UNBELIEVABLE: Scientists Find Marijuana Can Stop The Spread Of Cancer

[JaneyVee]

A pair of scientists at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco has found that a compound derived from marijuana could stop metastasis in many kinds of aggressive cancer, potentially altering the fatality of the disease forever.

"It took us about 20 years of research to figure this out, but we are very excited," said Pierre Desprez, one of the scientists behind the discovery, to The Huffington Post. "We want to get started with trials as soon as possible."

The Daily Beast first reported on the finding, which has already undergone both laboratory and animal testing, and is awaiting permission for clinical trials in humans.

Desprez, a molecular biologist, spent decades studying ID-1, the gene that causes cancer to spread. Meanwhile, fellow researcher Sean McAllister was studying the effects of Cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-toxic, non-psychoactive chemical compound found in the cannabis plant. Finally, the pair collaborated, combining CBD and cells containing high levels of ID-1 in a petri dish.

"What we found was that his Cannabidiol could essentially 'turn off' the ID-1," Desprez told HuffPost. The cells stopped spreading and returned to normal.

The rest: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/marijuana-and-cancer_n_1898208.html?utm_hp_ref=san-francisco
------------------------------------------------------------

Can MJ get any more awesome.

[Politicalboi]

1. But will they use it?

There is too much money involved in big pharma. We the people need to stop donating to cancer organizations till they use Marijuana 100% to help cure people. The possible "cure" is there, and it doesn't take much to grow weeds. And while these weeds are growing, they help suck up bad emissions in the air. Weed can cure you, clothe you, house you, make many goods with, and yes, it is edible.

Until cancer organizations start to at least use Marijuana in a serious way, this will go nowhere. MJ is still taboo to most. It is sad.

[WinkyDink]

2. This news will disappear pronto.

[AsahinaKimi]

115. They will probably be

Arrested for possession.

[Shankapotomus]

119. Along with the two scientists (nt)

[NCTraveler]

3. Cancer orgs already use derivatives of MJ...

to help cancer patients. This isn't about lighting up a joint to stop the spread of cancer. Everyone knows that doesn't work. It is about derivatives of MJ. Which are in use. Just not as something that will stop the growth. It is taken seriously.

[Care Acutely]

5. That's true, but not what some people want to hear

Some people just want to hear - get HIGH it will save everybody from cancer. It would be more fun I guess if it worked that way, but of course it doesn't. Otherwise users would never get cancer, which of course, they do - just like everybody else.

[randome]

6. You're right. That's why it makes blaring headlines.

People are not rational when it comes to drug use. Even a relatively benign drug like marijuana.

[ronnie624]

8. I don't have any links available,

but I believe there is some research indicating that moderate smokers actually show a decreased risk for cancer.

[kestrel91316]

16. Lots of links to this sort of research over 420 mag's website.

[Care Acutely]

46. I do.

Cannabis use increases lung cancer in young people:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18238947

Increased risk of testicular cancer
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7869709.stm

More links including some theraputic use:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=long-term%20cannabis%20cancer


Medicine is already utilizing derivatives of cannabis in various fields. My point here is that legitimate theraputic use and therapies derived from cannabis have nearly nothing in common with common use of marijuana. I think conflating the two is an easy and dangerous passtime that serves neither well. The right to use marijuana for recreation as a personal choice is an issue that should stand on it's own. I am in favor of that right (as soon as a non-invasive chemical intoxication test is developed) even though I do not use marijuana.

[robbob]

59. But wasn't there a study?

Commissioned by a right wing think tank, don't know how long ago but the news of this just came out in the last year.

The study wanted to show that mj smoking was as harmful or even more harmful than tobacco smoke. So they looked at four groups; non-smokers, mj smokers, tobacco smokers and those who smoked both.

Guess what? The study showed the MJ smokers had the best lung health of ALL groups. Sorry; I don't have a link to this study, but someone posted it here on DU. I have questions myself; like how MUCH mj were these people smoking? I indulge 2-3 times a week, but I have friends who "wake and bake" and go through ridiculous amounts of the herb, and when THEY cough it sure doesn't sound all that healthy to me...

and of course the results of this study were buried; the RW doesn't like it when facts don't support their ideas....

[ronnie624]

7. Aren't those mainly for treating nausea and a loss of appetite

associated with cancer treatments? How does "everyone know" smoking MJ doesn't work?

[randome]

9. Figure it out. You put smoke into your lungs and bad things will eventually happen to you.

It's axiomatic.

[kestrel91316]

15. Those of us who live in big cities, and those who have to breathe everyone else's secondhand tobacco

"put smoke" in our lungs daily. The TINY bit of cannabis smoke I inhale, that never even induces a cough, is trivial in comparison.

And the cannabis oil I ingest doesn't affect my lungs at all. I'll take my chances. Pot smokers get LESS cancer of all kinds, and definitely less lung cancer, than non-smokers. Probably has to do with the benefits of cannabidiol.

I won't force you to use it, but you don't have the right to stop me or anyone else from using it.

[eShirl]

30. Wow, great scientific method you got there!

Everyone knows the Sun revolves around the Earth.
It's axiomatic.

[Romulox]

55. This guy has been corrected dozens of times. He's seeking attention, not wisdom.

There's a specific word for what he's doing, but I won't mention it...

[backscatter712]

80. A person's gotta make a living... n/t

[mythology]

90. Because accusations of paid posting without evidence speaks well of you.

Just because people disagree with you doesn't make them paid trolls. If you actually had a viable argument, you should have posted that instead of name calling.

[EOTE]

120. The poster repeatedly makes claims which are debunked by actual science.

Over and over, regardless of how many times they've been discredited. I'm not inclined to believe that the poster is paid to make the remarks he/she does, but I'm certainly not going to criticize someone for that belief, I definitely see why it's there.

[dixiegrrrrl]

31. Smoking is not the only was to use cannabis

AND studies have shown that even smoking pot does not lead to lung cancer.

[truedelphi]

58. Very good points you are making.

An oil or extract of the substance seems to do the trick, rather than smoking it. (If you are concerned about smoking it.)

I know several former cigarette smokers who make the marijuana into an oil - they don't want to start smoking again for any reason.

[heaven05]

127. well

alice b. toklas brownie for the non-smoker. I heard it's great eating.

[Romulox]

53. Oh brother. Not randome and his "musings" again. SCIENCE, randome, doesn't support you. nt

[piratefish08]

71. just figure it out!

[EOTE]

83. You mean you haven't plugged it into the underpants gnomes equation?

Look, it's very simple:

1) Collect underpants. ->
2) ??????? ->
3) Marijuana is bad, mmmmkay.

I love how elegant science can be.

[NCTraveler]

11. Yes. Most are for nausea and as an appetite stimulant.

"How does "everyone know" smoking MJ doesn't work?"

Work to do what? It does help for many issues associated with cancer and other problems. What smoking doesn't do is what these scientists are doing with its derivatives. Everyone knows that. Only a true dumbass would think you could decrease cancer in your body by lighting up joints. So I guess it would need it to be more defined when you ask "How does "everyone know" smoking MJ doesn't work?".

[NCTraveler]

18. There is a huge difference in cut growth and a decrease in size.

They are not even close to the same. One is still growing. The other is actually decreasing in size. That is if you want to believe that at all. There may be some merit to it. It still is not the same as decreasing in size.

[ronnie624]

25. I tied to edit my post and my link disappeared.

That's very irritating.

Oh well. Your post is irrelevant, anyway. I don't claim that smoking marijuana cures cancer. You claimed that "everyone knows that doesn't work", when no such certainty about the issue exists.

[NCTraveler]

66. Yes there is certainty.

Smoking MJ does not cure cancer in any way. That is certain.

[EOTE]

82. While there's nothing definitive as of yet, there is a good amount of evidence to suggest

that smoking MJ actually DOES fight cancer. There is no definitive cure for cancer as of now, but it looks like smoking MJ (which is probably not the most effective way of taking it) does fight cancer cells. But the user you're responding to is absolutely certain that it doesn't, because, ummm, you know, it just doesn't.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

[EOTE]

38. Ahhh, so your scientific evidence is: You're a dumbass if you believe differently.

There's quite a bit of evidence that smoking marijuana DOES reduce the likelihood of getting certain types of cancer, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. But I'm sure you'll be back to call these scientists dumbasses any minute. And you should know that these are not "derivatives" of marijuana. Often times they're isolated cannabinoids. CBD (what this article primarily discusses) is actually IN cannabis. You should really inform yourself a bit more before claiming to have such knowledge of this.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19638490

[NCTraveler]

69. We are talking about curing cancer.

Yes, those who think smoking MJ will cure cancer are dumbasses. Your link does not show that smoking MJ can cure cancer. Reducing the risks of getting certain types of cancer and curing existing cancer are completely different things. You link and your post are not on topic.

[EOTE]

74. So, you think that marijuana can reduce the risk of getting cancer.

But you think it's utterly ludicrous that marijuana can prevent the spread of cancer? That's your viewpoint, is it? Everyone knows this? Just where is your evidence, pray tell? I guess these researchers are dumbasses as well:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

Yep. Everyone who holds a contrary viewpoint is a dumbass. But you, you who dismisses actual science in favor of what you're certain that everyone knows, you're certainly not a dumbass. If only everyone could be as educated as you.

[NCTraveler]

76. Correct. I am certainly not a dumbass.

Once again, please read the link you posted to that outstanding website. Nowhere does that link even come close to saying that smoking pot cures cancer. Do you know how big the difference between slowing the growth of and actually shrinking is?

"I guess these researchers are dumbasses as well:"

In no way do I think they are dumbasses. Not sure what makes you think I am saying they are. The link is not on point to the topic being discussed. Dumbasses are the ones still trying to claim that smoking MJ will cure cancer. Thankfully those promoting that voodoo science are far and few between.

[EOTE]

77. Christ, are you capable of reading?

"Then, for three weeks, researchers injected standard doses of THC into mice that had been implanted with human lung cancer cells, and found that tumors were reduced in size and weight by about 50 percent in treated animals compared to a control group. There was also about a 60 percent reduction in cancer lesions on the lungs in these mice as well as a significant reduction in protein markers associated with cancer progression, Preet says."

