ISRAELI TROOPS TAKE POT SHOT TO EASE TRAUMA

[CaptinCrunch]

(Source:Sydney Morning Herald)
04 Oct 2004

Israel
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JERUSALEM - Israeli soldiers traumatised by battle with the Palestinians have a new, unconventional weapon to exorcise their nightmares - marijuana. Under an experimental program, Delta-9 tetrohydrocannabinol ( THC ), the active ingredient found in the cannabis plant, will be administered to 15 soldiers over several months to fight post-traumatic stress disorder.

Raphael Mechoulam, of Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the project's chief researcher, described the program as a world first. He said the chemical could trick the brain into suppressing unwanted memories.

For soldiers haunted by flashbacks of traumatic battle experiences, he said, the drug, administered in liquid form, could be the answer to endless sleepless nights.

"It helps them sleep better, for one thing. These people often wake up from nightmares, and experience sweating or hallucinations," he said.

Doctors already use marijuana to treat nausea in cancer patients, appetite loss among AIDS sufferers and neurological disorders such as Tourette syndrome, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.

Dr Mechoulam said this was the first use of THC to treat post-traumatic stress.

Israel's army usually frowns on cannabis and soldiers caught smoking it can expect to be stripped of their rank or thrown into military jail. Special government authorisation was needed for the experiment.

[stormie_skies]

Instead of smoking pot, maybe they should just pull out of the occupied territories....

[drudd1]

In a seperate but possibly related story, it was reported that Frito Lay is in negotiations with the Israeli government, on a proposed mult-million dollar contract to supply it's snack foods, or as some like to refer to them "munchies" to the Israeli Army

[nystate]

Instead of smoking pot, maybe they should just pull out of the occupied territories....

Maybe the Palestinians could give them a break and not blow up kindergartens or pizza restaraunts for once...