storage ...................................................179 Antidotes .................................................180 Intake Methods ............................................180 Ingestion for Lasting Relief ..................................194 Raw Cannabis .............................................195 Cannabis Oil ..............................................196 Is Hemp Oil the Same as Concentrated Cannabis Oil? .......197 How Is Concentrated Cannabis Oil Made? .................197 How to Use Cannabis Oil ................................199 The Rise of Concentrated Cannabis Oil – The Rick Simpson Story ...............................201 Is Concentrated Cannabis Oil Right for Me? ................202 Tinctures and Extractions ...................................204 Ethanolic Extraction Recipe ..............................206 Dosing with Tinctures ...................................207 Cannabis Tea Recipe .......................................209 Cannabis Gel Caps .........................................209 Suppositories ..............................................211 Dosing and Titration Best Practices ..........................214 Finding the Ideal Therapeutic Dose Range .................216 Making Sense of Dosing with Dried Buds ..................217 Dosing with Edibles .....................................220 Dosing with Dispensary Edibles ..........................221 Dosing Homemade Edibles ..............................222 Tolerance .................................................223 Sensitizing and Re-Sensitizing the Endocannabinoid System. .223 vii Re-sensitizing the Endocannabinoid System ................224 Cannabis Analysis .........................................225 Know Your Testing Lab .....................................228 Chapter Nine: Onward . 231 The American War on People Who Use Drugs .................231 Your Voice Counts .........................................234 Three Simple Ways to Use Your Voice .........................235 Tips for Talking about Cannabis with Friends and Family .......236 Dispelling Cannabis Propaganda .............................238 Conclusion ................................................240 Acknowledgements . 245 Cookbook Extra . 249 Nutrition Is Key! Tips for Healing the Body with Food ..........249 Kitchen Must Haves for Patients and Caregivers. .254 How to Make Basics ........................................256