cannabisnews.com: On Marijuana As Medicine 





On Marijuana As Medicine 
Posted by FoM on December 30, 2000 at 07:25:50 PT
By Lynne M. Kook
Source: Bergen Record
I agree that scientific studies on medical uses of marijuana are long overdue ("Medical marijuana," Editorial, Dec. 5). However, I question whether testing marijuana as a medicine is even practical.Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most active ingredient in pot, has been available since the 1980s in synthetic pill form called Marinol. Testing has been completed on this product. 
One of the drawbacks is that Marinol takes a few hours to become effective, and then it is almost impossible to maintain at therapeutic levels in the bloodstream. A cigarette is an efficient drug delivery system. The chemicals reach the bloodstream in seconds and then go directly to the brain. The user can regulate the effects puff by puff.We know of marijuana's effectiveness largely from the testimonials of sick people who say it is the only treatment that works to relieve their suffering. This fact should be sufficiently satisfactory evidence to regulators.Patients have already stated that marijuana relieves their pain and helps stop weight and appetite loss. How many more studies are needed and at what cost? It is my understanding Canada began clinical trials in 1999. What are the results of those studies?At issue is the job of making marijuana an official prescription medicine. In its natural form, it cannot be patented. Therefore, drug companies have not undertaken the costly testing and could stand to lose millions on their products should it become legal to distribute as a medicine. Once again, it is the patient who loses out to the interests of the big lobbyists.Lynne M. Kook, Palisades ParkThe writer is a registered nurse. Source: Bergen Record (NJ)Author: Lynne M. KookPublished: December 29, 2000Copyright: 2000 Bergen Record Corp.Address: 150 River St., Hackensack, NJ 07601Fax: (201) 646-4749Contact: LettersToTheEditor bergen.comWebsite: http://www.bergen.com/Feedback: http://www.bergen.com/cgi-bin/feedbackRelated Article:Medical Marijuana: New Research Will Test Effects http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7889.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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