cannabisnews.com: Why a Joint a Day Could Keep The Doctor Away WHY A JOINT A DAY COULD KEEP THE DOCTOR AWAY Posted by Matt on April 21, 2003 at 18:42:38 PT Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK) CANNABIS will become the aspirin of the 21st century" if the early findings of new research are confirmed.It is thought the drug could protect against devastating illnesses including Alzheimerbs, Parkinsonbs and motor neurone disease.Scientists at the Institute of Neurology in London said greater understanding of the properties of cannabis compounds was opening up new possibilities for treatments.The most optimistic predictions are that cannabis could have a wide range of preventative qualities when taken regularly, making it the "new aspirin". Originally seen as a painkiller, aspirin has increasingly been shown to help prevent conditions ranging from heart disease to breast cancer. Professor Alan Thompson and his colleagues wrote in the journal Lancet Neurology: "Basic research is discovering interesting members of this family of compounds that have previously unknown qualities, the most notable of which is the capacity for neuroprotection [protection of nerve cells]."Cannabis is already used as a painkiller by many people, including multiple sclerosis sufferers, although medicines based on the drug have yet to be licensed.Famed for its perception-altering abilities - and for causing short-term memory loss - it now looks like the drug could slow the effects of ageing on the brain.The system of cannabinoid receptors - those areas of the nervous system to which the drug binds inside the body - is thought to help balance chemicals in the brain which regulate the rate at which nerve cells fire. By altering this system with cannabis, scientists believe it may be possible to arrest brain decay in conditions such as Alzheimerbs or Parkinsonbs.David Baker, the lead author of the Lancet review, said:""Something regulates this decay and if we could slow it by even a small fraction we might delay by a decade the point where someone loses their memory."A study by Baker and colleagues, in which the cannabinoid receptors were removed in mice, showed that the rate of nerve loss was increased, indicating its role in preserving brain function. Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by FoM on April 21, 2003 at 19:01:56 PT Matt Thanks for fixing the page. The article you just posted is out of whack on the front page. Should I try posting now or should I wait for a little while? Hope you had a nice time at the conference. Yes it went down on Friday morning. Naturally it was the one time you get to go away. Everyone has been patient and understanding. We love technology but sometimes it can drive us all a little CRAZY! LOL! Welcome Home! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Matt Elrod on April 21, 2003 at 18:55:47 PT: Oops How typical that cnews should crash while I'm on my *only* annual trip away from my PC. Sorry about that gang!Matt [ Post Comment ] Post Comment