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A Marijuana Breakthrough?
The Scotsman ^ | Nov. 5, 2004 | David Kohn

Posted on 11/05/2004 1:38:10 PM PST by Ahriman

A decade ago, when Daniele Piomelli went to scientific conferences, he was often the only researcher studying cannabinoids, the class of chemicals that give marijuana users a high. His work often drew sniggers and jokes; but not any more. At the recent annual Society for Neuroscience conference in San Diego last week, scientists delivered almost 200 papers on the subject.

Why all the attention? Many scientists believe marijuana-like drugs might be able to treat a wide range of diseases, far beyond the nausea and chronic pain typically treated with medical marijuana.

Researchers presented tantalising evidence that cannabinoid drugs can help treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease - Parkinson’s disease and obesity. Other researchers are studying whether the compounds can help victims of stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Although the chemicals work on the same area of the nervous system, the new drugs are much more refined and targeted than marijuana, with few of its side effects.

"Cannabinoids have a lot of pharmaceutical potential," says Piomelli, a neuroscientist at the University of California. "A lot of people are very excited."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: leroylovesoros; wodlist
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To: A CA Guy

JUST SAY NO, unless you are dying from cancer or something.

Otherwise, leave it alone and have a life.


201 posted on 11/08/2004 5:46:31 PM PST by A CA Guy (God Bless America, God bless and keep safe our fighting men and women.)
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To: robertpaulsen
The only reason for the hullabaloo in "hemp as paper" is like the push for "medical" marijuana -- to immunize the public against their objection to the cannabis plant. It's a "camel's nose" approach to marijuana legalization.

What *is* the "objection to the cannabis plant"? Is there any objection that doesn't apply equally -- or more so -- to alcohol?

202 posted on 11/08/2004 5:47:15 PM PST by Ichneumon ("...she might as well have been a space alien." - Bill Clinton, on Hillary, "My Life", p. 182)
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To: WildTurkey
It is legalized. It's called Marinol.

This is just plain wrong. Marinol is not the same as Marijuana.

Marinol is only one of the many chemicals which are the active ingredients (yes, plural) in Marijuana.

But you knew that already and ignored it in order to justify a very silly prohibition.

203 posted on 11/08/2004 5:53:45 PM PST by CurlyDave
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To: dc-zoo
What's a "snigger"? Must be a "snicker" on drugs.

Snigger has been a perfectly legitimate word since before you were born. See verse III, part two of "The Highwayman" by Alfred Noyes for an example of usage.

http://www.cs.pdx.edu/~trent/ochs/lyrics/highwayman-orig.html

When I was in school this was one of the poems we read in about the 6 th grade.

204 posted on 11/08/2004 6:00:59 PM PST by CurlyDave
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To: Fallstaff

I'm a conservative and I'm all for legalisation and taxation.


205 posted on 11/08/2004 6:02:34 PM PST by sawmill trash (We interrupt the regularly scheduled tagline to bring you this special tagline. 4 MORE YEARS !!!!)
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To: Dr._Joseph_Warren

At least, I don't recall any fat hippies!!


You must not have known THAT MANY pot heads ... just like coffe drinkers, they come in all different sizes.


206 posted on 11/08/2004 6:04:41 PM PST by sawmill trash (We interrupt the regularly scheduled tagline to bring you this special tagline. 4 MORE YEARS !!!!)
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To: Fallstaff
Legalize it. Why don't conservatives want to open this market to our economy?

Alcohol and tobacco produce lots of tax revenue and are big business. Marijuana is a weed which will grow anywhere, and thus will generate neither tax revenue nor business profit if anybody was allowed to grow it openly in his back yard

207 posted on 11/08/2004 6:09:31 PM PST by SauronOfMordor (We are going to fight until hell freezes over and then we are going to fight on the ice)
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To: Know your rights

I graduated highschool in '71, I don't need any help understanding pot.


208 posted on 11/08/2004 6:16:31 PM PST by G Larry (Time to update my "Support John Thune!" tagline. Thanks to all who did!)
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To: cmsgop

I know, I just sat here watching it.Over and over!


209 posted on 11/08/2004 6:22:38 PM PST by Boazo
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To: missyme

1973 I was driving to TacoTime.Car full of people,Someone put in a eight track tape,PinkFloyd Darkside of the moon.Never heard it before.I'm at a stop sign,Foot in on the clutch,Someone says,Hey it's a stop sign man,Not a light!


