Cannabinoid treats tumours

A study published in the September 2001 Biochemical Pharmacology showed that a synthetic cannabinoid produced anti-tumour effects in mice. Ajulemic acid is a patented compound owned by Atlantic Technology Ventures, with the trade name of CT-3. CT-3 is a synthetic derivative of a non-psychoactive THC metabolite called "THC-11-oic acid."
In May 2001, Atlantic announced that it was working with the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense to investigate the uses of CT-3, "a novel synthetic marijuana derivative designed to maximize the medical properties of marijuana without producing undesirable psychoactive side effects."

Preliminary studies have shown that CT-3 has significant analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, and with less risk and side-effects than ibuprofen or aspirin. The newest study showed that CT-3 inhibited the growth of human glioma cancer cells implanted into the brains of mice. Although CT-3 was only half as effective as THC in inhibiting tumour growth, its effects lasted longer.

This study confirms results obtained at Madrid's Complutense University, published in the March 2000 issue of Nature Medicine. The Madrid study found that rats injected with glioma cells and then treated with THC or a synthetic cannabinoid had a significant reduction in tumours (CC#25, THC destroys brain cancers).

? An excellent resource for med-pot research and news is the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine: email info@cannabis-med.org; web www.cannabis-med.org.