Cannabinoids Can Kill Gastric Cancers Cells

A new study published in the journal Chemotherapy has found that cannabinoid receptor activation – something done naturally by cannabis and cannabinoids – can lead to the death of gastric cancer cells.
For the study, researchers at the Catholic University of Korea’s Department of Internal Medicine studied the effects of a cannabinoid receptor agonist (which cannabis is) on mice injected with gastric cancer cells.
It was found that, after 14 days, “Tumor volume decreased by 30% in the WIN 55,212-2 [a cannabinoid receptor agonist] -treated group.. Apoptotic [self-destructed] cells were found more commonly in the WIN 55,212-2 treatment group than in the control on immunohistochemistry.”
Researchers conclude that activation of cannabinoid receptors has “antineoplastic effect [the ability to kill cancer cells] on the gastric cancers in in vivo model.”
The full study can be found on the website for the U.S. Library of Medicine by clicking here.

Cannabis Kills Brain Cancer Cells, According to Study

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation found that THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) – a prime component of cannabis – can kill brain cancer cells by causing them to self-digest.
Researchers for the study examined mice subjects which were implanted with human cancer cells, as well as several human subjects with brain tumors, and found that THC causes brain cancer cells to undergo a process called autophagy; according to WebMD, autophagy is the “breakdown of a cell that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests.”
“These results may help to design new cancer therapies based on the use of medicines containing the active principle of marijuana and/or in the activation of autophagy,” says Guillermo Velasco, co-author of the study.
Researchers found no negative effect associated with the THC administered to the subjects of the study, which was published originally in 2009 and was conducted by researchers at Complutense University in Spain

Cannabinoids Destroy Cancer Cells, Prevents Them From Growing

A new study published online by the journal Anticancer Research has found that cannabinoids can “destroy” cancer cells, and prevent them from growing.
For the study, researchers tested six different cannabis-based cannabinoids (such as cannabidiol and cannabigerol) in their relation to leukemia cells. It was found that each of these cannabinoids were shown to be effective at combating the leukemia cells.
“Of six cannabinoids studied, each demonstrated anti-cancer properties as effective as those seen in THC. Importantly, they had an increased effect on cancer cells when combined with each other”, according to a press release for the study, sent out today.
“This study is a critical step in unpicking the mysteries of cannabis as a source of medicine. The cannabinoids examined have minimal, if any, hallucinogenic side effects, and their properties as anti-cancer agents are promising”, says Dr. Wai Liu, lead author of the study.
She continues; “These agents are able to interfere with the development of cancerous cells, stopping them in their tracks and preventing them from growing. In some cases, by using specific dosage patterns, they can destroy cancer cells on their own.”
“Used in combination with existing treatment, we could discover some highly effective strategies for tackling cancer. Significantly, these compounds are inexpensive to produce and making better use of their unique properties could result in much more cost effective anti-cancer drugs in future.”

Top Ten Marijuana Studies From 2013

2013 has been an incredible year for cannabis-related science, with dozens of peer-reviewed studies being released examining the benefits of cannabis ranging from weight-loss, to cancer-killing capabilities. Here we breakdown the ten most important (and groundbreaking) studies released this year.
1. THC May Treat Inflammatory Diseases and Cancer By Altering Genes
A government funded study published by the Journal of Biological Chemistry found that THC may actually alter certain genes in our body, which can result in a positive effect on a number of conditions, especially cancers and inflammatory diseases. This is the first study of its kind to find such a direct link between cannabinoids, and the alteration of genes.
2. Cannabis Combats Brain Degeneration and Increases Stamina
A study conducted at the Institute of Molecular Psychiatry at the University of Bonn in Germany found that cannabis triggers the release of antioxidants, which acts as a cleansing mechanism, resulting in the removal of damaged cells and improving the efficiency of mitochondria, the energy source that powers cells, potentially increasing stamina.
“These discoveries shed new insight on how natural marijuana cannabinoids hold the capacity to literally kill the brain inflammation responsible for causing cognitive decline, neural failure, and brain degeneration”, says Gery Wenk, a professor of neuroscience, immunology and medical genetics at Ohio State University.
3. Cannabis Can Stop Seizures
A study published by the British Journal of Pharmacology found that cannabis can stop seizures due to its “significant anticonvulsant effects”.
4. THC Provides Protection from Heart Attacks
Research published this year in the journal Biochemical Pharmacology found that even minuscule amounts of THC can provide protection from heart attacks, as well as reduce the potential cardiovascular damage associated with suffering one.
For the study researchers administered extremely small amounts of THC; 0.002 mg/kg, which is up to 10,000 times less potent than the average joint. Despite how small the dose was, researchers found it to be effective at protecting against heart attacks when administered 2 to 48 hours before an attack, and found it to help relieve the symptoms when administered afterward.
“[THC] is a safe and effective treatment that reduces myocardial ischemic (heart attack) damage”, states the study. It concludes: ”[O]ur study provides novel evidence for the beneficial use of extremely low doses of THC, doses that do not elicit any psychoactive side effects, in order to protect the heart from ischemic insults. THC can be used as a pre-conditioning drug in cases in which ischemic insult to the heart is anticipated, such as during cardiac surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention.”
5. Cannabinoids Found to Reduce 90% of Skin Cancer in Just 20 Weeks

