THC. Bad guy or good guy ?
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“Unfortunately, our laws aren’t subject to science.”
- Dr. Ethan Russo
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It is known now, how far back human kind found the effects of delta 9 thc (and cbd). Thousands of years ago. Researchers have found many medical and pleasurable applications of THC. In our recent history it was re-portrayed as an evil killer weed, destroying the minds of men, then, it was the loser pot that made people brain dead and stupid. Then in 1978 compassionate care federal laws were passed, acknowledging the entirety of human history to be valid. THC is a benefit to human kind.
In 2019 the amount of data on THC has grown but in the U.S research is still greatly hindered by so called federal schedule I status. Many who would have conducted studies have been effectively banned from doing so. It’s as if those in positions of power do not want us to study and understand this plant, but rather perpetuate a social construct invented by the heads of large corporate interests protecting their industry from competition. This is not capitalism. It is the opposite. Whats worse is it’s almost 90 years old in its continued propaganda pushed by Government agencies in the face of countless studies with such strong wording that even a DEA chief administrative law judge would say in 1988,
“ (cannabis) in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. It would be unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious for DEA to continue to stand between those sufferers and the benefits of this substance in light of the evidence in this record.“
When the 2018 farm bill passed, it copied over the standard of < 0.3%thc as defining industrial hemp. Was there a scientific basis for this ? No. It was merely copied over, and copied over from a Canadian scientist who tested immature plant leaves, while today farmers are giving up the top several inches of fully mature plants (the valuable parts) to be tested against the immature plant standard. This in light of the knowledge that immature plants are very low in all cannabinoids, and cannabinoid levels spike at maturity.
At the 2018 Vermont hemp conference Seth Crawford Ph.D pointed out that good industrial hemp goes well over this .3% up to 2.0%. Lets keep in mind that is still far below ’street cannabis’ 12.0-20.0+%. He pointed out the great need for our social construct of THC to be re-built on knowledge and science, abandoning the hysteria that still plagues areas of our culture. This same view is promoted by countless medical professionals across the country and the world.
Dr. Ethan Russo is one such person. He has spent a large amount of his recent years working for GW Pharmaceuticals in their development of cannabis derived medicines. He has often pointed out how the current legal system has no submission to science. In that light we’ll next meet Dr.Manuel Guzman.
Manuel Guzmán is Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Complutense University of Madrid, member of the Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy. His study with THC on cancer cells is straight forward. THC kills cancer cells in a lab dish. He was able to determine by what method the THC seemed to attack the cancer cells. By Apoptosis, or effectively suffocation. The Cancer cells became inhibited from growth and sped into death when encountering THC. This has been repeated by other research teams.
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Here is where I call THC the good guy. Because Dr. Manuel has repeatedly shown THC to kill cancer cells. Confirmed science shows that THC causes cancer cells to die off faster, speeding their death by apoptosis and preventing the cancer cell from metastasizing (spreading). At the same time THC had zero negative effect on normal tissues. While demonstrating a neuroprotectant effect on nerve and brain tissues. THC can actually become a incredible tool for athletes who risk concussion because of this effect.
Imagine, an athlete suffers a massive concussion, and immediately is given a vapor of THC and CBD blended. It works fast on brain tissue reversing damage and speeding healing. Potentially preventing severe longterm damage.
Such ideas may seem impossible in the three letter sports entertainment industry, but science is on my side. Time will be the tell. Already there is a cry from retired athletes to change the policies and allow athletes to use medicine that works and that is safe. Kyle Turley is leading a group speaking out and endorsing products from the cannabis plant.
In his own words ;
“It saved my life, I wouldn’t be where I am today, I would not have my family, my kids, my house, everything I have right now, if not for cannabis.” Turley founded the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition to use his story and those of other players to advance the idea of marijuana as a valid medicine for neurological conditions and other athletic injuries. “This plant has to be set free,” he says. “We have people committing suicide in football and other sports. How far do we have to go?”
It’s 2019, some of what I’ve shared here is over 30 years old. Like Turley asks, I ask, not only how far do we have to go, but how much longer will people have to wait. Since CBS denied this commercial. I’ll promote it here, it was intended to be seen by everyone watching the “big game”. It’s too bad CBS denied it from happening.
Let us end the myth’s about cannabis and let us end the fear’s of THC in our generation. Let’s work towards a complete view of cannabis. CBD, THC, terpenes and all. Let us bring it home so that everyone in America has a viable opportunity to get good clean cannabis targeted for their needs, without layers of government bureaucracy blocking affordable access.
-Wiscannabis 2019