Australian Study Debunked by Leading Cannabis Expert Dr. Ethan Russo

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]I[/dropcap]n late May, scientists at the University of Western Australia released a report stating that cannabis has the ability to alter a person’s DNA by causing mutations which will in turn make the individual more susceptible to disease. The report states strange falsehoods throughout, and was creating an internet sensation against cannabis. The scientists also concluded that this DNA mutation is permanent and can be passed down to an individual’s children, perpetuating a nearly extinct “marijuana mania,” much like “reefer madness” in the ‘50s.

Associate Professor Stuart Reece and Professor Gary Hulse conducted the study to understand how cannabis is able to cure conditions like cancer. “Through our research we found that cancers and illnesses were likely caused by cell mutations resulting from cannabis properties having a chemical interaction with a person’s DNA,” said Reece. “With cannabis use increasing globally in recent years, this has a concerning impact for the population.”
Reece and Hulse went on to state that the passed-on modified DNA could cause slow cell growth, resulting in underdeveloped organs and limbs during phases of fetal development, and even cause cancer. “The worst cancers are reported in the first few years of life in children exposed in utero to cannabis effects,” Reece said.

While this may sound absolutely terrifying, Dr. Ethan Russo, a board-certified neurologist and psychopharmacology researcher has debunked these claims, stating that the reports are promoting “reefer madness” mania. “This report is based on a foundation of falsehoods. Cannabis is not mutagenic (productive of mutations in DNA), nor is it teratogenic (productive of birth defects) or carcinogenic (causative of cancer). Countless animal studies and human epidemiological studies support its relative safety in this regard,” Russo told East Bay Express.

Currently, cannabis studies are becoming more accepted in countries throughout the world and in the U.S. Because the plant is classified as a Schedule I substance under Federal law, there is limited research in U.S., but with changing regulations and legalization happening quickly throughout the country, the government has been more accepting of de-scheduling cannabis so we can have the solid research needed to resolutely confirm cannabis is a healing, not harmful substance.