Researchers in Spain found out that THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, may help kill brain cancer cells. The awesome part about it is that they make the cells feed on themselves. I guess we aren’t the only ones who get the munchies when we smoke, good thing we don’t feed on ourselves though.

Guillermo Velasco and colleagues at Complutense University in Spain have found that the active ingredient in marijuana, THC, causes brain cancer cells to undergo a process called autophagy. Autophagy is the breakdown of a cell that occurs when the cell essentially self-digests.

The team discovered that cannabinoids such as THC had anticancer effects in mice with human brain cancer cells and people with brain tumors. When mice with the human brain cancer cells received the THC, the tumor growth shrank.

Two patients enrolled in a clinical trial received THC directly to the brain as an experimental treatment for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, a highly aggressive brain tumor. Biopsies taken before and after treatment helped track their progress. After receiving the THC, there was evidence of increased autophagy activity.

It seems like everyday new evidence comes out that shows that not only is cannabis NOT a dangerous drug but it actually just might be the most awesome “drug” on the planet. I mean how many drugs do you know that will fight various cancers, help with PTSD, depression, autism, many other illnesses, AND gets you high with side effects that are minimal compared to prescription drugs.

[Source: Web MD]

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Tags: marijuana