Reply #4: Research hints at benefit in marijuana [View All]

[LdyGuique]

Since this is an AP article, it appears on multiple news websites:

Posted on Thu, Apr. 07, 2005

Research hints at benefit in marijuana

The Associated Press

Low doses of the main active ingredient in marijuana slowed hardening of the arteries in mice, suggesting a hint for developing a new therapy in people.

Experts stressed that the finding does not mean people should smoke marijuana in hopes of getting the same benefit.

“To extrapolate this to, ‘A joint a day will keep the doctor away,' I think is premature,” said Peter Libby, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital.

The mouse study is being presented today in the journal Nature by Francois Mach of Geneva University Hospital in Switzerland and colleagues. He said in an e-mail that he thinks that future work will focus on finding drugs that mimic the benefit without producing marijuana's effects on the brain.