NORML CONFAB TACKLES MEDICAL POT

Western medicine has relied upon plants as the basis for much of its
work, taking extracts and making synthetic versions of what is found in
nature, Dr. John Morgan, a pharmacologist at the CUNY medical school,
explained to those attending the National Organization for the Reform of
Marijuana Laws annual convention in Washington, D.C., on April 20.

The main active ingredient in marijuana appears to be the cannabinoid
known by the chemical shorthand of THC, though many argue that some of
the other cannabinoid molecules found in the plant may also play a
medicinal role. Marinol is the trade name of the synthetic version of
THC approved for sale in this country under strict regulation.

Morgan said, and many who have used it agree, that Marinol is a
heavy-handed approach. Only one dosing strength is available and it
takes a long time to be absorbed and metabolized by the body. Other
methods of administration, such as a vaporizer/inhaler, a liquid
suspension held under the tongue, or perhaps a skin patch similar to one
used to stop smoking, might offer more immediate and better calibrated
delivery of cannabinoids. But government restrictions have inhibited
such research.

He concluded, "The government's decision to prosecute marijuana smokers
[while licensing the sale of Marinol] is akin to encouraging the taking
of synthetic vitamin C by outlawing orange juice."

California researcher Dale Gieringer is working on ways to make inhaled
marijuana safer by reducing or eliminating the cancer causing byproducts
associated with all smoked materials. He said researchers first tried
water pipes but found that water filtered out the THC as well as the
carcinogens. People simply smoked more to get the required effect of THC
and there was no net gain in safety.

He held up an "M-1 volatizer," calling it "basically a high tech
cigarette lighter." The prototype heats marijuana to a temperature
sufficient to turn cannabinoids into a gas but not hot enough to do the
same to benzene and other carcinogenic byproducts that come from burning
materials.

Researchers have found that cannabinoids volatilize, or separate and
become airborne, at temperatures of about 180 degrees centigrade. The
cancer-causing chemicals require the higher temperature associated with
combustion (230 degrees centigrade) in order to form and become
airborne, so none were present at the lower level. At the end of the
experiment most of the cannabinoids seem to have been drawn from the
marijuana, while the sample maintained its form and was still green,
Gieringer said.

He showed how many medical marijuana users in California are now
jerry-rigging their own volatizers. They use a paint stripper heat gun
and a bong, "let it run for a few seconds [to heat the marijuana] and
then inhale." He said a paint gun with a rechargeable battery "is good
for 30-50 tokes."

Oakland physician Tod Mikuriya said that he has smoked marijuana since
1964, but two months ago switched to the paint gun option, "and I can
moralistically say, I don't smoke marijuana."

Ethan Russo, whose research at the University of Montana focuses on
herbs and natural products, said that 80 percent of migraine sufferers
get systematic relief from smoking cannabis.