Lit_Match

Marijuana shown to slow aging process
09-01-08|CannaZine

A Canadian court heard Thursday that cannabis is safer than aspirin and can restore the balance in people's bodies to help fight illness.

That was the testimony of Dr. Robert Melamede, an associate professor at the University of Colorado, who was brought in by the defense team for the four men accused in the Holy Smoke Culture Shop drug trafficking case taking place in Nelson this week.

Melamede's testimony comes on the second day of what is supposed to be a week-long trial. In a lengthy scientific explanation, the U.S. expert told the court that the human body produces marijuana-like compounds, or endocannabinoids, which act as a "lubricant" for food produced chemicals called "free radicals" that are very reactive and can cause an imbalance in the body.

"You can look at the harm caused by free radicals as biological friction or biological rust and the endocannabinoid system minimizes the impact of that and directly acts as an antioxidant as well as modifying the biochemistry in a way that minimizes the impacts," said Melamede outside court Thursday, likening endocannabinoids to humans like oil is to cars. He said if you don't have lubrication in your car, your car breaks. In the human body, the damage comes in the form of age-related diseases.

"I'm saying what science has now shown is that marijuana and cannabinoids are effective anti-aging agents which means that they are effective in minimizing the onset and the severity of age-related illnesses which include cognitive dysfunction things like Alzheimers, cardiovascular disease be it heart attacks, strokes, or clogged arteries," he said.

But while it does not work for every one, cannabis can also help those people with auto-immune diseases and cancer.

Melamede explained that you would have to take 40,000 times the therapeutic dose before causing harm to your body. But the therapeutic index for aspirin is 15 to one.

"It's extremely safe," said Melamede of marijuana, noting the overdose amount would equal 40,000 joints.

"And you die happy," added Judge Don Sperry during a rare moment of levity in Thursday's testimony.

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Donation links to NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) | MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)

elgrande

It was clever of him to describe the risk in terms of joints. Drug warriors often express horror over the number of joints that can be rolled from a given amount of pot. I wouldn't be surprised if John Walters will now claim that a really good joint-roller could make 40,000 joints from a few grams of marijuana.

Ever-Green

I can see merit in this story because i have been a heavy smoker for 5 years, and i don't get sick. I don't really remember the last time i had a cold or flu or something.

frolic

I wonder if I am getting close to that 40,ooo limit.

Danky 420

i smoke weed for my add and it helps alot
i used to be all wiredd out all the time and couldnt stand still
but pot has chilled me out and i dont have add symptoms no more

so it helps with other stuff then cancer

SirSmokaALot

*sigh* That'd explain these good looking old people who smokes weed only....

SoThrowd

Marijuana has been the best anger medication for me, because instead of me getting all angry, I sit there and chill and think of a solution. All other anger medications just really fuck with my head and make me soooooo emotional and made me cry about stupid shit. When I quit smoking I started growing extra skin on my right hand and it was so weird. I started smoking and it slowly went back to normal, but fast enough for it to seem like overnight. I never get sick. If I do, it is just minor and my throat may hurt for a day or so, but nothing more. I been like this for 2 years now.

SoThrowd

its funny how my is really old, but is healthy as hell. Even though he has gray hair, he still looks young. And he still hits the weed.

dirtbomb

It sounds like the Docs put you on Ativan/Lorazepam. That stuff would make Arnold Schwartzanegger cry like a baby for hours, man. Weepy pills!
That's big Pharma for you. Keep a plant that makes you happy and mellow illegal and feed people little physically addictive pills that make you go all flipping Emo.