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posted by janrinok on Saturday February 21 2015, @05:24AM   Printer-friendly
from the read-it-before-the-feds-distort-the-facts-again dept.

5 Discoveries About Marijuana That You Won't Hear in the Corporate Media

Paul Armentano of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) reports via AlterNet

Scientific discoveries are published almost daily in regard to the healing properties of the cannabis. But most of these findings appear solely in subscription-only peer-reviewed journals and, therefore, go largely unnoticed by the mainstream media and by the public. Here are five just-published cannabis-centric studies that warrant attention.

  • Men Who Smoke Pot Possess a Reduced Risk of Bladder Cancer
  • Long-Term Pot Exposure Isn't Damaging to Lung Health
  • Alcohol, Not Pot, Alters the Brain
  • Marijuana Use Doesn't Lead to Depression
  • Marijuana Possesses a Unique Margin of Safety Compared to Other legal and Illegal Drugs

Cannabis is Bad for You, Cannabis is Good for You - Confused?

The BBC's Radio 4 has been running a series this week regarding the use and abuse of cannabis in the UK, and they offer this report of part of the discussions that have been aired. From the report:

Cannabis is bad for you, cannabis is good for you - confused? That's not surprising. Complicated and controversial, cannabis is revealed by recent science to have a dual personality, with a dark side and a more positive one. Radio 4's PM programme is this week running a whole series on cannabis, and the debate surrounding it.

Key to understanding this strange plant are two of the ingredients that make it up, known by their initials as THC and CBD. I asked Professor Val Curran of University College London to describe how they work and she came up a memorable answer:

"In a way, THC and CBD are a bit like yin and yang. The THC makes you stoned, but it can also make you anxious. It can also make you feel a bit psychotic, and it will seriously impair your memory.

"The other side of the yin/yang is CBD, which has almost the opposite effects. CBD calms you down, it has anti-psychotic properties and it also offsets the effects on memory, so that on CBD-containing cannabis you're less likely to forget what's going on."

So the first step to understanding cannabis is to realise how it can vary, how different types contain very different quantities of these polar opposites, with dramatically different outcomes.

One of the problems highlighted is that the cannabis available today (particularly 'skunk') is often much stronger than was available 20 - 30 years ago, and the balance of THC to CBD has changed, with potentially serious consequences. For example: "If you smoke high-potency skunk at all, then you are three times more likely to be psychotic. If you smoke high-potency cannabis every day, you are five times more likely to be psychotic." There is much more in the article, so give it a look.

 
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  • (Score: 1, Disagree) by engblom on Saturday February 21 2015, @08:39AM

    by engblom (556) on Saturday February 21 2015, @08:39AM (#147707)

    I have met one man online who said he is "more extreme than an extreme fundamental Muslim" (his own words) when it comes to fighting for cannabis. Besides him I have met many other online who does propaganda for cannabis. They have succeeded as cannabis got legalized in many places. However they got it legalized by spreading lies.

    When it comes to cannabis, you better quote real academic papers as most stuff you find online is just lies. For this topic, this paper is very suitable: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/add.12703/full [wiley.com] .

    My point is that the negative sides of cannabis usage is far bigger than what general uneducated population believe. The original poster of this article should provide from a reliable source backup for the claims of the positive effects before I believe as I have seen too much of lies. The claims there sounds like propaganda.

    I am the father of a boy with cancer and because of this I have done extensive research among http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed [nih.gov] and other places and found that most claims about cannabis healing cancer is just lies. There might be some cases where it helps, but then there are other more potential methods.

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:11AM

    by Anal Pumpernickel (776) on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:11AM (#147719)

    Besides him I have met many other online who does propaganda for cannabis.

    I have likewise met many people who spread propaganda against cannabis. Individuals eager to cite studies that they agree with generally do not care about scientific consensus or whether or not the studies have even been replicated. It would be better if they would think about these things before they (or the media) cites every study that comes out, but that's clearly not going to happen.

    However they got it legalized by spreading lies.

    As I said elsewhere [soylentnews.org], the focus must be on freedom, not on safety. Whether cannabis has significant negative health effects or not is an interesting question, but it does not affect my position on whether it should be legalized in the slightest.

    Even if cannabis turns out to be harmful, government thugs have no business telling people they can't use it.

    • (Score: 2, Disagree) by engblom on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:22AM

      by engblom (556) on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:22AM (#147722)

      As I said elsewhere, the focus must be on freedom, not on safety. Whether cannabis has significant negative health effects or not is an interesting question, but it does not affect my position on whether it should be legalized in the slightest. Even if cannabis turns out to be harmful, government thugs have no business telling people they can't use it.

      I am all for freedom when it comes to every choice one can make without affecting the people around negatively. When it comes to cannabis, it is not the case. All studies I have seen (and they are many) shows cannabis is giving depression. Depression is costing a lot for the tax payers/insurance payers. The same with other negative effects from cannabis. If you want to cloth yourself in pink cloths with green dots, the government should not tell you to not do so as it is a choice only affecting you, however cannabis usage is not affecting only you.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:29AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:29AM (#147723)

        You go down that line and shake your fist at the butterflies halfway around the world whose flapping wings "affect" you.

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:56AM

        by Anal Pumpernickel (776) on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:56AM (#147729)

        I am all for freedom when it comes to every choice one can make without affecting the people around negatively.

        Nope. Indirectly affecting others (perhaps through higher taxes or health insurance costs) is not enough of a reason to curtail freedom. The harm must be direct. Using this logic, you could ban any form of unnecessary physical entertainment that carries a risk of injury. Soon, the government would be running all of our lives and getting rid of things it deems unnecessary to save taxpayer dollars. The ends don't justify the means. I'll accept paying more in taxes so others can live in freedom.

        I had a feeling you'd reply in such a way; hardcore authoritarians typically feel as you do, in my experience. Anything that even slightly inconveniences (however indirect) them must be banned. Government thugs have no business banning drugs; that's the freedom-minded answer.

        • (Score: 2) by Anal Pumpernickel on Saturday February 21 2015, @10:00AM

          by Anal Pumpernickel (776) on Saturday February 21 2015, @10:00AM (#147730)

          Also, not every use costs taxpayers more money, and perhaps not even most use. When it comes to insurance, you typically choose which company you deal with. You're essentially saying that, because it *could* cost you more money somehow (which is by no means certain), it must be banned. Hammers could be abused, so they must be banned. Everything must be banned, because it could be abused.

          You'll find that few activities have no effects at all on others. I suggest you not go down this "It affects me indirectly, so that's enough reason for it to be banned!" road, because you'll find that it's not a road that leads to more freedom.

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @12:29PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @12:29PM (#147743)

        Let me start by saying the plural of anecdote is not data.

        I am still going to share my anecdote with you though.

        I am a veteran who has PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and Mild TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). After I was discharged from the service I actually ended up in a two year slump. I lived in a small apartment, leaving only often enough to buy cigarettes. I was unemployable at the time as even the tiniest stressor could cause me to flip out either angry or crying. I made it though the day primarily by drinking. To say I was depressed at this time would be an understatement. I was damn near suicidal. I had ruined my relationship with my girlfriend, my friends, and my family.

        It was actually my VA social worker who in a roundabout way suggested pot as she had seen it help another of other veterans. It did help. It helped me calm my emotions down enough to gain control of them. I was no longer flipping out and scaring those around me. This let me start to work on my social skills again and get used to being a civilian again. It took a while but I was able to work myself up to going back to school. Pot helped me get my emotions under control, when the Box'o'pills the VA sent me every month did not. This allowed me to get back to being a human being. I now have a great job, a wonderful girlfirend and I smoke pot daily.

        So to anyone who feels we should leave alcohol legal (the shit almost killed me) and pot illegal (the shit I credit with saving my life), well they can just go fuck themselves.

