Those arguing about the use of cannabis as medicine may wish to use
the following to demonstrate the relative harmfulness/harmlessness
of the herb in comparison to other treatments now in use.
THE LANCET reports on a French research study investigating the use
of botulinum toxin injected into the muscles of stroke patients to
ease the distress of foot spasticity and improve walking rehabilitation.
Botulinum toxin is the same toxin that causes foodborne botulism
poisoning and is the most dangerous poison produced in nature.  It
causes severe flaccid paralysis by blocking the neuromuscular
junction where the nervous system transmits movement instructions
to the muscles.  You can see how it can be useful as an anti-spastic
treatment, when used in minute quantities and carefully directed to
specific muscles.  The full study report can be found in the Journal
of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Volume 61, pages 265-69.
If physicians have found a way to use nature's most dangerous poison
for medicinal purposes, how the hell can anyone argue that a substance
like marijuana is too dangerous to use for similar treatments?
Clostridium botulinum spores occur naturally in the soil all over the
world, and can be easily scattered by winds.  The spores are harmless
by themselves and most of us breathe them in all the time.  Botulism
spores are commonly found in unprocessed foods such as honey.  As an
anaerobic bacteria, the spores require a very specific environment
(such as improperly canned foods) before they will grow and produce
their deadly toxin.
Note that there are no laws against producing and distributing
botulinum toxin, and you may have some in your home right now
(but please, throw away that bulging can of green beans).
... The truth shall not make you free, just uncomfortable...
--- PPoint 2.00
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