cannabisnews.com: Strange Priority





Strange Priority
Posted by FoM on April 16, 2001 at 10:05:18 PT
Editorial
Source: Calgary Herald
Health Canada has signed a $6-million deal to investigate the therapeutic possibilities of marijuana, but has yet to approve a drug, developed in Canada, that offers relief to sufferers of osteoarthritis. It's puzzling that the department can find time and money to research marijuana, which holds only modest promise as a pain reliever, but can't find resources to approve a drug already shown to ease severe osteoarthritic pain. 
Pennsaid, developed by Dimethaid Research, has had extensive clinical testing over the past five years, closely monitored under the highest global standards. The tests show Pennsaid is effective and, unlike other drugs used to treat osteoarthritic pain, has no side effects. It has been approved for use in Great Britain. Approvals in Europe and the U.S. are pending, but Canada has yet to act. Marijuana research is useful, even if it just points to what marijuana won't do. But is it a good use of resources when other areas show much more promise? The Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health of the U.S. Institute of Health has already reported finding little concrete evidence in favour of medicinal marijuana. In many cases where marijuana provided relief, other drugs available by prescription or over the counter would have been more effective. At a series of workshops, people crippled by their illnesses described how marijuana helps them lead normal lives. An AIDS sufferer described how marijuana helped him regain his appetite and put on weight. A woman with multiple sclerosis said marijuana gave her back her mobility. "This collection of anecdotal data, though useful, is limited," said the institute's report. "We heard many positive stories, but no stories from people who tried marijuana but found it ineffective. This is a fraction with an unknown denominator. "Marijuana clearly seems to relieve some symptoms for some people even if it is only a placebo effect. What is the balance of harmful and beneficial effects? That is the essential medical question that can be answered only by careful analysis of data collected under controlled conditions." Marijuana derivatives show some promise in treating some AIDS symptoms, particularly loss of appetite and weight, but the institute warns against smoking the drug in most cases, because of the harm the smoke can cause. More power to Health Canada if it can carefully analyze data collected under controlled conditions. The world will be watching -- this is a big issue, not because of medicine, but because of politics. The idea of marijuana as medicine appeals to many people, while drugs with more promise don't attract the same kind of attention. We urge the government to keep the research from becoming muddied by politics.Note: Cash to study marijuana, while drugs with more potential still not approved.Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB)Published: April 16, 2001Copyright: 2001 Calgary HeraldContact: letters theherald.southam.caWeb Site: http://www.calgaryherald.comRelated Article & Web Sites:Health Canadahttp://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/Dimethaid Researchhttp://www.dimethaid.com/Canada Issues Plan On Medical Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9296.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml 
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Comment #3 posted by greenfox on April 17, 2001 at 08:13:13 PT
Another Translation for all of you fine people
It's puzzling that the department can find time and money to research marijuana, which holds only modest promise as a pain reliever, but can't find resources to approve a drug already shown to ease severe osteoarthritic pain.Translation:It's puzzling that the department can find time and money to research marijuana, which the pharmacutical companies cannot tax, but can't find resources to approve a drug already shown to increase big bu$ine$$ profit$s by 8,540% AND cause unwanted side effects in people using the drugsee:Dimethaid Research Inc.and read:http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/1ebf96.htmsly in green, foxy in kind...-gf
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Comment #2 posted by dddd on April 16, 2001 at 21:38:27 PT
Ghost journalism
Hmmm,,another one of those strange articles withno author?I wonder if Dimethaid Research could havehad anything to do with this?....dddd
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Comment #1 posted by lookinside on April 16, 2001 at 21:08:48 PT:
sanity?
no doubt some medications are very effective for relief ofspecific ailments...maybe pennsaid is one of these anddeserves some attention...it makes me wonder when someonesays it has NO side effects...that's strong stuff...does thedeveloper say that? how about when it is used in conjunctionwith 6 other medications?  my wife's use of medical marijuana allowed her to reduceor suspend use of 8 different prescription drugs which wereslowly(?) killing her...none of her current ailments(she'shad cancer 3 times) are nearly as life threatening as thatcombination of medications seemed to be...  that's the beauty of pot...it very well could help, andit ain't gonna kill you..
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