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9 News maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2013 Medical studies link marijuana to treatment of cancer, diabetes Not one, not two, not three… but no fewer than 20 studies have emerged to show that cannabis can be used to treat seven types of lethal cancer. So why do still we imprison people who smoke it? RAPHAEL VASSALLO ITS scientific name is Cannabis sativa – aka marijuana – and cultivating this plant in Malta can conceivably land you a fine of up to €25,000 and a prison sentence of anywhere up to 25 years. So intense is the local legal situation surrounding this drug that even a verbal admission to having once smoked a joint can land you in court facing serious criminal charges in this country. In the last week alone, the police made over five arrests for 'suspected cannabis' finds. And despite advice given to government by the Justice Reform Commission to consider depenalisation, police efforts in the so-called 'war on drugs' have been intensified since the last election, with a special emphasis on cannabis. Yet international medical research is uncovering another side to this enigmatic plant: studies conducted by among the most respectable names in the medical research world (including the US National Library of Medicine, Harvard University, the British Medical Journal and others) have revealed that cannabis may be a more effective remedy for cancer than chemotherapy. Separate research also claims that the same drug has been successful in treating a host of other pathologies, including muscular dystrophy and diabetes. Traditionally, claims that marijuana boasts special medical properties have always been met with scepticism by the medical establishment. But in many countries, the tide of scientific opinion appears to be turning: in the USA, several states have relaxed their anti-cannabis regimes, sometimes legalising the drug altogether for medicinal purposes. But while 'medical marijuana' is mostly prescribed as a painkiller, research now suggests that the plant may have more other health benefits too. Several independent studies have concluded that the active chemical ingredient in cannabis – known as 'THC' – is actually more effective (and the side effects infinitely less harmful) than chemotherapy to treat tumours. A 2007 study by Harvard University, published by the Amercian Association for Cancer Research, discovered that "the active ingredient in marijuana cuts tumour growth in common lung cancer by half, and significantly reduces the ability of the cancer to spread… "Researchers injected standard doses of THC into mice that had been implanted with human lung cancer cells, and found that tumours were reduced in size and weight by around 50% in treated animals compared to the control group. There was also a 60% reduction in cancer lesions on the lungs in these mice, as well as a significant reduction in protein markers associated with cancer progression." Similar findings were registered in subsequent tests which also looked at other forms of cancer, and the results were similar. Among the different forms of cancer that responded well to treatment using THC are brain tumours, pancreatic, breast and liver cancer – a full list of the studies concerned is reproduced at right. Nor are the medical properties of marijuana limited to cancer, it would seem. Last May, Time magazine publicised the results of a study suggesting the substance could also be used to treat diabetes. Citing a study published by The American Journal of Medicine, Time observes that "the research included over 4,600 men and women participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2005 and 2010. Among them, 48% had smoked marijuana at least once in their lives, and 12% were current cannabis smokers. The authors controlled for other factors like age, sex, income, alcohol use, cigarette smoking and physical activity that could also affect diabetes risk. "Even after these adjustments, the current marijuana users showed fasting insulin levels that were 16% lower than those of former or never users, along with a 17% reduction in another measure of insulin resistance as well. Higher levels on both tests are associated with Type 2 diabetes, which is linked with obesity. Marijuana users also had higher levels of high-density lipoprotein, the socalled good cholesterol, which can protect against heart disease." As more and more clinical studies emerge to illustrate the possible medical advantages of marijuana, it remains debatable whether a country in which an estimated 15% suffer from diabetes – and where practically every family will be either directly or indirectly exposed to the reality of cancer – can afford to ignore the implications of this research. Already Malta has been forced to confront the increasing absurdity of a law enforcement regime which does not distinguish between different drugs according to harmfulness, or even between cultivation for personal use and drug trafficking. It remains to be seen if the recent discoveries concerning medical marijuana will in any way impact the local law enforcement attitude towards a drug that may in fact save many more lives than it is believed to negatively impact. Hope from dope: how different cancers can be treated using marijuana Brain cancer 1. A study published in the British Journal of Cancer, conducted by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Complutense University in Madrid, this study determined that Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids inhibit tumour growth. They were responsible for the first clinical study aimed at assessing cannabinoid antitumoral action. Cannabinoid delivery was safe and was achieved with zero psychoactive effects. THC was found to decrease tumour cells in two out of the nine patients. 2. A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience examined the biochemical events in both acute neuronal damage and in slowly progressive, neurodegenerative diseases. They conducted a magnetic resonance imaging study that looked at THC (the main active compound in marijuana) and found that it reduced neuronal injury in rats. The results of this study provide evidence that the cannabinoid system can serve to protect the brain against neurodegeneration. 3. A study published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics already acknowledged the fact that cannabinoids have been shown to possess antitumor properties. This study examined the effect of cannabidiol (CBD, non psychoactive cannabinoid compound) on human glioma cell lines. The addition of cannabidiol led to a dramatic drop in the viability of glioma cells. Glioma is the word used to describe brain tumour. The study concluded that cannabidiol was able to produce a significant antitumor activity. 4. A study published in the journal Molecular Cancer Therapeutics outlines how brain tumours are highly resistant to current anticancer treatments, which makes it crucial to find new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving the poor prognosis of patients suffering from this disease. This study also demonstrated the reversal of tumour activity in Glioblastoma multiforme. Breast cancer 5. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine, conducted by the California Pacific Medical Centre determined that cannabidiol (CBD) inhibits human breast cancer cell proliferation and invasion. They also demonstrated that CBD significantly reduces tumour mass. 6. A study published in The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics determined that THC as well as cannabidiol dramatically reduced breast cancer cell growth. They confirmed the potency and effectiveness of these compounds. 7. A study published in the Journal Molecular Cancer showed that THC reduced tumour growth and tumour numbers. They determined that cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce cancer cell apoptosis and impair tumour angiogenesis (all good things). Lung cancer 9. A study published in the journal Oncogene, by Harvard Medical Schools Experimental Medicine Department determined that THC inhibits epithelial growth factor induced lung cancer cell migration and more. They go on to state that THC should be explored as novel therapeutic molecules in controlling the growth and metastasis of certain lung cancers. 10. A study published by the US National Library of Medicine determined that cannabinoids inhibit cancer cell invasion. Effects were confirmed in primary tumour cells from a lung cancer patient. Overall, data indicated that cannabinoids decrease cancer cell invasiveness. 11. A study published by the US National Library of Medicine, conducted by Harvard Medical School investigated the role of cannabinoid receptors in lung cancer cells. They determined its effectiveness and suggested that it should be used for treatment against lung cancer cells. Prostate cancer 12. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine illustrates a decrease in prostatic cancer cells by acting through cannabinoid receptors. 13. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine outlined multiple studies proving the effectiveness of cannabis on prostate cancer. 14. Another study published by the US National Library of Medicine determined that clinical testing of CBD against prostate carcinoma is a must. That cannabinoid receptor activation induces prostate carcinoma cell apoptosis. They determined that cannabidiol significantly inhibited cell viability. Blood cancer 15. A study published in the journal Molecular Pharmacology recently showed that cannabinoids induce growth inhibition and apoptosis in matle cell lymphoma. 16. A study published in the International Journal of Cancer also determined and illustrated that cannabinoids exert antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects in various types of cancer and in mantle cell lymphoma. 17. A study published in the US National Library of Medicine conducted by the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology by Virginia Commonwealth University determined that cannabinoids induce apoptosis in leukemia cells. Oral cancer 18. A study published by the US National Library of Medicine results show cannabinoids are potent inhibitors of cellular respiration and are toxic to highly malignant oral tumours. Liver cancer 19. A study published by the US National Library of Medicine determined that that THC reduces the viability of human HCC cell lines (Human hepatocellular liver carcinoma cell line) and reduced the growth. Pancreatic cancer 20. A study published in The American Journal of Cancer determined that cannabinoid receptors are expressed in human pancreatic tumour cell lines and tumour biopsies at much higher levels than in normal pancreatic tissue. Results showed that cannabinoid administration induced apoptosis. They also reduced the growth of tumour cells, and inhibited the spreading of pancreatic tumour cells.