Category Archives: Health Facts

A new study conducted by Columbia University indicates that taking a marijuana pill may offer the same pain-relief benefits as smoking marijuana, without the side effects of smoking. The researchers also found that subjects who took a pill form of marijuana, known as dronabinol, experienced relief from pain for about 4.5 hours, while those who smoked felt relief for a relatively brief 2.5 hours. As a trade-off, the pain-reducing effects of smoked marijuana were observed to set in approximately 15 minutes after delivery. The subjects in the study who took dronabinol waited approximately one hour to experience the same effects. During the study, subjects either took dronabinol or smoked marijuana, with both delivery methods designed to provide the same dosage of active ingredients thought to provide pain relief.

A new 15-year study by the University of Toronto indicates that Lyme disease rates are increasing in northern states and decreasing in southern ones. While the researchers found Lyme disease rates to be largely stagnant in 15 states, they found significant declines in 14 states and equally significant increases in 21 other states. The study was conducted from 1992 until 2007. If you live in a state affected by Lyme disease, it’s important to take the proper precautions before (and after) heading outdoors with your family this spring and summer.