'Cannabis' acts as antidepressant

BBC ^

[traumer]

A chemical found in cannabis can act like an antidepressant, researchers have found.

A team from Canada's University of Sasketchewan suggest the compound causes nerve cells to regenerate.

The Journal of Clinical Investigation study showed rats given a cannabinoid were less anxious and less depressed.

But UK experts warned other conflicting research had linked cannabis, and other cannabinoids, to an increased risk of depression and anxiety.

They suggested this could be because different cannabinoids acting at different levels have contradictory effects.

Cannabinoids have been shown to relieve the symptoms of multiple sclerosis and pain relief in humans.

They are naturally present in the body, as well as being found in cannabis.

'Complicated effects'

The Canadian researchers gave rats injections of high levels of one artificial cannabinoid, HU210, for a month.

The animals were seen to have nerve cell regeneration in the hippocampus, which is linked to memory and emotions.

The hippocampus has been shown to generate new nerve cells throughout a person's or an animal's life, but this ability is reduced if cells are engineered to lack a cannabinoid receptor protein called CB-1.

In the Canadian study, rats given the cannabinoid were also found to be less anxious, and more willing to eat food in new environments - a change which would normally frighten them.

However, research has previously linked use of the drug cannabis to long-term damage to mental health, and to increase the risk of mental illness in those who are already genetically susceptible.

In addition, short-term high doses of cannabinoids had also been shown to produce anxiety-like effects in rats and depression-like effects in mice.

But other studies had found that low-doses of cannabinoids helped to reduce anxiety in rodents.

The Canadian team said: "These complicated effects of high and low doses of acute and chronic exposure to cannabinoids may explain the seemingly conflicting results observed in clinical studies regarding the effects of cannabinoid on anxiety and depression."

'Raw cannabis is risky'

Professor Robin Murray, of the Institute of Psychiatry, questioned whether the anti-anxiety and antidepressant effects seen in the animals would be replicated in humans.

He said: "This is a very big leap of faith as they have no data on humans, and the supposed animals' models of anxiety and depression that they use don't have much in common with the human conditions."

Paul Corry, Director of campaigns and communication at Rethink said: "Cannabinoids are an exciting new area for medical research, but it is important to recognise that there are over 60 active ingredients in cannabis - synthetic cannabinoid may be showing evidence of nerve regeneration.

"But as also pointed out in this study, the effects of cannabis on the brain are complex and produce conflicting evidence.

"For most people with severe mental illness, raw cannabis remains a risky substance.

"All medical research needs to be checked before it would make a difference to the hundreds of thousands of people living with severe mental illness in the UK."

[WildTurkey]

The truth about meth is bad enough, they shouldn't lie and jeopardize their credibility.

99% seems high but I can't say it is a lie. At least it was put in the 'editorial' part and not the list of facts.

OTOH, why would reason.com and radioman jeopardize their credibility in such a dishonest manner?

[WildTurkey]

And why would they try to discredit an anti-meth drive?

[TKDietz]

With the exception of the "1 in 7" quote the Reason article appears to be factually correct with respect to the fact that the Meth is Death site contained all these claims cited in the Reason article. Radioman made a couple of other mistakes. Radioman is just some guy on the internet talking with some other guys. Reason is a magazine that should be held to a higher standard on their fact checking. But for all I know the "1 in 7" quote really was on the Meth is Death site, it's so full of other false nonsense.

The statements by Radioman and Reason magazine could easily be mistakes. Neither are experts on drugs or drug statistics, unlike the DEA. The DEA, on the other hand, really needs to be held to a much higher standard than either Reason magazine or Radioman. The DEA represent the government. The government is using our tax dollars fighting against drugs. When they lie and ruin their credibility, they are wasting our money. In fact, they are undermining the whole anti-drug message that parents and teachers and everyone else are trying to give to our kids. Our kids see government propaganda, and then look at us and say, "you are just spouting government propaganda." They don't believe us either. If the government is going to try to send a message about drugs to our skeptical youth, they need to be honest about it. My gosh, meth is God awful horrible stuff, there is no need for exaggerations.

[WildTurkey]

But for all I know the "1 in 7" quote really was on the Meth is Death site, it's so full of other false nonsense.

Such as?

[TKDietz]

I can't speak for them, but I think that an anti-meth drive that is full of scare tactic lies need to be discredited and shut down fast before it makes our kids think all of the bad stuff we tell them about drugs is false. Lying jerks like this Tennessee DA who put together the Meth is Death site ought to be tarred and feathered and kicked out of office.

[WildTurkey]

I can't speak for them, but I think that an anti-meth drive that is full of scare tactic lies need to be discredited and shut down fast before it makes our kids think all of the bad stuff we tell them about drugs is false. Lying jerks like this Tennessee DA who put together the Meth is Death site ought to be tarred and feathered and kicked out of office.

What lies?

[TKDietz]

Without digging into the site too much I can list these three false claims made on the site: 1) 95% (or 99%) of those who are hooked on meth became hooked after the first time; 2) only 5 percent of meth addicts are able to kick it and stay away; 3) from the first hit to the last breath, the life expectancy of a habitual meth user is only 5 years. If these three whoppers alone were true then, like the Reason article said, hundreds of thousands of meth users should be dying every year. That isn't happening. Nowhere close to 99% or 95% of those who try meth ever become addicted, and I doubt any become addicted from one single use. I don't know what the percentage is but more than five percent of addicts are able to get off the stuff, although it does seem to be a really hard drug to leave alone for these people. And there is no way on earth the average life expectancy for a habitual meth user is only five years. If that were true, most of my crank head clients would be dead by now, which I will only half jokingly say, might not be such a bad thing.

[Mojave]

copywrited to: Tennessee District Attorney’s General Association.

And the Tennessee District Attorney’s General Association owns the domain name meth-is-death.com.

[Mojave]

Most addicts given the choice would prefer the cheaper, and natural, and safer substances anyway.

Addicts would prefer coca leaves and poppy sap to crack and smack?

Amazing.

[Mojave]

Nowhere close to 99% or 95% of those who try meth ever become addicted

Nor does the site say they do. It says that 95% of those who are addicted manage to getted hooked the first time they try it.

If 95% of those who die from bee stings die the first time they get stung, does that mean that 95% of all bee stings are fatal? Think for a second.

[Mojave]

It doesn't matter what the source of the high is.

Is that why commercial goes for 300 - 400 per pound in Los Angeles while sinsemilla goes for 2,500 - 6,000?

DEA Illegal Drug Price and Purity Report

I have heard from cocaine users and also heard in the countless cocaine movies that the American by-products don't even compare to the natural derivatives.

Sure ya have.

[Mojave]

Decriminalization of ALL medicinal plants would STOP the refining processes.

You can legally make your own wine.

Have the distilleries shut down?

[Mojave]

Whether I go to the grocery store and pick up a bag off coffee beans, or I go to the grocery store to pick some coca leaf.

Since coffee is legal, why would you need the coca leafs?

[Mojave]

By your assumptions these 'dro smokers would simply prefer a pure powder of 100% THC, as opposed to smoking.

I made no assumptions, I simply refuted your bizarre position that addicts would prefer poppy sap to heroin.

With citations.

[Mojave]

Because caffeine and coca leaves aren't the same thing.

And?

Since coffee is legal, why would you need the coca leafs?