NM Medical Cannabis Company Donates to Cancer Fund

Pecos Valley Production (PVP), a New Mexico medical cannabis company, has announced that their most recent fundraiser and partnership with the Anita Salas Memorial Fund generated an unexpected and philanthropic amount of money. During the month of October, PVP focused on raising money by educating their medical cannabis patients and ultimately asking them for a donation at checkout. Patients received entries into raffle baskets and mystery bags for their contribution efforts.

Additionally, PVP ran an internal contest throughout their stores to see which store could raise the most money. The reward for the winning store was $500 and was spread throughout the employees at the victorious location.

Because of PVP’s efforts during the fundraising campaigns, the Anita Salas Memorial Fund received a $12,000 check from them that is sure to help this longtime organization focus on education, awareness and fundraising.

The Anita Salas Memorial Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)3, that helps pay for women’s breast or cervical cancer treatment, or related bills such as transportation, lodging or medications for treatment.

The women the fund supports are moderate to low income, underinsured or uninsured. The funds go directly to the bills, not the women. There is only a 5 percent administration fee. So 95 percent is used for direct breast and cervical cancer services for women in New Mexico; with nominal amounts going toward more fundraising.

Cancer and Cannabis

Marijuana has been used in herbal remedies around the world for centuries. Scientists have identified many biologically active components in marijuana called cannabinoids. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, cannabinoids have been shown to have an anticancer potential by modulating several pathways involved in cell growth, differentiation, migration and angiogenesis. The two most studied components are the chemicals delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Other cannabinoids are now being studied.

Studies have long shown that people who took marijuana extracts in clinical trials tended to need less pain medicine. According to the American Cancer Society, a number of small studies of smoked marijuana found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy. A few studies have found that inhaled (smoked or vaporized) marijuana can be a helpful treatment of neuropathic pain (pain caused by damaged nerves). Smoked marijuana has also proved helpful in improving food intake in patients.

More recently, scientists reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD can slow the growth and/or kill certain types of cancer cells grown in lab dishes. Certain cannabinoids may reduce spread of some forms of cancer some animal studies also suggest.

In recent years the endocannabinoid system has received great interest as a potential therapeutic target in numerous pathological conditions. Research published in Science Direct indicates the endocannabinoid system may play a dual role in the regulation of tumor generation and progression. Administration of THC and other cannabinoids have been found to exert anticancer actions in animal models of cancer. THC and other cannabinoid receptor-ligands were found to induce cancer cell death and inhibit tumor angiogenesis.

While the most well-known cannabinoids are CBD and THC, there has recently been more interest in the possible benefits of one of the many chemicals found in cannabis plants including cannabigerol (CBG), a cannabinoid.

At this point, the main difference between CBD and CBG comes down to the level of research available. While there’s been a fair amount of research on CBD, not as much has been done on CBG. CBG does seem to have some different functions and health benefits than CBD. With CBG becoming more popular, there will likely be more studies on it soon.

Essentially CBG is the precursor to other cannabinoids. This is because CBG-A, the acidic form of CBG, breaks down to form the cannabinoids  CBG, CBD, THC and CBC (cannabichromene) when heated. CBD and CBG won’t make you high, as both are nonintoxicating cannabinoids. They also both interact with the same receptors in the body, according to a 2018 study by the National Institute of Health, they appear to have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Strains high in CBG could be beneficial in treating conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, and cancer. In lab studies CBG has been found to fight inflammation, pain, nausea and works to slow the spread of cancer cells. Researchers also observed that CBG showed some promise in blocking the receptors that cause cancer cell growth and inhibiting the growth of colorectal cancer.

Some studies have shown that CBG may be able to improve cancer. A 2014 study looked at colon cancer in rats and concluded that CBG might reduce the growth of cancer cells and other tumors. A 2016 study suggested that CBG stimulates the appetite. Appetite-stimulating chemicals could be used to help those with conditions such as HIV or cancer. These studies are promising. However, it’s important to remember that they don’t confirm the benefits of CBG. More research is needed to fully understand how CBG works in the body.

There have been some early clinical trials of cannabinoids in treating cancer in humans, and more studies of all the components of cannabis are planned. While the studies so far have shown that cannabinoids can be safe in treating cancer, they do not show yet that they can cure the disease.

The American Cancer Society states that relying on marijuana alone as treatment while avoiding or delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health consequences.