Marijuana: The Anti-Obesity, Anti-Diabetes Wonder Drug?

Compounds found in the marijuana plant appear to help control blood sugar levels, increase "good cholesterol" in active smokers/users, lower the risk of diabetes, and keep people thin... according to new research published in the American Journal of Medicine. Harvard scientists found that consuming cannabis seems to protect against obesity and diabetes -- while lowering overall body-mass-index (BMI) -- despite the fact that users tend to consume more food calories due to the well-known "munchies" effect of the drug.

What is the reason for this perplexing conundrum? According to lead Harvard researcher Murray Mittleman:

"...[marijuana users] appeared to have better carbohydrate metabolism than nonusers... Their fasting insulin levels were lower, and they appeared to be less resistant to the insulin produced by their body to maintain a normal blood-sugar level."

The cannabinoid receptors in the human brain are very involved in hunger and metabolism. But researchers still aren't exactly sure how cannabis compounds change the interaction between appetite, eating, and the body's insulin response. The diet drug rimonabant acts on cannabinoid receptors in a very different way than THC, leading to a decrease in fasting insulin levels and weight loss. (Unfortunately, rimonabant has the nasty side effect like making you want to kill yourself, so it's never been legal to buy in the US.)

We say: Awesome! More good news about a plant that is obviously some kind of miracle drug store from nature!

Learn some mo': Marijuana: The next diabetes drug?

Marijuana Chemical Will Be the Next Aspirin

A special form of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, could be the new "aspirin" according to new scientific research. This week scientists announced that they have found a way to take advantage of the amazing pain-killing effects of cannabis without causing the user to become "high" from it.

They say that a synthetic form of THC can be made that targets only the part of the human nervous system that deals with neuromotor activity, pain sensation, muscle relaxation and anxiety. They say that the new THC pills could be a safer alternative to aspirin and other pain killers, especially for those people who are highly sensitive to common drugs.

The "non-psychotropic cannabinoids" could also provide a safer, 100% legal pain-killing alternative to patients who use medical marijuana. Hopefully researchers will be able to begin testing the new drug soon.

Learn some mo': Cannabis-like drugs could kill pain without the high

Finding Medical Marijuana in New Mexico is Hard

Looking for medical marijuana in New Mexico? Good luck! Due to the state's strict laws and high demand, patients are now having a very difficult time buying medicinal pot to treat their health problems. There simply isn't enough of the legal stuff to go around.

New Mexico's legal marijuana program -- which has been held up as an ideal "model" program nationwide -- is extremely careful in its licensing and regulation. The handful of people involved in the legal growing and selling of the drug are all carefully screened.

Once someone is licensed to grow and sell medical marijuana, they are only allowed to grow 95 plants. According to New Mexico, that inventory "reflects current qualified patient needs". Unfortunately the shortage has caused many patients with medical marijuana cards to purchase their medicine on the streets.

State Health Secretary Dr. Alfredo Vigil says that the state's program is being expanded slowly and methodically in order to make sure there is sufficient oversight over the legal pot producers.

Hopefully New Mexico will speed up the process so that people can get the medicine they need without resorting to illegal drug buying!

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And some mo': New Mexico faces medical marijuana shortage