cannabisnews.com: Trial Run Planned on Dispensing Marijuana Trial Run Planned on Dispensing Marijuana Posted by FoM on November 25, 2000 at 09:18:03 PT By Sean Webby, Mercury News Source: San Jose Mercury News When the first bundles of government marijuana from a University of Mississippi farm begin arriving early next year, San Mateo County will become the first place in the country to test the practicality of doling out marijuana to outpatient AIDS patients to ease their suffering.It is, as its head investigator, Dr. Dennis Israelski, described it, a study of a process. Rather than a study of how marijuana would be regulated and how effective it is as a treatment, the program is meant to lay groundwork for future studies on regulation. Admittedly dry stuff, but one that could eventually become the foundation of the legal growth, distribution and medicinal prescription of marijuana.Many cancer, AIDS and glaucoma patients already use marijuana, often bought illegally on the street. California and half a dozen other states have passed measures to allow the drug's medicinal use if prescribed by a physician. But there are few legal sources.Israelski, the county's head clinical researcher, will oversee the three-month trial in which marijuana cigarettes will be given to 60 HIV and AIDS patients who suffer from a disorder that causes numbness and pain.Doling out up to five marijuana cigarettes a day to the patients and then collecting the butts as evidence they were smoked, the program's researchers will monitor and survey the patients to see if they adhere to the program's rules. Will patients sell or give away some of their supply? Will they supplement the relatively weak marijuana with stronger street pot? Will the use of the drug lead to abuse of other illegal drugs? Half of the patients, those who have been regularly using marijuana before the study, must agree not to smoke marijuana at all for the first six weeks of the program. Will these patients abstain?Israelski will also monitor whether the patients using the drug gain appetite and, thusly, weight, as they smoke. The doctor will also survey the patients about whether the drug soothes pain.After the 12 weeks are up, Israelski and his team will do follow-up research with the patients for another nine months.But Israelski said this study was not intended to comprehensively test the effectiveness of marijuana as a treatment. There were too few people, too little time and not enough county money to do that, he said.``Before the world goes too far down the road with trials, we want to make sure prescribing marijuana will be feasible,'' he said.Other studies have showed that marijuana can relieve pain, nausea and muscle spasms for people who suffer from a wide variety of illnesses. Already the county is in the federal pipeline for approval to begin a similar pilot program with people who are suffering from cancer.When the Department of Drug Enforcement became the last to sign off on the test Wednesday and gave the county its official clinical trial number, San Mateo's three-year effort to study the drug budded. In 1996, Californians passed Proposition 215, legalizing possession, cultivation and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. But lawmakers have tussled on how to grow, prescribe and distribute it. The proposition was the impetus for the county to forge its groundbreaking path to the current study.Supervisor Mike Nevin, a former San Francisco police officer, has been one of the program's main proponents.Nevin said his conversations with the late Joni Commons, deputy director of the county health department in San Mateo, convinced him that the drug should be studied. Commons, who had breast cancer, said smoking marijuana eased the pain and nausea caused by chemotherapy. She died in 1998.``She was the one that satisfied me that this worked,'' Nevin said. ``I'm not in favor of legalization of marijuana or any drugs, but why wouldn't we make this available to people who are suffering?''At first, Nevin said he believed the best way to provide the marijuana was to use plants seized in law enforcement raids. But experts explained to him that seized marijuana came in widely varying quality and strength.He then found out that the government was growing its own. The University of Mississippi grows the government-approved marijuana on about two acres at a secure site.After budgeting $500,000 to the study three years ago, the county awaited government approval.``The government will be watching us closely on this one,'' Nevin said.Contact Sean Webby at: swebby sjmercury.com or (650) 688-7577. Fax (650) 688-7555.Note: Officials Watching San Mateo County, Host Of New Study.Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)Author: Sean Webby, Mercury News Published: November 24, 2000Copyright: 2000 San Jose Mercury NewsContact: letters sjmercury.comAddress: 750 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA 95190Fax: (408) 271-3792Website: http://www.sjmercury.com/Related Articles: Medical Pot To Be Studied in 60 Cases http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7744.shtmlStudy Finds Pot Safe for AIDS Patientshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread6390.shtmlIs Marijuana Really Medicine?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7705.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #9 posted by defenderoffreeworld on November 26, 2000 at 15:32:55 PT: what's going on? what kind of study is this? when did we ever see, in the history of medical studies, people that have been asked to 'stop using' their medicine, to see if it has a negative effect. we are comming to the point where human life is worth crap, and no one realizes this. if these patients end up dying, the government will probably say 'yeah, well, we gotta do some further testing' and what not. they aren't going to just give up and admit that marijuana is a good medicine. in the meantime, the lives of may people that in fact do have caring relatives and significant others are at stake. [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by freedom fighter on November 26, 2000 at 12:25:18 PT Why should they do such a study like that? When they already did with the monkeys and found they are not truly addict to cannabis? Why are we letting them do another study when we already had a doctor who works with Aids down in S.F CA. had already documented the fact it works for people who have Aids? Forcing folks with Aids to abstain, why? Does anybody remember what happend to Peter McWillams?The way I see it, we, the brave and free americans are letting a group conducting a monkey study on the folks that are truly sick. Right out of a Frankstien movie! [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by dddd on November 26, 2000 at 00:34:23 PT Study this I'm sorry to sound bitter,but this "study" sucks in the way that it is complicating,and f%#king with something that is really simple.Do you think they are going to find that marijuana really doesnt make these these people feel better and less sick?Will it be some sort of suprize if and when they verify that these AIDS sufferers were not just trying to cop a buzz?After going through all this highly funded research,do you think any of the anti-psychos will actually say;"Oh,I guess we were wrong"?,,,,,No way. They will try to hold on to their anti position as long as they can,because for them,it's not a matter of reality,or science,or compassion,for them it's an obsession,and a misguided hateful illusion. I'm not saying that this "study",is a bad thing,but I'm really tired of this bizzarre battle against a small group of small minded powerful people.If any one of these antis got to see one of their close friends,or family members wither away from AIDS,they would see how ridiculous it is to question sick and dying people about whether or not marijuana is benificial to them.....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by lguy on November 25, 2000 at 23:13:09 PT: I hope "the study" deserves the sacrafice Well if the ANY of the AIDS patients do stop using their medicine; foresaking food and sleep,suffering more pain for the sake of the study, I hope "the study" marks those patients near certain decline in wellness. That "study" I hope, will also document those same patients will improve when they get teir cannabis. The "Study" will learn what half the AIS patient already know; they will eat better, sleep better and better tollerate pain with less narcotics. And for the other half; those who didn't use marijana when it was illegal, they will be freed. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on November 25, 2000 at 20:44:48 PT It's Just Not Smart At All Hi Frank! I really mind that requirement. I knew of a person with full blow AIDS that stayed fairly healthy and then his partner died who never smoked and he got depressed and quit smoking Cannabis and listened to the doctors and he was dead in six months. He had been infected for 15 years. These are issues that must be addressed. No patients health is worth being part of this study if their health can be affected. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Frank S. World on November 25, 2000 at 20:18:20 PT I agree, FOM That worries me too, FOM. Requiring patients to stop using their medicine for six weeks could cause irreparable harm. It is a dangerous requirement to insist patients adhere to. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on November 25, 2000 at 20:10:25 PT My 2 cents This part of the article below brought me concern. My opinion is an AIDS patient that uses Cannabis already will find it hard to stop for six weeks. It won't be because of any addictive potential but they need it to keep their pills down and a little food in their stomach. AIDS patients can't afford six weeks without Cannabis without suffering health problems.Half of the patients, those who have been regularly using marijuana before the study, must agree not to smoke marijuana at all for the first six weeks of the program. Will these patients abstain? [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Frank S. World on November 25, 2000 at 19:52:20 PT a baby step This study is really a baby step, but it is good they are actually allowing a little research, despite the numerous constraints and limitations.Lots more is needed, but in the meantime, patients should have immediate legal access. No more stalling! No more suppressing research! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by MikeEEEEE on November 25, 2000 at 10:01:49 PT future studies on regulation Very wise of the government to regulate.They've had enough time, they shouldn't stall. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: