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NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- August 18, 2004
Cannabinoids Restrict Blood Flow To Malignant Tumors, Study Says
August 18, 2004 - Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Spain: Compounds in marijuana inhibit malignant brain tumor growth in animals and humans, according to clinical findings published this week in the journal Cancer Research.
Researchers led by Manuel Guzman of Madrid's Complutense University determined that cannabinoids inhibited the growth of glioma (brain) tumors in mice and in two human subjects by restricting the tumors' blood supply. The study is the first to investigate the effects of cannabinoids on human Gliobastoma multiforme tumor biopsies.
Glioblastoma multiforme, the most aggressive form of glioma, strikes some 7,000 Americans annually, and generally results in death within one to two years following diagnosis.
Italian researchers had previously shown cannabinoids, including the non psychoactive compound cannabidiol (CBD), to inhibit the growth of glioma cells both in vitro (e.g., a petri dish) and in animals in a dose dependent manner.
In addition, THC has been clinically demonstrated to selectively induced programmed cell death in brain tumor cells without negatively impacting the surrounding healthy cells.
In 2000, Guzman and colleagues reported in Nature Medicine that injections of synthetic THC eradicated malignant gliomas in one-third of treated rats and prolonged life in another third by six weeks.
"The present findings provide a novel pharmacological target for cannabinoid based therapies," Guzman said in regards to the most recent clinical trial.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.
DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6208
Unlocking a Cure for Cancer – With Pot
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19348.shtml
Marijuana May Stall Brain Tumor Growth
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19339.shtml
Cannabis Hope for Brain Cancer
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19338.shtml
Pot Shrinks Tumors - Government Knew in '74
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9211.shtml
150,000 To Attend Seattle Hempfest 2004 This Weekend
August 18, 2004 - Seattle, WA
Seattle, WA: Organizers of the 13th annual Seattle Hempfest are expecting more than 150,000 attendees at this year's event, to take place this Saturday and Sunday at Myrtle Edwards Park in downtown Seattle. More than 50 speakers, including NORML Director Keith Stroup and NORML Foundation head Allen St. Pierre, and 60 bands will participate in the two-day event, which promises to be one of the largest marijuana policy reform rallies ever held.
The theme of this year's festival is "Vote Freedom." Over 20 organizations and 150 volunteers will coordinate voter registration drives during the event. Organizers will also call for the elimination of criminal penalties for adults who use marijuana responsibly, and for the legalization of medicinal cannabis for the seriously ill.
Other speakers scheduled to appear at this year's festival include: Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance; author and marijuana grow guru Ed Rosenthal; NORML Associate Director Kris Krane; Hempfest organizer and NORML board member Dominic Holden; and Marsha Rosenbaum, director of the San Francisco office of the Drug Policy Alliance.
For a complete schedule of this year's Seattle Hempfest speakers and events, please visit: http://www.seattlehempfest.com/
DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6206
Marijuana Measure Called Effective by Supporters
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19354.shtml
Hempfest Crowd Rallies for Pot-Policy Reform
http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread13796.shtml
Pot Patients Require Fewer Meds, Study Says
August 18, 2004 - Sydney, Australia
Sydney, New South Wales: Nearly two-thirds of medicinal marijuana patients report that they have decreased or ceased taking other prescription medications early due to their use of cannabis, according to the results of state government survey conducted by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre in Sydney.
Respondents said that they use marijuana to combat symptoms of chronic pain, muscle spasticity, nausea, and weight loss, as well as to alleviate side effects of conventional medications.
Seventy percent of those responding to the survey said that they would be willing to participate in clinical trails examining alternative forms of medical cannabis, such as a spray or a tablet.
Last month, researchers presenting at the XV International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand reported survey data finding that patients who used medicinal cannabis to combat the side effects of anti-HIV drugs were more likely to remain on their prescribed drug therapies than those who do not.
For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500.
DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6207
Tallahassee Pot Possession Initiative Qualifies For November Ballot
August 18, 2004 - Tallahassee, FL
Tallahassee, FL: Organizers of the Tallahassee Practical Law Enforcement Amendment said this week that city election officials have qualified the measure November ballot. The measure seeks to amend the Tallahassee city charter to mandate that local police make the arrest and prosecution of minor marijuana offenses "the city's lowest law enforcement priority."
Seattle voters passed a similar marijuana deprioritization initiative last year.
For a summary of this fall's pending state and local initiatives, visit: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6172
DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6205
Source: NORML Foundation (DC)
Published: August 18, 2004
Copyright: 2004 NORML
Contact: norml@norml.org
Website: http://www.norml.org/
