Jump to content

Congress Blocks Feds From Targeting Medical Marijuana, Hemp Cultivation!


Recommended Posts

 

 

 

States with legal hemp cultivation and medical marijuana programs just got historic support from Congress.

 

Included in the federal spending bill released late Tuesday are amendments that prohibit the Department of Justice from using funds to go after state medical marijuana operations and that block the Drug Enforcement Administration from using funds to interfere in state-legal industrial hemp research.

 

“The enactment of this legislation will mark the first time in decades that the federal government has curtailed its oppressive prohibition of marijuana and has instead taken an approach to respect the many states that have permitted the use of medical marijuana to some degree," Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), who in May introduced the medical marijuana protections amendment with co-sponsor Rep. Sam Farr (D-Calif.), told The Huffington Post Wednesday.

 

“This is a victory for so many, including scores of our wounded veterans, who have found marijuana to be an important medicine for some of the ailments they suffer, such as PTSD, epilepsy and MS," Rohrabacher added.

 

If passed, the bill would protect medical marijuana programs in the 23 states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, as well as 11 additional states that have legalized CBD oils, a non-psychoactive ingredient in marijuana that may be therapeutically beneficial in severe cases of epilepsy.

 

A number of studies in recent years have shown the medical potential of cannabis. Purified forms may attack some forms of aggressive cancer. Marijuana use also has been tied to better blood sugar control and may help slow the spread of HIV.

 

Still, under the Obama administration, the DEA and several U.S. attorneys have raided marijuana dispensaries that complied with state laws. The DEA still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I substance with "no currently accepted medical use."

 

But marijuana's "sober cousin," hemp, also received protections in the spending bill. Hemp is the same plant species as marijuana -- cannabis sativa -- but it contains little to no THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana associated with the "high" sensation. The farm bill, which President Barack Obama signed into law in February, legalized industrial hemp production in states that permit it.

 

Eighteen states have legalized industrial hemp production, and more than a dozen others have introduced legislation that would authorize research, set up a regulatory framework or legalize the growing of industrial hemp.

 

The spending bill represents a last-minute effort by Congress to prevent a government shutdown after funding expires Thursday, and the medical marijuana and hemp sections are two of several political issues addressed in the omnibus bill.

 

“For the first time, Congress is letting states set their own medical marijuana and hemp policies, a huge step forward for sensible drug policy," said Bill Piper, director of national affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance. “States will continue to reform their marijuana laws and Congress will be forced to accommodate them. It’s not a question of if, but when, federal marijuana prohibition will be repealed."

 

But it wasn't all victories for marijuana in the omnibus bill. The legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington, D.C., appears to be blocked. However, some have taken issue with the language used in the bill's marijuana rider, and argue that the measure, passed by 70 percent of District voters, should be able to stand on a technicality.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/10/congress-blocks-feds-from_n_6302530.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Probably CBD as an antiviral? 

 

“There is good scientific evidence that cannabinoids, and in particular Cannabidiol (CBD), may offer control of the immune system and in turn provide protection from viral infections (4). Cannabis has already been recognized to inhibit fungus and bacteria and can be considered a new class of antimicrobial because of the different mechanism of action from other antimicrobials. (1)

Ebola is a complex RNA viral organism that causes the cell to engulf it by pinocytosis, and then the virus hijacks the cell to replicate itself. This replication can involve many mutations in the RNA code that make it difficult to impossible to create an effective vaccine. There are U.S. Patents showing evidence that Cannabinoids have significant anti-viral activity. (3) (4)

Normally any virus infected cells will produce surface proteins that are identified as foreign. The Immune system attacks these cells when the surface protein is identified as foreign.  The Ebola virus infection causes the cell to produce proteins that hide the virus from the immune system. The viral proteins are sterically shielded, i.e. “hidden” from view, thereby hindering cellular (and thus viral) destruction by the immune system.  This mechanism allows the RNA virus to hide the infected cell by shielding it from view from the immune system.

The cause of death by this virus is the body’s own immune response to the viral infection. This is what causes the mortality and morbidity of this infection.  Subsequently, the virus triggers the immune killer cells to release the enzymes (cytokines) they hold. This release of enzymes causes other lymphocyte to release even more Cytokines in a Storm of release. This is properly termed a Cytokine Storm.

Causes small blood clots to form in all arterioles, called; DIC or Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.
Causes a massive Coagulopathy where the blood will not to clot properly simultaneously with the DIC (Bleeding and clotting occur at the same time.) Toxic Shock Syndrome occurs when the cytokines release causes the blood vessels to dilate to such an extent that a shock state exists.

Cannabinoids are proven to reduce and prevent Toxic Shock and DIC (2)”

“The Ebola virus also attacks the adhesions between cells caused by the immune Killer cells to release of VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) which result in the destruction of the Tight Junction between cells and causes a fluid leakage between cells until bleeding occurs. The inhibition of VEGF by cannabinoids prevent the cellular junctions from haemorrhage.

Cannabinoids Inhibit VEGF and inhibit Glioma brain tumors growth by this mechanism. (6) It is reasonable to predict that inhibition of VEGF and other Cytokines by Cannabinoids during an Ebola infection will help the survival of this deadly disease.  (6 and 7) Stopping the release of Cytokines will be a key feature of treatment of this deadly disease.

The discovery and application of the Endocannabinoid Signalling System is proving to be the control of virtually all diseases of mankind. Cannabinoids are emerging as a new class of drugs that treat infections of bacteria, fungi and virus by different mechanisms of action not found in any other class of drug. (1)

Cannabinoids are proving to have significant cidal (killer) activity to many viruses, including hepatitis C and the HIV virus. Cannabinoids down-regulate (inhibit) the immune response to the infection (2) (3). The cited U.S. Patents (3 and 4) are proof that cannabinoids inhibit many different virus strains from replicating. These patents also prove cannabinoids decreases the body’s immune over stimulated response to the viral infection.  Claims that are made in these U.S. Patents include the following:

(refer to patent for exact quote.)

  • A method of treating HIV disease by the direct inhibition of viral replication using a cannabinol derivative of claim 2. (see patent)
  • The cannabinol derivatives of claim 10 wherein the cannabinol derivative of claim  is used to treat HIV disease by the direct inhibition of viral replication. (see patent)
  • A method of treating diseases of immune dysfunction which are the result of infectious origin such as Simian Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Herpes Simplex virus, Epstein-Barr virus, Cytomegalovirus, hepatitis B and C, influenza virus, rhinovirus and mycobacterial infections using the cannabinol derivatives of claim 2. (see patent)
  • This United States Patent, proves cannabinoids treats this immune dysfunction that becomes what is known as a Cytokine Storm caused by different viral infections. (4)

In Summation; The US Patents prove down regulation of the immune system by cannabinoids may be a key in survival of HIV and may indeed translate into survival for Ebola patients. The direct Killing or Cidal effect of Cannabinoids is proven in HIV infections,(4) but not yet in Ebola. Inhibition of VEGF is crucial to prevent endothelial leakage and haemorrhage.

Because cannabis is so very safe especially under doctor supervision, I believe it is crucial for the medical community to start human trials on survivability of Ebola infected patients regardless of the political restraints.

 

David B. Allen M.D.
retired Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeon
Medical Director, Cannabis Sativa, Inc. (Cali215doc@gmail.com)

 

References

1)   Antibacterial Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: A Structure−Activity Study Antibacterial Cannabinoids from Cannabis sativa: A Structure−Activity Study; Giovanni Appendino et al. The School of Pharmacy, University of London

2)   Protection Against Septic Shock and Suppression of Tumor Necrosis Factor α and Nitric Oxide Production by Dexanabinol (HU-211), a Nonpsychotropic Cannabinoid Ruth Gallily1,
Aviva Yamin1, Departments of Immunology The Hebrew University, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem,  Rehovot, Israel.

3)    Cannabinoid derivatives US patent 20070179135 A1

4)    Treatment of HIV and diseases of immune dysregulation US 20080108647 A1

5)    Curr Pharm Des. 2006;12(24):3135-46. Cannabinoids, immune system and cytokine network. Massi PVaccani AParolaro D, University of Insubria, Via A. da Giussano 10, 21052 Busto Arsizio (VA), Italy

6)    Cancer Res August 15, 2004 64; 5617 Cannabinoids Inhibit the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway in Gliomas Cristina Blázquez HYPERLINK “http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/64/16/5617.full”1,

7)    How Cannabis Might Keep Coronary Stents Open Longer
www.cbds.com/…/how-cannabis-might-keep-coronary-stents-open-longer
Jun 10, 2014 David Allen M.D.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

so this means no more dea raids in calif and mich and all those other states? can i believe it?  NO not at all patients and dispensaries  will still get busted   The  law  protects /// Department of Justice from using funds to go after STATE medical marijuana operations   This has nothing to do with patients, caregivers or  dispensaries ,

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I doubt the taxpayer funded prohibitionist DEA and associated parties including your own local enforcement team will interpret the Congressional budget bill's MMJ riders with the same enthusiasm as the MMJ patients and caregivers.

 

Until and unless MMJ is removed from the Schedule 1 Classification it will be difficult to rein in the DEA and their minions at the local level. Simply review your county's budget and see how much money the Feds pay to subsidize the enforcement teams cool toys, informant network and ninja outfits for the ten-of-thousands of teams and participants. Think they'll be hanging up their battering rams and decommissioning their armored vehicles anytime soon?

 

There is one optimistic point to all of this however and that is the bipartisan sponsors, Republican Rep. Rohrabacher and Democratic Rep. Farr.

 

However, it worth considering that even as ever more Republicans are realizing prohibition is at odds with their party's tenet of small government, individual responsibility and personal freedom an increasing number of Democrats are becoming more supportive of the current status quo. This trend is evidenced in Michigan's House of Representatives with staunch Right-wing Republican Fred Upton voting yes and committed liberal Democrat Sander Levin voting no.

 

And here's wishing a pox on members of both parties who created and supported prohibition in the first place and continue to do so to this day.

 

No one should go to jail over a plant.

 

I am sorry to report Michigan's oldest MMJ patient who found blessed relief from a topical cannabis infused oil that allowed her to live the last five years without Oxycontin died yesterday just short of 100-years-of age. Rest-in-peace mom.

Edited by outsideinthecold
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I doubt the taxpayer funded prohibitionist DEA and associated parties including your own local enforcement team will interpret the Congressional budget bill's MMJ riders with the same enthusiasm as the MMJ patients and caregivers.

 

Until and unless MMJ is removed from the Schedule 1 Classification it will be difficult to rein in the DEA and their minions at the local level. Simply review your county's budget and see how much money the Feds pay to subsidize the enforcement teams cool toys, informant network and ninja outfits for the ten-of-thousands of teams and participants. Think they'll be hanging up their battering rams and decommissioning their armored vehicles anytime soon? NO way i agree

 

There is one optimistic point to all of this however and that is the bipartisan sponsors, Republican Rep. Rohrabacher and Democratic Rep. Farr.

 

However, it worth considering that even as ever more Republicans are realizing prohibition is at odds with their party's tenet of small government, individual responsibility and personal freedom an increasing number of Democrats are becoming more supportive of the current status quo.

 

A pox on members of both parties who created and supported prohibition in the first place.

 

No one should go to jail over a plant.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...