As far as diseases go, the hepatitis family doesn’t get much attention. Sure, people vaguely remember how that one actress from the 90s got it from her rockstar ex-husband, but beyond that, the average American is relatively uneducated about this significant public health issue.
There are many different forms of viral hepatitis, A through E and more still. Hepatitis C is relatively common, existing in just under 1% of the population, according to the CDC. Unlike some forms of the virus, C is chronic, causing long-term health concerns and liver issues for those infected.
There has been a preventative vaccine for Hepatitis B for years, and now researchers at the Wyoming Institute of Technology have announced what they believe may be a breakthrough discovery: a hepatitis C vaccine based on cannabis.
According to a report published on the Institute’s website, a female intern working with the research team reported anecdotal personal experience to the team that inspired them to investigate further. She believed she had cured herself of hepatitis C by vaporizing a particular strain of cannabis she had bred herself, called “Chunky Crimson.” Sadly, the press release did not contain images of the mature flowers of the Chunky Crimson strain or any details about its genetic lineage.
Further tests revealed that the intern was not, in fact, cured, but her progress was so impressive that the team decided to do a full study. They developed a trial medication based on the Chunky Crimson cannabis strain by partnering with GlaxoSmithKline. The medicine and a suppository were administered to patients in a study that ran from January to May of this year in Denver, Colorado.
The trial’s results are astounding: 99.8% of participants were cured of hepatitis c, and researchers believe the remaining 0.2% will continue reversing their condition if they continue taking the suppository.
Thank goodness that the new legal status of cannabis for adult use in Colorado makes research so much simpler. For now, the research team’s findings are useless until the FDA approves additional research for a needle-administered vaccine this year. The FDA is also reviewing the results of the study and the existing drug based on the Chunky Crimson cannabis strain. The press release states that the vaccine will be ready for global distribution within 14-18 months.
In the meantime, the research team is looking for outside input from those with hepatitis C in legal medical marijuana states.
WIT does not endorse the illegal production or sale of marijuana. However, those with legal access to medical or recreational marijuana, in states where marijuana products are deregulated, are encouraged to administer at-home trials using legal marijuana. The marijuana should be smoked, edified, and/ or inserted rectally once per day. Please email us at feedback@witscience.org and describe any reactions you may encounter while attempting this. – See more at: http://witscience.org/marijuana-can-cure-hepatitis-c-wit-research-shows/#sthash.yUwbRl5I.dpuf
WIT does not endorse the illegal production or sale of marijuana. However, those with legal access to medical or recreational marijuana, in states where marijuana products are deregulated, are encouraged to administer at-home trials using legal marijuana. The marijuana should be smoked, edified, and/ or inserted rectally once per day. Please email us at feedback@witscience.org and describe any reactions you may encounter while attempting this.
As medical marijuana and legal cannabis spread across the country, studies and breakthroughs such as this one are sure to become common news. Ladybud Magazine will continue tracking this and other cannabis-related medical breakthroughs!
Photo Credit: Steven Depolo under (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr
Cannabis Used to Develop Hepatitis C Treatment
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