cannabisnews.com: The Missoula Study The Missoula Study Posted by CN Staff on June 19, 2003 at 23:58:22 PT By Michael King Source: Austin Chronicle The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study examined the overall health status of four of the seven surviving patients in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) program of the Federal Drug Administration. The patients had used "a known dosage of a standardized, heat-sterilized quality-controlled supply of low-grade marijuana for 11 to 27 years." The study, performed by researchers associated with the Montana Neurobehavioral Specialists in Missoula and others at the Univ. of Montana and the Univ. of South Florida, concluded: "Results indicate clinical effectiveness in these patients in treating glaucoma, chronic musculoskeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and spasticity of muscular sclerosis. All four patients are stable with respect to their chronic conditions, and are taking many fewer standard pharmaceuticals than previously." The study did note mild changes in lung function in two of the patients, but no other significant negative health effects. "These results would support the provision of clinical cannabis to a greater number of patients in need," concluded the researchers. "We believe that cannabis can be a safe and effective medicine with various suggested improvements in the existing Compassionate IND program." The Missoula Study reviews the relatively thin literature of scientific study of chronic marijuana use over the last century and notes that this is the first study to focus on benefits and side effects of the clinical use of known amounts of quality-controlled cannabis. Through the case of the late Robert Randall, who suffered from glaucoma and after a legal fight began using medicinal marijuana in November 1976, it gives a brief history of the Compassionate IND program -- which apparently never included more than a few dozen patients -- through the 1980s. The advent of AIDS created a whole new group of applicants, but for unannounced reasons the Public Health Service of the first Bush administration closed the program to new patients in 1992. "A significant number," report the authors, "had received medical approval but were never supplied." George McMahon is "Patient B" in the study. His medical history is recounted in detail, and the report notes that his condition improved considerably after he began using medicinal marijuana regularly in March 1990. The study also describes the official cultivation and preparation of the NIDA's marijuana cigarettes, reporting they are greatly inferior to the cannabis provided by the government in the United Kingdom under a similar program. All of the study patients say they have logistical difficulty and interruptions in getting their assigned supply of marijuana, must occasionally supplement inadequate supplies by other means, and have been occasionally subject to harassment by law enforcement or security personnel. Based on their research, the authors of the Missoula Study recommend that the Compassionate IND program be reopened and extended to other patients in need, or that "local, state, and federal laws might be amended to provide regulated and monitored clinical cannabis to suitable candidates." Copies of the study, "Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program: An Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal, Clinical Cannabis," by Ethan Russo, et al., Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, Vol. 2 [1] 2002, are available for a fee from The Haworth Documentary Delivery Service: E-mail: getinfo haworthpressinc.com 1-800-HAWORTH or http://www.haworthpress.comSource: Austin Chronicle (TX)Author: Michael KingPublished: June 20, 2003 - Vol. 22 No. 42 Copyright: 2003 Austin Chronicle Corp.Contact: louis auschron.comWebsite: http://www.auschron.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:Patients Out of Timehttp://www.medicalcannabis.com/Journal of Cannabis Therapeuticshttp://www.acmed.org/science/jcant.htmA Quarter Ounce a Day http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16655.shtmlStudy Shows Therapeutic Benefits http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10581.shtmlMedicinal Pot in the Garden Cityhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread10575.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by ekim on June 20, 2003 at 19:23:59 PT Dr. Russo for Surgeon General Thank you for your outstanding positive outlook on Cannabis reform. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Robbie on June 20, 2003 at 07:55:17 PT Heroes! Thank you, Dr. Russo!!Maybe the hypocrisy will finally wear them down!(though the writer was already qualifying it with "relatively thin literature") [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 20, 2003 at 07:31:40 PT Dr. Russo I fixed it! [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Trekkie on June 20, 2003 at 07:28:40 PT Oddly enough, a bill concerning medical marijuana was shot down in the last Montana legislature...Great work by all involved in the test! With these results and the incident at the Billings Eagle's Lodge, the bill (if it is reformed for the next legislature) may pass the next go 'round. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Treeanna on June 20, 2003 at 06:50:56 PT Yay! :) Nice job, Doctor Russo, and thanks :) [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Ethan Russo MD on June 20, 2003 at 05:36:34 PT: Clarification I am glad to have the publicity, even if a year-and-a-half after the fact.One correction: It was Robert Randall that was the first patient in the program. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by AlvinCool on June 20, 2003 at 04:45:04 PT Obviously misleading Walters will quickly denounce this study as junk science. After all there are no rats, mice or other small animals for a control. Just those dang human beings, and what do they know? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment