cannabisnews.com: New Study Examines 'Brain's Own Marijuana' New Study Examines 'Brain's Own Marijuana' Posted by CN Staff on May 16, 2007 at 13:29:02 PT By Kathleen Weaver Source: University of Buffalo Buffalo, NY -- A researcher at the University at Buffalo's Research Institute on Addictions (RIA) is investigating the "brain's own marijuana" -- called endocannabinoid -- in the regulation of stress, stress-related behavior and anxiety. A five-year, $1.7 million grant from the National Institute of Mental Health is supporting this investigation. "It is widely accepted that one of the major reasons that people use and abuse marijuana is to relieve stress," according to Samir Haj-Dahmane, Ph.D., neuroscientist and principal investigator on the RIA study. "However, because marijuana can be addictive, it cannot be used to treat stress-related mood disorders such as anxiety. An alternative strategy may be to directly target the 'brain's own marijuana.'" The success of such a strategy requires a better understanding of how endocannabinoid moderates stress-related behaviors and how stress and stress hormones activate the endocannabinoid system.Haj-Dahmane and his co-investigator, Troy Wood, Ph.D., will examine the relationships between stress, stress-related behavior and addiction using a combination of electrophysiological, pharmacological and neurochemical approaches. They believe this study also may lay the foundation for better pharmacotherapy for stress-related mood disorders. Wood is an associate professor in the Department of Chemistry in UB's College of Arts and Sciences.The Research Institute on Addictions has been a leader in the study of addictions since 1970 and a research center of the University at Buffalo since 1999.The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.Source: University of Buffalo (NY) Author: Kathleen WeaverPublished: Wednesday, May 16, 2007Copyright: 2007 University at BuffaloContact: weaver ria.buffalo.eduWebsite: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #18 posted by afterburner on June 19, 2007 at 15:47:52 PT FoM #12 Honey, I'm gone: Disappearance of pollinating bees a Rorschach test for our times, By Joel Garreau, The Washington Post (June 05. 2007 8:00AM ) http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070605/REPOSITORY/706050330/1013/NEWS03 [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by ekim on May 18, 2007 at 07:38:38 PT what Lawmaker will call for Cannabis to be grown http://www.miagbiz.org/index.aspx?ascxid=fpQfStory&fpsid=28343&fpstid=1May 16, 2007 New legislation introduced in the Senate Tuesday would help producers get started with growing dedicated energy crops. The Farm-to-Fuel Investment Act, introduced by Senators Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Kent Conrad, D-N.D., would provide three years of transition assistance to farmers producing dedicated energy crops within 50 miles of a biorefinery. The assistance takes into account that some energy crops, such as switchgrass and other prairie grasses, can take around three years to reach their first mature harvest. Also, the three years help to allow a market to develop with a biorefinery. "This bill charts a course for initiating the extensive production of biomass feedstocks while continuing to protect wildlife and promote sound soil and water conservation practices," says Harkin, the chair of the Agriculture Committee. Participating farmers would have to agree to adopt conservation practices for soil quality, water quality and wildlife habitat. This can also provide benefits for prairie grasses, which can provide conservation benefits by protecting soil and water quality, sequestering carbon, providing wildlife habitat, and saving fuel and fertilizer. "Farmers are going to be a key part of our nation's ability to achieve energy independence," says Klobuchar. "These crops could revolutionize how we look at energy just like ethanol and biodiesel have." [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by afterburner on May 17, 2007 at 21:32:54 PT The Birds and other Animals... ...need fields of cannabis. Taking this healing plant out of the food chain and replacing cannabis with synthetic pesticides, pollution and genetically-engineered crops is taking its toll on the animal kingdom. "Canary in a coal mine": increase in autism, allergies and auto-immune diseases are all indicators of serious damage to the bio-sphere. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by FoM on May 17, 2007 at 18:34:46 PT ekim That's not good at all. Birds, frogs, bees, fish and other creatures that are having illness issues should be a wakeup call for all of us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by ekim on May 17, 2007 at 17:43:16 PT Virus has devastated some birds Washington--One-third of US crows are gone.Birds that wonce flourished in suburban skies, including robins, bluebirds and crows, have been devastated by West Nile virus in many areas, a new study has found.front page of Kal MI Gazette today [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on May 17, 2007 at 12:49:24 PT One More Off Topic: Fish DNR Holds Emergency Meeting On Fish Virus DNR Trying to Stop Spread of Deadly Fish Virus The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board is holding an emergency meeting Thursday to consider rules aimed at stopping the spread of a virus that is deadly to fish.The virus, called viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), has caused fish kills in the Great Lakes and was recently found in some fish from the Lake Winnebago chain. It causes fish to bleed to death.Complete Article: http://wkbt.com/Global/story.asp?S=6529967 [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by FoM on May 17, 2007 at 12:45:14 PT Off Topic: Bees Where Have All The Flowers Gone Since Our Bees Are Disappearing***May 16, 2007 Where have all the flowers gone?/Long time passing/Where have all the Bees gone?/Not so long ago not so long ago/Where have all the flowers gone?/Bees have picked them every one/When will we ever learn?/When will we ever learn?All apologies to Pete Seeger; however his Vietnam Era anti war song could well serve as an anthem for the American beekeeper.Researchers are scrambling for clues, any clues, into the recent, baffling disappearance of honeybees across the United States, a potentially catastrophic trend that threatens the hundred or more food crops dependent on bees for pollination.http://www.bloggernews.net/16841 [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by ekim on May 17, 2007 at 08:45:11 PT thanks GCW will send info to LEAP Horse Puckey Filed under: Tony Ryan Leap Blog— May 17, 2007 8:01 am An old term, my title. While it means the same as a more common phrase that starts with Bull, it is a kinder, gentler term - more suitable for our audience. I use this term as it is the most succinct way of saying what I think of some law enforcement officers' publicly stated "opinion" on medical marijuana. http://blog.leap.cc/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on May 17, 2007 at 08:44:55 PT MBC I am sick of it too. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by mai_bong_city on May 17, 2007 at 08:39:51 PT idiots is right the most commonly prescribed drugs for anxiety disorders are benzo's like ativan, klonopin and xanax. all highly addictive. pot's not. period. i'm so sick of jerks getting print. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dongenero on May 17, 2007 at 07:54:32 PT Ron Paul and comment #3 mayan, that jones report article is hilarious! Go Ron Paul!I don't think Ron Paul should leave the Republican Party, heck, he won the debates back to back!Maybe the point here is that the Faux News brand of Neo Con is the extreme of the party? Maybe the pro-torture, anti-Constitution, likes of Limbaugh, Hannity, O'Leilly should leave the Republican party and start their own party. The Dems could probably loan them the Donkey caricature and they could call it the jack a$$ party.The NeoCons are out of touch and out of step with the reasonable are fair people of our Nation. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by afterburner on May 16, 2007 at 21:49:31 PT I've Been Watching this Pseudo-Science since 1969 My wife and I attended the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) in 1969 (or so) and saw an exhibit entitled "Man and His Drugs" sponsored by the Council on Drug Abuse (CODA). One of the photographs in this exhibit was a picture of people dancing. I thought at that time, "What is wrong with dancing?" These people seemed to be neo-puritans who associated anything but work with drug abuse. Notice that CODA was started by pharmacists: CODA - The Council on Drug Abuse http://drugabuse.ca/about.htm [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by The GCW on May 16, 2007 at 21:46:20 PT Author: Steve Murphy - State Senator, District 28 US MN: PUB LTE: Effects of allowing medical use of marijuana overstated Pubdate: 10 May 2007Source: Post-Bulletin (Rochester, MN)Viewed at: http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=23&a=293682 Effects of allowing medical use of marijuana overstated 5/10/2007 10:24:00 AM The Chatfield chief of police has expressed his opposition to legislation that would allow seriously ill people to use medical marijuana. While I appreciate his interest in protecting the public, I believe his concerns surrounding medical marijuana are unfounded. The chief contends that medical marijuana will lead to increased crime and increased use of marijuana. However, no state with a medical marijuana program has seen an increase in teen marijuana use since the law was implemented. In fact, many of these states have lower teen marijuana use rates than the national average. Further, no law enforcement agency or government of a state with medical marijuana is seeking a repeal of the law. In Colorado, which has had a medical marijuana program since 2001, only ONE person has been arrested for violating the law. I'd also like to point out that the police chiefs were strongly opposed to Minnesota's conceal-and-carry legislation when it was being considered by the Legislature. They claimed that it would lead to an explosion of gun violence in Minnesota. Clearly, this has not happened. The bill being considered by the Legislature would establish the most restrictive and conservative medical marijuana program in the nation. The experiences of the 12 other states that allow the medical use of marijuana prove that it does not open Pandora's box to crime, but would help people with debilitating diseases and end-of-life issues cope with their pain and suffering. Steve MurphyState Senator, District 28 Red Wing [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on May 16, 2007 at 18:50:11 PT mayan Ron Paul seems like a very nice man. I didn't watch the whole debate but I saw his and Giuliani's exchange. They sure don't like him and his war stance. The audience really got angry and believes in torture. Ron Paul should be a Democrat because he isn't like the Republicans. I don't think that anyone will beat Clinton and that is a bummer to me. She will win just because she will. Some people like Bill Clinton and want him back in power I think. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by mayan on May 16, 2007 at 18:28:35 PT They're Absolutely Terrified!!! Ron Paul Upsets Controlled-Media Debate as Clear Winner: http://www.jonesreport.com/articles/150507_ron_paul_debate.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by mayan on May 16, 2007 at 18:26:32 PT Addictive??? However, because marijuana can be addictive, it cannot be used to treat stress-related mood disorders such as anxiety.Cannabis is about as addictive as glazed doughnuts! If these dolts are worried about addiction then why aren't they harping about alcohol,tobacco and half of the prescription drugs on the market? In unrelated news, I never imagined that the harmless,gentle Ron Paul would scare the sh*t out of the entire war-mongering establishment...Ron Paul For President 2008: Coverage Archive: http://www.prisonplanet.com/archives/ronpaul/index.htmTHE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Rosie O'Donnell's 9/11 Question: http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/05/16/rosie-odonnells-911-question/Rosie O'Donnell Opens 9/11 Throttle On The View (video): http://tinyurl.com/2zhaqjFictional Characters in the 9/11 Hijacking Farce - Whatever Happened to Waleed? http://mujca.com/waleedalshehri.htmAlex Jones Covers Further 'Video Loss' by BBC on 9/11: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt14LphgcxM9/11 WAS AN INSIDE JOB - OUR NATION IS IN PERIL: http://www.911sharethetruth.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by E_Johnson on May 16, 2007 at 15:12:21 PT These fools are so reprehensible It is a horrific nightmare for me personally to see the way Orwellian doublespeak has infected science.What they really mean is -- since pot cannot be patented, and since political support from the racist law enforcement establishment demands we not legitimize the black and Hispanic and poor people who use marijuana to treat their own mood disorders, then we have to continue to advance a cruel and punitive regime while at the same way finding a means of making ourselves bloody effing rich from it. 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