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| San Mateo Set for Legal Marijuana Trials |
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Posted by FoM on June 16, 2001 at 07:16:56 PT By Jean Whitney, Staff Writer Source: Oakland Tribune 
The first shipment of marijuana arrived in the county from the federal government Wednesday for use in a ground-breaking medical study at the San Mateo County Health Center. "We are ready to start now," said Jonathan Mesinger, a hospital management analyst for the county's medicinal marijuana study. Doctors and researchers will tap 60 AIDS patients for the landmark clinical trials that will test the process of dispensing marijuana for treatment of disease symptoms, including lack of appetite, limb pain and nausea from other medical treatments. A secondary phase of the study will examine marijuana's effect on chronic diseases. The Mississippi-grown pot arrived at San Francisco International Airport Wednesday and was sent to a special refrigerator at the county hospital pharmacy for safekeeping. Security concerns blocked the release of any further details concerning the long-awaited drug's arrival, according to hospital officials. "We've been waiting for a long time," said County Board of Supervisors President Mike Nevin. Nevin was instrumental in bringing about the clinical trials at the county hospital. After three years of negotiations, the county is set to begin the study with medicinal marijuana, despite the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May that made it illegal to possess marijuana for medical use. The federal government and law enforcement agreed to partner with the county for the research. "I see this as a milestone -- a first step -- toward the day when this drug will be available for doctors to prescribe for people who are suffering great pain," Nevin said earlier this year. Nevin said he was spurred to push for the research by the testimony of the county's former Deputy Director of Health Services, Joni Commons. "Marijuana was the only effective product that relieved the pain she was suffering from the treatment of breast cancer," Nevin said. Commons later died. Local health officials ordered the 300 marijuana "cigarettes" from the National Institute for Drug Abuse in early April. Only HIV-positive patients who admit to using marijuana in the past are eligible for the study. Doctors will, in effect, prescribe the pot for patients, dispense it and track patient use of it through interviews and written logs. Patients will be expected to smoke the drug and return unused portions. "This is innovative research using a controlled substance," Nevin added. Patients will meet with doctors twice a week when they pick up the drug. A maximum of 30 doses a week will be supplied to each patient, according to Mesinger. The initial shipment of pot to the County is a two-month supply, Mesinger estimated. The study spans a year and a half. County health officials have identified 10 patients so far who are eligible for the study. The County treats some 530 AIDS patients a year at its Edison Clinic. The hospital chief of staff and chief research officer, Dr. Dennis Israelski, will head up the $500,000 study. For information about joining the project, contact Clinical Research Coordinator Mark Traves at 573-2748. Source: Oakland Tribune (CA) Related Articles: Medical Marijuana Experiment Begins In San Mateo New Pot Research Leaves Clinic Breakthrough Study of Medical Pot Use Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #1 posted by sm247 on June 16, 2001 at 15:30:37 PT |
| Awsome job. [ Post Comment ] |
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