Over the last decade there have been numerous publications demonstrating the anti-cancer effects of plant and synthetic cannabinoids. Notably, the main ingredient of Cannabis, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), has demonstrated the ability to kill multiple types of cancers in a variety of cancer research models. CBD (cannabidiol), another common plant component, has also shown the ability to kill cancer cells, recently it has been used to successfully treat breast cancer in a mouse research model of the disease.
Certain types of brain cancer appear to be vulnerable to cannabinoids such as THC and CBD. Scientific research has demonstrated that THC and other cannabinoids can kill extremely aggressive brain cancers known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or grade IV astrocytomas. Researchers have also experimented with combining different cananbinoids for the treatment of aggressive brain cancers. So far, the results have been extremely promising. There is a need for new treatments for GBMs, as current treatments for these cancers can extend life for up to 15 months, if you’re lucky.
Last year, the journal of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics published research demonstrating that combination’s of THC and CBD, the two most abundant cannabinoids on the plant, can lead to a greater-than-additive or synergistic inhibition of cancer growth. Now, nearly a year to the date, the journal has published another article studying the anti-cancer effects of THC and CBD. The new article takes the next steps towards getting this therapy in to the clinic by testing THC and CBD in animals along side a common brain tumor drug TMZ (temozolomide).
The study was conducted in Spain, and the experiments analyzing the effects of cannabinoids were conducted with tumors or brain cancer cells from human samples and a tumor xenograft mouse model. A tumor xenograft model is basically a cancer that is induced into an animal that has a compromised immune system. This allows researchers to give a mouse a tumor consisting of human cells, thus a promising anti-cancer treatment can be tested on a human tumor in a more natural environment, than a petri dish.
MADISON: News that Stephen Fitzgerald, a former Dodge County sheriff, is seeking to serve as the head of the State Patrol under Gov. Scott Walker, is bringing back painful memories for those who remember a fatal shooting by his deputies during a botched drug raid in April 1995.
The Associated Press, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and other media are reporting that Fitzgerald, 68, who is the father of the state’s two most powerful lawmakers, has applied to Gov. Scott Walker in hopes of snaring the position. Fitzgerald served most recently as U.S. marshal in the Western District of Wisconsin up until May 2010. He was soundly defeated in last September’s Republican primary against incumbent Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls, who won 68% of the vote to Fitzgerald’s 32%.
At issue is the death of Scott Bryant. Blogger Franke Schein described it like this:
On April 17, 1995, police in Dodge County, Wisconsin, forcefully entered the mobile home of Scott Bryant after finding traces of marijuana in his garbage. The officers would later say they knocked and announced before entering, but neighbors who witnessed the raid say police entered without doing either. Moments later, Detective Robert Neuman shot an unarmed Bryant in the chest, killing him. Bryant’s eight-year old son was asleep in the next room. Neuman told investigators he “can’t remember pulling the trigger. Dodge County sheriff Stephen Fitzgerald compared the shooting to a hunting accident. – Franke Schei “SWAT Raids Out Of Control”
MADISON: I wrote an article back in August of 2010, “Ten things that would be different had Wisconsin passed a medical marijuana law,” highlighting opportunities and benefits that Wisconsin was missing out on because of the failure of state lawmakers to pass the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuana Act (JRMMA) during the 2009-2010 legislative session.
Number Six on the list was “Print and other media ad revenues up.” Anna Rendall explored enhanced advertising revenue from the medical cannabis industry in an article from the SF Public Press: “With few restrictions and bundles of cash, cannabis ads help sagging media profits” (Jan 17 2011).
The article indicates that medical cannabis industry advertising has been a boon for media companies unfazed by any remaining controversy.
Medical marijuana advertising is taking off, propping up the fortunes of ailing media companies that have seen income from other business sectors plummet in the recession.
Advertisements offering free edibles for new patients and products such as “super silver haze” are helping to keep the San Francisco Bay Guardian, SF Weekly and East Bay Express in business. Similar ads have even started cropping up – tentatively – in more staid publications, such as the San Francisco Chronicle.
Ads for pot are growing so fast in part because they face fewer regulations and restrictions than marketing materials for cigarettes and alcohol. The only real regulation is one requiring the ads to warn customers that they need a doctor’s recommendation.
“Marijuana advertising is a small percentage of our total advertising – we wish that we had more,” said Mina Bajraktarevic, advertising sales manager at the Bay Guardian, whose back page has become a wall of green with medical marijuana advertising. — SF Public Press, “With few restrictions and bundles of cash, cannabis ads help sagging media profits” (Jan 17 2011).
MADISON: The year 2010 was a breakthrough year for cannabis in Wisconsin. While the year began with medical cannabis legislation that ultimately failed to pass, efforts to support the bill helped lay the base for new heights in cannabis activism that saw major media coverage, statewide events and the formation of new alliances and groups dedicated to changing cannabis laws. In between were many developments including elections that on one hand brought Wisconsin two historic medical cannabis electoral wins, but on the other saw a reshuffling of state government that ousted allies and elevated opponents to powerful positions.
In early January 2010, despite a successful 8 plus hour hearing on Dec. 15, 2009, doubts about passage were already being circulated: “Eye on the Jacki Rickert MMJ Act: The great disconnect?”
Despite the disappointing vibes being projected by the Democratic leadership (who were later defeated by voters in November), state medical cannabis advocates did not lessen their efforts, ending January with a large fundraiser at Madison’s High Noon Saloon and a Lobby Day and Memorial for patient-activist Mary Powers at the State Capitol.
In February and March, as Capitol sources continued to indicate soft support for the JRMMA, state activists took their efforts to levels never seen before.
