cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Claims Marijuana Claims Posted by FoM on March 01, 2001 at 12:33:30 PT Editorial Source: Union-Tribune The unsubstantiated claims that marijuana has medicinal value are finally going to receive a scientific hearing -- long after voters in California and other states rashly approved the use of pot for medical purposes. Researchers at UCSD are about to conduct studies to determine whether marijuana can relieve pain and other symptoms associated with AIDS and multiple sclerosis. It's about time for some scientific facts on this issue. No fewer than eight states have approved measures legalizing the use of marijuana to treat health ailments. Under federal law, however, marijuana remains a controlled substance, with a high potential for abuse. State and federal law enforcement officers have shut down several cannabis buyers clubs that are in violation of the law. California's medicinal marijuana initiative did not legalize the sale, but rather only the possession, of the drug. The U.S. Supreme Court is about to hear a case on the issue. UCSD's state-financed center on cannabis research is ideally suited to ascertain whether the drug has any therapeutic value and, if so, whether the harmful health effects of smoking it outweigh the potential benefits. Thus far, anecdotal evidence claiming marijuana's positive aspects has been countered by government-funded studies examining its deleterious effects. This will be the first time that pot-smoking patients will be subjected to a strict scientific evaluation. The irony, of course, is the timing. This study should have been conducted long before 1996, when California voters approved Proposition 215. This would have enabled voters to make a rational decision based on scientific evidence. Instead, the ballot initiative was approved, then state lawmakers finally got around to earmarking the funds to establish a medicinal marijuana research center at the University of California. Five years later, researchers at UCSD are gearing up to study whether smoking the drug can help relieve nerve pain experienced by AIDS patients. Another study will assess whether pot smokers afflicted with multiple sclerosis can benefit from the drug. Another study will look at how pot smoking affects one's driving ability. Although these studies have yet to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approval appears likely. This page opposed Proposition 215 and has been critical of the chaotic manner in which it has been implemented. The UCSD studies should help resolve much of the confusion about the drug's alleged therapeutic effects. If nothing else, this scientific examination should give policy-makers in California and elsewhere a clearer path from which to proceed. Note: UCSD To Study Unproven Health Benefits.Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA) Published: March 1, 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 CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by observer on March 01, 2001 at 14:40:25 PT Rational This would have enabled voters to make a rational decision based on scientific evidence. In other words, the votes of California are not "rational" . . . as opposed to editorial writers (like, say, those at the Union-Tribune, just as an example).This would have enabled voters to make a rational decision based on scientific evidence. Since the vote wasn't over the relative effectiveness of medications, but was instead a political vote over the political issue of whether certain people should be JAILED for using cannabis, then it is quite easy to see that the voters made an extremely rational decision. Of course, this "rational" editorial couldn't be troubled to mention little details like "PRISON" or "JAIL", the whole point of these voter initiatives. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dankhank on March 01, 2001 at 14:36:50 PT: About Time ? So it's about time?--It's about time for some scientific facts on this issue.-- So the San Diego Union Tribune has raised it's myopic self-blinded eyeless head from the sand? Where has this bastion of journalistic integrity been hiding? You don't suppose they somehow missed the Institute of Medicine's report, produced at the behest of the late Drug Czar, one B. MacAffrey? How could that happen to a news organization that wants to be heard and perhaps to persuade? Why didn't these editorialists call for some serious testing forty or fifty years ago? Wondering minds would like to know ... HEMP n STUFF [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by zenarch on March 01, 2001 at 14:13:31 PT They left themselves wide open You could drive a small planet through the holes in this ahem argument.It's a nice night for a drive ;-\ [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 01, 2001 at 13:48:03 PT: Whose Fault is This? Mr. Anonymous Editorial is pretty high and mighty about the lack of scientific research. He (no real woman worthy of the name writes like this!) should be laying blame at the feet of the same federal government where it belongs.He assumes that FDA and NIDA approval will fall into line. I hope so, but that is by no means assured, and will take an inordinate amount of time, if successful. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: