ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York state will require physicians to complete an educational course before they can authorize medical marijuana for patients - a condition generally not applied to new drugs or seen in other states with existing medical pot programs.

The 4.5 hour online training course will cost doctors $250.

Officials say training will help physicians understand the drug when the state’s medical marijuana program begins in January. But some patient advocates say the inconvenience could discourage physicians from participating, ultimately limiting patient access.

A new report published on PubMed.gov demonstrates that cannabinoids from the marijuana plant could provide a new choice of treatment for those suffering from one of today’s deadlier forms of liver cancer.

HCC – also known as Hepatocellular Carcinoma – is one of the most common forms of liver cancer affecting men over the age of 50. Long considered to be one of the more lethal cancer-related illnesses, HCC accounts for roughly 75% of all liver cancers.

Take a close look at your cannabis buds. They’re covered in a sticky dusting of crystal resin, which contains hundreds of therapeutic compounds known as cannabinoids and terpenoids. We assume you’re well acquainted with THC and CBD, but these are just two among many important players working together to produce specific effects.

There has been much written about this topic over the last few months, and I suspect I don't have anything new to add to the debate. However, reading the news coverage did prompt me to browse the medical literature for the latest research in an attempt to understand the potential benefits of this contentious substance.

Cannabis has been used medicinally in various forms for many centuries, at least as far back as Ancient Greece and China. Interestingly, even way back then, its benefits were mainly in the realm of pain relief, nausea, muscle spasm and joint inflammation – very similar to today. It was most commonly chewed rather than smoked.

Former NFL players say marijuana can help during recovery from injury

A group of former National Football League players gathered in Phoenix on Tuesday to advocate for permissible use of marijuana in the NFL, as reported by ABC 15 – Arizona.

Former New Orleans Saints lineman and San Diego All American tackle, Kyle Turley spoke about how cannabis helped treat his chronic pain, head injuries and other ailments caused by the physical and mental stress of playing professional football.

“You don’t understand how bad you’re going to be hurting,” said Turley.

Oxytocin and social contact together modulate endocannabinoid activity in the mouse brain, which could help explain the prosocial effects of marijuana use. 

The mammalian central nervous system is studded with receptors that bind with a small number of endogenous cannabinoids, as well as those found in marijuana. Marijuana is known to promote heightened social connection, but the mechanism for this phenomenon was not well understood. According to a paper published today (October 26) inPNAS, it is social interaction between mice plus oxytocin—the hormone involved in social bonding—that drive cannabinoid activity in the animals’ brains.

Every person should have the right to obtain cannabis legally. Cannabis plant treatment is safer and more effective than pharmaceuticals, especially opiate based pain medication and many cancer-therapy drugs. Still many patients do not have the right to access medical marijuana legally and are forced to obtain and medicate outside of the law.

A new research letter looks at the differences between cannabis users (CU) and non-CU in stroke risks and outcomes among young (<45 year old) stroke patients.

The Daily Mail states that using cannabis increased the risk of stroke by narrowing the arteries in the head.  Science in the Daily Mail is more often wrong than right and takes more than a grain of salt to make it palatable.

I am a big fan of Missouri marijuana reform efforts, which if you read this blog often, than you probably know that already. I have always felt that if Missouri can reform its marijuana laws, recreational and/or medical, that it would speed up reform nationwide. I am from Oregon, born and raised, and when Oregon legalized recreational marijuana most news reports had the ‘duh, isn’t this overdue?’ vibe. Very few were shocked, and opponents in other states just chalked it up to ‘well, it’s Oregon, they are very liberal out there, especially in the Portland area, but our state is obviously way different.’