| In 1974, researchers at the Medical College of Virginia | | | | Complutense University, came to the same |
| were given funding by the National Institute of Health | | | | conclusions. This study emphasized the ability of THC |
| (NIH) to study the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol | | | | to induce autophagy. The literal translation of |
| (THC) on the immune system. Working on the | | | | autophagy is "self eat." In the biological sciences, it |
| assumption that they would find evidence to support | | | | refers to a phenomenon whereby cells digest |
| the NIH's contention that THC damaged the immune | | | | themselves and die. Cancer researchers have been |
| system, the researchers discovered instead that the | | | | studying autophagy for decades, because this is how |
| compound was shrinking tumors in the mice they | | | | normal cells die, but cancer cells are not programmed |
| were using for their tests. This was the first known | | | | to go through this process. Instead, they continue to |
| study that showed that THC was possibly the | | | | divide and live. This is why cancer ultimately spreads |
| cancer breakthrough the world was looking for. | | | | so quickly: the tumor grows exponentially as cells |
| The Virginia study was abruptly cut short by the | | | | divide. |
| FDA and the results of were suppressed. It wasn't | | | | There have been other clinical studies as well. In |
| until 1998 that a research group led by Dr. Manuel | | | | every case, THC is proven to be an effective |
| Guzman at Complutense University, Spain discovered | | | | treatment for cancer. If it weren't for the taboo |
| the same thing. This time, they were able to | | | | against the psychoactive effects of cannabis, it is |
| complete their study and publish their results. The | | | | likely that it would already be in widespread use as a |
| study concluded that THC shrank tumors through an | | | | cure for cancer. Even though decades of research |
| anti-angiogenesis action. Angiogenesis is the process | | | | have debunked the theory that cannabis, when used |
| of forming new blood vessels. Cancer cells require a | | | | medicinally, leads to addiction, criminal behavior or |
| blood supply in order to grow and spread. THC | | | | mental illness, the authorities continue to dig in their |
| prevented the growth of blood vessels and thus | | | | heels and it remains a Schedule 1 restricted |
| destroyed the tumors. | | | | substance. |
| In addition, they discovered that THC worked | | | | There are signs of change, though. Increasing |
| directly on the cancer by modulating key signal | | | | numbers of clinical studies are being undertaken and |
| pathways and inducing cell death. For reasons that | | | | medical marijuana is being legally used in many U.S. |
| are still obscure, cancer cells grow into tumors | | | | states as a palliative. The more that people use it |
| because they are "programmed" for immortality. | | | | therapeutically, the more they discover about its |
| Unlike normal, healthy cells, they do not receive | | | | remarkable value as a medicine. Perhaps the scales |
| signals to die after they have divided and replicated. | | | | are about to tip and cancer sufferers will have |
| THC somehow repaired that deficit and induced cell | | | | access to the one proven cure for cancer without |
| death. As a result, the tumors shrank. | | | | having to resort to breaking the law. There is a |
| A later study, headed by Maria Salazar, also of | | | | natural treatment for cancer. Come see for yourself. |