cannabisnews.com: New Research Will Test Effects On Patients New Research Will Test Effects On Patients Posted by FoM on December 05, 2000 at 13:11:09 PT Editorial Source: Bergen Record While the public appears to support the use of marijuana for medical reasons, there has never been definitive proof of the drug's healing powers. Now a number of studies may finally answer those questions. That's reassuring news for people who suffer from illnesses such as cancer, AIDS, and glaucoma, and who feel they could possibly benefit from the medicinal use of marijuana. Many doctors say the drug eases nausea and discomfort in patients undergoing chemotherapy, counters appetite and weight loss associated with AIDS, and relieves eye pressure caused by glaucoma. In fact, some patients say it is the only treatment that works to relieve their suffering.Until now, the evidence has been largely anecdotal, based mainly on the testimonials of sick people who feel the drug has helped them. But that is not the kind of evidence that can convince medical experts or serve as the basis for widespread use by patients. Given all the anecdotal evidence, no matter how compelling, scientific study is long overdue.That's why it makes sense that at least five studies are now planned to investigate those claims, with three sponsored by the National Institutes of Health. Most of the new research will probably examine the use of marijuana to treat pain, relieve nausea, and stop weight and appetite loss. It may also answer the question of whether the drug can help treat muscle spasticity conditions such as multiple sclerosis.Overall, the results of these studies should determine, fairly quickly, whether medical marijuana use is significantly helpful to patients or not, and whether it works better than existing prescription drugs.Adding to the equation is the recent announcement by the U.S. Supreme Court that it will hear arguments on whether marijuana can be provided to patients based on medical necessity, even though it is illegal under federal law to distribute the drug. The case, to be heard next year, involves the federal government's efforts to prevent a California group from providing marijuana to seriously ill patients. In addition to California, eight states have medical marijuana laws in place or approved by voters. The states have proceeded on their own, without any medical consensus on the effectiveness of the drug, and in defiance of federal law. That's why the Supreme Court's involvement in the medical marijuana issue, coupled with the pending research, is welcome.Source: Bergen Record (NJ)Author: Wendy Ruderman, Trenton BureauPublished: Tuesday, December 5, 2000Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp.Website: http://www.bergen.com/Contact: LettersToTheEditor bergen.comFeedback: http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/feedbackCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #12 posted by Jess on June 23, 2001 at 11:10:25 PT This is ridiculous All I am going to say is I'm glad most of you think GAD (Generalized Anxiety D/O) and Social Anxiety D/O are made up and crap.Interesting.Any of you actually know someone who has these diseases?You are all iditos and should take an abnormal psych class or maybe read up on how Paxil effects the reuptake of Serotonin in the brain, before you go spouting off about how GAD and Social Anxiety D/O aren't really diseases just governmental propaganda.Paxil and similar drugs do work.Oh and far as evidence and studies,I have taken part in 11 studies over the course of my life (I'm 22) at the Harvard University Medical Center on the genetic links to SAD/GAD and Panic D/O. It has been tested over and over again. Every study has been pusblished in the N.E. Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Medicine (both of which are available at any library) why don't you go and check thsoe out. So don't whine about statistical evidence because its out there you are just too misinformed or too underinformed to know that and you are making asses of yourselves. "In particular, the commercial shows a party of well dressed people twirling and chatting, everyone smiling and fulfilled - presumably the result of their having ingested Paxil. The commercial does not tell us how to diagnose their "disorder", one I had not heard about previously"Get pissed when Coke doesn't explain how they make their soda on tv. It is a commerical. Go to a frigging doctor. Damn I forgot....because you've never heard of it means it must not exist????? From reading your comments I can ascertain that you mustn't know a lot since SAD/GAD/ and Panic D/O are all taught in intro to psychology, abnormal psychology and every other psychology class out there....high school and college...what didn't pass elementary big surprise there?"pharmaceutical companies are responding to the public's desire for altered consciousness" Interesting. Know how SAD and GAD work? In people with the d/o, seratonin (or the chemical responsible for passing messages across the synapses in your CNS) is inadequately transferred from one neuron to another...triggering a glitch in a human flight or fight response...which causes anxiety attacks (which are nothing like what you described) and the often more severe panic attacks."I think MJ could be a way better treatment for anxiety,and much safer than pshyco potions like Paxil."Know the chemical structure of pot or THC to be more