cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Expert's Credibility in Question Marijuana Expert's Credibility in Question Posted by CN Staff on October 28, 2002 at 07:46:44 PT By Shannon Kari, The Ottawa Citizen Source: Ottawa Citizen The federal government has hired a U.S. scientist to outline the dangers of smoking marijuana in a continuing court case, despite his ties to a large pharmaceutical company that manufactures a synthetic alternative to the drug.Professor Billy Martin has worked with Solvay Pharmaceuticals Inc. for the past year to further development of a metered dose inhaler for THC -- the major psychoactive component in marijuana -- that was patented by the Virginia-based scientist. Solvay, a Belgian-based multi-national pharmaceutical company, also markets Marinol, a drug with chemically synthesized THC that can be obtained by prescription in Canada."I agree with most scientific experts who assert that the future lies with pure synthetic cannabinoids as medications rather than marijuana," Martin wrote in an affidavit filed in Ontario Superior Court.Marinol takes at least two hours to fully enter the bloodstream, which makes it less effective for pain relief, according to advocates of smoking marijuana for medical use.Martin, who was unavailable for comment, was commissioned by Health Canada as part of its response to a court challenge to the new Marijuana Medical Access Regulations. Seven chronically ill people and the founder of the Toronto Compassion Centre, which distributed marijuana, argue the regulations are unconstitutional.A spokeswoman for the Justice Department said its lawyers determined there was "no conflict" in using Martin as an impartial scientific expert. As well, the scientist's connections to Solvay were disclosed to the applicants."He is the leading expert," said Health Canada spokesman Andrew Swift, who indicated Martin will be paid about $9,000 Cdn for his evidence in the Ontario court case.Martin is the chairman of the Pharmacology and Toxicology department at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. Since 1988, he has been the director of a special research centre funded by the U.S. National Institute of Drug Abuse."Marijuana has a long history of use by humanity," conceded Martin in his evidence. But he stressed "the science base is far from clear."There have been very few valid scientific studies about the potential clinical benefits of marijuana, said Martin, in part because of "the financial burden of a clinical evaluation on a product without a commercial sponsor." The federal government established new marijuana guidelines after the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled in July 2000 that a blanket prohibition violated the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.Lawyers challenging the regulations argued in Superior Court last month the new rules are so complex that seriously ill Canadians cannot make use of them.In defence of the regulations, the Justice Department made a number of references in its written arguments about the health risks of smoking marijuana, contained in a 1999 report issued by the U.S. Institute of Medicine. The report was commissioned by the U.S. government's Office of National Drug Control Policy. Note: Health Canada hires scientist developing alternative to drug to outline weed's dangers. Martin served on the advisory panel for the report. Marijuana The Growing Debate: http://www.canada.com/montreal/specials/marijuana/ Source: Ottawa Citizen (CN ON)Author: Shannon Kari, The Ottawa Citizen Published: Monday, October 28, 2002Copyright: 2002 The Ottawa CitizenContact: letters thecitizen.southam.caWebsite: http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/Related Articles & Web Sites:Cannabis News Canadian Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/can.htmToronto Compassion Centre http://www.torontocompassioncentre.org/Don't Throw Out Federal Pot Laws, Lawyer Warns http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14502.shtmlNo Charter Right to Medical Pot, Feds Argue http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread14493.shtmlAiling Canadians To Sue for Promised Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12915.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 28, 2002 at 13:54:02 PT The C-I-R-C-L-E It just was on. It was about the polls that have been done. They said only 34 percent want marijuana outright legalized but the TIME poll in the articles says over 80 percent for legalization. That is a big difference. It wasn't worth waiting to see. You didn't miss anything. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by The C-I-R-C-L-E on October 28, 2002 at 13:48:03 PT No Time I'm wrong, must be tomorrow's mail. It's one specific day a week that we usually get Time in the mail. Thought it was today...And yeah, CNN is real good about teasing a story for a whole hour and never getting to it until the end. I've seen them do it for other MMJ stories. I have no time (or stomach) to sit thru the whole thing right now. Keep us posted! [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by The C-I-R-C-L-E on October 28, 2002 at 12:51:52 PT CNN: Dang Musta missed it....I'm walking out to the mailbox now to see if the Time issue is here... [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 28, 2002 at 12:50:58 PT The C-I-R-C-L-E They really did announce that they were going to talk about marijuana but they haven't said anything yet. They've done that before. I hope they do a story. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 28, 2002 at 12:25:39 PT The C-I-R-C-L-E Yes it should be on soon! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The C-I-R-C-L-E on October 28, 2002 at 12:14:46 PT FoM You mean right now on CNN? This half-hour? [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 28, 2002 at 12:12:10 PT Heads Up CNN Headline News - Marijuana Story They are going to talk about legalizing marijuana on the 30 minute channel. Thought I'd let you all know. There are almost 20,000 votes on the one TIME POLL and way up in the 80 percent to legalize! [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 28, 2002 at 12:06:18 PT: Rebuttal to Dr. Martin It's way too long. Please E-mail me at:erusso blackfoot.net [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by The C-I-R-C-L-E on October 28, 2002 at 11:56:17 PT Dr Russo I'd be interested in the rebuttals.Quote from article: "I agree with most scientific experts who assert that the future lies with pure synthetic cannabinoids as medications rather than marijuana," Martin wrote in an affidavit filed in Ontario Superior Court.Notice that this is a future tense statement that conveniently avoids the present success with MMJ. If we talk about the future only, we can ignore the present. I'm noticing this is a new common tactic: "There's therapeutic value, but wait til we control it thru chemicals. The current social habits are bad so you must avoid them until we save you."As a comparison, I run a solar business. And I agree with most scientific experts who assert that the future lies with renewable energy as power sources rather than fossil fuel. So does that mean we all get to ignore oil now and kick it out the door, because we know the future? Hardly. Every claim that is made on the liar's side is easily turned against them through comparative analysis with another issue. We need to use that... [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by p4me on October 28, 2002 at 08:52:57 PT It has to happen When is someone going to be pushed into the courtroom in a wheelchair, smoke some MJ, and get up and walk out for all to see. I just cannot see how writers on television have not raced to get this on the page. Especially when the District Attorney says he doesn't believe it and the plantiff's attorney looks at a long row of people in wheelchairs and says, "Next."The one thing Valarie and others should do is record interviews with their patients and put them on a DVD disk and start getting the videos out. It is coming and it will be these videos that completely anger the 4 out of 5 people that have overcome billions of dollars in brainwashing to say marijuana is medicine. The videos are coming...The videos are coming. One if by mail, two if by electons. The videos are coming and prohibition is going.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by BGreen on October 28, 2002 at 08:50:36 PT Vaporizer My God it's so simple, but they just don't get it. It will remove all of the dangers of combustion and will eliminate the "cancer" risk being hypothesized by the prohibitionist camp.I made my own vaporizer for under $15 and a little Missouri handy work. It works fantastic with my Ice-o-lator hash (thanks Mila!) [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo MD on October 28, 2002 at 07:59:09 PT: Comparisons I was an expert witness for the plaintiffs in this case, and wrote an extensive rebuttal to Billy Martin's testimony. I did my part gratis, and was happy to do so.I would be happy to E-mail my responses to Dr. Martin to any interested parties. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment