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Marijuana Law Reform - NORML
Dr. Andrew Weil: Cannabis May Have a Primary Role in Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 1856 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Share This Article For nearly a decade now myself and others have been highlighting the potent anti-cancer and potentially cancer preventive properties of cannabinoids.
Now Dr. Andrew Weil, a best-selling author and world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, has lent his powerful voice to this discussion.
Cannabis Rx: Cutting Through the Misinformation
via Huffington Post
[Excerpt below; read the full commentary here.] Research into possible medical uses of cannabis is enjoying a renaissance. In recent years, studies have shown potential for treating nausea, vomiting, premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, migraines, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, alcohol abuse, collagen-induced arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, bipolar disorder, depression, Huntingtons disease, Parkinsons disease, sickle-cell disease, sleep apnea, Alzheimers disease and anorexia nervosa.
But perhaps most exciting, cannabinoids (chemical constituents of Cannabis, the best known being tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) may have a primary role in cancer treatment and prevention. A number of studies have shown that these compounds can inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animal models. In part, this is achieved by inhibiting angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow. Whats more, cannabinoids seem to kill tumor cells without affecting surrounding normal cells. If these findings hold true as research progresses, cannabinoids would demonstrate a huge advantage over conventional chemotherapy agents, which too often destroy normal cells as well as cancer cells.
As long ago as 1975, researchers reported that cannabinoids inhibited the growth of a certain type of lung cancer cell in test tubes and in mice. Since then, laboratory studies have shown that cannabinoids have effects against tumor cells from glioblastoma (a deadly type of brain cancer) as well as those from thyroid cancer¸ leukemia/lymphoma, and skin, uterus, breast, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers.
If you want to learn more about this subject, I recommend an excellent documentary film, What If Cannabis Cured Cancer, by Len Richmond, which summarizes the remarkable research findings of recent years. Most medical doctors are not aware of this information and its implications for cancer prevention and treatment. The film presents compelling evidence that our current policy on cannabis is counterproductive.
At this past weekends national NORML Conference, several panelists myself included discussed the use of cannabinoids as selective anti-cancer agents. We also screened Len Richmonds excellent documentary (in which Im briefly interviewed) What If Cannabis Cured Cancer? (Watch the movie trailer here.)
Fortunately, this important discussion is just now finally making its way into the mainstream. Unfortunately, its taken 30+ years to get the MSM to notice.
What possible advancements in the treatment of cancer may have been achieved over the past three decades had U.S. government officials chosen to advance rather than suppress clinical research into the anti-cancer effects of cannabis? Its time for the public and the media to demand an answer.
Dr. Andrew Weil: Cannabis May Have a Primary Role in Cancer Treatment and Prevention
Tue, 14 Sep 2010 1856 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director
Share This Article For nearly a decade now myself and others have been highlighting the potent anti-cancer and potentially cancer preventive properties of cannabinoids.
Now Dr. Andrew Weil, a best-selling author and world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine, has lent his powerful voice to this discussion.
Cannabis Rx: Cutting Through the Misinformation
via Huffington Post
[Excerpt below; read the full commentary here.] Research into possible medical uses of cannabis is enjoying a renaissance. In recent years, studies have shown potential for treating nausea, vomiting, premenstrual syndrome, insomnia, migraines, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, alcohol abuse, collagen-induced arthritis, asthma, atherosclerosis, bipolar disorder, depression, Huntingtons disease, Parkinsons disease, sickle-cell disease, sleep apnea, Alzheimers disease and anorexia nervosa.
But perhaps most exciting, cannabinoids (chemical constituents of Cannabis, the best known being tetrahydrocannabinol or THC) may have a primary role in cancer treatment and prevention. A number of studies have shown that these compounds can inhibit tumor growth in laboratory animal models. In part, this is achieved by inhibiting angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels that tumors need in order to grow. Whats more, cannabinoids seem to kill tumor cells without affecting surrounding normal cells. If these findings hold true as research progresses, cannabinoids would demonstrate a huge advantage over conventional chemotherapy agents, which too often destroy normal cells as well as cancer cells.
As long ago as 1975, researchers reported that cannabinoids inhibited the growth of a certain type of lung cancer cell in test tubes and in mice. Since then, laboratory studies have shown that cannabinoids have effects against tumor cells from glioblastoma (a deadly type of brain cancer) as well as those from thyroid cancer¸ leukemia/lymphoma, and skin, uterus, breast, stomach, colorectal, pancreatic and prostate cancers.
If you want to learn more about this subject, I recommend an excellent documentary film, What If Cannabis Cured Cancer, by Len Richmond, which summarizes the remarkable research findings of recent years. Most medical doctors are not aware of this information and its implications for cancer prevention and treatment. The film presents compelling evidence that our current policy on cannabis is counterproductive.
At this past weekends national NORML Conference, several panelists myself included discussed the use of cannabinoids as selective anti-cancer agents. We also screened Len Richmonds excellent documentary (in which Im briefly interviewed) What If Cannabis Cured Cancer? (Watch the movie trailer here.)
Fortunately, this important discussion is just now finally making its way into the mainstream. Unfortunately, its taken 30+ years to get the MSM to notice.
What possible advancements in the treatment of cancer may have been achieved over the past three decades had U.S. government officials chosen to advance rather than suppress clinical research into the anti-cancer effects of cannabis? Its time for the public and the media to demand an answer.