No More Need To Smoke The Weed?

In search of any possible method to remove the fun from America's favorite illegal past time, scientists are currently experimenting with a drug with the same pain relieving compounds found in marijuana but none of the high. According to these scientists, the drug, currently unnamed, "could be used in new pain medications that are non-addictive and non-sedative, unlike opiates" (Popular Science Par. 1). The drug works by blocking enzymes which slow the release of a compound called anandamide, which "comes from the Sanskrit word "bliss"" (Par. 2)and is incredibly similar to THC, the active compound in marijuana.

Anandamide is said to promote all of the positive benefits of marijuana without the 'negative' ones. While the current test subjects are rats, among the notable effects the animals revealed were increased brain cells in the hippocampus (there's a new one) and decreased anxiety and depression. Nevertheless, the animals only yielded noticeable benefits after approximately a month of regular dosage.

Articles detailing the discovery can be found all over the internet but two very contrasting accounts can be found on www.FoxNews.com and, as cited previously, on www.popsci.com . While the information provided in each article is almost word for word, each article features an opinionated conclusion. The Popular Science article ends on a hopeful note, suggesting that the medication could provide pain relief for many American’s who currently cannot access medical marijuana, or that they could instead “move to Denver”. The Fox News article concludes with a rather biased section which cites the National Institute On Drug Abuse (NIDA), stating “research findings for long-term marijuana use indicate some changes in the brain similar to those seen after long-term use of other major drugs of abuse” and further revealing just how good the political news station is at spinning something to support its perspective.

These developments will have a profound effect on our future World and its inhabitants. Perhaps this discovery might promote more scientific studies of the plant itself and its long term effects, which (surprisingly) we know very little about. Certainly, there is much to be said in support of a drug which could provide safe powerful pain relief for millions of Americans, but there is still much research to be done. There is no way of knowing the extraneous effects it could have on humans. For now, maybe the positive effects of this new drug could provide some new insight into the marijuana plant itself. If this drug is so similar to THC, then wouldn’t the effects be quite similar as well? Perhaps somebody from Fox News might even feel tempted to light up a joint.

Sources:

1. Boyle, By Rebecca. "New Drug Kills Pain by Boosting Body's Naturally Occurring Marijuana-Like Compound | Popular Science." Popular Science | New Technology, Science News, The Future Now. 20 Sept. 2010. Web. 23 Sept. 2010. .

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/new-drug-boosts-marijuana-compound-reducing-pain-after-injuries

2. Hitti, By Miranda. "Marijuana-Like Drug Increases Brain Cells, Relieves Depression - Health News | Current Health News | Medical News - FOXNews.com." FOXNews.com - Breaking News | Latest News | Current News. Web. 23 Sept. 2010. .

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172194,00.html