Is Ganja from outer space?

 

As someone who is fascinated with all things extraterrestrial I have often gazed at the night skies searching for answers to serious questions like ‘Where do we come from’ and ‘where are we hoping to go?’

The first time I realized that there is a good possibility that Ganja comes from outer space was in high school in the 1980’s when I acquired a T shirt with an alien on the front with the caption “Take me to your dealer!” I still see those T shirts around! And the second time was when I learned that bees are not affected by THC. It was a deep connection that still fascinates me to this day and I can’t remember now if it was the bees or the ganja that I first thought came from outer space but now I believe that both do.

As a young herbalist I learnt from my Rastafari teachers how to extract this medicine into honey and the results were and still are mind blowing when I think of the healings we were achieving with honey-infused ganja medicine as far back as the late 1970’s.

We know from the teachings of French Bee keeper Nicholas Trainer (not his real name) that despite the fact that bees are the only creatures on earth that do not have endocannabinoid receptors, he was able to train his bees to harvest resin from the female flowers as well as the male pollen and produce Ganja Honey that is produced in different shades of green and yellow and contains the magical hive-substance known as propolis.

According to the Dutch Passion Seed Company’s review the honey was analyzed and presented with 30 mg THC per 10 grams of honey. https://dutch-passion.com/en/blog/the-bees-that-make-cannabis-honey-n766

“Analysis of the honey shows 30mg of THC in every 10g of honey. The honey itself has a green color to it, Dutch Passion were lucky enough to get a small pot of cannabis honey from Nicholas. The honey tastes as sweet as normal, but the taste is of freshly harvested cannabis - which makes sense since the cannabis didn't have time to dry before the bees gathered resin from it. It was a delicious treat for any cannabis fan. We didn’t get very stoned from a small taste of the cannabis honey, but Nicholas explained you need a couple of spoonfulls to get the best effect from it.”

Introducing Jason King author of 3 volumes of The Cannabible

Jason King started his ganja career because of the lack of solid information on different strains. I love his work because the first thing that struck me was the amazing photography and then I learnt that he is the photographer! Really talented he is in the way he has captured over 250 amazing strains some of which I have been blessed to have sampled. His knowledge is well portrayed as an art in his 3 volumes of The Cannabible and we give thanks for his contribution to Cannabis education.

Getting back to outer space and extraterrestrial life, I would love to share a segment from Volume 3 that directly addresses the topic of extraterrestrial origins of our beloved herb.

 “ARE YOU SIRIUS? By Jason King Cannabible #3

Take a look at the word cannabis ever wonder what it means? Cannabis is a Greek word though its root is Africa. In Greek canna means canine or dog and bis or bi is the number 2

So cannabis is the two dog plant that in itself is interesting to me but the pot thickens.

There is a cannabis-loving tribe in Mali West Africa called the Dogon Tribe. A fairly well documented group the Dogons were visited by Herodotus a Greek traveler and chronicler around 300 BCE.

He was fortunate enough to have visited the Dogons during a year-long celebration that would make the Cannabis cup seem pretty weak!

That took place every 50 years. Explaining their celebration the Dogons pointed to the brightest star- in the winter sky Sirius and said it was the two dog -star and that it was the home of the two dog plant, Cannabis.

The two-dog -plant they said was brought to our planet by the goddess from the two dog star. Their year-long celebration was in honor of that star. All of this would be easy to dismiss if not for the fact that the Dogons possessed specific knowledge about the Sirian system for thousands of years before scientists with modern telescopes and equipment could catch up and prove them right. The Dogons had specific knowledge about Sirius B a white dwarf star, which they call Po TOLO.

They knew that it was white, that it was extremely small and that it was the heaviest star in its grouping (as it turns out, its three hundred times denser than diamonds).

They were able to describe its elliptical orbit with Sirius  A. its 50 year orbital period and the fact that the star rotated on its own axis.

Sirius B is invisible to the naked eye and is so difficult to observe even through a telescope that no known photographs were taken of it until 1970.

They also described a third star in the Sirius system which they called Emme Ya In 1995 when two French astronomers published the results of a multiyear study of what was apparently a small red dwarf star within the Sirius system, the Dogon idea of there being a Sirius C aka Emme Ya was suddently taken much more seriously. If the Dogons were correct in all of their other knowledge about Sirius why would they not be dead on with their claims of cannabis being from Sirius?

It is after all, named after that two dog star! Think about it.

The Dogons were celebrating the fifty year orbital period of the Sirius system for thousands of years before astronomers could even detect Sirius B. how did they know this?

