It amazes me how few peole even know what the DSM is. I know of several schools that have a copy. Just the way your friendly pharmacy company likes it.  More and more children are becoming  pill poppers. LEGAL pills.  
Read this article in Macleans magazine:
                                                         http://www2.macleans.ca/tag/dsm/
Is your child mental or normal? 3 out bursts a week, and they could be diagnosed mental!  Some schools even have a copy of the DSM... WTF!? 

It is one thing to diagnose an adult with a mental illness but a child? Give them a chance to be a kid, that included outbursts and bratty behavior from time to time.  Embrace it, it is a chance to teach a lesson to both parent and child.

If I thought the DSM was helping more than hurting I would probably just go about my business, but it is HURTING. 
More and more children are diagnosed every year - that does not mean they get help. In many cases they get a prescription and nothing more. Well, besides the stigma of being labeled mental. As if kids don’t have it hard enough.

 Then to put them on a medication - for depression? Possibly a psychotropic drug that will cause more long term damage than not.  Because a BOOK suggests it! 

Yep. They sit around a table and make suggestions.  No scientific facts. No X-rays, No blood tests, No test to prove a chemical imbalance - Even Dr.s & Psychiatrists are starting to question the DSM. 

“The result is that people with normal variations in emotion, behavior, and thought can receive a psychiatric diagnosis, leading to stigma and inappropriate treatment.

Because we have to live with a diagnostic system that is provisional—and that will almost certainly prove invalid in the long run—much of the research on mental disorders has to be taken with a grain of salt. “  
Read more:       http://www.neuropsychotherapist.com/dsm-5-handle-with-care/

I guess so, especially when they must  explain to the parent of a child on medication that does them more harm in long run. In some cases the child commits suicide on the drugs they are prescribed to help them. FACT - Google side effects of PROZAC  
I took that crap for too long...      twitch, twitch...

Think about also how your child might feel about YOUR decision to medicate them, when they are 30, they might have an opinion on what you decided regarding their mental state. If they live that long.  Do you think I am being dramatic? 
Research. Look at the rise in numbers with children being medicated and prescribed with such things like Bipolar at the age of 2!  
Perhaps not your children but your grand children? ANY child! We need to speak up for the ones that can’t.

 Calling yourself crazy and having someone diagnose you as crazy are two very serious and different things. It could affect the child forever. 
I have several cartoon ideas and I plan on drawing them all. 

WE ARE NOT CRAZY!   
WE DONT NEED the DRUGS! 
We just need MORE TLC.

xox   <><

Ignorance is bliss... ? How about when it is killing our kids? Still feeling blissful?

How about when you get a F*&^% twitch that drives crazy? Did you know it was a common side effect of one of earliest “mood” drugs approved by the  “who’s, who’s”
and pushed to the millions as ‘mama’s little helper’.  And tongue* darting...  lovely.
Twitches that never go away.   They made a pill to try,  but that just paralyzed motor skills.

We watched an interesting doc. the other night, I was watching it and the guys joined me at some point. It was called: Food Matters     http://www.foodmatters.tv/
We watched it on netflix and it was awesome. 

Today's Guest Blog is from Jeff, a young man that friended me on FB.  I talk to many people about Crones, from what I have learned, it is serious discomfort and often situations where life is 'interrupted' because of it.  I was so thrilled when I got Jeff's e mail and more so the fact that he is 26 and gets it! He is looking after his health and his own body -and he helped educate his Dr.s.
Speak up! It is your health, I think Jeff is lucky - he appears to have figured out early, how to do what is best for his body.. too many of us don't 'get that' until much later and too much damage done. 


I started using cannabis in grade 9.
 Then for the next few years I was your average 'rebellious' pothead teenager, or so I thought. Also around the beginning of high school I began having a lot of issues with my tummy. Okay, that is an understatement; SHIT was bad and getting worse! After telling my family doctor three times that I was often in pain and getting bouts of bloody diarrhea, he decided I should see a specialist. 
My first appointment with the specialist I was told I probably had crohn’s disease. 
After a bunch of tests no person should have to go though, it was confirmed I had a severe case of crohn’s. The next couple years I did a lot of research and tried many different medications to control my symptoms.

 Around the time I was diagnosed with crohn’s, marijuana for medical issues seemed to be in the news more, I saw AIDS and cancer patients getting relief from many of the same symptoms I was suffering from.  After googling ‘marijuana & crohns’, I found Michelle Rainey (R.I.P). Her website really inspired me to view the cannabis I had been smoking for years as the medicine it truly is. I realized for many years I had been mainly smoking it before eating or when I felt 'crappy' and would conserve it better than most teens. 
After that realization I spoke to my family doctor on many occasions and three gastrointestinal specialists about the Health Canada medical marijuana access program (MMAR), they all had similar opinions that cannabis has no medical value for my condition. 

How could I be denied the only thing that brings some relief from terrible symptoms caused by this nasty disease? I did eventually find a specialist who at the time was only seeing patients in similar situations to sign their MMAR paperwork. Then after two years of 'monitored' use my family doctor finally agreed with me enough to start signing my yearly renewals. Even with my MMAR I still don’t have reasonable access to medicine.
 I am glad to have a doctor that will sign, but he still doesn’t understand that I need much more than 3 grams per day to be able to make strong enough extracts to effectively control my disease, and then the issue of MMAR not allowing those extracts.  Until very recently I have not been able to grow myself because I rent and can’t find a grower wanting to grow for a small prescription. As of right now (03/03) I am waiting on my first production license(PPL), but I am stuck trying to decide if it’s worth setting up a grow now because Health Canada is taking away PPL’s on April 2014. Unfortunately, right now cannabis is the only thing keeping me able to work, yet a large portion my income is going to cannabis. 

 The main symptoms I treat with cannabis are abdominal cramping, nausea, diarrhea and low appetite.  There has been many times where cramping and diarrhea have been so extremely painful, and then just a couple of puffs will sooth my stomach to the point I am able to eat and continue living.   In addition to the symptoms cannabis helps, I also find it very useful in minimizing some of the side effects of many prescription drugs I have been on.  When I was on Remicade, I would get extremely stiff and sore joints and muscles after every injection for about 2-3 days, cannabis would help reduce the pain to get me though those days.  At the end of last year I decided to stop taking Remicade because it was only giving me a couple weeks of partial relief every two months, and has way too many potential side effects that I am terrified of. Although I may not be in complete remission yet, my disease is fairly well controlled with cannabis alone.  I am now taking a small dose of RSO every night, and use medibles during the day and vaporize or smoke for immediate relief as needed. 

Recently after meeting a few cannabis activists that were touring from the west coast, I felt driven to get more involved. Now I am helping to arrange more cannabis friendly events and protests around my hometown, Kitchener. My dream is to one day be more involved in medical cannabis by owning or working for a local compassion club or vapor cafe.   I am constantly meeting many great people in the ‘cannabis community’ and I am genuinely proud to be involved in it.   I hope one day everyone who needs cannabis has access to it.

 Jeff 

https://www.facebook.com/pot.forpain 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crohn's_disease -General info about Crohn’s disease
http://www.michellerainey.com/     >  Michelle Rainey’s website

Cannabis is recognized as a medicine. Our Government and many US states (as well as other countries) all know Cannabis helps many life threatening illness and diseases. Chronic pain, cancer patients - and more. BUT some people are trying to get cannabis prescribed for headaches, depression and more and are being refused with Dr.s telling them it is NON-life threatening. In who's opinion?
I know from our own personal experience this past year with me not working as much, our financial situation 'tighter' than usual - and with that comes added stress. Stress because I am too sick to work, adding on top of everything else.  

My friend has been prescribed Migraine medication that is expensive and addictive! 
Fiorinal side effects: an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips, tongue, or face; or hives) slow, weak breathing, severe weakness or dizziness, black, bloody, or tarry stools or blood in your urine or vomit. Other, *less serious side effects may be more likely to occur: dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, or decreased appetite, dizziness, tiredness, or lightheadedness, ringing in your ears. 
Butalbital may be habit forming.* << She agrees.
She like me, says all she wants to do on these pills is SLEEP. She cannot function at work on them so she goes all day in pain - by the times she gets home and take the pill -it usually does not even help her very much. She said once home she has one puff- ONE PUFF- This I will tell you is NO lie- All I need is one puff and my twitch calms right down and I feel better.   You don't need to sit and smoke an entire doobie - well people with pain like Storm - they do. 
In my case I dont' and neither does my friend. 
The one puff does not get her 'high' - it keeps her going- even puts a smile on her face while doing it! She eats ALL natural is a vegetarian and cares about what she put in her body - no alcohol and as few chemicals as possible, she does not even use skin creams unless they are all natural ingredients. 
So why is she being FORCED to take something - where there is a safer, natural alternative?
As for Cannabis and depression... I KNOW it works.  
As for life threatening -  tell that to someone in pain, worried about paying the bills and still trying being a positive, productive member of society.
SHE LOVES being a teacher. Was born to do it she believes.. 
It is o.k. for her to take her prescribed medications at work - that keep her at her desk - not capable of much more that what is required.  So why not Cannabis?  xox <>< 

