|
|
| AMA Council Still Supports Medical Marijuana |
|
Posted by FoM on June 19, 2001 at 08:57:15 PT Reuters Health Source: Reuters 
The American Medical Association's Council on Scientific Affairs is asking the AMA to continue its support for clinical trials of ``marijuana and related cannabinoids'' and continued support for the ``compassionate use'' of marijuana.Dr. Michael A. Williams, chair of the Council on Scientific Affairs, said in an interview with Reuters Health that the report was written before the recent US Supreme Court ruling that marijuana has no therapeutic role. But he said the court decision ''would not change the science of the report.'' Williams said there would be no final word on the effectiveness of marijuana until ''clinical studies are done.'' Council member Dr. Melvyn L. Sterling, an internist from Orange, California, said the Council report was ``about the relief of suffering, not about getting high.'' Although the Council recommends more studies and continued compassionate use, it also ''recommends that marijuana be retained in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act,'' Sterling said. A special AMA committee that conducted a hearing on the medical marijuana issue allowed a disabled veteran, Michael Krawitz of Roanoke, Virginia, to testify about the efficacy of marijuana to relieve pain. Krawitz has an artificial hip and has had part of his stomach and intestines surgically removed. He said he gets relief from marijuana but not from marinol, a drug derived from marijuana. Dr. David Edwards, a retired pathologist from Olympia, Washington, said that although he is not an AMA delegate he traveled to Chicago ``to praise the work of this Council'' and to urge the AMA to continue support for compassionate use of marijuana. Although most of the testimony supported the Council report, some physicians said they were worried that the AMA might be portrayed as advocating legalized marijuana. One physician noted that the report referred to ``smoked marijuana, which earlier studies have not done.'' Williams said that the earlier report did reference smoked marijuana but his Council actually deleted those terms in the new report. The AMA will begin voting on this and other issues Tuesday. Source: Reuters Related Article & Web Sites: American Medical Association Medicinal Cannabis Research Links AMA Discusses Marijuana Medical Use CannabisNew Medical Marijuana Archives Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
 |
| Comment #4 posted by Cuzn Buzz on June 19, 2001 at 14:38:38 PT |
| Sorry, but the studies have already been done. Time and time again when the studies have come in showing MARIJUANA to be a worthy substance the feds ect. have all chosen to ignore them. Another noteworthy consideration; not all bonafide research comes from the U.S.. Many studies have been conducted in other countries as well. Not one shows any dangerous side effect from MARUJUANA use, quite unlike many products promoted and sold by pharmacutical manufacturers (thalidomide anyone?). Of course we might expect the pharmacutical drug companies to be a bit concerned that people might grow their own effective medications, our answer to these concerns? GET OVER IT. WE ARE WINNING. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #3 posted by Bristol Meyers Squib on June 19, 2001 at 13:38:19 PT:
|
| The docs will believe cannabis is medicine when they have clinical studies done, but legitimate controlled studies can not be done until the federal government allows them to happen. [ Post Comment ] |
|
Comment #2 posted by Pontifex on June 19, 2001 at 11:02:06 PT:
|
| The classic punt: "More studies are needed." No entity subject to political pressure in the US is going The AMA can keep saying "more studies are needed" Who in the establishment will bravely grasp the hot [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by Cuzn Buzz on June 19, 2001 at 09:43:58 PT |
| Sometimes ya really have to wonder about "experts". When I was a kid I was told that an expert was any man more than 50 miles from his home who was carrying a briefcase. When it comes to Marijuana, I'm an expert, having carried a briefcase full lots further than 50 miles from home. As an expert I would advise these medicos to kick back and fire up a hooter. You can call it research. The simple fact is: MARIJUANA IS GOOD MEDICINE! It's as plain as the nose on your face. We the people are tired of studies and discussions. Get behind legalization, or get get out of the way because.... WE ARE WINNING! [ Post Comment ] |
| Post Comment |  |
 |  |