Huh? Pot is good for your...uh...brain?

For so many years I thought pot, and anything else you might enjoy, kills brain cells. WTF? I wasted so many opportunities to "give birth to new nerve cells". I feel so deprived. I guess it's never too late to learn something new. Hehehe

High times for brain growth: marijuana-like drug multiplies neurons.

In the stoner stereotype, pot smokers and dying brain cells go hand in hand. However, new research suggests the situation may be more uplifting than that. A drug that functions as concentrated marijuana does may spur neurogenesis, the process by which the brain gives birth to new nerve cells.

Previous research had suggested that neurogenesis happens only in select locations in the brain, such as the hippocampus, a region involved in learning and memory. Some studies have shown that this process is inhibited by most illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. However, says Xia Zhang of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, marijuana's effect on neurogenesis has not been clear.

To be more serious about the subject... I wonder what this could mean for people with degenerative nerve disorders and brain injuries? Maybe nothin'. Maybe somethin'.

Read the rest of the article as it appeared in Science News...

Welcome to the Mile High City

This story had me ROFLMAO! A little buzz doesn't hurt either.

420 @ 5000'
posted at a man and a mouse

When I first moved to Denver, I drove from my real home in California, bringing with me the belongings of a lifetime. I knew no one in the Mile High City and I needed the relief that one gets from familiarity. I had enough to make me happy. I was good.

Two months later the realization came that one thing I had brought with me was, in fact, finite. So it was time to start finding a place to purchase marijuana. I began searching the internet for a resource. Everything is on the internet these days.

buy pot Denver I typed into Google and clicked through to a Yahoo group made up of people with ties to the medical marijuana movement. I honed in on the Denver chapter and called a doctor to find out what I needed to have. Fortune shined, in an ironic way, because I had none of the maladies that allowed me to register for a medical marijuana card.

420 sales Denver Every year on April 20, Denver celebrates marijuana freedom downtown in Civic Center Park. Cool. But this was August. I'm gonna wait for April?

420 park Denver Another posting in another group invited the city of Denver to a birthday party. Hmmm. It seems that, with some additional investigation, the celebrant was known in Colorado politics for his stance on marijuana freedom. He had run for Governor. He was throwing himself a birthday party in City Park, 5 blocks from where I lived.The sure-to-be-a-smoke-in had been three weeks prior but the man had added his telephone number to his signature.

It took me three weeks to call the number.

Don't stop now. There's a lot more to this story that's well worth the time. Keep reading at a man and a mouse...

I am a child of the 70s

That sounds like an introduction at a 12-step program: "I'm Mary Jane and I am a child of the 70s." Waiting to hear the drone of "Hi Mary Jane."

Back to my story...

Yes, I am a child of the 70s. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm 50 years old. I grew up in the 70s. Pot was widely available. I smoked a little in high school, but not that much. I was offered plenty; after all, I am a girl. Most guys I knew had access to pot and were more than willing to share it with me (and anyone else with breasts, I'm sure). I didn't much like pot back then. I'm too much of a dominating control freak, I suppose. I was more into white crosses.


Throughout my life I've had opportunities to enter the world of cannabis. I've have several guys who were tokers. My ex-husband indulged quite heavily when we lived in Arizona. Musicians are always good for a stash, and my drummer boyfriend was no exception. Another old boyfriend used to keep 3 types in his freezer: a creative strain, a happy strain, and a sleepy strain. I have no idea what strains those actually were, but they were fun. I remember recounting the details of the "Paul is Dead" Beatles conspiracy theory while under the influence.

Now, I feel like a total novice when it comes to marijuana. I've always been an advocate of legalization, but was never that into it personally. I think the last 1/4 ounce my husband bought has lasted us months. We have no idea what kind it is. I do know it's a lot stronger than what I remember from my youth.

So here I am... 50 years old and buying pot for the first time! I'm getting a crash course into the world of marijuana from some excellent teachers. I feel like a sponge, absorbing as much information as I can get. I had no idea there were so many different strains! I was amazed to discover there were 8 different cannabinoids in addition to THC. Last night I saw a high tech cloning machine.

Now I'm cautiously experimenting and documenting how various strains affect me. There have been some surprises... like my hot flashes and night sweats have subsided. My husband can actually snuggle with me in bed at night! There will likely be some duds... like the first strain I tried for relaxation and sleep made my heart pound. It's sort of exciting to think that maybe, in my own small way, by sharing my experiences I might contribute to the legalization effort.

I'll be letting you know how it goes!

My first post

Tada! Here is my first post on my new blog about my experiences with medical marijuana.

I'm 50 years old. I've had fibromyalgia for over 20 years, before most doctors even considered it a "real" diagnosis. I was officially diagnosed by a rheumatologist about 15 years ago. Overall, I'm pretty functional, but do have chronic pain and fatigue.

I'm also the primary caregiver for my elderly mother. The additional stress takes its toll on my body and emotions. I recently doubled the dose of my antidepressant (NSRI).

I also have hypertension with readings of around 140/92. I've been on medication for several years: a diuretic and an ACE-inhibitor.

I recently quit smoking. Today marks 92 days without a cigarette.

Being middle-age I'm also dealing with typical aging issues like menopause and weight gain.

I'm tired of taking traditional drugs for all these issues. I worry about the longterm effects of NSAIDs which don't help much anyway. I don't like the side-effects of opiates like vicodin. I also have muscle relaxers and anti-anxiety meds. The antidepressant doesn't work as well after awhile, so you have to keep increasing the dose. I'd rather be decreasing it. One of the side-effects of BP meds and antidepressants is reduced libido, which I hate and my husband hates even more! Need to get that corrected if I want a happy and fulfilling marriage.

Medical marijuana has been legalized in Colorado where I live. And I've recently met the owner of a legal distribution center. So about 10 days ago I met with a doctor who authorized my use of medical marijuana for chronic pain, depression, hypertension, PTSD, and caregiver fatigue. I've started trying various strains to see how I feel with interesting and sometimes surprising results.

So that's my background info. Thought it might be useful.