The Dogons claim that their astronomical knowledge was given to them by the Nommo, amphibious beings sent to Earth from Sirius for the benefit of mankind.

Could all of this potentially explain the astounding diversity within the cannabis gene pool?

Speaking specifically of flavors there are cannabis strains with flavors ranging from the sweetest fruit all the way to foul rotten meat (in a good way, if that is somehow possible) from astringent pine cleaner to chocolate to kids vitamins. I have tasted ganja strains that mimicked every fruit on the planet, including strawberry grape peach lemon lime plum raspberry blueberry guava blackberry mango cherry orange banana pineapple melons and more. Iv also tasted flavors reminiscent of just about every herb used in cooking including mint, basil sage rosemary and thyme. This amazing variety of familiar flavors is well documented in the Cannabible series but you may have noticed that on occasion I find myself at a loss for words when providing tasting notes. There we enter the realm of all the outer space flavors that words do not exist for; because there are no other similar flavors found on earth and thus no accurately descriptive words. I find that about half of the really good strains out there have these otherworldly flavors.

What if these strains and flavors really are from outer space? What if cannabis is a plant highly regarded and traded not just on our planet but throughout the universe? I picture cannabis as a miraculous plant that grows on thousands of planets throughout the universe and is introduced to suitable planets by benevolent beings such as the Nommo, to help spread the love’ are you with me?”

Wowzo! Give thanks Jason King, what a legendary tale! This is exactly the type of stuff children’s fantasy movies are made of and personally I don’t really need any scientific or other ‘evidence’ as proof of African Cosmology in this day and age. I enjoy a good tale and I embrace it all in the same way as “Indaba My Children” by Vusamazulu C. Mutwa.

Although I will tell you that I know of many African folk who will ask us why we are even discussing what African’s call ganja because definitely no Africans say ‘Cannabis’. Instead my African Idren will tell you straight up that that word is for Babylon scientists and police and I completely agree. In Africa we call the plant ganja, dagga, herb or weed. These are words that stem from our First Nations tribes from all over the world.

The earliest record of ganja outside of Egypt is from 14^th century Ethiopia and this is also an early link between ganja and Rastafari. From Ethiopia the seeds were taken south by Bantu-speaking people who spread the seeds to the Bushmen and the Hottentots. Legend states that the Bantu people also believed that dagga came to us from the gods of the ‘Two-Dog Star’.

I think that Jason is really onto something big in his research and I have always suspected that the people who claim to control this world have always known what comes from outer space and what is indigenous to Earth. The plant of many names, ganja, marijuana, weed, the human companion plant…the THC plant,…the Two-Dog-plant…is certainly no ordinary plant and that this plant also occupies such a unique role in human culture is more proof of the extraordinary properties of this mystical plant of renown.

The very first Cannabis Genome Map detailing gene arrangement on the chromosomes was published on 8 November 2018 in the Journal Genome Research 

The Cannabis genome map was the first and highly anticipated study that reveals the history of the evolution of ganja. You can take a look at this report for more information on the map. https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2018/worlds-first-cannabis-chromosome-map-reveals-the-plants-evolutionary-history

The evolution of ganja is mostly a mystery, and there are still no known evolutionary ancestors but scientists tend to agree that it is most likely that ganja split from its closest botanical relative being the hops plant about 27 million years ago. On the cannabinoid spectrum, of particular interest to me is the way the gene sequences for THCA and CBDA are almost identical. This proves that they both come from the same original gene before it was duplicated to evolve independently. You can follow the story on this link https://genome.cshlp.org/content/early/2018/11/07/gr.242594.118.abstract

In my book Cannabis is The Human Companion plant I refer to ganja as “the plant whisperer of human DNA because of the ongoing transmission to our DNA through the control of Cannabis over our hormonal system…”  In my opinion one of the most revealing areas of biological and botanical research today is the genetic sequencing of Cannabis sativa. 

It is known that the sacred herb’s DNA is so extraordinary because of the unique components of the plant. So much so, that there is no sharing with any other plant on Earth. But there is sharing with humans and the Cannabis Genome reveals a fascinating fact that we humans share more than 40% of our DNA with ganja! In my opinion the biological proof of this is that we have already evolved to produce the human versions of THC and CBD. And now the whole world knows about these vital components that can treat disease and other human disorders.

The truth is that we share about 50% of our DNA with all plants, so to share more than 40% with the sacred herb makes complete sense. Don’t be surprised then to learn that we also share 50% of our DNA with mushrooms!

