cannabisnews.com: Pot Shrinks Tumors - Government Knew in '74
Pot Shrinks Tumors - Government Knew in '74
Posted by FoM on March 30, 2001 at 07:58:20 PT
By Raymond Cushing
Source: San Antonio Current
Wednesday, March 28, The United States Supreme Court rules on whether marijuana use for medicinal purposes can be a valid defense on charges of marijuana possession. The following article was listed as one of the top 25 censored stories of the year 2000. We reprint it here and pose the question, why would the government want to keep us from knowing this? The term medical marijuana took on dramatic new meaning in February 2000, when researchers in Madrid announced they had destroyed incurable brain tumors in rats by injecting them with THC, the active ingredient in cannabis.
The Madrid study marks only the second time that THC has been administered to tumor-bearing animals. In 1974, researchers at the Medical College of Virginia, who had been funded by the National Institutes of Health to find evidence that marijuana damages the immune system, found instead that THC slowed the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice -- lung and breast cancer, and a virus-induced leukemia. The DEA quickly shut down the Virginia study and all further cannabis/tumor research, according to Jack Herer, who reports on the events in his book, The Emperor Wears No Clothes. In 1976, President Gerald Ford put an end to all public cannabis research and granted exclusive research rights to major pharmaceutical companies, who set out -- unsuccessfully -- to develop synthetic forms of THC that would deliver all the medical benefits without the "high." The Madrid researchers reported in the March issue of Nature Medicine that they injected the brains of 45 rats with cancer cells, producing tumors whose presence they confirmed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). On the 12th day they injected 15 of the rats with THC and 15 with Win-55,212-2, a synthetic compound similar to THC. "All the rats left untreated uniformly died 12-18 days after glioma (brain cancer) cell inoculation ... Cannabinoid (THC)-treated rats survived significantly longer than control rats. THC administration was ineffective in three rats, which died by days 16-18. Nine of the THC-treated rats surpassed the time of death of untreated rats, and survived up to 19-35 days. Moreover, the tumor was completely eradicated in three of the treated rats." The rats treated with Win-55,212-2 showed similar results. The Spanish researchers, led by Dr. Manuel Guzman of Complutense University, also irrigated healthy rats' brains with large doses of THC for seven days, to test for harmful biochemical or neurological effects. They found none. "Careful MRI analysis of all those tumor-free rats showed no sign of damage related to necrosis, edema, infection or trauma ... We also examined other potential side effects of cannabinoid administration. In both tumor-free and tumor-bearing rats, cannabinoid administration induced no substantial change in behavioral parameters such as motor coordination or physical activity. Food and water intake, as well as body weight gain, were unaffected during and after cannabinoid delivery. Likewise, the general hematological profiles of cannabinoid-treated rats were normal. Thus, neither biochemical parameters nor markers of tissue damage changed substantially during the seven-day delivery period or for at least two months after cannabinoid treatment ended." Guzman's investigation is the only time since the 1974 Virginia study that THC has been administered to live, tumor-bearing animals. (The Spanish researchers cite a 1998 study in which cannabinoids inhibited breast cancer cell proliferation, but that was a "petri dish" experiment that didn't involve live subjects.) In an e-mail interview for this story, the Madrid researcher said he had heard of the Virginia study, but had never been able to locate literature on it. Hence, the Nature Medicine article characterizes the new study as the first on tumor-laden animals and doesn't cite the 1974 Virginia investigation. "I am aware of the existence of that research. In fact I have attempted many times to obtain the journal article on the original investigation by these people, but it has proven impossible," Guzman said. In 1983, the Reagan/Bush Administration tried to persuade American universities and researchers to destroy all 1966-76 cannabis research work, including compendiums in libraries, reports Jack Herer, who states, "We know that large amounts of information have since disappeared." Guzman provided the title of the work -- "Antineoplastic activity of cannabinoids," an article in a 1975 Journal of the National Cancer Institute -- and this writer obtained a copy at the University of California medical school library in Davis and faxed it to Madrid. The summary of the Virginia study begins, "Lewis lung adenocarcinoma growth was retarded by the oral administration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinol (CBN)" -- two types of cannabinoids, a family of active components in marijuana. "Mice treated for 20 consecutive days with THC and CBN had reduced primary tumor size." The 1975 journal article doesn't mention breast cancer tumors, which are featured in the only newspaper story ever to appear about the 1974 study -- in the "Local" section of The Washington Post on Aug. 18, 1974. Under the headline, "Cancer Curb Is Studied," it read in part: "The active chemical agent in marijuana curbs the growth of three kinds of cancer in mice and may also suppress the immunity reaction that causes rejection of organ transplants, a Medical College of Virginia team has discovered." The researchers "found that THC slowed the growth of lung cancers, breast cancers, and a virus-induced leukemia in laboratory mice, and prolonged their lives by as much as 36 percent." Guzman, writing from Madrid, was eloquent in his response after this writer faxed him the clipping from The Washington Post of a quarter century ago. In translation, he wrote: "It is extremely interesting to me, the hope that the project seemed to awaken at that moment, and the sad evolution of events during the years following the discovery, until now we once again draw back the veil‚ over the anti-tumoral power of THC, 25 years later. Unfortunately, the world bumps along between such moments of hope and long periods of intellectual castration." News coverage of the Madrid discovery has been virtually nonexistent in this country. The news broke quietly on Feb. 29, 2000 with a story that ran once on the UPI wire about the Nature Medicine article. This writer stumbled on it through a link that appeared briefly on the Drudge Report Web page. The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times all ignored the story, even though its newsworthiness is indisputable: a benign substance occurring in nature destroys deadly brain tumors. Raymond Cushing is a regular contributor to the Sacramento News & Review and the Anderson Valley (CA) Advertiser. Source: San Antonio Current (TX)Author: Raymond CushingPublished: March 29-April 4, 2001 Address: 1500 North St. Mary's Street San Antonio, Texas 78215 Copyright: San Antonio Current 2001Contact: dbennett sacurrent.com Website: http://www.sacurrent.com/Pot Shrinks Tumors: Government Knew in 74 http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5972.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #21 posted by observer on April 01, 2002 at 06:50:44 PT
First clinical study of THC for cancer treatment
From: "Int. Association for Cannabis as Medicine"
[excerpt]Science/Spain: First clinical study of THC for the treatment of cancerA group of Spanish researcher started the first clinical study of cannabinoids in the treatment of cancer at the Hospital of La Laguna (Tenerife). The objective of the phase I-II trial is to evaluate the effects of the main active compound of cannabis, THC, on glioblastoma multiforme, a malignant brain tumour, for which there is currently no effective treatment. The study will be also the first study to investigate intracranial application of THC, an application directly into the brain.Two years ago the team of Dr. Manuel Guzmán, of the Complutense University of Madrid had demonstrated that THC and a synthetic cannabinoid induced a remarkable regression of malignant gliomas in rats, completely destroying the tumours in a third of the treated animals. Dr. Luis González Feria, neurosurgeon of the La Laguna’s Hospital, will lead the clinical study.It will start with five patients. If the treatment is tolerated well additional nine patients will be added, divided into three groups that receive three different doses. Since the glioblastoma is a very aggressive tumour, researchers do not expect to cure the patients but hope to increase survival. Patients usually die within six to eight months after diagnosis. THC will be administered for two to eight weeks and doses will depend on tolerance. Those patients will be selected whose tumours are accessible by means of surgery. The study will last three years.(Source: Reuters of 25 March 2002)(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis-med.org/)International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM) Arnimstrasse 1A D-50825 Cologne Germany Phone: +49-221-9543 9229 Fax: +49-221-130 05 91 Email: info cannabis-med.org http://www.cannabis-med.org
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Comment #19 posted by dddd on March 31, 2001 at 21:45:05 PT
longhaired Hippies
I havnt cut my hair in over ten years.It quit growing about halfwaydown my back.I live in Southern California.I think that people aremore comfortable around old hippies than with the pierced and tattooedtype people.Electric Ladyland at high volume.....right on!...dddd
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Comment #18 posted by Toker00 on March 31, 2001 at 15:46:08 PT
Ah, how nice that would be.
It would be wonderful to meet all you guys face to face. I like the "coming out of the woods" part. LOL. you don't know how accurate that is, dddd. I live in Podunk Ar., and believe me, it is right smack in the woods. I seem to be the only hippie in this neck of the woods. The ones I used to run with have all become gun-toteing rednecks. They get such a bang out of killing animals around here. I killed a rabbit when I was a teen, and it broke my heart so bad, I haven't killed another animal, since. I have become so committed to freedom fighting and Cannabis liberation, that I have begun to let my hair grow long again. The old rednecks glare at me and are speechless when I say hello. Some of the middle age women give me a quick smile then drop their eyes as though they just had a guilty thought. The younger rednecks just don't know what to think. It's de'ja'vu. Almost like the seventies again.I love it. Can't wait till it is again at my waist.Peace. Realize, then Legalize.
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Comment #17 posted by jAHHn on March 31, 2001 at 12:45:07 PT
While Listening to...
...Fear Factory's Obsolete Recording...Then Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland...The Moon Turn The Tides...Gently, Gently... "Hippies are too diverse to keep an eye on all of 'em" One could be Right... Next To You
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Comment #16 posted by jAHHHn on March 31, 2001 at 12:40:34 PT
dddd...
....I like the way you put that: "Toker00,and Troutmask are like old friends that live out in the woods,and we happenedto see them down by the General Store.......anyone seen FreedomFighter around lately?"It instills Nice imagery of a Peace-Begging, Neutral town that's void of any violent-warring. By goodness sakes, I hope that one day, we DO get to meet, because it tears at my(as well as yours) heart and mind that, for years, Older-Aged (seasoned Hippies, heh heh) Hippies have been spewing out the World's Most Revelating evidence of Corporate Oppression and their Conspirative Intentions to Intoxicate ALL AMERICANS with Alcohol- Adamantly Denying the Thought/Chance/Opportunity/Openness to Smoke A Couple Hits of Cannabis. Yet, the Liberal-Minded Hippies of the 60's only get credited as "FreeSpirited Party-Going-Concert-Attending Slackers" who seemingly "Brainwashed The CHildren" of the 90's/2000 to dress up like them and "pretend that it's 1969"-Retrospective Fashioning... Well, My fellow CannaCoughers! We all know that there's a story that could be as Intriguing as "Gone With The Wind" or, maybe...."The Emperor Wears No Clothes"... Keep the Spirit of the 60's alive, baby, YEAH...hump a Tree- Freak out the Metal Lover!!!
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Comment #15 posted by dddd on March 31, 2001 at 07:44:24 PT
JAH is no Secret!
Wow...TheGCW....That was a rather heavy message......I liked it..... ...Thank You.......May JAH always continue to shine on you.........dddd
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Comment #14 posted by The GCW on March 31, 2001 at 07:21:15 PT:
Eternally The Son Of God.
We are past page 1. April comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion. 3:30:1 Many real Christians will be getting together around the U.S. in various cities on 4:20. Those folks with dreadlocks are amongst them and are in many cases some of the most peaceful loveing caompassionate Christians. The Ethiopian Coptic Zion Church is the church of Christians that have been persecuted and their leaders are still in prison, I think. It is possible that on 4:20 we will have the largest congregation of “real” Christians come together in some time here in America? Some may not even know they are Christians, may have forgotten or such. Put into perspective, On April Fools day we have daylight savings time. Then we have Good Friday and then Easter and then 7 days after Good Friday we have 4:20. All while we are told Jesus is coming back for his bride/ the church. Real Christians can get to read the 1st chapter of the 1st book of the Bible and then the FIRST PAGE w/Gen. 1:29-31 and find no problem and we can through God procede on to page 2 etc. Our countries leaders stumble on page 1. They let a lie come between them and God. It is not just the leaders of political persuasion, it is also the priest that in some cases stumbles on page 1. I just saw this about the: Revelation III The Third Book of the ApocalypseThe Eight Missing Chapters of The Revelation of St. John The Prophesy of the Second Coming of the Christ Consciousness http://globalvisions.org/cl/wwv/revel3.html And I thought it would be helpful, although I haven't read it all yet. Friends, I live w/ the Holy Spirit of Truth. For the last bunch of time I feel like it is growing every few moments. I wish to share with you that we’re not just high. There are spirits there. There are waves there, and we can see them. There is a divine relationship with God that really does exist and it as promised in the Bible. I read many peoples words and can see that many of my brothers can see clear truth. That clear truth is important for otherwise there is division between you and the spirit. Or does clear truth come from the spirit? UPDATE: The SPIRIT IS LIKE A SHIELD AROUND YOU AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO YOUR MOUTH, EYES, BRAIN, TOUCH ETC. FIRST MUST GO THROUGH THE SPIRIT. THAT IS HOW YOU OBTAIN SPIRIT OF TRUTH WHILE EVEN READING. EVERY FEW MOMENTS RIGHT NOW I AM GROWING SPITIURALLY IN A WAY THAT I AM UNDERSTANDING THAT I CAN SEE RIGHT IF FRONT OF ME.?sign? When Vicki Buckley died and was found to have those unsigned petitions that kept Colorado’s Amendment 19 from being counted. Through that action of God in taking Buckley, It automatically went on the next ballot as the 1st question known as Amendment 20, and was known in Gods country as vote 4:20! We cannabis thanksgivers can not make things like that just happen. I can not say today what is going on exactly, But!, The pace of God is picking up somehow. April fools day; Good Friday; Easter; 4:20. Let us pray together through out the month of April for this Holy time.
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Comment #13 posted by dddd on March 31, 2001 at 06:23:36 PT
.....Indeed
The comments here are so outstanding,that I am left nearly speechless..TheGCW lays into the spiritual realm quite heavily,and I must say that I appreciate,andenjoy it.TheGCW is quite cool as far as I'm concerned,but perhaps a bit too ecuminical forthe average bear.Toker00,and Troutmask are like old friends that live out in the woods,and we happenedto see them down by the General Store.......anyone seen FreedomFighter around lately?I must asgree with jAHns' comments,,especially concerning the awesomness of DanB.I will assume that compliments toward kaptinemo,go without saying....Too obvious...itwould be like complimenting Observer,or Ethan, again.........the people here are the best...someday,we will meet....................until then,,,,,,may JAH shine on you all....this is almost too weird and corny to post,,,but sincerely...dddd
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Comment #12 posted by The GCW on March 30, 2001 at 19:38:58 PT:
Page 1
Through the Holy Spirit of Truth we know this to be true: Gen. 1:29-31, Then God said, ""Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; Was this a potential preconceived sin? Does the manner of order written indicate? It is the 1st chapter, of the 1st book and in my NASB it is in fact page 1.The Bible was written for us from the Father and it was inspired by the Holy Spirit to include this info as important enough to discuss it on page 1. It appears, the Wicked Evil has stumbled before page 2. Do they know what they are doing? I prey for them that they may be saved by the Father, and so also to learn this elementary lesson with the mercy and compassion that we so seek. With God and the True Holy Spirit of Truth, I would just ask that they at least treat their own children as they have my own, not keeping their children from the cage they induce on my children. Reflecting justice of and from the soul in that manner at least would be fairly executed law.
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Comment #11 posted by kaptinemo on March 30, 2001 at 17:22:17 PT:
Evil
Congresscritter Bob Barr says Rob Kampia is 'evil' for being an activist for MMJ.But the US government has condemned millions of people to death with their failure to follow through with research in how THC shrinks deadly glial cell tumors...one of which killed a good friend of mine. Indeed, they have not done this in ignorance; they had shutdown the project after the initial successful results had been achieved.AFTER.The Federal government has, through the auspices of the intelligence organs of this country, surreptitiously gave unknowing, unconsenting subjects LSD. They have released potentially deadly viruses into crowded subway systems ands against Western coastal cities...witrhout any warning of any kind. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission released dangerously radioactive material from the Hanford Nuclear Plant in washington State to drift downwind upon nearby cities...to determine what cancer rates among the American population might be like if the US were ever in a nuclear war.Of course, they certainly didn't ask their 'targets' if they wanted to participate.Evil doesn't always show up on your front door screaming obscenities, hands dripping blood and reaching for your throat. Evil can be a very banal thing...like the stroke of a bureaucrats' pen, authorizing an act that will result in the eventual, quiet deaths of tens of thousands of innocent, unknowing people through governmental actions.Like the willfully ignorant Supreme Court Justices who would, for the sake of their 'holy' DrugWar, deny the sick and dying the tiniest degree of relief.Evil, thy name is 'Justice'.
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Comment #10 posted by The GCW on March 30, 2001 at 16:50:19 PT:
Where is the Love?
This is interesting. My son died of leukemia at age 17 and this idicates that the Government could potentially help the cancer of leukemia. This is only the role of an oppressive government that lacks what God would describe as Love. Where is the Love? Will they ask the Lord God on their day, Oh Father oh Father where art thou Love, will he not hear them? Bush and his Father seem wicked and evil from the perspective of my Holy Spirit of Truth. My son would have been 21 years old last week. I am not angry, yet I trust the God of my life to be a just God.
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Comment #9 posted by RAS JAMES RSIFWH on March 30, 2001 at 16:04:55 PT
"MURDER SHE WROTE"
All those who have died of brain tumors since 1974 were murdered by those in the government who closed down cannabis research? Is the jury still out?
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Comment #8 posted by jAHn on March 30, 2001 at 15:44:52 PT
Awesome Words by the Great Dan B!
And to these words, I say, People Need to organize around these empalened mentalities while we, 90%, who support the Medical Marijuana do so by Purchasing it so frequently. Support Cannabis/Hemp anyway that you can, because with Millions of dollars in profits from the Textile sector of the Hemp industry, the Anti's just get more and more turned on....More Incoming Capital=More money for Guns (something that these conservatives love). As this continues to grow, we're turning their guns into money and ridding the planet of the Horrible Drug: The Gun! At the same time, polls numbers just keep increasing, thank goodness! Imagine how bad the legislature would be if we were getting NO coverage, whatsoever...I bet they would have passed the No-Knock Warrant/Search & Seizure Procedure by now....Until the Future!! Cannabis/Hemp/Ganja/Reefer/Marijuana/Pot/Grass is Nowhere near as Harmful as a Prohibitive Mentality!Your posts are Awesome, people! Your Minds are Great! With Good Folk like you, It's no FuN to Hate!
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Comment #7 posted by Dan B on March 30, 2001 at 14:10:08 PT:
Sadly, Troutmask, polls don't help
Several statewide and nationwide polls from the past several years indicate that Americans are wildly in favor of laws allowing the use of medical marijuana. According to the latest MSNBC poll, 90% of Americans agree that medical marijuana should be legal and available. A Vote.com poll (traditionally a very conservative population of voters) shows upwards of 80% believe that medical marijuana should be legal. The people who think that marijuana has no medical value are a tiny fragment of the American population.Nothing will ever convince the politicos, DEA and LEOs to legalize medical marijuana because they are making money off of it. These people are hateful and evil. They would not care if cannabis were shown to cure every disease known to humankind. They would not care if 99% of the population wanted all drugs legalized. They have known for years that they have no basis for making some drugs illegal and that illegal drugs are no more dangerous than legal ones (and legal ones are quite often more dangerous). They don't even care if they look like fools to the vast majority of the population, The fact is, they care far more about money than about people.Frankly, the only thing that keeps me sane is the belief that when these people die, they will suffer unimaginable torment for all of eternity. I think Heaven will be simply the opportunity to watch these people scream.Dan B
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Comment #6 posted by jAHn on March 30, 2001 at 12:00:06 PT
Here you go, uhm, "Emperor Bush"...
...Go work on your Latino-American Bridge-Building techniques... Make sure that you include the stuff in the "Scientifically Founded" bin and NOT the "Opinionatedly Founded" bin! P.S. You couldn't do anything better for Latin America...Especially
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Comment #5 posted by CannabisMythsExposed on March 30, 2001 at 11:35:39 PT:
You couldn't make up a story like this
I seem to remember reading that the Spanish people couldn't continue their research due to lack of funding. I guess the pharmaceutical industry would lose too much profit if THC turned out to destroy tumours in humans. Do these people really live on the same planet as the rest of us?Pedro
Cannabis Myths Exposed
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Comment #4 posted by observer on March 30, 2001 at 09:27:05 PT
Reagan asked to Supress Research
In 1983, the Reagan/Bush Administration tried to persuade American universities and researchers to destroy all 1966-76 cannabis research work, including compendiums in libraries, reports Jack Herer, who states, "We know that large amounts of information have since disappeared."This would make quite a story in itself. It would be great to interview some of the loyal minions who actually destroyed this material ("Shoah"* style interviews maybe), clucking about their triumph over the evil druggies, bragging their Orwellian memory-hole activities.____* Shoah, 1985 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567302017/
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Comment #3 posted by Toker00 on March 30, 2001 at 09:13:06 PT
God is not stupid, but the anti's are.
God gave us this plant for a reason. Many of us know the reason, and studies prove it. This article needs to be printed on the front page of every newspaper in the country, as well, Frontline needs to produce a program exposing this cover-up. The wall of ideology may be penetrable after all, Doc. All these anti-cannabis, corporate protecting criminals need to be put in prison. Treason against the people. Plain and simple. A sin against God. I will post this article everywhere I go. Let's wake up the people. How many other studies have been covered up about cannabis? God clearly meant it as food and medicine. This is the only plant of earth that provides the twelve fruits of life. I have read this many times, but can someone please identify what the twelve fruits are?All the countries of the world are starting to see the U.S. government for exactly what it is. They should all ban together and refuse any more lies and propoganda from the U.S. Screw the foreign aid. The truth is far more valuable. I hate this government.Peace. Realize, then Legalize.
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Comment #2 posted by TroutMask on March 30, 2001 at 09:05:46 PT
Emperor doesn't have a brain either...
"What evidence need there be before you would admit that cannabis has genuine medical applications?"Answer: A poll saying the majority of their constituents believes it.Sad but true.
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 30, 2001 at 08:08:33 PT:
Article Proves the Emperor Has No Clothes
As far as the Supreme Court is concerned, the above events never occurred, disappearing below the radar screen of political and judicial consciousness. There's an oxymoron for you.To those of us that feel differently, and actually study these issues, it is extremely frustrating to note that no evidence is accepted, and none is sufficient to break through the impenetrable wall of ideology.As has been suggested elsewhere in the past in this forum, we should confront every legislator, candidate, judge and LEO with the question, "What evidence need there be before you would admit that cannabis has genuine medical applications?"
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