Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

NathanSharp

(16 posts)
10. smoking it, alone, doesn't help kill cancer
Sat Aug 22, 2015, 01:45 PM
Aug 2015

Its not really the marijuana but concentrated extracts of certain cannabinoids that shrink the cancer. There's cannabinoid receptors all over the body. CB1 and CB2. Cancer may proliferate when these systems are out of balance, and the stimulation of these receptors via cannabinoids may be helpful. It makes sense since they are tied to immune function (namely the CB2 receptor which cannabidiol in particular stuimulates) which is important in fighting cancer.

Simply smoking marijuana isn't helpful in fighting cancer, because the dosage doesn't deliver a high enough concentration of the cannabinoids that would help in killing cancer. It is helpful, though, as an appetite stimmulant for chemotherapy patients though, which is actually very crucial for surviving the treatment.

http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq

There are a lot of medical benefits, so much that I don't even think it should be taxes for genuine medical use.

I've always felt that it should never have been declared a schedule 1 narcotic. PatrickforO Aug 2015 #1
I think that it may very well be a good treatment for chronic pain - hedgehog Aug 2015 #4
My understanding is that they've been suppressed, or are internal efforts by big pharma to develop PatrickforO Aug 2015 #12
There is a synthetic THC drug TexasBushwhacker Aug 2015 #19
I'm currently conducting research on cannabis for Raynauds, reflux, and peripheral neuropathy NightWatcher Aug 2015 #22
I think it would be good to legalize it shenmue Aug 2015 #2
There's some research, we need more! ellisonz Aug 2015 #3
It's possible that it inhibits rapid cell division without attacking the bone marrow hedgehog Aug 2015 #6
Side Effects of Marijuana ellisonz Aug 2015 #9
If it had always been legal, many of these specious 'pot can do anything' stories would not exist. onehandle Aug 2015 #5
Exactly! hedgehog Aug 2015 #7
:/ Go Vols Aug 2015 #11
Well you could go and read up on the research already done. Rex Aug 2015 #8
Indeed Oilwellian Aug 2015 #13
smoking it, alone, doesn't help kill cancer NathanSharp Aug 2015 #10
What part of the East do you live in? Bluenorthwest Aug 2015 #14
... ellisonz Aug 2015 #17
educate yourself on the evidence thus far... wildbilln864 Aug 2015 #15
Dr. Christina Sanchez might be able to explain it nationalize the fed Aug 2015 #16
It's medicinal properties are fascinating ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #18
I'm not denying that DUIs have probably gone up XemaSab Aug 2015 #20
This is true ismnotwasm Aug 2015 #21
because it likely does it in a different way eShirl Aug 2015 #23
I think the medical claims are exaggerated. But if Obama would take it off Schedule 1 we could.... Logical Aug 2015 #24
I live in Washington PowerToThePeople Aug 2015 #25
It's less harmful than Booz . orpupilofnature57 Aug 2015 #26
I can think of several friends who smoked who died of cancer. So it doesn't "cure cancer" hollowdweller Aug 2015 #27
chemotherapy is like a blunt instrument virtualobserver Aug 2015 #28
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»I'm all for legalizing ma...»Reply #10