The therapeutic potential of cannabis appears limitless, extending far beyond just relieving nausea or pain in the terminally ill. Christina Sanchez, a molecular biologist from Compultense University in Madrid, Spain, has been studying the molecular activity of cannabinoids for more than 10 years, and during this time she and her colleagues have learned that tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the primary psychoactive component of cannabis, induces tumor cell “suicide” while leaving healthy cells alone. Continue reading →

Safer than big pharma drugs

The federal government admits in newly funded research that compounds found in marijuana have an unprecedented ability to go in and kill brain tumors without any negative side effects. But you’re still going to jail if you try to use it as a medication.

And let’s be clear here: we’re not talking about prosecution for those who just ‘want to get high.’ In fact, as I’ve explained before, the true health effects of marijuana really don’t have to come with its infamous psychoactive effect Instead, we look to the non-THC (which is what gets you high) compounds within marijuana that are specifically known for their anti-cancer and antioxidant effects. Continue reading →

Study finds compound in the plant can help shrink aggressive brain tumours

Cannabis can have a dramatic effect on aggressive forms of brain cancer, a new study shows.

The new research, conducted by specialists at St George’s, University of London, studied the treatment of brain tumours in the laboratory.

It found the most effective treatment was to combine active chemical components of the cannabis plant, which are known as cannabinoids.

Two of these – called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) – were tested as part of the research into brain cancer.

This is particularly difficult to treat and claims the lives of about 5,200 patients each year.

It also has a particularly poor prognosis as the rate of survival after five years of patients’ diagnosis is around 10 per cent, the new research is the first to show a drastic effect when combining THC and CBD with radiation.

Dr Wai Liu, Senior Research Fellow and lead researcher on the project, said: ‘The results are extremely exciting. Continue reading →

Durban – A Scottburgh pensioner whom doctors expected to die from cancer last year but now feels stronger thanks to a dagga-based oil, is scheduled to lead Saturday’s Global Cannabis Day in Durban.

Until last year, Harry du Plessis always considered the illegal herb “a no-no”.

“I never smoked, I never drank except for half a glass of champagne when I got married and a beer shandy once when I went fishing,” he told The Independent on Saturday.

Why would this 77-year-old indulge in the extracts of an illegal plant and campaign for it to be made legal to use in all its forms? Continue reading →