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Article: M HEALTH: Highs and lowdowns; Cannabis was once dismissed as the preserve of layabouts and losers. But new research shows it may well have promising medical uses. A major UK trial will test it as a painkiller for patients recovering from hospital operations. But cannabis isn't the only recreational drug to have a history - and possible future - in helping patients...(Features)
- Article from:
- The Mirror (London, England)
- Article date:
- August 21, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 MGN LTD. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: VICTORIA KENNEDY and CAROLINE CORCORAN
Cannabis
What is it? Crushed leaves and blossoms from the hemp plant (cannabis sativa), usually smoked with tobacco. The active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), binds to areas of the brain which are known to be linked to sensations of pain, emotion and movement, relieving users of stress and making them feel calm. But some scientists have linked the drug to depression.
History The first recorded use of cannabis as a medicine was a Chinese herbal remedy 5,000 years ago. The drug was brought to ...