Friday, July 31, 2009

Letter to www.ncpic.org.au

To whom it may concern

Hi I am a researcher researching into Cannabis use and my studies have lead me to believe that you are spreading lies that must be based on non-medical evidence because the medical evidence to date suggests that cannabis is a safe non-toxic drug that is less dangerous than 90% of the lifestyles we have become accustomed too e.g caffeine, junk food, lack of exercise, panadol, alcohol and tobacco. So i would like to know why you continue to spread lies about cannabis to the Australian public.
It has been proven that the use of cannabis is safe by leading doctors and researchers in the field such as Dr Donald Tashkin and Dr Bob Melemede to name 2 as well as hundreds of independent studies including my own.
I look forward to your response and must tell you that this letter will be posted to my blog.
Regards Michael

The Importance of Permitting Consumers the Right to Cultivate Marijuana for Personal Use

The Importance of Permitting Consumers the Right to Cultivate Marijuana for Personal Use

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Marijuana Use Associated With a

Marijuana Use Associated With a “Significantly Reduced Risk” of Head and Neck Cancers — Will The Mainstream Media Care?

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

United States have the right idea - Advocates Submit Cannabis Tax Initiative for State Ballot

Advocates in Oakland have submitted to the Secretary of State an initiative for the November 2010 state ballot to tax and regulate the sales of cannabis (marijuana) in California.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) July 29, 2009 -- Advocates in Oakland have submitted to the Secretary of State an initiative for the November 2010 state ballot to tax and regulate the sales of cannabis (marijuana) in California.

"California's laws criminalizing cannabis have failed and need to be reformed," says Richard Lee, president of Oaksterdam University (OU), and one of the initiative's proponents. The second proponent is Jeff Jones, chancellor of OU Los Angeles.

The measure would enable California to tax and regulate cannabis like alcohol, allowing adults 21 years and older to possess and consume one ounce or less of cannabis.

"Cannabis is safer than alcohol," says Lee. "Cannabis doesn't cause overdose deaths or make people violent like alcohol. It makes sense to regulate cannabis like alcohol, instead of prohibiting it completely."

The initiative would also let cities and counties decide whether or not to tax and regulate cannabis sales and commercial cultivation. If a city or county decides not to, sales and cultivation within area limits would remain illegal, but possession and consumption of small amounts would be allowed.

Proponents also stress the fact that taxing cannabis would bring in billions of dollars to the state.

California's current market for illegal cannabis is approximately $15 billion a year. Taxing and regulating cannabis would generate billions in annual revenue that is desperately needed to fund jobs, health care, schools, libraries, roads, and more.

The City of Oakland has already taken the initial steps toward cannabis taxation and regulation. 80 percent of Oakland voters chose last week to increase taxes on the cannabis bought and sold in the city's medical cannabis dispensaries. The measure, which could generate $300,000 or more annually for the cash-strapped city, was supported by the cannabis dispensaries themselves.

Statewide initiative proponent Richard Lee also backed Oakland's local ballot measure.

"Hopefully it's a sign of things to come," Lee says. "Cannabis laws need to be changed, and our state is in serious need of revenue. Taxing cannabis will help solve both problems."

In September, initiative proponents will start gathering the 433,971 signatures needed to qualify for the ballot. They will have 150 days to do so.

Contact: Greg Grimala: greg(at)odmediaco(dot)com, 510-238-9655

See the original story at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2009/07/prweb2690484.htm

Letter to Malcom Turnbull

Dear Mr Turnbull
I am contacting you in regards to a matter of utmost importance. I have previously attempted contact with the labor party but they seem disinterested in saving lives and jobs and bringing the Australian economy out of dept. They are blind to the truth that i hope God willing you are a god fearing man such as myself.
Let me tell you a little about myself first. I am married to a beautiful woman and we have 3 beautiful children at home who we love dearly , they are 2 7 & 9 years old. We both work my wife during the day and myself at night, my wife actually works 2 jobs. We are honest herd working, registered, voting citizens of Australia.
The reason i am contacting you today is because we have found, after much investigation found that Cannabis has the ability to completely heal cancer and other serious diseases at an extremely fast rate when taken correctly.Smoking will not cure cancer the cannabis needs to be refined into oil form and then ingested or applied topically. I know there is worry of the phsyco active part of cannabis use but for medical purposes, which is my goal, when ingesting small amounts of the cannabis oil every 3 -4 hours daily will heal completely most if not all serious life threatening cancers and other serious illnesses. When the oil is taken in this manner the only side affects known from a lot of American and Canadian studies is that the patients will feel good while they are taking the medicine.
After telling you this i would like a reply with what you plan to do with this information if that would be possible. I feel that not only the medical aspects but the massive environmental aspects of cannabis are huge. It can also be used rather than cutting down trees for textiles, paper, plastic, fuel, food and more.
For the Australian government to continue to ignore these facts is killing thousands of Australians a year and millions around the world. It is time for Australia to stand up and be counted. If you are a god fearing man like me please read 1 Timothy:1-5 .
Thank you for taking the time to read this i look forward to you reply
Regards
Michael

Marijuana Whos the Criminal ? THC Cures Cancer - warrawong, NSW, Australia, 2502 - ABC Contribute Blog post - contribute to your ABC

Marijuana Whos the Criminal ? THC Cures Cancer - warrawong, NSW, Australia, 2502 - ABC Contribute Blog post - contribute to your ABC

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Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Marijuana’s Impact On Brain Function “Minimal,” New Study Says

Abstract

Background We conducted a systematic review to assess the evidence for specific effects of cannabis on brain structure and function. The review focuses on the cognitive changes associated with acute and chronic use of the drug.

