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The Raelian Movement
for those who are not afraid of the future : http://www.rael.org
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1307349/Smoking-cannabis-ease-pain-caused-damaged-nerves.html
Smoking cannabis found to ease pain caused by damaged nerves
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 3:06 PM on 30th August 2010
Puffing cannabis from a pipe can significantly reduce chronic pain in patients with damaged nerves, a small study has shown.
Pill preparations of cannabis extract have previously been successful in treating certain types of pain. But researchers avoided studying the effects of smoking cannabis, as if taking the drug to get high.
A team of Canadian scientists conducted a trial to test inhaled cannabis in 21 patients with chronic neuropathic pain caused by traumatic injury or surgery. This condition effects around one to two per cent of the population.
The researchers used herbal cannabis, or "grass", at four potency levels.
Patients aged 25 to 77 were asked to smoke 25 milligrams of the drug from a pipe three times a day.
The highest-potency cannabis, containing 9.4 per cent of the active ingredient THC, reduced pain, decreased anxiety and depression, and aided sleep.
Lead researcher Dr Mark Ware of McGill University Health Centre, said: 'We found that 25mg herbal cannabis with 9.4 per cent THC, administered as a single smoked inhalation three times daily for five days, significantly reduces average pain intensity compared with a placebo in adult subjects with chronic post-traumatic/post-surgical neuropathic pain.'
No serious adverse effects occurred during the trial. All the patients taking active cannabis reported one occasion of feeling 'high' and euphoric, and some complained of headaches, dry eyes, a burning sensation, dizziness, numbness and coughs.
No significant changes in vital signs, heart rate or kidney function were recorded.
The findings, reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, CMAJ, are believed to be the first from a clinical trial of smoked cannabis.
However, The Royal College of Psychiatrists has warned that the drug could trigger mental health problems among people with a family history of conditions such as depression of schizophrenia.
Cannabis can also make users feel paranoid or unmotivated.
Despite these risks, the authors of the latest research recommended more studies with higher potencies of THC, longer follow-up periods, and flexible dosing.
Long-term safety studies of smoked cannabis for medical purposes were also needed, said the researchers.
In an accompanying commentary, Professor Henry McQuay, a pain expert from Oxford University, said that getting the trial over regulatory hurdles 'must have been a major nightmare'.
He added: 'This trial adds to the trickle of evidence that cannabis may help some of the patients who are struggling at present.'
Cannabis is a Class B drug meaning it is illegal to have, give away or sell. Those charged with possession could be imprisoned for up to five years. Supplying has a sentence of up to 14 years and an unlimited fine.
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WARNING FROM RAEL: For those who don't use their intelligence at its full
capacity, the label "selected by RAEL" on some articles does not mean that I
agree with their content or support it. "Selected by RAEL" means that I believe
it is important for the people of this planet to know about what people think or
do, even when what they think or do is completely stupid and against our
philosophy. When I selected articles in the past about stupid Christian
fundamentalists in America praying for rain, I am sure no Rael-Science reader
was stupid enough to believe that I was supporting praying to change the
weather. So, when I select articles which are in favor of drugs, anti-semitic,
anti-Jewish, racist, revisionist, or inciting hatred against any group or
religion, or any other stupid article, it does not mean that I support them. It
just means that it is important for all human beings to know about them. Common
sense, which is usually very good among our readers, is good enough to
understand that. When, like in the recent articles on drug decriminalization, it
is necessary to make it clearer, I add a comment, which in this case was very
clear: I support decriminalizing all drugs, as it is stupid to throw depressed
and sad people (as only depressed and sad people use drugs) in prison and ruin
their life with a criminal record. That does not mean that there is any change
to the Message which says clearly that we must not use any drug except for
medical purposes. The same applies to the freedom of expression which must be
absolute. That does not mean again of course that I agree with anti-Jews,
antisemites, racists of any kind or anti-Raelians. But by knowing your enemies
or the enemies of your values, you are better equipped to fight them. With love
and respect of course, and with the wonderful sentence of the French philosopher
Voltaire in mind: "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death
your right to say it".
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"Ethics" is simply a last-gasp attempt by deist conservatives and
orthodox dogmatics to keep humanity in ignorance and obscurantism,
through the well tried fermentation of fear, the fear of science and
new technologies.
There is nothing glorious about what our ancestors call history,
it is simply a succession of mistakes, intolerances and violations.
On the contrary, let us embrace Science and the new technologies
unfettered, for it is these which will liberate mankind from the
myth of god, and free us from our age old fears, from disease,
death and the sweat of labour.
Rael
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