Pot For Pets: U.S. Federal Law Puts Vets Into A Quandary

REUTERS - A wave of medical research is providing fresh evidence that marijuana may help dogs and cats cope with arthritis, epilepsy, anxiety and other maladies without the side effects of traditional drugs, but veterinarians are afraid to prescribe it for fear of running afoul of federal laws.

At least 30 U.S. states have legalized medical marijuana, but none of them make provisions for ailing animals.

As a result, veterinarians are reluctant to even discuss marijuana, which remains illegal under federal law, over concerns of putting their professional licenses at risk, said Dr. Jeffrey Powers, chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association's subcommittee on cannabinoids. That leaves it to pet owners themselves to make life-altering decisions about dosing and duration of the treatment.

Change could come soon to California, which appears ready to pass the nation’s first law giving veterinarians the legal cover they need to answer questions about using cannabis for pets.

"A human can get their doctor's advice but a dog can't, legally. It's bizarre," said Judy Boyle, 62, of Beaver Island, Michigan, whose dog Mac had for years been taking traditional prescription medicines for arthritis and anxiety. The cumulative effect of those drugs was causing Mac's liver to fail.

Research on her home computer convinced Boyle in March to instead regularly give her 40-pound (18 kg) Australian Cattle Dog cannabinoid dog chews. Five months later, he's a much calmer yet more energetic dog, and his liver function has returned to normal for the first time in years, Boyle said.

To read more on this story, click here: Pot For Pets: U.S. Federal Law Puts Vets Into A Quandary 

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A Chicago Police Dog Led Investigators to More Than $10 Million Worth of Pot After a Traffic Stop

A Chicago Police dog led investigators to more than $10 million worth of pot after a traffic stop Thursday evening in south suburban Midlothian. 

The CPD Bureau of Organized Crime stopped a pickup truck pulling a trailer at 6:57 p.m. Thursday in the 14200 block of Menard Avenue in Midlothian, police said. During the stop, a police dog detected the scent of pot. 

A search of the truck and trailer turned up more than 1,500 pounds of marijuana and other THC products with an estimated street value of more than $10 million, police said. The driver, 42-year-old Jason Z. Tanner of Lakehead, California, was arrested and charged with a felony count of possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis. 

The stop was part of an investigation into drug trafficking, and the drugs were thought to be on their way to Chicago from California, police said.

Tanner appeared in bond court on Friday and his bail amount was set at $50,000, according to police and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. He is being held at the Cook County Jail and his next court date was scheduled for July 10.



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See the Effects on a Dog After Ingesting Medical Marijuana

A poor pooch was stoned after it ate a Rice Krispy treat made with marijuana.

The Siberian Husky couldn’t get his tongue back in his mouth or stand on his own.

Videos of similarly stoned dogs have been posted on YouTube and show what happens when dogs accidently eat food laced with pot.

Now that medical marijuana is legal in 23 states, pot-infused edibles are more common than ever and scenarios with dogs getting high are also more common.

No one knows that better than Sam Smeltzer, whose 10-year-old dog, Rasko, ate some of Sam’s medical marijuana-infused coconut oil that dripped on the floor.

He told Inside Edition: “Suddenly I hear licking, and I was like ‘Oh no!’”

After about an hour, Rasko was stoned and stumbling around.

Veterinarian Dr. Jeff Werber says if your dog ingests pot, call your vet because there's a good chance they overdid it.

“They're not going (to) look at the plate of brownies and say: ‘Let me see, I think I should only have one.’ They're all gone, and that's the problem. They don't know when to say ‘enough.’”

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Marijuana Can Be Quite Harmful to Our Four-Legged Friends: Learn the Signs of Marijuana Toxicity

Marijuana can be quite harmful to our four-legged friends. Learn the signs of marijuana toxicity and what to do if your pet accidentally ingests the recreational drug.

Whether you live in a state where marijuana use has become legal or not, our pets may find a way to get their paws on the drug. It’s actually so common that Trupanion, a pet medical insurance company, has paid more than $78,000 in suspected marijuana claims to date. The drug, which acts as a depressant in humans, can adversely affect our pets if accidentally ingested. If you want to know what to do in the worst-case scenario, or you suspect your pet has already ingested marijuana, read on to find out what signs to look for and important actions you can take to protect him. 

If you suspect your pet has ingested marijuana, have him evaluated by a veterinarian as quickly as possible.

How Pets Get Exposed

One of the most common toxicities that vets at The Animal Medical Center's Emergency Service in New York City encounter is confirmed or suspected marijuana exposure. The vast majority of cases are dogs, according to The Animal Medical Center, but any pet with access to marijuana can ingest it and present with similar clinical signs. Ingestion is the most common source of toxicity; however, if exposed to significant amounts of marijuana smoke, minor to moderate clinical signs can be seen, says Christine Keyserling, DVM, who works in emergency and critical care at The Animal Medical Center.

THC, which is found in higher concentrations in cannabis meant for humans, is the part of the plant that is most toxic to pets, explains Trupanion’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Kerri Marshall, DVM. “If your pet does ingest THC-filled marijuana, please don’t wait it out,” Marshall urges. “Take them to the veterinarian.”

The Signs

In dogs, clinical signs typically begin 30 to 90 minutes after the marijuana has been eaten. Dogs generally recover from marijuana intoxication with no long-term effects, but if not treated, it could result in a more serious outcome. The most common clinical signs associated with marijuana ingestion include dullness and ataxia (drunken gait), according to Keyserling. Additional clinical signs include vomiting, urinary incontinence (dribbling), low body temperature, slow heart rate and hyper-reactivity to stimuli. In the most severe cases, these clinical signs can progress to seizures and/or coma, Keyserling says. Your pet also may have ingested marijuana if you notice him acting lethargic or depressed along with any other of these symptoms.

Be Honest With Your Vet

The symptoms of marijuana intoxication can be symptoms of far more serious conditions. “If you think your dog has ingested marijuana, do not hesitate to tell your veterinarian,” Marshall says. “Being open can help your veterinarian eliminate more serious conditions and prevent testing needed to rule out other causes.” At the end of the day, it’s best to be upfront about the situation so you don’t waste any time getting your pet the help he needs.

Preventing Exposure

The best way to keep your pet safe is to prevent him from coming in contact with the marijuana in the first place. “Pet owners with marijuana in the house should keep their stash away from their pets,” Marshall says. Consider keeping marijuana in a closed container and then put the container away in a drawer or cabinet. "Please keep in mind that dogs have much better senses of smell than us and they are able to find and pick things up off the street or other public spaces — sometimes without you even seeing them eat anything,” Keyserling says. “If you ever notice any of the above clinical signs or any small behavioral changes in your pet, please do not hesitate to have them evaluated by a veterinarian as quickly as possible.”

Medical Marijuana Use In Pets

Anecdotal cases have shown healing benefits in pets, according to Marshall. The drug has been used as a pain reliever and to ease adverse effects from cancer medications and old age. “The Trupanion coverage plan covers medicinal marijuana for pets and other herbal therapies specifically recommended by veterinarians to help your pet manage pain or help them through cancer and tumor treatments,” Marshall says. Currently, veterinarians cannot prescribe marijuana to pets. However, Nevada is debating a bill that would enable pet owners to obtain medical marijuana for their sick pets with their vet’s approval.

  

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Colorado is One of 23 States Where Medical Marijuana is Legal: Can it Really Help Ailing Pets?

Denver, Colorado is one of 23 states where medical marijuana is legal. Some human patients swear by it, but is pot OK for your ailing pets?

CBS Denver station KCNC reports there are some cannabis-containing products now on the market specially designed for cats and dogs.

Chiara Subhas of Denver decided to try it when her 14-year-old rescue dog, Leo, started having seizures. The little Pomeranian was "just violently shaking, his mouth is open, his eyes are rolling back, he's drooling," she told KCNC reporter Kathy Walsh.

Subhas tried changing his diet. Then she went to pot. "We were suggested by our veterinarian in Boulder that we try a medical marijuana product for our dog," she said.

The product is called Canna Companion. Leo started on two capsules a day.

"Shortly after, his seizures definitely decreased," said Subhas.

On the company website, cannaforpets.com, Canna Companion is described as a hemp supplement for cats and dogs. The company calls it a unique blend of cannabis sativa strains with low levels of THC, the ingredient that gets people high.

There are more than a dozen testimonials posted on the site. One cat owner writes that cancer-stricken Harley's "happy purrsonality came back immediately!" And Subhas' own veterinarian writes that the capsules helped Titus, her 13-year-old Great Dane, be "comfy and mobile."

"It's not going to cure cancer. It's not going to stop seizures from happening. But it can help," said veterinarian Dr. Sarah Brandon.

Brandon is co-founder of the supplement company out of Washington state. She stops short of making medical claims. In February, the Food and Drug Administration warned Canna Companion and similar companies to remove unproven health benefits from their marketing.

Brandon told CBS Denver, "It's one more tool in our tool belt and we firmly believe that veterinarians and pet parents should have it available to them if they should choose to use it."

But the FDA warned "consumers should beware purchasing and using any such products."

"I personally am not a big fan of the FDA," said Subhas. "I would not worry so much. I don't worry about that at all."

But some veterinarians are more wary. Dr. Debbie Van Pelt says she isn't ready to recommend cannabis for cats or hemp for hounds.

"I just think that we don't have the evidence right now to document what is safe and what is effective," said Van Pelt.

Van Pelt believes there may be potential in medical pot for pets and she understands why owners try it: "Because people love their animals and they are looking for ways to give them better quality of life," she said.

Subhas sees the change in Leo, and thinks the $75 a month she's spending on medical marijuana for him is worth it. "He's more alert overall. He seems just more comfortable," she said.

Chiara Subhas of Denver says a medical marijuana product helped her 14-year-old Pomeranian, Leo, when he started having seizures.
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A New Bill Introduced in the Nevada State Legislature Earlier this Week Would Allow Owners to Give their Ailing Pets Medical Marijuana, What Are Your Thoughts?

A new bill introduced in the Nevada state legislature earlier this week would allow owners to give their ailing pets medical marijuana. Many owners across the country said it’s about time, and that “pot for pets” should be legal everywhere.

Under this bill pets in that state may soon be able to use marijuana.

Democratic State Senator, Tick Segerblom sponsored the new law to allow animal owners to give their pets marijuana if a veterinarian verifies the animal is sick and the drug could alleviate its sickness.

Becky Flowers, a California ranch owner, said she gave her mare Phoenix regular doses of medical marijuana for several years to help ease the pain of a degenerative joint condition. The horse could barely walk due to extreme swelling in her front legs that traditional and herbal medications didn’t seem to help, Flowers said.

The Senator said he has concerns about whether animals could have a negative reaction to the pot.

The proposal is part of a larger bill that would make changes to the state’s medicinal marijuana law, removing penalties for drivers who have marijuana in their blood and adding regulations for training in pot shops.

The bill is in the first stage of the legislative process and faces many hurdles before pets in Nevada will legally be allowed to toke up with their owners.

In this May 30, 2013, file photo, Companion Cannabis, by Holistic Therapeutics, a Marijuana medicinal tincture for dogs and cats is displayed at La Brea Compassionate Caregivers, a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. Pets might soon be able to use pot under a bill introduced Tuesday, March 17, 2015, in the Nevada Legislature. Democratic Sen. Tick Segerblom is sponsoring the measure that would allow animal owners to get marijuana for their pet if a veterinarian certifies the animal has an illness that might be alleviated by the drug.

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