HIGH TIME MEDICAL RESEARCH DONE ON MARIJUANA

The Herald's April 16 editorial, Strange Priority, was critical of Health
Canada for conducting research into marijuana at the expense of other drugs
with "more promise"

I certainly support the Arthritis Society of Canada's call for approval of
Pennsaid in an appropriate and timely fashion, assuming the research does,
in fact, support its efficacy and lack of side effects. Doctor's
prescription information certainly lists a wide variety of side effects for
this drug (as do most drugs). Pennsaid's long term effects may only be
known years from now, when it is too late to correct.

Marijuana has proven effective for 5000 years for a variety of ailments
with no harmful side effects (unless you consider happiness and a general
feeling of well-being to be harmful). Until cannabis was demonized
following the repeal of alcohol prohibition, it was listed in the US
pharmacopeia as an effective remedy for a variety of ailments. The
"anecdotal" evidence of the efficacy of marijuana is, unfortunately, the
only current evidence available, as no self-respecting pharmaceutical
company would spend a dime on research of a drug which holds no financial
incentive. How can they make money from cannabis if anyone can grow it in
their own herb garden?

It has been left to the government, who have finally heard the cries of
hundreds (nay, thousands) of medicinal cannabis users, to instigate this
research on our behalf. Previous attempts by the US and other governments
to prove that cannabis is dangerous have resulted in studies which
ultimately show its effectiveness and safety, and have therefore been
suppressed. The World Health Organization has produced similar studies,
similarly suppressed. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in the US
has consistently refused to allow researchers to receive government
manufactured cannabis for any study whose intent is to demonstrate efficacy
rather than harm or addiction.

Even our own government has systematically ignored the LeDain Commission
(not a research study but a study of the uselessness of drug laws), a study
paid for by the Trudeau government in the 1970's, which recommended that
cannabis be removed from the schedule of controlled substances due to its
potential medical uses and its obvious harmlessness (to individuals and to
society).

As far as the various uses of cannabis, these go far beyond analgesic
effects (which are obvious to anyone who has used it for this purpose).
With over 60 different cannabinoids (molecules which are found only in the
cannabis sativa L. plant varieties) this is one of the most misunderstood
and under-researched medicines in the history of pharmaceutical research.
One often ignored benefit of cannabis use is its ability to improve the
effectiveness of NSAIDS and opiate drugs (codeine, morphine). According to
the 1996 Parker Street Press book by author, Rowan Robinson, titled "The
Great Book of Hemp", historically or anecdotally proven therapeutic uses of
cannabis include treating glaucoma and breathing difficulty, to inhibit
tumors, as an antibiotic, as an antidepressant, to control inflammation, as
an analgesic, to treat alcoholism, to treat opiate addiction, to alleviate
insomnia, for relief from herpes, for relief from migraine, for treatment
of ulcer.

Beyond these basic "household remedy" uses there includes cannabis' effect
as an anti-oxidant which would negate any negative effects of smoked
cannabis (i.e. carbon monoxide, tars), as well as as an anti-emetic for
chemotherapy and AIDS patients who cannot hold down the pills they are
given to make them eat. Just because a drug is effective for 75% of
patients does not mean that the remaining 25% should suffer in silence.

In fact, the anecdotal evidence is extensive, not "limited" as suggested by
the Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health of the U.S. Institute of
Health. Much of it is supported by research done in other countries for
many years, but is not accepted outside the country of origin (unless it
falsely supports prohibitionist propaganda about "reefer madness"). One
historical, anecdotal example is Queen Victoria, who used cannabis to
relieve menstrual cramps.

It is high time (no pun intended) that our government has finally ponied up
for some real research (belated as it may be). It makes me proud to be a
Canadian.

It is only unfortunate that the Ministry of Health has chosen an
inexperienced company to grow their "Med-Pot" and have limited them to a
low-level THC content (5 percent), thus forcing participants to smoke 2-3
times more plant matter to have the same effect of what a med-pot user can
grow for themselves (6-15 percent THC). It is even more unfortunate that
they have spent so little, and have developed a very long-term program (5
years) which will keep current medical users out of the loop and waiting
for a conclusion for a very long time.

We can only hope that the constitutional challenges to marijuana laws
result in total legalization long before that time.

Strange priorities, indeed.