Method We reviewed literature reporting neuroimaging studies of chronic or acute cannabis use published up until January 2009. The search was conducted using Medline, EMBASE, LILACS and PsycLIT indexing services using the following key words: cannabis, marijuana, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC, cannabidiol, CBD, neuroimaging, brain imaging, computerized tomography, CT, magnetic resonance, MRI, single photon emission tomography, SPECT, functional magnetic resonance, fMRI, positron emission tomography, PET, diffusion tensor MRI, DTI-MRI, MRS and spectroscopy.

Results Sixty-six studies were identified, of which 41 met the inclusion criteria. Thirty-three were functional (SPECT/PET/fMRI) and eight structural (volumetric/DTI) imaging studies. The high degree of heterogeneity across studies precluded a meta-analysis. The functional studies suggest that resting global and prefrontal blood flow are lower in cannabis users than in controls. The results from the activation studies using a cognitive task are inconsistent because of the heterogeneity of the methods used. Studies of acute administration of THC or marijuana report increased resting activity and activation of the frontal and anterior cingulate cortex during cognitive tasks. Only three of the structural imaging studies found differences between users and controls.

Conclusions Functional neuroimaging studies suggest a modulation of global and prefrontal metabolism both during the resting state and after the administration of THC/marijuana cigarettes. Minimal evidence of major effects of cannabis on brain structure has been reported.

(Received October 17 2008)

(Revised June 05 2009)

(Accepted June 10 2009)

Key Words:Brain effect; cannabis; CBD; cognitive tasks; cognition; marijuana; neuroimaging; systematic review; THC

Correspondence:

c1 Address for correspondence: Dr R. Martín-Santos, Department of Psychiatry, Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Villarroel, 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. (Email: rmsantos@clinic.ub.es)

Psychological Medicine Cambridge University Press
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009
doi:10.1017/S0033291709990729

Review Article
Neuroimaging in cannabis use: a systematic review of the literature
R. Martín-Santosa1a2a3 c1, A. B. Fagundoa2a4, J. A. Crippaa1a3a5, Z. Atakana1a3, S. Bhattacharyyaa1, P. Allena1, P. Fusar-Polia1, S. Borgwardta1a6, M. Seala1a7, G. F. Busattoa8 and P. McGuirea1a3
a1 Section of Neuroimaging, PO67 Division of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, UK
a2 Neuropsychopharmacology Group, IMIM-Hospital del Mar and Department of Psychiatry; Institute of Neurosciences, Hospital Clinic, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Spain
a3 INCT Translational Medicine, Brazil
a4 Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
a5 Department of Neurosciences and Behaviour, School of Medicine of Riberão Preto, São Paulo University, Brazil
a6 Psychiatric Out-patient Department (SJB), University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
a7 Melbourne Neuropsychiatry Centre, The University of Melbourne, Australia
a8 Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Sao Paulo University, Brazil

Article author query
martín-santos r PubMed Google Scholar
fagundo ab PubMed Google Scholar
crippa ja PubMed Google Scholar
atakan z PubMed Google Scholar
bhattacharyya s PubMed Google Scholar
allen p PubMed Google Scholar
fusar-poli p PubMed Google Scholar
borgwardt s PubMed Google Scholar
seal m PubMed Google Scholar
busatto gf PubMed Google Scholar
mcguire p PubMed Google Scholar

Second Letter to Belinda Neal still no reply

This has seriously gone beyond a joke now Cannabis /Marijuana will cure serious cancers even terminal cancer patients have been healed by the use of Hash Oil.
Dr Bob Melamede has provided medical evidence to support this as well as a heap of independent studies also. I is completely unbelievable that Cannabis is not legal and being given to testimonial patients immediately. My god people are dieing while the government stays ignorant and on the fence. Well i say to the Governments time to choose a side do you choose to continue to allow people to die when there is a proven safe cure in Cannabis or are you going to make a difference and stand up and be counted.

We are in a changing times i have accumulated a massive amount of medical information and evidence that i have been desperately trying to show the world along with god knows how many others have been trying also. I have sent emails to you with no reply.

I have also contacted www.curecancer.org.au there response was very dis concerning i hope they took it seriously

I have setup a website and a blog to help spread the word its time for people to stop dying and live.

I would like to know what you plan to do with this information? something needs to be done now

www.thecureforcanceraustralia.com

By Michael

Getting Media Attention


I have sent emails to local Media programs telling them what i and many others have discovered about the amazing properties of Cannabis. Cannabis / Marijuana needs to be made available to the public immediately for those suffering from cancer and other serious illnesses. These people are dying and no government nor man on earth has the right to tell them they cannot use nature to LIVE. Every man woman and child has the right to be healed of terminal diseases. We have a right decent people to bring the truth out and allow the world to be healed.

I will not stop until Cannabis / Marijuana is legalized and available to the public without risk of being discriminated against or even worse charged by the police for using a plant that has been used since the beginning of time up until only 80 years ago.
They cannot hide the truth forever
I will never stop and there are plenty others like me

By Michael

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

A message to the world by Rick Simpson

By Rick Simpson
www.phoenixtears.ca
Throughout man's history hemp has always been known as the most medicinal plant in the world. Even with this knowledge hemp has always been used as a political and religious football.

