cannabisnews.com: Research Could Help Sidestep Politics of Marijuana










  Research Could Help Sidestep Politics of Marijuana

Posted by CN Staff on December 23, 2004 at 22:50:56 PT
By Kelly Davis, Anderson Independent-Mail 
Source: Anderson Independent-Mail 

Clemson -- Work by a Clemson University team led by chemist John Huffman eventually could help the federal government and states extricate themselves from the politically charged issue of medical marijuana, which the U.S. Supreme Court also is examining. Marijuana can be smoked legitimately for medical benefits, including relief of pain and nausea from a variety of ailments, in 11 states, but the federal government three years ago won a Supreme Court decision that the drug is not exempt from federal anti-narcotic laws.
Mr. Huffman and his team have been working on and off for two decades on federally funded research into cannabinoids, the chemicals in marijuana that confer its potency in the brain. Mr. Huffman in particular is working on synthetic versions of the substances that provide the same medical benefits of marijuana without side effects such as an unwanted high or lung damage. The Supreme Court has taken up the issue again. Sometime before next summer, it will rule on Raich vs. Ashcroft, a case originating with a lawsuit filed by Oakland, Calif., resident Angel Raich and Oroville, Calif., landlord and accountant Diane Monson. The women have a variety of ailments that result in chronic pain and/or nausea, and have taken advantage of California’s medical marijuana laws to grow and use their own marijuana. California’s law says people can grow or otherwise obtain and use the hemp species if a doctor signs off on the medical purpose. Ms. Raich had tried and rejected other pain medications for scoliosis, a brain tumor and chronic nausea. Marijuana did work, and she began growing and using it daily. Ms. Monson, 47, had used marijuana occasionally since college, but began using it regularly six years ago for relief from back pain and spasms, she said. The back pain has been part of her life 25 years, and she had noticed relief from her recreational use. Her doctor was involved in the decision to begin medicinal use, she said. But her six pot plants were seized by federal officials citing laws prohibiting cultivation and use of marijuana, and she sued. Ms. Raich joined as a potential victim, although her plants were not taken. The Bush administration and other opponents of medical marijuana have argued that legalization will harm the war on drugs and drug addiction. Other states with medical marijuana laws are Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont and Washington. Mr. Huffman said his work with synthetic cannabinoids includes compounds in several classes, some resembling those found in marijuana. He and four other Clemson researchers are working with scientists at Virginia Commonwealth University; in Aberdeen, Scotland; and the University of Madrid in Spain. "The goal of our research is to try to define the detailed chemical structure of compounds as it relates to their biological activity," he said. For example, using synthetic molecules to do the research, they would like to pin down exactly what physical structures in the brain and cannabinoids give rise to marijuana’s typical high. The purpose is to develop molecules that do not give the high, but which still interact in the brain to confer cannabinoid-like benefits. One issue is that the high and the anti-nausea benefit come from action by the cannabinoid THC on the same cell structures, so separating the effects is a challenge. "THC is the most effective anti-nausea drug there is, and other than the effect that it causes a high, it has relatively few side effects," Mr. Huffman said. A version of THC, called Marinol, already is available for treatment of nausea or to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients, but it causes a high, which many users find uncomfortable or consider taboo, he said. Ms. Monson said she was glad to hear of Mr. Huffman’s research. "I believe that this drug being a schedule I drug with heroin and crank has really hindered the research and development we need," she said. "I’m glad someone is trying something." Source: Anderson Independent-Mail (SC)Author: Kelly Davis, Anderson Independent-MailPublished: December 23, 2004Copyright: 2004 Independent Publishing CompanyContact: online andersonsc.comWebsite: http://www.independentmail.com/Related Articles & Web Site: Angel Raich v. Ashcroft Newshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/raich.htmOff The Interstate - Cato Institutehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20057.shtmlCannabis and The Constitutionhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20027.shtmlHigh Court -- High Anxietyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19935.shtml 

