Marijuana compound CBD treatment for Breast Cancer

Here’s an ironic story about marijuana and cancer treatment:

On Wed Jun 20, 2007, ABC NEWS reported that Connecticut’s governor, Gov. Jodi Rell, a cancer survivor, vetoed a bill that would have allowed people with certain serious illnesses to use marijuana, saying it was fraught with problems and sent a mixed message to children. Gov. Jodi Rell goes on to say Tuesday that she struggled with the decision.

“I am not unfamiliar with the incredible pain and heartbreak associated with battling cancer,” the Republican said. Rell was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, a few months after taking office, and she underwent a mastectomy.

The bill she vetoed sealed the fate of the people older than 18 with medical conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis and AIDS to grow and use four marijuana plants after getting written permission from a doctor and registering with the state. The Connecticut Governors’ veto virtually threw out to the window in ever allowing the use of marijuana and cancer treatment for cancer patients.

But what the Governor failed to see was that at the same time, a compound of the marijuana plant may prevent aggressive breast cancers from spreading throughout the body, new research from the United States suggests. A team of researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute say cannabis compound CBD (cannabidiol) could provide a non-toxic alternative to chemotherapy for cancer treatments.

Previous research has shown the compound can block human brain cancers, and recent lab experiments have shown it may be able to do the same for breast cancer. This is just one of the medicinal values of marijuana and cancer treatment. The research suggests further that the active ingredient in the compound (CBD) from marijuana and cancer treatment does not share the psychoactive properties. CBD works by blocking the activity of gene Id-1, which is associated with metastasis — the spread of cancer cells away from the original tumor site. The compound does not share marijuana’s psychoactive properties.

“Right now we have a limited range of options in treating aggressive forms of cancer. Those treatments, such as chemotherapy, can be effective but they can also be extremely toxic and difficult for patients,” said researcher Dr. Sean McAllister in a release. “This compound offers the hope of a non-toxic therapy that could achieve the same results without any of the painful side effects.” “We know that Id-1 is a key regulator of the spread of breast cancer,” said senior author Dr. Pierre-Yves Desprez in a release. “We also know that Id-1 has also been found at higher levels in other forms of cancer. So what is exciting about this study is that if CBD can inhibit Id-1 in breast cancer cells, then it may also prove effective at stopping the spread of cancer cells in other forms of the disease, such as colon and brain or prostate cancer.” Researchers stressed that they were not encouraging cancer patients to smoke pot, adding that it would be highly unlikely for patients to receive an effective concentration of the compound in that way. The team’s findings were published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics.

Would the Governor change her mind had she been cured by the medicinal value of marijuana and cancer cell killing capabilities of its compound?

Greater Risks of Cancer Found in Alcohol than Marijuana

According to Danish researchers, the risk of breast cancer doubles in women who drink around two bottles or more of wine a week. A study on the link between marijuana and cancer aggravation compared to alcohol was conducted on women who drank 22-27 drinks a week. The European Journal of Public Health had reported that the risk of having cancer was greatest in women who drank wine or alcohol in a short period as compared to marijuana smokers.

Based on this report, women are advised to limit the amount of alcohol they drink. In a study consisted of women with ages more than 44 years and drank a moderate amount of alcohol, found out that even small amounts of alcohol can ameliorate the risk of breast cancer.

As compared to alcohol, another study on marijuana and cancer has demonstrated that marijuana smoke consists of many carcinogens similar to tobacco. These include certain aromatic hydrocarbons with greater concentrations such as benzopyrene. These hydrocarbons raise the assumption that continuous inhalation of marijuana may be a risk factor for cancer development or aggravation. On the other hand, marijuana smoke also consists of cannabinoids including CBD or cannabidiol and THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol in which alcohol does not have. These cannabinoids are non-carcinogenic and contain anti-cancer properties in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, alcohol and nicotine promote cancer cell development and blood supply. The study on marijuana and cancer had also found out that cannabinoids stimulate biological responses and activities, which may reduce the carcinogenic smoke effects including down-regulating the inflammatory arm of the immune system responsible in the production of potentially carcinogenic free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms, which are responsible in accelerating the progress of cancer.

Users of marijuana who are concerned with the rapid onset of action associated with inhalation and potential harms of marijuana smoke can cut down on their intake of carcinogenic compounds through vaporization instead of smoking the drug. According to different studies on marijuana and cancer aggravation, marijuana vaporization limits toxins in the respiratory system through heating marijuana to a temperature where the formation of cannabinoid vapors occurs. This may be around 180 – 190 degrees Celsius. However, the temperature should be below consumption point where associated toxins and noxious smoke are produces. This may be near 230 degrees Celsius. Based on the studies on marijuana and cancer, vaporization is considered to be a preferred method of using marijuana since it can carry doses of cannabinoids simultaneously with reducing the intake of carcinogenic smoke. More so, vaporization is considered as a safer method of marijuana administration as compared to inhaling marijuana from a water pipe or smoking marijuana cigarettes. According to the findings of a recent clinical trial on marijuana and cancer, use of the vaporizing device called “Volcano” delivers set doses of THC to participants in a reproducible way as in suppresses the intake of toxins in the respiratory system.

Evaluating the Risks of Marijuana Smoke in Cancer Development

A critical investigation should be done in order to confirm suppositions involving a link between marijuana and cancer development in body systems specifically in the lungs. Over the past decades, epidemiological studies have presented diverse findings between cancers of the pharynx, esophagus, rectum, oral cavity, larynx, liver, and colon. These studies have also presented findings that tobacco smoking can also cause similar effect such as cancer in the upper aerodigestive tract, kidneys, pancreas, and bladder. More so, smoking tobacco has been found to inflict cancer in the liver and stomach.

A few epidemiological and/or clinical studies that focused on using marijuana and cancer have been conducted recently; however, the results were not conclusive. In the past 10 years, scientists in different countries have also conducted their own research on the association between marijuana and cancer. Most of the findings have claimed that cannabinoids can stop the dissemination of countless cancer cells including brain cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and breast cancer. As published in the British Journal of Cancer, a 2006 patient trial had reported that the infliction of THC was related with decreased tumor cell proliferation in humans who have advanced glioblastoma.

In another study on marijuana and cancer published in the scientific journal, Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, Italian researchers have came up with the finding that Cannabinoids have presented a large potency in reduction of glioma tumor growth. The researchers have stated that the Cannabinoids tend to be selective anti-tumoral agents because they are able to destroy glioma cells without affecting the non-transformed counterparts. However, any mainstream media outlet did not report their findings.

There is no conclusive link between marijuana and cancer. However, in other studies, certain cellular abnormalities have been identified in the lungs more frequently in marijuana smokers as compared to non-smokers. The results of these studies have suggested that the combination of long-term exposure to marijuana and smoking tobacco damages the bronchial system, which can lead to respiratory cancers.

The public and government officials should cautiously be able to define the obscurity of the results gathered in different studies and experiments on marijuana and cancer. The results should not be construed as an imputation of its possible health hazards or an endorsement of the safety of marijuana.

The United States government was believed to keep the possible advancements with regard to using marijuana and cancer treatment, maintaining its stand that marijuana is illegal and should not be used whether on recreational or medical purposes. Thus, people are left speculating on the real score between use of marijuana and cancer treatment/development. Governments of different countries should be able to consider possible advancements of using marijuana and cancer treatment and not close their doors on the issue. If marijuana is truly a cure to cancer, then there is no need to leave people suffer longer.

Marijuana Might Cure Cancer

As the funded study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on marijuana and cancer had revealed no link between smoking marijuana and cancer aggravation, more substantial questions came to light. Based on the findings of NIDA, marijuana smoke has the possibility of protecting the user against its own inherent carcinogenic properties although most people know that marijuana smoke consists of carcinogenic compounds.

In a more recent report published online in Forbes.com, marijuana and cancer are again being associated; however, the report suggested that marijuana might be a cure for cancer.

The researchers of Harvard University have discovered through laboratory and mouse studies that delta -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) separates the growth of tumor into half in cancer, specifically in the lungs. At the same time, THC obstructs the ability of cancer to spread. According to a pulmonary specialist, Dr. Len Horovitz of Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, THC appears to have an effect that suppresses certain lines of cancer cells.

The researchers have also asserted that THC represses lung cancer through suppressing the epidermal growth factor, which is a molecule enhancing the growth and spread of aggressive small cell lung cancers. This is truly a development in the association between marijuana and cancer.

Andrea Barthwell, who once claimed that marijuana caused lung cancer, had an experience at an ONDCP press conference of being asked persistently to cite an evidence for her claim. She was not able to cite a reference and so most people found her claim funny. However, an inverse association between marijuana and cancer seemed to be funnier for most people. This is because people have the notion that if marijuana users do not get cancer, then so are tobacco users.

Conversely, many people believe that marijuana smokers fail to acquire lung cancer because of their reduced consumption as compared to that of cigarette smokers. However, people are overwhelmed with reported studies that THC suppresses cancerous cells and that an inverse association between marijuana and cancer is indeed possible. Among other things, such development leads people to assume that when THC is applied to the lungs through methods other than smoking, it might be even better. Each year, it has been evident that the debate over use of medical marijuana and cancer development becomes less.

A Research Reveals Marijuana Destroys Cancer Cells

In 2006, researchers at Barts and the London, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry had investigated the relationship between marijuana and cancer therapy. The team leader of the researchers, Dr. Wai Man Liu had stated that marijuana has the potential of destroying leukemia cells. The report was published in the Letters in Drug Design & Discovery. The researchers had followed up on the results of their study in 2005 on marijuana and cancer therapy, which presented that tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the main ingredient in marijuana, has the potential of destroying some forms of cancer.

Since the end of their study in 2005, Dr. Liu had moved to the Institute of Cancer in Sutton to continue his work on investigating new anti-cancer agents with potential therapeutic effect.

In previous studies, researchers have acknowledged that marijuana-based medicines produce advantages in treatment of patients with cancer. These medicines serve as appetite stimulant, nausea reduction, and painkiller; recently however, evidence has been establishing marijuana potentially as an anti-tumor agent. On the other hand, this evidence has complicated the capacity of marijuana to be an anti-tumor agent because of its consequent legal status as well as its widely reported psychoactive side effects. Nevertheless, reports and studies have not yet established exactly how use of marijuana and cancer treatment are related although the main psychoactive ingredient of marijuana and related compounds have been demonstrated to destroy cancer cells through interference in significant growth-processing pathways.

Dr. Liu and his group have begun to discover further existing crucial processes in which THC can be able to destroy cancer cells and possible stimulate survival. The researchers were able to arrive at such discovery through using highly sophisticated microarray technology that allowed them to detect changes in over 25,000 genes in cells treated simultaneously with THC. Dr. Liu, in addition to this report, had also found that the mechanism of marijuana may be self-determining from the presence of receptors including proteins located on the cells’ surface through which the binding of other signaling molecules occur. Such binding of molecules to receptors draws out a response in the cell whether it grows or dies. The result that demonstrates marijuana action may not necessitate the presence of receptors initiates the possibility that use of marijuana and cancer treatment is positively linked. The finding opens the door that the drug may be used more extensively as dependence of cancer cells on the marijuana receptor is taken out.

In addition, Dr. Liu had stated that it is substantial to emphasize that marijuana-like substances are far removed from the marijuana that is smoked. Novel compounds are particularly designed in order to be free of the psychoactive features simultaneous with maintaining anti-cancer action. At the end of the day, the key to effectively link marijuana and cancer is to understand the basic mechanisms of the compounds of marijuana, which will provide insights into developing new marijuana-based medicines for cancer treatment.

Marijuana and Lung Cancer

The big debate over the link between marijuana and cancer has spread all over the medical world. In spite several reports about smoking marijuana and cancer development, no profound evidence of the link and an indisputable conclusion have been found.

The major problem of the unresolved issue on the link between marijuana and cancer is that most people with cancer who smoke marijuana have also been smoking tobacco at the same time. Tobacco has been known to be carcinogenic. More so, smokers of marijuana tend to hold the smoke in the lungs longer than tobacco smokers in order to attain the maximum effect from the smoke. Thus, this method of smoking marijuana puts its smokers or users at a greater risk to any pollutants contained in the smoke. On the other hand, there have been reports that medical marijuana was prescribed to Queen Victoria in order to relieve period pain.

In a recent report done by researchers of the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, a single marijuana joint may cause damage to the lungs as much as five cigarettes can. This is another contrast to the favorable link between marijuana and cancer, which is advocated by those who support medical marijuana.

The research in New Zealand on marijuana and cancer had involved a group of 339 participants who were divided into four sub-groups based on several factors: whether they smoked marijuana only; whether they smoked tobacco only; whether they smoke both marijuana and tobacco; or whether they are non-smokers. The ages of the participants ranged from 18 to 70 years old. During the said research on marijuana and cancer, each participant were asked to complete lung function tests as well as x-ray scans of their chests in order to evaluate the level of damage in their airways and lungs.

On the other hand, in 2006, another study on marijuana and cancer contrary to the research in New Zealand had concluded that no link was found between marijuana and cancer. The University of California published this study. The study involved a total of 611 patients of lung cancer who resided in Los Angeles and 601 patients with other cancers such as head and neck cancers. These two groups were compared to a control group of 1,040 people without cancer. Each of the participants in this study was asked to disclose information on several factors including their use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. They were also asked about their use of other drugs, their family history of cancer, and their diets as well as their occupation.

Rick Simpson: Marijuana Cures Cancer

A non-profit entity called the Phoenix Tears has been asking donations from people in support of Hemp Oil. Phoenix Tears claims that Hemp medicines as that of the one they provide is an effective cure for cancer and other serious illnesses. The group, headed by Rick Simpson, is providing people with information regarding the use of natural Hemp oil, which comes from marijuana or cannabis plant. Thus, the group would like to rescind the negative notion of most people about the association between marijuana and cancer.

Rick Simpson had attempted to seek relief for his medical condition through using medicinal marijuana oil. In 1997, Simpson had a serious head injury and was given by his physician several pills to take for his treatment. After discovering hemp oil, he did not think twice of using it as his sole treatment since hemp oil has high concentration of THC. He studied further on the use of hemp oil and discovered that it can cure cancer as well as other diseases. He had then believed that the effect of marijuana and cancer treatment can have a positive association. He tried to share his knowledge on marijuana and cancer treatment to many people free of charge. He had informed, cured, and controlled the diseases of people. However, when his story was publicized, the law had snatched his “generosity” with regard to his knowledge on the positive effect of marijuana and cancer treatment. Thus, Simpson had left many people who believed in hemp oil without cancer treatment after the Royal Canadian Mounted Police charged him with possession and trafficking of marijuana.

According to the website of Phoenix Tears (www.PhoenixTears.ca), hemp has always been known as a medicinal plant throughout the history of man. However, it has also been used both as a religious and political controversy. The group believes that the restrictions placed against marijuana are maintained due to big money and not because marijuana is harmful. This leaves many people to suffer and die needlessly when the association between marijuana and cancer is already positive. According to the group, if the government has allowed them to grow hemp in their backyards to cure illnesses, then the pharmaceutical industry will definitely through a fit.

Simpson and his group have been dedicated to share a positive outlook about marijuana and cancer treatment. In fact, they claim that many large pharmaceutical companies still existing today have sold hemp medicines during the 1800s and early 1900s. They claim that these companies have already known then that a positive link between marijuana and cancer treatment exists. Thus, they think that the government is against the legalization of hemp oil as a medicine because apart from a possible violent reaction from the pharmaceutical industry, hemp oil can never be patent.

COULD HAVE CANCER CURABLE A LONG TIME AGO?

On February 2000, the world was startled on the announcement made by Spanish researchers in Madrid that they had eradicated brain tumors in rats. They did this by injecting known marijuana content, THC.

This research on cancer marijuana treatment is only the second time that rats with tumors were injected with THC. American researchers from the Medical College of Virginia way back 1974 were also experimenting with tumor-bearing mice, searching for proof that marijuana is damaging to the immune system. What they discovered however is the effect of THC in leukemia, lung and breast cancer. Marijuana is a probable source of cure since THC can slow the progress of cancer inside the body of the mice.

According to Jack Herer, author of the book The Emperor Wears No Clothes, the Drug Enforcement Agency locked the research on cancer marijuana treatment right away as well as all other related researches. A couple of years thereafter, the then American president Gerald Ford stopped all government-sponsored marijuana and cancer research. In the process, private pharmaceutical firms were vested exclusive rights of marijuana and cancer research in order to find a synthetic form of THC. This is so to source THC, along with all its medicinal benefits and without the addicting “high” side effect.

As reported in the March 2000 issue of the magazine Nature Medicine, the Spanish researchers used 45 rats with cancer cells. They confirmed the presence of tumor through magnetic resonance imaging or MRI. Upon verification, they injected two types of substance, the organic THC and the synthetic Win-55,212-2. Fifteen rats were subjected to THC and another 15 to Win-55,212-2 on the 12th day. The other 15 rats that were remained untreated died within 12-18 days. The main cause was glioma cell inoculation, a form of brain cancer. Those treated with THC survived much longer. Nine of them were able to survive up to the 19th to the 35th day. THC did not affect three of the THC-treated mice, and were able to live up to the 16th to the 18th day only. Most importantly, three of the THC-treated mice had their tumor effaced altogether. According to the researchers, the result with the Win-55,212-2 had the same result.

In testing for toxic effects, Dr. Manuel Guzman of Complutense University who also served as the lead researcher filled the brains of healthy rats with progressively large doses of THC. After seven days, no side effects resulted.

Concluding through MRI, the researchers verified that no significant damage occurred to healthy rats that could possibly lead to trauma, edema, necrosis or even infection. Other possible side effects were also observed but only insubstantial behavioral change in set parameters in physical activity and motor coordination resulted. During and after THC irrigation, weight gain and the level of food and water intake of the mice remained practically the same. Blood tests were also employed and the researchers found that hematological profiles of the mice were normal. They have therefore concluded that THC does not affect both the biochemical make up and tissue damage markers of the cannabinoid-treated mice within the span of the whole seven-day duration of treatment to a couple of months thereafter.

This Spanish discovery may be considered the first official study on the subject since the Virginia research was kept from the public. Even during the consecutive tenancies of both Ronald Reagan and George Bush, all possible information, from articles to compendiums in university libraries were hidden or systematically destroyed.

Dr. Guzman finally obtained a copy of a 1975 journal article about the Virginia study from an American journalist that practically verified his findings—two components of marijuana namely THC and CBN successfully reduced tumor in mice treated with such for twenty successive days. A 1974 The Washington Post article titled, “Cancer Curb is studied” also reported that the spread of damaging cells in cases of leukemia, breast cancer and lung cancer, marijuana component THC is possibly the cure.

Why the American government censored such an important finding, only they would know. Much has been written about the other effects of marijuana on the body and mind of a human being, but little did the public know that through the active components of marijuana, cancer could have been curable as early as the 1970s.

Hemp Activist Runs Independent in Federal Election

Rick Simpson, the Hemp activist from Canada known for associating positive effects of marijuana and cancer treatment runs for public office. Simpson has been known as the inventor of marijuana “miracle drug” as he cultivates the plant, turns it to oil, and distributes it to ill people with different diseases free of charge. Simpson had cured his cancer through hemp oil in 2003. His campaign to prove the positive effects of marijuana and cancer treatment started after being healed. He said he had contacted politicians and organizations in support of his campaign.

Simpson, in his website www.phoenixtears.ca, has expressed his intention to run for office. He stated that he is offering the public a cure for different diseases including cancer. He said that he have made hemp oil available to many people for the past few years. He was one of the few people who bravely publicized an inverse association between marijuana and cancer.

In his previous interviews, Simpson claimed that marijuana or Hemp have been used as medicine throughout history. He then questions as to why marijuana is being restricted in Canada when it has been the most used medicinal plant prior to the modern ages. He explained that as the hemp, which contains high percentage of THC is turned to oil; one will achieve amazing healing effects. He added that hemp oil is a cure-all drug, which can be produced easily on a large scale at reasonable costs.

Simpson has decided to run for public office claiming that the government is not telling the Canadian people the truth, specifically on positive effects of marijuana and cancer treatment. He said he can no longer stand by as ignorance, graft, and corruption ruin the nation. Simpson had admitted having medical issues of his own; although he stressed that he is capable of representing his people in a proper and honest way.

For instance, Simpson linked the government and the pharmaceutical industry as restricting the positive effects of marijuana and cancer treatment to the public. He said the government to make people believe that hemp or marijuana is harmful to one’s health passes laws. He said hemp is not dangerous and that he had sworn to many affidavits of people having serious medical states; thus, he said hemp oil had been helpful to these people.

With regard to pharmaceutical industry, Simpson had stated that such industry sold hemp-based medicines for years knowing of its healing effect. He had noted that the pharmaceutical companies had sold a watered down version of hemp medicine, which are mostly in suspension and mixed resin pain pills. More so, Simpson said he did not find evidence that such companies sold real high-grade hemp oil. Thus, he had asserted that the government and the pharmaceutical industry had kept the positive effects of marijuana and cancer treatment as well as cure of other diseases from the public. He said both entities stand in front of the public with the same reasoning: “you can’t sell the people medicine if you heal them.” As such, according to Simpson, the public does not get what they should.

Smoking Marijuana: Risks and Studies

Studies and activities have been performed to provide useful data in defining the health risks of marijuana smoking as well as the association between marijuana and cancer. These include the following:
• Prospective epidemiological studies of populations at high risk for HIV infection or having HIV seropositivity – Since HIV/AIDs patients consists the largest group, which reports smoking marijuana for medical use, a pressing need for a thorough understanding of the relative risk posed by and the rewards of marijuana smoking. More so, such group is vulnerable to immunosuppressive effects. Studies associating marijuana and HIV/AIDS should incorporate the history of marijuana usage in analyzing the possible risk factors for seroconversion. More so, studies should be able to analyze how the opportunistic infections of AIDS are acquired and how they progress. Studies can be conducted under the scope of federal approved clinical trials of marijuana in immuno-compromised patients. In addition, such studies should be able to provide a follow-up phase, which is enough to draw plausible adverse occurrences.
• Molecular markers of respiratory cancer progression in marijuana smokers – Studies would be prompted to explore on the presence of molecular markers in the event that an epidemiological association between marijuana and cancer is presented. These molecular markers include p16, GSTML, TP53, and NATZ, which can be predictive of increased risk of carcinogenesis in marijuana smokers.
• Case control studies in determining the associated risk of marijuana and cancer development in the respiratory system – Findings from cellular, genetic, biochemical, animal, and tissue studies have suggested a plausible link between using of marijuana and cancer development. Such hypothesis can be addressed with more conviction through a population-based case control study of adequate large numbers of people with lung cancer. Consequently, the study should also consist of large numbers of people with upper aerodigestive tumors such as oral cavity cancer, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus cancers. Noncancer controls are also needed in order to demonstrate a statistically significant association between marijuana and cancer, that is, if one link actually exists. No epidemiological studies have been comprehensive enough to gauge the link between marijuana and cancer due to the fact that long periods are required to induce human carcinomas. On the other hand, today, an epidemiological investigation may already be possible in finding an association between marijuana and cancer. This is because over thirty years have passed since the beginning of widespread use of marijuana among adolescents and young adults in the United States.