cannabisnews.com: Science's Verdict on Medical Marijuana Still Out





Science's Verdict on Medical Marijuana Still Out
Posted by FoM on March 31, 2001 at 13:58:33 PT
By Laura Beil, The Dallas Morning News
Source: Dallas Morning News
Texas is considering allowing people to smoke pot under doctor's orders, but the science behind medical marijuana remains full of weeds.Advocates say it might ease the relentless nausea of chemotherapy, the wasting syndromes of the chronically ill or excruciating pain. Or it might have little use beyond illegal recreation.
"There's really not enough data to support any claim," said Dr. Stanley Watson, a neuroscientist at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.Nor is there enough data to refute one. While some individual reports of medicinal benefits are intriguing, he said, "we need good studies."Even without the kind of research doctors would like, voters in eight states – Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Maine, Nevada, Oregon and Washington – have approved the use of the drug by certain patients. And in Hawaii last year, the state Legislature passed a bill allowing medicinal use of marijuana.Other states' lawmakers may not be far behind. This year, besides in Texas, legislators have introduced bills in Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico and Vermont. Texas will vote on its bill, authored by Rep. Terry Keel, R-Austin, in the next few weeks, and Mr. Keel said he feels good about its chances in the House. No sponsor has stepped forward to shepherd the measure through the Senate.Lacking solid clinical studies, the movement toward medical marijuana is largely driven by the anecdotal reports of patients themselves. Research in animals has also hinted at medical benefits from marijuana's active ingredients. But no one can say scientifically whether marijuana alleviates symptoms in people, which patients it will help most, how to take the drug, or what dose works best.The fact that marijuana is illegal is just one obstacle to medical research in people. Another is its common method of delivery: smoking crushed leaves. The amount of drug varies from plant to plant and from person to person, depending on how deeply one inhales. For sound experiments, researchers need to give each person the same dose.Some doctors also are hesitant to recommend a smoked drug, which may introduce a whole new set of health problems, Dr. Watson said. Studies suggest that marijuana smoke is bad for the lungs, just as tobacco smoke is. "We don't think studies should be done on the smoked material," Dr. Watson said, but on other possible routes such as pills or inhalers.He and others had hoped to generate more scientific interest in marijuana research. In 1999, Dr. Watson and Dr. John Benson, from Oregon Health Sciences University, were the principal authors of a government report on medicinal marijuana. After reviewing data, along with meeting scientists, marijuana smokers, and even opponents of marijuana use, the report's authors concluded that marijuana has potential as a medicine. However, Dr. Benson said at the time of the report's release, "there is far less convincing data about actual medical benefits."Existing Drugs:Drugs already exist for conditions that marijuana might help. For most patients, Dr. Benson said, "there are better medications in every case than marijuana." Because major drug companies don't see a large potential market, they aren't rushing to develop marijuana-based drugs, he said.Many patients nevertheless believe strongly that marijuana is the only means to relieve their nausea or pain, or to maintain appetite when weight melts off their bodies from AIDS or chemotherapy."If you ask a bunch of AIDS patients, they'll say, 'We don't need any research, we know that it works.' It's the anecdotal [evidence] that's very prevalent," Dr. Benson said.And in many cases, patients may be right, Dr. Benson acknowledges. As with any medication, not all drugs work as well, or the same, in every patient."Standard therapy, which is approved and generally better, doesn't always work," he said. That's the reason he believes that marijuana research should continue.But Dr. Benson's report, commissioned by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, didn't light up much interest among scientists. What's needed, he and others say, is a federal law that will make it easier for researchers to do their jobs."There are many, many obstacles that dissuade them from this area of study," said Dr. Andrew Mattison of the University of California, San Diego, who is co-director of the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. For example, he said, a scientist could be easily overwhelmed by the paperwork involved in obtaining marijuana for a laboratory.The California center, established by the state government last year, won't focus on ailments like glaucoma that already have good treatment alternatives, Dr. Mattison said. Although marijuana has been found to relieve the eye pressure caused by glaucoma, conventional medicines already exist.Safer Methods:Dr. Mattison and his colleagues are also looking for safer ways to deliver marijuana's active ingredients."There are clearly scientific data indicating the deleterious effects of smoking," he said. "We are taking that charge seriously."One drug now on the market does offer marijuana in pill form for people with AIDS or undergoing chemotherapy. But many patients don't like it, Dr. Mattison said. The medicine dumps the drug into the body all at once, while patients might prefer to gradually take only as much as they need. An inhaler, patch or under-the-tongue spray might be a better method.Until there is a federal standard for marijuana's medicinal use, however, states will pursue laws on their own. Each law might make it possible for people to take the drug, Dr. Benson said, but beyond establishing specific centers like the one in California, "I don't think the state bills have any direct effect on research."The federal government ultimately controls drug enforcement, Dr. Benson said. At the same time, it also is the largest single sponsor of medical research."The states can write in stuff that has to do with encouraging research," Dr. Benson said, "but it may not matter very much if the grants that come and the substance they're going to test has to come through federal agencies."Note: Patients' reported success is driving bill.Source: Dallas Morning News (TX)Author: Laura Beil, The Dallas Morning NewsPublished: April 1, 2001Copyright: 2001 The Dallas Morning NewsAddress: P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265Website: http://www.dallasnews.com/Contact: letterstoeditor dallasnews.comFeedback: http://dmnweb.dallasnews.com/letters/Related Articles & Web Site:HB513, Texas Medical Marijuana Bill http://normltexas.org/HB513.htmDoctors, Patients Describe How Marijuana Helpshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8827.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #9 posted by dddd on April 03, 2001 at 01:30:45 PT
Well put Lindy
I was just thinking the other day,,,after seeing some Colombiancoffee commercial,,,,,,if we had equivilent funding as the ondcp,I would love to make a sick sort of parody commercial,,and havescenes of Juan Valdez running around his coffee plantation,trying to wave off a fleet of herbacide-death copters.I also thought about what you mentioned,about Colombian coffee.Idoubt sales will be too brisk,when the world realizes that we havebeen saturating mass quanities of real estate with Roundup.....Butwe dont hear much at all from Colombia.No need to cover a boringecological DISASTER,funded with our tax dollars.No,,no one wouldreally be interested in that story..........dddd
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Comment #8 posted by Lindy on April 03, 2001 at 00:01:31 PT:
Might not be safe, indeed
To dddd--Yes they've already forgotten about our poor Vietnam vets with Agent Orange disease or the Gulf War syndrome.They continue to poison us. I wonder what effect spraying of the Columbian countryside is having on my cup of Columbian coffee I injest every morning? Hmmm,I think this calls for some high quality testing of my coffe beans--because now they're messing with my drug of choice!! Is nothing sacred?!