exact?...here's the bomb shell...I'm a pot smoker..been one for a long time as well. I'm in the fight for legalization just as much as all of you, but please don't lie to yourselves about what pot actually does to your body. And how it effects you. Be true to yourself about why you want to smoke it...but cut the crap about what's really going on when you smoke it. Pot is a depressant on your CNS...and your right MJ would calm you down initially, anyway, but as the drug begins to leave your system, it can actually make the anxiety and fear worse. Putting you in a worse situation than when you started. The same with alcohol...which is why alcoholics get into so much trouble when they stop drinking (DT's) etc. Because there is a saturation point with marajuana (why chronic smokers like myself fail to get high after a while) it would be a poor solution to the anxiety problem, while Paxil fixes the chemical imbalance....pot just covers it up temporarily. In order to smoke enough to make the syptoms subside, you would reach your saturation point in months making pot ineffective just in time for your syptoms to come back with a vengance. "Note that the medication is used by people who may be overly anxious about- public speaking- asking for a date- talking to your boss- going to parties"This is the biggest lie in this entire forum. Although those may be symptoms of anxiety, a patient taking Paxil must exhibit a plethora of symptoms associated with GAD/SAD or Panic D/O in order to have it prescribed to them. With a family history of GAD/SAD and PD, and a history of severe panic attacks, it still took me six months of observational therapy before I was put on the medication. This is not medication being prescribed because you can take to that supermodel in the class next to you.Oh and as for the commerical... you would want to see people partying it up in a commerical if you had been so terrified....for no apparent or tangible reason mind you...that you couldn't even leave your house for fear of a panic attack in public..or that you couldn't drive or go to the supermarket because of it...Five years ago I graduated 3rd in my class of 1600 kids. Before going back on Paxil, recently, I dropped out of college because I kept having panic attacks in class. To me and people like me just smiling and relaxing long enough to breathe one breath is reason enough to take Paxil. Regardless of side effects.For people like the most of you who have never had to deal with panic attacks or legitimate anxiety attacks it is easy to say what you did above. Most of it is ignorance some of it is angst. But please above all go get an education before you start spouting off about someone else and what diseases they may suffer from. Saying I never heard of it, it must be propaganda is why the Legalization front isn't getting anywhere...how can we advance the legalization issue if the only people on our side loud enoguh to be heard are idiots like this, who postulate with out ever picking up a book or doing some research on the internet."Or other ads that say such things as; "Most peoples reaction were about the same as with sugar pills",,,,or weight loss pills;,,,"May cause sudden,or unexpected oily discharge" You should really listen...it said "Other side effects such as headache, nausea, etc.....were seen as often as in studies using sugar pills..." Meaning...let me break this down for you since you seem slow...In a double-blind test (which Paxil was tested using) The people taking sugar pills and the people taking Paxil showed the same occurance of certain side-effects, such as nausea, headaches etc. and as for this..."The commercial suggests that Social Anxiety Disorder "may be associated" with "a chemical imbalance" and that Paxil can "help" with this "imbalance"." Maybe you should take an English class too while your all at it. Does this explain it for you weak ass losers??? This imbalance of chemicals in your brain which Paxil fixes, may be caused by SAD...it may be caused by other things...either way if you have the imbalance...Paxil will fix it. Paxil is prescribed for lots of other things other than SAD/ GAD or PD it can also be prescribed for Obsessive Compuslive D/O, Depression, and lots of other things. The commercial is worded that way in case you don't have SAD but still have the imbalance. Your so nearsighted and closeminded that you are digging for shit when its not even there....How bout putting down that bowl while I go to smoke mine and picking up a book for once before you open your uneducated and ignorant mouths. If anything...it only shows how stupid and undereducated you really are. [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by joe momma on April 26, 2001 at 22:05:38 PT paxil you dumb ass stoners dont know shit. get up off the couch, quit smoking blunts, and do some thing with your lives besides blamming the government for your problems and so called conspiracys. this medicine helps millions of people who suffer from depresion, obsessive compulsive disorders, GAD, SAD, and panic disorders. marijuana causes cancer, anxiety, and depresion, and ruins peoples lives by taking their energy and motivation away. and believe me...i used to smoke weed every day so i know!by the way, paxil isnt habit forming, and side effects are minimal compared to most anti-depresants. marijuana and paxil are both mind altering drugs... smoking a jay fucks you up way more than taking paxil. weed bad paxil good, lick my balls [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by dddd on December 06, 2000 at 16:44:56 PT Packsull "This is what it looks like,,,this is what it feels like" I've been thinking exactly the same thing about these TV ads,Lehder.They seem to have been steadily building up to this level.The contradiction is indeed,quite grotesque,as the supreme court decides if it's OK for voters to allow MMJ...Astonishingly absurd,and fraught with eminent hypocracy! I find it quite shocking to hear these ads ask questions like; "Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable in public?"....This is a whole new level of suggestive and subliminal mischeif,,on national TV.These are not Reeses peanut butter cup,or SUVs',these are some major psycho drugs,and the ads are definatly reaching a full saturation mode...This is scandalous! I find it kindof amusing,(in a sick way),that they are required to include the quickly,and softly spoken warnings at the end of the ads...."Paxil is not for everyone,,people who are taking MAO inhibiters should not take Paxil"...etc..."Tell your doctor if your liver or kidney is shot" Or other ads that say such things as; "Most peoples reaction were about the same as with sugar pills",,,,or weight loss pills;,,,"May cause sudden,or unexpected oily discharge" The weirdest part,is that they are actually getting away with it. It goes on,apparently unnoticed by the save the children crowd,,and I think I know why you dont hear much criticism,,,,these pharmaceutical giants are a major part of most portfolios,and mutual funds of the upper crusty.SKB goes down,and they have to drive around in a "99 Mercedes or SUV for another year. The whole thing is most repugnant and disgusting. Thank you for the excellent links Lehder.....you are cool...........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by Lehder on December 06, 2000 at 15:42:03 PT for U. S. citizens only Steady there, dddd, before doing anything rash! I'm not a physician, but perhaps this is what you need (Note - link is intended for use by U.S. citizens only):http://www.paxil.com/Note that the medication is used by people who may be overly anxious about - public speaking - asking for a date - talking to your boss - going to partiesHere are the side effects ( U. S. citizens only):http://www.sb.com/prescribing_information/2000.cgi?drug=px&from=http://www.paxil.com&fromname=Back+to+Paxil.comThe aspect of the Paxil commercial that I find most troublesome is that it seems to push, for the first time I know of, a *mind-altering* medication on TV, and one that is also gruesomely addictive for many who use it. The list of circumstances for taking Paxil, and the general party tone of the commercial, seem also to approve the nearly casual use of this drug. This strikes me as more than a mere contradiction of our drug war culture and what is generally allowed on tv. I would conjecture that, on the basis of widespread illegal drug use, pharmaceutical companies are responding to the public's desire for altered consciousness and intend to provide what is wanted legally and for a profit, while keeping other less harmful and more natural substances illegal. We know that the drug companies want to keep mj illegal for clear financial reasons, but this is the first product I've seen advertised expressly for changing your head. Are drug companies going to try to compete with the dealers of contraband drugs?Considering its multifarious uses in stressful situations, I wonder if Paxil can be recommended to the person who is anxious over an imminent drug test? [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by dddd on December 06, 2000 at 13:25:05 PT oops I should have known.I guess the "Whoa there",is what threw me. I'm gonna blame you though.You shouldnt be so mild in your sarcasm.I think you might have caused me to have an anxiety disorder attack.Now I'm going to have to fire up some medication since I dont know where to score any Paxil,and I probably couldnt afford it anyway.JAH be with you....dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Lehder on December 06, 2000 at 09:38:45 PT contradictions and contra-indications Sorry my sarcasm was not plain enough. I detest the Paxil commercial too. The commercial suggests that Social Anxiety Disorder "may be associated" with "a chemical imbalance" and that Paxil can "help" with this "imbalance". I have never heard a more tenuous argument for a "medicine's" efficacy. Evidently, though, for pharmaceutical companies and the FDA, these are sufficient tests for Paxil to be legal and even advertised as doing something for someone, in strong distinction to marijuana messages. By standards less demanding than those of the commercial, studies of marijuana and driving could be cited to show a commercial of people lighting up reefers, getting behind the wheel of a luxury car and driving expertly and safely at high speeds up a twisty mountain road, passing the little people in older cars who are not on Schedule I drugs and winning a girl at the finish line. In particular, the commercial shows a party of well dressed people twirling and chatting, everyone smiling and fulfilled - presumably the result of their having ingested Paxil. The commercial does not tell us how to diagnose their "disorder", one I had not heard about previously. It concludes, though, with a list of unpleasant side effects which I will not try to recite from memory but none of which I want, thanks anyway. The commercial certainly does not advise of the powerful weeks-long withdrawel many people suffer when trying to quit Paxil.These kinds of gross contradictions in the government's attitude toward drugs, legal and illegal, are juxtraposed in 30 second spots on television. It's hard not to notice them. But many people still don't.I like your many good and intelligent comments, dddd. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by dddd on December 06, 2000 at 07:39:03 PT paxil Lehder...Check out;http://www.breggin.com/paxilcomplaint.html I'm not trying to say that there are people with anxiety disorders,who are helped by these type of drugs.My main gripe is the way that they are pushing them on TV,and suggesting that people have a "disorder".These glitzy commercials from mega-pharmaceutical companies,do not sit well with me.The claims that more "research" must be done to make sure MJ is safe are totally bogus.You will know what I mean when you check out the link. I think MJ could be a way better treatment for anxiety,and much safer than pshyco potions like Paxil. I have an anxiety disorder caused by being really pissed off that pot is illegal,,and pot is the only thing I've found that relieves my symptoms. If the drug companies could patent "Budzil",,or "Potzoft",you can bet it would be seen as legitimate medicine right away..........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Lehder on December 06, 2000 at 06:37:27 PT - none - ( to fool Carnivore) Whoa there, dddd! Paxil has been fully studied. I'm quoting from memory but very accurately I think. The beginning of the Paxil commercial says the drug can "help correct a chemical imbalance that may be associated with Social Anxiety Disorder". That's right - "may be associated".What kind of a person would be against correcting disorders and imbalances?If you do not yet have an anxiety disorder, read this from Investor's Business Daily page A22: "In Britain, The Observer reports that the country's 'intelligence services are seeking powers to seize all records of telephone calls, e-mails and Internet connections made by every person living in this country.' ...officials 'are demanding new legislation to log every phone call made in this country and store the information for seven years in a vast, government-run data-warehouse.' American and British citizens should be alarmed. If, for instance, a U.S. doctor is being investigated for Medicare fraud or a British doctor is suspected of tax misconduct, government would have access to patients' personal e-mail. This is a mild example of what could happen. If government misuses its crime-fighting tools, it becomes more of a danger than the criminals."But why would you object, if you have nothing to hide?Pop a few Paxils. Relax. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on December 05, 2000 at 20:24:59 PT Mistake I just wanted to mention that I posted this article 2 times. I really try not to do that but I goofed! Sorry!Peace, FoM! [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by dddd on December 05, 2000 at 17:41:48 PT More Wanna see some more outstanding propaganda?http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1821/a02.html?397 [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by dddd on December 05, 2000 at 17:32:13 PT Here we go again Another bunch of studies sponsored by that crooked old lyin',cheatin' bastard uncle sam.There is no shortage of studies on weed,this is just another ploy to stall and delay the factual reality. Havn't noticed sam doing very much serious research on alcohol.Where was sam when Paxil was allowed to flood the market with glitzy TV commercials that suggest that you may have "Social Anxiety Disorder",(S.A.D.),,,or,,believe it or not,there is actuall a condition known as "General Anxiety Disorder"...(GAD). This is a freekin' scam and a scandal that is already way out of bounds. These articles that talk of "studies",and "research",always have the bullshit innocent crap like," Until now, the evidence has been largely anecdotal,",,,or,"Given all the anecdotal evidence, no matter how compelling, scientific study is long overdue.",,,,or how about,"Overall, the results of these studies should determine, fairly quickly, whether medical marijuana use is significantly helpful topatients or not, and whether it works better than existing prescription drugs."......................WHAT A PILE OF F*&KING CRAP.... Dont be fooled,this is pure propaganda,straight from the evil empire of the ondcp,and their henchmen.........dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Dave in Florida on December 05, 2000 at 15:33:03 PT Definitive Proof >Overall, the results of these studies should determine, fairly quickly, whether medical marijuana use is significantly helpful to patients or not, and whether it works better than existing prescription drugs.Again, I ask why should marijuana have to "work better" than other drugs. It is a plant for crying outloud! People just want to be able to grow there own herb and relax without the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT stepping in and saying "you can't do that">The states have proceeded on their own, without any medical consensus on the effectiveness of the drug, and in defiance of federal law.Since when is a ballot initiative against federal law? 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