Of even more proof to me is the realization that ganja can influence humans to become better humans filled with love, empathy and humility. If this isn’t regarded as proof of genetic reasons to consume ganja that should warrant a worldwide moratorium on all means and forms of prohibition, then I really don’t know what more research might even qualify.

The two-dog-plant from the two-dog-star….how can you not believe this?

Well, some non-believers even argue that Jason King is incorrect because they say that the Greek interpretation is wrong because the earliest use of the word Cannabis, is in the Sumerian language “kanubi” that means “cane of two (sexes)” and not ‘canine’ but CANE!

Is it possible that the reason why ganja is so ‘lit’, is because it comes from the brightest star in the skies, meaning that it outshines all the other stars? And bear in mind that its name, Sirius, comes from the Greek word for ‘sparkling’ or ‘scorching’.

So next time you have a chance to meditate, roll a few fatty’s or pack your bong and head into nature to see if you can spot some cosmic dogs in the evening sky as darkness falls. The skies are always filled with miracles and as I lay flat on my back looking upwards blazing into the starlight, I shall be dreaming of the dank that could be grown on the super star of Sirius, home of the Two-Dog Plant.

Cannabis and End of Life Care

When I think back to my younger years of working with this medicine I am constantly reminded how so many people only came to me once they were already on their ‘death-bed’ and doctors had given up hope in their own treatments. Often times the plant was able to offer medical miracles and patients continued to enjoy a good life.

In 1987 I nursed the first HIV Aids patient admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital and since that time I have been helping patients living with HIV and Aids to get hold of this medicine. So many who became ill in the late ‘80’s are now still living the good life and I can only attribute this to the ever-powerful healing properties of the human companion plant. Many people died in my arms after suffering from AIDS and I am happy that I was able to be there to hold their hands as they crossed over.

But many more people have survived because of their decision to self-medicate with Cannabis and receive the immense immune-boosting properties of this medicine

A lot of people cannot understand why millions of people with life-threatening diseases, especially small children suffering from cancer, epilepsy, TB and HIV, are legally denied access to a natural plant medicine that people could be growing at home. No one should be denied Cannabis in the light of all the research that we can all access in this day and age. It is not difficult to understand why so many people feel that they are quite literally being legislated out of their own health and well-being by being legally denied Cannabis. Far too many people have died unnecessarily because of lack of access to Cannabis. If only we had listened earlier; so many more lives could have been saved.

Here is an extract from chapter 18 of my book Cannabis is The Human Companion Plant

“Cannabis can even assist us in the end of life transition…

While Cannabis has already saved millions of lives in medical miracles over the years, it is also the most effective and safest medicinal option in palliative care. Patients suffering from symptoms of incurable conditions benefit immensely in respect of treating nausea, vomiting, headaches, pain, fatigue, insomnia, lack of appetite, constipation and diarrhoea, muscle wastage, anxiety, depression and bed-sores.

Most of the time doctors will prescribe a different drug for each of these symptoms, where Cannabis will take care of all of them as a comprehensive treatment with no side-effects or end-organ damage. 

With palliative care comes end-of-life care, and this is where Cannabis serves as an adjuvant medication. This means that it offers treatment firstly to suppress any secondary tumour formations, and secondly to boost the immune system from the harsh effects of chemotherapy and other radiation treatments.

Terminally ill patients and people at the end of their natural lives need care that is designed to make them as comfortable, and as clear-minded as possible. Today, end-of-life care generally consists of pain killers and more pain killers, which only make people more nauseous and more depressed and confused.

On a spiritual level Cannabis can help us to deal with our questions and fears about death and transcending to the afterlife. It is the psychoactive effects of THC that can induce feelings of elation and relaxation in certain people, whereas in others who have heavy hearts it can bring about feelings of paranoia and fear. Death is never easy, because we really don’t know much about it, but one thing is for certain, death is always going to be part of life. This is why it is so important to address our spiritual health while we live. It is the psychedelic properties of Cannabis that can help us to achieve such enlightenment.

THC can take us to levels of consciousness we are not able to reach without psychedelics, and it is also true that Cannabis is not the only plant that can offer end-of-life assistance; for example, many people use magic mushrooms, mescaline from the San Pedro plant, and even Ayahuasca and Iboga, the most psychedelic plant known to man, for this same purpose of crossing over, as humans have been doing for spiritual rituals for thousands of years.

Cannabis takes us from one level of consciousness to a higher level of consciousness and closer to enlightenment or spiritual illumination. I believe that all psychedelic plants were created to bring humans into closer communion with our Creator. This is why we have receptors in our brains for these substances, proving that ancient plants are the solution to so many of our modern-day problems.