All of that suggests that THC plays an active role in actually fighting cancer cells. But god knows that you're far too smart and sciency to do something as mundane as actually reading what you're attempting to comment on.

[Confusious]

112. They ain't going to be injecting the little bit

of THC you get from smoking a doobie.

Highly concentrated and pure was injected, and probably equal to about 50+ doobies a day.

If it's not concentrated and pure, then the study would be crap.

Actually says so in the article.

While marijuana advocates will surely praise the discovery, Desprez explained that it's not so easy as just lighting up.

"We used injections in the animal testing and are also testing pills," he said. "But you could never get enough Cannabidiol for it to be effective just from smoking."

[EOTE]

117. But I've already provided articles which provide the anticarcinogenic effects of smoking.

And you act as if it's ludicrous that cannabinoids (in smoked form) can fight cancer. That's absolutely not true. Every available information right now suggests that cannabinoids DO fight a number of cancers, regardless of the method of ingestion. You have absolutely ZERO basis for your belief, yet you cling to it with all your might. That's not a scientific belief, that's fundamentalist thinking.

On edit: I see you weren't the poster I was replying to originally, but the comment still stands. Smoking may not be the preferred method of ingestion, but to say that smoking cannabinoids can't have cumulative anticarcinogenic effects simply does not jibe with current science.

Edit 2: I'm not sure where you got that quote, but it doesn't seem to be from either of the articles I've provided. The first article I've provided deals specifically with smoked marijuana and its anticarcinogenic properties. And the second article says nothing of the sort that you quoted.

[Confusious]

121. I was quoting from the original OP

And as the other poster stated, I was talking about curing cancer.

Maybe it does give you a reduced chance of getting certain types, maybe it doesn't.

It does seem to give you a greater chance of catching 4 types, amoung those cancer of the balls.

Like I said, I was talking about curing cancer.


Besides which, I don't like smoking pot, so it'll do nothing for me.

I'll stick with mustard and curry.

[EOTE]

122. Then you weren't replying to what I was writing.

I included links to two articles, one of which specifically dealt with the anticarcinogenic properties of smoked cannabis. CBD is only one of the MANY cannabinoids in cannabis, many of which have been proven to have the ability to fight various forms of cancer. Once again, while smoking may not be the preferred method of getting these cannabinoids into your body, it is an effective one.

[Bluenorthwest]

129. The OP is not about a cure, but about stopping the spread of cancer.

You are the only person using the words 'cure cancer' and also the only one hurling epithets, which indicates you know your argument is weak. Stopping the spread of cancer and curing cancer are also completely different things.
But anyone who says 'I have no proof, so I'll call those who do not agree names' has lost me, full tilt.

[NCTraveler]

137. In this subthread a person came in talking about smoking pot curing cancer.

Please don't call my argument weak if you cannot stay with the subthread. That person then backed down completely from their initial assertion.

[Segami]

12. A film by David Triplett

&feature=player_embedded

[tama]

42. They?

They are the cancer and the reason they banned Mary Jane is that it is a benign cure against the cancer they are.

[defacto7]

109. I've seen more amazing remedies to

major diseases just disappear into thin air within a few days I can't even count anymore. It's discouraging to think the industries are of more human value than dying people.

Anyway, it's good to know I'll never get cancer.

[Confusious]

111. Smoking a doobie ain't gonna cure you. nt

[Grown2Hate]

135. This is what I don't understand. Let Big Pharma produce and control it then! That certainly

isn't IDEAL, but if it's WORKING and HELPING people, why don't they just step in and corner the market? Again, not the way I'd like to see it happen, but if that's what it takes to get people the care they need and deserve (for now), so be it. I'll never understand why this isn't even an option (well, other than the fact that anyone can grow it on their own... and maybe I just answered my own question).

[Zorra]

4. This is really great news. News doesn't get much better than this. nt

[Avalux]

10. God put marijuana on this planet to heal us.

Both mentally and physically....why else would it grow so easily and so prolifically. We can also use it to make things.

I say "God" but that can be whatever definition you like.

This is amazing news.

[randome]

32. Why did he put potassium cyanide on the planet?

[tama]

44. That is a good question

How is potassium cyanide created and for what?

[Confusious]

113. Cyanide suicide caplets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_cyanide

It's basically a cyanide salt, something you can ingest.

[Ellipsis]

45. Because he has a strange sense of humor?

[Avalux]

50. Why are there deadly bacteria and viruses?

False argument you have there.

[lexw]

57. :D

[H2O Man]

65. Tree of life

vs tree of death.

[dixiegrrrrl]

75. He?

[randome]

79. An unwarranted assumption on my part. My apologies.

[Bluenorthwest]

130. Photography? Mining? Working with metals?

All three make use of that substance provided by nature.

[randome]

131. Geeze, why so much attention spent on my innocuous post?

The poster I responded to said God put marijuana on the earth for us. With that kind of feel-good, unscientific thinking, it's only natural to point out that 'God' put everything on Earth, including stuff that kills us so the original point being made was...pointless.

[AlbertCat]

47. God put marijuana on this planet to heal us.

I'm afraid evolution put marijuana on this planet for reasons that have zero to do with us.


But I'll take it anyway!

[kestrel91316]

13. Big Pharma will put cannabidiol in pill form and patent it and sell it for $100/pill in 3....2....1.

[librechik]

17. nah, first they'll bury the news and keep MJ illegal as long as possible to maximize profit

people can grow it free in their yards! MUST DESTROY FREEDOM!!!!

Only when that proves absolutely impossible will they do what you say. And for $1000/pill.

[kestrel91316]

22. I have one plant on my balcony still, and one harvested and curing in a jar.

I sampled the cured stuff last night - and slept like a baby. This stuff does wonders for my chronic back/neck problems.

[librechik]

24. yes indeed--it's a blessing to those in pain

and an all around great mood enhancer! (using for 40 years w no ill effects AFAIK)

[dixiegrrrrl]

94. Ironically, pot and alcohol give me middle of the night insomnia.

Without fail...wide awake at 3 am if I do either, even a half glass of wine or a few tokes.

Sadly, the South seriously criminalizes pot, so had to give that up many years ago.
Totally insanity to make it illegal, agreed...but ya gotta know that even half the proven medicinal uses for it are a threat to Big Pharma.

[Go Vols]

19. +1

This is good news.

[iamthebandfanman]

20. Silly JaneyVee

dont you know you can grow that stuff for free???

thats why theyll never let it be!!

[Segami]

21. Cannabis is the most important vegetable in the world.

&feature=related

[Coyotl]

40. Cannibis is not a vegetable, Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants

Cannabis is an annual, flowering herb.

[Segami]

48. Maybe its time we treat the little bud differently.

I'm quite sure if cannabis were listed as a 'vegetable', all that spin about it being a dangerous drug would dissolve. Oh, of course, those opposing the legalization of cannabis would resist since FEAR & IGNORANCE is their champion orator on this topic.

Popular belief may deem marijuana to be the wicked drug that gets users high and “stoned”, but it seems that the marijuana plant is actually more than the herb that prompts giggly scenes in movies.

In raw form, marijuana, a.k.a. cannabis, is technically just a “vegetable”, and like most vegetables is packed with a lot of nutrients, in this case – a non-psychoactive, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound called cannabidiol or CBD (though we are not suggesting you should add this to your “five veg a day quota”).

http://www.finerminds.com/health-fitness/cannabisjuice/

veg·e·ta·ble
n.
1. a. A plant cultivated for an edible part, such as the root of the beet, the leaf of spinach, or the flower buds of broccoli or cauliflower.

b. The edible part of such a plant.

c. A member of the vegetable kingdom; a plant.

[Coyotl]

81. Herbs are herbs, and deserve to be treated as such.

Pot is not table vegetation.

Herbs are any plants "with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume" or parts of "such a plant as used in cooking".

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, and in some cases spiritual usage. General usage differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs. In medicinal or spiritual use any of the parts of the plant might be considered "herbs", including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, resin, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), berries and sometimes the pericarp or other portions of the plant. Culinary use of the term "herb" typically distinguishes between herbs, from the leafy green parts of a plant (either fresh or dried), and spices, from other parts of the plant (usually dried), including seeds, berries, bark, root and fruit.

[Bohunk68]

23. Yes and No.

In 2003, we were raided for growing our own, which we had done for over 20 years. My love stopped toking. He died from pancreatic cancer in 2006. Currently, I have a friend who has essentially smoked just about every day since he began in the '60's. He was diagnosed with stage 4, 2 months ago. Has had surgery to remove it from his right thigh bone and is undergoing radiation and chemo therapy on his lungs. He had been given 6-12 months.

I don't really know if it helps prevent the spread of cancer or not. Over the years, I've heard reports about this or that study that says it does. I do know this, I like it when I smoke it. It has helped at times with pain and appetite. Other than that, I still support legalisation for all uses and wish I had some in a bowl to fire up right now.

[Duer 157099]

26. For those interested in the actual science of this

Pathways mediating the effects of cannabidiol on the reduction of breast cancer cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis

Abstract

Invasion and metastasis of aggressive breast cancer cells are the final and fatal steps during cancer progression. Clinically, there are still limited therapeutic interventions for aggressive and metastatic breast cancers available. Therefore, effective, targeted, and non-toxic therapies are urgently required. Id-1, an inhibitor of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, has recently been shown to be a key regulator of the metastatic potential of breast and additional cancers. We previously reported that cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid with a low toxicity pro-file, down-regulated Id-1 gene expression in aggressive human breast cancer cells in culture. Using cell proliferation and invasion assays, cell flow cytometry to examine cell cycle and the formation of reactive oxygen species, and Western analysis, we determined pathways leading to the down-regulation of Id-1 expression by CBD and consequently to the inhibition of the proliferative and invasive phenotype of human breast cancer cells. Then, using the mouse 4T1 mammary tumor cell line and the ranksum test, two different syngeneic models of tumor metastasis to the lungs were chosen to determine whether treatment with CBD would reduce metastasis in vivo. We show that CBD inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion through differential modulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathways, and that both pathways lead to down-regulation of Id-1 expression. Moreover, we demonstrate that CBD up-regulates the pro-differentiation factor, Id-2. Using immune competent mice, we then show that treatment with CBD significantly reduces primary tumor mass as well as the size and number of lung metastatic foci in two models of metastasis. Our data demonstrate the efficacy of CBD in pre-clinical models of breast cancer. The results have the potential to lead to the development of novel non-toxic compounds for the treatment of breast cancer metastasis, and the information gained from these experiments broaden our knowledge of both Id-1 and cannabinoid biology as it pertains to cancer progression.

