cannabisnews.com: Brain Disease Rates Soaring, Pollution Link Cited Brain Disease Rates Soaring, Pollution Link Cited Posted by CN Staff on August 16, 2004 at 10:33:43 PT Editorial Source: Dr. Koop.com Deaths from brain diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and motor neuron disease appear to have soared in the past two decades in the world's most developed nations, and researchers are blaming the increase on higher levels of pesticides, industrial chemicals, car exhaust and other pollutants.A report on the study by a Southampton University team, published in the journal Public Health, finds that dementia rates have trebled in men and increased by 90 per cent among women, according to The Independent. In the late 1970s, there were about 3,000 deaths a year from brain diseases in England and Wales. At the end of the last decade, that figure had risen to 10,000, researchers found.The study examined rates of the diseases in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, the U.K. and the United States between 1979 and 1997. Meanwhile, from Spain came more hopeful news: An ingredient in marijuana may be useful for treating brain cancers, Spanish researchers reported Sunday. The chemicals called cannabinoids could starve tumors to death by halting the growth of blood vessels that feed them, according to a team from Complutense University in Madrid.Their research, published in the Aug. 15 issue of Cancer Research, showed that the cannabis extracts block a key chemical needed for tumors to sprout blood vessels -- a process called angiogenesis.And for the first time, the team has shown the cannabinoids impede this chemical in people with the most aggressive form of brain cancer, glioblastoma multiforme, which is notoriously difficult to treat.They took samples from two patients with glioblastoma multiforme who had not responded to surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment, BBC reported. Samples were taken before and after the patients were treated with cannabinoid solution infused directly into the tumor. In both patients, the tumor was reduced following treatment.Source: Dr. Koop.com (US)Published: August 16, 2004Copyright: 2004 ScoutNews, LLC. Related Articles:Marijuana May Stall Brain Tumor Growthhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19339.shtmlCannabis Hope for Brain Cancerhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19338.shtmlMarijuana Ingredient Inhibits VEGF Pathwayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19337.shtmlCannabis Extract Shrinks Brain Tumourshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19336.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #37 posted by FoM on August 17, 2004 at 16:34:51 PT Hope The 3rd article in NORML's weekly press release from August 5th is the last I have heard. Here's the link.http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19295.shtmlFull text of the petition is available online at: http://www.drugscience.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 16:12:24 PT Gettman Petition I think the email I got must be another misunderstanding. It's probably the old news about marinol. Expectations about that thing have gotten out of hand before. Just wondering if anyone had heard anything new today. [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 15:06:00 PT Thank you, Ubas. "The faster I go the behinder I get."As anyone heard anything about HHS accepting Jon Gettman's petition for cannabis to be rescheduled? [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by ubas on August 17, 2004 at 10:18:14 PT Hope The article regarding Israeli soldiers and PTSS is referring to a new proposal of giving volunteers oral THC/Marinol, not cannabis. It was misleading for the editor to write "pot" in the headline. [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 10:16:55 PT Obviously, I got the two articles confused The infusion was for the tumor samples.They haven't said how they used in the soldiers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by FoM on August 17, 2004 at 10:05:13 PT Here's the Article It was from the Daily Telegraph in the UK not the AP.Pot Shots for Israeli Soldiers: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19285.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on August 17, 2004 at 10:00:57 PT Hope As far as the soldiers being treated I couldn't find how it would be administered. The AP article was very vague to me. [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 09:54:11 PT That's what I gathered from the tumor tests but I'm still trying to figure out how the Israeli Army is administering it to people. I may have them confused...as I tend to read too fast and not think as carefully as I should when I read these things. Something jumps out at me and I grab it and run with it...sometimes in the wrong direction.Always in a rush. But must grab my CannabisNews time and cogitate quickly...which I am not too good at either. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on August 17, 2004 at 09:35:04 PT Hope This is what I think. They took tissue samples from 2 people who had this horrible brain tumor and infused the tumor sample with the THC compound and the tumor stopped growing. I could be wrong but from different articles that's what conclusion I'm coming up with. My friend who lost his 2 year old son to a brain tumor explained to me when he was diagnosed with the tumor how hard it was to treat. He said the tumor grows fingers and wraps itself around the brain stem so stopping the finger type growth would help control the growth of the tumor. What do you think? [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 09:23:49 PT more about "infusion" It doesn't have to be in the vein...it can be "between the tissues"...probably in an IV or drip type thing...or it's one way. Diabetics sometimes get infusions of insulin. So...it looks like it could be an injection...like a shot or shots or an IV.It is the resultant liquid, also, of soaking something...like an herb...in water. [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 09:13:03 PT Infusion One meaning is "Introduction of a solution into the body through a vein for therapeutic purposes."Sounds like they are "mainlining" thc. I guess that's if you do it at home...it's "infusion" if a medical professional does it?I despise being "punctured"...but a shot of thc would be a lot healthier in the long run than a shot of morphine or something...I guess.If I couldn't smoke, I'd rather find a less invasive method of use...like a vaporizer. [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 09:02:28 PT EJ, very interesting question "does using cannabis during chemo help preserve cognitive function?"It certainly seems like it would since it's supposed to decrease damage from brain trauma. I hope you are doing well. It worries me that you might be too sick when we don't hear from you. I certainly hope your neighborhood crow population is doing better. Your relating the sad story of their illness and deaths earlier this year was heartbreaking. [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on August 17, 2004 at 08:56:21 PT Hope I'm not sure but it says it was infused directly into the tumor. The tumor is in the brain that's why I thought it was infused into the growing tumor but I could be wrong. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 08:55:37 PT B Green and Corvallis Eric, GW and FoM I appreciate the information. Thank you.Loretta Nall came to mind when I read the survey news. By "corruption"...I mean the kind of people who would do things like what was done to Loretta and many others. I know they are everywhere. It seemed liked GW seemed to think it was only taking place in the south. I got a bit defensive there. Sorry.Fom...no one understands when I let loose a bit of sarcasm or irony...or whatever. I'm not skilled at it...to the say the least.GW, I'm sorry to have come back at your post with a smart remark. It did seem like you were inferring that only the southern part of the US was home to hateful, corrupt types.Thanks for the scripture. I appreciate your taking the time to look them up. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by Hope on August 17, 2004 at 08:41:07 PT an infusion? Isn't that like tea or something. The leaves soaked and the resultant liquid is an ifusion? [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by Richard Paul Zuckerm on August 17, 2004 at 08:09:28 PT: TODAY'S LETTER FAXED TO CALIFORNIA NORML Dear OCLA! I placed a $25 Travelers Express money order, nicely typed, made out to OCLA, into a nicely typed OCLA envelope you people sent me recently, placed a stamp on it, and inserted the sealed envelope with money order into the mailbox. I'm with you all the way on your Oakland Cannabis Initiative. Please type my name into the Search option on www.cannabisnews.com to read my comments?Please advise me of whether Oakland provides a Security Deposit Loan to would-be apartment dwellers? I have sent a number of e-mails to New Jersey State legislators, the N.J. Department of Community Affairs, Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities, for this. New York City welfare agency provides a "One Shot Deal" security deposit loan, to be paid off within a year, offered me the loan even though I am disqualified from welfare eligibility because my income is too high! Why doesn't more jurisidictions offer Security Deposit Loan assistance, so out-of-state residents can move in and become residents, to help college students?I'm still in New Jersey while suing the Highland Park Public Library, www.HPBoro.com, over their regulation three minute time limit on the public pay telephone, even when nobody is waiting to use the public phone; concomitant arrest by three Highland Park Policemen after I refused to produce identification. The only municipal court conviction which resulted from this arrest was for a COMPLETELY FABRICATED "disorderly conduct." However, in New Jersey, a municipal court conviction is INADMISSIBLE in any civil action, according to the case law, e.g., Trisuzzi v. Tabatchnik, 285 N.J.Super. 15, 25, 666 A.2d 543 (App. Div. 1995). I filed my State Constitutional Tort Retaliation and Fraud lawsuit within the 2 year statute of limitations, Richard Paul Zuckerman, Plaintiff vs. Borough of Highland Park, et al., Defendants, Docket number L-3743-00, presided over by The Honorable Nicholas J. Stroumtsos, Jr., Post Office Box 964, Middlesex County Court House, New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903-0964, (Secretary's telephone number)(732) 981-3102, (Law Clerk's telephone number)(732) 981-3074. On August 6, 2004, trial judge Stroumtsos ordered the attorney representing the policemen to produce the application for employment submitted by each policeman, for an in camera inspection. The defense attorney submitted the employment applications of the orificers on or around August 13, 2004, and I am waiting to see if Judge Stroumtsos is going to redact their Social Security numbers and send me a copy! Another good thing trial judge Stroumtsos did at the August 6, 2004, Status Conference was to order all discovery, including depositions, completed by the next scheduled early December 2004 Status Conference. Then they can submit their dispositive motions. If their motions do not hold the day, then the case will be placed on the trial calendar list. Their story is that they repeatedly demanded my identification at the front door of the Highland Park Public Library, while women and children were trying to enter and leave the library, that I walked up into the face of the Patrolmen, with two other cops standing there in close proximity, shook my fists and exclaimed: "I don't like you!" However, the police report cover sheet box number 48 was checked off as follows: CHILDREN WERE: PRESENT [] INVOLVED [] N/A [/], and the presence of women and children were not mentioned in the police report narrative! In addition, the charging officer told the Grand Jury that HE COULD NOT REMEMBER WHAT I SAID, in response to two separate questions! 2 years later, however, he remembered? Is it reasonable for three policemen to street question a suspect at the front door of a public library while blocking people traffic? I have a number of other discrepancies and contradictions in their testimony to bring out to the jury! I have made it crystal clear to all defense attorneys of record that I intend to seek a HUGE PUNITIVE damages judgment! In the words of the panel in the case of Perez v. Z Frank Oldsmobile, Inc., 223 F.3d 617, 621 (7th Cir. Easterbrook 2000): "Frauds often escape detection, and the need to augment deterrence of concealable offenses is a principal justification of punitive damages." [citations omitted]. I guess the cops thought they could bully me, a HOMELESS person, with their expectation that I would plead guilty with an explanation and would not have the wherewithal to file on them! I like Todd Rundgren's CD, entitled LIARS, with the songs entitled TRUTH, FUTURE, and ALIVE! I would like you people to hear these songs, too! "...[E]very citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution." "Traveling With a Reformer", Mark Twain, quoted in an email dated Tuesday, October 21, 2003, of The Roger Hedgecock Show, www.rogerhedgecock.com, (Fax)(858) 715-3395.By the way, people, I received a few e-mails about Resolutions by Berkeley, California, to legalize Marihuana and Prostitution and to end Constitutional protection of Corporations. I could not agree with them more on these! Yesterday, I received my issue of Fall 2004 Synthesis/Regeneration, with the article entitled Abolish Corporate Personhood, on pages 38-41. I like that article, considerably! About a week ago, I sent www.thecorporation.com an e-mail asking how I can purchase the DVD of The Corporation. They e-mailed me a form letter indicating the DVD should be available for sale around January 2005. I'm waiting for it! I was outbid of a DVD of The Corporation on an e-bay auction, about four days ago. Shucks! I want to purchase many DVDs of The Corporation! This issue of Synthesis/Regeneration also has an article asserting that the Green Party has been infiltrated by Democratic Party agents. Accordingly, I plan to vote for Ralph Nader, Libertarian Party, and PERHAPS Green Party candidates, in this order of voting order. Certainly no Republicans or Democrats, though I did vote for Dennis Kucinich at the Primary Election. I asked the election machine operator for a paper receipt, but she said: "You don't need it!" I beg to differ from her!I do plan to send you $25/month until the end of the campaign!Yurrs truly, with warm regards, Richard Paul Zuckerman, Box 159, Metuchen, New Jersey, 08840-0159, (Cell telephone number)(908) 403-6990, richardzuckerman2002 yahoo.com.Diploma in Paralegal, New York University, 2003;Diploma in Truck Driving, with an up-to-date New Jersey Commercial Drivers License, Smith and Solomon School of Truck Driving, 45 Kilmer Road, Edison, New Jersey, 1995;B.A. in Political Science, Kean College of New Jersey [Kean University], 1987.Member of: www.norml.org; www.aclu-nj.org; www.greenparty.org; www.njlp.org; www.fromthewilderness.com; www.hightimes.com; www.cannabisculture.com; www.jpfo.org; www.nrahq.org.;A "private attorney general," Frankenhauser v. Rizzo, 59 F.R.D. 339, 343 (E.D. Pa. Edward R. Becker, when he was ONLY a federal district judge 1973);"[A] man more sinn'd against than sinning," William Shakespeare, Wagenmann v. Adams, 829 F.2d 196, 226, footnote (1st Cir. 1987);a/k/a Zucko The Clown [literally stolen from Howard Stern Show character Yucko The Clown];A dark horse;Buck Private Paralegal. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 22:03:01 PT Hope It does say infused. I wonder if that means slowly released into the tumor rather then an injection which would be over quickly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:48:45 PT It doesn't say injection in the article Maybe "shots"...is liquid to drink. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 20:13:49 PT Am I reading this correctly? They've figured out a way to inject thc into people? [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by ekim on August 16, 2004 at 19:47:39 PT Mr Bush reorganize wisely be a team player a while back a friend said they had picked up a Dr Grenspoon book on Cannabis while in Jerusalem hearing this i asked that it be left as the people near there need it more than i. just think what good could come of the people getting together as much suffering is there. i can remember the solar experiment kit i got from the exploratoremum and how i wondered what a place like Israel is as the Author of the kit was from there. i still dream that both groups of people could make a business of solar cells to sell all over the world and it could be called------ I & P for your solar needs. much better than a casinohttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread19285.shtml Pot Shots for Israeli Soldiers Posted by CN Staff on August 04, 2004 at 12:40:27 PT Breaking News Source: Daily Telegraph UK Israeli soldiers suffering from combat stress could soon be treated with cannabis to relieve their symptoms. "The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) medical corps, in cooperation with the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, is introducing the use of THC, the active agent in the cannabis plant, which helps relieve post-traumatic stress disorders, on an experimental basis," an army statement said. The mental health department of the Medical Corps was set to to begin tests on volunteers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after reserve duty.Hundreds of Israelis have been treated for combat stress after performing their mandatory national service in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.The scientist who will help conduct the experiment heads a research team which discovered that cannabis helped mice which had suffered physical stress, and had even reduced the risk of stroke.The army said the use of THC had been approved by a military and a civilian committee.Source: Daily Telegraph (UK) Published: August 04, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Telegraph Group Limited Contact: dtletters telegraph.co.uk Website: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/ http://www.leap.cc [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by global_warming on August 16, 2004 at 17:22:15 PT Corruption The corruptions of what man has wrought, can only be cleansed, by revealing this cancer to to the light of "Truth", as Christians, we must offer this strength to all those that seek to enter into the grace of God.I do not point my finger, but offer my hand, to lift up those that seek the "Light".Jam 1:1 James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting: Jam 1:2 My brothers count it all joy when you fall into various trials, Jam 1:3 knowing that the proving of your faith works patience. Jam 1:4 But let patience have its perfective work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Jam 1:26 If anyone thinks to be religious among you, yet not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his heart, this one's religion is vain.Jam 5:1 Go, now, ye rich! weep, howling over your miseries that are coming upon you ; Jam 5:2 your riches have rotted, and your garments have become moth-eaten; Jam 5:3 your gold and silver have rotted, and the rust of them for a testimony shall be to you, and shall eat your flesh as fire. Ye made treasure in the last days! Jam 5:4 lo, the reward of the workmen, of those who in-gathered your fields, which hath been fraudulently kept back by you--doth cry out, and the exclamations of those who did reap into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth have entered; Jam 5:5 ye did live in luxury upon the earth, and were wanton; ye did nourish your hearts, as in a day of slaughter; Jam 5:6 ye did condemn--ye did murder the righteous one, he doth not resist you. Jam 5:7 Be patient, then, brethren, till the presence of the Lord; lo, the husbandman doth expect the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it, till he may receive rain--early and latter; Jam 5:8 be patient, ye also; establish your hearts, because the presence of the Lord hath drawn nigh; [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by CorvallisEric on August 16, 2004 at 17:01:58 PT Corruption Whenever someone raises the issue of corruption, and how it differs between countries and states, I get the urge to publicize these interesting sources:Transparency International index based on surveys of travelers, business people, academics, etc. As far as I know, this is highly respected. Scroll down a couple pages for the table:http://transparency.org/pressreleases_archive/2003/2003.10.07.cpi.en.html---------REPORT RANKS STATES FROM MOST CORRUPT TO LEAST CORRUPTMississippi is the most corrupt state in the United States, and Nebraska is the least corrupt, according to a first-ever ranking of the states released last week by Corporate Crime Reporter.According to the report, Public Corruption in the United States, the ten most corrupt states in the country are: Mississippi, North Dakota, Louisiana, Alaska, Illinois, Montana, South Dakota, Kentucky, Florida, and New York.The ten least corrupt states in the country are: Nebraska, Oregon, New Hampshire, Iowa, Colorado, Utah, Minnesota, Arizona, Arkansas, and Wisconsin.The 50 states were ranked by corruption rate -- the number of public corruption convictions in the state over a ten-year period (1993 to 2002) per 100,000 population.This is a little quirkier, and there are caveats. I haven't come across anything else like it and would appreciate knowing of others. The actual list is in a PDF file (with horrible type font - the more-readable full list is at the bottom) linked from here:http://www.corporatecrimereporter.com/01_19_04_pressrelease.