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| NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- August 17, 2006 |
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Posted by CN Staff on August 17, 2006 at 12:03:40 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML 
Cannabinoid May Halt Alzheimer's Progression, Study SaysAugust 17, 2006 - La Jolla, CA, USA La Jolla, CA: THC inhibits the formation of amyloid plaque, the primary marker for Alzheimer's disease (AD), far more effectively than approved medications, according to preclinical data to be published in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics. Investigators at The Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California reported that THC inhibits the enzyme responsible for the aggregation of amyloid plaque in a manner "considerably superior" to approved Alzheimer's drugs such as donepezil and tacrine. "Our results provide a mechanism whereby the THC molecule can directly impact Alzheimer's disease pathology," researchers concluded. "THC and its analogues may provide an improved therapeutic [option] for Alzheimer's disease [by]... simultaneously treating both the symptoms and the progression of [the] disease." Previous studies have shown cannabinoids to possess anti oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, both of which may play a role in moderating Alzheimer's. Last year, investigators at Madrid's Complutense University and the Cajal Institute in Spain reported that the intracerebroventricular administration of the synthetic cannabinoid WIN 55,212-2 prevented cognitive impairment and decreased neurotoxicity in rats. Other cannabinoids were also found to reduce the inflammation associated with Alzheimer's disease in human brain tissue in culture. "Our results indicate that... cannabinoids succeed in preventing the neurodegenerative process occurring in the disease," investigators concluded. Over 4.5 million Americans are estimated to be afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. That figure is expected to triple over the next 50 years. Previous human trials of synthetic THC (Marinol) and Alzheimer's found that administration of the drug reduced agitation and stimulated weight gain in patients suffering from the disease. For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "A molecular link between the active component of marijuana and Alzheimer's disease pathology," is available online at: Additional information on cannabinoids and neurodegenerative disorders is available online at: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6812 DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6977 Colorado Cannabis Legalization Initiative Certified For November Ballot August 17, 2006 - Denver, CO, USA Denver, CO: The Colorado Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday that a statewide initiative that seeks to eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for the possession of cannabis by adults has been certified to appear on the November 2006 ballot. Sponsored by Safer Alternatives For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), the measure would amend state statutes to make the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis legal in Colorado for those age 21 or older. Last year, voters in Denver passed a similar municipal initiative by 54 percent. Sponsors turned in more than 130,000 signatures from Colorado voters to qualify the measure for the November ballot. "The campaign will highlight the hypocrisy of laws that prohibit the use of marijuana while allowing and even encouraging the use of alcohol, an infinitely more harmful drug," said SAFER Campaign Director Mason Tvert. For more information, please visit: http://www.saferchoice.org To listen to an interview with SAFER's Mason Tvert, please download the August 14, 2006 edition of the NORML Audiostash at: http://normlaudiostash.com/id156.htm DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6978 Seattle Hempfest Celebrates 15 Years This Weekend August 17, 2006 - Seattle, WA, USA Seattle, WA: Event organizers are anticipating nearly 150,000 attendees at this weekend's 15th annual Seattle Hempfest, taking place this Saturday and Sunday at Myrtle Edwards Park in downtown Seattle. More than 80 speakers - including NORML Executive Director Allen St. Pierre and NORML Founder Keith Stroup - and over 50 bands will participate in the two-day event, which is the largest annual marijuana law reform rally held anywhere in the world. Other speakers scheduled to appear at this year's "protestival" include: NORML Board and Advisory Board Members Dale Gieringer, Dominic Holden, Norm Kent, Frank Lucido, George Rohrbacher, Norm Stamper, Jeffrey Steinborn, and Dan Viets, as well as Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance, Mikki Norris, Executive Director of the Cannabis Consumers Campaign, Madeline Martinez, Executive Director of Oregon NORML, and Debby Goldsberry, Executive Director of the Cannabis Action Network. For a complete schedule of this year's Seattle Hempfest speakers and events, please visit: http://www.seattlehempfest.org/ DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6980 DOE Cuts Funding For Random Student Drug Testing Programs August 17, 2006 - Washington, DC, USA Washington, DC: The US Department of Education (DOE) has dramatically reduced the level of funding available to subsidize random student drug testing programs in public high schools and middle schools, according to the agency's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. According to the agency, only $1.7 million in federal funds will be available for schools that wish to enact student drug testing programs for the 2006-2007 school year. Last year, the DOE subsidized student drug testing programs in 350 schools nationwide at a total cost of more than $7 million. The White House had previously proposed increasing the budget to fund student drug testing programs to more than $25 million. According to the DOE, grantees will be required to participate in an ongoing national evaluation of the effectiveness of mandatory student drug testing programs. To date, the only federal study to assess the impact of student drug testing policies on a national basis found that "drug testing, as practiced in recent years in American secondary schools, does not prevent or inhibit student drug use." For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, or Allen St. Pierre. NORML Executive Director, at (202) 483-5500. DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6979 Source: NORML Foundation (DC) CannabisNews NORML Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #4 posted by paul armentano on August 17, 2006 at 14:12:06 PT |
| "It is noteworthy that THC is a considerably more effective inhibitor of AChE-induced [amyloid plaque] deposition than the approved drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment, donepezil and tacrine, which reduced [amyloid plaque] aggregration by only 22% and 7% respectively, at twice the concentration used in our studies." [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by FoM on August 17, 2006 at 13:11:46 PT |
| My mother had Alzheimers and one thing I noticed as she took steps down that she would become very agitated at not being able to remember. Soon she would then have a TIA and slip further. Cannabis helps keep agitation at bay and maybe that helps slow the progression of the disease. It is only what I think not fact or anything. Also Alzeimers patients lose their appetite and forget to eat which runs the person down and makes them more vunerable. Cannabis increases the appetite and food tastes better so the body will get the fuel it needs to keep going which helps too. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by whig on August 17, 2006 at 12:35:32 PT |
| Forget lies, they only confuse. There is a reason honest people are smarter than liars. They don't have to expend mental energy keeping their story straight. Confronted with the truth the liar has to reject it out of hand without considering it or risk untangling his careful knots. The problem comes with good honest people that have been raised in a culture of lies. We still have to spend a lot of mental energy untangling the knots. A lot of us are confused, and it takes a very long time to figure out the real world coming from a place of authoritarian deceit. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by museman on August 17, 2006 at 12:16:50 PT |
| What was that that I remembered to forget? Oh yes, THAT THERE WAS EVER ANYTHING WRONG WITH MARIJUANA SMOKING! [ Post Comment ] |
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