THE FEDS SAY THEY WANT SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT MARIJUANA IS MEDICINE

[EC]

THE FEDS SAY THEY WANT SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT MARIJUANA IS MEDICINE.

BUT DO THEY?

Three years ago scientists from the University of Massachusetts and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies1 applied to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for a license to grow a research plot of marijuana.

No response.

A year ago, they asked the DEA for permission to import 10 grams from the Dutch Office of Medicinal Cannabis.

No response.

Then they asked the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to sell 10 grams from NIDA's marijuana farm at the University of Mississippi.

Still no response.

The researchers could, of course, get all the marijuana they need from any high school or college campus in the country but that's not legal. NIDA has a monopoly on the supply of marijuana that can be used for research.2 The Institute seems to be using that monopoly to obstruct the very research they're supposed to be facilitating.

So the scientists are suing the DEA, NIDA, Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health for "unreasonable delay" resulting in the obstruction of scientific research.

Science should be in the hands of scientists, not political ideologues.

www.CommonSenseDrugPolicy.org, www.DrugWarFacts.org

Mike Gray, Chair; Robert Field, Co-Chair
[e-mail]

1 For further information, contact www.maps.org
2 NIDA was given a monopoly only on the supply of marijuana and not on any other Schedule 1 drug.

http://www.csdp.org/publicservice/obstruction.htm

http://www.commonsensedrugpolicy.org/

[whistle]

1. Cant' get scientific proof because it is a controlled substance....

...which menas that scientic research on it is illegal. Catch-22!

[lebkuchen]

8. As if the US federal govt. held science in high esteem

to begin with.

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. Marijuana is very important, but not as medicine.

50% of the prison industry, law enforcement budgets, moral majority talking points, are all dependent on marijuana remaingin illegal. You don't need to be dealing the stuff to get rich off of it.

[arcane1]

7. and the lumber industry as well

[whistle]

19. Lumber industry ?

[arcane1]

21. they make all the paper now

it didn't use to be that way

[whistle]

22. The lumber industry makes rolling papers specifically for pot?

[bemildred]

32. Hemp makes excellent paper, and cloth, and rope, and ... nt

[arcane1]

38. LMAO

that would be the rice industry :P

[Robin Hood]

3. And I'm still waiting for the proof that Iraq had WMD's.

After all, Our social security lock box is broken and strewn all over the streets of Baghdad. Thousands dead and even more injured, and all the feds can come up with right now is that they want proof that pot is medicine? It's as much of a medicine as anything else that the FDA approves. It's actually better because it's natural(not processed).

[eternalburn]

4. The movie/documentary "Grass"......

...has some excellent information on studies done and promptly ignored.

[SoCalifer]

6. Grass

I have that DVD.. Very good movie

[killbotfactory]

5. How about proof it's a gateway drug?

Or any proof it's more harmful than alcohol or tobacco?

Why is it outlawed, exactly?

[DoYouEverWonder]

18. Money

If marijuana and hemp were legal the entire economic system of world would change. However that would not be in the best interest of people like Chevron, Georgia Pacific or Glaxo.

[AntiCoup2K4]

9. I've heard the government grown stuff is pathetically weak.

Maybe they should hire some agricultural consultants from BC?

[William Bloode]

13. Yup,

The Goverments herb rates out at about 3% Thc content, pretty weak. Kinda on par with the nasty brown brickweed in potency.

And no you don't need agrciulture consultants from BC, it just so happens the very best of the best is grown here in the states, we also tend to breed the best specimens. Sk#1, Haze, Northern Lights, Bubblegum, Hog, Og Kush, Sage just to name a few were all developed here in the US.

The problem with the Goverments herb is not how it's grown, it is the genetics that they use. They use a low quality Mexican variety(there are some great Mex's) instead of a higher quality strain or hybrid.

On my site( I run a marijuana compassion site that gives away quality seeds) i have people with conditons from insomnia, pain, Hep C, Autism, among others who get much more relief from marijuana than common drugs prescribed by the pharmicutical giants.

The biggest donors to the war on drugs happens to be, the alcohol industy, big tobacco, and of course big pharmicutical comapnies. These people give billions to keep it illegal and protect profits.

It's all about the money. It has not one thing to do with public saftey, as the would have you believe.

[EC]

23. So Hillbilly and proud, why don't your give this ex-West Virginian

Hillbilly your url to your site....I'm an isomniac.....

[William Bloode]

30. Sure no problem.

You can find us here>

www.mysticgarden.org

We are a small but dedicated group who fight the drug war the best way we know how. And thats giving away high quality seeds of potent marijuana, not to mention help growin it if ya need it.

Come on by and see us, i am president and co-founder BloodyBill. Feel free to look me up if you have any questions.

[whistle]

20. The new Canadian flag?

[Up2Late]

31. Not according to the Movie "Half Baked"

They had great stuff

[fooj]

10. Here they come...

[SoCalifer]

11. Here, Let Me Help Out The Government

An article in the October 2003 issue of the medical journal Nature Reviews, explains in detail current research on how cannabinoids can be used to treat cancer and tumors.

The article, titled Cannabinoids: Potential Anti-Cancer Agents, out-lines the human body's system of cannabinoid receptors, and explains how cannabinoids work to decrease nausea, increase appetite and inhibit pain.

However, most interesting is the section titled Anti-tumour Effects Of Cannabinoids, where author Manuel Guzman claims that "cannabinoids are selective anti-tumor compounds, as they can kill tumor cells without affecting their non-transformed counterparts."

