Does cannabis contain the magic ingredient that will keep swine flu from sweeping the planet? A Colorado Springs company has (yes, you knew it was coming) high hopes.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is announcing today that it's "made key progress with mapping out its initial cannabis drug medicines for FDA clinical trials." Two "distinct parallel paths" for developing "pharmaceutical products for FDA approval" are being sought, with one directed at post-traumatic-stress-disorder treatment and the other revolving around "the highly publicized H1N1 Swine flu and the deadly H1N5 Avian flu." Regarding the latter ailments, a press release says, "The company's approach will mimic how the human body uses endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that occur naturally in the body) to regulate immune activity and cell survival, by regulating inflammatory biochemistry. Excessive inflammatory responses are associated with numerous disease states including autoimmune diseases, neurological imbalances, and cardiovascular disease. Phytocannabinoids provide a natural means to supplement illness-specific endocannabinoid deficiencies."

Sounds scientific to us. Burn through the complete release after the jump.

Cannabis Science Reports On Two Cannabis-Based Drug Release Programs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cannabis Science, Inc. (OTCBB: CBIS) an emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company is pleased to announce that it has completed its review of the FDA licensing requirements and has made key progress with mapping out its initial cannabis drug medicines for FDA clinical trials. The Company has determined it will have more than one product in clinical testing and trials at the same time. This news comes following the identification of two distinct parallel paths in developing pharmaceutical products for FDA approval. The first being the highly publicized H1N1 Swine flu and the deadly H1N5 Avian flu, and the second being a newly formed initiative for Veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Together with these initiatives, Cannabis Science is laying a solid foundation for entrance into the FDA and other government regulatory agencies for developing medicines for Influenza, PTSD and other ailments.

The Company looks forward to announcing its continued progress with these initiatives through the development of an online progress chart that will become available at the www.cannabisscience.com website in the near future. This online tracking initiative will allow the general public immediate access to monitor each stage of development, submit questions, and request special circumstance information as we take our cannabis-based drugs to market.

Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Dr. Robert Melamede Ph.D., stated, "Times are changing. There is an ever-increasing demand for our cannabis-based drugs, and this demand is growing exponentially throughout the United States and the rest of the world. Modern science supports the public demand for cannabis-based FDA approved drug products that reduce the impact of critical life altering illnesses. The public need for our products drives our efforts to rapidly move our drugs through all available regulatory channels. We believe this enormous public demand on a global scale is a major key to our success and we are very excited to be positioned to provide solutions. We are currently sourcing cGMP compliant facilities to produce our initial formulations for FDA compliant testing.

Veterans Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Program

We are rapidly moving forward with our program designed to test the efficacy of our cannabis extract-based oral medicine to provide immediate relief of the negative consequences of PTSD in our military veterans. A critical first step will be carried out by Dr. Mitch Earleywine (State University of New York (SUNY Albany, SAB) the first member of the Cannabis Science Scientific Advisory Board. He will conduct a Veterans survey regarding the use of medical marijuana for PTSD. The results of this survey will provide us with human data that we expect will assist in our efforts with the FDA and other governmental agencies to fast track our PTSD and our Flu project.

H1N1 Swine Flu & H1N5 Avian Flu

According to the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/), the Avian flu (H5N1) has a 63% mortality rate. Unfortunately, the Swine flu, while causing death at a much lower rate than the Avian flu, also appears to result in death via a similar mechanism. The common cause of death with these strains is organ failure, especially as seen in the lungs with the development of Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excess immune-generated inflammatory response that leads to apoptosis (cell death) and subsequently to organ failure. The Company's approach will mimic how the human body uses endocannabinoids (cannabinoids that occur naturally in the body) to regulate immune activity and cell survival, by regulating inflammatory biochemistry. Excessive inflammatory responses are associated with numerous disease states including autoimmune diseases, neurological imbalances, and cardiovascular disease. Phytocannabinoids provide a natural means to supplement illness-specific endocannabinoid deficiencies.

This Press Release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934. A statement containing works such as "anticipate," "seek," "intend," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "project," "plan," or similar phrases may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Some or all of the events or results anticipated by these forward-looking statements may not occur. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the future U.S. and global economies, the impact of competition, and the Company's reliance on existing regulations regarding the use and development of cannabis-based drugs. Cannabis Science, Inc. does not undertake any duty nor does it intend to update the results of these forward-looking statements.