Thursday January 3, 2013, 10:54 am
(photo credit: shutterstock)

One of the nation's leading cannabis doctors has an idea for a New Year's diet: a marijuana smoothie. Dr. William Courtney, who has spent years researching the potential health benefits of medical marijuana, argues that juicing whole hemp plants can provide a host of healing properties, ranging from pain relief to even helping prevent diseases like cancer.

Yet, many of the health benefits are lost, Courtney says, when a patient ingests marijuana in the most typical way: by smoking it. Burning the plant kills off enzymes, which can diminish some of the curative properties. Juicing the entire plant, on the other hand, retains the enzymes and may be more medically beneficial. Plus, smoking the plant kicks the THC--and its psychoactive properties--into high gear, producing marijuana's high, which many find to be a curative effect in its own right, but is not always what the patient desires or wants.

The health benefits of marijuana are slowly gaining traction in the medical community, especially now that medical marijuana has been legalized in 18 states. It is often used to treat chronic pain, arthritis and the nausea associated with chemotherapy and other painful treatments. It has even gained some attention--and skepticism--for possibly helping cure more serious conditions, such as seizures and tumors. And while marijuana juice has not yet taken off as a form of medicine--or even as a short-lived health-food fad--Courtney contends that a four to eight ounce smoothie daily could be one of the most potent medicines in the world.

Dr. William Courtney recently gained media attention for publicizing the case of an eight-month-old cancer patient whose tumor, he said, was drastically reduced by twice daily cannabinoid oil treatments, which were rubbed onto the baby's pacifier.

Yet, not all doctors are convinced that marijuana juice holds the curative properties that Courtney envisions.

Michael Backes, a doctor at the medical marijuana clinic, the Abatin Wellness Center, said that the juice hypothesis has not yet been fully tested.

"The medical benefits of large doses of acidic cannabinoids have not been subjected to controlled clinical trials. The evidence at this point is anecdotal. And if someone is not harvesting the cannabis fresh and consuming it immediately, then there is a risk of significant THC intoxication," he told Xeni Jardin writing for Boing Boing.

Plus, said Backes, a badly prepared smoothie could actually cause damage on the way down.

"The throat irritation is based on the fact that the stems of cannabis have sharp little hairs," explained Backes.

Still, don't be surprised if you start seeing marijuana smoothies popping up in hippie health stores in Colorado sometime in 2013. Just make sure to pop off the lid and check that the plant has been blended sufficiently.
****many links within body of article at VISIT SITE ****

By Laura Gottesdiener | alternet |

Thursday January 3, 2013, 1:25 pm
Oh Good Grief~ Go to Starbucks get a Smoothie, then rush to the store for a bag of Oreos!

Thursday January 3, 2013, 2:01 pm
I already drink Hemp Milk (non -thc) everyday,and use Hemp seeds in my food,so why not?

Thursday January 3, 2013, 2:01 pm
Thanks Kit

Thursday January 3, 2013, 2:04 pm
It COULD be a health drink, depending on how its grown. If its shot all full of pesticides, or grown from a GMO crop- that is certainly as unhealthy as cigarettes- if not worse.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 3:13 pm
what form of marijuana would be used? i love hemp seeds.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 3:39 pm
The smoothie sounds like a good option. Smoking it results in tar in the lungs, the same as with conventional cigarettes.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 3:54 pm
Noted and Signed

Thursday January 3, 2013, 4:14 pm
Thank you.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 4:17 pm
noted thnx

Thursday January 3, 2013, 5:14 pm
Hmmm...my wife is always after me to eat/drink more green things. Thanks Kit.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 5:37 pm
Noted thanks

Thursday January 3, 2013, 6:08 pm
We use Hemp Oil for many things...cooking,salads etc. plus...puffpuffpass of course but we haven't tried juicing some ...eatables sure but not the juice, so this sounds like something new and very benificial that we'll be giving a try in the near future....around harvest time in the late Spring :-) .

Thanks for sharing as we hadn't heard of this type of delivery system for cannabis.

Thursday January 3, 2013, 7:26 pm
I'll have another, please!!!

