Category Archives: cannabis

Potent evidence for THC as a cancer-killer

Posted on by
1

Another week brings fresh evidence that for some THC will prove to be “God’s own medicine”:

Our results show that both Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the most abundant and potent cannabinoid in marijuana, and JWH-133, a non-psychotropic CB2 receptor-selective agonist, reduce tumor growth, tumor number, and the amount/severity of lung metastases in MMTV-neu mice. Histological analyses of the tumors revealed that cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis, and impair tumor angiogenesis. Cannabinoid antitumoral action relies, at least partially, on the inhibition of the pro-tumorigenic Akt pathway. We also found that 91% of ErbB2-positive tumors express the non-psychotropic cannabinoid receptor CB2.

via Abstract | Cannabinoids reduce ErbB2-driven breast cancer progression through Akt inhibition.

In cognitive tests, potheads tend to get it right, eventually

Posted on by
Reply

Photo: Bryan Brenneman/Flickr CC

Columbia University scientists recently reported that chronic tokers — those blazing morning, noon and night — do just fine on cognitive performance tests.

All they need is a bit more time.

From an abstract at PubMed:

“The overall response accuracy on the word recognition and working memory tasks was unaffected by marijuana, although smoked marijuana did increase the amount of time participants needed to complete these tasks.”

Sci-Tech Heretic readers will recall a similar finding with marijuana users who did fine in driving simulators, perhaps because they drove more slowly.

via Neurophysiological and cognitive effects of smoked… [Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2010] – PubMed result.

Pot is a pain buster, Texas docs say

Posted on by
1

Needs relief. Photo: Elvert Barnes/Flickr CC

Diabetics and others with chronic pain caused by peripheral nerve damage, might find relief in a pot derivative, according to docs at the Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Last week the researchers announced a finding that the cannabinoid, MDA19, reduces neuropathic pain, “without producing adverse effects in the central nervous system.”

In other words, using the cannabinoid alone reduced pain in rats, without getting them stoned — an undesirable effect, as the docs see it.

The synthetic cannabinoid (cannabis-related) compound, called MDA19, seems to avoid side effects by acting mainly on one specific subtype of the cannabinoid receptor. “MDA19 has the potential for alleviating neuropathic pain without producing adverse effects in the central nervous system,” according to the study by Dr Mohamed Naguib of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

via Marijuana Derivative Could Be Useful for Pain Treatment Blocks Neuropathic Pain without Undesired Side Effects.

Pot regrows brain cells, but might not make you smarter, study finds

Posted on by
1

Photo: Joe Szilagyi/Flickr CC

The effects of pot on the brain are proving as complex as they are promising, as scientists pull apart the plant’s components…

One new study (its methodology is detailed, below), finds that “CBD did not impair learning but increased adult neurogenesis, whereas THC reduced learning without affecting adult neurogenesis.”

For people suffering from severe depression, this might be good news: The finding here suggests that patients can regain hippocampal cells lost to major depressive episodes. (As the psychedelics expert Sasha Shulgin has pointed out, this is how SSRI’s such as Zoloft appear to work.)

Adult neurogenesis is a particular example of brain plasticity that is partially modulated by the endocannabinoid system. Whereas the impact of synthetic cannabinoids on the neuronal progenitor cells has been described, there has been lack of information about the action of plant-derived extracts on neurogenesis. Therefore we here focused on the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) fed to female C57Bl/6 and Nestin-GFP-reporter mice on proliferation and maturation of neuronal progenitor cells and spatial learning performance. In addition we used cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) deficient mice and treatment with CB1 antagonist AM251 in Nestin-GFP-reporter mice to investigate the role of the CB1 receptor in adult neurogenesis in detail.

via Abstract | Cannabinoid receptor CB1 mediates baseline and activity-induced survival of new neurons in adult hippocampal neurogenesis.

Potheads drive like your grandmother

Posted on by
4

Photo: aaron.bihari/Flickr CC

Maybe even better.

Stoned drivers are as good at avoiding obstacles as their straight counterparts, a simulator study finds.

The reason, according to researchers from Hartford Hospital and the University of Iowa, is probably that potheads are slowpokes: they typically slow-down when they are high.

I am reminded by the results, published in the March Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, of a college buddy of mine who insisted that pot made him a better driver. It definitely made him less aggressive on the road.

But even NORML is encouraging drivers to keep their keys in their pockets until their buzzes wear off.

Past use of cannabis, as defined by the detection of inactive cannabis metabolites in the urine of drivers, is not associated with an increased accident risk.

via Cannabis and Driving: A Scientific and Rational Review – NORML.