        • (Score: 1) by JNCF on Saturday February 21 2015, @08:48PM

          by JNCF (4317) on Saturday February 21 2015, @08:48PM (#147886) Journal

          I totally get where you're coming from, I even modded your post Insightful when I first read it. Then I remembered that you're replying to a man who has just told you that his son has cancer. Maybe not the best time to tell somebody to go fuck himself?

          He's still opposed to you having freedoms, I just think it ideal to debate fascists politely.

          • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 22 2015, @01:42AM

            by Anonymous Coward on Sunday February 22 2015, @01:42AM (#147950)

            I am the AC you replied to.

            Maybe the wording was strong. I feel for his son and I hope he recovers fully.

            To the parent, I apologize and wish the best for you and yours. I still take the position that you are incorrect. I wish you would keep an open mind and continue to look at the evidence. I am far from the only veteran who turned to this.

  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:29AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:29AM (#147724)

    I am very sorry to hear that your son has cancer. I cannot imagine what you are going through. I hope he has a complete recovery and lives a long, full life.

    Many spread lies on both sides of this issue. Some just repeating what they've heard others say and some with an agenda. Like everything else don't believe it just because it's what you want to hear.

    Only a very small percentage of drugs actually cure a disease. Cannabis, like most of the rest, can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life in individuals who suffer from certain diseases, syndromes and conditions. I use it occasionally to deal with the pain, nausea, stress and high blood pressure caused by my severe migraines. I've never even considered that a cure was available, let alone that cannabis could be a 'magic bullet'. Pain meds don't help at all and often have nasty side effects (including hangovers and rebound headaches). For some people cannabis can have mild to severe negative effects as well - just like any other drug.

    As more research is published more informed public debate will occur. The government's stance against cannibas has probably prevented or suppressed many studies and left the medical community decades behind where they should be. Do I think cannabis is a cure for any disease? No. Can it be part of successful treatment that improves quality of life? Yes, in some individuals with certain conditions. Can it be abused? Absolutely, just like many drugs.

    I certainly hope that your research finds something that improves your son's life, and that of others. Progress and advancements in the management of any disease take place by those who follow the prevailing mindset as well as those who go against the tide to discover new approaches and different/better treatments.

    • (Score: 2, Interesting) by engblom on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:40AM

      by engblom (556) on Saturday February 21 2015, @09:40AM (#147726)

      Drugs have sometimes their use at clinics and hospitals. When it comes to cancer, it is not magically curing cancer as much propaganda claims. Otherwise my son would receive it as cure.

      My son did receive morphine based pain killer however. I did not tell the hospital workers to stop giving it to him as it has a clear effect and is well documented and researched.

      While I do sound negative, my negative comments are all about allowing drugs freely for anyone to abuse. Besides harming healthy individuals it is causing extra costs for the other people in the same society.

      You do not allow speed driving as it is has big chance to affect other in the society. The same should be with drugs.

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @12:32PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday February 21 2015, @12:32PM (#147745)

        I do not believe I have ever seen anyone claim it "cures" cancer.

        It is used by those on chemo to bring back their appetite.

        Perhaps you are mistaken with what you are reading. All of the study's I have seen about pot and cancer say it might help prevent it. That of course its not a given.

      • (Score: 5, Insightful) by tathra on Saturday February 21 2015, @04:32PM

        by tathra (3367) on Saturday February 21 2015, @04:32PM (#147796)

        prohibition harms everyone far more than legalization would. most of the rights loss in the US have been directly due to the DEA and the "war on drugs": asset forfeiture (if you have drugs on you, expect to lose everything even without charges), parallel construction (the DEA takes pride in inventing this), loss of the 4th amendment (most targets of the NSA dragnet are for drugs), police militarization (directly due to the drug war), etc. and thats not even bringing up all the racist effects of it (blacks are arrested and prosecuted far more than whites for non-violent drug offenses). prohibition directly gives power and funds to drug cartels and terrorists, and the drug smuggling channels enable weapon and human trafficking as well.

        the world would be far safer for everyone if not for prohibition.