Citing over 100 references of research from scientific and medicinal journals, this article compiles all major studies into how cannabinoids affect cancerous tumors and cancer patients.

In 2000, Manuel Guzman led a study which showed that application of THC destroyed otherwise incurable brain cancer tumors in rats.

Some notable studies into the anti-cancer effects of cannabinoids include:

-- A study published in the July 2002 edition of the medical journal Blood, which found that THC and some other cannabinoids produced "programmed cell death" in different varieties of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, thereby destroying the cancerous cells but leaving other cells unharmed.


-- A study published in a 1975 edition of the Journal Of The National Cancer Institute, which showed that THC slowed the growth of lung cancer, breast cancer and virus-induced leukemia in rats.

Titled Antineoplastic Activity Of Cannabinoids, this study was funded by the U.S. National Institute Of Health, and performed by researchers at the Medical College Of Virginia. Despite the promising results, no further research was made, and the study has essentially disappeared from the scientific literature.


-- A 1994 study, which documented that THC may protect against malignant cancers, and which was buried by the U.S. Government. The $2 million study, funded by the U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, sought to show that large doses of THC produced cancer in rats. Instead researchers found that massive doses of THC had a positive effect, actually slowing the growth of stomach cancers. The rats given THC lived longer than their non-exposed counterparts. The study was unpublished and the results hidden for almost three years, until it was finally leaked to the media in 1997.


-- A study published in the July 1998 Proceedings Of National Academy Of Science, found that anandamide inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells. Anandamide is the naturally occurring body chemical which is mimicked by cannabinoids.

Other studies cited by Guzman show that cannabinoids can also help prevent the death of brain cells during a stroke, head trauma and nerve gas exposure.


-- A study at the University of Milan showed that cannabidiol (CBD) can prevent damage caused by lack of oxygen to the brain. The study, published in the July issue of the journal Neuroscience, involved suffocating gerbils for 10 minutes, thereby inducing brain damage from lack of oxygen. Different amounts of CBD were then given to the gerbils five minutes after they were allowed to breathe again. The greater the amount of CBD given, the better the eventual recovery of the tortured gerbils.


-- Cannabis for MS: A study published in the July edition of the journal Brain, found that mice without cannabinoid receptors were more likely to get brain damage (neurodegeneration) from certain types of immune attacks.

This is relevant to Multiple Sclerosis patients because MS is a neurodegenerative disease, and the researchers believe that their research shows that, "in addition to symptom management, cannabis may also slow the neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to chronic disability.


-- An open study with 48 patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease showed that oral THC reduced agitation, improved function and mental abilities, and caused weight gain in patients with appetite loss. The study was conducted at the Meridian Institute For Aging, at the Eleventh International Congress Of The International Psychogeriatric Association In Chicago.

-- Research conducted at the University Of Pecs, Hungary, found that endocannabinoids helped to decrease sensations of pain in animals. Endocannabinoids are the body's natural chemicals which are mimicked by those found in cannabis. The study, published in the September issue of the journal Life Sciences, confirms that cannabis can play a role in limiting sensations of pain.

[EC]

24. I'm sure they appreciate that.....n/t

[KurtNYC]

12. Science? I thought they hated science, try Genesis 1:29 - 30

"And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree...

That seems to be more in line with their decision making process.

Unfortunately, if they buy into this argument for pot they will only ban sensimilla.

[EC]

25. good, throw that at them....n/t

[JohnOneillsMemory]

14. Fascism wants industry-caffeine and nicotine, not mellowing agents..n/t

[EC]

26. to keep us moving, they also like booze to make soldiers violent...n/t

[Zhade]

15. Kick

Kick

[Donailin]

16. Sure, Just as soon as they get scientific proof of God, we'll be happy

to trade.

[necso]

17. They should just fire some up...

strictly as an experiment, of course.

Symptom relief -- you know, like those drugs that are killing people.

[EC]

27. Sure is better than the Ambian all those guys are taking....

[ultraist]

28. Somebody... is making big bucks off of dealing

I think it's more about the drug cartels (ie informal PACS) keeping certain legislators from blocking legalization more than it is the legal industries like lumber from blocking legislation.

Is the lumber industry really that wealthy and powerful anymore in the US?

My sister's ex husband was in the Coast Guard and he said that while they were patrolling by helicopter in FL, they were instructed to let "certain" planes and helicopters to fly on by. They all knew they were drug planes.

The drug cartels have the policy makers in their back pocket. They will NOT be put out of business by letting the gov sell their product.

[Sgent]

29. Its harder to get MJ to study with

than just about any other drug (including cocaine).

Keep in mind that Cocaine is actually a legal substance with a perscription (Schedule II).

Schedule I licenses are granted all the time -- but not to people interested in studing MJ.

[EC]

34. So is Opium and Morphine

but remember with pot they can jail more minorities than with the more additive shit...

[EC]

33. I have a good friend that is a harbor master in the Keys

he had allot of stories about the Bush family...

[Carolab]

35. Any you'd like to share? Sounds interesting....n/t

[EC]

37. Not on a public board...but it did involve Mercenaries...n/t

[LaPera]

36. But of course...You had doubts? Hmmm.....

:smoke: Hoo-rah! the fed's scientists, yes, that's it...you are for real?
and it flows...........:smoke: