Jane Ishmael’s CE Seminar on Informal and
Formal Uses of Marijuana
Dr. Jane Ishmael, PhD, Associate Professor at OSU College of Pharmacy spoke at the OSPA Lane County Mid-Winter CE Seminar on the formal and informal uses of marijuana. Dr. Ishmael concentrated on three topics during her one-hour CE seminar. First, she explained the biological pathways and effects of marijuana including the specific cannabinoid receptors throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, which chemicals and ligands bound, and the effects they have on the brain. She then explained the trends of medical marijuana cardholders showing a decline in the use of medical marijuana cards in Oregon but stated that those trends do not take into account those patients who purchase forms of marijuana at dispensaries and use it for medical purposes. Because marijuana is legal in Oregon, people may buy it to try before consulting with their primary care provider. Lastly, Dr. Ishmael addressed issues concerning the legality of marijuana use federally, stating that although there are promising applications in its use for patients with cancer, glaucoma, PTSD, HIV/AIDs, chronic pain, and more, we are just “not there yet” in terms of safety, research, and efficacy. |