Researchers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health had a study published this year in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, which found that cannabinoids can reduce up to 90% of skin cancer in just a 20 week period in animal models.

Merry Christmas 2013 From KushArena!!

From my family to yours, I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas. Or if you don’t believe in Christmas, then merry ‘fill in the blank’! I hope your day is filled with family, friends, and good times. If you are smoking on that Santa Kush, make sure to puff, puff, pass. Don’t be a Grinch and hog the whole bowl to yourself!

What Is The Best Thing To Combine With Marijuana?

A few weeks ago I held a contest across my social networks asking the question “Nothing goes together better than marijuana and _______”. I was so overwhelmed by the amazing response (over 700 of you chimed in) that my team made the following infographic to display the results.
 

Some basic takeaways from your response:

• Amsterdam must be on to something because coffee was an outrageously common response. In fact, coffee was mentioned more than other individual response
• Gateway drug? More drugs was a very common response, but ironically the lionshare of the responses did not mention harder drugs. Hash was most popular, followed by more marijuana, and then beer (which is by the way my least favorite alcohol in the world). It is also worth noting that if coffee was considered a drug more drugs would be the #1
• 10 geniuses decided to state the obvious and answer “fire”
• Love was included in 25 responses
• My followers appear to be an enlightened bunch with responses like freedom, liberty, health and intellectualism greatly outranking responses like video games and even sex!
• 20 of you responded Ed Rosenthal and/or my books. I appreciate you dearly
• and 30 of you filled in the blank correct answer: Everything, because everything really is better when you’re high

Cannabis Can Successfully Treat Epilepsy In Children, Says New Study

 
A new study published in this month’s issue of the journal Epilepsy Behavior has found that many parents with epileptic children are turning to cannabis-based medicines to treat their seizures, and in a large majority of instances, it’s successful in doing so.
“Severe childhood epilepsies are characterized by frequent seizures, neurodevelopmental delays, and impaired quality of life. In these treatment-resistant epilepsies, families often seek alternative treatments”, begins the study’s abstract. “This survey explored the use of cannabidiol-enriched cannabis in children with treatment-resistant epilepsy.”
For the study, researchers at the Department of Neurology at Stanford University examined 19 parents who have epileptic children, and who use cannabis-based medicines (such as tinctures and oils) to treat their child’s seizures. The average number of antiepileptic drugs tried before using cannabis was 12.
Researchers found that; “Sixteen (84%) of the 19 parents reported a reduction in their child’s seizure frequency while taking cannabidiol-enriched cannabis. Of these, two (11%) reported complete seizure freedom, eight (42%) reported a greater than 80% reduction in seizure frequency, and six (32%) reported a 25-60% seizure reduction.”
In addition, they found that; “Other beneficial effects included increased alertness, better mood, and improved sleep.” The only reported side effects were “drowsiness and fatigue”.
With this data, researchers conclude that “parents are using cannabidiol-enriched cannabis as a treatment for their children with treatment-resistant epilepsy”.
Recently the U.S. Federal Drug Administration gave approval to several studies intending to test the effectiveness of cannabis-based medicines on the treat of epilepsy in children.