Not just a high - Scientists test medicinal marijuana against MS, inflammation and cancer

[asdjrocky]

From Science News...

By Nathan Seppa
June 19th, 2010; Vol.177 #13

In science’s struggle to keep up with life on the streets, smoking cannabis for medical purposes stands as Exhibit A.

Medical use of cannabis has taken on momentum of its own, surging ahead of scientists’ ability to measure the drug’s benefits. The pace has been a little too quick for some, who see medicinal joints as a punch line, a ruse to free up access to a recreational drug.

But while the medical marijuana movement has been generating political news, some researchers have been quietly moving in new directions — testing cannabis and its derivatives against a host of diseases. The scientific literature now brims with potential uses for cannabis that extend beyond its well-known abilities to fend off nausea and block pain in people with cancer and AIDS. Cannabis derivatives may combat multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease and other inflammatory conditions, the new research finds. Cannabis may even kill cancerous tumors.

Many in the scientific community are now keen to see if this potential will be fulfilled, but they haven’t always been. Pharmacologist Roger Pertwee of the University of Aberdeen in Scotland recalls attending scientific conferences 30 years ago, eager to present his latest findings on the therapeutic effects of cannabis. It was a hard sell.

the rest-
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/59872/title/Not_just_a_high

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. ~

:kick:

[SammyWinstonJack]

2. K&R

[daggahead]

3. Marijuana's beneficial properties for MS have been known for a long time.n/t

[asdjrocky]

4. True.

We've known that for years, now the scientific community is starting to catch on.

[liberal_at_heart]

9. The people with MS or cancer or chronic pain or glaucoma

are not waiting for the government or the scientists but it will be nice when they finally do catch up. Then people can legally take their medicine without worry of losing a job or being arrested.

[JonLP24]

5. Cannabidiol

was shown to inhibit cancer cell growth. It is found in cannabis and is not intoxicating but just like cannabis, it's a Schedule 1 drug in the US.

[Uben]

6. Yeah, but who wants to smoke it to find out?

(raises hand)

[Fly by night]

11. Me. (My ongoing experience with post-operative pain)

Good morning, all y'all. Most of you know I am one of the army of pro-medical cannabis supporters here. It has been helpful to me in a variety of ways over the years, mainly in reducing pain from degenerative joint disease (and likely slowing the progression of that disease) as well as helping improve sleep due to fibromyalgia. I now have a new experience.

Twelve days ago, I underwent surgery to have my left hip replaced. While in the hospital, I was on morphine, and then was stepped down to percocet and (now) oxycodone. What I got from the opiates was constipation, thickheadedness and general inattentiveness. What I didn't get was much relief from the pain.

Once released from the hospital, a kind friend dropped by the house where I was recuperating and donated some of the Goddess to my recovery. The difference in benefits was immediate and long-lasting, both making the opiates work better (at their intended purposes) and allowing me to use less of them.

I am still in a great deal of pain and don't know how much longer it will last. But as I told a friend, using opiates as a buffer against pain is a bitch, when the best buffer is a Goddess.

Support science, common sense and compassion. Support medical cannabis.

[asdjrocky]

12. Thanks for checking in!

You have been a pioneer.

[loudsue]

34. Hi Fly!

I haven't seen you post since you got back from surgery, and I've been wondering how you did with it. I'm not surprised to hear how much pain you're in; I had knee surgery the end of February (orthoscopically removed cartilage) , and it hurt like a demon for about a month. Hip surgery is surely much worse. "The Goddess" does indeed help the pain meds to work, and sleeping is easier.

I hope you feel better real soon! :hug:

[daggahead]

13. I have a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

It is treatable with medical marijuana. I am going to ask my doctor about this ...

B-)

[laughingliberal]

20. Absolutely! Most of the treatments used for this are disappointing at best. A horrible condition. nt

[dghll]

26. Indeed, I also

have peripheral neuropathy.

My right arm and hand are compromised by the loss of the ulnar nerve, crushed at the elbow.
I treat legally in WA.

[Scout]

7. just shared article with a friend recently diagnosed with MS, currently

undergoing tests at Mayo clinic.

[asdjrocky]

8. I have an acquaintance with MS that uses cannabis for pain.

He tells me some mornings he can barley walk until he medicates. I have no reason not to believe him.

[bobbolink]

10. This drug has one HUGE drawback.... there aren't big profits to be made.

Until that is solved, I suspect none of this will go very far.

:(

One more sad aspect of our damned corporatocracy.(sp? Spell check doesn't have it)

[Greyhound]

14. Nailed it in one.

And spelled Corporatocracy correctly, too.
:hug:

[bobbolink]

16. Thanks. (I have the nail holes to prove it... hehehehe)

Thanks for helping me with the word check.... I ain't as used as I sharp to be.

So, does this mean I can be on your "buddy list" now?

Pleeeeeeeze.......

:rofl:

:pals:

[Greyhound]

17. I was stunned to note that you weren't already.

Although I have no idea what to do with this list, and about half the people that are on it are not here anymore.
:kick:

[bobbolink]

18. bwahahahaha! Such is the nature of lists.....

At least now I know I rate.

If you ever figure out what to do with me, let me know, please, because I am at a loss on this matter.

:rofl:

[intheflow]

23. Plenty of local business opportunities here in Denver.

Plenty of cash being made in MMJ down here. It's just not big corporation cash. But as society collapses when oil disappears, and local economies take over, I foresee a very different pharmaceutical system returning, local herbal remedies along side the local produce that will flourish.

I know. I'm a hopeless dreamer!

[bobbolink]

24. Which pharma corporations are making the profits?

[intheflow]

27. None.

But the local economy is doing well, and local economies are more sustainable in the long run. That's what I'm sayin'! :hi:

On a side note, I might be moving up your way soon. Just interviewed for a job in Cheyenne. It's p/t but pays well. If I get it I'll be living with a friend in Fort Collins. Ah, the dream of getting out of Denver lives! :D

[bobbolink]

31. And there is a lot of arguing and trying to "erase" the outlets, right?

There is a lot of obfuscation and false accusations flying in trying to overturn the law.

So, lets back up a minute.... what I was getting at is that TPTB aren't going to accept this, at least not easily, because There Is No Big Profit In MM. There is lots of profit in pills, and they are gonna fight this and fight this.

You really don't think they give a shit about a good local economy, do you? Big Pharma doesn't care if small business people do well, if people are able to be pain-free, and even find relief from horrible afflictions. None of that matters. Their big profits matter. It has also become painfully clear that most of our Dem politicians are bought off.

On the other note, I hope you can make the move you want to make. Especially on days like this. The air is soooo bad.... The Indians were right!

Good luck!

[intheflow]

33. I am not arguing with you in the least, bobbolink!

We are in 100% agreement on the ruthlessness, soulless nature of Big Pharma. I know they don't give a shit about people. But I do. So I support local business and economies when I can. Developing local economies is one of the few ways corporations can be constrained. Of course Big Pharma's going to fight tooth and nail to stop it. But you can't stop a runaway train.

We are also in agreement that the Dems are as bought and paid for as the Republicans. They became one party when they colluded to fix the presidential debates so that only the two major parties were recognized as legitimate to the American electorate. But history always swings against the oppressors. I think we are on the cusp of a great swing left--though I fear maybe uprising or revolt would be a better term.

[bobbolink]

35. No, no no! I'm going to take the marbles out of my mouth, so I can speak clearer.

What I meant was not *you*---- the "arguing" is the PTB trying to take back what We, The People voted on a while back! I have a feeling it is being set up behind the scenes by Big Pharma. It remains to be seen what the outcome of all of this will be.

" I think we are on the cusp of a great swing left--though I fear maybe uprising or revolt would be a better term."

Absolutely! And I swing between hope and despair on this one.

What I am doing is setting up a group of very different people, teaching them listening skills, and then we will see if we can work through some of these difference BEFORE it explodes. Anger is growing tremendously among poor folk, and as a friend of mine says, "Once it explodes, you can't unexplode it."

Trying to get a time when all can meet together with such different schedules is going to be interesting. Wish me luck!

:hi:

[intheflow]

37. Yeah!

I remember now you've been working to get that going for a while. I hope it takes off for you, it's so needed in the world! Maybe if I get up to FoCo you'll let me participate. I think I need a refresher in listening skills.

Wishing you luck and sending good vibes from the south! :hi:

[Johonny]

30. pretty sure that's wrong

drug companies can always make, test and patent derivatives of the active ingredients of any "natural" drug. Many medicines that are used today have "natural" derivatives. It is no doubt there is big money to be made if pot were found to be truly powerful as a treatment.

[Echo In Light]

15. K/R The Father, The Son & The Holy Smoke

[Uncle Joe]

19. Wouldn't that just be ironic to the tenth degree if our tax dollars had been used to wage war

against a cure for cancer?

With or without CBD, cannabis may someday do more for cancer patients than relieve pain and nausea. New research suggests THC may be lethal to tumors themselves.

Biochemists Guillermo Velasco and Manuel Guzmán of Complutense University in Madrid have spent more than a decade establishing in lab-dish and animal tests that THC can kill cancer of the brain, skin and pancreas.

<snip>

Many compounds kill cancer in a test tube and even in animals, but most prove useless because they cause side effects or just don’t work in people. The Madrid team is now seeking funding to test whether cannabis derivatives can kill tumors in cancer patients. In an early trial of nine brain cancer patients whose disease had worsened despite standard therapy, the scientists found that THC injections into tumors were safe to give.

Early reports from other research groups suggest that THC also fights breast cancer and leukemia. “I think the cancer research is extremely promising,” Russo says. “Heretofore, the model for cancer was to use an agent that’s extremely toxic to kill the cancer before it kills you. With cannabinoids, we have an opportunity to use agents that are selectively toxic to cancer cells.”

Thanks for the thread, asdjrocky.

[anarch]

28. ironic, hell

the for-profit parts of the medical industry wouldn't want a cure...they'd lose money. Especially with something that pretty much grows out of the ground. And that for-profit medical industry is pretty much up in there in our government, so, you know, it would stand to reason that our tax dollars should be actively spent in this way.

[immune]

21. Sure, we know it and "they" know it

the problem is, if growing pot became legal, what excuse would they have for keeping hemp illegal? And who benefits from keeping hemp illegal?

[bobbolink]

25. Ruh roh... are you asking people to follow the money? Ruh roh....

:hi:

[immune]

29. Could be

But maybe they'd get further faster if they just followed the oil slick. Black gold. Hemp could be a real contender in reducing our dependence on so-called fossil fuel. Can't have that.

[alfredo]

22. Maybe that is why they no longer find traces of my Crohn's.

[Wilms]

32. .

[saras]

36. Equality among drugs

Well, why wouldn't cannabis be a cure-all like Adderall or antidepressants?

The combination of those two produces obedient producers and willing consumers. Why not weed for an era of less consumption, lower standards, and high unemployment? It worked in the seventies.