Green Healing

This will probably come across as old news to the RS community, but cannabis can actually improve your quality of life! I know, shocking, isn’t it? We’ve all come to know of the euphoria and non-linear, creative potentials the plant can induce upon our mental processes, but perhaps you have yet to hear of the benefits it has at the cellular level.

Scientists have now officially confirmed that there’s a specific compound within marijuana, which is still a Schedule I controlled substance, that has been shown to be able to treat those diagnosed with certain cancers. Cannabadiol, or CBD for short, is a non-toxic, non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in marijuana that actively targets cancer cells and causes them to undergo cellular suicide, aka apoptosis. It does this by seeking out the ID-1 gene, which is responsible for the metastasization of cancer cells, and turning it off. 

The two scientists who led the study, Desprez and McAllister, have shown the procedure to be effective in breast, brain, prostate, and any other cancer where high levels of the ID-1 gene resides. This discovery may actually revolutionize the way cancer is fought by offering a safe alternative to the current widespread usage of chemo and radiation therapy.

The recent scientific study only seems to further support Rick Simpon’s claims in his documentary, Phoenix Tears, that high-grade cannabis oil can truly help in the battle against cancer. This cannabinoid, CBD, has been in the medical marijuana community’s spotlight for a while now, due to the potential it has of possessing a whole host of medicinal effects useful for the treatment of a vast array of symptoms. To name a few, CBD has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, anti-tumorigenic, anti-emetic, anti-spasmodic, anti-psychotic, anxiolytic, and even neuroprotective properties.

The question remains, how many studies and personal success stories need to be reported before the federal government recognizes the medicinal value inherent in this plant and finally calls for its rescheduling?

Image by farmer dodds, courtesy of Creative Commons licensing.