Hemp Embassy :: Forum

Re: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Alterations In Dopamine, Study Says [by Radic]

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 23:10:32 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: Cannabis Use Not Associated With Alterations In Dopamine, Study Says
hahahahah that study is very solid evidence proving once again--> cannabis is the gate way to freedom from all addictions
thanx and praize to the most high

Demonstration for cannabis legalisation in Tunis [by Moose]

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:30:58 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Demonstration for cannabis legalisation in Tunis

The Role of Science and Individual Rights in Drug Policies [by Moose]

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:27:48 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: The Role of Science and Individual Rights in Drug Policies
The Role of Science and Individual Rights in Drug Policies

Ethan Nadelmann talks about prohibition and criminalization of drugs in the United States and around the world. As well, he speaks about the existence and social acceptance of some common legal drugs through time, as well as the industry that has flourished around the forbidden ones. He also comments that prohibition has been a result of cultural and racial conflicts in the United States. As banning drugs has proven to be not the best approach towards this issue, Nadelmann proposes an alternative based on science, economic rationality, consensus and debate that affirms to be the most efficient way to solve this inconvenient and problematic reality.

Watch video here

Remember Schapelle? [by webhead]

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 05:51:01 -0100

Vox Pop - The Man in the Street:: Remember Schapelle?

http://www.schapelle.net/index.html

Bloke sent me the address, and I just thought I'd share it.

Magic mushroom mechanism revealed [by Moose]

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:35:23 -0100

Circus Psychedelica:: Magic mushroom mechanism revealed
Magic mushroom mechanism revealed

Published on Wednesday 22 February 2012 09:30

300) this.width=300" />“Magic mushrooms could one day be prescribed for depression,” The Independent has today reported. The newspaper said the approach is based on potentially using its chemical properties to trigger positive memories during psychotherapy.

A number of newspapers have reported similar news, which is based on research led by the former government drugs adviser Professor David Nutt. For example, the Daily Mirror reported that the use of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is being considered as part of therapy for depression.

These claims are based on a pair of research studies, one published today and another to be published in the near future. The study published today looked at brain activity in 30 people using a special type of MRI scan to help establish how psilocybin causes sensations such as hallucinations. The research compared the brain’s workings when given psilocybin and a placebo. It found that the psychoactive compound decreased activity in various brain areas and that greater decreases were linked to more intense experiences.

Crucially, this exploratory study was not a clinical trial or an examination of the effect psilocybin has on people with depression. Therefore, it is not possible to say from this research whether psilocybin could have benefits for people with depression. Also, importantly, the possible harms of using this drug, either in the short or long term have not been studied here.

Where did the story come from?

The study was carried out by researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Bristol. It was funded by a range of research and policy foundations: The Beckley Foundation, The Neuropsychoanalysis Foundation, Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, and The Heffter Foundation.

The study was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

The headlines featured in The Daily Telegraph and The Independent suggested that magic mushrooms are being considered as a treatment for depression. The study itself looked at how the brain was affected by a hallucinogenic chemical in the mushrooms, rather than using them in a medicinal manner.

As this study did not look at whether psilocybin had any beneficial effects for depression, it will take further study to see whether it does have any beneficial effect and if it is safe.

It has been reported that a related trial looking at the psychological impact of psilocybin is to be published in the near future, although Behind the Headlines cannot verify the nature of this research and its findings until the research paper is available.

Metro had correctly reported the current research’s finding that psilocybin reduces blood flow. However, its headline suggesting the drug ‘narrows the mind’ is misleading and confusing.

What kind of research was this?

This brain imaging study used a special type of MRI scan called functional MRI (fMRI) that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow. Researchers used this to look at how a psychedelic chemical found in magic mushrooms affected the brain activity of 30 healthy volunteers who did not have depression.

The researchers said that although the hallucinogenic chemical has been reported to cause ‘profound existential experiences’ that can leave a long-lasting impression, little is known about how psilocybin actually affects the brain.

The volunteers in this study had experienced hallucinogens before and did not have depression. Therefore, it is not possible to say whether these people would have exactly the same experience as people who had current or past depression, or people who had never experienced the sensation of hallucinating. This was not a clinical trial and did not look at the effects of the drug on depression.

What did the research involve?

The study recruited five women and 10 men who had previously used a hallucinogenic drug and had no history of any psychiatric disorder, substance dependence or cardiovascular disease. The volunteers had an average age of 34 years.

The volunteers first had a normal MRI scan taken to look at the structure of their brain. They then had functional MRI scans to look at blood flow within their brains while they received an infusion of either a placebo, in the first scan, or psilocybin in the second scan. These infusions were administered six minutes after the scan began, and took 60 seconds to be delivered. The functional scans took 18 minutes and during this time the volunteers were asked to relax and stare at a cross.

Before the infusion, five minutes after, and 12 minutes after, the volunteers were asked to rate their feelings from 0-10, where a score of 10 represented ‘extremely intense effects’. After each scan the volunteers were asked to rate how much they experienced 19 different aspects of hallucination. These subjective effects included, for example, seeing geometric patterns, feeling that their sense of time was altered, and feeling unusual body sensations.

The researchers looked at the pattern of blood flow (a marker of brain activity) before and after the infusions.

The researchers additionally performed functional brain scans on a further 15 volunteers, using a slightly different type of functional MRI scan that measures the amount of oxygen in the blood going to and from the brain as a measure of brain activity.

What were the basic results?

The researchers found that the volunteers’ subjective experiences started towards the beginning of the infusion period and peaked after four minutes.

The researchers found that psilocybin caused a decrease in blood flow in several areas of the brain compared to placebo. They also found that there were decreases in flow to around 16 brain areas in the cortex (the outer brain structures) and three subcortical (the inner brain structures) brain areas.

The researchers plotted the decrease in blood flow against how intense the volunteers said their experience was. They found the greater the decreases in blood flow, the more intense the subjective effects. They found similar changes in activity when using the second type of functional brain scan, but additionally found decreases in activity in some areas of the brain involved in vision.

The researchers say that there may be other ways the drug could have affected the blood-brain signal on the functional scans, such as by changing how the volunteers were breathing. To test this the researchers asked the volunteers to hold their breath. They found the same differences persisted between the psilocybin scan and the placebo scan, suggesting that this was not the case.

How did the researchers interpret the results?

The researchers say psilocybin decreased brain blood flow and oxygen levels in a manner that correlated with its subjective effects. They highlight two key brain areas that showed the decreased activity pattern: the middle prefrontal cortex and the back of the cingulate cortex. These areas are thought to play a role in decision making, social behaviour and processing emotions and memories. The researchers say that greater activity has been found to occur within the middle prefrontal cortices of people with depression, and that this activity can be reduced by treatment for depression.

The authors propose that decreased activity of key brain areas with psilocybin may permit an ‘unconstrained style of cognition’.

Conclusion

This experimental study took functional MRI scans of 30 volunteers and looked at the differences in brain activity when they received the hallucinogenic magic mushroom extract psilocybin and when they received a placebo.

They found that brain blood flow was reduced in various brain areas and that the greater the decrease in blood flow, the greater the intensity of the subjective experience of the volunteer when they received the hallucinogen.

Although one of the brain areas that showed decreased blood flow also tends to show higher than normal activity in the brains of people with depression, this study did not directly look at the effect or possibility of using psilocybin in people with depression. Furthermore, this study recruited people who had taken hallucinogens before, so the results do not reflect the population as a whole.

As this was not a clinical trial it is not possible to say from this study whether psilocybin, in combination with psychotherapy or not, would have any beneficial effect for people with depression. Also, importantly, the possible harms of using this drug, either in the short or long term, have not been studied here.

Source: http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/ ... hanism_revealed_1_4175830

Re: Cop Says Drug War Makes People Distrust Police [by webhead]

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:44:26 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Cop Says Drug War Makes People Distrust Police
Ah the old "ipso facto" (-;

Pursuit Of Political Expediency - The Political Sacrifice of Schapelle Corby [by Moose]

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 08:44:37 -0100

Cannabis and the Law:: Pursuit Of Political Expediency - The Political Sacrifice of Schapelle Corby
Pursuit Of Political Expediency - The Political Sacrifice of Schapelle Corby

300) this.width=300" />How a government willfully withheld vital evidence from a court of law, deceived its public, orchestrated an unprecedented media campaign, and ruthlessly deployed its organs of state against one of its own citizens.

This is a frightening but entirely true narrative; a grotesque political horror story which is still unfolding today. It exposes what happens when an individual’s human rights conflict with strategic political need. It reveals the ruthless use of a government’s organs of state, and a regime of unprecedented opinion management, against a single working class woman and her desperate family.

It presents, and demonstrates, the crushing, pre-meditated, and often brutal acts which a western government is prepared to inflict upon a helpless citizen, in pursuit of political expediency.

Cannabinoids, Oleoyl serine & Osteoporosis - Raphael Mechoulam, PhD [by Moose]

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:38:52 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: Cannabinoids, Oleoyl serine & Osteoporosis - Raphael Mechoulam, PhD
"Bone Remodeling and Fracture Healing" - "What does the brain have to do with the bones?" asks Professor Raphael Mechoulam, Phd of Hebrew University. Having noted changes in bone structure in brain-damaged patients, with improvement in broken bones and osteoporosis with CB2 agonist; a study showing Greek women have 50% less osteoporosis than northern women, with consumption of olive oil cited as the reason, Dr. Mechoulam wondered, "Could Oleac Acid have something to do with the bones?", having noted its similarity to Anandamide-related cannabinoids. Mechoulam's team looked at Oleoyl serine ("an endogenous anabolic regulator of bone metabolism, stimulating bone formation and inhibiting bone resorption"), finding that it reduced ovariectomy-induced bone loss.
Citing a recent study finding that "chronically administered phytocannabinoids (5 mg/kg/day each of THC and CBD) markedly stimulate the mechanical properties of healing fractures, through enhanced mineralization", Dr. Mechoulam concludes that "Together with cannabinoids, the skeletal activity of Oleoyl serine suggests an important role for fatty acids in the regulation of bone metabolism".
Presented to the Sixth National Clinical Conference on Cannabis Therapeutics, hosted by Patients Out of Time in April, 2010, Warwick, Rhode Island. For more information on this and the accredited continuing medical education program, please visit:
http://MedicalCannabis.com

Video of the Day: Sunshine ~ Bagz and Treez [by Moose]

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:46:29 -0100

Vox Pop - The Man in the Street:: Video of the Day: Sunshine ~ Bagz and Treez

Released last October, this is the official music video for the track "Sunshine" off the mixtape from Bagz and Treez, "Paper or Plastic," which dropped in 2010.

The song featuring Grand Master Treez.

For more info on the Dank Hop movement visit:

bagzandtreez.com
twitter.com/bagzandtreez
facebook.com/bagzandtreez

Cannabis Science Signs Multi-Company Acquisition & Licensing Deals that will Boost Revenues [by Moose]

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 23:30:35 -0100

Medical Cannabis:: Cannabis Science Signs Multi-Company Acquisition & Licensing Deals that will Boost Revenues
Cannabis Science Signs Multi-Company Acquisition & Licensing Deals that will Boost Revenues, Its Pharmaceutical Operations and Management Team While Bringing Cannabis Science Brand Products For National Distribution

300) this.width=300" />February 14, 2012

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCBB: CBIS.OB - News), a pioneering US biotech company developing pharmaceutical cannabis products, is pleased to announce that it has signed a major multi-company acquisition agreement that will boost revenues, strengthen pharmaceutical operations and our management team.

These additions will enhance our internal operations and help to fast track our full line of Cannabis Science Brand pharmaceutical and over the counter products through multiple distribution channels to be made available nationally. Over the coming days there will be several announcements outlining the outstanding growth opportunities that will be enhanced by these deals.

Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Dr Robert Melamede Ph.D., stated, “These deals put Cannabis Science in a very strong position to grow our Company quickly. We have increased our corporate structure to handle the impressive growth opportunities that are unfolding before us. We have already begun a limited production of the Cannabis Science brand product line with their successful therapeutic functionality demonstrated by the case studies of cancer patients that are posted on the Cannabis Science homepage (http://www.cannabisscience.com).

It has taken time and effort to develop many important relationships, the first of which are now coming to fruition. These advancements will take Cannabis Science to the next level with multiple products that will have multiple distribution channels nationwide. These deals include strategic relationships with pharmacists and the exclusive production of organically grown strains for our scientific medicinal formulations. Additional accessory businesses will include laboratory capacity for product quality assurance and testing, and educational platforms to produce and distribute information about the science of cannabis that will further our cause through education.”

The main elements of this group of deals are the following:

1. New Executive Management Appointments
2. Licensing agreement for exclusive strains, lab facilities, and commercial manufacturing
3. A “Cannabis University” acquisition to be converted to Cannabis Science Brand
4. New Cannabis Science Brand product lines
5. Multiple national product distribution channels
6. Focused continued growth plan based on operational expertise and market opportunities
7. Critical ailment target expansions

Apothecary Genetics, a cannabis seed breeding company signed a licensing agreement with Cannabis Science. Apothecary will produce several Cannabis Science Brand Formulations for the California medical cannabis market. As well, Apothecary will provide research and development facilities with full circle operations including a California laboratory facility for internal research and development, along with 16 unique genetic strains specifically generated and maintained by a cancer survivor who recognizes the importance of proper growth and breeding.

GGECO University, an online video-based medical cannabis education system, offering courses dealing with medical cannabis law, the benefits of medical marijuana, cooking, horticulture, and bud tending, has been acquired by Cannabis Science, following the university‘s name to Cannabis Science University. Cannabis Science hopes to use this platform to educate the general public, patients, and even those who have already been involved in the medical cannabis industry on the medical benefits of cannabis, how it is grown, how to use it safely, and the many applications or ways to administer the medication.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.
Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of pharmaceutical grade medical marijuana research and development. The second formulations will address the needs of patients choosing to use concentrated cannabis extracts to treat their ailments. Eventually, all Americans will have access to a safe and effective FDA approved medicine regardless of which state they live in. To maintain that marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug with no medical value is scientifically absurd. Cannabis medicines, with no effective lethal dose, are far safer than aspirin, acetaminophen, and most other OTC drugs that kill thousands of Americans every year.

The Company works with world authorities on phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to scientific methodologies to develop, produce and commercialize phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Forward Looking Statements
This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as "anticipate," "seek," intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.

Contact:
Cannabis Science Inc.
Dr. Robert J. Melamede
President & CEO
1-888-889-0888
info@cannabisscience.com
www.cannabisscience.com
or
Robert Kane
Investor Relations Management
1-561-234-6929
info@cannabisscience.com
www.cannabisscience.com