Marijuana.

[blehmannwa]

I'm very glad that Washington state has legalized marijuana. I think that its medicinal qualities need more research without the stoner stigma. However, there has been an increasing number of marijuana toxicity cases in canines in Colorado supposedly due to the relaxed drug laws.

[gagsd]

I think without studies showing that it is SAFE and effective in our dogs.... then this is a moot point. It is a bad idea to give your dog medication because it works in people. Acetaminophen works for pain in people.... not generally safe for dogs.
Different creatures altogether.

[Lilie]

I tend to have more respect for my animals. I won't experiment on them by giving them drugs for my amusement.

[Freestep]

I have often wondered if marijuana has the same medicinal effects on animals that it does for people... as a painkiller, appetite stimulant, etc. Someone needs to do a study on this, because it could be a good alternative for prescription painkillers. Some dogs (and all cats) do not handle pain medication well, especially if they are elderly and have compromised liver function.

I'm surprised so many people here are against medicinal marijuana. It's been decriminalized in many states as it can really help some people, so I don't see why it shouldn't be studied for animals. Anything we can do to make them more comfortable, with fewer side effects, should be studied. If you think it's morally wrong to use it, then don't, but the potential benefits of it should not be ignored.

I once knew a guy who gave his dog a marijuana cookie on long roadtrips. The dog had a lot of anxiety and motion sickness in the car, but after a cookie she would just settle down and sleep the whole time.

[GusGus]

Originally Posted by Freestep

I have often wondered if marijuana has the same medicinal effects on animals that it does for people... as a painkiller, appetite stimulant, etc. Someone needs to do a study on this, because it could be a good alternative for prescription painkillers. Some dogs (and all cats) do not handle pain medication well, especially if they are elderly and have compromised liver function.

I'm surprised so many people here are against medicinal marijuana. It's been decriminalized in many states as it can really help some people, so I don't see why it shouldn't be studied for animals. Anything we can do to make them more comfortable, with fewer side effects, should be studied. If you think it's morally wrong to use it, then don't, but the potential benefits of it should not be ignored.

I once knew a guy who gave his dog a marijuana cookie on long roadtrips. The dog had a lot of anxiety and motion sickness in the car, but after a cookie she would just settle down and sleep the whole time.

Good points here. If MJ was a good alternative to chemically produced pills I would much rather find a way to give that to my dog. I agree about the research because I've seen it help very sick people. It may not CURE things, but it eases discomfort for some cases.

[LaneyB]

I totally agree. I've never seen marijuana hurt anything, and I feel if it hadn't been made illegal and demonized, and someone discovered the plant today, there would be research going on about all the beneficial qualities... for every living being...
__________________

I don't care if people smoke it or not. I am completely indifferent to marijuana. But I do think proponents of it tend to overlook some of the harm it might cause. And I wouldn't give it to an animal any more than I would a child.

This study below only links usage with cancer - no causal relationship was proven.
Study Links Marijuana Use to Testicular Cancer

also, when I worked oncology at an extremely liberal university hospital we were told in our chemo class that while marijuana does help some patients its efficacy is exaggerated by the pro-marijuana crowd. Zofran is a better antiemetic. That said, marijuana has been useful in helping AIDS pts with maintaining their weight, so it does have some valid uses. And I do feel that if marijuana is helpful to a particular patient they should certainly be able to obtain it. It just annoys me a bit when people act like it is a wonder drug. I agree more research is needed.

ScienceDirect.com - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior - Antiemetic efficacy of smoked marijuana: Subjective and behavioral effects on nausea induced by syrup of ipecac

[Lauri & The Gang]

What surprises me is that no-one has mentioned the fact that a dogs sense of smell is SOOOO much stronger than ours.

To me, an x-smoker, smoke of any kind (except burning leaves) smells bad.

I can only imagine how STRONG the smoke smell is to a dog.

[Yoschi's_Pet_Human]

The only reason to get dogs and cats high is for entertainment purposes.... it is immature at best and kills at worst.... anyone over the age of 16 should be locked up for doing this.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Originally Posted by gagsd

I think without studies showing that it is SAFE and effective in our dogs.... then this is a moot point. It is a bad idea to give your dog medication because it works in people. Acetaminophen works for pain in people.... not generally safe for dogs.
Different creatures altogether.

I think this is why people in this thread aren't all gung-ho for marijuana in dogs. Wish in one hand and crap in the other and guess which one fills up first, as my family says.

And it is likely not to happen without someone funding it. I looked on Morris Animal Foundation - that would be a place to bring this to, didn't see it, take a look.

I am all for complete legalization for adults. Adult humans.

[Yoschi's_Pet_Human]

At the same time,, if cigarettes and alcohol were discovered today they would both be illegal... marijuana smoke is hundreds of times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke... granted, people aren't inhaling the quantities of marijuana smoke that they are of tobacco and it isn't physically addictive,,, but it can and does kill. I do think it should be legal as long as alcohol is legal... but please do not minimize the damage it does.

Originally Posted by LaneyB

I totally agree. I've never seen marijuana hurt anything, and I feel if it hadn't been made illegal and demonized, and someone discovered the plant today, there would be research going on about all the beneficial qualities... for every living being...
__________________

I don't care if people smoke it or not. I am completely indifferent to marijuana. But I do think proponents of it tend to overlook some of the harm it might cause. And I wouldn't give it to an animal any more than I would a child. "

This study below only links usage with cancer - no causal relationship was proven.
Study Links Marijuana Use to Testicular Cancer

also, when I worked oncology at an extremely liberal university hospital we were told in our chemo class that while marijuana does help some patients its efficacy is exaggerated by the pro-marijuana crowd. Zofran is a better antiemetic. That said, marijuana has been useful in helping AIDS pts with maintaining their weight, so it does have some valid uses. And I do feel that if marijuana is helpful to a particular patient they should certainly be able to obtain it. It just annoys me a bit when people act like it is a wonder drug. I agree more research is needed.

ScienceDirect.com - Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior - Antiemetic efficacy of smoked marijuana: Subjective and behavioral effects on nausea induced by syrup of ipecac