210 posted on 11/08/2004 6:33:57 PM PST by Boazo
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To: WildTurkey

Well, I'm sure they can pay for the expensive stuff. I'm talking about the cheap rope we got stuck with in Boy Scouts. Sure, I could learn my knots, but when camping outdoors when it's 30 below, the synthetic ropes most people buy don't work as well as hemp.


211 posted on 11/08/2004 8:29:13 PM PST by Military family member (Go Colts!)
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To: Ahriman
"Cannabinoids have a lot of pharmaceutical potential," says Piomelli, a neuroscientist at the University of California. "A lot of people are very excited."

There's a reason that neurons have cannabinoid receptors.
212 posted on 11/08/2004 8:34:20 PM PST by aruanan
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To: WildTurkey

OK, you win!

Hemp is a pain in the ass when wet, that's true. Manila rope is better; I've got it on my own boat. I still don't like the plastic and nylon lines. Then may be strong, but they don't handle the same when taken below freezing temps. Granted, I've never used the top quality stuff, simply because I can't afford it, and because I take trying to rig my boat using only 19th entury materials or the equivelent. It's only a little day sailer, but I try.


213 posted on 11/08/2004 8:35:40 PM PST by Military family member (Go Colts!)
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To: Ahriman
  "Cannabinoids have a lot of pharmaceutical potential," says Piomelli, a neuroscientist at the University of California.

"A lot of people are very excited."


214 posted on 11/08/2004 8:45:39 PM PST by Mike-o-Matic
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To: WildTurkey
This thread is about synthetic cannaboids, not smoked marijuana.

The word "synthetic" does not appear in the article.

This article is about medical benefits of cannabinoids. Marijuana contains cannabinoids. You have claimed there are no medical uses for marijuana. You are wrong.

215 posted on 11/09/2004 4:07:09 AM PST by Last Visible Dog
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To: WildTurkey
This thread is about synthetic cannaboids, not smoked marijuana.

Did you actually read the article?

from the article:

Neuroscientist Mary Abood first became interested in cannabinoids after hearing about ALS patients who got some relief from smoking marijuana.

216 posted on 11/09/2004 4:18:25 AM PST by Last Visible Dog
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To: CurlyDave
This is just plain wrong. Marinol is not the same as Marijuana. Marinol is only one of the many chemicals which are the active ingredients (yes, plural) in Marijuana. But you knew that already and ignored it in order to justify a very silly prohibition.

If you go back and read the article, it has nothing to do with marijuana and everything to do with synthetic cannabinoids.

217 posted on 11/09/2004 6:20:11 AM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Military family member
Sure, I could learn my knots, but when camping outdoors when it's 30 below, the synthetic ropes most people buy don't work as well as hemp.

But you can buy good synthetic rope for far less than hemp. Just buy the good stuff, not the cheap stuff from the grocercy store for your camping needs.

BTW, hemp is all wet when it comes to camping needs. Swells and slackens too much when wetted.

218 posted on 11/09/2004 6:26:09 AM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Military family member
Hemp is a pain in the ass when wet, that's true. Manila rope is better; I've got it on my own boat. I still don't like the plastic and nylon lines. Then may be strong, but they don't handle the same when taken below freezing temps. Granted, I've never used the top quality stuff, simply because I can't afford it, and because I take trying to rig my boat using only 19th entury materials or the equivelent. It's only a little day sailer, but I try.

Sailing in freezing conditions? You are one dedicated soul!

Did you miss the article I posted about the virtues of synthetic rope over hemp for mountain climbing in freezing conditions?

219 posted on 11/09/2004 6:29:01 AM PST by WildTurkey
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To: Last Visible Dog
The word "synthetic" does not appear in the article. This article is about medical benefits of cannabinoids. Marijuana contains cannabinoids. You have claimed there are no medical uses for marijuana. You are wrong.

----------------------------------------------------------

Many scientists believe marijuana-like drugs might be able to treat a wide range of diseases,

the new drugs are much more refined and targeted than marijuana, with few of its side effects.

Scientists who use Marinol, a legal but tightly regulated marijuana-like drug,

They believe marijuana has too many negatives to be a truly effective drug, with side effects that include memory problems, decreased immunity and possible addiction.

Marijuana has another drawback. From a scientific standpoint, Giuffrida says, it’s "a very dirty drug".

220 posted on 11/09/2004 6:38:38 AM PST by WildTurkey
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