5 DISEASES PROVEN TO RESPOND TO
CANNABIS
1. Cancer
Cannabinoids, the active components of
marijuana, inhibit tumour growth and also kill
cancer cells.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal
psychoactive constituent (or cannabinoid) of
the cannabis plant, targets cannabinoid
receptors
similar
in
function
to
endocannabinoids, which are cannabinoids
that are naturally produced in the body and
activate these receptors.
Researchers have now found that cannabidiol
has the ability to ‘switch off’ the gene
responsible for metastasis in an aggressive
form of cancer.
Importantly, this substance does not produce
the psychoactive properties of the cannabis
plant.
A Spanish team, led by Dr Manuel Guzmon,
wanted to see whether they could prevent a
form of cancer (glioblastoma multiforme)
from growing by cutting off its blood supply.
Glioblastoma multiforme is one of the most
difficult cancers to treat – it seldom responds
to any medical intervention, especially
conventional methods which poisoning and
primitively destroy cells such as radiotherapy,
chemotherapy and surgery.
Genes associated with blood vessel growth in
tumours through the production of a chemical
called vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF) have their activity reduced when
exposed to cannabinoids.
Cannabinoids halt VEGF production by
producing Ceramide.
Ceramide controls cell death.
Dr Manuel Guzmon tested a cannabinoid
solution of patients had glioblastoma
multiforme that had not responded to
chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery.
The scientists took samples from them before
and after treating them with a cannabinoids
solution – this was administered directly into
the tumour.
Amazingly, both patients experienced
reduced VEGF levels in the tumour as a result
of treatment with cannabinoids.
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
US 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 US government.
The $2 million study, funded by the US
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 revoked and the results hidden
for almost three years, until it was finally
leaked to the media in 1997. (CC#17, THC for
tumours).