Cannabis and Swine Flu

for H1N1 Swine Flu and H5N1 Bird Flu in View of the Current Global
Threat

For Immediate Release, April 27, 2009

San Francisco, CA – Cannabis Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: GFON), an
emerging pharmaceutical cannabis company, reported today on the
current state of development of its whole-cannabis lozenge in response
to Homeland Security Administration Secretary Janet Napolitano’s
declaration of a public health emergency to deal with the emerging
Swine Flu pandemic. The Company’s non-toxic lozenge has properties
that could alleviate many of the symptoms and harmful effects of the
H5N1 bird flu and H1N1 swine flu viruses, and has offered its
assistance to HSA today in a letter to Secretary Napolitano. The
Company has offered to produce up to 1 million doses of its whole-
cannabis lozenge, and provide them to HSA for distribution at cost.
Cannabis Science Inc., President & CEO, Steven W. Kubby said, "We have
the science and preliminary anecdotal results confirming the anti-
inflammatory properties of our new lozenges and indicating they may
present an effective and non-toxic treatment for minimizing the
symptoms and harm from influenza infections. Our lozenges appear to
down-regulate the body's excessive inflammatory response to the
influenza virus, which could reduce the deadly consequences of an
infection into something that is more like a common cold. Because of
my cancer and diminished auto-immune functions, even common influenza
is a deadly threat, and I’ve had incredible symptomatic relief with
the lozenge.”

Dr. Robert J. Melamede, Director and Chief Science Officer, stated,
"The influenza virus has a unique genetic make up that, in combination
with its replicative machinery, has an extraordinary capacity to
mutate. As a result, the high lethality of some strains can be
attributed to the resulting adult respiratory distress syndrome
(ARDS). ARDS is caused by an excessive immune inflammatory response
driven by Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) that leads to the death of
respiratory epithelial cells and resulting organ failure.
Endocannabinoids are nature’s way of controlling TNF activity.
Existing peer reviewed publications have shown that phytocannabinoids
can prevent this cell death by mimicking the endocannabinoids that
nature has selected to prevent excessive inflammatory immune responses.”
Dr. Melamede, who is also a researcher and past Chairman of the
Biology Department at the University of Colorado Springs (UCCS),
cautioned, “Smoked marijuana will not effectively prevent the
excessive inflammatory response, despite delivering the beneficial
pharmacological agents, due to the irritating, pro-inflammatory nature
of smoke. In fact, I believe it will make things worse and should be
avoided by infected individuals."

Mr. Kubby added, “If a swine or bird flu pandemic emerges -- and
everyone seems to think that it is just a matter of when, not if --,
there is simply no time for the usual bureaucratic process. With
emergency government approval, we can legally access the huge supply
of medical cannabis available in California to produce millions of
life saving doses within a relatively short period of time.”

Dr. Melamede warned, "Based upon recent discoveries regarding the role
that endocannabinoid system plays in maintaining human health, we have
a unique solution to the looming threat posed by deadly influenza
strains that we believe, if implemented, could save millions of lives.
We will strive for an emergency review of our cannabis extract-based
lozenge because we believe its availability will prevent many of the
deaths associated with the hyper-inflammatory response associated with
known lethal strains of the influenza virus. Current anti-influenza
medications have a demonstrated decreased effectiveness against some
of these lethal variants. Mankind cannot wait for the emergency
situation to materialize. We must be proactive in gaining the
necessary governmental approvals to test, and pending the outcome of
our studies, produce our lozenge.”

Mr. Richard Cowan, Cannabis Science Inc., Director & CFO, who recently
spoke in Mexico City to a Conference sponsored by the Mexican
Congress, stated, “I believe the Mexican Congress recognizes that
doctors should be able to prescribe medical cannabis. We are prepared
to work with the government of Mexico to produce similar medical
cannabis products to help fight the outbreak there. We look forward to
working with Government officials, including Homeland Security to help
advance our treatments for these outbreaks in Canada, the USA, and
around the world.”

About the H5N1 Bird Flu and H1N1 Swine Flu Strains

The H5N1 bird flu currently has 63% lethality. A swine-derived H1N1
strain was responsible for 20,000,000 influenza associated deaths in
1918 (more than killed by World War I). The current lethal outbreak of
swine flu (H1N1) in Mexico has killed over 80 people and infected more
than 1,000 others. There are 20 confirmed cases in the United States,
with reports of infections in Texas, New York, Ohio, California and
Kansas. Additional reports identify “likely” cases in New Zealand.
The H1N1 Swine flu is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A
flu viruses. Human cases are uncommon but can occur in people who are
around pigs. An infected person, however, can transmit the disease to
another person. Symptoms include a high fever, body aches, coughing,
sore throat and respiratory congestion.

About Cannabis Science, Inc.

Cannabis Science, Inc. is at the forefront of medical marijuana
research and development. The Company works with world authorities on
phytocannabinoid science targeting critical illnesses, and adheres to
scientific methodologies to develop, produce, and commercialize
phytocannabinoid-based pharmaceutical products. In sum, we are
dedicated to the creation of cannabis-based medicines, both with and
without psychoactive properties, to treat disease and the symptoms of
disease, as well as for general health maintenance.

Corporate Contact:

Steven W. Kubby,

President & CEO

Cannabis Science Inc.