The current restrictions against hemp were put in place and maintained, not because hemp is evil or harmful, but for big money to make more big money, while we suffer and die needlessly. Look at a proposal such as this; if we were allowed to grow hemp in our back yards and cure our own illnesses, what do you think the reaction of the pharmaceutical industry would be to such a plan? Many large pharmaceutical companies that still exist today sold hemp based medicines in the 1800's and early 1900's. They knew then what I have recently found out. Hemp oil if produced properly is a cure-all that the pharmaceutical industry can't patent.

Two years a go I contacted the Liberals, the Conservatives and the New Democratic Party about this situation. I also provided them with evidence to backup what I was saying. No one lifted a finger, in most cases I was lucky to get a reply. I contacted the R.C.M.P. along with many other organizations and Public Interest TV shows, with little or no response.

Why are all these people trying to avoid such a simple truth? If I am in some way wrong in what I have been saying then I invite the system to come and prove it. I would be happy to put on a public demonstration of what this oil can do. That would answer this question for the Canadian public once and for all. It seems unbelievable that we have a law in Canada that will not allow us to cure our own diseases with a natural herbal remedy.

While much of the evidence for the effectiveness of Hemp is reports from patients and doctors, it is important to realize that this reporting leads to restrictions of drugs and their withdrawal from the market. Such was the case with doctors reporting the birth defects from Thalidomide and heart problems with the Fen-Phen combination of drugs. Further reports led to new uses for Thalidomide as a drug to treat leprosy rather than morning sickness. Anecdotal evidence (reports and observation by patients or doctors) usually indicates to a doctor that a treatment or drug should be altered, discontinued or changed.

In addition to the evidence, much research has been done and a list of a few of the researchers and their papers or publications is here. [Penicillin was approved for use with less experience and data than is available on the effectiveness of Hemp - only six patients].

The results of the cases can be readily replicated by any practitioner, medical or otherwise, anywhere, to cure malignant melanomas and more importantly, save lives. The topical application of hemp oil salves or balms helps to control or cure various skin conditions. Taken orally, the oil tends to seek out and destroy cancer cells in the body, but as with any drug, too much can cause side effects; most notable with hemp oil is drowsiness. Unlike opiates and their derivatives, hemp oil is not addictive.

For those who may find it incredible that the medical establishment would ignore or even disdain such research we remind the reader that the history of the medical establishment includes examples of mule-like stubbornness, incompetence, mediocrity, greed, arrogance, and stupidity. Consider the case of Dr. Ignas Semmelweis:

In 1847, Dr. Semmelweis, a respected Hungarian physician who was concerned about the high mortality rate of women giving birth in hospital, instituted a procedure at one hospital whereby doctors washed and disinfected their hands before delivering babies. Immediately, the mortality rate dropped from THIRTY percent to near zero. Seven other hospitals followed suit with similar results.

The European medical establishment recognized Dr. Semmelweis's achievement by blocking his applications for further research funds, vilifying and ostracizing him, and, ultimately, causing him to lose his prestigious positions at maternity hospitals. In America, the newly formed American Medical Association added insult to injury by threatening to revoke the license of any doctor caught washing his hands. Dr. Semmelweis was so distressed that women continued to die that he suffered a mental breakdown that eventually led to his death in 1865.

Don't expect a doctor working inside the system to buck the system. The risks are still too great!
The advice she or he offers you is controlled by the large medical industry that makes its money from expensive cancer fighting drugs and treatments. It is an industry that doesn't look favorably on natural supplements or other cancer treatments that they cannot patent or make a large profit from. Years from now the current conventional cancer treatments used by doctors will on the whole be viewed in the same light that we view the old medical practice of blood letting to cure illnesses.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Canadian discovers hemp oil cures cancer... hoax or another typical moment in the pharma-industrial-death complex?

Yeah, I don't know if it's true, but it won't surprise me if it is. A Canadian guy with a big head injury discovered that THC-rich medicinal hemp oil relieved his suffering, but then he also discovered that hemp oil kills cancerous brain cells while leaving the good cells unharmed. In fact, there's a video of the bad brain cells shriveling up into dead little balls after THC treatment.

SETH: Using the same tests used to judge new chemotherapies, the SETH team discovered that this herbal compound kills human brain tumor cells at a concentration that is nontoxic to normal brain cells. A computerized microscope captured images of the cells every 5 minutes to compile the time-lapse videos. After 20 hours of treatment, Δ9-THC kills all cancer cells but leaves normal brain cells alive. Cell death is evidenced by cells shrinking to inanimate whitespheres.

Here's the photos:SETH. Parallel experiments were performed testing the effect of Δ9-THC on human brain cancer cells (glioblastoma multiforme, or GBM) and also on normal brain cells. Putting this herbal compound through the same tests that a new chemotherapeutic agent would go through revealed a potent and remarkably specific anti-cancer effect. Both types of cells were treated with the same concentration of Δ9-THC but after 20 hours only the cancer cells died. Cell death is seen in the lower right panel as cells shrinking to inanimate white spheres. For more information about this project, click toLEARN MORE.

More here: The SETH Group: background:

The major active component of the medicinal plant cannabis, Δ9-THC, has been shown in experiments with rats to have therapeutic potential against brain tumors. SETH Group scientists Garret Yount, Ph.D. and Sean McAllister, Ph.D. designed experiments in a time-lapse microscope to test whether Δ9-THC can stop the growth of human glioblastoma multiforma (GBM) brain cancer cells. Using the same tests that are used to judge new chemotherapies, the team discovered that the herbal compound kills human GBM cells at a concentration that is nontoxic to normal brain cells. Click here to see Featured Experiment.

future development: Test whether a combination of active components of medicinal cannabis, as present in the plant, will act synergistically and prove to be a more effective treatment against the growth of brain cancer cells compared to Δ9-THC alone.

Implications: No chemotherapy can match this nontoxic anti-cancer action. The implication is that this plant compound could be a safe medicine against brain tumors, without the side effects of chemotherapy. These exciting results may be just the tip of the iceberg, however, because Δ9-THC is only one of many active compounds in medicinal cannabis. Other active constituents of the Cannabis plant (called cannabinoids) are also likely to have a nontoxic anti-cancer action.

******

Alright, well who is this Canadian guy? And is there a BitTorrentable documentary about it? Sure is!

TorrentBox.com - Torrent details for "Run From The Cure - The Rick Simpson Story". I'm downloading it right now!

And also, here is the guy's website: Cure Cancer with Hemp Oil - Phoenix Tears

A couple clips from that: Follow this link for CBC Journalist Wendy Mesley's documentary about the cancer industry unapologetically and unashamedly making billions of dollars through human misery. The programme was rerun on Sunday, April 2nd, 2006 at 7pm on the main CBC network.

"I will follow that system of regimen which, according to my ability and judgment, I consider for the benefit of my patients, and abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous. I will give no deadly medicine to any one if asked..." Hippocrates

Submitted by HongPong on Sat, 2008-03-08 21:50.
http://www.hongpong.com/node/1081

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Letter to Belinda Neal Local Government Minister

Dear Belinda

I am contacting you about a simple herbal cure for cancer i have found that is working. Cannabis Oil extracted from the flowers of the Cannabis Sativa l

Approximately 7.6 million people die from cancer each year according to an article titled "ACS Report Focuses on Global Cancer Toll" which was published by the American Cancer Society . I hope you can look beyond the propaganda that we have all been fed regarding Cannabis.
Extracts made from high quality Cannabis are the most therapeutically active substances imaginable if they are properly made.

Rick Simpson has used these extracts to cure three areas of skin cancer on his own body, also, He has cured cancers for others. No one seems to want to believe what this drug can do until they see its effects with their own eyes.
When the history of hemp is examined you will find medical studies done as far back as the 1960’s that state the same results as I have found in regards to this drug. This leaves us with the question, why is this drug not being produced for medicinal use? In my mind, the only reasons I can imagine would be ignorance or corruption that has held the production of this drug back. In any case neither of these reasons should be acceptable to the public under any circumstances.

I have Medical Study Reports to support my claims, witnesses and testimonial evidence.

My hopes are that this drug will start being produced on a large scale as soon as possible. Imagine adding this drug to sun tan lotions, make-up and skin creams. What would this do to cancer rates? I also believe that this drug could be used as a dietary supplement, (one a day keeps cancer away). The possible applications for this drug are almost limitless. If your organization is interested, as soon as Rick Simpson can get some high quality material to work with, He would be happy to supply you with extracts for study and testing. You will not be disappointed, this is for real. If we work together maybe we can put cancer where it belongs, (in the past).

I ask that something be done Immediately in our electorate and Australia. People are dieing when we have a safe reliable cure. The Australian government has done nothing to update research and findings world wide on cannabis and still reports propaganda on the department of health website. I have study's proving that Cannabis Is less dangerous than caffeine, aspirin, tobacco, alcohol and all these things are readily available to everyone yet i am being denied a WORKING Cure for Cancer and Other Serious Illnesses while my Government does nothing.

It will be my life's cause to make sure that everybody knows of this cure and sees the truth about Cannabis.

I look forward to your reply

Respectfully

http://legalizecannabisaustralia.blogspot.com/

Email sent to http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au & http://www.curecancer.org.au/

I will send these emails out to Australian Cancer Foundations and we will see what their Response will be. I pray to god 1 listens

I am contacting you about a simple herbal cure for cancer that is working. Approximately 7.6 million people die from cancer each year according to an article titled "ACS Report Focuses on Global Cancer Toll" which was published by the American Cancer Society . I hope your organization can look beyond the propaganda that we have all been fed regarding Cannabis. Extracts made from high quality hemp are the most therapeutically active substances imaginable if they are properly made.

Rick Simpson has used these extracts to cure three areas of skin cancer on his own body, also, He have cured cancers for others. No one seems to want to believe what this drug can do until they see its effects with their own eyes. When the history of hemp is examined you will find medical studies done as far back as the 1960’s that state the same results as I have found in regards to this drug. This leaves us with the question, why is this drug not being produced for medicinal use? In my mind, the only reasons I can imagine would be ignorance or corruption that has held the production of this drug back. In any case neither of these reasons should be acceptable to the public under any circumstances.

