cannabisnews.com: St. Mike's Study Probes Role of Medical Pot 





St. Mike's Study Probes Role of Medical Pot 
Posted by CN Staff on October 09, 2002 at 19:42:39 PT
The Canadian Press
Source: Toronto Star 
Will marijuana-induced munchies help people with HIV and AIDS combat nausea and avoid the weight-loss that the disease brings on? Researchers in Toronto are hoping to find out. Canada's first government-sponsored trial of medicinal marijuana in HIV/AIDS officially started on Wednesday, led by researchers from St. Michael's Hospital and the Community Research Initiative of Toronto.
"I think the time is right to look at this," said principal investigator Dr. Kevin Gough, medical director of HIV services at the hospital. "Let's find out what role, if any, that smoked cannabis has in, not only HIV and AIDS, but other medical illnesses as well." Advocates of medicinal marijuana believe the drug can be useful for a wide range of conditions. Anecdotal evidence suggests it helps in pain control, curbs nausea brought on by chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS drugs, and stimulates the appetite of people who have lost interest in eating as a result of their conditions or medications. But anecdotal evidence doesn't cut it when you are asking a government to allow large numbers of ill people to buy and smoke what is still an illegal substance. So Health Canada has authorized research to gather clinical evidence that may have implications for Canadian policy, and that will likely be scrutinized by governments outside Canada as well. The current study is a pilot to gather information that will be used to design a larger, multi-centre clinical trial. The pilot phase, involving 32 participants with HIV/AIDS, is expected to last about a year. All participants will have smoked marijuana before. Because there is little consensus on any risks associated with marijuana use, researchers can't ethically ask people to take the drug for the first time for a study. But only people who haven't used the drug in the previous 30 days will be eligible to take part. That's to ensure there are no lingering effects of non-study marijuana in their systems. Over a two-month period, each participant will be given three supplies of varying strengths of marijuana plus a placebo. They will be asked to use each for a period of one week and will not be informed which is which. Throughout the study they will keep a diary detailing how much they smoked, how they felt, and how much and what they ate. After using one strength for a week, they will be asked to go a week without smoking marijuana, to cleanse the drug from their systems. Participants will be barred from using non-study marijuana during the trial and will be tested to ensure they are honouring that rule. Street marijuana contains compounds not found in study-grade marijuana, Gough explained. Although Canada is in the process of developing its own supply of study-grade marijuana, the crop - being grown in an underground facility in Manitoba - isn't ready for use. The marijuana for this study comes from the U.S. National Institute of Drug Abuse, currently the only producer of research-grade marijuana in North America. Police officials have been informed of the trial. Participants will be told they can carry with them small quantities of the study marijuana, but they must also carry a letter explaining their role in the trial. Study organizers don't expect to have any trouble filling the 32 slots. Many people in the HIV/AIDS community regularly use marijuana, said Derek Thaczuk, spokesperson for the Community Research Initiative. "Not everybody cares that there's a lack of scientific evidence," Thaczuk said. "So a lot of people with HIV are using marijuana to reduce their levels of nausea and to increase their food intake to fight weight loss, which can be an extremely serious condition for people with HIV." Thaczuk said he's delighted that the study, which has been several years in the making, is finally underway. "No matter what the issues connected with medical marijuana, it comes back to the fact that we need valid, rigorous scientific data, and that's what we're going to produce." Health Canada's program to investigate marijuana's potential as a medicinal substance was started under former health minister Allan Rock. Some have speculated the current minister, Anne McLellan, is less enthusiastic about the program than her predecessor, but she insists that is not the case. "The minister remains committed to ensuring that we understand the benefits and risks associated with marijuana use for medicinal purposes," her spokesperson, Farah Mohamed, said Wednesday. Note: First Canadian trial will focus on HIV/AIDS patients. Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)Published: October 9, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Toronto Star Contact: lettertoed thestar.com Website: http://www.thestar.com/ Related Articles & Web Site:Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htm Canada's First Marijuana Study to Begin http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14393.shtmlPot Prescriptions - Hamilton Spectator http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14025.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by freddybigbee on October 10, 2002 at 10:22:27 PT:
Adulterated Weed
"Street marijuana contains compounds not found in study-grade marijuana, Gough explained."The most likely explanation for this is that the study weed has been extracted with solvents to remove components soluble in the particular solvent used. Why? You be the judge.The absurdity of people who have never used cannabis telling people who have used it how harmful it is strikes me over and over. Whenever I've witnessed people experiencing cannabis for the first time (probably a half-dozen cases, mostly in college) they've all, without exception, said the same thing at some point shortly thereafter, namely "why is it illegal?"We should start demanding that as a prerequisite for discussing the legal status of cannabis, all parties must first use cannabis so as to experience it's effects. Until then, the folks who've never tried it literally "don't know what they are talking about."
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Comment #8 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 10, 2002 at 09:36:15 PT:
I Opened Pandora's Box
The current NIDA cannabis for clinical studies in California is said to be "cleaner" but not devoid of stems and seeds. It is available up to 8% THC.However, they still give the same material as before (2.85-3.85% THC, full of stems and seeds) to the Compassionate Use IND patients.Draw your own conculsions, please.
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Comment #7 posted by canaman on October 10, 2002 at 09:30:41 PT
They have no other source?
--Although Canada is in the process of developing its own supply of study-grade marijuana, the crop - being grown in an underground facility in Manitoba - isn't ready for use. The marijuana for this study comes from the U.S. National Institute of Drug Abuse, currently the only producer of research-grade marijuana in North America.--It sounds like sabatoge too me. Dr. Russo you may need to sharpen your pencil and do a follow up on this so called "study" also.On a personal note, I'd rather get my cannabis from a crack dealer than these guys!End the war on sick people! Give peace a chance! 
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Comment #6 posted by Had Enough on October 10, 2002 at 07:52:00 PT
Studies, Studies, and more Studies
They sure like to study. By now everybody ought to be pretty smart.
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Comment #5 posted by goneposthole on October 10, 2002 at 07:11:24 PT
so-called anecdotal evidence
was used to 'justify' cannabis to be unfairly 'taxed' and become 'illegal'.Just scare the be-jeezus out of everybody. and voila, instant evil drug.Try to reasonably argue the point that cannabis is possibly a helpful substance tor terminally ill people and you get nowhere.Your arse gets jackbooted to prison. Strange. Another hard day on the planet.
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Comment #4 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 10, 2002 at 07:10:23 PT:
Corvallis Eric
You're probably right. The source of the cannabis is not explained. Theoretically, if it contained an unusual cannabinoid, such as tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), and the locally available varieties had none, the experimental subject could be accused of "cheating." There is an expected deterioration in urinary cannabinoid metabolites over time, and if a higher level than expected were seen, this could argue again that the person was using "street cannabis."Do you see how complicated this becomes? Such is the hysteria that surrounds a healthful herb, as old as humanity itself.
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Comment #3 posted by CorvallisEric on October 10, 2002 at 06:46:07 PT
Can anyone explain
>>> Street marijuana contains compounds not found in study-grade marijuana, Gough explained. I can't think of any reasonable basis for this.
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Comment #2 posted by afterburner on October 09, 2002 at 21:55:11 PT:
32 slots: How Many Will Pay Off?
817 - 32 = 785. It is all well and good that the medical marijuana studies have begun, but how are the 785 licensees that are not chosen for the study supposed to get their medicine? From illegal street dealers? From their own home-grown plants? I hope they have a green thumb, and are not too sick to grow the plants. I hope they have the money for grow-lights and electricity. I hope the police don't come knocking at their door. I hope some thug doesn't break in and steal their harvest. And just how long does it take to grow a crop anyway? What are the licensees supposed to do while they are waiting for the plants to mature?
CN MB: Column: Medical Marijuana Ban An Unjust Law
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Comment #1 posted by knox42897 on October 09, 2002 at 20:14:14 PT:
PROTEST RALLY TOMORROW
Who:      NRLE, the campaign to pass Question 9What:     A rally to support Question 9. Assemblywoman Chris Giunchiliangi will             
          be tapping a segment opposite the Federal Drug Czar on John 
          Ralston's show, "day one" on channel 8.When:     THURSDAY, October 10, 2002. 11:00 a.m. PRESS EVENT.
          Supporters please arrive by 10:15 a.m.Where:    Near the Channel 8 Studios. 3228 Channel 8 Drive, the cross streets 
          are paradise and convention center drive. We will meet outside the 
          parking garage and assemble on the sidewalk near the studios. We will 
          validate your parking ticket.Why:      To show our support for Question 9 and courageous spokespeople like 
          Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani. Nevadans DON'T appreciate the 
          Federal Government coming into our state and telling us how to vote on 
          Question 9. This is YOUR chance to be part of this historic effort. Look 
          professional-- the dress is business casual. We will have signs on hand 
          for supports to wave.
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