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 15:50:18 PT Hope There's corruption in the North, South, East and West and all over the world. I didn't understand your question though. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 15:43:33 PT the south I guess there are just too many folk down here who are corruption oriented. You guys don't have those types up North, I guess. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by global_warming on August 16, 2004 at 15:07:47 PT Alabama One does not have to look too far to find some kind of answer to this parodox..the fact that the "South" held onto the concept that human slavery was an acceptable practice, should give one some idea to what is going on in the "South", I reckon that all them churches are needed to try to find some healing for the soul of the "South", for their burden is too much to live with.Smoking Cannabis, only brings this cancer closer to the heart, and that is most painful.Likewise, the anti's have the same fear and problem, if too many people smoke, and have this personnel experience, shucks, every one will "have their eyes opened", can't have that, we need those fools to keep paying their taxes and supporting us in our lavish lifestyles..The time is slowly coming, when even smoking will not prevent the masses from awakening, and when that day comes, Jesus will come off that cross and shake your hand.gw [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by CorvallisEric on August 16, 2004 at 14:09:36 PT Alabama My guess (and that's all it is) for the most-draconian is a tie between Alabama and Oklahoma, with a strong showing by Texas and Georgia.But, I feel the need to pick apart some of the article (link in comment #5):At 4.4 percent, Alabama was well below the national average of 6.2 percent. The District of Columbia had the highest rate of marijuana use at 10.8 percent. [percentage of past-month use age 12 and up].4.4 percent is not wildly different from 6.2 percent. DC is 100% urban which makes it stand out in every statistic."That seems surprising to me that Alabama would come in last," said Jeff Baker, director of the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation's substance abuse north regional clearinghouse in Anniston. "I know that around this area, in the area that we cover, marijuana is pretty widely abused," he said.Adds support to the keeping-your-mouth-shut theory.... it may not be Alabama's drug prevention work that has curbed marijuana use as much as a move by users to different types of drugs. While Alabama ranked last in marijuana use and 47th in use of any illegal drugs, it jumped to 29th in the category of illegal drugs excluding marijuana. "We certainly have seen a big increase in the use of methamphetamines," said Harold Willis, an agent in the Drug Enforcement Agency's Birmingham branch. ... According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, Alabama ranks 11th among states in OxyContin prescriptions per capita.I wonder if Alabama leads the nation in the perception that "marijuana is as bad as meth" or "marijuana is as bad as oxy." [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by BGreen on August 16, 2004 at 13:14:43 PT Loretta Nall From Alabama Can Explain This Marijuana Activist: Police Persecuting Mehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14774.shtmlI returned home from town Wednesday to find law enforcement officers swarming all over my property and inside my home. They claimed to have obtained the warrant via a phone-in tip that I was growing marijuana.I do not believe this to be the case. Until Wednesday, I had never been arrested for marijuana in any context. I am not growing marijuana and so there really is no one to tip them off. I do not have any enemies that I am aware of. No one ever really comes to my home other than family members..Loretta Nall wrote a few letters to the editor of her Alabama newspaper and that was enough "probable cause" to secure a search warrant for her house.Is it any wonder that the people of Alabama learned really fast that they'd better keep their mouths shut?How about this recent case, also from the great state of Alabama:Teen Given 26 Years for Selling Marijuanahttp://www.cannabisnews.com/news/16/thread16098.shtmlWebster Alexander is 19 years old and his life's dreams are already lost. A teenage fervor for marijuana has cost him more than lapses of memory or bronchitis.Alexander's relationship with pot has cost him 26 years, a hit by the drug war in the U.S. designed to stop the use of marijuana. The results have been questionable as the U.S. continues to have one of the highest marijuana consumption rates in the world.In the buckle of the Bible Belt is Moulton, Ala., a town not much bigger than a black- eyed pea, lost in America's Deep South. Folks here don't normally get much international interest. They like it that way.But that changed in January when Lawrence County Circuit Judge Philip Reich