Study: Cannabis Rescues Brain from Alcohol-Induced Neural Damage

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A new study published in the most recent issue of the journal Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, and published online by the National Institute of Health, has found that activation of the body’s CB2 receptors – something done naturally by the consumption of cannabis – can rescue the brain from alcohol-induced neural damage

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Support for Marijuana Legalization at an All-time High

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According to the latest Gallup Poll, a widely recognized barometer of American opinion, 58 percent of the US now supports marijuana legalization. These results match those of the CBS News polling and the Pew Research Center survey conducted earlier this year. Gallup polled 1,015 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all of...

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NSW exploring sites to grow medical cannabis

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The search for potential sites to grow medical cannabis in NSW is set to begin, following the Federal Government’s approval of the plant’s controlled cultivation for medicinal or scientific purposes.

NSW Minister for Medical Research Pru Goward said the approval would make Australia a world leader in this field, and that the NSW Government would scout for potential sites across the state that could be suitable for cultivating cannabis for medical or scientific purposes.

“We do not want patients or carers having to play pharmacist, this collaborative approach ensures we have a way forward,” Ms Goward said.

“It is important to get the scheme right. We look forward to further consultation occurring with other state and territory governments, this is an issue that is beyond politics.”

The scheme could also open up a whole new industry for NSW’s regions.
Clinical trials

The NSW Government has also committed $9 million to clinical trials that explore the use of cannabis and cannabis products in providing relief from a range of debilitating or terminal illnesses.

The trials include:

    Adults with a terminal illness, focusing on improving quality of life, and symptoms such as pain, nausea and vomiting.
    Children with severe, drug-resistant epilepsy, through a partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network.
    Adults with chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, where standard treatment is ineffective.

NSW has also confirmed its place as a world leader in medicinal cannabis with an investment of up to $12 million over four years to establish the NSW Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation.

 

 

reference:https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/nsw-exploring-sites-grow-medical-cannabis

UN set to call for drug legalization end to war on drugs – Sir Richard Branson

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rt.com

The United Nations is on the verge of calling for governments around the world to end the “war on drugs” by decriminalizing the use and possession of illicit narcotics, according to businessman Sir Richard Branson.

In a surprise post on the website of his company, Virgin, the entrepreneur and drugs campaigner said the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is about to announce a “refreshing shift” in direction.

Branson claims he broke a global media embargo to make the announcement, as the news was due to have been launched at a conference on Sunday. The Virgin chief said he feared the UN would bow to political pressure and withdraw the statement at the last minute.

“In an as-yet unreleased statement circulated to the BBC, myself and others, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which has shaped much of global drug policy for decades, calls on governments around the world to decriminalize drug use and possession for personal consumption for all drugs,” Branson wrote.

“This is a refreshing shift that could go a long way to finally end the needless criminalization of millions of drug users around the world. The UNODC document was due to be launched at the International Harm reduction conference in Malaysia yesterday.”

Branson went on to say that at least one government was already putting an “inordinate amount of pressure” on the UNODC over the announcement.

“Let us hope the UNODC, a global organization that is part of the UN and supposed to do what is right for the people of the world, does not do a remarkable volte-face at the last possible moment and bow to pressure by not going ahead with this important move,” he said.

“The war on drugs has done too much damage to too many people already.”