Medical Marijuana News
News
MARIJUANA MERITS STUDY, DOCTORS GROUP SAYS
Los Angeles Times of 14 February 2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A large and respected association of physicians
is calling on the federal government to ease its strict ban on
marijuana as medicine and hasten research into the drug's therapeutic uses.
Supporting Research into the Therapeutic Role of Marijuana
American College of Physicians
January 2008
Marijuana has been smoked for its medicinal properties for centuries. Preclinical, clinical, and anecdotal reports suggest numerous potential medical uses for marijuana. Although the indications for some conditions have been well documented, less information is available about other potential medical uses.
Additional research is needed to further clarify the therapeutic value of cannabinoids and determine optimal routes of administration. Unfortunately, research expansion has been hindered by a complicated federal approval process, limited availability of research-grade marijuana, and the debate over legalization. ACP believes the science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use. In this paper the College lays out a series of positions on research into, and the use of, marijuana as medicine.
Read the entire paper, click here
Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Backs Federal Decriminalization -- “I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize our marijuana laws.”
January 31, 2008 - Washington, DC, USA
Marijuana charges dropped against veteran
By Carlos Illescas
The Denver Post
CENTENNIAL — Charges were dropped today against a Desert Storm veteran who was arrested for growing 71 marijuana plants in his basement.
Kevin Dickes, who has a medical-marijuana card, faced up to six years in prison. He was scheduled to go to trial in Arapahoe County District Court in February.
For Veterans, Marijuana Can Mean Life
Switching from marijuana to legal "prescribed" drugs can be a killer.
by Tim King, Salem News (OR)
November 28th, 2007
For one Vietnam Veteran in Illinois, a substance many call dangerous, medical marijuana, meant life. When Lynn Morse used it he could function and cope, when he abandoned marijuana in order to "comply" with the VA and go on prescription drugs, he died.
Too Few Clinicians Complicate Care in VA, Military Systems
Rich Daly
The stigma of mental illness remains a strong deterrent to treatment in the military. New efforts are under way, however, to eliminate this barrier.
American Psychiatric Association Assembly Backs Medical Marijuana Patient Protection
Unanimous Vote Signals Growing Acceptance of Medical Marijuana
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a unanimous vote, the Assembly of the American Psychiatric Association has approved a strongly worded statement supporting legal protection for patients using medical marijuana with their doctor's recommendation.
Panel Sees No Clear Aid for Veterans Under Stress
WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (Reuters) — Many veterans of combat in Iraq and Afghanistan are clearly suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but it is not at all clear which treatments work to help them, an expert panel from the Institute of Medicine reported Thursday.
Kalamazoo Based Company Working to Bring Marijuana Inhaler to U.S.
The Kalamazoo, Michigan based company Apjohn Group LLC is currently working with the British firm GW Pharmaceuticals to give U.S. patients access to the Sativex inhaler. The drug which is produced by GW Pharmaceuticals and available in Canada through Bayer, will begin Phase III trials in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration later this year.
Study Finds No Link Between Marijuana Use and Lung Cancer
SAN DIEGO—People who smoke marijuana—even heavy, long-term marijuana users—do not appear to be at increased risk of developing lung cancer, according to a study to be presented at the American Thoracic Society International Conference on May 23rd.
Support the "Medical Necessity" Defense for Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana is the only hope that some seriously ill patients have for relieving chronic pain, intractable nausea and the other side effects of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and HIV/AIDS medications. Yet the Drug Enforcement Agency continues to prosecute sick people under federal law.
VA and Pain Management
VA believes that no patient should suffer preventable pain. Doctors and nurses throughout VA's 1,200 sites of medical care are required to treat pain as a "fifth vital sign," meaning they should assess and record patients' pain just as they note the other four health-care basics -- blood pressure, pulse, temperature and breathing rate. They ask patients to rate their pain on a scale of zero to 10, then consult with the patients about ways to deal with it.