My hopes are that this drug will start being produced on a large scale as soon as possible. Imagine adding this drug to sun tan lotions, make-up and skin creams. What would this do to cancer rates? I also believe that this drug could be used as a dietary supplement, (one a day keeps cancer away). The possible applications for this drug are almost limitless. If we work together maybe we can put cancer where it belongs, (in the past).


I look forward to hearing from you. I can be contacted by phone at ********** or by email at *************


Yours respectfully,
*************

Template Taken from Rick Simpsons letter to The Canadian Cancer Council with changes made by me.

Cannabinoids Inhibit Glioma Cell Invasion

Cannabinoids, the active components of Cannabis sativa L. and their derivatives, inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals by inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and impairing tumor angiogenesis.
It has also been reported that these compounds inhibit tumor cell spreading, but the molecular targets of this cannabinoid action remain elusive.
Here, we evaluated the effect of cannabinoids on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression and its effect on tumor cell invasion.
Local administration of {Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major active ingredient of cannabis, down-regulated MMP-2 expression in gliomas generated in mice, as determined by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and real-time quantitative PCR analyses.
This cannabinoid-induced inhibition of MMP-2 expression in gliomas
(a) was MMP-2–selective, as levels of other MMP family members were unaffected;
(b) was mimicked by JWH-133, a CB2 cannabinoid receptor–selective agonist that is devoid of psychoactive side effects;
(c) was abrogated by fumonisin B1, a selective inhibitor of ceramide biosynthesis; and
(d) was also evident in two patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. THC inhibited MMP-2 expression and cell invasion in cultured glioma cells.
Manipulation of MMP-2 expression by RNA interference and cDNA overexpression experiments proved that down-regulation of this MMP plays a critical role in THC-mediated inhibition of cell invasion.
Cannabinoid-induced inhibition of MMP-2 expression and cell invasion was prevented by blocking ceramide biosynthesis and by knocking-down the expression of the stress protein p8. As MMP-2 up-regulation is associated with high progression and poor prognosis of gliomas and many other tumors, MMP-2 down-regulation constitutes a new hallmark of cannabinoid antitumoral activity. [Cancer Res 2008;68(6):1945–52]

Cancer Research 68, 1945, March 15, 2008. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-5176
© 2008 American Association for Cancer Research

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

A Tale of Two Studies

By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
http://blog.norml.org/2009/07/17/a-tale-of-two-studies/

For 35 years scientists have known that naturally occurring compounds in the cannabis plant possess potent and selective anti-cancer properties, a fact that I have documented extensively in previous writings here, here, and here.


Yet for more than three decades the scientific study of these anti-cancer effects has remained almost exclusively limited to preclinical in vitro (in a petri dish) and in vivo (in lab animals) analysis, rather than clinical (human) study. Why? A just published review in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology provides an answer.


Cannabinoid receptor ligands as potential anticancer agents - high hopes for new therapies?

abstract excerpt via PubMed


In recent years, CB receptor ligands, including Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol, have been proposed as potential anticancer agents. This review critically discusses the pharmacology of CB receptor activation as a novel therapeutic anticancer strategy in terms of ligand selectivity, tissue specificity and potency. Intriguingly, antitumour effects mediated by cannabinoids are not confined to inhibition of cancer cell proliferation; cannabinoids also reduce angiogenesis, cell migration and metastasis, inhibit carcinogenesis and attenuate inflammatory processes.


Sounds promising, huh? Well it is — that is, until you get to this:


The development of CB(2)-selective anticancer agents could be advantageous in light of the unwanted central effects exerted by CB(1) receptor ligands.


And just what are these terrible “unwanted effects” — effects so “problematic” that we must continue to forbid scientists from clinically studying the drug’s effects in cancer patients? I’ll let the authors explain.


“In terms of a potential therapeutic application the unwanted psychotropic effects mediated via CB1 could be a problem.”


You read that right. The ‘problem’ with cannabinoids anti-cancer abilities is that patients might temporarily feel better after they take them!


Now contrast mainstream science’s feigned concern with the so-called ‘unwanted effects’ of the natural cannabis ‘high’ with the actual side-effects of the pharmaceutical cannabinoid antagonist drug rimonabant (aka Acomplia), which was recently withdrawn from the European market because of the the drug’s link to depression and suicide.


The psychiatric side-effects of rimonabant


Experimental evidence has suggested that drugs that enhance cannabinoid type-1 (CB1) receptor activity may induce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, whilst the opposite has been reported with antagonists. Thus, the objective of the present review is to discuss the potential psychiatric side-effects of CB1 receptor antagonists, such as rimonabant, which has been recently marketed in several countries for the treatment of smoking cessation, obesity and associated metabolic disorders.


… Patients taking CB1 receptor antagonists should be carefully investigated for psychiatric side-effects. These drugs should not be prescribed for those already suffering from mental disorders. Nevertheless, the development of new compounds targeting the endocannabinoid system for the treatment of several conditions would be necessary and opportune.


Let’s review shall we? Natural plant selectively kills cancer, but it may also get you high = “problematic.” Synthetic pharmaceutical drug short circuits the body’s natural endocannabinoid system and will likely make you depressed and suicidal = “opportune.”




July 17th, 2009
By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
http://blog.norml.org/2009/07/17/a-tale-of-two-studies/

Friday, July 17, 2009

If you support keeping drugs illegal…

You support robberies and assaults on innocent people.

