Since the 1800s, men have been experimenting with the perpetual benefits of the little green plant called marijuana, an herb that (in all actuality) has been a milestone in science and religion. For thousands of years, marijuana was prescribed for medical problems (India, China) or revered as a religious sacrament (Hindu, Rastafarian). Still, one question remains: can the little plant that has spurred so much controversy to have any benefits? If modern research has shown us anything, a scientist can answer that question with a big “YES.” Since the discovery of the endocannabinoid system in the 1980s, the medical marijuana field has exploded into a worldwide collective of scientists, doctors, and historians. In fact, Australia is currently conducting the first-ever marijuana clinical trial with a degenerative brain tumor. Let’s take a closer look at two more studies that changed the face on the cannabis field.
1974: Anti-Tumor Effects of Marijuana
Long before Australian doctors experimented with brain tumor patients, researchers had already started exploring the anti-tumor properties of the little green plant in 1974. Interestingly and ironically, the very first study on this subject was created to expose the dangerous aspects of the herb. Funded by NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) and the American Cancer Society, a team of researchers (Medical College of Virginia) induced tumor growth in lab mice and, for a 10-day period, the little subjects received doses of delta-9 THC. Ultimately, the researchers aimed to show how marijuana sped up tumor growth, but, instead, they proved how the chemical reduced the size of the mice’s tumors.
1975: Marijuana and Chemotherapy
Only a year after the Virginia study, another study focused on an aspect of marijuana we are all familiar with: the little herb’s effects on cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Since the 1960s, Dr. Lester Grinspoon (associate professor at Harvard Medical School) had been investigating marijuana in a blatant attempt to get his friend (renowned astronomer Carl Sagan) to stop consuming the plant. Nevertheless, in his book Marihuana Reconsidered ((1971), he started to hypothesize that marijuana’s negative spotlight was a direct result of government propaganda.
Later, Dr. Grinspoon would develop a more intimate relationship with the plant after his 15-year old son Danny contracted leukemia. During his treatments, Danny would vomit so much that his parents had to set a bucket by his bed. However, once Danny smoked some marijuana prior to treatment, his appetite increased, and his nausea completely subsided. Later, in 1975, Dr. Grinspoon (inspired by his son’s recovery) made the first documented case for marijuana as accompaniment therapy for cancer patients.
Always remember that marijuana does not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.
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