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Pot Slows Cancer in Test Tube
WebMD ^ | Daniel J. DeNoon

Posted on 12/28/2007 8:47:30 AM PST by Sir Gawain

Pot Slows Cancer in Test Tube

Marijuana Ingredients Slow Invasion by Cervical and Lung Cancer Cells
By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Dec. 26, 2007 -- THC and another marijuana-derived compound slow the spread of cervical and lung cancers, test-tube studies suggest.

The new findings add to the fast-growing number of animal and cell-culture studies showing different anticancer effects for cannabinoids, chemical compounds derived from marijuana.

Cannabinoids, and sometimes marijuana itself, are currently used to lessen the nausea and pain experienced by many cancer patients. The new findings -- yet to be proven in human studies -- suggest that cannabinoids may have a direct anticancer effect.

"Cannabinoids' ... potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of highly invasive cancers should be addressed in clinical trials," conclude Robert Ramer, PhD, and Burkhard Hinz, PhD, of the University of Rostock, Germany.

Might cannabinoids keep dangerous tumors from spreading throughout the body? Ramer and Hinz set up an experiment in which invasive cervical and lung cancer cells had make their way through a tissue-like gel. Even at very low concentrations, the marijuana compounds THC and methanandamide (MA) significantly slowed the invading cancer cells.

Doses of THC that reduce pain in cancer patients yield blood concentrations much higher than the concentrations needed to inhibit cancer invasion.

"Thus the effects of THC on cell invasion occurred at therapeutically relevant concentrations," Ramer and Hinz note.

The researchers are quick to point out that much more study is needed to find out whether these test-tube results apply to tumor growth in animals and in humans.

Ramer and Hinz report the findings in the Jan. 2, 2008 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: cancer; drleroy; marijuana; medicalmarijuana; research; stonedhealthy; thc; wod
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To: Sir Gawain

This is a meaningless study. There are hundreds of chemicals that kill cancer in a test tube that don’t work in the human body.


21 posted on 12/28/2007 8:59:23 AM PST by aimhigh
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To: Sir Gawain

I really believe that God put everything on this earth for a reason - some of which I cannot fathom - but clearly, he gave us herbs and other things which have medicinal value to us. Marijuana has value as an herb & people can make fun of it all they want - but it does help with certain ailments & it is something that a person can grow for himself, to manage their own health with.

Whether it’s cancer, or just as a way to relax or relieve stress - it shouldn’t matter if a person uses it responsibly. I would rather smoke a joint than to take Prozac or Paxil, or any of the other stuff that doctors push on you everytime you go to their office.

In all these years, they’ve never shown it to have the bad effects that alchohol, cigarettes or even legal prescriptions have on people.

It’s time to get over this irrational hatred and fear of a lowly herb. The war on drugs is a dismal failure - it’s time to stop it. Flame on.


22 posted on 12/28/2007 8:59:25 AM PST by alicewonders
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To: CDHart

The husband of my niece found one while visiting here at the skate board park in 2 minutes, but he looks like a hood. Hell, he is a hood...

Ask around, you’ll probably find something. If you can’t get past the cultural barrier, you could make a weekend trip to San Francisco and try crashing a pot house, with or without a doctor’s prescription.

It could be fun, but I doubt it’ll help much. Pot “slows down” lots of things, the patient as well as the cancer...

Good luck!


23 posted on 12/28/2007 8:59:33 AM PST by elfman2 ("As goes Fallujah, so goes central Iraq and so goes the entire country" -Col Coleman, USMC ,4/2004)
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To: Sir Gawain

The cancer cells just don’t care any more about their mission.

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24 posted on 12/28/2007 9:00:10 AM PST by Kevmo (We should withdraw from Iraq — via Tehran. And Duncan Hunter is just the man to get that job done.)
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To: CDHart

Have you looked into any of the vitamin D studies?


25 posted on 12/28/2007 9:01:13 AM PST by Judith Anne (I refuse to have a tagline anymore. Nope. Not gonna do it. Won't go there.)
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To: exile

I see Ricky Williams already mentioned, but how ‘bout Michael and Marcus Vick?


26 posted on 12/28/2007 9:04:29 AM PST by dmz
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To: CDHart
I'm currently under treatment for lung cancer for the second time in my life. I'm willing to give it a try. Problem is, how does one in her '60s find a drug dealer?

Ask your doctor. These studies are on the chemicals in pot, not pot itself. The headline is irresponsible.

There are also other alternatives besides pot. Check out curcumin, the yellow pigment in turmeric. But still coordinate with your docotor.

27 posted on 12/28/2007 9:04:35 AM PST by Moonman62 (The issue of whether cheap labor makes America great should have been settled by the Civil War.)
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To: Sir Gawain

My government says pot is worse than cancer. In fact, we must arrest cancer patients for using pot. My God does not agree with my government.


28 posted on 12/28/2007 9:05:24 AM PST by Lexington Green (There ain't no news in the news no more.)
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To: CDHart

I don’t want to be guilty of “stereotyping”, but I have found this to be true - if you know a gay man, usually you can find them in florist’s shops or hair salons - it wouldn’t be hard for you to cultivate a nice relationship with them. I’ve found that most gay men smoke pot, for whatever reason, and if you explained what you wanted and why, I bet they could hook you up.

The problem with the current laws is that it forces people like you, that really could benefit from marijuana to have to deal with illegal drug dealers. It’s a terrible thing & by keeping it illegal - organized crime continues to make huge profits on it & to use it to seduce younger & younger people to go on to harder drugs. Our politicians are in on the take too, or they would not allow this to continue.

I hope and pray for the best for you.


29 posted on 12/28/2007 9:07:35 AM PST by alicewonders
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To: alicewonders

“In all these years, they’ve never shown it to have the bad effects that alchohol, cigarettes or even legal prescriptions have on people.”

Problem is that it’s too easy to grow, and legalizing it makes it too cheap get much tax revenue from it. Then more people turn into worthless stoners dragging down society. We could argue all day about the cost benefit of legalization, but I don’t want a long debate on this, no time today.


30 posted on 12/28/2007 9:07:36 AM PST by elfman2 ("As goes Fallujah, so goes central Iraq and so goes the entire country" -Col Coleman, USMC ,4/2004)
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To: CDHart

Over 27 years ago my FIL was receiving treatment for terminal prostate cancer. The treatment make him sooooo sick and we really kicked around the idea of marijuana but we couldn’t figure out how to get him to use it. We never ran it by him because he would have been scandalized. We considered brownies but I think you can taste it.

Do you know any potheads? If you do, call them up and ask for a little bit. Potheads are mellow and I’m sure they’d love help you out.


31 posted on 12/28/2007 9:09:00 AM PST by tiki (True Christians will not deliberately slander or misrepresent others or their beliefs)
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To: CDHart

Got a grandkid in school?


32 posted on 12/28/2007 9:10:58 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

It can’t grow in the dark.


33 posted on 12/28/2007 9:12:28 AM PST by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: alicewonders
The war on drugs is a dismal failure - it’s time to stop it. Flame on.

Sort of like the war on poverty, but I don't hear anyone calling for redeployment, do you?

34 posted on 12/28/2007 9:12:56 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Are there any men left in Washington? Or are there only cowards? Ahmad Shah Massoud)
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To: eleni121
If any of this can be proven...then prescribe the therapeutic essence...in medicinal form controlled by the medical establishment, cultured in tightly controlled environments.

Oh, by all means, let's not let anyone self medicate. </sarc>

Sorry if this offends you but I see no reason to let pharmecutical companies take any more of my money than is absolutely necessary.

35 posted on 12/28/2007 9:14:00 AM PST by Just another Joe (Warning: FReeping can be addictive and helpful to your mental health)
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To: Hemingway's Ghost

Ahh Ricky Williams. He’s the last great stoner to refer to himself in the third person. Those old interviews are priceless.


36 posted on 12/28/2007 9:16:20 AM PST by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: Old Professer; CDHart

The biggest problem with that is that it drives them toward the lifestyle. 20 years ago I thought about growing pot to help pay for school, but couldn’t stand the idea of making those people the foundation of my social network. I’d rather die early than push my grand-kids toward that group of losers.


37 posted on 12/28/2007 9:16:26 AM PST by elfman2 ("As goes Fallujah, so goes central Iraq and so goes the entire country" -Col Coleman, USMC ,4/2004)
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To: alicewonders
I really believe that God put everything on this earth for a reason - some of which I cannot fathom

According to the bureaucrats inside the beltway, he put cannabis here to expand the power of the federal government.

38 posted on 12/28/2007 9:17:07 AM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: elfman2
Then more people turn into worthless stoners dragging down society.

Nothing has drug down society more than the Idiot Box sitting in all of our living rooms. Maybe we should ban TV's too.

39 posted on 12/28/2007 9:20:22 AM PST by numberonepal (Don't Even Think About Treading On Me)
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To: LIConFem

That’s cuz it’s just mellow now. And I’m sure pot slows brain cells and other cells as well. Duh.


40 posted on 12/28/2007 9:26:17 AM PST by Rick.Donaldson (http://www.transasianaxis.com - Visit for lastest on DPRK/Russia/China/Etc --Fred Thompson for Prez.)
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