High Times – October 2019

What’s the most common use for

medical cannabis?

Florence Nightenkush

Hi Flo,

A recent meta-analytic review

(a statistical summary of

other studies) suggests pain is

the most common symptom

(reported by 64 percent of

patients) for which medical

cannabis is used, followed by

anxiety (50 percent) and then

depression (34 percent). Obvi-

ously, patients could report

more than one symptom. Of

course, these are very common

symptoms in the general popu-

lation, so the results shouldn’t

be a huge surprise.

My partner claims that the

research you mention about lung

function doesn’t include daily

users and blah, blah, blah. Help

me out.

Shortie Breath

Hey Shortie,

Sounds as if somebody really

loves you and wants you to

stay healthy! A new team

in Colorado performed just

about every possible measure

of lung function on more than

70 cannabis fans, including

25 who got high at least four

times per day. Pulmonary

function was absolutely nor-

mal and no different from the

control group. As long as you

stay away from those nasty

cigarettes, the data is on your

side.

Who was the first hemp farmer in

the United States?

Rusty Acres

Hello Rusty,

Robert “King” Carter (one

of President Jimmy Carter’s

ancestors) could get credit

for a prescient switch from

tobacco to hemp in 1774, so he

probably had some plants in

the ground when the United

States first became the US. But

the name of the first colonist

is probably lost.

Does marijuana impair immune

function?

Sneezy Little

Howdy Sneezy,

Nope. Pumping rodents full of

more THC than anyone would

ever ingest can lower immu-

nity, and a single study of

humans looked discouraging.

But better research reveals

that even HIV-positive folks

can use the plant and still

fight off colds, flu and the like.

Any thoughts on conflict-of-

interest issues in the cannabis

industry?

Sue Yoo, Esq.

Hey Sue,

Whew! Got a few minutes?

Let’s just get safe, quality

plants to those who love

them. m

Got a question for Dr. Mitch? Email him at [email protected].

MARIJUANA AND HEALTH

COMMON CURES, THE IMMUNE SYSTEM ON WEED

AND HISTORIC HEMP.

Dr. Mitch Earleywine, PhD, is

the author of Understanding

Marijuana and The Parents’

Guide to Marijuana. HIG

H^ T

IME

S^ A

RCH

IVE

118 HIGH TIMES I OCTOBER 2019

ASK DR. MITCH

Cannabis cures