Don’t Bogart that joint, my friend!

Cannabis may help prevent Alzheimer's memory loss
Ben Sills and Ian Sample, February 24, 2005, The Guardian

Scientists at one of Spain's leading research centres claimed yesterday to have found evidence that cannabis helps prevent the memory loss experienced by people suffering from Alzheimer's.

The potential breakthrough in understanding a disease that affects nearly half a million people in Britain, and around nine million worldwide, was made by a team led by Maria de Ceballos at the Cajal Institute in Madrid.

Their study seems to show that THC, the main active ingredient in cannabis, inhibits the activity of cells that cause damage to neurons in the brain.

Although the study is preliminary, it was welcomed by patient groups

Not to mention being welcomed by heads and phreaks worldwide.

Yesterday, All Things Considered on PBS was discussing an experiment wherein some Harvard (or is that Hahvahd?) University physicians wanted to do a study wherein they would test some folks with terminal illnesses with MDMA, aka Ecstasy, to see if the drug would aid with their understandable depression.

Hey, surprise, the DEA is throwing up all sorts of roadblocks. Gosh, if a valid use were found for the stuff, it would make MDMA OK for something other than a party drug. The DEA just can’t have that. Go figure.