Infinity Wellness


AT THE FOREFRONT OF SAFE ACCESS FOR


the nausea that generally accompanies chemotherapy.


While applying for a medical mari- juana recommendation is becoming more common, the decision to use me- dicinal cannabis can’t be taken lightly by patients or physicians. Since 2004, more than 53,000 Medical Marijuana Identification Cards have been issued by the state, based upon recommen- dations by doctors that have carefully considered issues such as their patients’ medical history, long-term medical diagnosis, and why current medications are unable to address the condition. Medical marijuana’s ever-im-


by Linda Sechrist


Steven Tyler, once Aerosmith’s “Demon of Screamin,’”can turn their negative images around and make good in the public eye, then marijuana can turn its former reputation around, too. “We would like to educate those


I


who are unaware of the actual thera- peutic value marijuana can have for those who are ill,” says Luana, a board member of Infinity Wellness, a mari- juana cooperative in San Diego. “Some newer strains of cannabis have less psychoactive properties and appear to relieve inflammation, nausea and other ailments.”


Luana says her traditional medi-


cal background of helping ambulatory surgical centers prepare for their ac- creditation surveys inspired her to bring the same type of standardization to the medical marijuana cooperative setting. She and a friend in the medical field, also a board member, discussed present- ing access to medical marijuana accord- ing to set guidelines, but in a comfort- able, spa-like manner. “We anticipate that it will be only a matter of time until the dispensaries are more regulated, and we want to be at the forefront of setting a good example,” she explains.


proving public image can be traced to stringent government regulations that include verifying physician recommen- dations and proof of residency, as well as facilities such as Infinity Wellness. “We strive to provide safe access to medical marijuana in a professional, clean and comfortable environment,” Luana advises.


f the worst of Hollywood’s bad boys, such as Robert Downey, Jr., star of Iron Man, and the music industry’s


Marijuana’s once unchallenged “weed without merit” status is slowly slipping, with the help of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR). After spending $8.7 million on 10 years of research and preclinical and clinical trials, CMCR, based at the University of California San Diego, determined that chemical compounds active in canna- bis have definite therapeutic value. Five published studies in scien-


tific periodicals, such as the Journal of Neurology, all conducted under CMCR auspices, indicate marijuana effectively relieves neuropathic pain in some people. Neuropathic pain can occur after traumatic injury or from numerous diseases including HIV, diabetes, auto- immune disorders and cancer. Another study found that people with spinal cord injuries experienced similar relief; still another, not yet published, con- cluded that marijuana reduced painful muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis better than placebo cigarettes. Since the passage of the California Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Prop- osition 215) and the 2004 California Senate Bill 420 (known as the Medical Marijuana Program Act), doctors and patients have been trying to balance the risks of marijuana with its medical benefits, which also include reducing


Infinity Wellness Center Cooperative, 9465 Black Mountain Rd., San Diego 92126. Call 858-689-1600.


GREEN ALTERNATIVES


All NEW members receive FREE 1/8th* with $40 donation


Offering a large selection of Flowers,Edibles


Concentrates and Clones Daily Specials


Ounce Specials *House Choice


9465 Black Mountain Rd. San Diego, CA 92126


infinitywellnesscenter@hotmail.com Open 7 Days a Week


(858) 689-1600 natural awakenings July 2011 29


Medical


Marijuana


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