Medical Marijuana Boosts Hepatitis C Treatment in New Study

[Cobalt Violet]

Medical Marijuana Boosts Hepatitis C Treatment in New Study

http://www.freetheplant.org/blog/medical-cannabis/medical-marijuana-boosts-hepatitis-c-treatment-in-new-study/


A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, just published in the European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, suggests that medical marijuana boosts the success of treatment for the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Untreated HCV can lead to liver failure and death, but in the new study, marijuana users being treated for HCV were three times more likely to have a "sustained virological response" — i.e. HCV could not be detected six months after they completed treatment.

While extensive research has shown that marijuana can provide symptom relief, this is believed to be the first published study linking marijuana to improved cure rates for a life-threatening illness.

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Overall, 54 percent of marijuana users had a sustained virological response, compared to only 18 percent of non-users. The study was published alongside a commentary by a separate team of Canadian researchers describing the evidence that marijuana relieves debilitating side effects of treatment for HCV, cancer and AIDS, and calling for patients to be "legally permitted" to use it.

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"This is a landmark study, showing that medical marijuana can literally save lives," said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "Every day that our government continues punishing the sick for using this medicine is literally a crime against humanity."




I know this is several months old but it hasn't been posted at DU before. I think it is important. We need to get our drug policies up to this century.

Link to the abstract:http://www.eurojgh.com/pt/re/ejgh/abstract.00042737-200610000-00005.htm;jsessionid=FL9LTVyjTKSZsy5WJxLvjGPhtLn1V17sjx94DThQ1nvDlg1Kv6Yx!135410792!-949856145!8091!-1?index=1&database=ppvovft&results=1&count=10&searchid=1&nav=search

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