Prompted by “Top 11 Medical Cannabis Research Findings of 2015”: http://www.hightimes.com/read/top-11-medical-cannabis-research-findings-2015
On the personal front (albeit preferably with society-reaching benefit), 2015 was a solid year for medical cannabis.
In addition to eliminating pharmaceuticals with their harsh side effects almost entirely, my mom has steadily improved (at least in certain areas) against Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which is supposed to be deadly impossible.
She still has memory issues, and the stickler in me towards flawless leverage of the scientific method prevents me from proclaiming cannabis cures AD, but there’s no doubt that medical cannabis easily beats the best claims involving competing pharmaceuticals in her case (without the nasty side effects), and I find it too difficult to conclusively claim further memory loss (so I obviously won’t).
Beyond personal consideration (aside from my boundless passion on this issue) rests the positive advancements in medical cannabis this year.
The prompting piece is worth reading (and has links to more details), but here’s my relevance consolidation for your reading convenience here.
Doctors have found that patients of theirs co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C (HCV) were less likely to develop diabetes and insulin resistance if they smoked pot. […]
Researchers… found cannabis use was associated with significantly lower opioid use. […]
Researchers in Barcelona uncovered more details about the neurochemical pathway that leads to marijuana’s psychoactive effects, specifically its effects on memory. Not only did they make a breakthrough in the neurochemistry of cannabis, they also designed a compound that was able to block THC’s effects on memory in mice. […]
For the first time ever, scientists in Australia looked at what long-term oral CBD administration does, and found that it improves social recognition in mice with Alzheimer’s… […]
The latest research on THC shows that even extremely low doses of THC can help mouse livers, and potentially human livers, overcome ischemia-reperfusion injury, a common cause of liver transplant failure. […]
Two recently published studies might have put the last couple of nails in the coffin on the idea that smoking cannabis shrinks the brain. […]
The latest research on the effect of cannabis on memory has shows that it affects spatial memory but not associative memory. Smoking marijuana might not affect your memory of what you and your friends talked about while walking around town, but you might not remember exactly what route you took. […]
Canadian researchers have recently published a study that shows the potential cannabis has for preventing and treating obesity.
Humanity clearly has an amazing relationship with this brilliant and highly evolved plant.
While I expect the medical cannabis advancement trend to continue on behalf of human benefit, I also respect the health of the living plant with concern over humanity’s strong tendency to disrespect the value of other species (especially plants).
Cannabis should not be cheaply viewed as a product, just as a dog should not be cheaply viewed as a product.
Sure the relationship dynamic is different between consuming the results of a once vibrantly living plant and caring for a living dog, but there are important similarities.
Mutual respect is one of three key needs towards any healthy relationship (the other two being mutual love and trust). If any of that deviates too far, then the relationship ends.
We’ve only begun the medical (and recreational) journey with cannabis, and I can assure you that much more is coming (especially on the stress management front).
I’ll be working hard to grow our Respect Cannabis campaign to press against the dying but still horribly entrenched remains of Certain Drug Prohibition, in part to help ensure that the millions (actually billions) of people logically benefiting from cannabis have proper access and education to maximize that benefit.
Your support is always welcome.
I am an honest freak (or reasonably responsibly balanced "misfit", if you prefer) of an artist working and resting to best carefully contribute towards helping society. Too many people abuse reasoning (e.g. 'partial truth = whole truth' scam), while I exercise reason to explore and express whole truth without any conflict-of-interest -- all within a sometimes offbeat style of psychedelic artistry.
Spirit Wave Journal 
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