Cannabis as medicine for those who cannot choose?

[GreenLadyOfDankDowns]

I've been wrestling with this decision for a while now, and finally figured I'd ask for your opinions because I just don't know what I should do. I take care of my 86 year old grandmother. She has too many medical issues to list, but suffice it to say she seems to be in constant pain at this point. I can't stand seeing her suffer like this day in and day out. I'd like to try giving her some baked goods which contain cannabis and see if perhaps it would provide her with some relief. One of her medical conditions is Alzheimer's disease, so she can't make an informed decision for herself as to whether she wishes to try this. Do you believe it is morally acceptable to provide cannabis as medicine to an individual who cannot make the choice for themselves due to diminished mental capacity? Keep in mind it hasn't been decriminalized for medical use in my state as of yet, and her doctor is staunchly anti-cannabis. I think it would do her some good, but admittedly I don't have a background in medicine. I'm just going on what I have read regarding the subject.

GreenLadyOfDankDowns Reviewed by GreenLadyOfDankDowns on 01-22-2008. Cannabis as medicine for those who cannot choose? I've been wrestling with this decision for a while now, and finally figured I'd ask for your opinions because I just don't know what I should do. I take care of my 86 year old grandmother. She has too many medical issues to list, but suffice it to say she seems to be in constant pain at this point. I can't stand seeing her suffer like this day in and day out. I'd like to try giving her some baked goods which contain cannabis and see if perhaps it would provide her with some relief. One of her Rating: 5

[beachguy in thongs]

Tough choice. I'd like to see what your plans are. A hit of a joint, maybe? It may be more effective. Then, again, I'd hate to have you cross-cancel any medications that she's taking.

She may have an anxiety attack, also.

[Storm Crow]

But if you do decide to try it, I would suggest using a tincture, rather than cookies or other baked goods. The dosage would be much easier to control.

The link in my sig has the abstracts of several cannabis/alzheimer's studies (didn't know if you'd checked). And here are two more new ones.

*Cannabinoid receptor stimulation is anti-inflammatory and improves memory in old rats
Cannabinoids Research Articles and recent Cannabinoid Abstracts

*Alzheimer's disease; taking the edge off with cannabinoids?
British Journal of Pharmacology - Abstract of article: Alzheimer's disease; taking the edge off with cannabinoids?

Before cannabis was medically legal in California, a friend of mine who was a nurse, said that some doctors would recommend cannabis "off the record" to certain patients they thought it might help. I know you don't see anything like this happening with your grandmother's doctor. But before anything like this can happen, a doctor has to KNOW about research that has been done. You might want to make a print-up of the Alzheimer's section and send it (anonymously, perhaps?) to your grandmother's doctor. They don't teach much about medical cannabis in med school. And our government seems to suppress the knowledge of any studies.

I'm sorry that you and your grandmother are in this situation. I wish that there was more that I could do, besides just offer information. - (((hugs))) Granny:hippy:

[birdgirl73]

I would struggle morally with making that choice for her unless I'd heard her own opinions or willingness to try cannabis before she lost her mental faculties. Also, if she has a list of ailments a mile long, goodness only knows how it might interact with those ailments. Is there no way you might get another professional's opinion other than her staunchly opposed doctor? Another physician? Another professional like a nurse-practitioner?

First do no harm. Those are words to live by. She's a delicate, ailing, cognitively challenged, elderly person. They're the ones who're most susceptible to troubles with any medicines and scary interactions when new ones are added in. Until I could get an informed, unbiased second opinion from someone fully aware of her entire scope of illnesses and aware of both the benefits and risks of cannabis, I'd be very hesitant to make that decision for her.

You clearly have very loving intentions, GreenLady. I admire you for wanting to help her so much and for having the courage and love to take care of her. I am teary just thinking about this!

[GreenLadyOfDankDowns]

Thanks everyone for replying and thanks for the links to those articles Storm. I'm printing them out and giving them to her doctor when I take her for her next appointment. Unfortunately because of the type of insurance she has we are limited as to the pool of doctors from which we can choose. In fact all of the doctors work at the same local clinic. I hate the local medical establishment.
I also had my mother read over that information. She's a nurse with nearly 40 years of experience and after reading those articles she has now launched into more research on the subject. Although she believes cannabis may be beneficial for my grandmother thanks to those articles, she wants to do a lot more research and consult with some Alzheimer's specialists at her hospital and see what they have to say before moving forward with my idea. She knows she won't get a straight answer from my granny's doc so she's taking her medical records and getting a second opinion. Thanks again, and keep your fingers crossed for my grandmother.

[birdgirl73]

. . . .She knows she won't get a straight answer from my granny's doc so she's taking her medical records and getting a second opinion.

This is the best news of all! I'm glad. It's sad that people don't more often pick up records from less-than-helpful doctors and seek another opinion, and it's downright criminal that insurance limitations and market-choice options often make this difficult, if not impossible, to do.

Thanks again, and keep your fingers crossed for my grandmother.

You can count on it!

[denial102]

I heard cannabis has extremely beneficial affects to people with, alzheimers.. I may not be able to spell alzheimers, but I do know this is true. The question is the dose, and how the person will react mentally and physically to it - aside from their medical condition! good luck dude. You deserve it ;-)

Denial

[altoids]

That is absolutely heart wrenching. I am to the point of crying. Your Grandma is in my thoughts, and my fingers are crossed.

Good luck.