By: Anthony Martinelli, Sensible Washington
Cannabis is a wonderful plant; Non-lethal, therapeutically beneficial and remarkably medicinal. Clearly one of nature’s marvels.
If you’re on this website, it’s likely that you agree with this statement.
The mission of course – in order to bring liberty to this plant – is to get the rest of the public to understand this. Though they may never understand exactly how vast the benefits of cannabis are, we can clearly educate them – and its vitally important we do so.
Given how deeply embedded the propaganda of prohibition is in our culture, sometimes spreading some simple research and science surrounding cannabis can be a major eye-opener for people – even if it seems like it should be common knowledge.
When educating the public, we must always use facts, as well as reliable sources when citing studies. Given the federal prohibition on cannabis (and in most instances, its research) it can be challenging to find citable evidence of its benefits – however, there is a huge amount of promising scientific research, and its growing rapidly.
There’s a plethora of further information to be found, but below is a list of some excellent studies and articles surrounding cannabis. Great information to share with your friends, family and colleagues (and anyone else willing to listen)!
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- Multiple Sclerosis and Extract of Cannabis: results of the MUSEC trial – July, 2012: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22791906
– According to a new study published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, cannabis extracts were found to significant reduce muscle stiffness and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- Medical Marijuana: Clearing Away the Smoke – July, 2012: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358713/
– A study published in The Open Neurology Journal, concluded that: “Based on evidence currently available the Schedule I classification is not tenable; it is not accurate that cannabis has no medical value, or that information on safety is lacking.”
- Medical Marijuana Does Not Increase Teen Drug Use, Study Finds – June, 2012: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/18/medical-marijuana-teen-drug-use_n_1606918.html
– A comprehensive study using statistical data found evidence that legalized medical cannabis does not increase teen drug use.
- Study: Cannabis Use Associated With Lower Mortality Risk In Patients With Psychotic Disorders – May, 2012: https://blog.norml.org/2012/05/29/study-cannabis-use-associated-with-lower-mortality-risk-in-patients-with-psychotic-disorders/
– A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that the use of cannabis is associated with lower mortality risk in patients with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders.
- A Marijuana Bud A Day Keeps The Stroke Away – March, 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qAzMwYV1chk
– It’s quite anecdotal at the time, but cannabis may have potential stroke-reducing and/or preventing effects.
- Marijuana Can Help Prevent Suicide, Study Suggests – February, 2012:https://blogs.laweekly.com/informer/2012/02/marijuana_suicide_medical_states_california.php
– This is a big one. In a recent multi-university study published this year, it was shown that states that have passed medical cannabis laws have had a significant reduction in suicides, especially among young adults (an 11% drop in those 20-29).
- Smoking pot doesn’t hurt lung capacity, study shows – January, 2012: https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/11/marijuana-smoking-does-not-harm-lungs-study-finds/ – A government study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that cannabis consumption doesn’t harm lung function, and may actually improve lung function/capacity in many consumers.
- Cannabis research in combating late stage AIDS – 2012: https://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0033961
– New peer-reviewed research has shown promising signs of cannabis compounds being effective in combating late stage AIDS.
- Recent Research on Medical Marijuana – 2012: https://norml.org/component/zoo/category/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana
– The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) published this outstanding piece, which has an abundance of research surrounding a large number of conditions that science has shown can be benefited from cannabis.
- States That Legalized Medical Marijuana Saw Fewer Traffic Deaths, Study Says – December, 30th, 2011: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/legalized-marijuana-lower-traffic-deaths_n_1176856.html
– A recent multi-university study found that states which have legalized medical cannabis have seen a reduction in traffic deaths, likely due in large part to the fact that these states also saw a reduction in alcohol consumption.
- Marijuana may help PTSD – October, 2011: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/our-troops-deserve-an-effective-treatment-for-ptsd-marijuana/2011/10/10/gIQAxlEkkL_story.html
– Studies have shown that cannabis may be extremely beneficial to those who suffer from PTSD.
- Researchers Find Study of Medical Marijuana Discouraged – January, 2010: https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/health/policy/19marijuana.html
– We would have many more conclusive studies on the benefits of cannabis if the government didn’t have a monopoly over cannabis research. This is important to share with people who use the argument, against reforming our cannabis laws, that “we don’t have conclusive evidence that marijuana is safe.”
- Marijuana Chemical May Fight Brain Cancer – April, 2009: https://www.webmd.com/cancer/brain-cancer/news/20090401/marijuana-chemical-may-fight-brain-cancer
– Studies show that one of the active compound in cannabis may actually destroy brain cancer cells.
- American College of Physicians Official Position Paper on Medical Marijuana – 2008: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where_we_stand/other_issues/medmarijuana.pdf
– This is one of the most important on this list. The American College of Physicians in 2008 wrote an official position paper on medical marijuana, claiming that there is solid research to indicate that marijuana is effective medicine, and urging that we do further research.
- Marijuana compound could help fight breast cancer – November, 2007: https://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news%2Fhealth&id=5771385
– Researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco – funded by the California Breast Cancer Research Program – have shown promising studies suggesting that one of the main compounds in cannabis may help fight breast cancer.
- Marijuana Cuts Lung Cancer Tumor Growth In Half, Study Shows – April, 2007: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm
– Harvard studies show us cannabis significantly cuts tumor growth.
- Marijuana may help stave off Alzheimer’s – October, 2006: https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145917/ns/health-alzheimers_disease/t/marijuana-may-help-stave-alzheimers/
– New research suggests that cannabis may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, by preserving brain function.
- Study Finds No Cancer-Marijuana Connection – May, 2006: https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html
– The University of California, conducting the largest study of its kind, concluded there is no link between even heavy cannabis use and lung cancer, and found cannabis consumers may actually be less prone to it than non-smokers, a conclusion the head of the study found surprising.
- Time to Legalize Marijuana? – 500+ Economists Endorse Marijuana Legalization – 2005: https://economics.about.com/od/incometaxestaxcuts/a/legalize_pot.htm
-Milton Friedman, in addition to over 500 other economists, sent an open letter in 2005 to the President, Congress, Governors, and State Legislatures pointing out the benefits of legalizing cannabis.
- Heavy Marijuana Use Doesn’t Damage Brain – July, 2003: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20030701/heavy-marijuana-use-doesnt-damage-brain
– The guise that cannabis kills braincells is a long perpetuated lie.
- Past Pot Use Has No Negative Impact On Intelligence, Canadian IQ Study Says – April, 2002: https://norml.org/news/2002/04/04/past-pot-use-has-no-negative-impact-on-intelligence-canadian-iq-study-says
– “Marijuana smoking, even long-term, does not harm intelligence”, according to findings published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
- –Marijuana Use and Mortality – April, 1997: https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.87.4.585
– In a 1997 study funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and published in the American Journal of Public Health, it was found that no degree of marijuana use had any effect on mortality, continuing with the known fact that cannabis is a non-lethal substance.