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| San Mateo Pot-Study Sign-Up Low |
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Posted by CN Staff on May 14, 2002 at 08:29:00 PT By Karen de Sá, Mercury News Source: San Jose Mercury News 
The pot is unsmokable, they say, full of sticks, stems and seeds. The leaves have gone stale after at least a year of storage, freezing and then thawing. Marijuana supplied to researchers from the government farm in Mississippi isn't quality product, according to a range of observers, from Redwood Shores HIV patient Phillip Alden to a cop-turned-county supervisor. Alden said he knows from experience -- he's smoked it. And the result? An upper respiratory infection and an early departure from a landmark research study, the first publicly funded analysis of HIV patients smoking cannabis in their homes. In 10 months, fewer than 10 subjects have been accepted into San Mateo County's marijuana study, which took years to get funded and approved. The county's medical chief of staff, Dr. Dennis Israelski, had planned for 60. Some say it must be the pot. ``I couldn't smoke the stuff any more,'' said Alden, a freelance writer who relies on marijuana to ease HIV-related wasting disease. ``I was disgusted with the federal government.'' Dale Gieringer, California coordinator for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, agrees. ``It's unconscionable that they would be giving this marijuana to patients,'' he said. ``It's stale, low-potency ditch weed.'' The National Institute on Drug Abuse, which grows the marijuana plants that are pre-rolled, frozen and sent to officially sanctioned researchers across the country, denies its research product is substandard. ``The marijuana we provide does not contain sticks and seeds. The problem is re-humidifying -- it makes it kind of harsh,'' said Steve Gust, special assistant to the director of NIDA. ``Certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right.'' Gust said researchers aren't complaining about quality. He thinks groups like NORML are looking for something to blame if the results of the studies show it has little medicinal value. ``Then they can say the marijuana isn't of sufficient quality,'' Gust said. Damaging rumors Cannabis trials in San Mateo County began in July, but few patients so far meet the strict standards to enroll. There is no hard evidence that the quality of the cannabis used in the study is hindering recruiting. But stories -- and rumors in some cases -- have slowed progress, said Israelski, an associate clinical professor at Stanford University. When Alden was forced to drop out of the study late last year because of an inflamed throat, for example, published reports of his experience swirled quickly through Internet circles and HIV support groups. ``We've been hurt by word on the streets,'' Israelski said. ``But the word on the street might not reflect reality.'' To counteract the slow start, the county is trying to broaden its study. In a letter sent to regulatory agencies this month, researchers ask to expand the HIV patient pool to include people suffering from nausea, weight loss and wasting disease. Supervisor Mike Nevin is frustrated that the county is once again asking for approvals from the myriad agencies that must OK any changes to the research plan. He spent three years fighting for funding and regulatory approval. Nevin envisioned his county's research program after a colleague, Joni Commons, died of breast cancer in 1998. Commons won him over, convincing the former San Francisco police inspector that marijuana brought her critical pain relief. ``We've put too much effort into this, and we don't want to be playing games here,'' Nevin said. ``It needs to be a certain grade of substance, and unless it's stronger, they'll set us up for defeat.'' Study in La Jolla Medicinal marijuana research is moving steadily forward in other parts of the country, with multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS patients. The newly inaugurated Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research in La Jolla will soon oversee studies at 15 university sites. Most researchers interviewed, unlike marijuana advocates, did not complain about the quality of the NIDA product. According to strict protocols, they can't unroll the carefully measured, frozen joints they receive, although several said they can hear seeds popping when some of their patients smoke, or they see the seeds fall out the untwisted end of the joint. They've heard that the sticky buds gum up the government's rolling machine. But that hasn't stopped more than 500 people from joining waiting lists for clinical trials at the La Jolla center, where, in contrast, two recently enrolled subjects complained that the pot was too potent. High after few puffs ``They've reported getting high shortly after the first few puffs,'' said Dr. Andrew Mattison, the center's co-director. ``These are people with a chronic, debilitating illness who do not want to get high. They want to get pain relief.'' Researchers concede that the less a patient has to smoke, the better. More potent cannabis delivers a more concentrated effect, with fewer smoking-related hazards. According to a 1999 NORML survey, the government's cannabis scored lowest on levels of THC, marijuana's essential ingredient, compared with 48 samples. Dr. Ethan Russo, a Montana neurologist and editor of the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, said NIDA's marijuana is ``medically inexplicable and inexcusable.'' He said American patients in any other drug study would not be given a stale product, and cannabis subjects deserve equal treatment. Complete Title: San Mateo Pot-Study Sign-Up Low; Cannabis Quality Disputed Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA) Related Articles & Web Site: Cannabinoids in Pain Management DEA Approves UC San Diego Marijuana Study Researchers Seek Answers on Medical Marijuana Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #15 posted by E_Johnson on May 14, 2002 at 22:32:55 PT |
| ``The marijuana we provide does not contain sticks and seeds. The problem is re-humidifying -- it makes it kind of harsh,'' said Steve Gust, special assistant to the director of NIDA. ``Certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right.'' Yeah right, just like with any bag of brick schwag that rode across the Mexican border inside someone's smelly old tire. Steve Gust, I hope they pay you well to be such a lying ho. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #14 posted by gloovins on May 14, 2002 at 20:54:29 PT |
| Use a *coffee bean grinder* for yr buds, (after de-steming, de-seeding & de-sticking) It gives a rather remarkable difference to all qualities of earb + kief collects in the grinder for your enjoyment. Not too much though, esp if u r rollin j's. You dont want a powder unless u r cooking, then powderize & add to melted butter & to anything for the mjzing I call it. To roll j's w/it only put it in the grinder for like 3 or 4 quick burst o power to just essentially open all the plant matter for a definte rejuvination. Or u could always use the old standby & personal fav, the Leary Biscuit: http://leary.com/news/health/BiscuitRecipe.html Seeds? I wash em & put them on a bagel w/ butter. mmm (unless they're kind seeds, then save for germinatin'!) Stems 'n Sticks? Save for stem tea, and enjoy a delicious beverage. Just boil for 3-5 minutes in the water u use for tea or take a pre-made tea & flavor it BTW, for u all keen to all or some of this, just ignore. c u all --! Cap'n GrinderGloovins... Gloovins = to glide & groove simultaniously [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #13 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 14, 2002 at 16:37:21 PT:
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| To my knowledge, the government has never funded a study of cannabis vaporizers. There is no "harm reduction" with respect to drugs in the eyes of our fearless leaders. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #12 posted by Sam Adams on May 14, 2002 at 16:32:27 PT |
| without Dr. Russo? Go get 'em! How could anyone give that schwaggy crap to a sick person! Why are they smoking MJ at all? efficient, cheap vaporizers have been around for 2-3 years. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #11 posted by Patrick on May 14, 2002 at 14:39:21 PT |
| Actually, I am not surprised at the quality or lack there of the weed that the government provides. After all, it is the government that says there is no medical use for cannabis, and allows cigarettes n alcohol to trim the social security roles prematurely. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #10 posted by SpaceCat on May 14, 2002 at 13:59:25 PT:
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| If the ciggies have seeds at all, I would guess that the males are being ground up right along with the females, because even the dumbest grower would pull the males as soon as they revealed themselves. If they don't do it when it is meaninful, I can't imagine they separate them at harvest time. This says to me that MJ is truly effective, since the Compassionate Use people seem to be experiencing good results with little better than lawn clippings. Maybe the Feds should start making soapbar- I never heard about this until I stumbled across a thread somewhere describing the vegetable matter/cement powder/plastics/solvents (and a whopping 1.5% THC) agglomeration that is purportedly the most common Cannabis product in much of Europe (shudder). [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #9 posted by FoM on May 14, 2002 at 13:57:26 PT |
| Medical Marijuana Researchers Bummed About Poor Pot Quality
Source: Associated Press SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - In the world of high-grade marijuana, sticks, seeds and stems are not welcome ingredients. So when medical marijuana researchers claimed to have found such cannabis chafe among the pot imported from a government farm, they came to a sour conclusion. These are not kind buds for medical marijuana patients. The government-grown marijuana is being provided to San Mateo County for the first publicly funded analysis of HIV patients smoking the drug at home. But some of the patients and medical marijuana advocacy groups say the Mississippi-grown weed is weak. "It's unconscionable that they would be giving this marijuana to patients," said Dale Gieringer, state coordinator for NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "It's stale, low-potency ditch weed." There are fewer than 10 people taking part in the study originally planned for 60 participants. One man gave up smoking the government-grade joints altogether after he became fed up with the low quality. "I couldn't smoke the stuff any more," said Phillip Alden, a freelance writer who depends on medical marijuana to ease his HIV-related ailments. "I was disgusted with the federal government." The government defends its marijuana, however. "The marijuana we provide does not contain sticks and seeds. The problem is re-humidifying. It makes it kind of harsh," said Steve Gust, special assistant to the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They're having just the opposite problem in La Jolla, where two patients enrolled in a medical marijuana trial program have complained that the NIDA-provided pot is too potent. "They've reported getting high shortly after the first few puffs," said Dr. Andrew Mattison, the center's co-director. "These are people with a chronic, debilitating illness who do not want to get high. They want to get pain relief." Chronic Cannabis Use -- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ccu.pdf Picture of Debris from 3 NIDA Cannabis Cigarettes -- http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/debris.jpg [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #8 posted by redman on May 14, 2002 at 12:26:36 PT:
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| What do you expect from this government and in particular this administration...no objectivity, no honesty and no COMPAYSHANATE CONSERVATISIM...that we were promised.... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #7 posted by FoM on May 14, 2002 at 12:22:16 PT |
| That is horrible. They don't even clean out the seeds. They explode! They burn holes in your clothing. Why don't they manicure the pot at the very minimum? Unbelievable! [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #6 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 14, 2002 at 11:42:11 PT:
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| Please go to the photo in the URL FoM posted and see for yourself: http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/debris.jpg Help spread the word that the government is lying to us. I repeat, "inexplicable and inexcusable." Thanks, FoM! [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #5 posted by FoM on May 14, 2002 at 11:31:52 PT |
| http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/debris.jpg [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #4 posted by Darwin on May 14, 2002 at 10:49:40 PT |
| This study is deliberatley being set up for failure.
We need to get people to sign up, and lie about smoing their twigs and berries, and instead use quality herb. Sabotage their sabotage. The presence of seeds at all, speaks volumes about this schwagg. Not to mention that they avoid the concept of vaporizors all togethor. I used to do Neurology research but I got out of it because of this kind of government bias and redtape. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 14, 2002 at 10:11:12 PT:
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| I am incensed now. I have just sent Dr. Gust an E-mail with an attachment of a color photo of the debris from 3 NIDA cannabis cigarettes inquiring how humidification will eliminate them. Please keep in mind that the cigarettes are pre-rolled and research patients are expected to smoke them as is without any ability to manicure the contents. I hope that other people will become as worked up about this as I am. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on May 14, 2002 at 09:58:52 PT:
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| Please see the picture on page 50: http://www.montananorml.org/docs/ChronicCannabisUseStudy.pdf Ask Dr. Gust whether those look like stems and seeds. Ask him by what alchemy they will disappear when the cannabis is humidified. The government must be lying or igorant. Both are unforgivable. [ Post Comment ] |
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Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on May 14, 2002 at 09:41:58 PT:
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| ``The marijuana we provide does not contain sticks and seeds. The problem is re-humidifying -- it makes it kind of harsh,'' said Steve Gust, special assistant to the director of NIDA. ``Certain procedures are needed to make it smoke right.'' Better tell that to George McMahon, the one of the last remaining Compassionate Use patients from the now-defunct program. I believe that if you were to do so, he'd happily show you what he receives...and what 'certain procedures' George has to go through to make it 'smoke right'. Namely, cleaning it of the seeds and twigs it comes with. [ Post Comment ] |
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