cannabisnews.com: $3 Million in Marijuana Studies Approved





$3 Million in Marijuana Studies Approved
Posted by FoM on February 23, 2001 at 12:13:15 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Contra Costa Times
Researchers in California will begin a $3 million effort to examine the medical benefits and risks of marijuana as soon as May.The Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research announced Thursday the approval of four studies that eventually will lead to guidelines for the use of marijuana by people with HIV or multiple sclerosis.
California voters legalized the medicinal use of marijuana more than four years ago, but the drug remains an illegal narcotic under federal law. The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a challenge to medical marijuana next month.Federal officials have provided little funding for marijuana's potential medicinal benefits, but medical marijuana legalization in California and six other states has led the government to increasingly call for evidence that the drug has therapeutic value.Igor Grant, a psychiatry professor at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the cannabis center, said unbiased university research should answer basic questions about marijuana and help "reset the national thermostat on this issue."He added that he hopes the state-sponsored research announced Thursday will lead to more ambitious, federally funded studies.Research teams at UC San Francisco and UC San Diego will examine how smoked marijuana affects HIV-related pain. Other studies will examine whether pot can ease spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis, and the drug's effect on the driving abilities of patients with AIDS or MS.Although the scientists have the money to conduct the studies, they do not yet have the drugs.The only source of research-grade marijuana in the United States is a federal farm at the University of Mississippi, and the researchers still must get approval from agencies including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Food and Drug Administration to obtain the cannabis.Grant said federal regulators are interested in the research as long as those conducting it are "serious people looking at serious medical questions and not approaching it from some advocacy position."Source: Contra Costa Times (CA)Published: Friday, February 23, 2001 Copyright: 2001 Contra Costa Newspapers Inc.Address: 2640 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598Website: http://www.contracostatimes.com/Feedback: http://www.contracostatimes.com/contact_us/letters.htmRelated Articles:Marijuana Research Buddinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8771.shtmlScientist Announce Study on Medicinal Value of Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8769.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by Angry Student on May 17, 2001 at 12:48:07 PT
Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court's ruling on the issue of medical marijuana left millions of Americans wondering," What does this mean?"The decision came on the issue of producing and distributing marijuana, and not on the use of medical marijuana. While it is still legal for medicinal use in 8 states, The Supreme Court has pretty much told Americans that they have to go to the street dealers to get it. Thanks for keeping my friends in business!
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Comment #1 posted by Nathan Gardner on April 19, 2001 at 10:31:25 PT:
Pain-Stress Reducer.......Men/Women,Different Hi's
 First of,I am extremely impressed with the U.S.'s awakening on the effects of THC on the brain and emotions. Personally, I have found that marijuana can be very effective for pain and stress. The type of pain and type of stress are also factors. For emotional stress such as that found in relationships, marijuana settles the mind and allows the person to gather logical thoughts(rather than losing the temper and saying and doing irrational things). As for pain, the type of pain which is most affected is that of muscle soreness.(Primarily caused by athletic activity) Nausea is also a area were marijuana can be a helpful adversary....but everybody knows that. There one other subject which I have not researched thoroughly, but i found to be interesting none the less. Men and women experience different highs. Why? Why shouldnt women take andro and why shoudlnt men take estrogene pills. Our body's are different and have different chemicals that produce slightly different effects. One last thing, i have also heard of paid studies for young men and women in the area of marijuana. If you have any information on these studies please do not hesitate to reply. Once again...NateGanja420 aol.com
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