Cannabis takes care of us physically in terms of the health of our body and brain, but in my work I have had the opportunity to observe how Cannabis is the plant catalyst to spirituality, and the very mechanism to attaining all things beyond this physical realm. THC can teach us to overcome our fear of death while we still live, by enhancing our visions of death-like experiences, and even our own deaths. 

It is difficult to evaluate this type of Cannabis healing, other than taking the patient’s own reports into account. Most of the time, patients simply pass on, and their families wonder whether they were in pain. Most patients and their families and carers report that Cannabis medicine is very valuable in assisting with the emotional and physical trauma associated with terminal illness and imminent death.

In addition, it is not uncommon for patients to gain such incredible healing from Cannabis that they are able to be discharged from hospice and go home and do things for themselves like bathing and housework. This sense of independence allows them to pass in peace at home. Many terminal patients have confessed that this is their ultimate dying wish, and it is the pleasure of our human companion plant to grant this wish.

Medical practitioners and paediatricians and even veterinarians, continue to be amazed at the miraculous healing abilities of the Cannabis plant. Truly this plant has shown us many miracles that people continue to experience even long after doctors say there is no hope. I can be honest and say that over 90% of my patients come to me as a last resort. A lot of people have seen me at their death bed and then weeks later we are drinking tea together. But for too many others, when I get to the death bed, the patient is often closer to pearly gates, than to death’s door. It is never fair to offer false hope, and sometimes it is simply too late.

And I really urge people not to wait until a family member is on their death bed before considering Cannabis medicine.”

In my opinion, at the heart of all of our questions is What if death is not the end?

If this were true then there really would be absolutely nothing to fear. Generally speaking if we claim to have ‘faith’... then we would believe that ultimately there is something greater than this life. We also then have faith in the idea that we will reacquaint with our loved ones who have passed before us and even our animal companions.

Many ancient cultures always had the idea that this is equivalent to a reunion with the Divine…The Most High….the Creator….the Divine...that actually always lived inside of each of us the whole time.

If we truly believed that there is greatness after life-and-death, and that it is amazing and glorious, then surely we would have nothing to fear about the afterlife and we could realize that we really ought to look forward to it because in my experience this idea of ‘living in fear’ is precisely what disconnects us from the Divine. My greatest wish is that everyone can find the courage and curiosity to not succumb to living this life in any kind of fear. Cannabis is the reason that I am not afraid of death and it is also the very reason that I am so happy to be alive! 

This paper is dedicated to all the palliative healers out there who stay with their patients and help them to cross over in love and peace, bless you for you are all angels with super-powers!

Youth Day focus on Cerebral Palsy and Cannabis

Cerebral Palsy and Cannabis: Is there hope for the relief of symptoms? We share one South African mom’s experience in growing medicinal CBD for her disabled daughter

 

Pictured above is Marlese Meskin aka “Daggakat” and “Medicinal Jane”. She is passionate about Cannabis medicine and horse-therapy for her daughter Leah

Cerebral palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor-disability condition in the world. There is a long history of using Cannabis for seizures and spasticity going back hundreds of years. This paper aims to highlight the healing relationship between Cannabis and Cerebral palsy (CP) in young children and adolescents.

Most children with CP have spasticity, stiff muscles and awkward movements but over half can walk independently. CP affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture as well as controlling their movements. There are varying degrees of the condition ranging from autism to quadriplegia. Every single case is unique and often there are co-occurring conditions for example epilepsy and autism. [1]

What is the cause of Cerebral palsy (CP)?

Most CP cases are related to brain damage caused as a result of pregnancy or birth complications. Low birth weight, premature delivery, multiple births, artificial fertilization and pregnancy related infections can increase the risk of congenital CP. Sometimes severe newborn-jaundice goes untreated and this can also result in CP. Some children are only diagnosed after birth and problems like meningitis and head injuries are common. In general the specific cause in most children is almost always unknown.

What about brain damage?

More than half of children born with Cerebral palsy also have cognitive impairment and their intellectual ability is affected. However, many CP children can still lead happy and meaningful lives. CP is essentially caused by brain damage and some children may experience difficultly in processing information. Some children may even experience blindness or deafness depending on the severity.

In South Africa we have an unusually high rate of Cerebral palsy compared with the world

In the 1980’s I started working with Cerebral palsy patients in the townships of Cape Town like Khayelitsha and Gugulethu. It struck me then as alarming that there were so many babies diagnosed with this condition. My question as a teenager in the field “Is it possible that medical malpractice is responsible for our shocking statistics?” We have as many as 10 cases per 1000 births compared to the world average of 2.1 per 1000 births.