Smoking your medicine. 

It always amazes me to read about Cannabis and Dr.s.   You see  Dr.s over the years have supported Cannabis and Cannabis research.  Years ago it was prescribed by Dr.s  for everything from Colic to cramps. When the U.S government 'took it off shelves' to say - Dr.s did not agree and were often public about it.  I just read once again The American Medical Association and the The American College of Physicians and the  American Public Health Association and the American Nurses Association  are strong supporters for Medical Cannabis and want research encouraged. 
They know people who suffer and cannabis helps, I read about it all the time, Dr.s who get Cannabis for their family members.  Some just to make the end of life more enjoyable & pain free (controlled). 
So time and time again - I wonder - then why not stand up for what is right? Why are we letting those who are motivated by money and lies continue to stop the human race from doing what we believe is best for our own lives. It is NOT about getting high - trust me - I know many medical patients and they wish they could get 'high' most just are able to function. So since this war on Drugs is the failure that it is, the lies about cannabis hard to further contain... speak up. Remind your Dr.s about the facts.  Share the opinions of their peers on Cannabis research and medical value.  Perhaps they just don't know.  Either way it's time. Time to let those who truly want to help us - do just that. Leave the police to deal with CRIMINALS and the politicians to - what ever it is they 'claim' to do. 
*Note- I am a Canadian. I am reading an American book about Cannabis (and enjoying)
My cartoons can "sadly" easily have different words replaced  the Canadian Medical Association - (but we already do recognize Cannabis and it's medicinal value) or replace the DEA with the Mounties and our own FAT CAT - S.H.     The facts are - we are all fighting this insane battle.  ALL OVER the world.
                                                               How  many are we?
Educate your Dr.s, Educate your kids, parents, friends and family. 
Plant the seed ;-) 
xox <><

You made your bed now your going to lie in it..  
Well it's true. Sooner or later it's going to catch up. Like anything over time  you have to be careful. I will admit I am the first one to say in the past when I have been prescribed something I took it. Simple.  Not anymore. 
This twitch has also become a blessing! Especially now with looking into and considering  surgery (in the brain region) - yes, a blessing. I have started to eat healthier- cut out a lot of red meat and try to eat little "fast food', don't drink alcohol (yes I still from time to time crave a cold beer on a hot day and do indulge, but no where like I USE to) but now I am really careful with medication I take. I READ the side effects and try to decide IF I really need the medication and outweigh the options. 
I just got over a cold and was thinking I should go to the Dr.s but sometimes you just have to let it run it's course- sometimes all your body needs is rest and good food. 
That is all the medicine you need. Other times you DO need mediation.
It really is sad that so many people THINK Cannabis is so bad for you but never take into consideration prescribed medications. The cartoon says it all. FACT.  
Ask yourself - have you ever been on a medication that says - do not take alcohol while using this drug? And you have? I have. 
Have you ever taken a medication that says 'do not operate heavy machinery or operate a vehicle' and then drove? I have. Millions do. Daily. 
So my blessing is in the form of education and realization, after all - It's not too late - I'm still breathing! LOL So before you make your bed... be careful. Research - check out your options. Cannabis may not be for you but WHY wouldn't you TRY it before you try some of these other incredibly toxic and many time addictive prescriptions?  It is common sense.
It is my life, my health and I want to choose what is right for me. 
What is right for ME has nothing to do with you or anyone else for that matter. 
Today make your bed! Clean sheets! Cause you never know..
OH - should you overdose on Cannabis - PLEASE try to choose Healthy MUNCHIE options.  xox <><