The high prices of drugs caused by prohibition force many drug addicts to turn to robbery in order to pay for their drugs. Legalization would drop drug prices. Drug users would no longer need to rob/assault innocent people in order to support their drug habit. This violence against innocent people would end if drugs were legalized.

You support clogging our prisons and jails with nonviolent people.

Nearly 50% of all people in prison and jail are serving time for nonviolent drug charges. There are thousands of people in prisons for 5, 10, 50 years—even life—for possessing marijuana or cocaine! The average rapist is set free after serving only 3 years in prison, the average murderer is set free after serving only 9 years in prison! To house just one prisoner for one year costs the taxpayer $40,000! The result of these harsh penalties? Drug use has increased! (Tough laws have not stopped me from using marijuana—nor will they ever!)

You support organized crime and drug cartels.

Huge drug cartels and criminal organizations thrive off the enormous profits caused by drug prohibition. These organizations are responsible for thousands of murders! Many of people killed or hurt are innocent people who get in the way! These violent organizations will never be put out of business—unless drugs are legalized.

You support environmental destruction.

Underground cocaine and methamphetamine labs use toxic chemicals to produce those drugs—the wastes are recklessly dumped in forests and streams. These highly toxic chemicals are causing major environmental damage in South American rainforests and now in the U.S. This environmental destruction will stop only if drugs are legalized.

You support drug dealers and street gangs.

Drug dealers and street gangs fight over drug territories. Thousands of people are murdered and assaulted because of this fighting—many are innocent people who get in the way. This violence is another result of the huge profits caused by drug prohibition.

You lure thousands of young people into quitting school.

It is a fact that thousands of inner-city youths drop out of school to make enormous profits by selling drugs. The incentive to drop out of school would end if drugs were legalized.

You do nothing to keep drugs away from kids or out of schools.

In spite of what you may believe, keeping drugs illegal does not keep drugs away from children! Drugs are easily obtainable in almost every high school in America. Legalizing drugs would put schoolyard drug dealers out of business! There would be less drugs in our schools if drugs were legalized. Drugs would still be illegal for minors!

You subsidize criminals by letting them reap huge drug profits without paying taxes.

Since drugs are sold anyway, wouldn’t you rather have them heavily taxed so it would reduce your tax burden? You are giving criminals a free ride and it’s coming out of your own pocket. Working people pay 100% of all taxes for the drug dealers! Why do you want to pay taxes for drug dealers?

You advocate punishing millions of harmless drug users (like me) at an enormous cost to society.

If you believe drugs should be illegal, then you advocate spending your tax dollars to arrest/jail/punish millions of productive, honest, and harmless working people (like myself). Why? We hurt nobody! Who benefits from this policy? Nobody! Who loses from this policy? Everybody!
Drug users can only hurt themselves. But the drug war harms/kills hundreds of thousands of innocent people and burdens you—the taxpayer. The drug war costs you hundreds of dollars every year! The drug war has not reduced drug use!

Prohibitionists claim drugs must be illegal because they harm people. Why are prohibitionists so concerned about what other people do to themselves? Why do they feel it is their responsibility and right to control the lifestyles of other adults? The prohibitionists tell stories of people who hurt themselves with illegal drugs. So what? For every one person who has been harmed with illegal drugs, there are dozens of people who have used illegal drugs and were not harmed. For every one person who has been harmed by illegal drugs, there are 1,000 people who harm/kill themselves by deliberately choosing these harmful lifestyles…

* Being overweight
* Smoking cigarettes
* Watching too much TV
* Eating high-fat/high-cholesterol diets
* Eating too much meat
* Participating in dangerous sports/activities
* Drinking alcohol
* Eating too much sugar
* Eating too few fruits/vegetables
* Drinking too much coffee
* Getting little/no exercise


Why don’t the prohibitionists advocate banning all of the above harmful lifestyles? The prohibitionists tolerate people who hurt/kill themselves with tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, or no exercise, but they refuse to tolerate people who harm themselves with cocaine. Why? Inconsistent! Illogical! Irrational!

We now come to the real reason why marijuana, cocaine, LSD, and other drugs are illegal: Lifestyle control! Prohibitionists fear that if drugs are legalized, the "drug culture" will spread to the rest of society. Nobody can force others to use drugs! Adults must take responsibility for their own health! Because the prohibitionists have decided that drugs are wrong for them does not give them the right to force their lifestyle on others. Prohibitionists want government to play the role of parent.

Prohibitionists believe they must babysit adults. Prohibitionists are the lifestyle police!

In the last 25 years, per capita alcohol and tobacco consumption has decreased significantly. This was accomplished by education and treatment, not by threat of punishment! Drug use/abuse would drop significantly if we spent our resources on education and treatment instead of law enforcement. No rational person would call for imprisonment of smokers and drinkers in order to reduce tobacco and alcohol use. But that method is exactly how we try to reduce drug use. The savings to be had in ending the drug war could easily pay for all the drug treatment and education programs we need.

The drug war is a failure! Education and treatment work!

