5 Comments

Smoking Marijuana may fight lung cancer

April 18, 2007 by in Random with 5 Comments

A vice to cure a vice? Researchers believe that a compound found in Marijuana actually impedes lung cancer’s ability to spread [via]. I forsee self proclaimed "medical students" using the "but I was trying to prevent myself from getting lung cancer" excuse.

While smoking marijuana is never good for the lungs, the active ingredient in pot may help fight lung cancer, new research shows.

Harvard University researchers have found that, in both laboratory and mouse studies, delta-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) cuts tumor growth in half in common lung cancer while impeding the cancer’s ability to spread.

The compound “seems to have a suppressive effect on certain lines of cancer cells,” explained Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.

According to the researchers, THC fights lung cancer by curbing epidermal growth factor (EGF), a molecule that promotes the growth and spread of particularly aggressive non-small cell lung cancers. “It seems to go to (EGF) receptor sites on cells and inhibit growth,” said Horovitz, who was not involved in the study.

Yay! More medical fluff to back-up / excuse for Marijuana use.


  • websnap

    Old news. This has been talked about for decades. The question is why is something that even at it’s perceived worst, no more addictive or destructive than Alcohol or tobacco not legal or regulated? Benefits of Marijuana, hemp and THC have been regarded by medical professionals for longer than I have been alive (I’m not as young as I think I am) yet perception has kept it in the same category as coke or heroine. If government officials found a way to profit off of it, without having to compete with the established supply, it would be sold in the corner store, and not on the corner.

  • Rey

    I agree with websnap with the benifits and dangers of weed seeing as how I smoke it myself now and then for the fun of it. By the way 4/20 in two days.

  • Alan Rager

    Ever seen Reefer Madness? If you had, you’d know how the devil’s weed destroys our youth.

    Kidding there, but I think that the reason that it is not legal is that it was never established as part of culture like smoking and drinking were, so when prohibition came around, cannabis prohibition stuck, while alcohol got back into the hands of the public.

  • Tensenki

    How do I sign up for the next trial?

  • Jed

    Well, I do remember hearing about a woman who’s 120 year old and says the reason she’s still alive is that she’s been smoking pot every day for most of her life. She is living with her 92-year-old daughter and 72-year-old grandson. Maybe there there’s some health benefits to being a stoner after all.

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