Pubdate: Thu, 16 Oct 2014
Source: Sacramento News & Review (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Chico Community Publishing, Inc.
Contact:  http://newsreview.com/sacto/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/540
Author: Ngaio Bealum

CANNABIS AND NERVE PAIN: DOES IT WORK?

Also, What's Up With Law Enforcement Attacking Grows in Mendocino?

My primary doctor told me that marijuana would probably relieve my 
peripheral neuropathy pain. I looked at all the ads in the SN&R 
issue. Problem is that I can't tell who is the most reputable doctor 
I should go to for an evaluation. Can you suggest someone who really 
looks at my medical information and steers me to the right 
dispensary. I am 88 years old and haven't used since the old "love 
in" days. Today's scene is a mystery to me, so please help this old 
man with your knowledge and sage advice.

- -Bob

Hello, Bob. Your doctor is right. There are plenty of studies that 
show cannabis to be very effective at treating nerve pain. Scientists 
aren't really sure how it works-they think it's because marijuana has 
an anti-inflammatory effect on nerves-but they aren't really sure how 
aspirin works, either, and you can get aspirin over the counter.

Your primary-care physician could write you a letter of 
recommendation. Most of the cannabis-evaluation clinics in Sacramento 
are top notch. Americans for Safe Access has a sample letter on their 
website 
(http://american-safe-access.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/SF_Recommendation.pdf). 
Print it out and see if you doctor will sign it. If you doctor is 
uncomfortable signing this letter, I have sent you an email 
containing the names of few places that I think will go above and 
beyond to make sure you get the help you need. Welcome back to the 
cannabis scene. I hope you feel better.

Why are unmarked helicopters and vigilantes uprooting peoples' 
harvests in Mendocino County?

- -Khan Speerasy

Yup. You heard right. In fact, there seem to be two different groups 
behind these raids. According to published reports, the LEAR Asset 
Management Corporation was hired by a Mendocino-area timber company 
to eradicate marijuana cultivation sites on its property. At the same 
time, some sort of joint task force between the California Department 
of Justice (Kamala Harris, I'm looking at you. Have you forgotten 
that you owe your job to the thousands of medical marijuana patients 
that voted for you instead of Steve Cooley? For shame) and the 
Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

They claim they are only going after "trespass grows" (unauthorized 
grow sites on private or public property), but there are reports of 
completely legitimate medicinal farms being destroyed. Once again, we 
see the failure of not having comprehensive statewide regulations for 
growing marijuana. Listen: These raids aren't really going to make a 
dent in the supply, but when legitimate growers trying their best to 
follow the rules and guidelines have their property destroyed, I get 
upset. And you should also be upset. Call Mendocino Sheriff Tom 
Allman and tell him how you feel. Give Kamala Harris a ring, as well. 
I'm sure she would be happy to hear from you.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom