The Leaf THE LEAF May-June 2017 | Page 14

Mechoulam and those who followed in his researching footsteps are responsible for discoveries which help people around the world . Thousands of children around the world now receive THC drops to help cope with epilepsy and cancer . “ In 1992 , Mechoulam and his team at Jerusalem ’ s Hebrew University made another ground-breaking discovery . Nearly 30 years after discovering that THC was responsible for the marijuana high , scientists still didn ’ t know exactly how the plant made the human mind and body react that way . Mechoulam and his team found the answer : THC triggered what they called the endocannabinoid system , which they figured out was the largest receptor system in the human body . Mechoulam ’ s team also determined that the human brain produces its own cannabinoids — two compounds that stimulate this receptor system almost exactly as THC does . They named one molecule 2AG and the other “ anandamide ,” after the Sanskrit word Ananda , which means “ bliss .” Mechoulam and other influential researchers believe that these compounds could alleviate dozens of diseases and ailments , including schizophrenia , diabetes , cancer , eating disorders , brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases , such as Parkinson ’ s , Alzheimer ’ s and multiple sclerosis …”
“ We wouldn ’ t have the scientific interest we have now around the world without the discovery ,” says Paul Armentano , deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws , an American non-profit . “ That really opened the door to making the study of cannabis and cannabinoids a legitimate avenue .” Since 1992 , says Mechoulam , the formerly sceptical attitude of the medical community toward cannabis has changed completely . His research on anandamide , for example , has been cited in respected scientific journals some 4,000 times .”
Yet , still , the Federal Government stands firm in their claim that there is no viable medical use . The research funded by our government for over 50 years shows exactly the opposite . How is it possible to look at the mountain of evidence being presented daily and still claim that marijuana is baseless in medicine ? Chronic pain , Crohn ’ s Disease , MS , arthritis , and much more are being treated using the research Mechoulam and his comrades discovered while under the employ of the good old American Government . Mechoulam published a study finding that “ the endocannabinoid system is involved in essentially every human disease .” Although the NIH has learned a lot , there is still much to be discovered .
Israel is among the countries leading the cannabis research , thanks in large part to the work of Mechoulam under the employ of the Federal Government . Israeli research is all government-sponsored while the US Government is playing patty-cake with the FDA over monetary profits and ignoring the welfare of the citizens .
Am I the only one that has issue with our money funding research that will not be used for our benefit ? Why are we funding research just to make our own conclusions and assumptions anyway ?
Israel is dubbed the United States ’ “ unofficial offshore medical marijuana research centre ,” with U . S . -based companies setting up research and clinical trials in Israel because “ it ’ s essentially impossible to do it in the U . S .” This is an outrage . We should be able to benefit from the research funded by our tax dollars ! If we are not going to use the research for our betterment , then may we at least get the money spent on something worthwhile ? Like maybe some real presidential candidates ?
… just saying .
https :// international-highlife . com / fifty-yearsisraeli-cannabis-research-funded-us-government