sentenced Alexander to 26 years in prison after convicting him of selling 28-gram handfuls of marijuana on four different occasions to an undercover cop masquerading as a student.It was Alexander's first offence and he pleaded guilty. His sentence -- a plea bargain -- can't be appealed, but his lawyer is working to show Alexander has changed his life. A judge can give Alexander probation instead of jail time for some, or even all, of the 26 years.Clearly, when slightly informed, the people of the U.S. can make competent decisions.How do we get people to become better informed when it's a crime to speak out?The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 12:46:55 PT The south I think they just learned to keep their mouths shut. It was agovernment survey. They had let the "vampire" into the house. Seems like it would take a pretty dense character to tell a government interviewer that they were doing something that same government would slap the shackles on them for. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 12:35:57 PT EJ That's a Really Good Question It makes sense that it would help. It' helps with Alzheimer's Disease.Alzforum Website - Marijuana: http://www.alzforum.org/res/adh/hyp/#marijuanaHigh Times for Alzheimers : http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14254.shtml [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by dididadadidit on August 16, 2004 at 12:33:49 PT MAP on Alabama Low Cannabis Use I find the MAP article on the low useage rate of cannabis by Alabama to be interesting from the standpoint of cannabis use and IQ's.I recently took one of those online IQ tests and surprisingly came out 15 points better than when entering college over 40 years ago. Since ones IQ tends to peak in the late teens to early twenties and then decline slowly over the decades, I attribute my improvement to a 20 point boost in 1969 when I began my 35 year criminal career by lighting up and dismissing war presnit Nixon's fear, loathing, and damn lies indicting marijuana when his own study commission reccommended decrim to legalisation.I had felt for years that pot caused people to think differently, to see issues from multiple viewpoints, and that was a major reason the prohibitionists are so against it. Can't have people thinking out of step.After the test, I'm willing to consider that pot doesn't necessarily cause different thinking, just more thinking (still reason enough for the prohibitionists to be alarmed), which in turn still allows the viewing of issues from more viewpoints.Anyhow, with apologies (and sympathies) to the enlightened of Alabama who tune in here, the MAP story fits right in with the IQ boost theory. Wonder if I can use this in my pitch to FDA for a $10 million grant to study the correlation?Cheers? [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by E_Johnson on August 16, 2004 at 12:31:32 PT I wonder how much of it is from medication Chemotherapy kills brain cells and causes cognitive decline, and many widely prescribed medications such as prednisone also kill brain cells.Cannabis on the other hand seems to have these magic molecular neuroprotective antioxidant powers.One thing I would really like to know, which could in principle be tested scientifically, is - does using cannabis during chemo help preserve cognitive function?That question could be answered without a lot of difficulty (other than political difficulty that is) and I hope that someone is studying it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 11:57:34 PT Hope That is interesting. The south without generalizing is more involved in a religion or maybe I should say churches. It takes time for people to understand. It's hard for some to think outside the box but in time they will see too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 11:48:54 PT Thank you, FoM I've enjoyed it too.This is an interesting tidbit of news.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1167/a09.html?397 http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v04/n1167/a09.html?397 [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on August 16, 2004 at 11:05:08 PT Hope I have totally enjoyed this talk we've had about health, the earth and our hopes and desires. The news is slow because of school starting and the RNC coming up but what news we've gotten has been out of this world and makes me very happy. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 10:43:09 PT Sam Adams You're right. I considered that, too.You keep those synapses flowing. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Hope on August 16, 2004 at 10:41:12 PT These two news items belong together Thanks to Dr. Koop for putting these pieces of news together...and you for finding them, FoM. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Sam Adams on August 16, 2004 at 10:39:30 PT Maybe not that scary I'll bet people are living a lot longer now than they did in the late 70s - due to cardiology, cancer advances. Thousands and thousands of people who would have dropped dead due to heart attacks are saved with stents, angioplasty, etc. So they've got more time to develop brain problems.Fortunately for me, I've taken a pro-active approach towards preserving my brain through daily cannabis use - with a vaporizer of course. Ah, I can feel my synapses flowing smoothly right now as I type....... [ Post Comment ] Post Comment