STUDY SUGGESTS MARIJUANA MAY EASE MS SYMPTOMS

LONDON (AP) - A marijuana pill appeared to relieve some of the symptoms of
multiple sclerosis in the first scientifically rigorous study of the
strongly debated drug.

The research, published this week in The Lancet medical journal, found that
even though improvements could not be detected by doctors' tests, a greater
proportion of patients taking the drug reported reduced pain and muscle
stiffness than those taking fake capsules.

Experts said the mixed results make them tricky to interpret.

Some said they were encouraged that any improvement was noted, while others
said if there had been a major effect, it would have shown up in the
doctors' tests.

One study leader, Dr. John Zajicek of the University of Plymouth in
England, said the research raises questions about what's more important: a
doctor's measurements or the patient's perspective.

"I think if there's a conflict, it's what the patient feels which is
important, so I think it's quite encouraging," said Roger Pertwee, a
professor of neuropharmacology at University of Aberdeen, who was not
connected with the study.

Multiple sclerosis, a common nervous system disease, causes a range of
chronic symptoms, including muscle stiffness and spasms, pain, tremor,
fatigue, depression and bladder problems.

It is difficult to study because the disease is unpredictable and its
symptoms hard to measure.

Orthodox treatments often provide inadequate relief, so many MS sufferers
experiment with alternatives, including cannabis and its major active
components - cannabinoids.

There have been anecdotal reports of the success of cannabis - the Latin
word for marijuana - in treating MS symptoms, particularly muscle
stiffness. However, there has been little scientific evidence.

The latest study involved 630 multiple sclerosis patients from around
Britain. One-third received a capsule containing whole cannabis oil;
another third took one containing a synthetic version of a cannabinoid
known as tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The rest got a fake capsule.

Results were reported after 15 weeks of treatment.

Fifty-seven percent of the patients taking the whole cannabis extract said
their pain had eased, compared with 50 percent on THC and 37 percent on
dummy capsules.

For muscle stiffness, 61 percent on cannabis extract and 60 percent on THC
reported an improvement, compared with 46 percent on fake treatment.

Patients reported improved sleep and fewer or less intense muscle spasms.
Those who could walk showed improved walking ability.

However, when an objective test of muscle stiffness was used, no difference
was detected.

One explanation for the mixed results could be the muscle test, called the
Ashworth scale, is not sensitive enough to detect changes that are
meaningful to patients.