According to South African personal-injury law specialists DSC Attorneys medical malpractice definitely features as a key issue. In 2018 in Gauteng there were 1148 serious events leading to infant brain damage where newborns were deprived of oxygen. More than 43% of all claims against SA state hospitals are birth-related injuries especially Cerebral palsy. In 2016 R769 million was paid out for Cerebral palsy claims involving medical negligence. Most of these claims were lodged against the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. [2]

Strong evidence suggests that Cannabis is highly useful for children suffering with Cerebral palsy

June is national Youth Month in South Africa and sick children are very close to my heart because children should not be ill. We share the story of Cape Town mom Marlese Meskin and her now 19 year old and legal daughter Leah. 

“When you’re a special needs mom, you search for treatments from the moment your child is diagnosed.”

Leah Meskin was diagnosed with Cerebral palsy (CP), Microecphaly and Dystonia just 3 days after she was born. Her mum chose to avoid chronic medication and to focus on physical therapies like horse-riding. This type of therapy also contributes to social interactions for other special needs moms and the spirit of sharing experiences.

 

“I have always been interested in what natural medicines have to offer.”

Marlese still has her June 2015 copy of National Geographic Magazine with a giant dagga leaf on the cover. 

“The image of the little girl getting CBD oil with a dropper, resonated with me immediately.  A girl who looks just like Leah and the information on CBD blew my mind!  I simply had to get hold of this kind of Cannabis oil that didn’t have the ‘high’.”

Marlese embarked on a mission to find CBD oil for Leah to help treat her symptoms. South Africa’s own ‘Daggakat’ had clearly done her research into Cannabis medicine and especially CBD. Her idea was to use CBD to enhance the therapeutic effects of THC while reducing possible side-effects of the high. Leah’s mom soon realized that “free from the garden medicine” far outweighed the high costs of trying CBD oil.

“I tried to get more CBD by making root infusions, unheated tinctures, consuming raw plant and making teas.  But still I got “high” and realized that I needed “Hemp”.  At this stage high CBD strains wasn’t a thing yet here, but in America it was rising in popularity. The story about Charlotte’s Web on CNN amplified my need to start treating Leah with CBD. I started to look into Hemp CBD strains with low THC levels.”

“I saw resemblances of Leah in Charlotte Figi, although she had a different diagnosis, she was still a special-needs child.” 

“It made me anxious because people with CP were listed as high-risk for Covid-19 complications. I must iterate it was quite emotional for me during 2020 lockdown when she passed away during the Covid-19 epidemic.” [3] 

Marlese became obsessed with obtaining feminized CBD seeds to grow this medicine for her daughter. She invested in her personal CBD research where she tested the products for Leah convinced that it would help her spasms. She also hoped that Cannabis would help the early onset of arthritis that is common in Cerebral palsy teenagers. 

“I chatted with friends about growing CBD for Leah’s medicine. They offered to grow the lowest THC strain in the world as they were unfamiliar with CBD. They harvested the hemp flowers and tested it by smoking to see if they “get high”. I received the hemp buds in time for Leah’s 18^th birthday in 2021. To witness CBD improve her mood, relax her spastic limbs and help her sleep through the night was just beautiful.”

 

In this picture above you can clearly see how relaxed Leah’s hands are while medicated with CBD.

Leah’s mom says that whole-plant extract had a visible effect on muscle spasms that the CBD isolate hadn’t done.  The effects being noticeable within 30 minutes of consuming full-spectrum CBD. [4] Marlese confides in us that Cannabis has lived up to its promises in the short time she has tried it. “The oil relaxes her stiff body, unclenches her hands and calms her mind.”

Special-needs families and their care-givers face tremendous levels of frustration and uncertainty and desperately need support. There is no cure for Cerebral palsy, however, this doesn’t mean that children cannot have a healthy and productive life. [5] As a Traditional Doctor ii do believe that Cannabis can improve daily functioning of Cerebral palsy patients and this leads to improved quality of life for the whole family. [6]

Anyone suffering with Cerebral palsy and their families deserve the very best treatment available. Cannabis is showing the world that it’s an effective way to treat many of the severe symptoms associated with CP. High CBD strains can help to treat musculo-skeletal problems, spasticity, spasms and seizures. Cannabis also helps with sleep and appetite problems as well as depression and anxiety.

Dagga is a safe natural alternative for Cerebral palsy, offering many of the benefits without any nasty side-effects

Today specific strains of Cannabis are cultivated to target specific symptoms. You may be wondering which strain will benefit your child’s specific condition. Some favorite feminized Haze strains are Lemonz CBD, Blueberry Haze, Hawaiian Haze CBD, and feminized Amnesia CBD. Another strain that holds great promise for me is the pure Afghan Black Domina due to its high CBD levels. Many growers are now focusing on strains that favor a particular cannabinoid for example CBD. This allows parents to easily find products that target their child’s specific condition. [7, 8]

This year ii can share that ii am super proud of Marlese as a grower as she took the winning cup at this year’s Home Growers Cup for the CBD category with her Pheno Dream strain. Very well done to our own “Dagga Kat” and ii really hope that her achievements will inspire other parents who might also be dealing with childhood conditions. 

You can follow Marlese and Leah’s story on Facebook @CBDforLeah

Kelly McQue Review

 

The Human Companion National Canna-Art Competition

Finally the time to launch! Tomorrow ii will release the full details of how to enter this competition. In this post ii share the amazing prizes from our sponsors!

It really has been so amazing organizing this years book competition for The Human Companion Plant and this year is a Fine Art competition.

 

The competition will run from 1 to 30 June midnight and all the basic rules will also apply to this competition. 

The main information post for this competition will be on Facebook @thcplant and Twitter @human_companion. This is the post where ii will upload all the entries for public viewing because public likes will also count towards the judging process. 

Anyone in South Africa may enter this competition except for the judges and their immediate families and there is no charge for entries. 

By law we cannot allow under 18's to enter, however ii will accept entries via consenting adults and Artists can submit multiple entries.

It's really taking everything to not drop a hint about the theme and task of this competition but ii can say that it is a Canna Art Competition and that the theme is Cannabis related. This competition will also pave the way forward to taking the human companion plant closer to humankind! That's all ii can say for now! So exciting!!!

A huge shout out to all our amazing sponsors who never hesitate to assist in enhancing Cannabis Events around the country. We are delighted to have such valuable sponsors and judges on our team this year. And ii don't mind sharing the amazing sponsored prizes to get the creative energies flowing!

It is so exciting to experience the buildup of atmosphere within the excitement! 

An Art Competition to honor the human companion plant! 

We are really hoping that this competition will serve as a platform for artists to showcase their original artworks within the emerging Canna-Art culture. We cannot wait to see all the creations from our artists from all around the country! 

Please if you know of any established or up-and-coming artists, don't be shy, please share this flyer or post with them and any enquiries can be sent Email: 

thehumancompanionplant@gmail.com 

Cannabis and brain cells ~ The Truth

One of the greatest scare-tactics of anti-Cannabis campaigners is the supposed damage to brain cells and memory loss. We all need to know how Cannabis works on brain cells but we need the truth and the scientific evidence. The Endocannabinoid System (ECS) is the most studied physiological system today and the findings are incredible! 

Can Cannabis cause ‘dagga-psychosis’? 

The scientific debate about Cannabis psychosis has pursued for almost 100 years and is slowly now being put to bed. There is still absolutely zero scientific evidence that Cannabis can cause psychosis of any nature. And thus also means that there is zero evidence that Cannabis causes damage to brain cells. In 2017 Professor David Nutt was here in South Africa. He was a specialist witness at the well known legal case, The Trial of the Plant in our High Courts. He is a Neuro-Psycho-Pharmacist from England who testified on this very topic because of his extensive research of the effects of Cannabis on brain cells.

We must never lose sight of the fact that Cannabis is a medicine. And that THC is the most important component of all the healing properties of the plant. Decades of “Reefer Madness“ brainwashing, has left doubt in people’s minds as to whether Cannabis is safe or not. If the governments of this world can prove ‘dagga-psychosis’ then they can ultimately control Cannabis medicine.

We can never allow this to happen especially in light of the mountains of research proving the opposite. There is not even one scientific paper with any real evidence that can’t be argued against. Look closely and you might see that any psychosis which Cannabis may cause is in people who don’t consume it. There is simply no evidence to prove that whole herbal Cannabis damages brain cells. And there never will be! The important thing is that we can prove that Cannabis offers anti-psychotic, neuro-genetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic healing properties. [1] [2]

The more we accuse Cannabis of causing mental illness the more the plant continues to produce positive results. It is known that everywhere in the world 1 in 4 people suffer from mental illness. It doesn’t matter which country you Google search, the statistics are exactly the same 1 in 4 people are suffering. Everywhere you look, England, America, India, South Africa, it’s the same 1 in 4. This includes depression. And so many people have more than one mental illness which can co-occur with others. It would be ridiculous to suggest that Cannabis could be responsible for even a portion of these statistics. In fact a lot of these people are feeling better by self-medicating with Cannabis.

