***Science: Alzheimer's disease
Researchers of the University of Naples in Italy found that the natural cannabidiol (CBD) protected nerve cells against the toxicity caused by amyloid-beta. Amyloid-beta peptide plays an important role in Alzheimer's disease, since increased brain levels of amyloid-beta are supposed to result in aggregation of this protein to form "plaques" found in the brain of sufferers of Alzheimer's disease. Earlier research already had shown that the endocannabinoids anandamide and noladin ether prevent the toxicity of amyloid-beta.
(Source: Iuvone T, et al. J Neurochem. 2004 Apr;89(1):134-41.)

***Science: Male fertility
Male fertility According to a study by researchers of the Institut Marqués of Barcelona the quality of male sperm was not affected by the use of drugs. They analysed 1,005 sperm samples of men living in Barcelona and 279 samples of men from La Coruña. A number of possible influences on sperm quality were investigated. The highest influence on sperm quality was observed with frequency of ejaculations. The more ejaculations the better. Men who used drugs had a higher ejaculation frequency (4.1 per week) than the average male population (3.1 per week).
(Source: Las drogas no afectan a la calidad del esperma, www.bahiademalaga.com)

***USA: Connecticut
A bill that will allow sick people to grow cannabis for medicinal purposes passed the Legislature's Judiciary Committee by 24 to 15. The bill is nearly identical to a measure that was approved by them same committee last year but failed to pass Connecticut's House of Representatives. This year's bill decreases the number of plants that can be grown from six plants to five and would require the plants be grown in a secure, indoor area.
(Source: Associated Press of 15 March 2004)

***Science: Heroin Exposure to rats
Heroin Exposure to rats with THC did not increase their liking of heroin, researchers from Baltimore (USA) showed. Rats that previously received THC subsequently self-administered significantly more heroin than other rats. However, the maximum effort rats would exert to receive an injection was not altered by THC pre- exposure. Researchers noted that the results "offer no support for the hypothesis that pre-exposure to THC alters heroin's efficacy as a reinforcer".
(Source: Solinas M, et al Neuropsychopharmacology 2004 [Electronic publication ahead of print]) '