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Kurt Thompson

National Cancer Institute recognizes that marijuana may inhibit cancerous tumor

They updated their FAQ page about marijuana

  • The National Cancer Institute recently updated its ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ page about marijuana to include the various studies that have revealed how cannabis “may inhibit” cancerous tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking additional cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by cancerous tumors to grow, while also protecting normal, healthy cells.

    “A laboratory study of cannabidiol (CBD) in estrogen receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast cancer cells showed that it caused cancer cell death while having little effect on normal breast cells,” the NCI stated. “Studies in mouse models of metastatic breast cancer showed that cannabinoids may lessen the growth, number, and spread of tumors.”

    Here are some of the NCI’s findings:

    • Studies show that, in mice and rats, cannabinoids may inhibit tumor growth by causing cell death, blocking cell growth, and blocking the development of blood vessels needed by tumors to grow. Laboratory and animal studies have shown that cannabinoids may be able to kill cancer cells while protecting normal cells.
    • A study in mice showed that cannabinoids may protect against inflammation of the colon and may have potential in reducing the risk of colon cancer, and possibly in its treatment.
    • A laboratory study of delta-9-THC in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) cells showed that it damaged or killed the cancer cells. The same study of delta-9-THC in mouse models of liver cancer showed that it had antitumor effects. Delta-9-THC has been shown to cause these effects by acting on molecules that may also be found in non-small cell lung cancer cells and breast cancer cells.

    Aside from these recently updated NCI findings, the Drug Enforcement Agency’s director, Chuck Rosenberg, made a statement regarding marijuana saying that, “heroin is clearly more dangerous than marijuana” and this statement seems to hint that DEA is slowly, but finally accepting that marijuana is not lethal compared to drugs such as Heroin, LSD, cocaine, and alcohol.

    Medical and recreational marijuana use has been increasingly legalized by many states and Washington D.C., but the federal government still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug, right along with heroin and ecstasy, stating that marijuana has a potential for abuse and no known medical benefits. However, now that the NCI has shown these recently found benefits, the DEA may be forced to address these findings.

You should also read: Alcohol versus Cannabis

420 News: Colorado's First Year Shows Marijuana's Profits

One Year in the Record Books Shows Promise for Marijuana Revenue

        Nearly 20 years ago, California became the first state to legalize medicinal marijuana. Now, over 23 states have similar programs in place. One of these states is Colorado. The Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Agency has compiled a report on Colorado’s first full year of sales and with it are some amazing numbers.

         In 2014, recreational and medicinal use brought in $699 million in total sales for Colorado State. This figure comes in 21% higher than that which was expected before the year began. With this $699 million in sales, it turned over $63 million in tax revenue for the state, and over $13 million in licensing revenue.

        One of the main reasons that marijuana was legalized for both medicinal and recreational use was that Colorado needed a way to bridge the state’s budget gap. Tax and licensing revenue totals reached a combined $76 million which could be used by the state towards Obamacare which costs an estimated $26 Million for the state to operate.

        Additionally, more than 500,000 plants were estimated to be cultivated each month, up from the 200,000 plants cultivated prior years. 2.85 million Units of edibles were sold in the first year of medicinal and recreational use. This is impressive considering the medical market only brought forth 1.96 million units sold.

         Lastly, it should be noted that although marijuana has been legalized in much of Colorado, it is not legal state-wide. Marijuana is still illegal in over 249 Colorado jurisdictions, nearly ¾ of the state. Some of which allow medicinal marijuana, while other’s ban both recreational and medicinal use altogether.

         Colorado’s first year on the books is a big one, and considering that ¾ of the state still has strict laws regarding marijuana, big revenue from Denver and Colorado Springs has shown that there is a larger profit to be made if state-wide legalization were to take place. NerdWallet, a personal finance site, has concluded that the legalization of recreational and medicinal marijuana could yield an annual $3.1 billion tax revenue.