Asthma is the most common underlying condition associated with H1N1 Swine Flu: CDC Report

Oct 19 2009

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Reports Asthma As Most Common Underlying Condition In Severe Cases of H1N1 Swine Flu; Cannabis Science Reports That Cannabis Has Been Long Used To Treat Asthma And Cannabis May Also Help Reduce Deaths From Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome From Swine And Avian Flu

Cannabis Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS) an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, notes a report by epidemiologists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) saying that, among people hospitalized with severe cases of the pandemic strain of H1N1 Swine Flu, asthma is by far the most common underlying condition associated with the disease. In fact, among the hospitalized adults, 26 percent had asthma.

Cannabis Science, Inc. President & CEO Dr. Robert Melamede stated, “There is a long history of cannabis being used in the treatment of asthma, and that is an area where we are currently working on product development. Obviously, it fits well with our development of phytocannabinoid pharmaceutical products to help reduce ARDS-associated deaths from both the H1N5 Avian and H1N1 Swine Influenza infections. As a reminder, we urged all cannabis consumers in the past that 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 deaths.”

Previously, Cannabis Science has emphasized the importance of addressing the threat presented by Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excess immune-generated inflammatory response that leads to apoptosis (cell death) and subsequently to organ failure. The Company's approach will mimic how the human body uses endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that occur naturally in the body) to regulate immune activity and cell survival, by regulating inflammatory biochemistry. Excessive inflammatory responses are associated with numerous disease states including autoimmune diseases, neurological imbalances, and cardiovascular disease. Asthma is also an autoimmune disease. Phytocannabinoids provide a natural means to supplement illness-specific endocannabinoid deficiencies.

Dr. Melamede concluded by saying, “We think that it is our duty to continue to emphasize that cannabis can play a very important role in treating respiratory diseases such as multiple influenza strains and asthma. There is an ever-increasing demand for our cannabis-based drugs, and this demand is growing exponentially throughout the United States and the rest of the world because it works. Modern science supports the public demand for cannabis-based FDA approved drug products that reduce the impact of critical life altering illnesses. The public need for our products drives our efforts to rapidly move our drugs through all available regulatory channels. We believe this enormous public demand on a global scale is a major key to our success and we are very excited to be positioned to provide solutions.”