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Breathe Easy: Marijuana Can Cure Medically Intractable Hiccups

Richard Faulk
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Breathe Easy: Marijuana Can Cure Medically Intractable Hiccups

Believe it or not, that’s the finding of a case study that was published in the Lancet back in 1998, practically the dark ages of medical marijuana research.

This might seem like a joke, because you figure that in the time it takes to roll a joint and light it, your hiccups will probably already have stopped on their own. But that’s regular hiccups. An intractable case lasts for days, or longer. And its nothing to laugh about.

Longterm hiccups is usually a sign of an underlying problem, like encephalitis, meningitis, stroke, brain injury, even AIDS. Treating that underlying cause will usually cure the hiccups. If it doesn’t, the only FDA-approved hiccup drug is chlorpromazine—more recognized under its brand name Thorazine—which is a powerful antipsychotic.

The subject of the one and only scientific paper on hiccups and cannabis was an AIDS patient who developed intractable hiccups following minor surgery. Chlorpromazine worked only during sleep, so on ensuing days doctors tried a virtual adecedarium of off-label drugs, to no avail. On day six, they tried acupuncture. On day eight, they started to get silly: They removed a hair from the patient’s ear canal, then they poured the anesthetic marcaine into it. Later that day, they tried marijuana, and it worked. The next days, the hiccups returned, but the patient toked out again, and they went away for good.

The authors conclude their paper with a bittersweet acknowledgement that their breakthrough discovery might be more a medical white elephant than the source of a Nobel prize: “Because intractable hiccups is an uncommon condition, it is unlikely that the use of marijuana will ever be tested in a controlled clinical trial.” So far their prediction has proven sound.

Although the team ventured no hypothesis for the efficacy of cannabis in this instance, we’ll take a stab, because we have absolutely nothing at stake: Recent research into sleep apnea has found that cannabis effects the vagus nerve, one of the neves in the back of the throat that causes snoring—so why not hiccups as well?

By the way, you now owe us $500 for the medical consultation.

5 Reasons Why Working Out At Night Is Best For Your Body

Maria Loreto
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5 Reasons Why Working Out At Night Is Best For Your Body

Morning people exist, even though they’re a little hard to understand. They enjoy waking up early and getting things done as soon as possible and that includes working out. Their workouts leave them feeling refreshed and ready to take on the challenges of the day.

It’s cool if that’s not you and rather you enjoy sleeping in, and getting things done as the day comes to a close. There’s still hope for your workouts, in fact, the perks of working out at night might even  be better than the perks of working out in the mornings. Here are 5 reasons why you should consider working out at night:

Sleep

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The people from Popsugar.com found several reports that demonstrate that lifting weights in the evenings help people sleep better than those who lift weights at other times of the day. Sleeping better and for longer periods of time will make you feel more rested the next day, literally improving your quality of life.

Better Workouts

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Other studies have discovered that working out in the evenings promotes muscle growth and muscular gain. Doing things in the evenings before bedtime is really good for your body, since you’ll enter a resting state soon after that’ll cement all the work you’ve done.

Faster and better results

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The New England University Of Birmingham discovered that people who workout during the evenings can push their bodies up to 20 percent further, resulting in more intense workouts that burn more calories and build more muscle.

Hormones!

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According to Heather Webb, a kineseologist from Texas, your muscle function and body strength improve at night where you’ll have higher levels of testosterone. In the mornings, our bodies have high levels of cortisol, which can prevent and slow down muscle growth.

You can destress and get rid of the frustrations of the day

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Greatist.com explains how therapeutic working out at night can be, especially in those days where you’re feeling frustrated with an annoying boss, a long commute, or a fight with a friend. Exercising at night will help you process all of this in a positive way and not taking your problems to bed. Which is never a good thing.

Louisiana Medical Marijuana Program Doctor Shortage Is Hurting Patients

Terry Hacienda
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Louisiana Medical Marijuana Program Doctor Shortage Is Hurting Patients

Louisiana is home to an ample amount of awesome jazz, tasty Cajun food and historical architectural gems. But the Bayou State has a serious shortage of  when it comes to marijuana-friendly doctors, according to an alarming Associated Press report.

With about 10 months to go before the state’s medical marijuana program officially launches, only two — that’s right, TWO — doctors in a state of 4.6 million citizens have applied for permission to administer the herb. Should future patients be concerned that they will be unable to obtain their medicine. According the AP:

The pharmacist who sponsored the state’s 2015 and 2016 therapeutic marijuana laws said he’s not worried just yet.

Sen. Fred Mills, a St. Martin Parish Republican, hopes to see an uptick in permit requests from doctors early next year when the growing operations have started, medical marijuana sales are only months away, and patients start asking how they’ll get it.

“I feel that the people I’ve met, the 400 or 500 families of people who have the debilitating diseases, they are going to go to their physicians and say, ‘Please, I want to try this,’” Mills said.

Louisiana politicians agreed to a basic framework for the program in 2015. A series of roadblocks and compromises has slowed down the process — and the lack of medical professionals buying into the law could delay it even further.

Gov. John Bel Edwards, who signed the medical marijuana bill into law in May of 2016, insists that the state will adhere to “tight controls” for the program. But he has stated his desire to get the job done. And he cringes at the notion that families would be forced to leave the state in order to obtain medical marijuana.

“It simply is unacceptable to tell parents of kids that if they want to make them available to the kids the medicine recommended by their doctors to achieve some better quality of life — some reduction in pain — that they should have to move,” Edwards said at the time of last year’s bill signing.

Katie Corkern, a mother who is waiting for the day she can provide cannabis to her wheelchair-bound son who suffers from uncontrollable seizures, is frustrated by the delay.

“I’m obviously disheartened that it’s taking a long time and so many people in Louisiana are still having to suffer without this medicine. But I’m trying to be patient, because I want them to get it right the first time,” Corkern told the AP.

Corkern says Louisiana is “super-conservative, and doctors don’t want to be the first ones to jump in the pool, but I think it will grow. I’m confident that once the doctors do take this leap of faith in recommending it to their patients, other physicians will see the success in easing patients’ suffering.”

Under the state’s strict program, patients will be able to purchase cannabis in the form of medicinal oils, pills, sprays and topical applications. Dried herb for smoking remains illegal, even for patients.

People suffering from these conditions qualify for medical marijuana:

  • Cachexia/wasting syndrome
  • Cancer
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Epilepsy
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Muscular dystrophy,
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Seizure disorders/spasticity

Carrie Fisher’s Dog Watching The New Star Wars Trailer Is Devastating

Brendan Bures
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Carrie Fisher’s Dog Watching The New Star Wars Trailer Is Devastating

When the initial trailer for the upcoming Last Jedi film dropped Monday, millions of Star Wars fans across the globe couldn’t click fast enough. Not only was it the long-anticipated sequel to The Force Awakens, but the final featured role for beloved American actress Carrie Fisher.

Of course one pup wanted to see his mom on the screen once again.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaDQtHXhfAu/

That would be Gary, Carrie Fisher’s prized French bulldog. Posted to Gary’s official Instagram page, the caption reads, “Just watched the new trailer of The Last Jedi and my mom looks more beautiful than ever.”

Well-known for speaking out against stigma surrounding mental illness, Fisher adopted Gary as a therapy dog in her battle against bipolar disorder. But as she spoke in interviews, it’s obvious how close the two had become.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFLFFNLkhDC/

“Gary is mental also. My mother says Gary is a hooligan. Gary is like my heart,” Fisher told the Herald Tribune back in 2015. “Gary is very devoted to me and that calms me down. He’s anxious when he’s away from me.”

Once Fisher passed in 2016, her assistant Corby McCoin took in Gary. The two seem to be getting along just fine.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNj3cKLBiYv/

Federal Employees In D.C. Area Are Buying Loads Of Legal Weed

Terry Hacienda
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Federal Employees In D.C. Area Are Buying Loads Of Legal Weed

While the federal government continues to drag its collective feet when it comes to reforming national marijuana laws, Federal employees that live in and around the nation’s capital are already smoking weed in growing numbers. And many of those cannabis consumers are federal government workers, according to a new study.

The Green Market Report, in collaboration with data provider Consumer Research Around Cannabis, analyzed the consumer profile and opinions of those who live inside the beltway. After crunching the numbers, the researchers concluded that 8 percent of the adults in the region have visited a legal retailer and bought marijuana.

“Considering Washington D..C is where our federal legislation is created, results that indicate a significant number of government employees favoring the legality of its consumption as well as consuming it themselves, is clear indication that prohibition is outdated,” said Jeffrey Stein of Consumer Research Around Cannabis.

As Forbes’ Debra Borchardt reports:

Of the survey respondents who were government employees, 11 percent had bought marijuana legally, slightly higher than the eight percent overall rate, and government employees accounted for 16.7 percent of the total number of buyers. Some 41 percent of the government employees approved of both legalized adult use and medical marijuana, only 11 percent disapproved of the legalization of both categories. This seems to fly in the face of the attitudes from the current leaders of the Department of Justice and The Drug Enforcement Agency.

Here are some interesting factoids revealed from the report, which was released earlier this week:

Occupational Status

  • 55.3 percent are white-collar
  • 32.3 percent are professional
  • 30.5 percent are business owners
  • 30 percent are full-time workers
  • 7.5 percent are blue-collar

Political Affiliation

  • 47.8 percent are independents
  • 27.1 percent are liberals
  • 25.1 percent are conservatives

Income Status

  • 76 percent make more than $50,000 a year
  • 37 percent make more than $100,000 a year

Education Level

  • 68.3 percent have at least an undergraduate degree
  • 36.3 percent have advanced degrees

“I think it’s clear that the data debunks many of the negative connotations attached to cannabis use – whether for medicinal or recreational use,” said  Stein. “They are well educated, have good jobs and are financially sound.  Cannabis consumer data like this should be a wake-up call to government officials and companies that have thus far ignored this growing consumer group.”

The report concluded:

A large segment of the D.C market cannabis consumer is smart, comfortably employed, educated, a government employee or professional, and loves their concentrates! Let’s hope this sophisticated group can help influence on federal policy toward cannabis prohibition in a positive way. They are arguably positioned best to help influence advance the industry with better legislation best.

According to Green Market Report, 1,368 responded to the survey. The D.C. market represents 5,187,362 adults and includes portions of Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia along with the District of Columbia.

An Easy Way To Keep Track Your Marijuana Use

Terry Hacienda
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An Easy Way To Keep Track Your Marijuana Use

Whether you are a long-time toker or a novice cannabis consumer, it’s smart to keep track of your use. How much are you actually smoking? How many times a week? And how do you feel?

Keeping a cannabis journal will help you log all the variables and help you find what works best for you. For example, consuming edibles at night may be preferred to smoking. A smaller dose immediately after dinner may be preferential to a heavier dose later in the evening. And maybe smoking alone is simply not as enjoyable as sharing with a friend.

RELATED: Tips On Marijuana Dosing So You Don’t Get Too High

For some, putting pen to paper in a well-made, leather-bound journal. For others, using a journaling app on your smartphone works. But no matter how you do it, try logging your consumption and review it after a few weeks. Spend some time evaluating if there are things that need to change. Here is a suggestion on how to keep track.

  1. Date/Time: Record every time you consume cannabis with the current date and time of day.
  2. Amount: The amount of cannabis used (gram estimate or other consistent measure).
  3. Strain: The name, strain or variety of the cannabis strain or variety of cannabis medicine used. If you don’t know the name, write a detailed description of the medicine.
  4. Code: Strains are generally described as Indica, Sativa, or hybrid. You may want to code your entries: I=Indica, S=Sativa, S/I=Sativa-dominant Indica Cross, and I/S= Indica-dominant Sativa Cross.
  5. Type is the form of cannabis consumed: dried bud flower (most common), concentrates, tincture/sprays, edibles/drinks or topical. You may want to use: F=flower, C=concentrate, T=tincture/spray, E=edible, TO=topical.
  6. Cannabinoid Content: refers to the percent of THC, CBD and/or CBN. If you have this information available to you, write down percentages of each cannabinoid. If you’re using edibles or similar, a description of potency and preparation is helpful.
  7. Mode: Write down how you used your medication. Either inhale via S=smoke or V=vaporize, E=eat/digest, T=tincture or spray, TO=topical.
  8. Therapeutic Effects: List any positive effects you experience (physical, mental, social, behavioral, etc).
  9. Negative Side Effects: List your negative effects
  10. Timing: How quickly did you experience the first therapeutic effects? When did you feel the peak of relief? When did it start to noticeably dissipate? How long until effects were gone?
  11. What prompted your cannabis use? List the specific factors that told you it was time for medicine, as well as the general symptoms or conditions being treated (e.g. pain, nausea, anxiety, etc.)
  12. How did you feel (mindset)? Record your mood and feelings before and after you used cannabis.
  13. Where were you (setting)? Were you at home, at a collective, in your office? Sitting, standing, lying down?
  14. Who were you with? Were you by yourself, with a friend, a large group, among other cannabis consumers, etc?
  15. What were you doing? Just before you used cannabis, what was going on? What were the activities or circumstances leading up to it?

Of course, journaling is personal. Track what is important to you. Maybe it’s key for you to track the type of music you were listening to. Or which TV shows you watched.

Florida Man Blames Edible Marijuana For Assault On Flight Attendant

Terry Hacienda
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Florida Man Blames Edible Marijuana For Assault On Flight Attendant

If you spend any time on social media, you have surely run into the Florida Man meme (see here, here and here). This week’s Florida Man headline involves an international flight, edible marijuana and, of course, a crazy dude from the Sunshine State.

In this sordid tale, the Florida Man’s name is John Hudek IV, who was traveling first class back in July on a Delta flight from Seattle to Beijing. According to a Tampa Bay Times report in July, authorities claim Hudek, 23, attempted to open an exit door on the China-bound Boeing 767. The by-then shirtless passenger’s disruptive behavior “triggered a brawl with flight attendants and passengers who used wine bottles and zip ties to subdue him. The pilot called in the emergency and returned to Seattle.”

Hudek was charged with interfering with a flight crew and faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted. But it remained a mystery to what prompted Hudek from going nuts … until this week.

In a court affidavit, Hudek’s defense is that he ate wa-a-a-a-y more than the recommended dose of edible marijuana, which caused him to temporarily lose his mind.

“My understanding is that it was legal to buy [in Seattle] and consume marijuana in the state,” he wrote in the affidavit. “After purchasing the edible marijuana, I ate it.”

On Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Times reported:

Hudek texted several friends before the July 6 flight with pictures of “two or three bags of marijuana edibles.” The friends told investigators he has a history of regular marijuana use, and has used cocaine at least once.

His mother, Linda Hudek, told investigators he purchased marijuana-laced candy that day but did not have a history of mental health issues or substance abuse.

“I have never had a remotely similar incident in all my times of flying on an airplane,” Joseph Hudek said in the affidavit.

The judge bought the excuse, letting Hudek get out behind bars until his February trial date.

This Congressman Wants Marijuana Research To Combat Opioid Crisis

Terry Hacienda
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This Congressman Wants Marijuana Research To Combat Opioid Crisis

As America’s opioid crisis continues to spiral out of control, one Congressman is suggesting a sensible solution: Cannabis. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a progressive Oregon Democrat who has for years advocated for marijuana reform, offered up the simple remedy earlier this week during testimony before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Health.

Blumenauer spoke passionately about the horrors of the nation’s opiate abuse epidemic and the federal government’s failure to adequately address the problem. “I appreciate the focus on the opioid crisis that grips every community, to some degree, and affects every state. Especially critical for our veterans, who are twice as likely to die of accidental overdose,” he told the subcommittee.

“As we’re slowly acknowledging the depths of the opioid crisis, which is good, we seldom acknowledge one of the simplest, most effective solutions: medical marijuana, cannabis. Now available in 28 states, largely driven by the voters, not the politicians,” he added.

The Congressman also disseminated a document titled the “Physician Guide to Cannabis-Assisted Opioid Reduction.”

The guide makes the following key points:

Cannabis Reduces Opioid Overdose Mortality

  • In states with medicinal cannabis laws, opioid overdoses drop by an average of 25%. This effect gets bigger the longer the law has been in place. For instance, there is a 33% drop in mortality in California,where compassionate use has been in place since 1996.  

Cannabis Reduces Opioid Consumption

  • Cannabis is opioid-sparing in chronic pain patients. When patients are given access to cannabis, they drop their opioid use by roughly 50%.
  • Cannabis use is associated with a reduction in not only opioid consumption, but also many other drugs including benzodiazepines, which also have a high incidence of fatal overdose. In states with medicinal cannabis laws, the number of prescriptions for analgesic and anxiolytic drugs (among others) are substantially reduced.
  • Medicare and Medicaid prescription costs are substantially lower in states with cannabis laws.

Cannabis Can Prevent Dose Escalation And Opioid Tolerance

  • Cannabinoids and opioids have acute analgesic synergy. When opioids and cannabinoids are coadministered, they produce greater than additive analgesia. This suggests that analgesic dose of opioids is substantially lower for patients using cannabis therapy.

