cannabisnews.com: Virtual Marijuana Being Grown at KSU





Virtual Marijuana Being Grown at KSU
Posted by CN Staff on November 12, 2003 at 20:45:44 PT
By Leigh Carfi, Staff Writer
Source: Sentinel
In the Chemistry lab wing of the Science Building, KSU Chemistry Professor, Dr. Patricia Reggio, is growing "marijuana" for research on the plant. She never makes any contact with an actual plant, however. Reggio's work is purely computational, and the only marijuana she ever sees is "virtual marijuana," seen on the screen of the graphics computers in her lab. "Theoretical work is an important part of medical and pharmaceutical research," Dr. Leon Combs, the KSU chemistry chair, said.
"All drug companies have a theory division. The theoretical work comes before drugs are developed."Reggio has had a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse since 1985. "It's called The Molecular Determinants for Cannabinoid Activity," Reggio said, "It's a grant for research to find out how drugs act on the molecular level."Reggio's research is centered on what are called cannabinoid receptors. These are the areas where THC, the active drug in marijuana, binds in the body."We want to know what turns these receptors on and off, and how molecules like THC actually bind to receptors," Reggio said. "This can allow for the design of drugs that bind to the same receptors as THC."According to Reggio, these new drugs will have the opposite effects of THC, as well as various applications, including appetite suppression and memory enhancement.The computational models designed by Reggio and her research team are sent to a research institute in North Carolina. This institute is where research on the actual marijuana plant is performed and compounds based on THC are designed. The compounds are then shipped to various locations to be evaluated. KSU is not among those locations."A license is required to handle controlled substances," Reggio said. "Anything that binds to a cannabinoid receptor is considered a controlled substance.""Actual drug research is something we would never do," Combs said. "You need a special license. We don't have the facilities, and there is nobody in the department with that kind of expertise."The license needed is issued by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Only the person doing the research would be allowed to handle the substance. It would be required to be kept in a locked refrigerator and detailed logs would need to be kept. "The logs would be audited by the DEA," Reggio said. "You would lose your license if more was gone than what was supposed to."In addition to the legal liabilities involved in experimental drug research, KSU does not have the space."We would need to put an addition onto the building to get more research space," Reggio said. "There aren't enough labs." "There is a tremendous undertaking to get approval for that kind of research," Combs said. "I don't see KSU ever doing that." Source: Sentinel, The (GA Edu)Author: Leigh Carfi, Staff WriterPublished: November 12, 2003Copyright: 2003 Kennesaw State UniversityWebsite: http://www.ksusentinel.com/Contact: sentinel pigseye.kennesaw.eduCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on November 12, 2003 at 21:30:50 PT:
Wasting Actual Time With Virtual Research!
Alohaa and Chuckles! Virtual growing of marijuana? They lost their cookies somewhere way back! Try a legal garden with religious protection for research of actual cannabis instead of virtual folly. Many desperate cancer and chronic pain patients are allowed to manage pain with hard drugs, but marijuana is still not approved for medical use by anyone else but the federal government itself. Selfish? You bet. There are still 7 patients receiving 300 rolled joints per month from NIH programs from the 1970's. Equal protection under the law? It has never been so yet.Things are changing. See www.sacramedicine.com........the solution.
East Hawaii Branch/ Religion of Jesus Church
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Comment #1 posted by Virgil on November 12, 2003 at 21:17:00 PT
Law painted by the broad brush of fascism
Anything that binds to a cannabinoid receptor is considered a controlled substance."It does not matter that CBD or CBG is not addictive and a doctor would laugh if you said he could not protect you from it under his care. When the guidelines don't fit, who would no with such a compliant press? The party line is "We think, therefore forget about it."It is all part of the legacy that will make Bu$h, Bu$h the unchallenged. Who could possibly beat him as the worst president ever? Heil, dickhead.How long can they hold on to total prohibition? Well, they put CBS to calling the paperless voting machines a conspiracy theory? They need to come out and say cannabinoids cause homosexuality and that if we wipe out weed, we wipe out those gays and lesbians.You know how when you are in the house at night with the lights on, you cannot see out but everyone can see in. It is like that with so many things with people that stay in the box. It is like trying to reason with a Freeper about Bu$h as is often said at DEAwatch. There is nothing that can change their view- a pre-emptive war in violation of international law, utter disregard of the environment, a cut taxes and borrow to increase spending 12% a year. The people inside the box cannot see out. You can tell them about what is outside and all they know is they cannot see and you shake your head and say to yourself, "No kidding, and you cannot listen either." they are blinded by the light.That is why we need art- to reach the brain-dead. 
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