Cannabis Science Inc. Urges Health Officials To "Take Medical Cannabis Seriously"

Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Swine Flu
Article Date: 04 May 2009 - 0:00 PDT

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As the H1N1 "Swine Flu" rapidly approaches pandemic, with new reports of outbreaks in Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and the first reported death in the U.S., Cannabis Science Inc. (OTCBB: GFON) CEO Steven Kubby urged public health officials around the world to "take medical cannabis seriously."

"For decades, governments have ridiculed and suppressed overwhelming evidence that cannabis has many important medical uses, but in the present public health crisis we should no longer tolerate this malign neglect. Our government ought to take medical cannabis seriously, just as voters in 14 States have voted overwhelmingly for medical marijuana legalization," Kubby urged.

Dr. Robert Melamede, CSI Director and Chief Science Officer observed, "Contemporary anti-viral medical technology is currently inadequate to meet the World's immediate challenges in dealing with the rapid mutations of the numerous influenza viruses."

On Monday, CSI offered to provide its whole-cannabis based lozenge to the U.S. government. Kubby stated, "Our approach is to address the body's symptomatic responses to the ravages of the disease, giving the body's natural recovery processes the time and opportunity to work. It's a palliative, not a cure, but represents Nature finding a way differently, through an effective, affordable application of a natural botanical preparation. Also, everyone should understand that there is no evidence that conventional flu medications will be effective against the current outbreak, and most of the people in the world will be unable to afford them in any case.

"Although U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano, has declared a public health emergency and the World Heath Organization has raised its pandemic alert level to 4, no one can predict the ultimate course of outbreaks now on three continents. We do know that the world cannot deal with a 1918-scale pandemic, which remains a very real risk," Kubby added.

Mr. Kubby added, "We welcome inquiries from any country or continent. Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role that the endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we believe our whole cannabis-extract lozenge is a unique solution to the looming, world-wide threat posed by deadly influenza strains."

In the meantime, Dr. Melamede also urged all cannabis consumers, "If you come down with the flu, cease smoking and switch to edibles. We believe that smoking marijuana when a person has influenza will lead to some unnecessary deaths, whereas eating it can prevent unnecessary death."

Cannabis Science Inc. was founded by medical marijuana patients, who support marijuana legalization and a patient's right to choose their method of consumption, but we warn that in the case of the flu, smoking cannabis may exacerbate the illness.

About the H5N1 Bird Flu and H1N1 Swine Flu Strains

The H5N1 bird flu currently has 63% lethality. A swine-derived H1N1 strain was responsible for 20,000,000 influenza associated deaths in 1918 (more than killed by World War I). The current lethal outbreak of swine flu (H1N1) in Mexico has killed over 150 people and infected thousands, with over 2,000 now hospitalized. There are 80 confirmed cases in the United States, with reports of infections in Texas, New York, Ohio, Indiana, California and Kansas. Additional reports identify cases in New Zealand, Israel, Scotland and Spain. The H1N1 swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A flu viruses. Human cases are uncommon but can occur in people who are around pigs. An infected person, however, can transmit the disease to another person. Symptoms include a high fever, body aches, coughing, sore throat and respiratory congestion.

Source
Cannabis Science, Inc.

• See our Map Of H1N1 Outbreaks
• See our Mexico Swine Flu Blog