http://twubs.com/cannabis/events/1/Legalize_Cannabis_Australia_Rally
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Please don’t smoke the walls
It is absolutely amazing the diversity of materials we are using these days as building materials for our homes and business. As we move further into a world looking for sustainability and ways not to damage the environment around us the ideas are coming hot and heavy about even newer materials. Considering that in the US buildings account for thirty-eight percent of the CO2 emissions the demand for carbon neutral and/or zero footprint building the demand for building materials to meet these needs will only increase.
One new (to the United States) material that is getting a lot of attention is from a UK-based business, Lhoist Group, and their Tradical® Hemcrete® concrete substitute. This a product made from mixing hemp, lime and water and is 7x as strong as normal concrete as well as being carbon negative.
source: http://current.com/1hgam4c
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
The International Cannabinoid Research Society
The ICRS is a non-political and non-religious organization dedicated to scientific research in all fields of the cannabinoids, ranging from biochemical, chemical and physiological studies of the endogenous cannabinoid system to studies of the abuse potential of recreational cannabis. In addition to acting as a source for impartial information on cannabis and the cannabinoids, the main role of the ICRS is to provide an open forum for researchers to meet and discuss their results.
The ICRS is a scientific association with over 400 members, all active researchers in the field of endogenous, plant-derived and synthetic cannabinoids and related bioactive lipids.
Mission Statement:
ICRS History:
http://www.cannabinoidsociety.org/
The ICRS is a scientific association with over 400 members, all active researchers in the field of endogenous, plant-derived and synthetic cannabinoids and related bioactive lipids.
Mission Statement:
The mission of the ICRS is to: foster cannabinoid research, to promote exchange of information and ideas about cannabis and the cannabinoids through the organization of scientific meetings; to encourage financial support from funding agencies and industries; to facilitate liasons between funding agencies, industry and the academic community, and to serve as a source of reliable information on the chemistry, pharmacology, toxicology and the behavioral, psychological and social effects of cannabis and the cannabinoids (ICRS By-Laws, adopted June 1992).
ICRS History:
The ICRS was formally incorporated as a scientific research society in 1991. Prior to that, Symposia were organized by various researchers in the field since 1970. Membership in the Society has risen from about 50 members, in its first year, to 458 in 2008.
http://www.cannabinoidsociety.org/
Dr Bob Melamede
Dr Robert Melamede is paving the way in cannabis research and cannabis medicines
http://www.uccs.edu/~rmelamed/
"Throughout my life I have been fascinated and amazed by life, always wondering what it is and how it works. Modern molecular biology and far from equilibrium thermodynamics have provided me with answers that I find very satisfying. Simply and simplistically put, it is natural for the flow of energy and matter to act "creatively". This fact of physics serves as the central theme for all courses that I teach. It provides a scientific basis for understanding life and death, health and disease. I hope you will enjoy and benefit from this approach."Read more from Dr Melamede
http://www.uccs.edu/~rmelamed/
Cannabis and ADD / ADHD
What is ADD / ADHD?
Individuals with ADHD essentially have problems with self-regulation and self-motivation, predominantly due to problems with distractibility, procrastination, organization, and prioritization. It is a chronic condition, beginning in early childhood and persisting throughout a person’s lifetime. It is estimated that up to 70% of children with ADHD will continue to have significant ADHD-related symptoms persisting into adulthood, resulting in a significant impact on education, employment, interpersonal relationships, and in social settings.
In layman’s terms, ADHD is a condition in which the brain can not efficiently “ignore” unimporant stimuli. Essentially, a person not suffering from ADHD will have an easier time remaining focused on a specific project and ignore distractions while an ADHD brain is more prone to distraction due to its inability to ignore stimuli.
Current research has shown that certain strains of marijuana can provide focus to people with ADHD and many people have successfully used marijuana as a replacement to other medications (such as Ritalin or Methylphenidate).
Marijuana Facts and Resources:
- The potential role of phytotherapy for ADHD – Phytotherapy Review & Commentary
Very lengthy and heavily cited article discussing the use of plants to treat ADHD. - References on Cannabinoids Science and ADHD
Large list of references and studies showing the interaction of cannabinoids, cannabinoid receptors in the brain, and their relationship with ADHD. - How Cannabinoids Improve ADHD?
List of symptoms of ADHD which can be treated or improved with the use of marijuana. Includes citations and studies. - Videos on Marijuana and ADHD
Nice compiled list of videos ranging from doctors and experts to technical explanations of the inner-workings of ADHD and the relationship to cannabinoid receptors. - Marijuana and ADD Therapeutic uses of Medical Marijuana in the treatment of ADD
Well-cited research paper supporting the use of medical marijuana to treat ADD. - Cannabis ‘Scrips to Calm Kids?
Article from FOX News examining the success of marijuana as an ADHD medication rather than the use of synthetic drugs which come with their own risks. - Cannabis effective in animal model of hyperactivity disorder
Short snippet of research about the use of marijuana and hyperactive rats. - THC normalized impaired psychomotor performance and mood
Article discussing research that showed marijuana–specifically THC–improved the driving ability of persons with ADHD. Another source locate here. - Moderate cannabis use has a positive effect on treatment for cocaine dependence in patients with comorbid ADHD and cocaine dependence
Article discussing research showing improved results for cocaine dependent ADHD patients using marijuana. It is worth noting that Ritalin is very similar to cocaine. - Cannabis improves symptoms of ADHD
Case report showing how cannabis can improve the symptoms of ADHD patients. Link to original PDF here.
Anecdotal:
- ADHD by Ryan P
A very detailed account of how marijuana helped one ADHD man. - Testimonies from Doctors and Patients
A large list of testimonies from patients as well as physicians in support of the use of marijuana for ADHD. - Recipe For Trouble
48 Hours Special on a mother who prefers to treat her ADHD child with marijuana rather than synthetic drugs. - Posts from users at Marijuana.com regarding ADD/ADHD:
-ADHD Medicine
-ADHD and Medical Marijuana
-ADHD Strains
-My Life with ADD/ADHD – Success Story
-Marijuana and ADHD – Success Story
Will Kevin Rudd seriously consider Cannabis Reform
Lobbyists to ambush Rudd with giant joint
August 23, 2009 07:24pm
IF Prime Minister Kevin Rudd can't stop giggling, feels paranoid or overly hungry when he visits Lismore hospital, he'll know exactly what's to blame.
It could be the subliminal influence of a 10-metre inflatable joint, which drug legalisation lobbyists will use to try to get the prime minister's attention during his visit tomorrow.
Members of the Nimbin Hemp Embassy will gather outside the hospital with their trusty mascot, hoping to talk to Mr Rudd about what they say is a health issue - legalising cannabis in Australia.
The group's president Michael Balderstone says he hopes to appeal to Mr Rudd's Christian sense of compassion.
"I think he is a compassionate man and he is a Christian and what would Jesus say – we're talking about the best pain-relieving herbs on the planet," he said.
Mr Balderstone said young people in Nimbin are constantly targeted in police raids and suffer permanent consequences. Nimbin has become a centre for alternative culture after a new generation of people decided to settle there following the Aquarius Festival in 1973.
"I live and work in Nimbin and we've become this big backpacker place and ... (police) are busting a lot of young people," he said.
"And it's making no difference and they're just all getting criminal records for life.
"Politicians are quite sheltered in a way and what's going on out here in the street is a huge culture of people who have lost respect for the system, because these laws have criminalised them and made something that makes them feel good into an illicit act."
Mr Rudd has previously said he has never smoked marijuana and takes a tough line on drugs.
Mainstream Media Finally Does Its Job (Sort Of)
Earlier today Reuters News Wire finally took the time to report that lifetime marijuana use is associated with a reduced risk of head and neck cancer. That’s according to the findings of a population-based case control study of some 1,000 subjects, published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.
But you already know this because NORML initially posted the news in July.
To review, here is what the study found:
Authors reported, “After adjusting for potential confounders (including smoking and alcohol drinking), 10 to 20 years of marijuana use was associated with a significantly reduced risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma … [as was] moderate weekly use.”
Subjects who smoked marijuana and consumed alcohol and tobacco (two known high risk factors for head and neck cancers) also experienced a reduced risk of cancer, the study found.
“This association was consistent across different measures of marijuana use (marijuana use status, duration, and frequency of use). … Further, we observed that marijuana use modified the interaction between alcohol and cigarette smoking, resulting in a decreased HNSCC risk among moderate smokers and light drinkers, and attenuated risk among the heaviest smokers and drinkers.“
Notably, Reuters‘ writers took a much more skeptical view of the study’s findings, as evident by the headline:
Could smoking pot cut risk of head, neck cancer?
via Reuters Health
Strange that Reuters would frame their headline in the form of a question. After all, the study’s authors expressed no such reservations, concluding in the final line of their abstract, “Our study suggests that moderate marijuana use is associated with reduced risk of HNSCC (head and neck cancer).”
Reuters skepticism continues:
It’s unclear why marijuana would prevent cancer, if in fact the study is borne out by others, but the authors note that chemicals in pot called cannabinoids have been shown to have potential antitumor effects. Other studies have linked marijuana use to a reduced risk of some cancers, such as cancer of the prostate, and now head and neck cancer.
… Overall, however, research on the effects of marijuana on human health is mixed. Some studies have suggested the drug can increase a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke and cause some cancers such as lung cancer.
