cannabisnews.com: State Backs UCSD Look Into Pot as Medicine





State Backs UCSD Look Into Pot as Medicine
Posted by FoM on February 23, 2001 at 14:59:12 PT
By Bill Ainsworth, Staff Writer 
Source: Union-Tribune
 California is about to fund the nation's first scientific studies to look at whether marijuana can relieve symptoms and pain associated with AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Three of the four grants are set to go to researchers at UC San Diego, which operates the state's cannabis research center, scientists announced yesterday.The state-financed center, which has $3 million in research grants to give out this year, is the only research institute in the nation set up to examine whether marijuana can serve as a medicine.
"Truly, if we can discover some benefit here, it will make a major step forward in patient care," said Dr. Igor Grant, director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.For decades, federal policies have discouraged and even prohibited such studies. By contrast, the federal government has generously funded studies examining the harmful effects of marijuana."It is the first money earmarked for looking at cannabis as a therapeutic rather than looking at its ill effects," said Donald Abrams, a University of California San Francisco researcher who will receive one of the grants.Scientists believe the center, which has a tiny budget by the standards of national research institutes, can have an effect on medical research policy.First, they hope California researchers can demonstrate that studies involving pot-smoking patients can be conducted in a serious scientific manner.Abrams also believes that the center's work might spur larger studies. Results that show marijuana has promise as a treatment for certain symptoms, he said, could be used by researchers to seek money for larger studies from national research centers.Two of the studies recommended for funding would look at whether smoking marijuana helps relieve nerve pain that comes with HIV. Current drugs have proved ineffective at blunting the pain, researchers said.Dr. Ronald Ellis of UCSD would conduct one of those studies, while Abrams would conduct the other.Another study, to be carried out by Dr. Jody Corey-Bloom at UCSD, would examine the effects of smoking marijuana on spasticity, a symptom of multiple sclerosis that causes pain, spasms and loss of function.The final study in the first round of grants, to be carried out by Thomas Marcotte, a UCSD researcher, would look at the effects of pot smoking on driving ability.All four of the recommended studies, which would receive $1.9 million over three years, must gain final approval from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Drug Enforcement Agency. Approval is expected to be routine, a spokeswoman from UCSD said.A recently released study by Abrams suggests that marijuana has the potential to improve the weight gain of patients suffering from HIV.His study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, looked at whether smoking marijuana causes harm by interfering with the protease inhibitors given to these patients.He found it doesn't. Abrams, an AIDS specialist, also found that the frequently underweight HIV patients who either smoked marijuana or took it in pill form gained more weight than those given a placebo.Abrams said his study was funded by the federal government because he was looking at the potential harm of marijuana, rather than its potential benefits.California voters, apparently convinced that pot can relieve some illnesses, approved Proposition 215 in 1996, which legalized medical marijuana. Since then, seven other states have legalized medical marijuana.Even with a voter mandate, however, creating the research center was a political struggle. Former Gov. Pete Wilson, a strong opponent of medical marijuana, refused to allow state funds to be used for the center, a stance reversed by Gov. Gray Davis.Federal officials have shown skepticism and outright hostility toward medical marijuana.Health and drug administration officials continue to classify marijuana with the most serious and harmful illegal drugs.U.S. Department of Justice officials have shut down several cannabis buyers clubs in California, arguing that state ballot measures cannot override federal drug laws. A lawsuit over the issue will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court later this month.The center is charged with looking at whether marijuana can help relieve weight loss, chronic pain, severe nausea and vomiting associated with cancer and its treatment and severe muscle spasticity.Eventually results from the studies might help lawmakers' efforts to pass guidelines that further define Proposition 215.The confusing law has been interpreted in varying ways by the state's counties. Some have prosecuted users with medical claims aggressively. Others have not.Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)Author: Bill Ainsworth, Staff Writer Published: February 23, 2001Copyright: 2001 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Address: PO Box 120191, San Diego, CA, 92112-0191 Fax: (619) 293-1440 Contact: letters uniontrib.com Website: http://www.uniontrib.com/ Forum: http://www.uniontrib.com/cgi-bin/WebX Related Articles:$3 Million in Marijuana Studies Approved http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8780.shtmlMarijuana Research Buddinghttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8771.shtmlScientist Announce Study on Medicinal Value of Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8769.shtml 
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Comment #6 posted by Barb on February 24, 2001 at 09:06:10 PT:
ask the growers
Well, ask the growers to contribute their product for research. They grow the best pot and get the best prices. I am not talking about Mexico. Maybe the pot growers would be glad to contribute some of their money to research. But, I guess that would be accepting illegal money or something. Don't know, just a thought on this rainy day. It too simple of a project to make it sooooo difficult. 