Here is the whole paper:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410650/

[AllyCat]

104. That's really interesting. In culture, but one has to wonder about in vivo.

Thanks for the link!

[Duer 157099]

107. They did it in vivo also

"Using immune competent mice, we then show that treatment with CBD significantly reduces primary tumor mass as well as the size and number of lung metastatic foci in two models of metastasis."

[AllyCat]

125. Missed this. Thanks!

If we use other herbs to help us with ailments, why not this one? Oh yeah, it's a schedule 1 drug, that's why.

[Ganja Ninja]

27. It's a modern miracle.

I suggest 2 joints 3 time a day like Bob Marley recommends.


I smoke two joints in the morning
I smoke two joints at night,
I smoke two joints in the afternoon
And it makes me feel alright
I smoke two joints in time of peace
And two in time of war
Smoke two joints before I smoke two joints
And then I smoke two more

&feature=related

[SunSeeker]

99. Bob died of metastatic skin cancer at 36.

I wish smoking pot cured cancer. But one thing I know for sure, it definitely makes traditional cancer treatment more palatable. And it actually makes you want to eat; the anti-nausea meds oncologists give you only stop you from puking--they don't make you want to eat.

[Le Taz Hot]

28. Kickin' for the ganja.

Without it my fingers wouldn't be able to function (arthritis), I'd have a much harder time sleeping and spend more time mellowing out after some aggravation. With it, my fingers function, I fall asleep easier and I can mellow my sometimes excitable ass out.

[HopeHoops]

29. So when can we get this at the local pharmacy?

[Hugabear]

33. 'Tis clearly propaganda from the Reefer Madness crowd.

[eShirl]

34. The evidence continues to accumulate, year after year and decade after decade.

[DrummerMan]

35. Yet they say it has no medical value...

Of course, that's why the US Government has it patented as a medicine!

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6630507.PN.&OS=PN/6630507&RS=PN/6630507

Kind of makes you wonder the real rationale behind keeping it a schedule 1 drug.

[veganlush]

36. they've been talking about cancer breakthroughs

as long as i can remember.

[mindwalker_i]

37. But but but...

The tumors just want to be freeeeee!!! Freedumb for tumors from evil tokes.

[sakabatou]

39. "Can MJ get any more awesome?"

They could give people super powers, but that's not happening.

[chknltl]

41. If there is a cooler OP in my bookmarks....no, there is not!

This is absolutely tremendous news. We always knew that marijuana could save this planet, this news adds more proof to that point!

[riverbendviewgal]

43. My son and husband had cancer

I watched them die from it....I can truly tell you that it helps with abating pain.

[AllyCat]

105. I'm sorry rbvg.

Hugs to you. Glad they found some relief from the pain. Hope you are healing and finding peace.

[Romulox]

49. It may be time to have a little talk with Mr. Desprez...

[SylviaD]

51. I support the use of hemp, derivatives from cannabis in medicine, etc

But I am vehemently opposed to legalized smoking of marijuana.

For two reasons: one, I am against smoking cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and anything else in public because of my own allergies and my own preference for a smoke-free environment.

two, I have seen heavy marijuana users and they seem to have lost some brain function. No matter what anyone says, it does affect the brain in a negative way.

Exceptions should be made for those with terminal illnesses, etc, so long as they do not smoke in public.

[Romulox]

52. So you support the War on Drugs (but have "good" reasons!!!) even though it's an abject failure.

[truedelphi]

60. I share your concerns - heavy duty pot smokers seem

To end up with impaired memory. They also have a short fuse in terms of their temper, when away from their bongs for even an hour or two.

But as far as the war on drugs, like my sig line states: My government has spent ONE TRILLION DOLLARS on their war on drugs and all we've gotten to show for it is this lousy police state.

[bemildred]

70. People who want to abuse drugs will find some to abuse.

I mean people sniff gasoline for "fun".

You can do a hell of a lot worse than pot. If the government had any fucking brains, it would give free high-grade pot to anybody that wants it just to keep them away from the bad stuff.

[Mopar151]

114. And if they maintained that level of intoxication with wine

Short term, they'd be too drunk to fish. Long term, they'd be dead. There is a stage of alcoholisim where short term memory shuts right down - IIRC, due to a niacin deficency. And lots of drunks have total blackouts of memory, lasting hours to years.

[truedelphi]

136. I wouldn't be the one to argue about alcohol vs pot -

I believe you are probably right. And one other thing, and this is purely anecdotal - pot smokers seem to ward off heart problems, usually, even though, having the munchies on a consistent basis often means they carry around extra pounds.

When they do develop heart problems, it seems to be in their late fifties, rather than their early forties.

[musiclawyer]

92. Are you like from the 19th century

Half the people you enjoy bud vape or eat. Only the boomers still smoke pretty much exclusively.

So you want to allow some dude to smoke cigarettes 20 feet outside the building entrance, but not some other guy vaping, totally smoke free. Geez........ trolls are easy to spot here.

[SylviaD]

95. Make it 200 feet outside the building entrance, please. nt

[truedelphi]

138. Basic logic is totally missing in some people

Last edited Mon Sep 24, 2012, 07:57 PM - Edit history (1)

I still smoke (like four times a year.)

Everyone I know who does it on a routine basis spends huge amounts of money on the vaporizers. Those belong in the "If only I had thought of that" category. 300 bucks (at least) per user - what a nice tidy amount of money to make.

[Jack Sprat]

108. You are vehemently opposed to cannabis?

Well I manage to live without it, but I am a whole long ways from being vehemently opposed to it. It has been too long since I have been availed of any marijuana and I'm not risking prosecution to get some.

Of course I don't know you SylviaD. Therefore, it's not possible to know if you drink alcohol of some kind. But I can tell you that alcohol has badly affected brains in the most negative ways I could ever have imagined. Although a glass of wine or champagne may not hurt anyone over their lifetime, everyone knows other people whose lives have been completely destroyed by it's extreme abuse. Vehicular homicides, violence resulting in assaults, homes destroyed, lives destroyed, families abandoned, barroom brawls in the mud, blood and the beer.

You are against smoking. Fine. But to suggest that you would deprive someone of pain relief in a state of terminal illness in public or not, because of your preference for a smoke free environment makes me.........
makes me want to get some marijuana. Why? Because you have affected my brain in a negative way.

[Egnever]

54. Why is this unbelievable?

[Javaman]

56. in other news...

police troll cancer clinics for easy arrests.

[magic59]

61. I'm not a pot smoker, yet

but I believe that marijuana has many benefits and is much better for you the cigs of whiskey. The only reason old white men want it banned is because they were scared while watching Dragnet when they were young. The Oh MY!, it will lead to more serious drugs crap.

[bemildred]

62. Actually, this reinforces previous results. nt

[FourScore]

63. YAY!!! Another cancer cure we'll never hear froim again!!!

I'm sorry. I am so jaded about these cancer posts. I have seen so many wonderful, promising cancer cure threads here on DU, only never to hear about them again.

I hope it is true. I really do.

[Scootaloo]

64. Funny thing though... smoking it won't help you.

They aren't rolling little spliffs for the lab rats, you know. The compound is being extracted, then directly applied to the cancerous cells.

"Marijuana" doesn't stop the spread of cancer, any more than "willow" cures a headache. Chemicals in the plant do that, and require preparation to perform that trick.

[HiPointDem]

67. willow bark tea does relieve headaches, though.

[Scootaloo]

73. A select portion of the plant, prepared and taken orally.

Also, I'm convinced willow bark tea only works because it's so fucking vile that the taste takes your mind off the headache.

[HiPointDem]

96. research shows otherwise.

Willow bark is used to ease pain and reduce inflammation. Researchers believe that the chemical salicin, found in willow bark, is responsible for these effects.

However, studies have identified several other components of willow bark that have antioxidant, fever reducing, antiseptic, and immune boosting properties.

Some studies show willow is as effective as aspirin for reducing pain and inflammation (but not fever), and at a much lower dose. Scientists think that may be due to other compounds in the herb.

Read more: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/willow-bark-000281.htm#ixzz274HzSAOF

[Scootaloo]

98. It was a joke, son, I say, a joke

(That boy wouldn't know humor if he was married to it)

[AllyCat]

126. Uh, actually we smoke this after sweat lodges.

Headaches gone, along with many other aches and pains.

[bemildred]

68. Maybe if you were to eat enough of it?

Couldn't hurt anyway.

[EOTE]

87. If prepared properly.

Most cannabinoids are fat and alcohol soluble. However, smoking MJ WILL get those same cannabinoids into your blood stream. Those saying that smoked MJ is worthless are really fairly clueless. It may not be the best method of ingestion, but it certainly works.

[SomethingFishy]

85. Funny thing though, here in Colorado we can go down to our local

Medical distributor and get whatever we need. Candy, brownies, liquid tincture, drinks, you name it. No need to smoke it, no need to prepare it.

[Scootaloo]

89. Missing the point

The active chemical being discussed needs to not only be isolated, but also applied to the cells in question. You can't just eat it and hope for the best. Well, maybe if the cancer is in your stomach, and you eat enough that your bathroom looks like the back corner of a stable...

[progressoid]

86. That's what you think. Look at this picture from their lab...

[EOTE]

88. Uhhh, actually it will.

Certainly it's not as effective as direct application of the cannabinoids, but smoking MJ very well does introduce those same cannabinoids into your blood where they can be distributed to where they can provide assistance. There have been studies detailing MJ's (even smoked MJ's) anticarcinogenic properties.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19638490

[Tsiyu]

110. No! They must slice you open and apply the one part ( that

won't get you off because we know that's the only reason you're happy about this! So everyone can go out and smoke joints! ) to the tumour and watch and make SURE the tumour doesn't get high, either.

They must apply this secret stuff DI-rectly on the cells or it won't work.

Nothing you take orally or through the respiratory system reaches your cells. Little faeries come at night while we sleep and open up our skin and apply nutrients RIGHT ON the cells.

Crazy, huh?

[SalviaBlue]

72. Kick to read later.

[porphyrian]

78. Don't hang your hopes on a single study, but cool. n/t

[Z_California]

84. No Surprise

The CBD just makes those cancer cells mellow out man.

[Fly by night]

91. And they found it in the mid 70s and the early 90s and (in Europe) multiple times in the past decade

One good link to review the past 40 years of research evidence for the cancer chemotherapeutic
properties of cannabis can be found here:

norml.org/component/zoo/category/cannabinoids-as-cancer-hope

In addition, both Tashkin et al at UCLA and Kelsey at al at Brown have found that recreational cannabis use reduces one's risk of contracting lung, head and neck cancers; and provides no risk for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Try these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_cannabis#Lung_cancer_and_chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease

http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/08/25/us-smoking-pot-idUSTRE57O5DC20090825

Science, common sense and compassion should trump ceaseless and unsuccessful social control. We have had that evidence for the past 5,000+ years.

Bernie Ellis, MA, MPH (Fly by night)

[musiclawyer]

93. So, POTUS, still no medicinal benefit eh-- Schedule 1 it remains?

Shaking head in amazement

[colsohlibgal]

97. Time To Totally Legalize

Legalize it - alcohol causes more problems and it's legal. I think it's past time to admit it has real health benefits.

Slap a manageable tax on it and grab a lot of revenue out of it.

Get real Barack, in your second term, no more excuses....I have my old brownie recipe handy!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

100. Okay folks - do your bit

'Planetary emergency' due to Arctic melt, experts warn

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021388202

Make sure you hold that smoke in extra long,...for the sake of the planet.

[eggplant]

101. He stuck his chocolate in my peanut butter! And something new was created. n/t

[tarheelsunc]

102. Hilarious

A known potential killer (alcohol) is legal, and a proven natural healer is illegal due to moral issues.

[enki23]

103. So... just a few things

It'll be great if this ends up adding another tool in the tumor fighting toolbox. This is still in the very, very, very early stages, however. Also, you know they're actually using synthesized CBD, right? The stuff they're using has never known the woo-magic of being inside a cannabis plant. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but from I've seen of the way the true believers talk about marinol, I have a feeling the weed heads will be disappointed no matter how this one turns out.

Oh, and nearly all the drugs that end up having significant anticancer activity end up having to be used at significantly toxic doses. And one of the biggest tricks is to find an agent that gets its dose actually to the tumor(s), has a strong (and, even better, broad spectrum) effect, and doesn't end up killing you eventually with something like an adriamycin-induced cardiomyopathy. As for CBD, as a final aside, cannabis derivatives seem to actually get a whole *lot* of attention from researchers, all the silly conspiracy mongering notwithstanding. And like all the other bioactive compounds out there, once you've isolated it and synthesized it, labs all over the damned world will squirt it on their own cell cultures, or whatever they have, to see if it has an effect they might be looking for. Some will find those effects, and some of those effects just won't end up being real.

[Jack Sprat]

106. I am a skeptic JaneyVee

Not with this news article. It sounds great, of course.

Two things I'm skeptical of:

1) There are people who will always oppose marijuana because it can be grown as freely as a tomato plant, thus taking billions out of the sale and prosecution of an illegal substance.

2) The possibility of it relieving someone's pain or giving someone pleasure is something that our society cannot abide. Even if marijuana was discovered to actually cure all types of cancer, it would never see the light of day. There is far too much profit in keeping cancer incurable for the most part. It sounds horrible to be that skeptical towards society at large. But this country, our country, is run on greed and profit with no thought given to any benefits, nor anything that threatens that profit.

That profit also extends to the legal system that benefits from keeping a simple plant illegal to grow. Keeping this plant illegal results in billions of dollars of profit to those in the legal system and those outside the legal system. They are partners in crime.

[jtuck004]

116. I'm skeptical, but I started treatment early, just in case. About 1968, if I remember. n/t

[thc420]

118. Big pharma...

...has known this for decades. Why do you think it's still illegal?

[navarth]

123. I would like to hear more intelligent discussion re: vaping

I have to believe that putting smoke into your lungs can't be totally benign (yes, I'm guilty of it). But the vaporizer should be way less harmful to lungs while delivering the desired alteration of perspective. This is what I'm hoping will be the answer to the complaints about combustion as a delivery medium.

And I must agree with the sentiment that it will never be legal while there is soooo much money to be made from it being illegal.

[musiclawyer]

132. What is there to discuss?

Go to your local collective ( if you are in a MM State) and buy a sublingual tincture vial. Discuss with your doctor how many drops you need.

Or buy edibles if you like sweets

If you prefer the contolled delivery of vaporizers, get one of those. Perfectly good ones are less than 100 bucs now. You dont need to spend 600 bucs for a top of the line "Volcano."

The residue from vaporizers goes in a jar. When you are doing a stir fry next day, throw in a pinch of vape residue and voila! It comes back to life. Zero waste.

All of the above, zero smoke in your lungs.

