Israelis develop 'cannabis without the high'

Israeli scientists have cultivated a cannabis plant that doesn't get people stoned in a development that may help those smoking marijuana for medical purposes, a newspaper said on Wednesday.

According to the Maariv daily, the new cannabis looks, smells and even tastes the same, but does not induce any of the feelings normally associated with smoking marijuana that are brought on by the substance THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol.

"It has the same scent, shape and taste as the original plant -- it's all the same -- but the numbing sensation that users are accustomed to has disappeared," said Tzahi Klein, head of development at Tikkun Olam, the firm that developed the species.

"Many of our patients who tried the new plant come back to us and say: 'You tricked me,'" because they assumed they had been given a placebo, he said.

According to Maariv, Tikkun Olam sought to neutralise the effect of the THC and to increase the effect of another substance called CBD, or cannabidiol, which has been shown to help diabetics and to ease various psychiatric disorders.

Not only does it leave users stone-cold sober, it also doesn't induce the munchies, the hunger pangs that the drug's smokers generally suffer.

Despite the innovation, it is unlikely to have any impact on Israeli law, which outlaws the use of marijuana as illegal except for medical purposes.

According to figures published earlier this year by Sheba Medical Centre and the Israel Cancer Association, medical marijuana has been approved for use by about 6,000 Israelis suffering from various illnesses.

Explore further: Study evaluates effects of marijuana ingredients on brain functioning during visual stimuli

kaasinees

3.3 / 5 (7) May 30, 2012

Will this also be beneficial for hemp clothes?

gopher65

not rated yet May 30, 2012

I'm curious if this has some of the pain killing capabilities of regular marijuana. I've heard it claimed that THC isn't the primary painkiller in standard marijuana (which is why THC pills have failed to catch on).

If this can successfully replace standard marijuana for all medical purposes, this would be an excellent test of medical marijuana users in areas where that is legal. Are they actually receiving a benefit from the medicinal properties of the plant, or are they just using that as an excuse to get high?

I suspect that there are some people in both camps.

Eikka

5 / 5 (3) May 30, 2012

Probably, but hemp is a tricky source of fiber, because so much of it is unusable and has to be discarded, and the handling requires more labor than with flax or cotton, or indeed wood if you're looking at paper products. And it doesn't really offer any superior qualities either - it was preferred in history because it's a weed - it grows everywhere.

There are already strains of cannabis that produce so little THC that you can't get high on them. In fact the drug strain is derived from these by artifical selection, instead of the other way around. Nearly all of the world's commercial hemp fiber production actually goes towards manufacturing extra thin paper for bibles, and for cigarette wraps.

OldBlackCrow

4.4 / 5 (7) May 30, 2012

Can't get high? What's the point?

Simonsez

5 / 5 (4) May 30, 2012

In at least the realm of cancer patient cannabis users, "the munchies" and "the high" are both desirable effects that help to counteract the side effects of toxic radiation or chemotherapy, which often leave the sufferers "aching all over," "feeling sick at the stomach," and generally without appetite. Therefore, I have to conclude that cancer patients are not the ones to receive any real benefit from this "high-less" cannabis.

One group who may potentially enjoy the benefits of cannabis without the high would be those suffering from ulcerative colitis and other bowel discomfort diseases.

1.8 / 5 (5) May 30, 2012

Probably, but hemp is a tricky source of fiber, because so much of it is unusable and has to be discarded

The stuff discarded can easily be used for different things.

and the handling requires more labor than with flax or cotton

More labor, better economy.

Its also better for the environment. It can be produced locally which means less transport also a good thing.

tadchem

3.5 / 5 (2) May 30, 2012

This should be a boon for the minority of users of medical marijuana who actually *need* marijuana medically. Assuming of course they can get by the GMO aspects.

Vierotchka

1.5 / 5 (4) May 30, 2012

Medical marijuana without the THC is of as much use as parsley, or as aspirin without acetylsalicylic acid. It is the THC that has the medical properties, it is the THC which cures cancers and most other diseases.

EverythingsJustATheory

2 / 5 (1) May 30, 2012

Not cures, but helps manage cancer. But I'm all for it. And I agree this makes no sense. Non-alcoholic beer is really popular, right?

Terriva

5 / 5 (1) May 30, 2012

In most industrial cultivars of hemp the content of tetrahydrocannabinol is already very low, so I don't quite understand the meaning of this research. If you don't want to get high, just smoke the technical hemp.

2.2 / 5 (5) May 30, 2012

Actually, Cannabis Oil does indeed cure most cancers as well as a great many other diseases. I know of several cases personally. See http://www.youtub...JhQHk_GI

3.4 / 5 (5) May 30, 2012

More labor, better economy.

One guy shovels dirt out of a hole, and another guy shovels it back in, right?

Productivity is what makes the economy, not the fact that people are doing pointless work, because the work itself consumes resources.

Deathclock

3 / 5 (4) May 30, 2012

and the handling requires more labor than with flax or cotton

More labor, better economy. -Kaasinees

Holy Christ... I've never seen such a remarkable display of economic stupidity.

3 / 5 (2) May 31, 2012

Yeah, that line made my jaw drop too.

Mala_Mucika

3.7 / 5 (3) May 31, 2012

alcohol is the dumbest drug in the universe, beside waste working, two dumbest existential policies of squamatas masters and why would "high" be a problem? you puke you destruct you cant walk...on alcoholic high this doesnt happen on marihuana, marihuana is deuce comparing to alcohol, millions are dying because of alcohol and millions suffer and i have never met anyone who suffer because of marihuana

evolved slave apes posses the universal right to grow and smoke marihuana as much as they please

skytimelapse

3.4 / 5 (5) May 31, 2012

Damn Vendicar how the HELL are you not banned yet. You troll EVERY damn article! Report this damn troll already!!

2 / 5 (4) May 31, 2012

One guy shovels dirt out of a hole, and another guy shovels it back in, right?

Correct, this is a good farming technique, however we have machines for that now.

Productivity is what makes the economy, not the fact that people are doing pointless work, because the work itself consumes resources.

Defined productivity? Does the high American demand for cocaine make Afghanistan and Mexico productive countries?
Or does the fake GDP from the USA hyper inflation make a country productive?

MandoZink

5 / 5 (3) May 31, 2012

This altered version is useless for chemotherapy patients. The devastating nausea that accompanies chemotherapy is only alleviated by activating the CB1 and CB2 receptors in your body, principally the receptors located in your stomach. That requires either THC, or a synthetic analogue such as dronabinol(Marinol). Cannabidiol, while useful for other symptoms, will not do that.

I know this well. I went through 8 intensive treatments with a 5-chemical chemo cocktail. The nausea is like one of the worst flu's you ever had. I was sicker than shit the first day and all I could eat was half a strawberry. With one good toke, the nausea quickly waned. Another, and the nausea diminished to near nothing. I ate an entire burrito 20 minutes later.

The very strong plants I had got me stoned, but it was way better than nausea. I stayed healthy and returned to work on Monday after my Friday chemos. I gained 3 pounds over the course of my treatment.

Wikipedia - Cannabinoid receptor, THC, Cannabidiol

not rated yet Jun 01, 2012

I've heard it claimed that THC isn't the primary painkiller in standard marijuana (which is why THC pills have failed to catch on).

I had a prescription for the pill form of THC, which is a synthetic analog called dronabinol(trade name: Marinol). While it does work, it is not nearly as effective as inhaling the vapors, usually by smoking.

The pills have a lag period before they begin to work. If you are extremely nauseous, you want quick relief and may throw up the pill after you take it. The ability to absorb an effective dose within minutes is much preferable to the oral route. The pill is also not as potent when it does take effect. My oncologist and I had some enlightening conversations about effectiveness.

I was not using it for pain relief. For that I prefer opioids. I believe that a combination of THC and the other cannabinoids work best together to alleviate pain. Many women I know say marijuana is tremendously effective for menstrual period relief.

Isaacsname

not rated yet Jun 03, 2012

Rofl, that should be wildly popular, can't wait to try the hash.

Moebius

...a cannabis plant that doesn't get people stoned in a development that may help those smoking marijuana for medical purposes...

Right, the 3 that a placebo would help. This is like white chocolate. Take the chocolate out, give it a name and it sells. Canola sounds much better than Rapeseed right? Garbage by any other name still stinks.

Having a barbecue and I have to trim all the red parts off the meat. Anyone want to buy some white steaks?