NEVADA MARIJUANA STUDY GETS NOWHERE

Two years have passed since the Legislature directed the University of
Nevada Medical School to conduct a study on the effectiveness of
medical marijuana, but there hasn't been any progress since the 2001
Legislature.

David Lupan, senior associate dean for basic science and research at
the medical school, said there's no interest in doing the study by any
staff member.

In addition, Lupan told the Legislature's Interim Finance Committee on
Tuesday, the National Institutes of Health have not agreed to release
any money for the clinical research.

The state's voters approved the use of medical marijuana to combat or
relieve pain in such ailments as cancer, glaucoma and AIDS. The state
Department of Agriculture reports that of this week, 310 people have
been approved for use of the substance.

These individuals have gained approval of physicians and they have
cards that show they are allowed to use the drug. But there is no
authorized outlet to buy the drug.

Lupan said there is a substantial problem to getting the research
done: the medical school can't be licensed to conduct the clinical
surveys, and the NIH"are not particularly interested in pursuing this."

The only clinical trials are being done at the University of
California at San Diego, and they are financed by the state of
California, not the federal government.

Lupan told the committee he would keep trying to see if things change.
But he said it may be a long time before any research effort is
undertaken at the medical school.