Thursday January 3, 2013, 7:58 pm

I'm sure at some point you have read my comments about "juicing" marijuana. This article gives a better idea about using the benefits of the plant even if you don't want the THC effect. Smoking will probably continue, at least until more people realize that best health effect from marijuana is not in smoking but in juicing.

Friday January 4, 2013, 1:57 am
I would have one Cheers Kit

Friday January 4, 2013, 3:37 am
noted

Friday January 4, 2013, 5:32 am

I don't need Maurijuana...!!

Friday January 4, 2013, 12:55 pm
I'll stick to the real fruit smoothie's.. and definitely pass on this..

Friday January 4, 2013, 1:05 pm

Please keep in mind this is not about getting high but using the health effects that Marijuana can provide. I don't think the US Government would own the patents if someone didn't find this an effective method of treatment.

Friday January 4, 2013, 1:28 pm
Awesome info, thank you for sharing.

Friday January 4, 2013, 2:18 pm
noted

Friday January 4, 2013, 2:46 pm
You know Kit, you are teasing me again....

Friday January 4, 2013, 2:58 pm
Interesting !

Friday January 4, 2013, 3:56 pm
Thanks, BUT NO Thanks!!!!

Friday January 4, 2013, 4:33 pm
Bottoms up! Or should I say, here's to your health!

Friday January 4, 2013, 4:37 pm
donald, something tells me that that is what you said to your mother when she told you to eat your vegetables.

Friday January 4, 2013, 4:44 pm
paul m, you might not need ' Maurijuana', but you could sure use 'spell check'.

Dee C, how 'bout if it prevented cancer?

Friday January 4, 2013, 4:46 pm
Thank you Kit, for a very enlightening article.

Friday January 4, 2013, 6:27 pm
The Power of RAW Cannabis.

As I read some of these comments I can't help but think 'natural selection' is alive and well.

Friday January 4, 2013, 6:33 pm
I'll pass . . . . .

Friday January 4, 2013, 7:04 pm
WHEN WE GROW, This is what we can do (Full Documentary)

The close-mindedness that still continues to hamper full implementation of this life-giving plant, will be a shame that will live with mankind for a millennia.

Please, will everyone educate themselves to the truths about this miracle plant.

Friday January 4, 2013, 9:43 pm
Sounds yummy to me. Thank you MJ M for the documentary.

Friday January 4, 2013, 10:03 pm
The leaves have little benefit, which is why those who grow it remove the sucker leaves and change the lighting cycle to encourage budding. If the leaves were beneficial, they'd be plucked/picked before a certain stage was reached. However, this sounds interesting. Maybe worh trying along with a bit of spinach, celery and a few spices?

Friday January 4, 2013, 10:53 pm

Actually the entire plant is beneficial. It is used in other countries to treat many of the diseases that we consider "treatable" be not curable. MJM left one of many very good documentaries about the uses of cannabinoids - the part of the plant below the buds. The buds are used for the THC, the rest is used for it's curative properties and for many other uses. Remember that man has been using this plant long before there was a Pharmaceutic industry. We used for making clothes, ropes, tea, and of course for man's favorite pass time - getting high. In our world today it could be used to almost completely replace plastic.

Friday January 4, 2013, 11:05 pm
MJ M and I go "way back", Kit, so I agree, he knows what he's talking about. I'm all for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes and have used it in forms of rubs/creams for pain (works wonderfully) and edibles such as chocolate candy, fudge, and tinctures to address pain. They were all obtained at a legal dispensary, and there are recipes online to make butters and how to extract the oil. I can't smoke it, and have no desire to get "high". The edibles specifically state for "Medicinal Use ONLY" and state not a source of getting "high". I doubt one could consume enough to do that.

Just wondering about any possible dangers of blending in and drinking leaves & stems in a smoothie. As I said, sounds interesting with maybe spinach & celery? Dandelions are another weed which can be used for many things. The leaves in salads, the flowers can be dried and made into tea. Same with clover.

Saturday January 5, 2013, 1:26 am
Juiced Hemp does as much good as marijuana? Nice!

Saturday January 5, 2013, 9:19 am
Sounds good to me.