If you don’t like a culture or a lifestyle, don’t live it! If you don’t like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drugs, don’t use them! But don’t ban my personal lifestyle for fear it will poison your lifestyle. Adults must take responsibility for their own actions! It is a flagrant violation of individual freedom to threaten others with punishment just because they choose a lifestyle that is not right for you.
I will continue to smoke marijuana and enjoy it! I hurt nobody! If others do not approve of what I do to myself in my own home, too bad! I may not care for the music you listen to, the food you eat, or the culture you have adopted, but I would never advocate punishing you because I don’t like your lifestyle. If someone violates the rights of others, the violater should be punished; otherwise, people should mind their own business. Adults who use drugs responsibly—whether they be tobacco, alcohol, LSD, or marijuana—cause no harm to others! Leave us alone!

If you still believe drugs should be illegal, answer this question… Why do you believe it is good policy to punish me—and 20 million + adults like me—because I choose to use cannabis in the privacy of my own home? Who benefits from this policy and how do they benefit?

Total cost of drug prohibition
* Over 300,000 nonviolent people lose their freedom to prison/jail.
* Thousands of murders, assaults, and robberies caused by drug crimes.
* $20 billion/year in law enforcement costs.
* $10 billion/year in lost tax revenue (similar to alcohol tax).
* $5 billion/year in property losses due to drug-related crimes.
* $50 billion/year and 500,000 jobs lost because of no hemp industry.
Total cost = $85 billion/year = $500 per taxpayer every year!

Harmful Effects?

Drugs Most Harmful Effects
Alcohol
* Liver damage, birth defects, kills brain cells, intoxication, can induce violent behavior
* Addiction: As addicting as cocaine!
* Overdose: Possible.
* Deaths/year (U.S.): 100,000 (Not counting drunk driving or crimes caused while intoxicated.)
Tobacco
* Lung, throat, and mouth cancer, emphysema, heart damage, premature aging of skin, underdeveloped newborn babies.
* Addiction: As addicting as heroin or cocaine!
* Overdose: Possible, but extremely unlikely.
* Deaths/year (U.S.): 400,000
Cannabis
* Slight chance of bronchitis in some users.
* Possible minor sperm count reduction, but unproven.
* Lung cancer remotely possible with extremely heavy use, but unproven.
* Short-term memory loss only while intoxicated—Not permanent!
* Addiction: less addicting than coffee, soda, meat, or sugar!
* Overdose: Impossible!
* Deaths/year (U.S.): 0 (Zero!)

Source
by Tom++, June 27, 1995

From the Talk.Politics.Drugs Usenet newsgroup
http://www.hoboes.com/FireBlade/Editorials/Legalize/

Monday, July 13, 2009

They knew back then it was SAFE and they refused to see the medical facts

And they still are refusing to beleive the medical facts here in Australia.

Cannabis would be legal by now if it where not for the huge amounts of propaganda being spread. Let me elaberate on propaganda that word gets thrown around alot without people really understanding the meaning.
propaganda noun
1. information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm
a person, group, movement,institution, nation, etc.
2. the deliberate spreading of such information, rumors, etc.

They knew cannabis was safe enough to use, pain staking hours, sleepless nights and months of scientific research to find out that Cannabis is no where near as dangerous nor have half the alleged side affects as the propaganda said.

"Having reviewed all the material available to us we find ourselves in
agreement with the conclusion reached by the Indian hemp Drugs Commission
appointed by the Government of India (1893-1894) and the New York Mayor's
Committee on Marihuana (1944), that the long-term consumption of cannabis in
'moderate' doses has no harmful effects"

The Wooton Report, 1969
http://www.ukcia.org/research/wootton/index.htm

I SEE A DAY WHEN THE BLIND WILL SEE TOO

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Study debunk claims marijuana causes mental illness

Much has made — by the mainstream media and others — of the claim that cannabis use causes certain types of mental illness, specifically schizophrenia and psychosis.

Most notably perhaps, a team of researchers writing in the July 28, 2007 edition of the prestigious scientific journal The Lancet, boldly proclaimed that smoking cannabis could boost one’s risk of a psychotic episode by 40 percent or more.Naturally, this alarmist rhetoric received wall-to-wall coverage by the mainstream press. Even more troubling, the supposed ‘pot-and-schizophrenia’ link was one of the primary reasons cited by British PM Gordon Brown, ex-Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and others as the impetus for reclassifying cannabis (from a verbal warning to a criminal offense punishable by up to five years in jail) in the United Kingdom.

Of course, there was a fatal flaw with The Lancet’s argument — one that, oddly enough, every single MSM outlet failed to mention. Empirical data did not support the investigators’ hypothesis that smoking marijuana was associated with increased rates of schizophrenia or other mental illnesses among the general public — a fact that even the authors begrudgingly admitted when they declared,

“Projected trends for schizophrenia incidence have not paralleled trends in cannabis use over time.”

Which brings us to 2009.

Two years after The Lancet’s dire predictions, a team of researchers at the Keele University Medical School have once and for all put the ‘pot-and-mental illness’ claims to the test. Writing in a forthcoming edition of the scientific journal Schizophrenia Research, they compare long-term trends in marijuana use and incidences of schizophrenia and/or psychoses in the United Kingdom. And what do they find?

“The expected rise in diagnoses of schizophrenia and psychoses did not occur over a 10 year period. This study does not therefore support the specific causal link between cannabis use and incidence of psychotic disorders. … This concurs with other reports indicating that increases in population cannabis use have not been followed by increases in psychotic incidence.”

