Marijuana research

The state Senate today is scheduled to vote on SB 535, to
establish a Medical Marijuana Research Center at the University of
California. One could argue that somebody other than taxpayers should cover
the estimated $1 million per year research costs, but given the complex
politics of prohibition, this bill represents the best chance to undertake
credible research on the medical uses of marijuana, if any.

During the Proposition 215 campaign, opponents of allowing licensed
doctors to recommend marijuana argued in part that the research on medical
use of marijuana is incomplete at best, that marijuana's effects have not
been tested against modern medicines with fewer side effects than older
pharmaceuticals, that the evidence for medical benefits is based on
anecdotal evidence rather than clinical studies.

That argument was somewhat disingenuous given prior research, but
the electorate seemed to acknowledge it and ask for a closer look.

One problem in reliable research in recent years is this: The only
source of marijuana for research is from the federal government's research
plantation in Mississippi. The feds only very seldom have approved the
release of their marijuana.

The funders of Prop. 215 could no doubt raise enough money to pay
for medical marijuana research, but it is doubtful 0the federal government
would release marijuana to their researchers. A researcher could probably
obtain marijuana from blackmarket sources, but that would taint perception
of the results.

If reliable research is to be done, it is most likely to be
accomplished by a respected institution, like the University of California.
And, correctly or not, more people will find the research credible if it is
funded by tax money rather than by a private source that might be perceived
as having a political motive.

SB 535 provides money for such research. It might have been better
if the federal government simply relaxed the rules and allowed private
researchers to obtain their own supplies and do their own research, with
the most credible, repeatable results winning the argument eventually. But
that's unlikely.

The best way to get reliable results, then, is through SB 535,
proposed by Democratic Sen. John Vasconcellos of Santa Clara and Republican
Sen. Bruce McPherson of Santa Cruz. The original bill included a task force
to recommend a distribution system, but that issue is apparently too
sensitive for the legislature at this point. SB 535 offers a reasonable
hope of reliable information about the medical uses of marijuana in a
reasonable period of time. Orange County's state senators should support
it.