All Posts Tagged With: "cancer research"

Linda’s comment:  When I worked in Cancer Research, the feds gave us marijuana to give to the patients for pain and vomiting….it amazes me that the Feds are making such a big deal out of this.  This was distributed through VA hospital….I know the family they pay in Tipton, Indiana to grow the Feds pot….

Dr. Gordon’s Comments: It appears that marijuana is going mainstream! This NY Times article shows that the Federal government is beginning to go with the flow. If the state permits the use of medical marijuana the VA system will no longer refuse to continue to treat the patient.

Garry F. Gordon MD,DO,MD(H)
President, Gordon Research Institute
www.gordonresearch.com

Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/health/policy/24veterans.html?_r=1&pagewant

Excerpt:

DENVER — The Department of Veterans Affairs will formally allow patients treated at its hospitals and clinics to use medical marijuana in states where it is legal, a policy clarification that veterans have sought for several years. 

A department directive, expected to take effect next week, resolves the conflict in veterans facilities between federal law, which outlaws marijuana, and the 14 states that allow medicinal use of the drug, effectively deferring to the states. 

The policy will not permit department doctors to prescribe marijuana. But it will address the concern of many patients who use the drug that they could lose access to their prescription pain medication if caught. 

Under department rules, veterans can be denied pain medications if they are found to be using illegal drugs. Until now, the department had no written exception for medical marijuana. 

This has led many patients to distrust their doctors, veterans say. With doctors and patients pressing the veterans department for formal guidance, agency officials began drafting a policy last fall. 

Full article: a new report 

Excerpt:

Some carcinogens you already know and fear: cigarettes, asbestos, smoked meat.

But what about the ones you’ve never even heard of? That’s the crux of a new report from theAmerican Cancer Society (ACS), which rounds up 20 “suspected carcinogens” the organization would like to see studied more extensively.

Of course, that research, if it happens, will come after the chemicals, ingredients — and even lifestyle choices — are already embedded into the bedrock of our 24/7 economy.

“The objectives of this report are to identify research gaps and needs for 20 agents prioritized for review based on evidence of widespread human exposures and potential carcinogenicity in animals or humans,” Elizabeth Ward, the co-author of the report, said. 

So just what are these potential cancer causers lurking in our everyday environs? Surge Desk runs down five (not so awesome) favorites.

1. Styrene

Styrene, and its chemical compound colleague styrene-7,-8-oxide, threaten to be a stoner’s worst nightmare. Although only weakly linked to cancer in humans, there’s enough evidence in animal studies to earn the compounds a spot in the top 20.

Where will you find it? Cigarettes, marijuana and leeching into your midnight munchies via foam food packaging. 

How can you avoid it? If you eat, this is one urine test you’re doomed to fail. Styrene was detected in the urine of 87 percent of study participants during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trial last year.