Will marijuana bong and vaporizer sellers welcome government oversight?

Posted on by
Reply

Should these consumers (present and future) be protected from false advertising claims? Photo: nimbin mardi grass 2009/Flickr CC

With cannabis legalization looking like a real possibility in California this fall, growers are understandably worried that they’ll soon be out of business.

But there’s another group of entrepreneurs — the makers of pot smoking and vaporizing paraphernalia — who might also be in for a rude awakening.

Post-legalization, I expect government regulators to be snuffing out bogus product claims, such as those made by the makers of the Gravity Vortex (excerpt from the product website, below).

The company’s website copy strongly suggests that its bong removes as many harmful particulates as vaporizers (emphases are mine):

The Gravity VORTEX is the world’s first portable gravity smoking device that hits like a gravity bong and is smooth like a vaporizer. Winner of the gold medal at the 2006 High Times Cannabis Cup, the VORTEX is quickly taking the smoking world by storm. Clean, cool and smooth hits that wont hurt your lungs. It is made of high quality polycarbonate, so its virtually indestructible and safe to smoke from (sic).

These are exactly the kinds of claims for legal products that the FDA and other agencies already look for…

In fact, since the maker of the Gravity Vortex, Long Beach, Calif.-based Nine Point Eight Entertainment, claims its product is for “tobacco use only,” it may already be in the sites of someone at FDA, and we just have not heard about it yet.

I plan on tracking this story for a while, so stay tuned.

via Gravity VORTEX: Waterfall smoking experience. Powerful as a gravity bong, smooth as a vaporizer.

Faced with legalization, pot growers mull new marketing tactics

Posted on by
Reply

The foodies get it. Pot-laced products bear interesting labels. Photo: Bob With/Flickr CC

More mainstream focus on the impending pot legalization story. In this case, Village Voice Media’s Toke of the Town picks up on an NPR report. — MB

I interviewed a California medical marijuana producer a year ago, and he was already stressing about legalization. (Like many licensed to grow medical marijuana in the state, he also sells pot to non-medical clients.)

“I want to get out of the business before it becomes fully legal,” he said.

But since then, the same grower has started mulling new angles for his business. One is branding: He and a close relative hope to become the Mondavi brothers of weed. He noted in a subsequent interview the allure of small batch beers, and reckoned that pot growers can take a similar approach to marketing their product.

Marijuana growers could compete against the likes of Altria by emphasizing their organic growing methods, for example, or that they are local producers.

The context:

“Greater supply, more competition, and especially the prospect of legalized marijuana — with the issue enjoying majority support and slated to appear on November’s ballot in California — is exerting downward pressure on pot prices…”

via Toke of the Town – Low Pot Prices Create Panic; We Should All Have Such Problems.

Gut check: THC a cancer-killer in bile duct

Posted on by
Reply

For those asking, “Is there anything pot can’t do?” here’s a bit more evidence that there isn’t:

“A new study out of Thailand demonstrates that THC can fight cholangiocarcinoma – cancer of the bile duct. This is a rare but deadly form of cancer, with only 30 percent of patients still alive after five years, according to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation. Based on these new lab results, the Thai researchers conclude, “’THC is potentially used to retard cholangiocarcinoma cell growth and metastasis.’”

via More Good News on THC and Cancer — MPP Blog.

Pot helps schizophrenics feel better, study finds

Posted on by
1
Nurses have found that their patients use pot to combat symptoms. Photo: Doktor Design Love/Flickr CC

While at least two studies have found an association between cannabis use and schizophrenia, none have established that pot causes the symptoms associated with the disease.

Now, in the first study that bothers to ask schizophrenics why they take the drug, patients report using pot to ease some of their tormenting symptoms:

“The findings indicate that cannabis is used as a means of satisfying the schizophrenia-related need for relaxation, sense of self-worth, and distraction. The findings may be useful for nurses working with persons who have schizophrenia, a population that is frequently stigmatized and unheard.”

via Attraction to cannabis among men with schizophreni… [Can J Nurs Res. 2010] – PubMed result.

Facebook post nabs Boston bong thief

Posted on by
Reply

Good glass will cost you. Photo: Igor Bespamyatnov/Flickr CC

From UH (link below), a short while ago:

Wicked Local Allston/Brighton reports the owner of a Comm. Ave. shop that sells high-quality bongs nailed one of the men who allegedly stole several of them by posting photos on Facebook – which resulted in tips leading to a Saugus man – with tattoos showing on his own Facebook page that matched those seen on surveillance video.

via Bing bong: Facebook helps head-shop owner catch a thief | Universal Hub.