Give us the parts of marijuana that don’t get you high!
Reports and analysis presented at the latest conferences are saying that there are now over 600
different molecules, which have now been broken down into subgroups, but which could be broadly called cannabinoids which appear to have some effect on humans - all found in marijuana. These various cannabinoids all seem to have some sort of effect on the human body.
In the UK there is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in making medicine from plant extracts. One method they employ is to develop special strains of a plant that carry high amounts of a material they desire and then extract that chemical from the resulting special strain. This company has been working with marijuana for several years now.
GW Pharmaceuticals has produced a medical preparation called Sativex. Sativex provides a combination of THC and CBD. CBD is one of those cannabinoids in marijuana that doesn’t get someone high. It is against the law in the US. It does, however, temper the effects of THC.
In nature, these two exist side by side.
By itself, CBD has a very mild tranquilizing effect and tends to make someone sleepy.
THC is the main chemical, in marijuana, that causes the high that pot smokers get. When it is isolated by itself, without the tempering effects of CBD, it produces the worst that pot has to offer.
Many times a first time pot users doesn’t enjoy the effect of pot. This happens most often when someone new consumes a high dose. You would expect a similar lack of enjoyment from a first time alcohol user that was handed several shots of whisky. The new drinker might experience unpleasant side effects, such as vomiting.
Side effects of THC, especially in persons without tolerance or experience, include such things as paranoia, anxiety and depression.
In the United States, the only cannabinoid that is available on prescription is THC. The US government and the FDA realized that there is a clear benefit for marijuana for seriously sick people. In an attempt to quell the public outcry for this effective medicine, THC was approved for prescription. Many now claim that this form of THC is “medical marijuana in a pill.” In pill form THC is called Marinol.
Marinol is commonly used to combat the nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy. And it works. As long as the person that has the nausea can keep a pill down long enough for it to dissolve and go to work. Many can’t.
And what about those side effects? People, cancer patients battling for their very lives, are being fed a drug that causes fear! While being told they are being given “marijuana in a pill!” Yes, it reduces the nausea. And because of it, saves lives. But at a terrible cost.
Now what about that CBD? As I said earlier, CBD tempers the effect of THC. It slows down the rate that the body deals with THC. Making the effect of the THC last longer. When smoked, marijuana that has a very low CBD content will produce a high that lasts about one and a half hours. Marijuana that has a high CBD content will produce a high that lasts about four hours.
In addition, CBD changes the impact of THC on the mind. When combined, the two tend to produce a much less agitated effect on the user. They tend to feel peaceful, giggly and sleepy. Wouldn’t this be a better way to treat someone suffering in a hospital? Instead of inflicting fear?
CBD is only one of these “non-psychoactive” cannabinoids that exist in marijuana in its natural form.
Another, THCV, is currently being tried out in humans, in the UK, by GW as a treatment for diabetes! GW conducted a special breeding program and developed a strain of marijuana that contains large amounts of THCV.
The cause of the diabetes is a sick pancreas. It is swollen. And this swelling degrades its ability to produce insulin. Currently, most medicine available for diabetes in the US, push a pancreas into overdrive to produce enough insulin for a diabetics needs. After a while the diseased, swollen pancreas, having been forced into overdrive, gives up. Then insulin injections are required.
In contrast, some of the cannabinoids found in marijuana, reduce the swelling of the pancreas allowing it to function normally. In the United States, it’s against the law to do this. You can easily go to jail for trying.
Research into this area has had to take place outside the US. Our government has been very reluctant to allow any research into marijuana that might prove beneficial. And when any research has been allowed, the material the researchers are required to use has been limited to that provided by the federal government. Breeding programs are not allowed at all. Researchers seeking a potential health benefit are not allowed to try to find a strain that would highlight the effect they are seeking. Disabling them the ability to zero in on any potential cure.
We have a strong potential for a vastly superior treatment for diabetes.
But to get to these valuable medicines we need the federal government to get out of the way. Currently there is a bill before the US congress. HR-5842 is a medical marijuana bill. It would allow for developing these new medicines. It would also allow marijuana to be purchased at pharmacies as prescribed by a doctor! This would remove the necessity of medical users to deal with the murky black market. This bill is currently gathering dust in the committee on energy ran by Michigan congressman John Dingell.
We need congress to act NOW. Every day that passes means one more day that people die from diseases like diabetes.
We already have the part of marijuana that gets you high. Marinol is a schedule 3 controlled substance. There are no limitations on what your doctor can prescribe it for. If your doctor thinks it could work for a skin rash, he can prescribe it for that.
THC has been legal, for doctors to prescribe, for about ten years. And one thing didn’t happen. There was no wave of kids popping pot pills!
We already have the “high” part of the plant. What we are asking for now are those parts of the plant that don’t get you high. |
