Human Clinical Cannabis Trials on the Horizon
The last two years since I have begun this film, so much has happened in the world of Cannabis. Colorado and Washington State have fully legalized and are now reaping many of the benefits, most importantly that patients have safe access to the plant.
Even the feds are starting to soften their stance on Cannabis with the head of NIDA ( National Institute on Drug Abuse, ) Dr. Nora Volkow has admitted that CBD rich Cannabis has medical value. Even the acting director of the DEA has come out recently saying that marijuana is NOT as dangerous as heroin.
Recently I’ve learned of some human clinical trials that are set to begin. This is an extremely exciting development as even on clinical study on cannabis efficacy treating and curing cancer will blow the doors wide open for cannabis research. No amount of “Reefer madness” will stop that trend once it is set in motion.
Glioma Trial in Spain
Dr. Guillermo Velasco and Dr. Manuel Guzmán have published numerous studies about how cannabinoids fight brain cancer. In the last decade they showed how THC induces apoptosis (cell death) in glioma cells. In 2011 they demonstrated THC even works with chemotherapy to kill brain cancer. The Velasco team is now ready to move on to human trials which are set to begin in the fall of 2015. They will be using plant-based whole botanical THC and cannabidiol (CBD) in conjunction with conventional treatments to combat glioma in 30 to 40 patients.
One World Cannabis Starting Multiple Myeloma Trial
Multiple myeloma (MM) is virtually impossible to completely eliminate even with chemotherapy. The US-Israeli cannabis research firm One World Cannabis (OWC) is partnering with Tel Aviv’s Sheba Academic Medical Center to conduct preclinical studies of cannabis for MM. In addition to these basic science studies, OWC reports they have received approval to initiate human clinical studies in evaluation of cannabidiol (CBD) in combination with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as a novel multiple myeloma (cancer) treatment.
Other Trials of Cannabis for Cancer
NICHOLAS FOREMAN, MD, IS DIRECTOR OF PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY AT CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COLORADO AND ONE OF ONLY 35 PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGISTS IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment was authorized to fund cannabis trials with $9,000,000. Of this, $1,041,256 is going to a trial titled, “Medical Marijuana in the Pediatric Brain Tumor Population (Palliative Care)”. The Primary Investigator is Dr. Nicholas Foreman, who works in the Department of Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Despite the lack of specific details, it is likely that children will be administered high-CBD or possibly high-THC cannabis oil for pain relief, as well as to observe if synergy exists between conventional treatment and cannabinoids for direct cancer treatment.
Another trial seeking to determine if pure CBD can reduce tumors in terminal cancer patients will take place sometime in 2015. It will be conducted by Hadassah Medical Organization in Israel.
Thanks to Justin Kandor for his research in compiling this list. http://illegallyhealed.com/numerous-human-clinical-trials-of-cannabis-for-cancer-in-2015/