Saturday January 5, 2013, 10:41 am
noted

Saturday January 5, 2013, 12:38 pm
this is harmless compare to selling guns.......... I'm just saying

Saturday January 5, 2013, 3:34 pm
If it could help my wife's cronic pain, I'm all for it. Is TX a state where it is legal for medical marijuana?

Saturday January 5, 2013, 4:23 pm
Noted

Saturday January 5, 2013, 5:50 pm
@MJM: Veggies are OK. But I like then the way the Vegans make them or in your Chinese dinners,& other dinners of that sort. Plain? I don't make them myself but will eat them @ somone elses house.
Now, for the issue @ hand, I've seen people go from mj to worse, that's why I usually say , " I have mixed emotions on this issue."
What you do is your business!!!!!!

Saturday January 5, 2013, 6:19 pm
Well then, by all means donald, you need to educate yourself so maybe you'll stop repeating the same gateway myth that's been proven over and over to be a load of crap.

Research Proves Marijuana is Not a "Gateway Drug"

Researchers Debunk the Gateway Theory … Again

Study of 4000 indicates marijuana discourages use of hard drugs.

Study: The ‘gateway drug’ is alcohol, not marijuana

How did the marijuana gateway myth get started?

Have I sorted out those 'mixed emotions' for you yet donald?

Saturday January 5, 2013, 6:32 pm
Shall we talk 'brain cells', donald? You haven't fallen for that one too, have you?

Marijuana Compound Grows New Brain Cells and Reduces Inflammation

Saturday January 5, 2013, 6:40 pm
Personally donald, I couldn't care less if you choose not to reap the benefits of this miracle plant. Like I said before, it looks like natural selection is alive and well. Just do the rest of the world a favor and stop spreading the same misinformation of the 'reefer madness' years. Mankind will be better off even though you choose not to be.

Saturday January 5, 2013, 7:28 pm
umm, yes, please.

Saturday January 5, 2013, 9:08 pm
Hi MJ M! Thanks for the "green star"! If you're on a roll and have the time, visit the other Care.2 discussion on this and enlighten the less-informed who are still screaming (posting all in CAPS) about everyone who is a proponent of legalization becoming "brain dead"..............http://www.care2.com/causes/whats-next-for-marijuana-reform.html#comment-4533552

Sunday January 6, 2013, 1:31 am
Yes !! I already buy crushed cannabis seeds at the bio store. It contains Omega 3 oil, magnesium and iron. It's healthy and you can sprinkle it on your muesli or yoghurt. Or I can buy cannabis oil, it has vitamin E. It's about time !!

Sunday January 6, 2013, 3:31 am
Interesting article. Nothing against the medicinal marijuana. I am against the indiscriminate use. In the same way what some medications are obtained from plants, why do not use the marijuana as medication?

Sunday January 6, 2013, 5:14 am
" indiscriminate use"??

Ohhhh, you mean like alcohol and tobacco! You know, those substances that kill millions world wide every year.

Edgar, you must really be on top of this. Perhaps you can tell us how many DEATHS are attributed to cannabis worldwide, every year?

RIGHT ON Monka! The most nutritionally complete food source that grows from the earth, and American farmers are forbidden from growing it. I pay 5-10 times as much for my hemp seed and hemp oil because we have to import it from Canada. Does anyone see the problem with that?

Sunday January 6, 2013, 5:59 am
The Feds don't care about pot smokers; they just keep HEMP illegal in order to maintain the power, medicine, and fuel monopolies.

Sunday January 6, 2013, 6:30 am
Edgar, I hope you have begun your campaign against the 'indiscriminate use' of alcohol and tobacco. Because if not, your level of hypocrisy is most disturbing.

Sunday January 6, 2013, 9:43 am
Hope this idea comes to the UK

Monday January 7, 2013, 1:40 am
It's great to see the medical properties of the plant finally being put to use.
Graines de Cannabis

Tuesday January 8, 2013, 5:19 am
Nice, would like to try that, but that idea wont come to Sweden:/ Thanks for sharing.

Monday March 11, 2013, 1:25 pm
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