Cannabis Bike Tour Aims to Fund Historic Medical Marijuana Trials

Europe’s biggest cannabis sporting event is set to launch next week with riders from all over the world taking part in the Medical Cannabis Bike Tour (MCBT). The aim of MCBT is to raise enough money to begin comprehensive clinical trials this fall, testing cannabinoids on brain cancer patients as first line therapy.

“The foundations of the research are based on the effect that cannabinoids have been shown to have on Glioma Initiating Cells (GICS) in the lab,” MCBT’s crowdfunding page states. “GICs fuel tumor growth and Dr Velasco and his team in Madrid have already completed research that suggests that cannabinoids (a component of cannabis) can help eliminate GICS, and that’s not all that’s exciting about this research. One of the hurdles faced by current cancer drugs in their fight against tumors is GICS getting in the way. Therefore, this research could lead to a major breakthrough in cancer therapy.”

Currently, the bike tour has raised €200,000 from sponsors but still needs €85,000 to fund the cost of the trials. MCBT hopes to raise this through a crowdfunding campaign that will launch on June 11, the same day their cycling adventure begins. Cyclists will ride through Belgium, Germany and Holland, covering 420 km over the course of three days.

“This is going to be our biggest bike tour yet,” MCBT founder Luc Krol said in a press release. “We have had a phenomenal response from sponsors and we are really hoping that individuals will support our crowd sourcing campaign. We are asking individuals around the world to donate, join our adventure, and help us to change history. In the meantime, we wish all the riders a most excellent bike tour!”