cannabisnews.com: Chat With Ethan Russo M.D. Chat With Ethan Russo M.D. Posted by CN Staff on January 08, 2003 at 17:11:54 PT Invitation To Cannabis News Special Chat Source: Cannabis News Ethan Russo, MD, is a board-certified child and adult neurologist in Missoula, MT, and researcher in migraine, ethnobotany, medicinal plants, cannabis and cannabinoids in pain management, and the therapeutic applications of Schedule I plants and chemicals. Dr. Russo holds faculty positions as adjunct associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of Montana, and clinical associate professor in the Department of Medicine of the University of Washington. He has published numerous articles in scientific journals and is the author of Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs: A Scientific Analysis of Herbal Preparations for Psychiatric Conditions. He is co-editor with Franjo Grotenhermen of the book, Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic Potential, and author of the novel, The Last Sorcerer: Echoes of the Rainforest, all from Haworth Press. Dr. Russo is the founding editor of Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics: Studies in Endogenous, Herbal and Synthetic Cannabinoids, whose charter issue was released in January 2001. Two double-issues are also published as books, Cannabis Therapeutics in HIV/AIDS, and Women and Cannabis: Medicine.You are invited to a Special Chat with Ethan Russo M.D.Dr. Russo is a regular contributor here at Cannabis News and this will give us an opportunity to ask him questions in an interactive chat forum.Here are just some of Dr. Russo's achievements:Handbook of Psychotropic Herbs: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ermd.htmChronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) Program: An Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal Clinical Cannabis. -- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdfHemp For Headaches: An In-Depth Historical and Scientific Review of Cannabis in Migraine Treatment. -- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/hh.pdfThe Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics is the official Journal of the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine.It is edited by Dr. Ethan Russo and published by Haworth Press, Binghamton, New York. -- http://www.cannabis-med.org/science/jcant.htmCannabis Treatments in Obstetrics and Gynecology A Historic Review Ethan Russo M.D. -- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/russo-ob.pdfScheduled Time: Friday, January 10, 2003 at 9 PM ETTo access the chat:http://www.cannabisnews.com/chat Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #30 posted by FoM on January 10, 2003 at 19:31:28 PT About This Evening's Chat With Dr. Russo It was wonderful! He answered so many questions for us. There will be transcripts but it might take a few days. Thank you everyone for a inspiring and upbeat discussion! [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 10, 2003 at 10:14:48 PT druid I think I understand what you mean. I will go into the chat between 8 and 8:30 tonight and ask the question if it isn't seen by anyone to be answered here today. I don't know how busy folks are on Fridays. [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by druid on January 10, 2003 at 09:55:10 PT Please http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15160.shtml#1Would there be a problem with this?? Hide Chat Users IP Addresses [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by BGreen on January 10, 2003 at 00:39:29 PT Thanks, Richard It was very kind of you to respond in the first place. We all tend to base our actions on conditioning from our personal experiences. Psychological and physical warfare has differing effects on people, especially on a gentle pacifist like myself. I'm probably over-reacting but I've got to trust my gut feelings.When it's time to come out of the closet I'll know it. Right now I'm better served by shouting real loud through the closet door. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Richard Lake on January 10, 2003 at 00:16:53 PT: I did not mean to be flippant, BGreen But I did mean to be blunt.I understand and respect your concerns. However, there is nothing else I can tell you to do but not take the risks you feel are inappropriate to take.I know personally many hundreds of medical cannabis patients. I know that there must be thousands that feel as you do. They have both the right and responsibility to protect themselves as they see best. I can not and would not suggest that anyone take risks they are not willing to take.On the other hand, I have gone with patients, real patients with considerable fears, also, who risked all to express their outrage. Wheelchair treks across Ohio and Wisconsin to their state capitols to protest. Demonstrations. Very high profile exposure. Great risks for what they believe in.I am sure that some of them will be at the chat.We will try to make a copy of the discussion available on the web soon, so you can see what happened without actually going to the chat.That is the best we can do.Richard [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 09, 2003 at 23:31:56 PT BGreen I just want to say that I don't do what I do everyday here without risk. I'm aware believe me. I don't know technical things but I do know I want to do what I do and hope that I stay within the area that won't cause me problems. I remember being told years ago that talking about trying to change a law is fine but don't say what you do currently if anything. If drug use is mentioned it is fine if it is talking about past use. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 23:25:31 PT I Was Going To Trust The Hosts Of CNews, FoM I was led to believe that if I trusted them I didn't have to worry. Nobody mentioned that ANYBODY could immediately retrieve a record of everybody in the chat room. You and I can't do that just because somebody goes to a website. It would take people with special access.I'm not delusional or unnecessarily paranoid. I'm a realist who was born and raised in a country that's turned friends against friends and families against families. That's the truth, at least where I come from. People get probation for arson and murder, but get lengthy mandatory minimum sentences for trumped up "conspiracy to distribute" charges just because they have an ounce of cannabis in the same house as a box of sandwich bags. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on January 09, 2003 at 23:09:07 PT BGreen If you don't feel comfortable don't go to the chat. That is the best thing I can suggest. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 23:04:15 PT The Melange Chat System Main Page Admits Due to lack of time development on the melange chat system and support had to be abandon. You may go on now, but keep in mind that there was no update for a long time. THERE ARE KNOWN BUGS AND SECURITY CONCERNS, SO USING MELANGE IS ON YOUR OWN RISK! Also when you write an email, please be patient, you may have to wait quite a while for an answer. Sorry.Why am I so off base when the author of the program admits what I've been saying? That's the statement that aroused my suspicion in the first place. Melange Chat System [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 22:54:39 PT Let's Get Realistic, Richard I'm a medical cannabis user, therefore I'm an admitted criminal. You don't have a record of my IP because I use various anonymous proxies. You have an IP number of one of my various proxies on any post I've made.It would take a bit of work to find out who I am, not just typing /finger. No, I won't go to the Chat. I've managed to avoid going to prison for 40 years and I'm not going to make it easy on anybody to take my family and my life.Your flippant attitude aside, you've set up a perfect way for the gov't to identify "terrorists" to put in their database. I understand your need to identify lurkers, but allowing that information to be immediately disseminated to anybody is unnecessary. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by FoM on January 09, 2003 at 22:48:01 PT Just a Comment I don't know what to say about fear because some fear is good but some fear is harmful. I find if I really want to do something and I am afraid and don't do what I wanted I've lost. Fear if you are being threatened is good because you will be on guard. Learning the difference is the hard part particularly since trying to reform laws in this heated area is scary in itself. But that is one fear I must push thru because we must not stop or we let down so many people. When fear goes to stopping me I think of Peter McWilliams or Tom and Rollie. How can I not push thru my fear when they are on my mind? It really is who do you trust. I trust those who have made a way for me to bring you news day after day and now year after year. I have never paid any money for the maintenance of CNews. That is very kind. I value kindness and concern for me, the web site and our well being. That's really all but I do understand the problems with dealing with this issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Richard Lake on January 09, 2003 at 22:12:50 PT: BGreen, I refuse to live in fear Of course the /finger command provides the IP address of those currently in the chat room. It is there so we can see if there are lurkers we wish to boot out.On the other hand, what does anybody have to fear? Are you going to admit to illegal acts? If not, I do not understand the concern.All that you do on the 'net is traceable if someone or some agency really has the desire. Your email. Your website visits. There is no way to be sure something you say will not be traced back to you.I know of activists who discussed court tactics they had plans to use on an email list only to find out in court that the DA had joined the list.So the choice is yours, don't participate if you fear folks possibly finding who you are and where you are from.For six years now some of the best known activists in the world have been participating in the DrugSense Chat http://www.drugsense.org/chat without fear. Same software, same host as the CNEWS chat.All I can say is that if you really are that worried, the best advice I can give is to destroy your modem and never visit the web again. Harsh, yes. But realistic!Richardp.s. Just to show you how easy it is for any webmaster to keep track of who visits their site, here is a list of the visitors in just the first nine days of this month to the www.mapinc.org website from government addresses, followed by the number of visits. While none of the DrugSense hosted sites is in the U.S. making it much harder for US LEOs to get this kind of information when you visit CNEWS, you should know that every website records who visits, period. You either trust the site not do give up the data, or you don't.Top 50 Government Visitors This Month: Host followed by Hits vance002.net.gov.bc.ca 258 vicce003.net.gov.bc.ca 144 chescat.gsfc.nasa.gov 118 sseop101.eop.gov 63 burleson.rtp.epa.gov 55 thompson.rtp.epa.gov 51 gatekeeper.bop.gov 35 gov-2-254.gov.nf.ca 32 res2.gtwy.uscourts.gov 27 deptvass-cp.va.gov 27 s3abab9.ssa.gov 26 sseop102.eop.gov 25 tias-gw6.treas.gov 24 s00dab8.ssa.gov 22 frontdesk.wwb.noaa.gov 21 pix-a-20.gov.calgary.ab.ca 21 gw1.cs.nsw.gov.au 17 ocswall4.fda.gov 17 s00dad2.ssa.gov 15 gao-cp.gao.gov 15 p2-209-202-90-87.govital.net 13 protea.ccsu.nsw.gov.au 13 s00ded0.ssa.gov 12 p2-209-202-90-77.govital.net 11 wwwcache.lanl.gov 11 amcproxy.jccbi.gov 11 iusr4.gov.ns.ca 10 gateway101.gsi.gov.uk 10 doegate-1.doe.gov 10 wcfc.ocio.usda.gov 10 p2-209-202-90-67.govital.net 9 dns1.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au 9 tias-gw2.treas.gov 9 pat.fwhq2nat.dot.ca.gov 8 res3.gtwy.uscourts.gov 8 ptohidea.uspto.gov 8 gateway.dhs.vic.gov.au 8 dgoldwater.arc.nasa.gov 8 deptvachi-cp.va.gov 8 deptvasf-cp.va.gov 7 rch7.gtwy.uscourts.gov 7 p2-209-202-90-70.govital.net 6 27106.ftw.nrcs.usda.gov 6 deptvabed-bh.visn1.med.va.gov 6 housegate1.house.gov 6 p5-209-202-90-205.govital.net 6 cen-ce4.tco.census.gov 6 gk-east-6.usps.gov 6 fw1-b.osis.gov 6 tcs-gateway13.treas.gov 6 I am a Cannabis Consumer and I refuse to live in fear [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 20:53:00 PT Observer or Anybody With Knowledge Of Chat I tested the chat room using both MUSHclient and my browser with JAVA enabled.The "Finger" option appears to show the actual IP number of anybody in the chat room, even when using an anonymous proxy on my browser.Pigmonkey didn't work as the applet wouldn't load, regardless of whether I was connecting to pigmonkey directly or through an anonymous proxy.If everybody could be "fingered" by any unscrupulous slime wad that enters the chat room, the question of trust regarding the actual host of the website becomes a moot point.Although ISP logs would have to be analyzed to determine who was logged on using a certain IP number, the ISP itself can easily be traced, leading not only to a determination of the exact geographical area one of us is located, but also allowing any local yokel to get a search warrant or just threaten a small ISP to divulge the information.Correct me if I'm wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 20:10:38 PT I Found The Actual Research Abstract The abstract of the article entitled "Targeting CB2 cannabinoid receptors as a novel therapy to treat malignant lymphoblastic disease" is available here:http://www.bloodjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/100/2/627The results of the aforementioned research seem to parallel that of the melanoma research released this past week, except that this study was limited to the CB2 receptor and the melanoma study examined both the CB1 and CB2 receptors.This was Dr. Russo's post re: the melanoma study:In plain English, cannabinoids (drugs akin in their action to THC in cannabis) may have activity on two types of receptors: CB1 in the nervous system, responsible for psychoactivity, and CB2 mainly on immune cells. Some drugs, such as THC, act on both. Other synthetics may work on only one. In the experiment, they showed that stimulation of both CB1 and CB2 (as THC acts) are of benefit to limit tumor growth. They chose to utilize synthetics, but THC would do the same thing.The cannabinoid drugs promoted tumor apoptosis (programmed cell death) without adversely affecting normal skin cells. Additionally, they inhibited angiogenesis, which is the terrible attribute of malignancies to promote their own blood supply.In essence cannabis would be a potential treatment that turns off cancer growth, inhibits cancer blood supply, alleviates nausea, promotes appetite, reduces pain, and helps the patient to feel better. That sounds quite therapeutic to me. It is another resounding refutation to the Schedule I lie. Dr. Russo's Post re: Melanoma Study [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 19:18:15 PT Now It's Personal! I knew I'd read this before in Cannabis Culture magazine:A study published in the July 2002 edition of the medical journal Blood found that THC and some other cannabinoids produced "programmed cell death" in different varieties of human leukemia and lymphoma cell lines, thereby destroying the cancerous cells but leaving other cells unharmed. My gov't is trying to kill my dad by withholding research that could lead to a cure for cancer.The gloves are off. It's personal now. THC destroys cancer cells, but the research is buried and ignored [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by Ethan Russo MD on January 09, 2003 at 08:23:13 PT: Debate Yes, I'd be interested in a debate and would consider it. I am running into serious trouble with scheduling all my responsibilities, and necessarily have to be very selective. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by paulpeterson on January 09, 2003 at 08:17:55 PT Dr. Russo Dear Dr. Russo: Just checking in. I don't have an address, web site, email, phone or income currently, due to my own "travails" with the regulatory community. However, I am trying to ignite a fire in Storm Lake, Ia, my hometown, after having reconnected with an old friend, maybe a mutual acquaintance there. I am trying to get a "debate" set up at the local university (Buena Vista). They told me (initially) they would be happy to host such an event, as counterflack to the local "anti" ranting. Would you like to come debate these people? Let Barb know if you are interested. As far as I am concerned, I still have an appeal to the lawyer police, I am up to some 470 exhibits and counting. I also have a federal lawsuit still filed here in Chicago to force the FBI to investigate mail fraud in the system. Next Monday we get a new Governor, his "deputy" gov is going to be Doug Scofield, former aid to Congr. Guitierezz who sounded sympathetic a few years ago when I spoke to him about that federal law thing. Remember that Illinois right now STILL has the best MM law in the nation, still a virgin law, of course. Maybe with a 2 billion deficit they might start to look at creative ways to reduce costs of government. Also, of course, Illinois has passed two HEMP BILLS that were vetoed by the outgoing gov, maybe Illinois will get something done this year?Keep up the good work, GOD BLESS PAUL PETERSON [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by BGreen on January 09, 2003 at 04:51:30 PT Thanks For Sharing Your Story, Jerr-man Suffering can reduce stubbornness, but my dad AND the war on cannabis celebrated their 65th birthdays last year. Reefer madness is all he knows, and he clings stubbornly to what he believes is the truth.I'd probably faint if dad asked me first, but if I bring it up the worst that could happen would be he'd say "no." [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by Jerr-man on January 09, 2003 at 03:12:30 PT Like to share Christmas 2001 story,BGreen My wife shared with her family a memory of her Grandma just as everyone else did,this helped ease the first Christmas without her. The joy in the stories was heartwarming. When it was time for "our turn" ,I said some nice things about her,then my wife started speaking. She stated her story was about the last family function prior to Grandma's passing.My jaw had to hit the floor....I was there....I remember it...and the story was right on. Grandma,in private, told my sis-n-law about a news-show like 20\20 or 60 minutes regarding increased appetite with "marijuana" use.She asked her about obtaining some. Living out of state didn't pose a problem for "sis", she stated that there was probably some at the barbecue. She was right. Seems as if cousin DJ and another sister-in-law both had some, and were willing to share, as they seen the weight loss from the decreased appetite Grandma spoke of. Somehow, my wife was volunteered to give the medicine to her. A couple of "joints" were given to her. She was advised to have someone there to observe when this was done at her home. She lived alone. DJ was suggested (bad choice..like a 33 record on 78 speed) because he lived closest. My wife realized the 80 year old woman had never smoked anything in her life and couldn't now, without inflicting great pain. She was frail due to lack of appetite. Not one of us knew about baking to achieve the same results. I wish we would have. My wife told everyone how she had to take the medicine back. The family seen the hurt in my wife's eyes.Although suprised, my s-n-l's looked very proud to be part of this story. Since then, my father-in-law borrowed my "Emperor wears no clothes" and a medical mj handbook. He is 70. He has done brownies,"Mom" too. Twilight Zone episode for sure. When my Father and Step-Mom were over recently, they asked where we were going the next day. It was my turn. Being told we were going to a medical marijuana rally the next day resulted in this question from my Step-Mother."Does it help with your pain?".They are familiar with my muscle disease,but she never missed a beat asking that.Dad didn't say much when I responded it did. I asked her about how well she had tolerated her chemo drugs and recent radiation treatments for cancer. She did real well. Then she spoke of a $30 a pill for nausea. Her understanding of the powers of mj really shocked me. I look forward to discussing this further with both of them. My wife helped me become strong enough to say what I said that day. I wish Grandma were here now and I hope you find the strength to share what you know with your Dad. Take comfort in knowing your family is in my prayers.j [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by firedog on January 08, 2003 at 23:35:40 PT BGreen I'm very sorry to hear about your father.I did a google search on "marijuana lymphoma" and it turned up some interesting links. It appears that most people have typically used marijuana to counteract the effects of chemotherapy. If you want to breach the subject to him, printing out some of the testimonials may help.Once again, I'm sorry to hear about this... and I do hope that things turn out as well as possible. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by p4me on January 08, 2003 at 23:09:57 PT An email to Donahue Donahue is for legalizing cannabis as far as I can tell. It just really gets me that with 200 channels looking for content that the story of medical cannabis cannot get out. So with the futility of the past in mind, I shouted at the window in the stonewall and sent this email to Donahue.Dear sir: I am a person interested in seeing the subject of medical cannabis being presented to the American people by a real doctor that is an expert in the field. The government's side that cannabis has no medical value is insulting to anyone that reads about the subject on the Internet. There is an expert in the field named Dr. Russo from Missoula, Montana. Do the American people a favor and let the expert tell them about cannabis. The governments Schedule One Lie is killing people and inflicting unwarranted harm to others. Dr.Ethan Russo regularly contributes to cannabisnews.com and because the website is promoting his participation in a chat session this Friday night, I can copy some of his credentials from this link: http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread15143.shtml Copy follows [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on January 08, 2003 at 23:02:18 PT BGreen I hope all goes well with his treatment. It's hard I know. I'll say a little prayer for you, your Dad and Mom. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by BGreen on January 08, 2003 at 23:00:19 PT Thanks, Jerr-man I was just thinking about all of the families going through similar situations. There's so much suffering that takes place, and yet we've allowed the gov't to get so far out of control that they've declared war against the sick and dying.I just don't get it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by BGreen on January 08, 2003 at 22:54:12 PT Thanks, FoM They're still doing tests and haven't told him much more than they found lymphoma. We don't even know what type or how widespread it is.Thanks for the link. There's a bunch I'm going to want to learn. I watched my natural father die of cancer in 1978 and I was too scared to offer my cannabis even though I knew that it might help him. I swore I'd never let a loved one suffer that way. Now I just wonder how to approach my stubborn step-father with cannabis, knowing what I know, but also knowing what the propaganda has made him think.If he's hurting bad enough, or sick of throwing up, maybe he'll be more receptive to cannabis talk. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Jerr-man on January 08, 2003 at 22:22:03 PT BGreen I am thinking about your Father ,you,and the rest of your family during this diffacult time. God Bless, j [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on January 08, 2003 at 20:20:37 PT BGreen I found a link that might be of help to you sometime.http://www.lymphoma.org/site/PageServer?pagename=helpline [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 08, 2003 at 19:45:14 PT BGreen I am so very sorry to hear the news about your Father. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by BGreen on January 08, 2003 at 19:29:01 PT My Dad Was Just Diagnosed With Lymphoma I just found out tonight. I'm scared and worried. This chat couldn't come at a better time.Thanks, FoM. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 08, 2003 at 17:43:51 PT Richard Thank you for helping get the chat organized and I know it will be a good one. We have the heart and will to try hard to do something and that is why we will win in the end.A great big thanks to observer for creating the chat and Matt just for doing all he does to keep CNews running smoothly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Richard Lake on January 08, 2003 at 17:37:06 PT: Thank You Dr. Russo and FoM Just got a note from Dr. Russo. It appears that everything is fairly well set on the technical end. He was successful in accessing the chat last night, I understand. I plan to contact him for another test Friday.Here is the basic note I will be spreading around the lists, etc.:Friday, Jan. 10th, at 9 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Pacific Ethan Russo, MD will be the special guest in the CannabisNews chat room at http://cannabisnews.com/chat/Dr. Russo is the medical advisor for Cannabis Health magazine http://www.cannabishealth.com/ , editor of The Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics http://www.cannabis-med.org/science-international/JCANT.htm and was a Primary Investigator for the study Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) Program: An Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal Clinical Cannabis http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdfPlease help spread the word! Thank You!Richard CNEWS Chat Room Is Now Open! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment