Behind The Curtain 25: Green Research? Sign Me Up! – September 1, 2010
Lily dug through a stack of paperwork on her desk.
“I know I put it somewhere,” she said.
Ron walked into the office from the garden, “I’ve pulled all the big leaves off the buds,” he said. With this lack of sunshine, that should help. “What are you looking for?”
“A flyer,” Lily said, still digging. “It’s a flyer I picked up at the Oyster Festival. Humboldt Green Research. It’s a non-profit doing a study on what herb for what ailment and then some, you know? Good stuff.”
“Yeah, you going to be a Guinea pig, Lily?” Ron asked, moving another pile of papers from a chair and sitting down by the computer.
“Well, I was thinking about it. Here it is!” Lily read the postcard aloud to Ron.
“Volunteers needed for Medical Cannabis Research… Humboldt Green Research, see?” she said holding the card up so he could see the big, green logo. “Looks like leaves and a bird, I think.”
“They have a website,” Ron said.
“I’m going on line and see what it’s about,” Lily said.
“Mind if I see what it’s all about?” Ron asked.
“Sure, you want to sign up too?” Lily asked, turning back to the computer.
“If I don’t get arrested in the process,” Ron laughed.
Lily read part of the “home” page, and began reading aloud.
“‘Before scientists can determine the extent of the healing properties of cannabis, we must understand what makes some strains different from others.’ Sounds good so far,” she said. “‘…it is often reported that some strains relieve the tremors associated with Multiple Scleroses while other strains make it worse.’ It says the same is true for anti-anxiety and sleep aid uses.”
“I know when I eat those cookies you make I sleep better than when I smoke it,” Ron said. “Is that what they are talking about?”
“I think so,” Lily replied. “Some of my strains work better with my pain than others, that’s for sure. Wouldn’t it be nice if these people could help figure it out?”
“Go to the ‘Our Methodology’ part,” Ron asked.
“‘Humboldt Green Research is now conducting the largest scientifically credible field experiment ever performed on medical cannabis,’ that’s a tall order,” Lily continued. “‘As a research participant you will be given access to an enormous variety of samples … ‘
“Sign me up!” Ron laughed.
Lily laughed too, but kept reading. “… Performing a chemical analysis on each strain and then cross- referencing the data from the field research might then reveal which cannabinoids have which healing properties.’ Oh, this sounds good,” Lily said. “It goes on to say that methodology should allow them to selectively breed new and improved ‘use-specific’ strains in the future.”
“Wouldn’t that be something, Lily?” Ron asked. “We could grow the kind of strains that would make a difference – no more guessing games.”
“It’s a whole new world out there, Ron.” Lily said with a wink, turning back to the computer to sign up.
For more information on Humboldt Green Research, visit humboldtgreenresearch.org
