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Thread: How do u feel about Cannabis...?

  1. #1

    How do u feel about Cannabis...?

    What's everyone feelings on this quote on quote "drug" ?

    Me, personally, coming from my background, I honestly don't see nothing wrong with it. My family has been smoking it for YEARS and I've seen that it helps with a LOT in the medical field. Actually seen a doc about it where this little girl (about 7/8) who has to take it in liquid form to help with her cancer!

    I just want to hear others opinions on it. If its to much of a touchy subject, please by all means delete this!
    I Believe

  2. #2
    i think the main problem with cannabis is not the plant itself, its the temptation for it. alot of people my age are encouraged by peers to purchase it and smoke it , and it forms habit. cause people are like " this is good , gotta keep getting this" till the point where thats all that matters, ive seen some strange people go to extremes to get pot , or find alternative highs . while its not nessesarly "addictive" , the WANT for it is at high importance. to responsible people who manage themselves well i have no problem with at all! or any problems with the plant itself. its the irrisponsible people who are willing to ruin there lives just for it

  3. #3
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Mermaid Melanie's Avatar
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    I think that its a wonderful plant, so many beneficial uses to society, but the big companies don't want it to be legalised as they would probably lose millions.

    I understand what your saying Cecelia, but you could say the same about a number of things, like alcohol - so many people become dependant on it and ruin their life, yet its legal. Maybe the fact that it is illegal is what fuels the want... young people want to rebel ! I can't remember which country it was now but I think it was a scandinavian one.. anyway they lowered the legal age for sex to 13 or 14 I think it was... since doing this the rates of teenage pregnancy have dropped... kids were saying because its not a taboo, illegal or a big deal anymore they tend not to have that "i must try this" attitude.

    I honestly think that certain "drugs" should be legalised. I think better education about them would go a long way! I don't think more people would use drugs, I just think people should have the right to choose.
    Yougot your own style, now let it come through. And remember no matter what, you got to be you. -Sebastian

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    Senior Member Euro Pod Echidna's Avatar
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    I think drug use should be for medicinal purposes only.
    Patients who suffer from chronic pain could benefit a lot from the legalization of cannabis, and it should be done ASAP.

    On the other hand, stuff like cigarettes/cigars and alcohol should be forbidden, because it doesn't have any health benefits, on the contrary.
    It's incomprehensible that smoking in particular isn't illegal, as the byproducts damage everyone who happens to be nearby, which constitutes a case of assault and bodily injury.

    That the potentially helpful drug is forbidden and the ones only doing harm are allowed is just one of the many stupid, hypocritical issues of humanity.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod PearlieMae's Avatar
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    Now that tobacco use is dropping, e-cigs are gaining in popularity, and more states are passing new marijuana laws, don't be surprised when Big Tobacco starts retooling for Big Weed production. All those tobacco fields are prime real estate for marijuana production. I'll betcha lobbyists for tobacco are rewriting their playbooks right now.


    I think it should be legalized, and all other forms of hemp production ramped up. It's an incredibly useful plant in more ways than just Tetrahydrocannabinol. Usage should be regulated like alcohol, meaning legal for adults to choose to use for recreational purposes, and all medicinal forms should be readily available.


    More information: http://www.nemeton.com/static/nemeto...atis/hemp.html.

  6. #6
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    I've researched a hell of a lot about it, as a person with chronic pain and chronic illness. I was very close to taking it for pain but I finally found a new medication for my endometriosis and I'm good. I personally cant stand the smell. And while it's decriminalized here I worry about all the second hand smoke. A joint tends to have more tobacco than a cigarette. People rarely are smoking pure weed, and anytime you burn something organic it WILL create tar in your lungs. Ask any mortician SO for me I dont really care if others smoke or use it, but I don't feel I should be forced to breathe in second hand smoke. For 4 years in my apartment building we could never open our windows because the guys below us were such pot heads. It would make our whole apartment stink, my clothes, my hair... I can't be leaving for work as a teacher smelling like pot. I also find a lot of recreational smokers try to use the healthcare excuse, but people with chronic pain and illness find vaping, eating, and juicing to be far more affective than smoking. In my chronic pain support group we had a whole workshop on it and there are so many options out there for people with pain.

    In Canada it's illegal to smoke ciggaretts in certain spaces, and you need to be within X amount of space from air intakes etc. I'd like to see that extended to weed as well. It's your choice to smoke it, but I am choosing not to and shouldnt have to breathe it in on a regular basis.

    As for the health benefits, greatly exagerated. It's been studied to death since the 70's. Yes, it can do a lot of good for pain which is awesome. Way better for people than opioids. But as far as curing cancer, it hasnt happened yet. I think a lot of recreational users just want it to be true to justify their use, and people dying of cancer or suffering are going to consider every possible option. If something is too good to be true, it usually is. I know for me before I found meds for my illness if you told me monkey poop would cure me I'd eat it every day.

    I'm going to copy and paste one of the best SCIENTIFIC articles I've ever found to date on the subject. it compiles the majority of the bigger long term studies on the topic. And it really addresses all the main arguments. I figure if I just link it, no one will read it.

    Before I do just to wrap up my opinion: I have no issue with it beyond the problem of second hand smoke. I think people with illness deserve access to it for sure. I also think it can be utilized as a natural product for a lot of things (paper etc). I would never judge someone for being a stoner either. However, as far as it's ability to cure illness, I rely on hard scientific fact. Not people who say it did something and we have no idea what else they've been doing, what combination, their history etc, and really we see no proof beyond before and after. If it cured cancer for real, the thousands of studies over the past decades and decades would be able to find that and replicate it. People in big pharama and the government die of cancer too. I don't believe for a second there is a secret cure. Cancer doesnt discriminate.

    The link: http://www.iflscience.com/health-and...vidence-so-far

    The info (please read because it's so well done!)

    Note: This article was written by Kat Arney and first appeared as a blog post on Cancer Research UK. It has been posted here with permission. You can read the original article here and donate to Cancer Research UK here.
    Few topics spark as much debate on this blog and on our Facebook page than cannabis.
    So we thought we’d take a look at the common questions raised about the evidence and research into cannabis, cannabinoids (the active chemicals found in the plant and elsewhere) and cancer, and address some of the wider issues that crop up in this debate.
    We’ve broken it down under a number of headings:

    • What are cannabinoids and how do they work?
    • Can cannabinoids treat cancer? (including lab research, clinical research and unanswered questions)
    • Can cannabis prevent or cause cancer?
    • What about controlling cancer symptoms such as pain or sickness?
    • Is Cancer Research UK investigating cannabinoids?
    • It’s natural so it must be better, right?
    • “Have you seen this video? This guy says cannabis cures cancer!”
    • “It’s all a big conspiracy – you don’t want people to be cured!”
    • “What’s the harm? There’s nothing to lose.”
    • “Big Pharma can’t patent it so they’re not interested.”
    • “Why don’t you campaign for cannabis to be legalised?”

    This post is long, but can be summarised by saying that at the moment there isn’t enough reliable evidence to prove that cannabinoids – whether natural or synthetic – can effectively treat cancer in patients, although research is ongoing around the world.
    Read on to get the full picture.

    What are cannabinoids and how do they work?

    Cannabinoids” is a blanket term covering a family of complex chemicals (both natural and man-made) that lock on to cannabinoid receptors – protein molecules on the surface of cells.
    Humans have been using cannabis plants for medicinal and recreational purposes for thousands of years, but cannabinoids themselves were first purified from cannabis plants in the 1940s. The structure of the main active ingredient of cannabis plants – delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – was discovered in the 60s. It wasn’t until the late 1980s that researchers found the first cannabinoid receptor, followed shortly by the discovery that we create cannabinoid-like chemicals within our own bodies, known as endocannabinoids.
    The CB1 and CB2 receptors.Image source

    We have two different types of cannabinoid receptor, CB1 and CB2, which are found in different locations and do different things. CB1 is mostly found on cells in the nervous system, including certain areas of the brain and the ends of nerves throughout the body, while CB2 receptors are mostly found in cells from the immune system. Because of their location in the brain, it’s thought that CB1 receptors are responsible for the infamous ‘high’ (known as psychoactive effects) resulting from using cannabis.
    Over the past couple of decades scientists have found that endocannabinoids and cannabinoid receptors are involved in a vast array of functions in our bodies, including helping to control brain and nerve activity (including memory and pain), energy metabolism, heart function, the immune system and even reproduction. Because of this molecular multitasking, they’re implicated in a huge range of illnesses, from cancer to neurodegenerative diseases.
    Can cannabinoids treat cancer?

    There is no doubt that cannabinoids – both natural and synthetic – are interesting biological molecules. Hundreds of scientists around the world are investigating their potential in cancer and other diseases – as well as the harms they can cause – brought together under the blanket organisation The International Cannabinoid Research Society.
    Researchers first looked at the anticancer properties of cannabinoids back in the 1970s, andmany hundreds of scientific papers looking at cannabinoids and cancer have been published since then. This Wellcome Witness seminar is also fascinating reading for aficionados of the history of medical cannabis, including the scientific, political and legal twists. [Updated KA 26/03/14]
    But claims that this body of preclinical research is solid “proof” that cannabis or cannabinoids can cure cancer is highly misleading to patients and their families, and builds a false picture of the state of progress in this area.
    Let’s take a closer look at the evidence.
    Lab research

    Virtually all the scientific research investigating whether cannabinoids can treat cancer has been done using cancer cells grown in the lab or animal models. It’s important to be cautious when extrapolating these results up to real live patients, who tend to be a lot more complex than a Petri dish or a mouse.
    Virtually all the research into cannabinoids and cancer so far has been done in the lab.

    Through many detailed experiments, handily summarised in this recent article in the journal Nature Reviews Cancer, scientists have discovered that various cannabinoids (both natural and synthetic) have a wide range of effects in the lab, including:

    • Triggering cell death, through a mechanism called apoptosis
    • Stopping cells from dividing
    • Preventing new blood vessels from growing into tumours
    • Reducing the chances of cancer cells spreading through the body, by stopping cells from moving or invading neighbouring tissue
    • Speeding up the cell’s internal ‘waste disposal machine’ – a process known as autophagy – which can lead to cell death