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Comment #17 posted by Hope on December 26, 2004 at 12:43:08 PT
Check it out
Mapinc's first page of news today has got a bunch of published letters from The Baltimore Sun that are very encouraging to read.http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/
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Comment #16 posted by dr slider on December 25, 2004 at 09:52:28 PT:
charmed quark
The reason the side effects in your Marinol are so severe is precicely because medical reductionism won't allow the accessory cans-n-terps to mediate the THC. You'll never separate the "useful medical" effects from the "high" because it is the same compound that's been found to be so active. I'd venture to guess that the change of the mind that mothers use to petrify their children ("Those trees Do Not Have Faces!" "Not Real!!!") fascilitate the "medical benefits". The solution is a well stocked list of breeds with various chemical blends.In Love
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Comment #15 posted by charmed quark on December 25, 2004 at 05:27:50 PT
Dr. Slider
Charmed is one of the "flavors" or quarks in quantum chromodynamics.The reason I think it would be a good thing if something could be developed with cannabinoids' properties but without the high is that not everybody can tolerate the "high". I have to take marinol nearly everyday and I dislike the psychoactive effects at this point. It might be fun once in a while, but not all the time. Luckily, one does get use to it to some degree.Some of the natural cannabinoids in cannabis might do the trick. Supposably, CBD and CBN moderates the high of THC and have pain and antiimflammatory reduction effects of their own. I'm told that in California and Canada, people have been breeding cannabis with only a slight "high" but very potent medical effects.
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Comment #14 posted by dr slider on December 25, 2004 at 02:42:08 PT:
Merry Christness
charmed(?) quark They're made by your body and they grow of the earth, and you think it would be "great" to hire the most profit ladel corporations on the planet to "sinthesize" the wonderful natural cannabinoids (not to forget the terpinoids)?????Not the most becoming day to call bull***t... but when it screams?Thanks and Praise to Jah, and all of his children. Most especially all of you.Merry Christness
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Comment #13 posted by FoM on December 24, 2004 at 20:21:11 PT
Ron
Merry Christmas to you too. The only tool I have used that seems fairly accurate is this one. Mapinc. people use this one too. I guess I don't understand domain prices but I know you do. Someone wants to buy CNews but I said no it's not for sale. Actually two people have asked to buy it but this site is too special to me. The people here are really kind and serious and that's what I want for this site. A place to talk about news and when things get tough in the world a place to vent about it. 
 Thank you for making CNews. Without your dream of developing this url we wouldn't be here today.http://www.trafficranking.com/
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Comment #12 posted by Ron Bennett on December 24, 2004 at 20:05:19 PT
Merry Christmas FoM and All
FoM ... Merry Christmas and wish you and everyone at Cannabis News a happy new year :)Ron
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Comment #11 posted by Ron Bennett on December 24, 2004 at 19:59:39 PT
Domain Names with quality traffic are valuable
Why would a web site be worth so much money? I have't been to this site except a few times over the years so I might not know why it is worth so muchThe website isn't what's valuable, it's the domain name it's on that's valuable. The buyer likely won't even want the website that's there.With that said, I'll be surprised if Rick Garcia sells the domain anytime soon; he is co-owner of it along with another person ... I won't get personal here beyond pointing out that Rick was practically run off DNForum.com (where many of the top domain name speculators are) about a week ago.And it's very telling he went with some no name brokerage place (listing way crazy prices) which charges a seemingly excessive brokerage fee of 25% compared to more well known brokerages such as GreatDomains.com that charge a fee of around 10%.Is it worth a Million? ... yes. $1.5 Million? ... likely yes again. $8+ Million? ... well, that would surprise me based on the stated 18,000 unique visitors it supposedly gets.If he can sell marijuana.com for $8 Million, then cannabis.com (gets similar, if not more, traffic than marijuana.com) is worth a heck of lot more than I thought - not planning to sell it anytime soon, but sure makes me wonder what the heck some folks out there are smoking! I need to get some of that! LOL!Ron
DNForum - where domain name speculators hang out (my handle there is valuenames)
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on December 24, 2004 at 11:59:59 PT
charmed quark 
Merry Christmas to you too. Have a great holiday. 
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Comment #9 posted by charmed quark on December 24, 2004 at 11:56:41 PT
Artificial cannabinoids
While I think it would be great if someone could develope artificial cannabinoids that have the antinausea properties and pain relief of natural ones, but without the high, it also scares me.I'm extremely phobic of medications after years of being prescribed pharmaceuticals that sometimes have severe side effects.At least cannabis has been in use for thousands of years and is know to be reasonably safe. Additionally, due to the Drug War, people have been intensively studying it for negative side effects. At this point, it is probably the most studied drug in the world for side effects. Too bad some of this effort couldn't have been spent on Celebrex and the NSAIDs. I was shocked when I read an article about Aleve possibly increasing heart attacks. In the article, the researcher said that none of the NSAIDs have ever been studied for long-term negative effects!Merry Christmas all-CQ
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on December 24, 2004 at 11:55:28 PT
afterburner
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you. This Christmas I am worried because of the war. I've never felt worried about something happening on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve but because of the times we are in now I am worried. I will keep praying for Peace on Earth Good Will To Mankind.
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Comment #7 posted by afterburner on December 24, 2004 at 11:50:57 PT
Synthetic: Good for Cars, Not People
Synthetic oil seems to be better for protecting (hu)man-made engines. I am not man-made, except for one special man and one special woman: I need organic medicine as created by God, not (hu)man-made imitations. Synthetics are fine for emergency intervention, but they are *not* superior to the Creator's handiwork. Merry AnointedOneMass!
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on December 24, 2004 at 10:01:11 PT
Hope
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family too!
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Comment #5 posted by Hope on December 24, 2004 at 09:48:49 PT
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Cooking a big dinner today. Folks ought to start arriving in about an hour. I thought I'd take this last minute before the crowd hits to wish all my friends at CannabisNews Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!You guys are dear to my soul. Sending you all a great big cyber-hug and best wishes!
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 24, 2004 at 07:59:56 PT

Marijuana.com is for sale starting at $1.5 Million
 Why would a web site be worth so much money? I have't been to this site except a few times over the years so I might not know why it is worth so much.http://www.24-7pressrelease.com/view_release.php?rID=2457
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Comment #3 posted by The GCW on December 24, 2004 at 05:42:40 PT

The persecution of salami.
You can't smuggle salami into Australia
PERTH, Australia — Customs officials in Australia are serious about the country’s quarantine laws — and that’s no baloney.A Swiss national discovered that when he was caught at Perth International Airport trying to smuggle a salami in his luggage. Dylan Pascal Graves, who was studying English in Western Australia state, was fined $3,057 at the Perth Magistrates Court.Australia has strict quarantine laws, and customs officials inspect all incoming flights for agricultural pests and food that could carry diseases. Sniffer dogs patrol airport terminals and luggage is passed through X-ray machines.Graves twice told customs officials in November that he was not carrying any food, but an X-ray revealed salami meat concealed in his luggage. When asked why he had not declared the salami, Graves said he had planned to eat it.Graves was charged with making a misleading statement to an officer and knowingly importing prohibited food into the country.http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20041223/NEWS/41223003

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Comment #2 posted by FoM on December 23, 2004 at 23:14:17 PT

Carly Simon
Tonight Carly Simon was on a show and she is fighting hard to change the Mandatory Minimum laws. She was married to James Taylor and their son Ben Taylor became friends with John Forté. He tried to make money to produce his own music and got caught with a large amount of drugs. He is serving 14 years and Carly Simon put up over $200,000 bail for him. It's interesting because James Taylor was a Heroin addict while they were married so she knows all about the drug scene. We have a James Taylor DVD and it's great. We just watched it again today. I thought some here might want to check it out.http://www.carlysimon.comhttp://www.carlysimon.com/links/links.shtml
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Comment #1 posted by dr slider on December 23, 2004 at 23:02:57 PT:

crap sandwiches for Christmas
Didn't get through paragraph three before they claim phytocannabinoids act only on the brain, no mention of phytoterpinoids...next load of crap please.
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