Assessing the impact of cannabis use on trends in diagnosed schizophrenia in the United Kingdom from 1996 to 2005.Frisher M, Crome I, Martino O, Croft P.Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Staffordshire, ST5 5BG, United Kingdom.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19560900

Should we expect an apology — or even better, a change in policy — from the Gordon Brown regime any time soon? Or at the very least, will some sort of ‘correction’ be forthcoming from the mainstream news media?
I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Author: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director 1 July 2009 Source: NORML http://blog.norml.org/2009/07/01/study-debunks-claims-that-pot-smoking-causes-mental-illness/

This just goes to show what i have been saying the government has been spreading lies and propaganda to support thier own alterior motives or whether they are just plane ignorant who really knows, what i do know is they will have to answer for the lives they have destroyed with the stigmata they have created saying ;

pot causes mental illness when it does not,
pot is more dangerous than cigarettes and increases the risk of cancer when it clearly is does not,

Family's have been torn apart all because of the endless lies we have been told told by our government.
When will the lies stop?

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Sufferer insists Legalize Marijuana

Joshua Price from Rockhamton, Queensland Australia lives a life of constant pain, with his only relief coming with the risk of arrest.
He says he and hundreds like him in Central Queensland and all over Australia are suffering unnecessarily because marijuana is out of their legal reach due to outdated laws.
The 31-year-old has suffered for three years with neuro-orthopedic disorder, which, he says, causes him great pain and discomfort and results in a lot of sleepless nights.
But having gained relief from smoking marijuana in the past, Mr Price is now pushing for its legalisation in Queensland and Australia.
“The pain and discomfort I feel as a direct result of my condition is lessened quite a great deal by the use of cannabis,” he said.
“From the research I have done, I have found that not only the long-term effects of this product are quite preferable to the pharmaceutical drugs my doctor prescribes me, I have also discovered that alcohol and tobacco are way more dangerous to use; yet these drugs are legal and are used for fun by the general public.”
Mr Price said he began his campaign in May in the hope of helping others who live with chronic pain.
“I know a 90-year-old woman who grows a plant in her backyard and eats it because it's the only relief she can get,” he said.
“Anyone who is in this position is forced to go through the anxiety and stress of obtaining it illegally, with the threat of arrest and legal persecution constantly hanging over their head.”
Mr Price said he believed the Federal Government was in breach of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs treaty it signed in 1961 by outlawing marijuana for medicinal purposes.


Queensland Health declined the opportunity to comment yesterday. However, information on its website states cannabis is a depressant drug and is also called grass, pot, dope, hash, mull and green. It is the chemical THC (Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) of the cannabis plant which affects people.
It says: “At present there is little evidence that occasional use of small amounts of cannabis can lead to long-term health problems, but there is evidence that regular or heavy use of cannabis does lead to major health problems.”
Long-term effects included risk of lung cancer, respiratory diseases and other conditions, it said.


What a crock you really have to love the fact that Queensland Health obviously have no idea of recent studies being done all over the world. They have been sleeping on the job I think. The Austraslian Government needs to smarten up its act instead of holding onto this bigotry dark ages approach to Marijuana which has benn proven to be less dangerous for you that Alcohol , Tobacco and even over the counter medications such as Tylanol.

Taken froman Article in The Morning Bulletin by Megan Lewis 11th July 2009

Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection

For 30 years, Donald Tashkin has studied the effects of marijuana on lung function. His work has been funded by the vehemently anti-marijuana National Institute on Drug Abuse, which has long sought to demonstrate that marijuana causes lung cancer.

After 3 decades of anti-drug research, here's what Tashkin has to say about marijuana laws:
"Early on, when our research appeared as if there would be a negative impact on lung health, I was opposed to legalization because I thought it would lead to increased use and that would lead to increased health effects," Tashkin says. "But at this point, I'd be in favor of legalization. I wouldn't encourage anybody to smoke any substances. But I don't think it should be stigmatized as an illegal substance. Tobacco smoking causes far more harm. And in terms of an intoxicant, alcohol causes far more harm."

We've been told a thousand times that marijuana destroys your lungs, that it's 5 times worse than cigarettes, and on and on. Yet here is Donald Tashkin, literally the top expert in the world when it comes to marijuana and lung health, telling us it's time to legalize marijuana. His views are shaped not by ideology, but rather by the 30 years he spent studying the issue. He didn't expect the science to come out in favor of marijuana, but that's what happened and he's willing to admit it.

Here's the study that really turned things around:
UCLA's Tashkin studied heavy marijuana smokers to determine whether the use led to increased risk of lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. He hypothesized that there would be a definitive link between cancer and marijuana smoking, but the results proved otherwise.
"What we found instead was no association and even a suggestion of some protective effect," says Tashkin, whose research was the largest case-control study ever conducted.

Prejudice against marijuana and smoking in general runs so deep for many people that it just seems inconceivable that marijuana could actually reduce the risk of lung cancer. But that's what the data shows and it not only demolishes a major tenet of popular anti-pot propaganda, but also points towards a potentially groundbreaking opportunity to develop cancer cures through marijuana research.

Over and over again, all the bad things we've been told about marijuana are revealed to be not only false, but often the precise opposite of the truth. So the next time someone tells you that marijuana is worse for your lungs than cigarettes, you might want to mention that the world's leading expert on that subject happens to be a supporter of legalization.

Posted in Chronicle Blog by Scott Morgan on Wed, 06/03/2009 - 9:52pm
http://stopthedrugwar.org/
and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html