I have been away for awhile... Lot's of other things going on in the world. I have been collecting important information about the medicinal value of Medical Marijuana. The following article was posted on the natural news site and is very informative about the TRUTH behind the politics research showing the benefits of cannabis therapy. Read on....
A milestone quietly occurred last month, and one the federal government would prefer to ignore. Yet, it could mean a step in the right direction for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people who use a centuries-old botanical medicine: cannabis, otherwise know as marijuana.
According to the Washington Independent, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) changed its website on March 17th and for the first time listed cannabis as a Complementary Alternative Medicine (CAM). At that time, the NCI website read:
"The potential benefits of medicinal Cannabis for people living with cancer include antiemetic effects, appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep. In the practice of integrative oncology, the health care provider may recommend medicinal Cannabis not only for symptom management but also for its possible direct antitumor effect."
And just in case the issue of medical efficacy was in question, NCI further stated that:
"Cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years prior to its current status as an illegal substance."
Besides the obvious "It's about time" retort to the inclusion of cannabis in the CAM listing, there is definitely more here to this decades-long story of the struggle between politics and science. If the symptoms of cancer and the side effects from treatment can be ameliorated or fought-off with medical cannabis, wouldn't that be worth significant research investment? And, wouldn't the value of that research increase considerably if cannabis therapeutically benefited people with an array of other medical conditions? What if science showed that cannabis could halt or diminish the growth of tumors?
Unfortunately, despite promising studies on the effects of cannabis on tumor growth and a host of other scientific investigations into the therapeutic benefits of cannabis -- mostly conducted outside of the United States -- we have failed to rise to the occasion. Cannabis used for research in the U.S. is tightly controlled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA). The research that does occur is narrowly focused by NIDA on the supposed abuse potential of cannabis, bypassing vast areas of efficacy ripe for investigation.
In 2007, DEA Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) Mary Ellen Bittner ruled in a case attempting to expand and diversify the production of research cannabis in the U.S. that such research was "in the public interest." However, DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart ignored her own ALJ's recommendations and denied the petition that would have broken a 40-year old monopoly on federal research cannabis production, housed at the University of Mississippi. The federal monopoly on cannabis cultivation is complemented by a Byzantine approval process that would have made Franz Kafka proud.
With these tactics, the government has held a pretty tight lid on cannabis research over the years -- an obstructionist's approach really. But prioritizing politics over science is a tenuous affair, full of contradictions and hypocrisy.
Take for instance the revisions NCI made to its website not two weeks after it listed cannabis as a Complementary Alternative Medicine. Just to make sure its readers didn't think it was endorsing the use of medical cannabis, NCI reminded us that "The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of Cannabis as a treatment for any medical condition..." However, more importantly, NCI removed reference to a "possible direct antitumor effect." They wouldn't want to give the impression that cannabis should be further researched, would they?
After feeling some heat from mainstream media outlets, NCI offered an explanation for its apparent shiftiness around cannabis. Craftily, NCI distanced itself from the Physician Data Query (PDQ) Editorial Boards, which are responsible for the website content (i.e. the content on cannabis). "PDQ Editorial Boards review current evidence," and "do not make recommendations," said NCI in a written response. "Their work is editorially independent of [NCI]," and "The summary on Cannabis and cannabinoids does not represent a policy statement of NCI or NIH (National Institutes of Health)."
Okay, this is where it gets interesting.
All of the government double-speak aside, the NCI website still states that cannabis has been used medicinally for millennia and that oncologists may recommend it for cancer "symptom management." Pretty bold statements for a website, whether from an editorial department or not. Now, NCI happens to be one of 11 agencies within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which is under the authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The problem is that HHS has consistently maintained that cannabis is a dangerous drug with no medical value. Specifically, HHS has publicly stated that cannabis "has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States."
The contradictions don't stop there. The same production facility at the University of Mississippi that selectively disburses research cannabis also mails out literally pounds of the dried plant each year to the remaining four patients who qualified for the federal Investigational New Drug program.
The NCI website recognition also comes as a petition to reclassify medical cannabis has nearly reached its 10th anniversary with no response from the federal government. Since the Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis (CRC) filed its petition in 2002, dozens more studies have been conducted recognizing the therapeutic effects of cannabis, eight more states passed medical marijuana laws (bringing the total to 15), and the country's two largest physician groups -- American Medical Association and American College of Physicians -- have both called for a review of marijuana's status as a Schedule I substance.
Here is the chance for the federal government to come clean, recognize the evidence and reclassify cannabis so that patients in the U.S. can use it without fear of reprisal no matter where they live. Yet, based on historical precedent, the cards are stacked against patients. In 1988, the DEA denied a rescheduling petition despite strong judicial condemnation of marijuana's Schedule I classification. The DEA's own Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young ruled on the petition, commenting that, "Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." Although final determinations on rescheduling petitions are made by DEA, the review process relies heavily on recommendations from HHS, the federal department that oversees NCI.
Another lesser-known contradiction of federal cannabis policies has to do with the THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) pill Marinol. Though ineffective for many medical cannabis patients, Marinol will go off patent this year and a number of companies are vying for generic licenses. Companies are asking the government to allow them to grow cannabis in order to extract the natural form of THC, the primary active chemical in the plant used in the pill. Marinol is currently made with synthetic THC, but it is cheaper to extract the chemical from the plant.
The hypocrisy will soon be too much for even the federal government to bear. The science on cannabis will eventually prevail over politics. It's just not acceptable to hold millions of sick Americans hostage to such a political double standard. It's time for the Obama Administration to recognize the science, act with integrity, and reschedule cannabis.
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About the author:
Kris Hermes - Media Specialist, Americans for Safe Access
www.AmericansForSafeAccess.org
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Friday, May 27, 2011
Medical Marijuana Inc Announces Major Deal to Distribute Three Beverages With New Hemp and Cannabis Extract Technology From CannaBANK Inc.
Medical Marijuana Inc is proud to announce that CannaBANK™'s patent pending CBD (Cannabidiol) extraction process will allow for direct infusion of the health and wellness benefits providing CBD's into three new bottled water enhanced beverages. This technology will be used by Medical Marijuana Inc (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) to bottle and distribute these beverages in the world beverage marketplace. Medical Marijuana Inc is reviewing several bids for the distribution rights in Latin America as well as the United States. Bottled drinking water market alone exceeds 8.7 billion gallons (wholesale market $11.2 billion) in the USA and is close approaching the Carbonated Soft Drink market in terms of annual sales. Source: www.bottledwater.org (2008 figures).
CBD-infused water will have all the advantages of traditional pure spring water plus the added health and wellness benefits of CBD. The beverages will be marketed throughout similar distribution channels as bottled drinking water at retail and grocery outlets, so as to be readily available to the general populace in the next few months.
CBD is an extract from cannabis and contains none of the psycho-active ingredients of marijuana, known as THC. CBD has been well studied by major University Medical Research Schools in the United States. One CBD benefit is to reduce DNA damage due to free radical species, anti-aging of neural, CNS, COPD, and other cellular targets. This is described in the United States Health Department Patent # 6,630,507 titled "Cannabis as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants" (see http://tinyurl.com/6hwwmt) as well as many other research articles published in scientific journals.
Dr. Donald Abrahms, chief of Hematology and Oncology from the University of California at San Francisco, has been researching CBD health benefits for many years and more research is available via the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHBsxfbgrbY
Aside from Dr Abrahms work, research by the US Government and other top US University Medical Research departments have shown CBD to carry significant benefits. CBD has shown positive as described in the United States Health Department Patent # 6,630,507 results with Parkinson's disease, HIV, Down's Syndrome, Crohn's disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes, Post Heart Operation and Heart patients, including high blood pressure, Alzheimer's and many other conditions. CBD has been shown to be a natural T-cell enhancer.
Three products are currently available from Medical Marijuana Inc's enhanced drinking water beverage line:
CBD-infused water, which has all of the medical benefits of CBD.
THC-free water, which has all of the additional 500 plus natural benefits less THC.
Hemp water, which uses all the direct benefits of hemp extracts.
Medical Marijuana Inc has several additional beneficial beverage lines which will be launched over the next several months.
To go to Story click on Title
CBD-infused water will have all the advantages of traditional pure spring water plus the added health and wellness benefits of CBD. The beverages will be marketed throughout similar distribution channels as bottled drinking water at retail and grocery outlets, so as to be readily available to the general populace in the next few months.
CBD is an extract from cannabis and contains none of the psycho-active ingredients of marijuana, known as THC. CBD has been well studied by major University Medical Research Schools in the United States. One CBD benefit is to reduce DNA damage due to free radical species, anti-aging of neural, CNS, COPD, and other cellular targets. This is described in the United States Health Department Patent # 6,630,507 titled "Cannabis as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants" (see http://tinyurl.com/6hwwmt) as well as many other research articles published in scientific journals.
Dr. Donald Abrahms, chief of Hematology and Oncology from the University of California at San Francisco, has been researching CBD health benefits for many years and more research is available via the following YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHBsxfbgrbY
Aside from Dr Abrahms work, research by the US Government and other top US University Medical Research departments have shown CBD to carry significant benefits. CBD has shown positive as described in the United States Health Department Patent # 6,630,507 results with Parkinson's disease, HIV, Down's Syndrome, Crohn's disease, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Diabetes, Post Heart Operation and Heart patients, including high blood pressure, Alzheimer's and many other conditions. CBD has been shown to be a natural T-cell enhancer.
Three products are currently available from Medical Marijuana Inc's enhanced drinking water beverage line:
CBD-infused water, which has all of the medical benefits of CBD.
THC-free water, which has all of the additional 500 plus natural benefits less THC.
Hemp water, which uses all the direct benefits of hemp extracts.
Medical Marijuana Inc has several additional beneficial beverage lines which will be launched over the next several months.
To go to Story click on Title
Thursday, May 12, 2011
CannaBANK(TM) Transfers 3rd, 4th and 5th Assets to Medical Marijuana Inc -- Announces New 50% Stake in Denver Based Cannabis Marketing Group
Medical Marijuana Inc (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) today received additional assets transferred by CannaBANK™. These assets include CannaBANK's interest in a Riverside County facility containing 10,000 sq feet of facility space. Twenty acres of land are also included in the transfer and plans are in place to add an additional 10,000 sq feet of facility space in the near future. The new 20,000 sq feet of facility space will be the recipient of additional asset transfers, described below.
CannaBANK™ has further announced the transfer of working equipment for the San Bernardino facility in excess of $350,000. The facility will soon be operational and details will be released in the near future. The San Bernardino facility will be a fully functional Wellness Center in the CannaBANK™ domain and will serve critically ill patients.
Medical Marijuana Inc (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) today received additional assets transferred by CannaBANK™. These assets include CannaBANK's interest in a Riverside County facility containing 10,000 sq feet of facility space. Twenty acres of land are also included in the transfer and plans are in place to add an additional 10,000 sq feet of facility space in the near future. The new 20,000 sq feet of facility space will be the recipient of additional asset transfers, described below.
CannaBANK™ has further announced the transfer of working equipment for the San Bernardino facility in excess of $350,000. The facility will soon be operational and details will be released in the near future. The San Bernardino facility will be a fully functional Wellness Center in the CannaBANK™ domain and will serve critically ill patients.
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CannaBANK™ has further announced the transfer of working equipment for the San Bernardino facility in excess of $350,000. The facility will soon be operational and details will be released in the near future. The San Bernardino facility will be a fully functional Wellness Center in the CannaBANK™ domain and will serve critically ill patients.
Medical Marijuana Inc (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) today received additional assets transferred by CannaBANK™. These assets include CannaBANK's interest in a Riverside County facility containing 10,000 sq feet of facility space. Twenty acres of land are also included in the transfer and plans are in place to add an additional 10,000 sq feet of facility space in the near future. The new 20,000 sq feet of facility space will be the recipient of additional asset transfers, described below.
CannaBANK™ has further announced the transfer of working equipment for the San Bernardino facility in excess of $350,000. The facility will soon be operational and details will be released in the near future. The San Bernardino facility will be a fully functional Wellness Center in the CannaBANK™ domain and will serve critically ill patients.
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BullnBear Group Guatemala in Joint Venture With The Hemp Network for New Products
The Hemp Network and CannaBANK Inc's (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) acquisition arm in the United States have joined forces with the BullnBear Group, S.A. of Guatemala City, Guatemala to provide hemp-related products from Guatemala into The Hemp Network's marketing platform. The joint announcement was made today from both San Diego, California (headquarters of CannaBANK) as well as from Guatemala City, Guatemala (home of the BullnBear Group, S.A.).
Guatemala is well known for its textile development and processing facilities but also for its indigenous group of workers who are talented in producing hand-weaved products. The BullnBear group, S.A. is in the process of contracting with a Guatemalan Government Charity program, known as the Cooperatives, who provide employment for these indigenous workers.
The BullnBear Group, S.A. has been selected by The Hemp Network to line up contractual arrangements to have end products manufactured and delivered to facilities in the USA. Here the worldwide efforts of The Hemp Network team will distribute to end consumers.
FOR FULL STORY CLICK ON TITLE..
Guatemala is well known for its textile development and processing facilities but also for its indigenous group of workers who are talented in producing hand-weaved products. The BullnBear group, S.A. is in the process of contracting with a Guatemalan Government Charity program, known as the Cooperatives, who provide employment for these indigenous workers.
The BullnBear Group, S.A. has been selected by The Hemp Network to line up contractual arrangements to have end products manufactured and delivered to facilities in the USA. Here the worldwide efforts of The Hemp Network team will distribute to end consumers.
FOR FULL STORY CLICK ON TITLE..
CannaBANK Transfers 2nd Asset to Medical Marijuana, Inc.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) is proud to announce that it has been assigned a second asset and management contract from CannaBANK. This second debt-free, income producing asset transferred from the Hemp Deposit & Distribution Corp. (HDDC) d/b/a CannaBANK, Inc. services the needs of health and wellness members in the greater Sacramento area. HDDC purchased the facility and invested an additional amount in excess of $750,000 to bring the facility up to CannaBANK standards. The facility is estimated to generate in excess of $4 million in net profits annually. The facility has been fully operational since January 1, 2011. Operations Director Jordanne Brenkwitz stated, "CannaBANK estimates the creation of 28 new, regional positions and anticipates another 23 to be created during the following two years. The transition has allowed the proprietary concepts that MJNA has been incubating to manifest through the power of CannaBANK."
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Medical Marijuana Inc Completes Merger With CannaBANK
Medical Marijuana Inc. (Pinksheets:MJNA) has completed an agreement with the Hemp Deposit Distribution Corp (HDDC), a Delaware based Co., d/b/a CannaBANK. This agreement calls for shares of MJNA to be issued to HDDC in exchange for assets which include real estate, Intellectual Properties, patents and future acquisitions.
HDDC will assume administrative control and a majority stock position. The current officers and directors of MJNA will be replaced by officers and directors appointed by HDDC. The Hemp Network will remain as an operating division of the Company.
President Donald Steinberg stated, "The people behind CannaBANK are incredible. I am very impressed with the vision and the leadership they are showing. I am proud to turn over corporate leadership to this fine group."
Bruce Perlowin stated, "We feel that the current stockholders will benefit enormously with the new arrangement and we look forward to an extremely productive and lucrative future for everyone involved with MJNA."
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HDDC will assume administrative control and a majority stock position. The current officers and directors of MJNA will be replaced by officers and directors appointed by HDDC. The Hemp Network will remain as an operating division of the Company.
President Donald Steinberg stated, "The people behind CannaBANK are incredible. I am very impressed with the vision and the leadership they are showing. I am proud to turn over corporate leadership to this fine group."
Bruce Perlowin stated, "We feel that the current stockholders will benefit enormously with the new arrangement and we look forward to an extremely productive and lucrative future for everyone involved with MJNA."
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Wednesday, May 4, 2011
CBD Extraction Process Patent Pending THC Free Product Line
Medical Marijuana Inc. (Pinksheets:MJNA - News) and CannaBANK™, in association with SkinAgain® (www.skinagain.com), a Carlsbad, CA-based cosmeceutical firm, are proud to announce a patent filed for extracting cannabinoids (CBD) from cannabis.
Recognizing the potential healthcare benefits of cannabinoids, the United States government successfully filed a patent for CBDs as antioxidants and neuroprotectants that was granted on October 7, 2003 (see http://tinyurl.com/6hwwmt). Cannabidiol, the most specific non-psycho active, beneficial compound had originally been listed in the Federal Register (7372) as a Schedule 1 drug or substance but was notably absent from the list in a Code of Federal Regulations change since April 1, 2010. Some of the benefits stated in the government's patent brief included cannabinoids having antioxidant properties and being useful in treating autoimmune disorders, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV.
CannaBANK™ and SkinAgain® researchers, while undergoing a thorough 'landscape' patent search and discovering that CBDs were removed from the Schedule I list, designed a specific process that would not only extract CBDs, but also remove the Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from cannabis, which would result in a form enabling end users to receive the full efficacy of the CBDs without experiencing any of the psychoactive effects caused by THC. The THC-free cannabinoid material will be formulated into capsules, tablets, and topicals. CannaBank expects to release the first CBD-infused products into the marketplace over the next several months.
Recognizing the potential healthcare benefits of cannabinoids, the United States government successfully filed a patent for CBDs as antioxidants and neuroprotectants that was granted on October 7, 2003 (see http://tinyurl.com/6hwwmt). Cannabidiol, the most specific non-psycho active, beneficial compound had originally been listed in the Federal Register (7372) as a Schedule 1 drug or substance but was notably absent from the list in a Code of Federal Regulations change since April 1, 2010. Some of the benefits stated in the government's patent brief included cannabinoids having antioxidant properties and being useful in treating autoimmune disorders, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and HIV.
CannaBANK™ and SkinAgain® researchers, while undergoing a thorough 'landscape' patent search and discovering that CBDs were removed from the Schedule I list, designed a specific process that would not only extract CBDs, but also remove the Tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) from cannabis, which would result in a form enabling end users to receive the full efficacy of the CBDs without experiencing any of the psychoactive effects caused by THC. The THC-free cannabinoid material will be formulated into capsules, tablets, and topicals. CannaBank expects to release the first CBD-infused products into the marketplace over the next several months.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Medical Marijuana Inc Announces Share Buy-Back Program -- CannaBANK Opens Training Centers
SAN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 11, 2011) - Medical Marijuana Inc (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) is proud to announce the implementation of a share buy-back program beginning on April 11, 2011. Interested parties may contact investorrelations@medicalmarijuanainc.com
CannaBANK training centers are slated to open in Sacramento, California, San Joaquin County, California and Las Vegas, Nevada within the month of April. Onsite training will include caregiver modules to ensure that trainees are up to the challenges of providing for the healthcare, housing and the safety of patients. CannaBANK will hold their trainees to the highest standards in order to prepare them for challenges such as elderly care and hospice work. Additional training centers to be opened in Arizona, Colorado and Michigan in May.
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CannaBANK training centers are slated to open in Sacramento, California, San Joaquin County, California and Las Vegas, Nevada within the month of April. Onsite training will include caregiver modules to ensure that trainees are up to the challenges of providing for the healthcare, housing and the safety of patients. CannaBANK will hold their trainees to the highest standards in order to prepare them for challenges such as elderly care and hospice work. Additional training centers to be opened in Arizona, Colorado and Michigan in May.
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Medical Marijuana, Inc. to Announce New Management Team
AN DIEGO, CA--(Marketwire - Apr 8, 2011) - Medical Marijuana, Inc. (PINKSHEETS: MJNA) in association with CannaBANK™ is proud to announce the appointment of the Medical Marijuana, Inc. Board of Directors (members to be announced April 15th, 2011) to oversee day-to-day operations, the formation of the CannaBANK Advisory Team to supervise and resolve issues related to compliance and facility management and a new management team ensuring continued smooth operations during this transitional period.
Medical Marijuana, Inc. would also like to pay homage to visionary founder and pioneer Ex-Chairman Bruce Perlowin. Mr. Perlowin, together with Ex-President Donald Steinberg were instrumental in creating the first US publicly traded company in the medical marijuana industry. David Tobias and William Martin, former board members remain as members of the transition team.
"Passing the baton to the next generation of talented young entrepreneurs gives me the greatest hope and confidence in the future of Medical Marijuana, Inc.," Bruce Perlowin stated.
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Medical Marijuana, Inc. would also like to pay homage to visionary founder and pioneer Ex-Chairman Bruce Perlowin. Mr. Perlowin, together with Ex-President Donald Steinberg were instrumental in creating the first US publicly traded company in the medical marijuana industry. David Tobias and William Martin, former board members remain as members of the transition team.
"Passing the baton to the next generation of talented young entrepreneurs gives me the greatest hope and confidence in the future of Medical Marijuana, Inc.," Bruce Perlowin stated.
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