[heaven05]

124. the

repug/thugs and blue dog democrites with their so-called 'war on drugs' will prevent anything with the word marijuana in it from helping anyone, anywhere.

[villager]

128. No wonder big pharma's keeping it illegal!

A shame that even a Democratic administration goes along with the ruse on their behalf... But: Follow the money!

[RainDog]

133. More than one study indicates anti-tumor properties

From the Journal of of the National Cancer Institute, 1975. (hosted via UKCIA): http://www.ukcia.org/research/AntineoplasticActivityOfCannabinoids/index.php

Furthermore, Nahas et al. (7) showed that in chronic marihuana users there is a decreased lymphocyte reactivity to mitogens as measured by thymidine uptake. These and other (8) observations suggest that marihuana (delta-9-THC) interferes with vital cell biochemical processes, though no definite mechanism has yet been established. A preliminary report from this laboratory (9) indicated that the ability of delta-9-THC to interfere with normal cell functions might prove efficacious against neoplasms. This report represents an effort to test various cannabinoids in several in vivo and in vitro tumor systems to determine the kinds of tumors that are sensitive to these compounds and reveal their possible biochemical sites of action(s).


Researchers at Harvard published a study in 2007 that indicates cannabis cuts lung cancer tumors by 50%. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm

They say this is the first set of experiments to show that the compound, Delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), inhibits EGF-induced growth and migration in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Lung cancers that over-express EGFR are usually highly aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy.

THC that targets cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2 is similar in function to endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids that are naturally produced in the body and activate these receptors. The researchers suggest that THC or other designer agents that activate these receptors might be used in a targeted fashion to treat lung cancer.

Although the researchers do not know why THC inhibits tumor growth, they say the substance could be activating molecules that arrest the cell cycle. They speculate that THC may also interfere with angiogenesis and vascularization, which promotes cancer growth.



Research in Spain, published in 2009, demonstrated the mechanism by which cannabis induces cancer cell death: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/37948

?-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component of marijuana (7), exerts a wide variety of biological effects by mimicking endogenous substances — the endocannabinoids — that bind to and activate specific cannabinoid receptors (8). One of the most exciting areas of research in the cannabinoid field is the study of the potential application of cannabinoids as antitumoral agents (9). Cannabinoid administration has been found to curb the growth of several types of tumor xenografts in rats and mice (9, 10).

Based on this preclinical evidence, a pilot clinical trial has been recently run to investigate the antitumoral action of THC on recurrent gliomas (11). Recent findings have also shown that the pro-apoptotic and tumor growth–inhibiting activity of cannabinoids relies on the upregulation of the transcriptional co-activator p8 (12) and its target the pseudo-kinase tribbles homolog 3 (TRB3) (13).

However, the mechanisms that promote the activation of this signaling route as well as the targets downstream of TRB3 that mediate its tumor cell–killing action remain elusive. In this study we found that ER stress–evoked upregulation of the p8/TRB3 pathway induced autophagy via inhibition of the Akt/mTORC1 axis and that activation of autophagy promoted the apoptotic death of tumor cells. The uncovering of this pathway, which we believe is novel, for promoting tumor cell death may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of cancer.



California Breast Cancer Research Program (from Molecular Cancer Therapeutics): Inhibition of Breast Cancer Aggressiveness by Cannibidiol: http://www.cbcrp.org/research/PageGrant.asp?grant_id=4903


An anti-cancer agent with a low toxicity profile that can both inhibit cancer cell growth and metastasis would be extremely valuable clinically. We have discovered that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic cannabinoid constituent of the plant Cannabis sativa, can inhibit the growth, migration and invasion of aggressive breast cancer cells in culture.

Cannabinoid compounds, in general, have low toxicity profiles. Furthermore, our preliminary research demonstrated that CBD is a novel inhibitor of a protein whose activity has been closely linked to the aggressiveness of human breast cancers; called inhibitor of DNA binding-1 (Id-1). Whether CBD can inhibit the spread of metastatic breast cancer in vivo (in the body), compared to cell culture conditions, has not been determined.

However, CBD has been demonstrated to inhibit aggressive human brain cancers in vivo. Understanding the mechanisms behind the anti-cancer activity of CBD may lead to the validation of new biological targets for diagnostics and therapies for breast cancer.


Combining Cannabinoids Enhances Inhibition of Brain Cancer Cells: http://patients4medicalmarijuana.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/combining-marijuana-components-enhances-inhibitory-effects-on-brain-cancer-2/

The study was done at the California Pacific Medical Center by researchers who combined a non-psychoactive ingredient of marijauna, cannabidiol (CBD), with ?9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (?9-THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in Cannabis. The findings demonstrated the inhibitory effect of these two ingredients on brain cancer cells when used together.

“Our study not only suggests that combining these two compounds creates a synergistic effect,” says Sean McAllister, Ph.D., a scientist at CPMCRI and the lead author of the study. “but it also helps identify molecular mechanisms at work here, and that may lead to more effective treatments for glioblastoma and potentially other aggressive cancers.”

[midnight]

134. K&R

[DeSwiss]

139. K&R

- So I've been saying......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=1388018

[RawHemp]

140. Spam deleted by azurnoir (MIR Team)