Cannabis Could Be A Viable First-Line Analgesic

  • The CDC has updated its recommendations in the spring of 2016, stating that most cases of chronic pain should be treated with non-opioids.
  • The National Academies of Science and Medicine recently conducted an exhaustive review of 10,000+ human studies published since 1999, definitively concluding that cannabis itself (not a specific cannabinoid or cannabis-derived molecule) is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic pain.

Cannabis May Be A Viable Tool In Medication-Assisted Relapse Prevention

  • CBD is non-intoxicating, and is the 2nd most abundant cannabinoid found in cannabis. CBD alleviates the anxiety that leads to drug craving. In human pilot studies, CBD administration is sufficient to prevent heroin craving for at least 7 days.
  • Cannabis users are more likely to adhere to naltrexone maintenance for opioid dependence.

According to Blumenauer:

“This [medical marijuana] is the cheapest, most effective way to stop the crisis. Where people have access to medical marijuana, there are fewer overdoses, and people opt for it daily with chronic pain.”

 

Why You Should See Robert Galinsky’s New Play ‘The Bench,’ A Homeless Love Story

Sarah Johns
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Why You Should See Robert Galinsky’s New Play ‘The Bench,’ A Homeless Love Story

Robert Galinsky is a contributing editor to The Fresh Toast, writing various colorful articles involving creative cocktails for this fall and diving into how your favorite TV shows become slot machines. But he’s also a thriving New York City artist activist and this winter, he’s starring in The Bench: A Homeless Love Story in New York, a performance you should check out if you’re in the area. Here’s what you need to know.

What’s It About?

The Bench, set in urban decay and rubble, explores the emotional heartbreak of five homeless characters and the catastrophic hysteria surrounding AIDS in the 1980s. It is directed by Jay O. Sanders, a passionate Shakespearian, and who most recently in the Richard Nelson play The Gabriels; Election Year in the Life of One Family. The sparse set is spectacularly integrated with beautiful hand-drawn art projections, from Daphne Arthur’s graphic novel adaptation of the play, and is scored by world re-known composer and multi-instrumentalist Deep Singh. It’s a unique and fresh blending of visual and audio arts, written by and starring Robert Galinsky.

What Do The Critics Think?

Previous performances of The Bench have been called “Galinsky is effortless—really quite extraordinary.” —Backstage Magazine; “The Bench features ensemble work, being done by one human being, with sustainable characters that have incredible nuances. It is palpably and real.” —Anney Bonney, Curator at The Kitchen; ‘Galinsky’s street dwellers speak in their own voices, and their voices ring true.” —The New Haven Independent; “Not your normal kind of theatre… it keeps your head moving.” —The NY Amsterdam News; “Galinsky herds multiple personalities into an evening of furious poetic justice.” —New York Press

I’m Interested, How Do I Go?

The Bench will run every Sunday evening from Oct. 15 through Dec. 17 at New York’s Cherry Lane Theater. The show runs 65 minutes, no intermission, and tickets are only $49 for Fresh Toast readers if you use the code 10OFF. Tickets can be purchased by visiting TheBenchPlay.com or calling 866-811-4111. The play is presented by Chris Noth and Barry Shabaka Henley.

For more info on Robert Galinsky please visit his website.

5 Times Vladimir Putin Was Upstaged By Cute Puppies

Amy Hansen
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5 Times Vladimir Putin Was Upstaged By Cute Puppies

A cuddly puppy in the hands of even the most stoic of human beings can soften the reputation of just about anyone, even Vladimir Putin. It’s pretty much gold for any public relations team.

The Russian president received a new pup as a belated birthday gift from Turkmen leader Kurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, who tells Reuters, “We have a common friend – this is the world’s unique alabai dog. And today I brought this little alabai with me,” before taking the dog out of its crate and holding it up by the scruff like some sort of Lion King moment.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BaJoMOjlquh

This is not the first time Putin, a known dog lover, was nearly upstaged by a furry friend. Here are four other times dogs stole the spotlight out from under him, and almost made him look like a guy you’d swipe right for on Tinder.

That Time He Showed Off His Guard Dog

That Time He Wanted To Name A Puppy

That Time He Brought His Dog When Meeting Angela Merkel, Who Is Afraid Of Dogs

That Time He Completely Ignored President George Bush

https://twitter.com/mulegirl/status/902733383893057536

 

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