The truth is that there is more research to prove that Cannabis does not cause psychosis than there is to prove the opposite. This continues to prove that Cannabis is a safe medicine and doesn’t cause any damage to brain cells.

Why does our memory fail us? 

How do we explain the short-term memory loss some people experience when using Cannabis? And, not everyone experiences this lapse of memory. Physicians and psychiatrists now accept that the short-term memory loss is only short-lived. It passes within a few minutes in most people. [3] There are no deaths ever recorded from taking whole herbal Cannabis. And there is no proof of anyone ever permanently losing their memory from using herbal Cannabis. No other medicine can bear this testimony.

The medical reality is that Cannabis does help us to forget certain memories. Think about the trillions of thoughts rushing through our brains every second of the day. Surely there must be some kind of a filter system? Cannabis helps us to recycle unwanted thoughts and memories, especially the bad stuff we don’t even want to remember. For example all the negative images we have to endure on social media platforms or on the late-night news. When Cannabis interacts with our brain cells it acts as an inhibitor of the cannabinoid receptors on the brain cells that affect our memory.

This Cannabis-induced inhibition of brain cells can, in some people, lead to changes in memory concerning painful emotions and memories. Doctors refer to these as aversive memories and fear. And so this all means that bad memories are specifically targeted by Cannabis to be shifted into our brains’ recycle bin. Cannabis- induced inhibition of brain cells leads to reduction in endocannabinoid levels and so allows selective modifications of aversive memories in the brain cells that control our memory center. [4] [5]

Cannabis directly targets brain cells 

One of the main functions of Cannabis is neurogenesis, the creation of new brain cells. Contrary to mass main-stream media propaganda, research continues to show that Cannabis does not kill brain cells. Instead Cannabis actually helps us to develop new brain cells! A study published in The International Journal of Neuropharmacology acknowledges cannabinoids as a cause of neurogenesis in the brain. It was shown that Cannabidiol (CBD) increases adult neurogenesis while having no effect on learning. [6]

“Most ‘drugs of abuse’ suppress neurogenesis. Only Cannabis promotes neurogenesis” ~ Dr Xia Zhang (Canadian Researcher) [7]

We now know that cannabinoids, derived from Cannabis, have always played a role in creating new brain cells. So, it follows naturally that a deficiency of cannabinoids could result in an increased risk of brain cell damage. This is why it’s so important to supplement the ECS with Cannabis. It is interesting to note that the human brain is 60% fat. And that all the chemicals within Cannabis are highly fat-soluble substances.

It is really important to realise how Cannabis directly targets brain cells, by design. There is a natural affinity between Cannabis and brain cells and scientists see this as a biological link. This is why we have so much success in treating all kinds of brain conditions. The brain is the main focus area of Cannabis. [8] But we have to continuously enhance our ECS with Cannabis starting sooner than later to avoid these brain conditions.

How does Cannabis grow new brain cells?

Scientists can now prove that the cannabinoid known as CBC (Cannabichromene) is involved with the growth and survival of NPSC’s. Neural Progenitor Stem Cells are brain stem cells proving that Cannabis plays a role in their growth and existence. [9] [10]

NPSCs are the precursors to the three types of brain cells,  being neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. NPSC’s are now being investigated to help regenerate brain cells. This is because they are able to create all of the brain cells. Cannabis inhibits the creation of proteins that cause the NPSCs to convert to other brain cells. It’s the ECS that decides what brain cells are being developed, and when they are being developed, at cellular level. Scientists now know that Cannabis can literally grow new brain cells. [11]

One of the most common side-effects of pharmaceutical drugs is memory loss. 

Certain pharmaceutical drugs are known to cause memory loss, as well as other intellectual and perception problems. Most of these drugs start with “anti”; for example, antihistamines, antidepressants, antibiotics and of course antipsychotics. Some more are anti-hypertensives, anti-epileptics, anti-cholesterol, anti-inflammatories, antispasmodics; even sleeping tablets and other sedative-hypnotics available.

The problem is that all these drugs affect our basolateral amygdala complex. This is the part of the brain that stimulates our fear response. And this is what leads to symptoms resembling dementia like confusion, psychosis, blurred vision, hallucinations, delirium and indeed memory loss.

Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter concerned with memory and learning function. There is a natural decline in Acetylcholine production that is normal with old age. This is why senior citizens are more at risk of memory loss and need Cannabis to regenerate their brain cells.

Cannabis can help you to avoid future brain cell damage 

It is not only prescription drugs that cause memory loss; a lot of over-the-counter medicines will do the same because they block this important neurotransmitter known as Acetylcholine that is primarily concerned with our memory. Some names you may recognize are Advil used for pain and insomnia, Benadryl – Diphenhydramine generic used for allergies. Nytol and Sominex used for insomnia and Tylenol also used for insomnia as well as pain. Even Zantac used for acid reflux will has this side effect.

We know that senior citizens are at greatest risk and we must protect ourselves now. Using certain over- the-counter medicines like anti-histamines contributes to developing dementia and Alzheimer’s, with memory loss being noticeable within 60 days. [12] Imagine how, after a life-time of consuming these drugs, their side-effects slowly eat away at our memory. Sometimes it is simply too late, and the damage is too great. The only way to prevent damaged brain cells is to supplement the ECS with Cannabis.

It is really hard to imagine how a plant that targets the brain would in any way harm the brain. And can even generate new brain cells. It should occur to us that we need to teach young people the truth about Cannabis and brain longevity. And certainly medical doctors should at least be given a basic education of the ECS and people need to be aware of the functions of Cannabis especially for our brain cells. People need to know and believe that Cannabis is a safe medicine and every one of us needs this plant. [13]

CITATIONS for Cannabis and brain cells ~ The Truth 

[1] (Shane Darke et al August 2019) “Characteristics and Circumstances of Synthetic Cannabinoid Related Death”. Clinical Toxicology Journal PMID 3139266

[2] (Antonio Waldo Zuardi et al 2012) “A Critical Review of the Antipsychotic Effects of Cannabidiol: 30 years of a Translational Investigation”. Journal Curr Pharm Des 2012. Volume 18 Issue 32 pages 5131-5140

[3] (Rebecca D Crean et al 2012) “An Evidence Based Review of Acute and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis Use on Executive Cognitive Functions”. Journal of Addiction Medicine Volume 5 Issue 1 pages 1-8. 1 March 2012 PMCID PMC 3037578 NIHMSID NIHMS 266295 PMID 21321675

[4] (Nature Neuroscience, 2010) Reduction in endocannabinoid tone is a homeostatic mechanism for specific inhibitory Nature Neuroscience Journal Volume 13 (592-600) 28 March 2010

[5] (Marsicano, 2002) The endogenous cannabinoid system controls extinction of aversive memories Nature International Journal of Science Volume 418 (530-543) 1 August 2002

[6] (Jack A Prenderville, 2015 )”The role of cannabinoids in adult neurogenesis” British Journal of Pharmacology Volume 172 Issue 16 PMCID: PMC4543605/PMID 25951750 16 June 2015

[7] (Wen Jiang, 2005) “Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects” Journal of Clinical Investigation Volume 115 Issue 11 PMCID: PMC1253627/PMID: 16224541 13 October 2005

[8] (Marzo N. , 2013) “The effect of Cannabichromene on adult neural stem/progenitor cells”. Journal Neurochemistry International Volume 63 Issue 5 pages 432-437 November 2013

[9] (Rui S Rodrigues et al April 2019) “Cannabinoid Actions on Neural Stem Cells: Implications for Pathophysiology”. Molecules Journal Volume 24 Issue 7 page 1350 – PMCID: PMC6480122 PMID 30959794

[10] (Noriko Shinjyo et al November 2013) “The Effect of Cannabichromene on Adult Neural Stem Progenitor Cells”. Neurochem International Journal Volume 63 Issue 5 pages 432-7 PMID 23941747

[11] (Chi Xu et al January 2016) “Effects of addictive drugs on adult neural stem/progenita cells”. Journal Cellular Molecular Life Science Volume 73 Issue 2 pages 327-348 PMCID: PMC4833708 NIHMSID NIHM5730757 PMID: 2648052

[12] (Sunil Swarmi MBBS, MPH, PhD, 2018) “Anti-cholinergic Drug Use and Risk of cognitive Performance in Older Adults with Questionable Cognitive Impairment: Cross Sectional Analysis”. Journal Drugs and Ageing 22 February 2018. Volume 33 Issue 11 pages 809-818. PMCID PMC 5823249 NIHMSID NIHMS 5938055 PMID 27638818

[13] (Alban, 2018) “Drugs That Cause Memory Loss (& what you can do)” posted bebrainfit.com 10 May
2018