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Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on February 24, 2001 at 04:19:34 PT:
Wrong Culprit
3 of the 4 projects sound as if they are genuinely interesting scientific proposals on therapeutic aspects of cannabis use. I am not sure about the driving study; we will have to see if it is funded by NIDA.The two scientists in charge of this program are top notch, and will do their best to ensure scientific integrity.The real problem here is oversight by NIDA, just as I have had to tackle (and unsuccessfully). They will be supplying their precious low-grade cannabis to the studies, and will pre-judge any protocol with their own panel before its release. NIDA has been known to stack the deck. If you have a lot of time and interest on your hands, go to www.maps.org and wade around the medical marijuana pages to examine the past track record.
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on February 23, 2001 at 21:31:38 PT
I'll Post It Tomorrow and Thank You
Thanks Nifty,I have it set up, ready to go and named you the Newshawk and I'll post in the morning. Good Editorial.
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Comment #3 posted by NiftySplifty on February 23, 2001 at 20:23:28 PT
The money will go to the wrong department.
Any money given to study if marijawanna has (or has ever had) any value medicinally, should be diverted to the History Dept. I think it would take 2 hours to uncover a shitload of historical verification.In an unrelated current-event pot tragedy, I know of two home-owners who found a bag of weed (including some roaches) under the sink in the bathroom they were re-modeling. The tragedy: they threw it away.Nifty...FoM, I found an article about some super-snooping, here it is:
High tech spying versus privacy.
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on February 23, 2001 at 19:55:34 PT
Spinning Head Syndrome Again Oh My!
What I don't get is medical necessity is being decided next month in California. Don't they read the news and see that it already has medicnal value just by these continuing studies? I must really be dense or something or maybe they are I just don't know.
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Comment #1 posted by dddd on February 23, 2001 at 19:49:38 PT
what's that smell?
The stinkingly robust odor of steaming bullshit continues to waft aboutin these type "informative" articles.I'm not trying to say that the researchers have bad intentions,,or that thereis no positive side to all this,,,,,BUT.......I still believe that this study,and thenews releases,are quite welcome,and allowed,,and quite likely orchestrated bythe sophisticated upper echelon of the antis. These articles consistantly pretend that no one yet knows the actual truth aboutmarijuana.>"First, they hope California researchers can demonstrate that studies involving pot-smoking patients can be conducted in a serious scientific manner."This is my favorite statement of the month!,,,As if to say; "Yea,I remember all those other researchers that we funded,who ended up getting too stoned to remember where they left the bong.These California researchers have always had problems conducting studies in a serious and scientific manner"!!!What is this supposed to mean?,,If they dont agree with the results,they will claim that the studies were not "serious and scientific" enough?.........In my opinion,,severe pain,spasticity,appetite loss/naseua,are all very "serious".It is "scientific" enough for me,when a quadrapalegic tells me it aleviates his spasms,when a cancer or HIV sufferer near death,claims it improves their appetite,and make them feel better.As I've said before,this $3 million dollar thing is being showcased in an attempt,(a successful attempt),to give the appearance of actual progress and concern about marijuana.In actuality,the antis are behind the scenes,and they like the way that this works to calm the masses,who will be thinking that;"They are finally taking a serious look at the marijuana question."In reality,,way more is already known about pot,than will ever be known about Ritalin,Paxil,,or even Advil.This is a sham of massive proportions.Let's hope for the best.................dddd
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