| “An Israeli researcher has found that tiny doses of the psychoactive chemical in marijuana helps the brain of mice combat injury.”
“The words “marijuana” and “brain damage” usually go in that order in medical literature. An Israeli researcher has flipped them around, finding that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, may arrest some forms of brain damage in mice. The loco weed already is favored by those who suffer from chronic diseases, not to mention fans of Cypress Hill, Bob Marley and the Grateful Dead. But pharmacologist Josef Sarne of Tel Aviv University found that a minuscule amount of tetrahydrocannabinol may protect the brain after injuries from seizures, toxic drug exposure or a lack of oxygen.” |
Tag Archives: medical marijuana
Is marijuana bad for you?
“Hasn’t pot always been considered harmful?
Not at all. Marijuana, the dried form of the plant Cannabis sativa, was used as an herbal remedy for centuries in China, the Middle East, and Asia. William O’Shaughnessy, a physician for the East India Tea Company, brought it west in the 1830s as a treatment for rheumatism, tetanus, and rabies. It was commonly prescribed as a pain reliever in the U.S. until the 1930s, when its growing popularity caused such concern that the newly founded Federal Bureau of Narcotics reclassified it as a narcotic. The bureau soon launched a decidedly unscientific campaign claiming that marijuana use provoked insanity, homicidal tendencies, and uncontrollable lust. The marijuana user, the bureau asserted, “becomes a fiend with savage or ‘caveman’ tendencies. His sex desires are aroused, and some of the most horrible crimes result.””
“Was there any evidence for such claims?
None; in fact, the American Medical Association argued against marijuana prohibition in the 1930s, citing its therapeutic potential. But the bureau made its case that marijuana was “dangerous for the mind and the body,” and the federal government outlawed its use in 1937. It wasn’t until the 1970s that a campaign began to restore marijuana’s therapeutic reputation, and in 1996 California became the first state to legalize cannabis for medicinal purposes. Psychiatrist Tod Mikuriya, a founding father in the medical marijuana movement, claimed that cannabis has none of the adverse side effects of opiates. “In fact,” he said, “it really enhances both quality of life and rehabilitation.””
More: http://theweek.com/article/index/236671/is-marijuana-bad-for-you
Study finds medical marijuana has no impact on teen drug abuse
“A working paper published Monday (PDF) claims that, despite the insistence of numerous U.S. officials, legalizing medical marijuana had no distinguishable effect on teen drug abuse rates in the surrounding communities.”
“Drawing upon data from 13 states from 1993 – 2009, professors from Montana State University, the University of Oregon and the University of Colorado Denver found that medical marijuana actually had a negative impact on the consumption of cocaine, the use of which declined 1.9 percent in areas that had legalized medical marijuana. It had no statistically significant impact on teen marijuana use.”
Cannabis smokers show greater lung capacity and lower cancer levels than non-smokers
“For many years, the demonizing claims being made against cannabis have been crumbling as research slowly dispels them. Fifty years ago people earnestly believed that the consumption of cannabis was directly linked to the development of an array of mental illnesses, and violent and hypersexual behavior.”
“Rewriting the medical records
The results of a new government-run research program are now forcing medical authorities to overturn these beliefs. The study has been ongoing for the past twenty years, following the smoking habits of over 5000 people.
Researchers found that, contrary to popular belief, smoking cannabis, does not interfere with lung function or capacity. This holds true for ongoing regular -even including daily- and long term consumption.
Curiously, as a general rule, cannabis smokers had better lung function than nonsmokers, which researchers attribute to the smoking action itself, rather than the cannabis. Pot smokers inhale deeply and hold those breaths to make the most of their supply, expanding the lung’s capacity.Dr. Tashkin found that, in almost all instances, cannabis consumers had rates of cancer that were no different from those who didn’t smoke cannabis. The one exception to this rule was between cannabis smokers and individuals who didn’t smoke anything (including tobacco), in which marijuana smokers actually had lower levels of lung cancer.”
Medical Marijuana Inc Announces Positive Developments in Recent Studies Using Cannabidiol (CBD) Compound; NBC News, ABC News and Huffington Post Report California Pacific Medical Center’s Findings That CBD Stops Metastasis in Aggressive Cancers – The Wall Street Journal
“Medical Marijuana Inc Announces Positive Developments in Recent Studies Using Cannabidiol (CBD) Compound; NBC News, ABC News and Huffington Post Report California Pacific Medical Center’s Findings That CBD Stops Metastasis in Aggressive Cancers
SAN DIEGO, May 28, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Medical Marijuana Inc (OTC Pink:MJNA) is pleased to inform shareholders and the general public of recent developments in the research involving Cannabidiol (CBD) and other Phyto-cannabinoids.
The Following is taken from a Huffington Post interview with Dr. McAllister and Dr. Desprez:
A pair of scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco has found that a compound derived from marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer, potentially altering the fatality of the disease forever.
“It took us about 20 years of research to figure this out, but we are very excited,” said Pierre Desprez, one of the scientists behind the discovery, to The Huffington Post. “We want to get started with trials as soon as possible.”
The Daily Beast first reported on the finding, which has already undergone both laboratory and animal testing, and is awaiting permission for clinical trials in humans.
Desprez, a molecular biologist, spent decades studying ID-1, the gene that causes cancer to spread. Meanwhile, fellow researcher Sean McAllister was studying the effects of Cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-toxic, non-psychoactive chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Finally, the pair collaborated, combining CBD and cells containing high levels of ID-1 in a petri dish.
“What we found was that his Cannabidiol could essentially ‘turn off’ the ID-1,” Desprez told HuffPost. The cells stopped spreading and returned to normal.
“We likely would not have found this on our own,” he added. “That’s why collaboration is so essential to scientific discovery.”
Desprez and McAllister first published a paper about the finding in 2007. Since then, their team has found that CBD works both in the lab and in animals. And now, they’ve found even more good news.
“We started by researching breast cancer,” said Desprez. “But now we’ve found that Cannabidiol works with many kinds of aggressive cancers–brain, prostate–any kind in which these high levels of ID-1 are present.”
Desprez hopes that clinical trials will begin immediately.
“We’ve found no toxicity in the animals we’ve tested, and Cannabidiol is already used in humans for a variety of other ailments,” he said. Indeed, the compound is used to relieve anxiety and nausea, and, since it is non-psychoactive, does not cause the “high” associated with THC.
While marijuana advocates will surely praise the discovery, Desprez explained that it’s not so easy as just lighting up.
“We used injections in the animal testing and are also testing pills,” he said. “But you could never get enough Cannabidiol for it to be effective just from smoking.”
Additional Information:
Dr. McAllister & CBD Research
Dr. Sean McAllister says that he is ready to begin testing CBD on humans to evaluate anti-cancer properties. Dr. McAllister and colleague Pierre Desprez, PhD from California Pacific Medical Center have previously mentioned, “Cannabidiol offers hope of a non-toxic therapy that could treat aggressive forms of cancer without any of the painful side effects of chemotherapy.” “We found that this one compound, CBD, had a specific effect on metastatic cancer cells, very aggressive tumor cells. CBD in animal studies has been used to ‘switch off’ a specific gene regulator.” Dr. McAllister explains: “We find when you treat with CBD, you down regulate the expression of this protein and that inhibits the disease process.” Dr. McAllister and Dr. Desprez have developed a synthetic version of CBD, which they say targets a specific gene in the body related to the spread of cancer (metastasis). Article: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=9057615
Additional Cannabidiol Information
ABC News-
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=9057615
Huffington Post-
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208. html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003&ir=Weird%20News
US. National Cancer Institute
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/cannabis/healthprofessional/p age4
Additional Dr. McAllister Publications
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Sean%20McAllister
Additional Published Material on Cannabidiol (CBD)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gquery/?term=CANNABIDIOL”
More: http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130528-906109.html
Marijuana mouth spray for cancer patients tough to abuse – NBC
“The medical marijuana drug Sativex, which could be approved in the United States in the coming years as a treatment for pain relief, has little potential for abuse, experts say.
The British pharmaceutical company GW Pharmaceuticals is currently testing the drug, which is delivered as a mouth spray and called Sativex, in clinical trials. The company plans to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the drug as a treatment for cancer pain when the trials are completed, likely sometime in 2014, a spokesperson for GW Pharmaceuticals told MyHealthNewsDaily.
The active ingredients in Sativex, known as cannabinoids, are derived from the cannabis plant. It is the first marijuana-based drug to be made by extracting the compounds from the plant, rather than synthesizing them. Two other drugs, Marinol and Cesamet, based on synthetic cannabinoids, were approved by the FDA in the 1980s.”
Cannabis says success in 4th brand new self-administering cancer patient
“Cannabis Science Inc., a pioneering US biotech company developing pharmaceutical cannabis (marijuana) products, has introduced 4th cancer patient with basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on his left nostril, who is self-administering a topical cannabis extract and having noticeable results.
Cannabis Science has received images and documented information from this 4th patient who has basal cell carcinoma on his left nostril. The patient is enrolled in a photographic mole-mapping programme at the University of Colorado Hospital and is examined annually. The last time he was examined was in October of 2011, where his doctors found a small bump on his left nostril that was less and 1/8″ in diameter, and believed it to be basal cell carcinoma. At that time it was too early to be certain if it was in-fact basal cell carcinoma.
By January 2012 the small bump on his left nostril had grown slightly and had developed a rough scaly texture similar to his previous episodes of basal cell carcinoma. The patient began self-administering cannabis extract oil (CT-1) topically to the spot on his left nostril in the middle of January. The patient immediately reported minor irritation of the spot but that the surrounding healthy skin was not irritated. The rough scaly texture and the minor irritation disappeared by day four of treatment and by day nine of treatment the bump had shrunk considerably and was almost imperceptible to the touch. In these three images you can notice a significant reduction in the lesion.
This patient has a history of having five different episodes of basal cell carcinoma starting at the age of 27, and had one malignant melanoma at age 35. He is now 46, and has suffered from numerous severe sunburns which caused blistering and peeling. This patient was diagnosed with dysplastic nevus syndrome (over 100 atypical moles) and has been told that he is certain to have additional melanomas at some point in the future. Doctors have already confirmed that he has had basal cell carcinoma on his right jaw line, which resulted to Mohs procedure that was performed in December of 2011.
Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana research and development. The second formulations will address the needs of patients choosing to use concentrated cannabis extracts to treat their ailments.
Eventually, all Americans will have access to a safe and effective FDA approved medicine regardless of which state they live in.”
Cannabis Science extracts benefit squamous cell carcinoma cancer and skin cancer patients
“We stumbled upon this news a couple weeks back regarding Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCBB:CBIS.OB) reported the continuing successful progress by two patients who have been topically self-administering Cannabis Science extracts for Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cancer and Skin Cancer.
According to their earlier press releases, these patients have photo-documented dramatic results that the Company will release to the public once treatment is completed and has been properly vetted by clinical biopsy. The Company, in conjunction with several Colorado-licensed dispensaries and physicians, consults with a number of cancer patients who are seeking to inform themselves of the current peer-reviewed scientific literature, regarding modern and historical use of cannabis preparations for treating cancers so that they can make informed decisions regarding their self-directed cancer treatment.
Cannabis has an outstanding safety profile as determined in 1988 by Federal Administrative Law Judge Francis Young who recommended cannabis be removed from Schedule I. The refusal of the DEA to follow this recommendation has resulted in 16 states allowing some form of medical marijuana access for their citizens. Numerous other states are moving in this direction. Consequently, patients in states with medical marijuana laws are able to make an informed decisions to try various state-legal cannabis preparations and to determine what is most effective for their particular condition. As a result, there is an unprecedented accumulation of “anecdotal” data.
Cannabis Science went on to mention that it’s making cannabis-based medicines available to the public as rapidly as possible.”
Smoking marijuana lowers risk for bladder cancer
“It’s enough to choke on, society tells us condoning any and all drug use is wrong.
If that’s true, why would there be the following?
Kaiser Permanente researchers studied 83,000 men ages 45-69 and found marijuana smokers are less likely to get bladder cancer than those who smoke cigarettes.
Smokers who used cannabis only, found a 45% decrease in the cancer opposed to those who used only tobacco. Those smokers found a 52% increase in the disease.
This is all based on smoking marijuana more than 500 times as opposed to the once or twice toker.
The study stems from findings at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The greenage could actually be the seed to stop the metastasis in many kinds of cancer, including breast, brain and cancer of the prostate.
Well munch on this; marijuana remains classified as the most dangerous controlled substance alongside heroin and LSD. This means the DEA has to approve any clinical trials of the drug. Yet our government obstructs that research.
In the midst of all this, Los Angeles councilman Bill Rosendahl posted this video announcing that his cancer is in remission, thanks to his use of medical marijuana.
Maybe all of this will cause the DEA to reconsider. After all, you want to cure cancer don’t you?”
http://newsfixnow.com/2013/05/17/smoking-marijuana-lowers-risk-for-bladder-cancer/
Marijuana might be able to treat your terrible case of the runs – MSN
“Seems there’s no end to the list of maladies medical marijuana can’t treat.”
“The latest: diarrhea, the awful affliction that sounds like “dire rear” for a reason. According to the pot aficionados behind The Weed Blog (who mightn’t be the most unbiased sources on the matter), cannabis-derived products have been used to treat diarrhea in India since at least the late 1800s. These products reportedly cause diarrhea and its symptoms to subside, and — surprise, surprise — help patients regain their appetites. Around 3.5 million people die from diarrhea and its nasty effects every year, so these alleged benefits of pot aren’t just useful to stoners who could fake the runs to score a medical marijuana prescription.”