    All these effects are thought to be caused by cannabinoids locking onto the CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptors. It also looks like cannabinoids can exert effects on cancer cells that don’t involve cannabinoid receptors, although it isn’t yet clear exactly what’s going on there.
    So far, the best results in the lab or animal models have come from using a combination of highly purified THC and cannabidiol (CBD), a cannabinoid found in cannabis plants that counteracts the psychoactive effects of THC. But researchers have also found positive results using synthetic cannabinoids, such as a molecule called JWH-133.
    It’s not all good news though, as there’s also evidence that cannabinoids may also have undesirable effects on cancer.
    For example, some researchers have found that although high doses of THC can kill cancer cells, they also harm crucial blood vessel cells, although this may help their anti-cancer effect by preventing blood vessels growing into a tumour. And under some circumstances, cannabinoids can actually encourage cancer cells to grow, or have different effects depending on the dosage and levels of cannabinoid receptors present on the cancer cells. [Edited for clarity and to add reference - KA 27/07/12]
    Others have discovered that activating CB2 receptors may actually interfere with the ability of the immune system to recognise and destroy tumour cells, although some scientists have found that certain synthetic cannabinoids may enhance immune defences against cancer.
    Furthermore, cancer cells can develop resistance to cannabinoids and start growing again, although this can be got round by blocking a certain molecular pathway in the cells known as ALK.
    Combining cannabinoids with other chemotherapy drugs may be a much more effective approach
    And yet more research suggests that combining cannabinoids with other chemotherapy drugs may be a much more effective approach. This idea is supported by lab experiments combining cannabinoids with other drugs including gemcitabine andtemozolomide.
    Clinical research

    But that’s the lab – what about clinical research involving people with cancer? Results have been published from only one clinical trial testing whether cannabinoids can treat cancer in patients, led by Dr Manuel Guzman and his team in Spain. Nine people with advanced, terminal glioblastoma multiforme – an aggressive brain tumour – were given highly purified THC through a tube directly into their brain.
    Eight people’s cancers showed some kind of response to the treatment, and one didn’t respond at all. All the patients died within a year, as might be expected for people with cancer this advanced.
    The results from this study show that THC given in this way is safe and doesn’t seem to cause significant side effects. But because this was an early stage trial, without a control group, it’s impossible to say whether THC helped to extend their lives. And while it’s certainly not a cure, the trial results suggest that cannabinoids are worth pursuing in clinical trials.
    There is also a published case report of a 14-year old girl from Canada who was treated with cannabis extracts (also referred to as “hemp oil”), but there is limited information that can be obtained from a single case treated with a varied mixture of cannabinoids. More published examples with detailed data are needed in order to draw a fuller picture of what’s going on.[Updated 26/03/14, KA]
    A handful of other clinical trials of cannabinoids are currently being set up. We are helping to support the only two UK trials of cannabinoids for treating cancer, through our Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) Network funded by Cancer Research UK and the devolved Departments of Health. One early-stage trial is testing a synthetic cannabinoid called dexanabinolin patients with advanced cancer, and the other is an early-stage trial testing a cannabis extract called Sativex for treating people with glioblastoma multiforme brain tumours. [Edited to add more information about the trials - KA 22/08/12, KA 24/03/14]
    Unanswered questions

    There are still a lot of unanswered questions around the potential for using cannabinoids to treat cancer.
    An antique bottle of cannabis extract. Image source

    The biggest issue is that there isn’t enough evidence to show that they can treat cancer in people, although research is still ongoing around the world.
    And it’s not clear which type of cannabinoid – either natural or synthetic – might be most effective, what kind of doses might be needed, or which types of cancer might respond best to them. So far there have been intriguing results from lab experiments with prostate, breast, lung cancer, skin, bone and pancreatic cancers, glioma brain tumours and lymphoma. But the take-home message is that different cannabinoids seem to have different effects on various cancer types, so they are far from being a ‘universal’ treatment.
    Most research has been focused on THC, which occurs naturally in cannabis plants, but researchers have found that different cannabinoids seem to work better or worse different types of cancer cells. Lab experiments have shown promising results with THC on brain tumour and prostate cancer cells, while CBD seems to work well on breast cancer cells.
    Then there’s the problem of the psychoactive effects of THC, particularly at high doses, although this can be counteracted by giving it together with CBD. Because of this problem, synthetic cannabinoids that don’t have these effects might be more useful in the long term.
    There are also big questions around the best way to actually get the drugs into tumours. Because of their chemical makeup, cannabinoids don’t dissolve easily in water and don’t travel very far in our tissues. This makes it hard to get them deep into a tumour, or even just deliver them into the bloodstream in consistently high enough doses to have an effect.
    The clinical trial led by Dr Guzman in Spain involved directly injecting cannabinoids into patients’ brains through a small tube. This isn’t an ideal method as it’s very invasive and carries a risk of infection, so researchers are investigating other delivery methods such as tablets, oil injections, mouth sprays or even microspheres.
    We also don’t know whether cannabinoids will help to boost or counteract the effects of chemotherapy, nor which combinations of drugs might be good to try. And there are currentlyno biological markers to help doctors identify who might benefit from cannabinoids and who might not – remember that one patient on the brain tumour trial failed to respond to THC at all.
    None of these issues are deal-breakers, but these questions need answering if there’s any hope of using cannabinoids to effectively and safely treat cancer patients.
    There are hundreds of exciting potential cancer drugs being developed and tested in university, charity and industry labs all over the world – cannabinoids are merely a small part of a much larger picture
    It’s worth remembering that there are hundreds of exciting potential cancer drugs being developed and tested in university, charity and industry labs all over the world – cannabinoids are merely a small part of a much larger picture.
    Most of these compounds will never make it into the clinic to treat patients for a huge range of reasons including toxicity, lack of effectiveness, unacceptable side effects, or difficulty of delivering the drug to tumours.
    Without doing rigorous scientific research, we will never sift the ‘hits’ from the ‘misses’. If cannabinoids are ever to get into clinical use, they need to overcome these hurdles and prove they have benefits over existing cancer treatments.
    Can cannabis prevent or cause cancer?

    So that’s a brief look at cannabinoids to treat cancer. But can they stop the disease from developing? Or could they play a role in causing cancer?
    There’s controversy around the health risks of cannabis.Image source

    In experiments with mice, animals given very high doses of purified THC seemed to have a lower risk of developing cancer, and there has been some research suggesting that endocannabinoids (cannabinoids produced by the body) cansuppress tumour growth. But there’s no solid scientific evidence at the moment to show that cannabinoids or cannabis can cut the risk of cancer in people.
    When it comes to finding out whether cannabis can causecancer, the evidence is a lot murkier. This is mainly because most people who use cannabis smoke it mixed with tobacco, a substance that definitely does cause cancer.
    This complex issue recently hit the headlines when the British Lung Foundation released a study suggesting that the cancer risks of cannabis had been underestimated, although this has been questioned by some experts including Professor David Nutt.
    What about controlling cancer symptoms such as pain or sickness?

    Although there’s a lack of data showing that cannabinoids can effectively treat cancer, there is good evidence that these molecules may be beneficial in other ways.
    As far back as the 1980s, cannabinoid-based drugs – including dronabinol (synthetic THC) andnabilone – were used to help reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. But there are now safer and more effective alternatives and cannabinoids tend to only be used where other approaches fail.
    In some parts of the world – including the Netherlands – medical use of marijuana has been legalised for palliative use (relieving pain and symptoms), including cancer pain. For example, Dutch patients can obtain standardised, medicinal-grade cannabis from their doctor, and medicinal cannabis is available in many states in the US.
    But one of the problems of using herbal cannabis is about dosage – smoking it or taking it in the form of tea often provides a variable dose, which may make it difficult for patients to monitor their intake. So researchers are turning to alternative dosing methods, such as mouth sprays, which deliver a reliable and regulated dose.
    Large-scale clinical trials are currently running in the UK testing whether a mouth spray called Sativex (nabiximols) – a highly purified pharmaceutical-grade extract of cannabis containing THC and CDB – can help to control severe cancer pain that doesn’t respond to other drugs.
    There may also be potential for the use of cannabinoids in combating the loss of appetite and wasting experienced by some people with cancer, although a clinical trial comparing appetite in groups of cancer patients given cannabis extract, THC and a placebo didn’t find a difference between the treatments.
    Is Cancer Research UK investigating cannabinoids?

    We want to see safe, reliable and effective treatments become available for patients as quickly as possible. We receive no government funding for our research, and it is all paid for by the generosity of the public. This is obviously not a bottomless purse, and we do not have financial reserves to draw on.
    Because of this limitation, we can only fund the very best research proposals that come to us that will bring benefits to people with cancer. We’ve previously written in detail about how we fund research projects.
    Cancer Research UK has funded research into cannabinoids, notably the work of Professor Chris Paraskeva in Bristol investigating the properties of cannabinoids as part of his research into the prevention and treatment of bowel cancer. He has published a number of papers detailing lab experiments looking at endocannabinoids as well as THC, and written an interesting reviewlooking at the potential of cannabinoids for treating bowel cancer.
    Our funding committees have previously received other applications from researchers who want to investigate cannabinoids that have failed to reach our high standards for funding. If we receive future proposals that do meet these stringent requirements, then there is no reason why they would not be funded – assuming we have the money available to do so.
    We support the only two UK clinical trials of cannabinoids for treating cancer through our national network of Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres, funded by Cancer Research UK and the devolved Departments of Health. One is an early-stage trial testing a synthetic cannabinoid called dexanabinol for people with advanced cancer, the other is an early-stage trial testing a drug calledSativex (an extract from cannabis plants) for people with glioblastoma multiforme brain tumours. [Added 22/08/12 - KA, Updated KA 25/03/14]
    “It’s natural so it must be better, right?”

    There’s no doubt that the natural world is a treasure trove of biologically useful compounds. But whole plants or other organisms are a complex mix of hundreds of chemicals (not all of which may be beneficial) and contains low or variable levels of active ingredients. This makes it difficult to give accurate doses and runs the risk of toxic side effects.
    Foxgloves – a source of medically useful chemicals.Image source

    For example, foxgloves (Digitalis) are a useful source of chemicals called cardiac glycosides, first purified in 1785 – a date widely considered to be the beginning of modern drug-based medicine. These drugs are now used to treat many thousands of people around the world with heart failure and other cardiac problems. But the entire plant itself is highly toxic, and eating just a small amount can kill.
    As another example, although the antibiotic penicillin was first discovered in a fungus, it doesn’t mean that someone should munch some mould when suffering an infection. In fact, the bug-beating powers of ‘natural’ penicillin are confined to a relatively small range of bacteria, and chemists have subsequently developed a wider range of life-saving antibiotics based on the drug’s structure.
    Aspirin is another old drug, first discovered in the form of salicylic acid in white willow bark. But this naturally-occurring chemical causes severe stomach irritation, which led to the German company Bayer developing an alternative version – acetylsalicylic acid – which was kinder to the tummy. Aspirin is now arguably one of the most successful drugs of all time, and is still being investigated for its potential inpreventing or even treating cancer.
    Numerous potent cancer drugs have also been developed in this way – purifying a natural compound then improving it and testing it to create a beneficial drug – including taxol (originally from yew leaves); vincristine and vinblastine (from rosy periwinkles); camptothecin (from the Chinese Xi Shu tree); colchicine (from crocuses); and etoposide (from the May Apple). And we recently wrote about a clinical trial being run by our scientists to test whether curcumin, a purified chemical from the curry spice turmeric, could help treat people with advanced bowel cancer.
    But it bears repeating that the fact that these purified drugs in controlled, high doses can treat cancer doesn’t mean that the original plant (or a simple extract) will have the same effect. So although cannabis contains certain cannabinoids, it doesn’t automatically follow that cannabis itself can treat cancer.
    As we said above, there is no good evidence that natural cannabinoids, at the doses present in simple cannabis preparations, can treat cancer in patients. It’s also completely unknown whether there may be any other chemicals in ‘street’ cannabis extracts that could be harmful to patients or even encourage tumour growth.
    “Have you seen this video? This guy says cannabis cures cancer!”

    There is a strong and persistent presence on the internet arguing that cannabis can cure cancer. For example, there are numerous videos and unverified anecdotes claiming that people have been completely cured of cancer with cannabis, hemp/cannabis oil or other cannabis derivatives.
    YouTube videos are not scientific evidence.

    Despite what the supporters of these sources may claim, videos and stories are not scientific evidence for the effectiveness of any cancer treatment. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence – YouTube videos are emphatically not scientific evidence, and we are not convinced by them.
    Based on the arguments presented on these kinds of websites, it’s impossible to tell whether these patients have been ‘cured’ by cannabis or not. We know nothing about their medical diagnosis, stage of disease or outlook. We don’t know what other cancer treatments they had. We don’t know about the chemical composition of the treatment they got. And we only hear about the success stories – what about the people who have tried cannabis andnot been cured? People who make these bold claims for cannabis only pick their best cases, without presenting the full picture.
    This highlights the importance of publishing data from scientifically rigorous lab research and clinical trials. Firstly because conducting proper clinical studies enables researchers to prove that a prospective cancer treatment is safe and effective. And secondly because publishing this data allows doctors around the world to judge for themselves and use it for the benefit of their patients.
    This is the standard to which all cancer treatments are held, and it’s one that cannabinoids should be held to too. Internet anecdotes and videos prove nothing and benefit no-one – we need reliable, scientific research, which (as discussed above) is exactly what is going on.
    “It’s all a big conspiracy – you don’t want people to be cured!”

    As we’ve previously said, accusations that we are somehow part of a global conspiracy to suppress cancer cures are as absurd as they are offensive. Not only to the thousands of our scientists, doctors and nurses who are working as hard as they can to find more effective treatments for the complex set of challenging diseases we call cancer, but also the hundreds of thousands of people in the UK and beyond who support this life-saving work through generous donations of money, energy and time.
    Our aim is to beat cancer through research

    Our aim is to beat cancer, and we believe that the best way to do this through rigorous scientific research aimed at understanding cancer on a biological level and working out how to prevent, detect and treat it more effectively. This approach has helped to change the face of cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, leading to a doubling in survival rates over the past 40 years.
    As a research-based organisation, we want to see reliable scientific evidence to support claims made about any cancer treatment, be it conventional or alternative. The claims made for many alternative cancer therapies still require solid evidence to support them, and it often turns out that these ‘miracle cures’ simply don’t work when they’re put to the test.
    This doesn’t mean there’s a conspiracy to suppress the “True Cure for Cancer” – it means that doctors and researchers want to see solid evidence that the claims made by people peddling these treatments are true.
    This is vital because lives are at stake. Some people may think that a cancer patient has nothing to lose by trying an alternative treatment, but there are big risks.
    “What’s the harm? There’s nothing to lose.”

    If someone chooses to reject conventional cancer treatment in favour of unproven alternatives, including cannabis, they may miss out on treatment that could save or significantly lengthen their life. They may also miss out on effective symptom relief to control their pain and suffering, or the chance to spend precious time with their loved ones.
    Furthermore, many of these unproven therapies come at a high price, and are not covered by the NHS or medical insurance. And, in the worst cases, an alternative therapy may even hasten death.
    Although centuries of human experimentation tells us that naturally-occurring cannabinoids are broadly safe, they are not without risks. They can increase the heart rate, which may cause problems for patients with pre-existing or undiagnosed heart conditions. They can also interact with other drugs in the body, including antidepressants and antihistamines. And they may also affect how the body processes certain chemotherapy drugs, which could cause serious side effects.
    There is also a reported case where a Dutch lung cancer patient took cannabis extract that had been bought from a street source. Within a matter of hours she was in hospital in a coma. This highlights the risks of taking ‘street’ cannabis extracts of unknown concentration and quality in an uncontrolled way, and accentuates the need for careful research into how best to use cannabinoids for treating patients.
    When conventional treatment fails, there is little chance that turning to an unproven alternative touted on the internet will provide a cure
    It is a sad fact that although huge progress has been made over recent years, many thousands of people in the UK lose their lives to cancer every year – a situation that we urgently want to change through research. But when conventional treatment fails, there is little chance that turning to an unproven alternative touted on the internet will provide a cure.
    In this situation, we recommend that cancer patients talk to their doctor about clinical trials that they may be able to join, giving them access to new drugs and providing valuable data that will help other sufferers in future.
    “Big Pharma can’t patent it so they’re not interested.”

    Some people argue that the potential of cannabinoids is being ignored by pharmaceutical companies, because they can’t patent the chemicals occurring in cannabis plants. But pharma companies are not stupid, and they are quick to jump on promising avenues for effective therapies.
    As we’ve shown, there are hundreds of researchers around the world investigating cannabinoids, in both private and public institutions. And there are many ways that these compounds can be patented – for example, by developing more effective synthetic compounds or better ways to deliver them.
    On the flip side, other people argue that patients should be treated with ‘street’ or homegrown cannabis preparations, and that the research being done by companies and other organisations is solely to make money and prevent patients accessing “The Cure”. This is also a false and misleading argument, analogous to suggesting that patients in pain should buy heroin or grow opium poppies rather than being prescribed morphine by a doctor.
    The best way to ensure that the benefits of cannabinoids – whether natural or synthetic – are brought to patients is through proper research using quality-controlled, safe, legal, pharmaceutical grade preparations containing known dosages of the drugs.
    To do this requires time, effort and money, which may come from companies or independent organisations such as charities or governments. And, ultimately, this investment needs to be paid back by sales of a safe, effective new drug.
    We are well aware of the issues around drug pricing and availability – for example, the recent situations with abiraterone and vemurafenib – and we are pushing for companies to make new treatments available at a fair price. We would also hope that if any cannabinoids are shown to be safe and effective enough to make it to the clinic, they would be available at a fair price for all patients that might benefit from them.
    “Why don’t you campaign for cannabis to be legalised?”

    As things currently stand, cannabis is classified as a class B drug in the UK, meaning that it is illegal to possess or supply it.
    It is not for Cancer Research UK to comment on the legal status of cannabis, its use or abuse as a recreational drug, or its medical use in any other diseases. But we are supportive of properly conducted scientific research that could benefit cancer patients.
    In summary

    At the moment, there simply isn’t enough evidence to prove that cannabinoids – whether natural or synthetic – works to treat cancer in patients, although research is ongoing. And there’s certainly no evidence that ‘street’ cannabis can treat cancer.
    As a research-based organisation, we continue to watch the progress of scientists around the world for advances that may benefit people with cancer.
    As a research-based organisation, we continue to watch the progress of scientists around the world for advances that may benefit people with cancer. And although cannabinoid research is an interesting avenue, it’s certainly not the only one.


    Read more at http://www.iflscience.com/health-and...Cs7azAEtvIC.99

  7. #7
    Senior Member Euro Pod Echidna's Avatar
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    I missed the cancer-argument.

    As far as I know, cannabis/THC is a good painkiller and sometimes helps with other issues like nausea and dizziness.
    That's about it, and while I wouldn't use it myself, for treatment purposes, it should be legalized.

    Just for fun, using the medical excuse? Nope.
    I can so much relate to the second-hand smoke problem!
    No one should be exposed to smoke unwillingly, no matter what stuff it is.

    If legalizing would lead to even more people stinking up everything everywhere, I'd rather they ban all of it together.

  8. #8
    WALL OF TEXT WARNING

    I feel like I'm in the minority because I'm adamantly against it. Being a more conservative person doesn't help either, I guess, but I'm against it because I've seen what it does to the people I love.

    The strongest example would be my SO's little brother. He tried smoking pot at a party once, and it's been a downward spiral from there. He started hanging around with dealers and smokers, spending all of his free time around them, and soon after dropped out of middle school. (His parents didn't help either, they enrolled him in homeschooling and evaded liaisons who caught on that they weren't schooling him at all because they wanted him to be happy, and he was happy not going to school.)

    He smoked weed all day every day. He was always high, he lost his ambition to do anything, all he wanted to do was smoke with his friends. They got into trouble with the law countless times for theft, breaking and entering, possession, possession with intent to sell, underage drinking, and a whole lot more. He became one of the junkies who hated cops and would flip them the bird whenever he saw one drive by.

    He continued to get worse and worse, moving to California where weed was the big picture, (before it was legalized) and tried to join a gang. The initiation was murder, and from what I've heard, he went to do it but couldn't finish the job, so the whole gang came after him. He fled back to Duluth to become a dealer. He rents the apartment right below my SO's and I, and he has parties every night with minors getting high and drunk, strangers constantly coming and going for weed runs, and damage to property. The landlord is furious with him because he spray painted the inside of his apartment with black and silver graffiti and destroyed the carpet. The landlord says he spent a massive part of his budget on that apartment after they had evicted a crazy cat lady hoarder type person, and he was really proud of that unit.

    Anyways, now he's into DMT and other illegal drugs and he sees no sign of stopping. He said he'd like to come off the hard drugs (hes said that for years) but he says he'll never stop smoking weed. He can't keep a job as a dishwasher because he comes to work high and has weed on him all the time. He's only 18. My brother at 26 is a junkie as well, but the alcoholic type. He doesn't smoke pot as far as I'm aware, but has had his run with hard drugs, has seen what my SO's little brother has seen, and knows that he's not going to come out of it. He says he's a lost cause and will continue on this path until he lands in prison or dies. One day while there was a party going on downstairs he and I were talking and I told him he's not going to make it to 40 if he continues like this. He said "40?! your expectations are too high, I don't see myself making it to 25." and then he slammed a fifth of vodka.


    Now I admit that he is certainly an extreme case of pot smoker gone wrong, but it breaks my heart to see people I went to school with, who used to be so great and have goals and aspirations come to his door for weed. Their hair is long and unkempt, their clothes are from a dumpster and they're skinny from not being able to afford food. Just the other day I learned that a few of them had gone to the grocery store across the street to dig for food in their dumpsters. They said they don't have money because they used it to buy pot, and they prefer it that way. This has happened to so many people I know, and I have not seen a single successful person in life who smokes weed. Don't get me wrong, I know some of the richest smartest people probably smoke weed, but it doesn't run their lives and I respect them for it. If everyone could do that, I wouldn't have a problem with it, but they don't, so I do.

    I do agree that it should be used for medicinal purposes, it can be beneficial in many cases. However, I have also come to learn that hardcore junkies will make any excuse they can to get their hands on it. My SO's little brother made a Facebook status when the topic was brought up all over the news that basically said "Legalize it, I need that weed for my back pains and headaches nothing else works (insert a few expletives and authority bashing here) oh and also it helps me sleep. I have sleeping problems too." Now he's hardly worked a day in his life, I have no idea how an otherwise healthy young 18 year old who hasn't learned hard manual labor has all these health problems. He's never been diagnosed with anything but claims to have arthritis and that smoking weed helps the pain. He has proven throughout life that he will lie, cheat, and steal, even from me, to get what he wants. I honestly don't see how we can keep medical marijuana from getting to the public. People get prescription drugs for real health issues and sell them on the streets, I just don't think there's a good way to regulate marijuana.

    Again, he is an extreme example, but there is one more reason I'm against it. As I previously mentioned, I'm a very traditional and conservative person. I like to keep to myself and not bother other people with my life. I don't push religion on anyone, don't try to force people to adapt to my way of life, and I would expect that other people do the same. I don't enjoy my life being invaded by things I don't like. But this is exactly what has happened since legalization has become a big topic. Suddenly I go to stores I used to frequent only to see apparel and posters and the like slathered in pot leaves. I've seen people with tattoos of them on their faces. I can't take my dog for a walk without getting a whiff of that skunky smell coming from an apartment complex across the street. In fact, one of the tenants that lived below us used to smoke it almost every night and I had to keep the windows open even in the winter because the vents in the building are all connected and would waft the smoke up into our unit. Basically I feel invaded, I have grown to not like living where I do because it has become overrun with pot smokers. I can't do anything without seeing it, smelling it, or hearing people proudly boast about how much they own, how much they can smoke, etc.

    So yes I am against legalization. I personally feel like there was nothing wrong with it being illegal, so there was no need to change it. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? They could have legalized medical marijuana and left it at that, but I feel like I'm living in a new revolution where gay marriage is legal, marijuana is soon to follow, and god knows what after that. My whole life has flipped upside down and I feel like there's nowhere for me to escape to where I can go back to my own way of life. It's quite frightening for someone like me, who grew up in a quiet residential neighborhood with a low crime rate to suddenly become aware of everything I was taught was wrong. People always say things like "you need to adjust to the world, it's changing and if you can't change with it, you're going to get left behind." They look down on me for being so shocked at their behavior that they see as normal. Changing isn't easy, it takes time and is even harder if the person doesn't want to change in the first place.

    Anyways, that was my rant, I'll let you guys get back to your thread. Just wanted to come in and give a perspective from a minority's POV.

    tl;dr SO's little brother's life was destroyed by weed, junkies will do anything to get medical marijuana, I hate the feeling that it's invading my life, I'm in the minority so voting against it will do jack s**t and there's nothing I can do about that.


    On a sort of small tangent I wanted to share a short story with you all about the time that the realization about how popular weed was hit me like a train;
    I was at my friend's apartment once, I had no idea he was a pot smoker. He had some on his desk in his room and I was like "dude, your mom is gonna kill you if she sees that!" no sooner had I said that than she came into the room and offered him $15 bucks for it. My jaw dropped, for a kid's parent to not only know about his smoking habit, but to smoke weed themselves and even buy it off their son? I'm still at a loss for words, I had no idea that happened. If I had been caught with weed, I would have nearly been disowned. Woulda been grounded for life and had to have constant supervision and probably a weekly drug test thrown somewhere in there.

    Anyways... sorry for the wall of text

  9. #9
    Just going to say personally it's not something I would participate in, but being from a state where it's legalized, the world hasn't ended and I think the amount of tax revenue that's going to be brought in is wonderful.

  10. #10
    Senior Member Pod of The South Aziara's Avatar
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    It always shocks me how closeminded the people in my area are. Hard liquor can be bought at any gas station, and we have drive-thru daquiri stands! Smoking cigarettes is also really common here, if I had to guess, I'd say 40% of the local population smokes. Yet every time any vote comes up to make cannibis legal for medical use, it's voted down almost before it can get going.
    Also known as Salina Tideglow

  11. #11
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    The issue is we can't take one person's experience bad (a junkie) or good (illness) and extrapolate it to the rest of the world. The world hasnt ended here from it being decriminalized either. And I think it's nuts how many people are in jail for weed. Like, that is stupid. And for longer stints than people who do actual horrible things

  12. #12
    Senior Member Euro Pod Echidna's Avatar
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    *insert here*
    the tax revenue argument is always brought up when discussing (tobacco) smoking in general, and the (no-)rights of people unwillingly exposed to it.

    This crap ruins the health of millions of people and has a sky-high death toll.
    People who are dead can't pay taxes either.

    Abolish the stuff already!

    Taxes should never be an argument for a harmful practice.

  13. #13
    Quote Originally Posted by AniaR View Post
    The issue is we can't take one person's experience bad (a junkie) or good (illness) and extrapolate it to the rest of the world. The world hasnt ended here from it being decriminalized either. And I think it's nuts how many people are in jail for weed. Like, that is stupid. And for longer stints than people who do actual horrible things
    I understand that. I wish that there was more support for people who got into it and are getting ruined by it. Apparently you can't force someone into detox or rehab, they have to willingly go themselves, but the people I know would never do that. I wish more than anything that there was some way that they could get help to clean up. 3 months in a detention center hasn't worked, neither has the parent's strategy of "just talking to him." He has so much potential but it's being smothered by his drug habit and I just wish there was something that can be done about it.

  14. #14
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    A lot of people who use weed as an actual crutch (even though they say it's not addictive) have some kind of issue going on though I feel. For some it calms them down and that's why they use it so much. For others it helps them sleep, or something similar. I know for her, it was a sleep disorder that spurned it on. Unfortunately it took over her life and she's had some major problems because of it. I've also seen the other end however, the good it can do for peers who have seriously illness and pain. And having been a person who was in such pain that opioids did nothing I was pretty open to trying it.

    But I know plenty of people who just smoke it casually and are fine. I think people with addictive personalities will get addicted to anything, Drugs, food, videogames, whatever.
    Last edited by AniaR; 12-30-2018 at 01:41 PM.

  15. #15
    Senior Member Undisclosed Pod Morticia Mermaid's Avatar
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    I can honestly say I support cannabis use in terms of medical use. I've seen it do only good in my family.

    My brother suffers from severe stomach issues. Without cannabis he wouldn't be able to eat cause of the pain. Yes his use is legalized by Green card. My brother currently runs his own business in eastern Oregon. He's got a family and a house. His cannabis use has affected his life in only easing his stomach so be can eat.

    And it eased my grandfather's pain while he was in the final stages of prostate cancer, he had no chance of recovery at that point. All that could be done was make him comfortable.

    Although I don't partake, if I end up needing it for medical issues I will gladly take the oils that can be made as I refuse to smoke it.
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  16. #16
    I think there is an issue with this is that since we are kids we are taught all drugs are bad I mean seriously how many of us remember being in the DARE program or soft friends that were in the DARE program were taught drugs are bad its ingrained into our brains from a very young age is very hard to go against something that we have known all of our lives

    cannabis can be used in other ways besides smoking it you can use a vaporizer as well...I've met many a pothead in my time on this earth and the various places I've lived across the country most of them are very considerate of non smokers and non potheads and will ask whether or not you partake and if not they move away from you or allow you the opportunity to leave before they light up. I firmly disagree with the fact that people call it a gateway drug not a single person I know that smokes pot including myself which I have partaken a few times in my younger days I have ever used any other drugs since then. I am against other drugs that are more dangerous to yourself.

    ...

  17. #17
    As with any substance that has the possibility of being abused, there are people who will abuse it. I'm sorry to hear about your experiences, Ayla and Raina.

    As a person with chronic illness (MS), I have to take some pretty intense oral medications that make me feel very sick in the mornings and make it nearly impossible to eat. I limit my smoking to when it's most unbearable, but smoking a small bowl helps me eat when I would otherwise throw it up. I don't smoke before going to work or driving. I have other friends with chronic pain who smoke it to relieve pain and it works very well for them, and they are responsible about their usage.

    On the other end, my roommate has insomnia and smokes to help himself sleep, but he keeps upping how much he smokes and it no longer works for him- so now he just spends all his money on it and wastes his time getting high, as well as getting into other stupid drugs like coke and DMT... he uses sketchy dealers since it's not legal here. I feel that if he wasn't exposed to that kind of environment, and had just picked it up from a dispensary, it would be more regulated and safe than him going to a dark alleyway and getting robbed (which has happened).
    I'll be a Finfolk Mersister in January!

  18. #18
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    I had no idea you have MS
    Last edited by AniaR; 12-30-2018 at 01:41 PM.

  19. #19
    Well as a weed smoker I can proudly say I'm not addicted to it. Only time I smoke it is to enhance my drawing and creative juices or going out to the club. Other than that I barely smoke it. Oh and for when I can't sleep or stressed out.

  20. #20
    Senior Member Chesapeake Pod Merman Dan's Avatar
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    As my place of employment randomly selects employees for drug tests, I don't do anything that will jeopardize my job.
    (Formerly known as Æolius)

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