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Comment #7 posted by Robbie on April 02, 2001 at 11:34:56 PT
A little confusion?
These are the words of the person who wrote the article:Lacking solid clinical studies...And, not three paragraphs later...Studies suggest that marijuana smoke is bad for the lungsEr...wait a minute. Huh?? Either there are solid studies or there aren't. Make up your mind.It's a proven fact that the nation's newspapers err on the side of "drugs are bad, mmkay?" But even with that non-biased mantra at her side, this reporter can't even be consistent.I think that it's further "non-anecdotal" evidence that those most affected by marijuana are people who have never used it.
Get visible! Show your colors! Persuade! Enlighten! POT PRIDE!
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Comment #6 posted by MDG on April 01, 2001 at 21:56:15 PT
Verdict still out...
What a bunch of horse-sh*t! To say that...ah, I'm just venting some irritation. Dr. Russo all ready covered it like the trained professional he is.Mike...
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Comment #5 posted by Ed Carpenter on April 01, 2001 at 00:51:39 PT:
 Science's Verdict on Medical Marijuana Still Out
"Texas is considering allowing people to smoke pot under doctor's orders...Advocates say it might ease the relentless nausea of chemotherapy, the wasting syndromes of the chronically ill or excruciating pain. Or it might have little use beyond illegal recreation."Illegal? What ever happened to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?" 
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Comment #4 posted by dddd on March 31, 2001 at 23:47:05 PT
Might not be safe
But evidently the "verdict was in",concerning arsenic levels inwater,and of course,the verdict is in on showering Colombia withRoundUp......Some congressman or senator said recently somethinglike..'"Roundup is perfectly safe,I use it up at my house in the mountains..'Can you imagine the amounts of this stuff that they rain down on Colombianinnocents?...I mean we are talking brand new,custom US made high outputchemical delivery system..You can bet they're using thousands of gallons ofthe stuff.....I still cant believe that the world is standing by allowing thischemical decamation to go on.I guess no one really realizes what's going on.How could they,,that's classified information,,,,,it's Controlled informationdddd
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Comment #3 posted by MikeEEEEE on March 31, 2001 at 19:55:17 PT
Spin
It's interesting to see how the media stations are reacting to medical MJ.{The federal government ultimately controls drug enforcement}Now this could be the problem.
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Comment #2 posted by Cuzn Buzz on March 31, 2001 at 17:22:53 PT:
PLACEBO EFFECT
Even were it not common knowledge that marijuana increases appetite, and provides a calming effect, the simple fact that so many people believe in it's ability to help their condition should speak for it's re-adoption to the pharmacopia.How many full recoveries have been had by use of the sugar pill?This is no Bromptons cocktail we are discussing, it's just an herb. It is a very good herb, and one considered sacred by some.The greater good calls loudly for complete legalization.  
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Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 31, 2001 at 16:52:31 PT:
Frustration Kills Research
The IOM Report was an extremely conservative and selective review of the available literature on clinical cannabis. The authors advanced recommendations that were far more cautious than those of similar commissions of the past and more recently in Europe.There is so little new information on clinical cannabis research in the USA because of NIDA interference and the backlash against scientists who dare to challenge the dominant paradigm by even demonstrating an interest in such blasphemous theories.Many of us are attempting to turn the tide, each in our own way. If you can, search out the supportive articles, and spread them around to whoever will listen. Bryan Krumm's Cannabis Research Library is a fabulous resource:http://www.druglibrary.org/crl/default.htmCopy a few URL's and send them to that yahoo who wrote a bad article or editorial that disturbed you because of its ignorance, bias and lies. Make the authors think about what they are saying! Plant the seeds of doubt. Change a few minds.Should you be wealthy, or know someone who is, send a tax deductible donation to MAPS:http://maps.org/Participate.htmlor Patients Out of Time:http://www.medicalcannabis.com/or any of a number of other agencies sharing your goals.If you have a specific idea in mind, see if your donation can be earmarked to that. In this day and age, high quality research is very expensive. Continuing such work without NIH or drug company subsidies is extremely difficult. This is a place where you can make a difference. Turn that frustration into a feeling of accomplishment, and the barriers we face in this fight will not seem so insurmountable.All best wishes,Ethan Russo
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