cannabisnews.com: Fresh Evidence That Cannabis Reduces Pain
Fresh Evidence That Cannabis Reduces Pain
Posted by CN Staff on October 01, 2002 at 14:09:05 PT
By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor
Source: Independent UK
The prospects for for a cannabis-based medicine to help patients with multiple sclerosis and other neurological conditions has improved with the publication of new evidence that the drug helps to reduce pain.Preliminary results from a trial of 34 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other conditions who were in severe pain showed 28 benefited from the medicines and elected to continue on the trial.
All of the patients had been treated with other pain-killing drugs which had proved ineffective. The study, known as a Phase II trial, is the largest presented to date by GW Pharmaceuticals, a venture company which has a Home Office licence to develop drugs based on cannabis.The latest findings were disclosed at the American Academy of Pain Management in Reno, Nevada, by Dr Willy Notcutt. Dr Notcutt said: "Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptoms, the improvements provided by cannabis-based medicines are all the more remarkable."The patients were given three cannabis-based medicines which contained different combinations of two of the active ingredients of cannabis, tetrahyrdrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).Cannabis contains at least 60 active cannabinoids and scientists have been trying to isolate those that relieve pain and improve the function of patients.Before the company can apply for a licence to market the drugs it will have to complete Phase III trials, which are more rigorous and involve a large number of patients.The largest such trial of cannabis-based medicines, funded by the Medical Research Council and involving 660 patients, is nearing completion and preliminary results are to be announced next month. Source: Independent (UK)Author: Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor Published: October 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 Independent Newspapers (UK) Ltd.Contact: letters independent.co.ukWebsite: http://www.independent.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Site:GW Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.gwpharm.com/Cannabis Kills Pain in Medical Trialshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14299.shtmlNevada Conference Examines Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14282.shtmlSymposium on Cannabinoids in Pain Management http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14269.shtml
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Comment #12 posted by lookinside on October 02, 2002 at 04:39:30 PT
doonesbury
Gary Trudeau is telling it like it is this week.http://www.doonesbury.com/strip/dailydose/index.htm
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Comment #11 posted by DANA on October 02, 2002 at 02:45:26 PT
..CongressmanSuet.....
....You are not alone!....It's always sorta awkward to cut the crap,and tell it like it is,,,but I agree with you!..The empire shows no sign of backing down...The Ayatollah Bushmaynee,and his gang of motley puppeteer henchmen, ,,have got their hand up the ass of the federal muppet!....It aint pretty!...It's not very promising!...Things dont look that good!.......and,,of course,,all we can do is keep on keepin' on!....you said it!;;".... just look at California] I know I have a negative opinion,
and even after almost 4 years as a regular, daily visitor here[and sometimes poster] after reading countless hundreds
of optimistic articles, reading tons of postings, as a realist, I myself, cannot be very hopeful that any real change is
coming anytime soon, perhaps not in my lifetime. "....negative opinions rule,,CongressmanSuet!..I'm glad that I'm not the only one with a realistic bitter negative outlook! ..I think it's good!,,Why entertain false hopes,and lie to ourselves,,imagining things will somehow improve?...No way!,,we're headed for the Big One ,,,Apocalyptic Milleniums are just around the corner!...last one to leave should turn out the lights!..P.S.......this "preview your post" thing is not easy for me to get used to....It's kinda like sayin',"you sure you wanna say that?"....I have a long tradition of not proofreading posts,and I intend to continue.I proofread my posts,after they have been posted!.....(all my posts,,are now "profanity free"!!!!)....indeed
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Comment #10 posted by knox42897 on October 01, 2002 at 23:11:14 PT:
New Study
I think a new study should be conducted. The basic premis would be, are recreational smokers actually self medicating themselves. If cannabis reduces pain, improves sleep and reduces cancer and cures some conditions then recreational smokers are getting a medical benefit. It would be interesting if the recreational cannabis smoker was actually healthier than non cannabis people.
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Comment #9 posted by DdC on October 01, 2002 at 21:22:04 PT
Sublingual as in it doesn't matter if he inhaled?
Klintoon still got off! Besides he, Gore and Bush were in possession... I understand cannabis is in the Mulberry family. It shows, since the Feds always seem to be going round the Mulberry bush.pa rum pum!
Peace, Love and Liberty or D.E.A.th!
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Comment #8 posted by Had Enough on October 01, 2002 at 20:12:30 PT
CongressmanSuet
Hang in there. Change is in the air. It is a tough fight, but I believe when the truth is known, all good brothers/sisters, will come the aid of their fellow man. When the truth is known, good American’s will cheer the underdog.Do not forget our friends at http://www.nrle.org these people are serious and are doing a professional job. They need money, a lot of it and now. Send them anything. Every bit helps. We are standing on the cornerstone of change that will be heard around the world again, WE THE PEOPLE
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Comment #7 posted by CongressmanSuet on October 01, 2002 at 18:21:33 PT
You are soooo right Doc....
We will only be able to watch as other countries come to enlightenment, and continue research on Cannabis as a medicine. There is no way there is going to be any improvements here, at least not in the near future[with King George at the helm, we will continue to be persecuted and not helped, just look at California] I know I have a negative opinion, and even after almost 4 years as a regular, daily visitor here[and sometimes poster] after reading countless hundreds of optimistic articles, reading tons of postings, as a realist, I myself, cannot be very hopeful that any real change is coming anytime soon, perhaps not in my lifetime. As a medical user[COPD, emphysema, with a small amount of Cannabis I can go for extended periods of time without steroid inhalers and nebuliser solutions] I have spent a considerable period of time looking at solutions that include a move to a state that has a medical use provision, but now, seeing the actions of the Fedaral Gov. I realise I will need to actually leave the country if I am ever to obtain the legal ability to use Cannabis, and that is very depressing to me. Dr. Russo, I have followed your work for years now, and I believe you to be incredibly well-informed and non-judgemental. And I must concur with you, change here is very unlikely. But if all we have is hope, well, than that will have to do. Even if Nevada, by some miracle passes favorable legislation, it will be a long time before any real change comes for any of us, the WoSD is just too profitable for the powers that be. Thank You Doctor, and thank you FoM, your efforts and contributions to the cause of justice and compassion are truly immeasurable.
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Comment #6 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 01, 2002 at 17:06:59 PT:
Government Stance
To my knowledge, no major federal official has discussed the Compassionate Use IND in public since it was closed to new patients in 1992. They would prefer to ignore it. I did that study because the government never bothered to follow these patients or publish information on their status, good or bad, after years of chronic cannabis usage.It will fall to foreign governments to liberalize the cannabis laws, and show that it is a constructive move for their societies. We will be forced to watch, and hope for better here.
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Comment #5 posted by afterburner on October 01, 2002 at 16:27:11 PT:
UK cannabis research
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that the rescheduling of cannabis in UK is causing an end run around the FDA and DEA suppression of scientific research on medical uses. "Dr. Hadorn is former health policy adviser to the New Zealand Ministry of Health and the British Columbia Ministry of Health, as well as consultant to GW Pharmaceuticals. He will present information on the development of the GW Pharmaceuticals clinical research program in the United Kingdom."from Symposium on Cannabinoids in Pain Management
Posted by CN Staff on September 27, 2002 at 17:01:19 PT
By Pete Brady
Source: Cannabis Culture.
And in this article: "The study, known as a Phase II trial, is the largest presented to date by GW Pharmaceuticals, a venture company which has a Home Office licence to develop drugs based on cannabis."Plus the changes to the cannabis scheduling, effectively decriminalization, in the "grandmother's home country," United Kingdom, seem to be emboldening Prime Minister Chretien of Canada, still "grandmother's land," to seriously consider decriminalization as well."Truth will out." - FDR
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Comment #4 posted by canaman on October 01, 2002 at 16:23:53 PT
Thanks for the clarification Dr. Russo
On another note, I was reading about "Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program". And as this program is still ongoing I was wondering what the offical stance was. Has anyone to your knowledge et al ONDCP or NIDA ect. made any comments on this program? I wonder how they can continue to lie like they do and provide cannabis as medicine at the same time? Where's Congress? Where are the investigative reporters? Hasn't anyone in a position of power been able to expose this blatant hyprocrisy? Pardon my rant...inquiring minds want to know.Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program http://www.maps.org/mmj/russo2002.pdf
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 01, 2002 at 15:44:01 PT
Oh My Goodies
I love Goodies! That is really good news!
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 01, 2002 at 15:31:22 PT:
Clarificaation
This cannabis-based medicine extract contains all the goodies: cannabinoids and terpenoids of smoked herb. It is provided in a sublingual extract that is easy to use, and comes on in about 40 minutes, versus the 60-120 or more with oral preparations. Nothing good in the medicinal aspects of the plant is lost.
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Comment #1 posted by canaman on October 01, 2002 at 14:22:23 PT
28 out of 34 showed improvement
I'm not quite sure about this reductionist type medicine. Seperating out the active ingredients. But if more benificial compounds are found I guess it legitimates the whole plant even more.Cannabis is Medicine!
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