Let’s take things one at a time, shall we. First, it’s hardly ‘unclear’ as to why marijuana would be cancer-preventive. To quote the scientific journal Nature Reviews Cancer from 2003:
Cannabinoids: potential anticancer agents
via Nature Reviews CancerCannabinoids inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animals. They do so by modulating key cell-signaling pathways, thereby inducing direct growth arrest and death of tumor cells, as well as by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and metastasis. Cannabinoids are selective anti-tumor compounds, as they can kill tumor cells without affecting their non-transformed counterparts.
Reuters unnamed author(s) further add the caveat: “if in fact the study is borne out by others.” News flash: this study was performed precisely because pot’s cancer preventive effects had been “borne out in others,” such as this:
Study finds no cancer-marijuana connection
via The Washington PostThe largest study of its kind has unexpectedly concluded that smoking marijuana, even regularly and heavily, does not lead to lung cancer. … “We hypothesized that there would be a positive association between marijuana use and lung cancer, and that the association would be more positive with heavier use,” he said. “What we found instead was no association at all, and even a suggestion of some protective effect.”
Reuters further states: “Other studies have linked marijuana use to a reduced risk of some cancers, such as cancer of the prostate, and now head and neck cancer.” Notably, the wire service failed to include that cannabinoids also have documented anti-cancer fighting abilities in the treatment of: brain cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, skin cancer, and pancreatic cancer — just to name a few.
And finally, Reuters obligatorily adds that pot’s effects on health are ‘mixed,’ alleging that “some studies have suggested the drug can increase a person’s risk of heart attack or stroke and cause some cancers such as lung cancer.” Ah yes, the ever elusive “some studies.”
Well, as for cannabis smoking and lung cancer, that claim was rebutted by the largest study of its kind, profiled above. As for the alleged risk of “heart attack or stroke,” a large-scale population study by Kaiser Permanente reported “no association of marijuana use with cardiovascular disease hospitalization or mortality.”
That said, I’m all for the media espousing skepticism regarding claims about cannabis. Of course, were the MSM to apply this same attitude to the federal government’s claims about marijuana and pot prohibition, we wouldn’t have to suffer through stories like these, now would we?
Mainstream Media Finally Does Its Job (Sort Of) — It Only Took Four Weeks!
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Join the Australian Hemp Party, Its time to make a change
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE FOR MORE BRAVE AUSTRALIAN HEMP PARTY MEMBERS
The Australian Hemp Party is looking for brave Australians that support cannabis reform. Now is the time to stand up and make a change for a better stronger Australia, cannabis legalization will provide thousands of new jobs, bring the economy out of a disastrous debt cause by the global economic crisis, Our environmental changes will surpass those of any other country its time for Australians to lead the way, Will you stand up and be counted.
Please don't join the HEMP Party unless you are willing to confirm your membership to AEC officials on the phone. If you are unfindable or unwilling to confirm membership, don't join, because it stuffs it up for the rest of us. Sorry, but that's how it works. Give us as many ways to contact you as possible to make it easier to confirm your membership with the AEC.
http://www.australianhempparty.com/
LETS DO IT!
To join the HEMP Party you may not already be a member of another Australian political party. You must be currently enrolled to vote. Because the membership will be verified to ensure it is a legitimate political party with a genuine membership, you must be prepared to keep your electoral details up to date, and answer any query from the Australian Electoral Commission as to the correctness of those details. Twenty lucky members will be queried by the AEC to verify our membership.
Without a sitting member a party must re-register for each election. For registration to be successful, members must be committed, otherwise registration will probably fail. Please be strong. Please register, and keep your address up to date.
Print them out. Fill them in, matching your voter registration details. Then...
FEDERAL MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: Mr G. Askey, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480 or HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
NSW MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
NSW Councils MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: Mr G. Askey, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480 or HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
South Australian MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: SA Hemp, PO Box 1019, Kent Town, SA 5071.
Membership:
1. Membership is open to all people who;
1) are eligible to be enrolled on the AEC electoral role
2) support the aims and objectives of the HEMP Party
3) agree to accept the rules and regulations of the HEMP Party
2. To become a member of the HEMP Party;
1) complete the authorised form
2) pay any fee prescribed by the Federal Council
3) be accepted by a resolution of the Federal Council
4) a person may not be a member of more than one State Branch of the HEMP Party
http://www.australianhempparty.com/
Authorised by: Mr G. Askey, for the HEMP Party, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480.
http://www.hempparty.net
Email: hemp@nrg.com.au
The Australian Hemp Party is looking for brave Australians that support cannabis reform. Now is the time to stand up and make a change for a better stronger Australia, cannabis legalization will provide thousands of new jobs, bring the economy out of a disastrous debt cause by the global economic crisis, Our environmental changes will surpass those of any other country its time for Australians to lead the way, Will you stand up and be counted.
Please don't join the HEMP Party unless you are willing to confirm your membership to AEC officials on the phone. If you are unfindable or unwilling to confirm membership, don't join, because it stuffs it up for the rest of us. Sorry, but that's how it works. Give us as many ways to contact you as possible to make it easier to confirm your membership with the AEC.
http://www.australianhempparty.com/
LETS DO IT!
To join the HEMP Party you may not already be a member of another Australian political party. You must be currently enrolled to vote. Because the membership will be verified to ensure it is a legitimate political party with a genuine membership, you must be prepared to keep your electoral details up to date, and answer any query from the Australian Electoral Commission as to the correctness of those details. Twenty lucky members will be queried by the AEC to verify our membership.
Without a sitting member a party must re-register for each election. For registration to be successful, members must be committed, otherwise registration will probably fail. Please be strong. Please register, and keep your address up to date.
Print them out. Fill them in, matching your voter registration details. Then...
FEDERAL MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: Mr G. Askey, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480 or HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
NSW MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
NSW Councils MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: Mr G. Askey, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480 or HEMP Party, 51 Cullen Street, Nimbin, NSW 2480.
South Australian MEMBERSHIP FORM
Return the form to: SA Hemp, PO Box 1019, Kent Town, SA 5071.
Membership:
1. Membership is open to all people who;
1) are eligible to be enrolled on the AEC electoral role
2) support the aims and objectives of the HEMP Party
3) agree to accept the rules and regulations of the HEMP Party
2. To become a member of the HEMP Party;
1) complete the authorised form
2) pay any fee prescribed by the Federal Council
3) be accepted by a resolution of the Federal Council
4) a person may not be a member of more than one State Branch of the HEMP Party
http://www.australianhempparty.com/
Authorised by: Mr G. Askey, for the HEMP Party, 9 Frank Street,Lismore, NSW 2480.
http://www.hempparty.net
Email: hemp@nrg.com.au
Monday, August 24, 2009
Cannabis reveals you to yourself!
"Cannabis reveals you to yourself!" Bob Marley said it and its true. If you don't like what you see then dont use cannabis and starting a downward spiral of destroying yourself. I smoked cannabis from the age of 15 my friends where doing it everyone was doing it. I had no issues with cannabis. But i didn't stick to that i dibbled and dabbled in all of it. My child hood was disturbed to say the least but if you did a study i think you will find their are many of us so i tend to never mention it, you cant change what others have done to you. I believe the damage lies in the society around the user, i smoked fine with no problems till i started trying harder drugs at 17 which ended in a 2 month binge awake on amphetamines smoking cannabis taking Ecstasy, acid, ketamine my mind lost control i hated who i was and i snapped into a drug induced psychosis that saw my mind damaged for over 3 years i abstained from all drugs after that and after 3 years i couldn't remember the last time i actually had a (flash back) feeling of discomfort that matched the feelings of terror at the time of psychosis. When i was 24 i injured my back at work, after 2-3 years of specialist treatments, scans, physio therapy, government prescribed opiates like (tramadol and oxycodone which absolutely ruined my mind over a short 6 month period), i was told deal with it you just have to live with the pain forever. So you cant take opiates forever they are dangerous so i suffered instead for a further 1.5 years.
6 years after stopping all illicit drug use I undertook treatment to rid myself of dreaded Hep Contracted during my drug use. Interferon and Ribovarin well needless to say the side affects destroyed me i had no where to turn except to my past i started using cannabis again very weary at first but with great success it helped me through the major discomfort of the hep C treatment and i found my back pain significantly reduce. After treatment obtained full time work again as an IT Technician and i continued to use cannabis for 2 - 3 more months then decided that i had better stop.
The only reason was it is too expensive and we (me and my wife) still believed a lot of propaganda so i stopped for 6-8 months and started having a bit of a bad time with life really my back hurt all the time i couldn't exercise because of it i had to quit my job i got fat so i decided to smoke again and it brought me back from the brink of reality's destruction upon my life right back up.
So i started to question what i had be told about the dangers of cannabis and found multitudes of evidence to support all the beneficial health affects that i received, to this date i have been smoking again daily with the greatest success i can actually do physical labor again my weight has come down my overall health has improved and i no longer worry about psychosis because my experience leads me to believe that for me my psychosis was based upon how mean and nasty a person i was back then and i knew it. Now i treat people how they treat me i have strong christian moral ethics and a deep respect for law and society. The current state of affairs would now punish me for providing for my family. What will happen to them if i am sent to prison for cannabis possession. If it where legalized it could be researched much more accuratley, with the funds from sales under regulation and control. I feel that as long as i like what i see inside then i should not suffer another psychosis..
End Cannabis Prohibition Legalize Cannabis in Australia
regards
Michael
6 years after stopping all illicit drug use I undertook treatment to rid myself of dreaded Hep Contracted during my drug use. Interferon and Ribovarin well needless to say the side affects destroyed me i had no where to turn except to my past i started using cannabis again very weary at first but with great success it helped me through the major discomfort of the hep C treatment and i found my back pain significantly reduce. After treatment obtained full time work again as an IT Technician and i continued to use cannabis for 2 - 3 more months then decided that i had better stop.
The only reason was it is too expensive and we (me and my wife) still believed a lot of propaganda so i stopped for 6-8 months and started having a bit of a bad time with life really my back hurt all the time i couldn't exercise because of it i had to quit my job i got fat so i decided to smoke again and it brought me back from the brink of reality's destruction upon my life right back up.
End Cannabis Prohibition Legalize Cannabis in Australia
regards
Michael
Medical Marijuana: Unpublished Federal Study Found THC- Treated Rats Lived Longer, Had Less Cancer
AIDS TREATMENT NEWS has obtained a 126-page draft report of a major toxicology study of THC, the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana. The study was completed over two and a half years ago, and passed peer review for publication, but has been kept quiet until this month, when someone leaked copies of the draft report. As far as we know, the public has never been told about this research -- for example, the drug-reform movement seems not to have known about its existence. This work may have been hushed because its findings are not what the drug-war industry would want.
The study gave huge doses of THC to rats and mice by stomach tube, and looked for cancers and other evidence of toxicity. First there were small toxicity studies, which used enough THC to kill some of the animals; later, two-year studies were run in both rats and mice, using doses which were still much higher than those of marijuana smokers. The two-year studies tested THC in several hundred rats and several hundred mice.
In rats, those given THC had a clear survival advantage over the untreated controls; this effect was statistically significant in all dose groups, and in both males and females. In mice (which were given much larger doses than the rats relative to body weight) there was no survival difference among the groups -- except that those given the highest dose (which was close to the lethal dose for mice) had worse survival.
In both mice and rats, in both males and females, "the incidence of benign and malignant neoplasms ... were decreased in a dose-dependent manner" -- meaning that the more THC the animals were given, the fewer tumors they developed.
The treated animals weighed less than the controls (even though both ate about the same amount of food); the researchers speculated that the lower body weight may have partly accounted for the increased survival and reduced tumors in the THC-treated animals.
The doses were large enough to cause seizures and convulsions in many of the animals, especially when they were dosed or handled. These did not start immediately, but after many weeks, depending on the dose. The researchers looked for brain lesions in animals which had seizures, but found none.
No evidence of carcinogenic activity in the rats, but there was "equivocal evidence" of one kind of thyroid tumor in the mice -- with no evidence of a dose-dependent response. Other tumors were less common in the treated animals than in the controls -- except in one case, which the toxicologists believed was due to the fact that the treated animals lived longer, and therefore had more opportunity to develop tumors.
The report includes a professionally objective review of the biological effects, possible toxicities, and possible medical uses of THC and marijuana.
The title of the report is "NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 1-Trans-Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (CAS No. 1972-08-3) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F(1) Mice (Gavage Studies)." Over 35 researchers contributed to this study, and 12 others reviewed their work; several institutions, including the National Toxicology Program and SRI International, were involved. The document we received is report NTP TR 446, NIH Publication No. 94-3362, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ("NTP" stands for National Toxicology Program, which is made up of four Federal agencies within Health and Human Services.) Each page of the draft is stamped "not for distribution or attribution." In addition to the 126-page document we have reviewed here, there are 11 appendices, which we have not seen.
According to the draft, the report will be available from NTP Central Data Management, 919/541-1371. AIDS TREATMENT NEWS requested a copy of the final report when it is ready, and also requested a copy of the draft. Now that the existence of the report has become publicly known, we have heard that draft copies are being sent if requested -- despite the notice on each page not to distribute them.
Comment
It would be wrong to interpret this study as showing a beneficial or protective effect of marijuana. The animals were given very large doses, resulting in substantially lower body weight, which may itself have caused much of the survival and tumor improvements. Also, this study used THC, not marijuana smoke -- which like any smoke contains many chemicals, some of which are likely to be harmful.
But the study does provide strong evidence that there is no significant cancer risk (if any at all) from the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana; any such risk would be from incidental substances in the smoke. And if there is such a risk, the modern high-potency marijuana would likely reduce it, by reducing the amount of smoke required to obtain the desired effect.
Also, there is no known case of any human death from overdose of marijuana or THC, or from any other acute toxicity of these substances -- a remarkable safety record, compared with alcohol, aspirin, or many other common drugs. (The toxicology report does not say there have been no deaths, but the authors listed none, after doing an exhaustive survey of the literature.)
The literature review on the effects of THC and marijuana shows how medical research has been politically skewed (although the paper itself does not state this point). There are almost no studies of possible medical uses of marijuana, but many studies looking for possible harm. Any positive findings, therefore, can be used to support the drug war -- while negative findings (those which fail to show any effect) are usually ignored. Although many doctors and patients have reported important medical benefits, scientific studies of medicinal use have seldom been allowed to happen, since positive findings could challenge the official public-relations tactic of demonization. The drug war itself has controlled the medical research agenda, since it controls legal access to marijuana. Like most permanent wars, it strives for self preservation.
The newly available Federal toxicology study provides the best evidence yet that the risks of THC are small. What other drug would increase life expectancy of rats when given in huge overdoses daily for two years? The recent Federal attacks on medical marijuana -- against doctors and desperately ill patients -- are needlessly cruel, and bizarrely inappropriate to scientific and medical understanding.
http://www.aids.org/atn/a-263-04.html
The study gave huge doses of THC to rats and mice by stomach tube, and looked for cancers and other evidence of toxicity. First there were small toxicity studies, which used enough THC to kill some of the animals; later, two-year studies were run in both rats and mice, using doses which were still much higher than those of marijuana smokers. The two-year studies tested THC in several hundred rats and several hundred mice.
In rats, those given THC had a clear survival advantage over the untreated controls; this effect was statistically significant in all dose groups, and in both males and females. In mice (which were given much larger doses than the rats relative to body weight) there was no survival difference among the groups -- except that those given the highest dose (which was close to the lethal dose for mice) had worse survival.
In both mice and rats, in both males and females, "the incidence of benign and malignant neoplasms ... were decreased in a dose-dependent manner" -- meaning that the more THC the animals were given, the fewer tumors they developed.
The treated animals weighed less than the controls (even though both ate about the same amount of food); the researchers speculated that the lower body weight may have partly accounted for the increased survival and reduced tumors in the THC-treated animals.
The doses were large enough to cause seizures and convulsions in many of the animals, especially when they were dosed or handled. These did not start immediately, but after many weeks, depending on the dose. The researchers looked for brain lesions in animals which had seizures, but found none.
No evidence of carcinogenic activity in the rats, but there was "equivocal evidence" of one kind of thyroid tumor in the mice -- with no evidence of a dose-dependent response. Other tumors were less common in the treated animals than in the controls -- except in one case, which the toxicologists believed was due to the fact that the treated animals lived longer, and therefore had more opportunity to develop tumors.
The report includes a professionally objective review of the biological effects, possible toxicities, and possible medical uses of THC and marijuana.
The title of the report is "NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of 1-Trans-Delta(9)-Tetrahydrocannabinol (CAS No. 1972-08-3) in F344/N Rats and B6C3F(1) Mice (Gavage Studies)." Over 35 researchers contributed to this study, and 12 others reviewed their work; several institutions, including the National Toxicology Program and SRI International, were involved. The document we received is report NTP TR 446, NIH Publication No. 94-3362, of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ("NTP" stands for National Toxicology Program, which is made up of four Federal agencies within Health and Human Services.) Each page of the draft is stamped "not for distribution or attribution." In addition to the 126-page document we have reviewed here, there are 11 appendices, which we have not seen.
According to the draft, the report will be available from NTP Central Data Management, 919/541-1371. AIDS TREATMENT NEWS requested a copy of the final report when it is ready, and also requested a copy of the draft. Now that the existence of the report has become publicly known, we have heard that draft copies are being sent if requested -- despite the notice on each page not to distribute them.
Comment
It would be wrong to interpret this study as showing a beneficial or protective effect of marijuana. The animals were given very large doses, resulting in substantially lower body weight, which may itself have caused much of the survival and tumor improvements. Also, this study used THC, not marijuana smoke -- which like any smoke contains many chemicals, some of which are likely to be harmful.
But the study does provide strong evidence that there is no significant cancer risk (if any at all) from the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana; any such risk would be from incidental substances in the smoke. And if there is such a risk, the modern high-potency marijuana would likely reduce it, by reducing the amount of smoke required to obtain the desired effect.
Also, there is no known case of any human death from overdose of marijuana or THC, or from any other acute toxicity of these substances -- a remarkable safety record, compared with alcohol, aspirin, or many other common drugs. (The toxicology report does not say there have been no deaths, but the authors listed none, after doing an exhaustive survey of the literature.)
The literature review on the effects of THC and marijuana shows how medical research has been politically skewed (although the paper itself does not state this point). There are almost no studies of possible medical uses of marijuana, but many studies looking for possible harm. Any positive findings, therefore, can be used to support the drug war -- while negative findings (those which fail to show any effect) are usually ignored. Although many doctors and patients have reported important medical benefits, scientific studies of medicinal use have seldom been allowed to happen, since positive findings could challenge the official public-relations tactic of demonization. The drug war itself has controlled the medical research agenda, since it controls legal access to marijuana. Like most permanent wars, it strives for self preservation.
The newly available Federal toxicology study provides the best evidence yet that the risks of THC are small. What other drug would increase life expectancy of rats when given in huge overdoses daily for two years? The recent Federal attacks on medical marijuana -- against doctors and desperately ill patients -- are needlessly cruel, and bizarrely inappropriate to scientific and medical understanding.
http://www.aids.org/atn/a-263-04.html
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Cannabis College - Oaksterdam University prepares its students for future work in the cannabis industry.
Oaksterdam University prepares its students for future work in the cannabis industry.
Study: Marijuana May Protect Against Alcohol Brain Damage
The study suggests that not only is marijuana safer than alcohol, it may actually protect against some of the damage that booze causes.
( WASHINGTON, D.C.) - A study just published online by the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology suggests that marijuana may protect the brain from some of the damage caused by binge drinking.
The study, by researchers at the University of California San Diego, used a type of high-tech scan called diffusion tensor imaging to compare microscopic changes in brain white matter.
The subjects were students aged 16-to-19, divided into three groups: binge drinkers (defined as having five or more drinks at one sitting for boys or four or more for girls), binge drinkers who also smoked marijuana, and a control group who had very little or no experience with either alcohol or drugs.
As expected, the binge-drinking-only group showed evidence of white matter damage in eight regions examined, as demonstrated by lower fractional anisotropy (FA) scores. But in a finding the researchers describe as "unexpected," the binge-drinking/marijuana group had lower FA scores than the controls in only three of eight regions, and in seven regions the binge-drinking/marijuana group had higher scores -- indicating less damage -- than the binge drinkers who did not use marijuana.
Brain white matter tracts were "more coherent in adolescents who binge drink and use marijuana than in adolescents who report only binge drinking," the researchers wrote.
"It is possible that marijuana may have some neuroprotective properties in mitigating alcohol-related oxidative stress or excitotoxic cell death," as has already been shown in lab and animal studies.
"This study suggests that not only is marijuana safer than alcohol, it may actually protect against some of the damage that booze causes," said Steve Fox, Marijuana Policy Project director of state campaigns and co-author of the new book, "Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?" (which hit number 14 on the Amazon.com bestseller list). "It's far better for teens not to drink or smoke marijuana, but our nation's leaders send a dangerous message by defending laws that encourage the use of alcohol over marijuana."
REFERENCE: Jacobus, J. et al. "White matter integrity in adolescents with histories of marijuana use and binge drinking." Neurotoxicology and Teratology. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2009.07.006
Source: MarijuanaPolicy.org, the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol.
Aug-21-2009 11:32
Salem-News.com
( WASHINGTON, D.C.) - A study just published online by the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology suggests that marijuana may protect the brain from some of the damage caused by binge drinking.
The study, by researchers at the University of California San Diego, used a type of high-tech scan called diffusion tensor imaging to compare microscopic changes in brain white matter.
The subjects were students aged 16-to-19, divided into three groups: binge drinkers (defined as having five or more drinks at one sitting for boys or four or more for girls), binge drinkers who also smoked marijuana, and a control group who had very little or no experience with either alcohol or drugs.
As expected, the binge-drinking-only group showed evidence of white matter damage in eight regions examined, as demonstrated by lower fractional anisotropy (FA) scores. But in a finding the researchers describe as "unexpected," the binge-drinking/marijuana group had lower FA scores than the controls in only three of eight regions, and in seven regions the binge-drinking/marijuana group had higher scores -- indicating less damage -- than the binge drinkers who did not use marijuana.
Brain white matter tracts were "more coherent in adolescents who binge drink and use marijuana than in adolescents who report only binge drinking," the researchers wrote.
"It is possible that marijuana may have some neuroprotective properties in mitigating alcohol-related oxidative stress or excitotoxic cell death," as has already been shown in lab and animal studies.
"This study suggests that not only is marijuana safer than alcohol, it may actually protect against some of the damage that booze causes," said Steve Fox, Marijuana Policy Project director of state campaigns and co-author of the new book, "Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?" (which hit number 14 on the Amazon.com bestseller list). "It's far better for teens not to drink or smoke marijuana, but our nation's leaders send a dangerous message by defending laws that encourage the use of alcohol over marijuana."
REFERENCE: Jacobus, J. et al. "White matter integrity in adolescents with histories of marijuana use and binge drinking." Neurotoxicology and Teratology. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2009.07.006
Source: MarijuanaPolicy.org, the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States. MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol.
Aug-21-2009 11:32
Salem-News.com
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Cannabis Science
“Cannabis Science works with World Authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses. Adhering to scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize phytocannabinoid based pharmaceutical products."
Cannabis Science is entering the pharmaceutical cannabis industry. Recent advances in science have opened the door to develop, produce, and commercialize, a variety of effective whole plant cannabinoid based pharmaceutical products with a wide variety of important applications.
Although cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, until very recently little was known about how it actually worked. Some uses of cannabis are well known, such as alleviating nausea and stimulating the appetite for people with AIDS and cancer.
Other well-known uses include chronic pain, and reducing muscle spasms associated with neuromuscular disorders like MS and spinal cord injuries. Some current uses are poorly understood, such as its effectiveness in alleviating certain autoimmune disorders such a Crohn's Disease.
Our team of scientists will develop more effective ways to produce and commercialize the production of whole plant cannabinoid based pharmaceutical products. Even today new uses for cannabis are being found, such as the recent discovery that topical cannabis preparations can be effective against MRSI, the deadly antibiotic-resistant flesh-eating disease. Other topical applications, which are largely non-psychoactive, would target localized pain, such as arthritis, and burns, but also neuropathic pain, for which there are few effective treatments.
In 2001, an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that, based on self-identified needs, an estimated 2% (or 400,000) Canadian adults were already using cannabis for medical purposes. That number would extrapolate into roughly 4 million in the US. Consequently, we believe that it would not be unreasonable to think that the global medical cannabis market will potentially reach several billion dollars.
Whole Cannabis Pharmaceutical Products on the Market Today
GW has entered into agreement with the German pharmaceutical firm Bayer Healthcare for marketing Sativex® in the UK. This agreement provided GW with millions of dollars in licensing fees and operating capital.
In February of last year, GW Pharmaceuticals sold the rights to develop and market Sativex® for cancer pain in the US to Japanese firm Otsuka Pharmaceutical. Otsuka paid GW a signature fee of $18 million, and may pay up to $273 million in royalties and fees. In addition, Otsuka will bear the costs of all US development activities for Sativex® in the treatment of cancer pain, additional indications, and future formulations. GW and Otsuka will jointly oversee all US clinical development and regulatory activities.
Clearly, Otsuka's willingness to contemplate paying up to a quarter of a billion dollars in royalties and fees for one cannabis-based pharmaceutical with a less than overwhelming efficacy profile indicates that the total market for medical cannabis products is a multi-billion prospect. According to Investec Securities, GW's broker, Sativex® could have peak annual sales of $390m.
Also, in 2005 GW and the Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall Prodesfarma, S.A. ("Almirall") announced that they had entered into an exclusive agreement for Almirall to market Sativex® in Europe (excluding the UK) … Almiral paid GW a "£12 million signature fee." (approx $20 million at present exchange rates.)
http://www.cannabisscience.com/
Cannabis Science is entering the pharmaceutical cannabis industry. Recent advances in science have opened the door to develop, produce, and commercialize, a variety of effective whole plant cannabinoid based pharmaceutical products with a wide variety of important applications.
Although cannabis has been used medicinally for thousands of years, until very recently little was known about how it actually worked. Some uses of cannabis are well known, such as alleviating nausea and stimulating the appetite for people with AIDS and cancer.
Other well-known uses include chronic pain, and reducing muscle spasms associated with neuromuscular disorders like MS and spinal cord injuries. Some current uses are poorly understood, such as its effectiveness in alleviating certain autoimmune disorders such a Crohn's Disease.
Our team of scientists will develop more effective ways to produce and commercialize the production of whole plant cannabinoid based pharmaceutical products. Even today new uses for cannabis are being found, such as the recent discovery that topical cannabis preparations can be effective against MRSI, the deadly antibiotic-resistant flesh-eating disease. Other topical applications, which are largely non-psychoactive, would target localized pain, such as arthritis, and burns, but also neuropathic pain, for which there are few effective treatments.
In 2001, an article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal revealed that, based on self-identified needs, an estimated 2% (or 400,000) Canadian adults were already using cannabis for medical purposes. That number would extrapolate into roughly 4 million in the US. Consequently, we believe that it would not be unreasonable to think that the global medical cannabis market will potentially reach several billion dollars.
Whole Cannabis Pharmaceutical Products on the Market Today
GW has entered into agreement with the German pharmaceutical firm Bayer Healthcare for marketing Sativex® in the UK. This agreement provided GW with millions of dollars in licensing fees and operating capital.
In February of last year, GW Pharmaceuticals sold the rights to develop and market Sativex® for cancer pain in the US to Japanese firm Otsuka Pharmaceutical. Otsuka paid GW a signature fee of $18 million, and may pay up to $273 million in royalties and fees. In addition, Otsuka will bear the costs of all US development activities for Sativex® in the treatment of cancer pain, additional indications, and future formulations. GW and Otsuka will jointly oversee all US clinical development and regulatory activities.
Clearly, Otsuka's willingness to contemplate paying up to a quarter of a billion dollars in royalties and fees for one cannabis-based pharmaceutical with a less than overwhelming efficacy profile indicates that the total market for medical cannabis products is a multi-billion prospect. According to Investec Securities, GW's broker, Sativex® could have peak annual sales of $390m.
Also, in 2005 GW and the Spanish pharmaceutical company Almirall Prodesfarma, S.A. ("Almirall") announced that they had entered into an exclusive agreement for Almirall to market Sativex® in Europe (excluding the UK) … Almiral paid GW a "£12 million signature fee." (approx $20 million at present exchange rates.)
http://www.cannabisscience.com/
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