Marijuana-Like Compounds Fight AIDS, Study Finds HuffingtonPost / 3,22,2012 Marijuana-like drugs can do more for AIDS patients than simply help them with their nausea or loss of appetite, according to a new study. Doctor Tipster found new research published in the medical journal PLoS One that suggests marijuana-like compounds actually fight the HIV virus in late-stage AIDS patients. Researchers told Doctor Tipster that they already know "cannabinoid drugs" like marijuana can have a therapeutic effect in AIDS patients. But they wanted to further understand how they "influence the spread of the virus itself." The study found that "cannabinoid receptors" are triggered by marijuana-like compounds and can actually block the spread of the HIV virus throughout the body. Now, the researchers who conducted the study are planning to test a marijuana-like drug in mice infected with late-stage AIDS, according to Zee News. Americans For Safe Access, a pro-medical marijuana organization, cites various studies which suggest medical marijuana also helps HIV and AIDS patients who suffer from pain and weight loss. The plant already has the compounds in it,,any bets that the end result of their research is another medicine with side effects that are far worse than just getting "high"?
Oltex, I have the study if you want it! they were using anandamide and 2-AG which our bodies produce naturally, and some synthetic unmentionables! Cannabinoid Receptor 2-Mediated Attenuation of CXCR4-Tropic HIV Infection in Primary CD4+ T Cells (full – 2012) PLoS ONE: Cannabinoid Receptor 2-Mediated Attenuation of CXCR4-Tropic HIV Infection in Primary CD4+ T Cells Dig this from the introduction- Yet recent analysis of HIV/AIDS patients enrolled a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial designed to study the outcome of cannabinoid administration have indicated that cannabinoid use does not result in significant immunosuppression . Indeed, both smoked marijuana and dronabinol were reported to increase total CD4+ T cell number and naïve T cell number over a 21-day period. A decrease in viral load was also observed in these patients . Similarly, in SIV infected rhesus macaques, Δ9-THC exposure reduced viral load and CD4+ T cell depletion, significantly increasing animal survival over an 11 month period. So here they are saying that they KNOW smoking pot increases the T cells and lowers the viral load in HIV. But because THC makes you feel a "little bit too good", it is unacceptable as a medicine! Give me a break! Most pharmaceutical companies would LOVE a drug with a safety profile like THC's - but THC comes from "The Weed with Roots in Hell" so it is forbidden! And did you know that THC activates both the CB1 receptors (that get you high, and do much more than that) and the CB 2 receptors (no high, just healing)! But the scientists must use synthetics in their research, because access to the natual herb is all but prohibited in this country. Cannabidiol (CBD), although it is from the cannabis plant, does not affect the CB1 receptors, so it can't get you high. Research with CBD is grudgingly tolerated, and look at some of what has been found out about CBD- [FONT="]Cannabidiol reduces brain damage and improves functional recovery after acute hypoxia-ischemia in newborn pigs[/FONT] (stroke injury is lessened) [FONT="]Cannabidiol inhibits lung cancer cell invasion and metastasis via intercellular adhesion molecule-1. [/FONT][FONT="]Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients. [/FONT] Cannabidiol Attenuates Cardiac Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, Fibrosis, and Inflammatory and Cell Death Signaling Pathways in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (CBD does wonders for diabetics!) [FONT="]Cannabidiol Displays Antiepileptiform and Antiseizure Properties In Vitro and In Vivo [/FONT][FONT="]Nonpsychoactive Cannabidiol Prevents Prion Accumulation and Protects Neurons against Prion Toxicity (Prions cause Mad Cow Disease. There is no cure for Mad Cow Disease... [/FONT][FONT="]but CBD stops the accumulation of prions and protects the nerves from damage.....that may not be a "cure" but it sounds like a pretty good start toward one). [/FONT] So that is SOME of what CBD can do. What about THC, THCA, CBDA, CBN, and all the other natural cannabinoids? What could they do? What would we know if research was actually free? How many lives could be saved? How much suffering could be prevented? Isn't it time to change this? Activists make all the difference in the world! Granny
I can't help but ask at those sites why we don't use what we got until they can provide a better medicine,,especially since they may be able to make the medicine stronger but will it have the safety record of natures own medicine.
"they may be able to make the medicine stronger but will it have the safety record of natures own medicine." Concerning the safety record, oltex,- Judging from certain 2012 PubMed studies I have recently found, the answer is a BIG FAT NO!!!
The only way they will be able to make Cannabis based medicine (and i'm not talking about Marinol or Satvex) will be if they legalise it and are able to study it in-full . Not to mention the medicines that could be made available from hemp and the many other things that it could be harnessed for. We have a big part of the solution to the economic crisis if the powers at be would simply just pry their heads out of their asses.