More Anti-Pot Hogwash by a "So-Called Expert"

Pappy

shmaporist
I always said that studies were invented to employ unemployable morons. :rolleyes: Case in point, note how this retard trips himself up and outs himself in the third paragraph. No doubt the schmuck is in the pocket of the liquor or pharmaceutical lobby.
http://www.genengnews.com/industry-...nnabis-suppresses-immune-functions/101834470/

Cannabis compounds found to trigger unique immune cells which promote cancer growth

An international team of immunologists studying the effects of cannabis have discovered how smoking marijuana can trigger a suppression of the body's immune functions. The research, published in the European Journal of Immunology, reveals why cannabis users are more susceptible to certain types of cancers and infections.

The team, led by Dr Prakash Nagarkatti from the University of South Carolina, focused their research on cannabinoids, a group of compounds found inside the cannabis plant, including THC (delta-9 tetahydrocannabinol) which is already used for medical purposes such as pain relief.

"Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs of abuse worldwide and it is already believed to suppress immune functions making the user more susceptible to infections and some types of cancer," said Dr Nagarkatti. "We believe the key to this suppression is a unique type of immune cell, which has only recently been identified by immunologists, called myeloid-derived suppressor cells, MDSCs."

While most immune cells fight against infections and cancers to protect the host, MDSCs actively suppress the immune system. The presence of these cells is known to increase in cancer patients and it is believed that MDSCs may suppress the immune system against cancer therapy, actually promoting cancer growth.

Dr Nagarkatti's team demonstrated that cannabinoids can trigger a massive number of MDSCs through activation of cannabinoid receptors. This research reveals, for the first time, that marijuana cannabinoids may suppress the immune system by activating these unique cells.

"These results raise interesting questions on whether increased susceptibility to certain types of cancers or infections caused from smoking marijuana results from induction of MDSCs," said Nagarkatti. "MDSCs seem to be unique and important cells that may be triggered by inappropriate production of certain growth factors by cancer cells or other chemical agents such as cannabinoids, which lead to a suppression of the immune system's response."

In a related study, also published in the European journal of Immunology, Dr Christian Vosshenrich from the Institut Pasteur in Paris, reveals that when cancer cells grow they produce a molecule called interleukin-1 ? (IL-1?), which also triggers MDSCs. This study identifies how MDSCs produced during cancer growth also weaken the ability of immune cells to kill cancer cells.

"Marijuana cannabinoids present us with a double edged sword," concluded Dr Nagarkatti. "On one hand, due to their immunosuppressive nature, they can cause increased susceptibility to cancer and infections. However, further research of these compounds could provide opportunities to treat a large number of clinical disorders where suppressing the immune response is actually beneficial."

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE TRYING TO PROVE YOURSELF RIGHT!
 
Pappy,

OO

Technical Skeptical
pappy, if you weren't getting defensive, you'd realize that he's doing a service for you.

this is the kind of research that cannabis users have been hoping to see for years, ones that objectively look for possible health-related side effects.

this may turn out to be very beneficial to cannabis users.

BTW, the scientific method works in the way where you first must create hypothesis, and then perform experiments to prove the hypothesis, so i wouldn't discredit this study for the reason you outlined, that is how science works.

when his peers review his work and it gets published, then you can say that there is much less bias towards the outcome.

maybe don't be so quick to throw away information when it doesn't reflect your desires k?
 
OO,

Pappy

shmaporist
^ Valid POV accepted. I've never seen a study without an ulterior motive -- usually propelled by fear or greed. What you read as hypothesis I read as supposition. What I explicitly read is "Cannabis is one of the most widely used drugs of abuse". A trained eyes really doesn't have to read much further. IMO this so-called study is predicated on pure bullshit... Just like the Rand Corporation Study that posited pot legalization wouldn't put a crimp in the Mexican drug cartels. Hardy, har, har har! :brow:
 
Pappy,

MichMartin

Well-Known Member
Because the law is it is illegal, any use classifies as abuse and therefore he is right. But most people are not going to make that distinction.
 
MichMartin,

Pappy

shmaporist
^ Read the whole snapshot I don't see where that distinction is made. it's biased on its face.
 
Pappy,

lwien

Well-Known Member
OO said:
pappy, if you weren't getting defensive, you'd realize that he's doing a service for you.

this is the kind of research that cannabis users have been hoping to see for years, ones that objectively look for possible health-related side effects.

this may turn out to be very beneficial to cannabis users.

BTW, the scientific method works in the way where you first must create hypothesis, and then perform experiments to prove the hypothesis, so i wouldn't discredit this study for the reason you outlined, that is how science works.

when his peers review his work and it gets published, then you can say that there is much less bias towards the outcome.

maybe don't be so quick to throw away information when it doesn't reflect your desires k?

Agree. It's all to often that we see those in the pro-cannabis camp totally discounting any study that suggests that cannabis may be harmful, while those in the anti-cannabis camp totally discounts any study that suggests that cannabis may not be harmful.

All research needs to be peer reviewed as well as investigated as to who is actually funding said research but I do think it's prudent to keep an open mind to both the pro's and con's to MJ use for like everything else, nothing is just one-sided and everything can be accurately viewed as having a double-edged sword or a ying and yang, if you will.

There have been studies that claim that MJ inhibits cancer growth, and we have studies, like this one, that suggests that it could promote cancer growth. In my opinion, I don't think that these studies are mutually exclusive and that they can both be correct.

Typically, when you have answers that are polar opposites to one another, the answer lies somewhere in the middle.
 
lwien,

Purple-Days

Well-Known Member
Since they (anybody) really can't prevent or cure cancer (ie. they are shooting in the dark), exactly how are they doing controls? It's all anectdotal evidence till you have control of any experiment.

Agreed about the Rand study. Stupid Sheeple . . .
 
Purple-Days,

djonkoman

Well-Known Member
I think it sounds weird... suddenly there is a new kind of immunesystem cells that nobody ever heard of, that go against the immune system(wich is totally illogical biologically speaking, only slightly logical if they're made in the cancercells themselves), and they bring it as the p[roof of already seen immuno-repressive effect and cancerpromoting effects of weed, while these effects aren't even that commonly observed(actually the CB2-receptors enhance your immunesystem against infections/bacterias, echinaecea, a herb know to help against sickness and infections, also triggers the CB2-receptor, only not the CB1-receptors located in the brain, so this research would mean echinaecea is also cancerpromoting since it has the same effect as weed onto the immune system)
 
djonkoman,

Pappy

shmaporist
OO said:
still don't see why you're discrediting the study.
It's total BS! I'm aware pot has side effects but I have a deep seated aversion to crackpot propaganda.
 
Pappy,

Pappy

shmaporist
A useful postscript...
http://www.rantrave.com/Rant/Cannabis-Colds-and-the-Immune-System.aspx

Written by
Alex_

Study on Cannabis and the Immune System
A recent study revealed that cannabis, aka marijuana, may suppress certain immune functions. The result is that those who use marijuana might be more susceptible to certain types of cancer. The key word in this study is may..."that marijuana cannabinoids may suppress the immune system by activating these unique cells." It also implies that this may be a beneficial medical use for treating other medical conditions where suppressing the immune system is useful.
Marijuana and the Common Cold or Flu
What this study does not say is that cannabis causes the common cold. It does not say that smoking marijuana causes the seasonal flu. The study on cannabis and the immune system is the first time they've ever even looked at this particular set of immune cells. I've read so many comments by marijuana users that said they smoked pot and didn't get sick, didn't get as sick as their friends and family, or thought their immune system was better because of smoking marijuana. Some of them touted their daily cannabis smoking and lack of colds as evidence this study was wrong.
Cannabis Supporters Need Education
As a medical marijuana supporter, I absolutely believe in the medicinal value of cannabis. It is an amazing pain reliever for many. Every year, whether it's medically approved or black market, there are people who benefit greatly from their use of marijuana. Clinics are a controversial topic as is whether marijuana works for pain, nausea, Multiple Sclerosis, and its many other uses. Cannabis legalization is a hotly debated topic.
If you are pro-cannabis then get educated. Be able to have an intelligent discussion about medical marijuana research. The comments about not getting a cold because of smoking pot daily does not disprove this study. It's just stupid. It's evidence of nothing, especially not of cannabis, colds, and the immune system. It shows ignorance among cannabis supporters and does more harm than good. There are already too many people who think the only agenda of medical marijuana is getting high. There is a separation between stoners and pro-medical marijuana activists. You can be both, but you have to learn about marijuana. These dumb comments only blur the message of medical marijuana's efficacy.
Medical Marijuana Vaporizer: Cold Prevention
The study on cannabis and the immune system never mentioned catching a cold. In fact, if you share your joint, vaporizer, pipe, or other paraphernalia then you are more likely to pass around germs. Germs lead to colds and influenza. Getting sick has more to do with hand washing than smoking marijuana. If you are trying to find the best way to smoke marijuana use a vaporizer. Cannabis vaporizers prevent smoke ingestion. You can also wash the whip if you are sharing with others. Using and cleaning a vaporizer has more to do with cannabis, colds, and the immune system than that article.
Cannabis Activism
Read things before commenting publicly, especially when your opinions count socially. The legalization of marijuana could turn the US around positively. There is nothing 100% good, but there are many marijuana benefits. There are so many medications that have terrible side effects yet are pushed by the pharmaceutical companies as harmless. Marijuana is less harmful than many other medications, such as cholesterol medications. If marijuana stands a chance at national legalization then the cannabis culture has to change. If you want to smoke pot and be pro-marijuana then be an educated consumer and activist.
 
Pappy,

SalamiCity

Well-Known Member
SO cannabis, which is know to kill cancer cells, is now supposed to increase it, what kind of crap is this/ I'm glad it got removed from that site, such a dumbass.
 
SalamiCity,
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