Cannabis extract shrinks brain tumours

[LunaC]

"Cannabis extracts may shrink brain tumours and other cancers by blocking the growth of the blood vessels which feed them, suggests a new study.

"An active component of the street drug has previously been shown to improve brain tumours in rats. But now Manuel Guzmán at Complutense University, Spain, and colleagues have demonstrated how the cannabis extracts block a key chemical needed for tumours to sprout blood vessels – a process called angiogenesis."

http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99996283&lpos=home1


My brother used to joke that he wanted to scrape my lungs to get high off the residue resins after I die but it looks like I won't be departing for greener pastures any time soon......at least not from cancer! Ha!

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Don't bet on it.

I do anti-Angiogenic research for a living. Angiogenesis is the process that forms new blood vessles, and is the process they are talking about being blocked.

What concentrations did they use of the extract? What level are the found in cannabis? Does burning the plant destroy the agent in question? If not is inhalation still an effective way of administering it?

I'd also point this out. This statement here..."The cannabinoid inhibits the angiogenesis response - if a tumour doesn’t do angiogenesis, it doesn’t grow,” she explains. “So if you can improve angiogenesis on one side and kill the tumour cells on the other side, you can try for a therapy for cancer."...is not entirely accurate.

[LunaC]

4. Thanks for your insights

It's always nice to get an Insider's perspective.

[SemperEadem]

5. well, it's accurate enough for me

[Q]

2. There were studies done in the 70s and 80s...

...by Spain, the US and other countries concerning this very subject. The Reagan administration put an end to the studies in the US...and actually removed all related literature from university libraries.

- I guess the drug companies didn't see an immediate profit in it.

[Deja Q]

3. It was a danger to them.

They want people to think in black and white terms only.

Marijuana is always supposed to be bad. Therefore they do not want people to think that, when controlled, it can potentially do some good.