cannabisnews.com: Cannabis 'Scrips To Calm Kids?





Cannabis 'Scrips To Calm Kids?
Posted by CN Staff on April 19, 2004 at 16:07:57 PT
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos
Source: FoxNews.com
Washington -- As a California pediatrician and 49-year-old mother of two teenage daughters, Claudia Jensen says pot might prove to be the preferred medical treatment for attention deficit disorder — even in adolescents."Why would anyone want to give their child an expensive pill … with unacceptable side effects, when he or she could just go into the backyard, pick a few leaves off a plant and make tea for him or her instead?" Jensen asked the Drug Policy Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee earlier this month.
While some wonder whether Jensen was smoking some wacky weed herself, the clinician for low-income patients and professor to first-year medical students at the University of Southern California said her beliefs are very grounded: The drug helps ease the symptomatic mood swings, lack of focus, anxiety and irritability in people suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders like ADD and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. "Cannabinoids are a very viable alternative to treating adolescents with ADD and ADHD," she told Foxnews.com. "I have a lot of adult patients who swear by it." Under California state law, physicians are allowed to recommend to patients the use of marijuana to treat illnesses, although the federal government has maintained that any use of marijuana — medicinal or otherwise — is illegal. The federal courts have ruled that physicians like Jensen cannot be prosecuted for making such recommendations. Jensen said she regularly writes prescriptions recommending the use of marijuana for patients —particularly those suffering pain and nausea from chronic illnesses, such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and arthritis. She has also worked with one family of a 15-year-old — whose family had tried every drug available to help their son, who by age 13 had become a problem student diagnosed as suffering from ADHD. Under Jensen’s supervision, he began marijuana treatment, settling on cannabis in food and candy form, and he has since found equilibrium and regularly attends school. But not everyone is so high on the idea of pot for students with neurological illnesses. Subcommittee Chairman Mark Souder, R-Ind., who invited Jensen to testify after reading about her ideas in the newspaper, was hardly convinced by her testimony. "I do believe that Dr. Jensen really wants to help her patients, but I think she is deeply misguided when she recommends marijuana to teenagers with attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity," he told Foxnews.com. "There is no serious scientific basis for using marijuana to treat those conditions, and Dr. Jensen didn’t even try to present one." Dr. Tom O'Connell, a retired chest surgeon who now works with patients at a Bay Area clinic for patients seeking medical marijuana recommendations, is working on it. He said cannabis not only helps pain, but also can treat psychological disorders. He is currently conducting a study of hundreds of his patients, whom he said he believes have been self-medicating with pot and other drugs for years, and he hopes to publish a paper on the subject soon. "My work with cannabis patients is certainly not definitive at this point, but it strongly suggests that the precepts upon which cannabis prohibition have been based are completely spurious," O'Connell said. Worse yet, he added, the prohibition has successfully kept certain adolescents away from pot who now turn to tobacco and alcohol instead. Jensen, who said she believes Souder invited her to testify to "humiliate me and incriminate me in some way," suggested that a growing body of evidence is being developed to back medical marijuana chiefly for chronic pain and nausea. She said it is difficult, however, for advocates like herself to get the funding and permission to conduct government-recognized tests on ADD/ADHD patients. "Unfortunately, no pharmaceutical companies are motivated to spend the money on research, and the United States government has a monopoly on the available marijuana and research permits," she told Congress. Studies done on behalf of the government, including the 1999 Institute of Medicine’s "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base," found that marijuana delivers effective THC and other cannabinoids that serve as pain relief and nausea-control agents. But these same studies warn against the dangers of smoking marijuana and suggest other FDA-approved drugs are preferable. "We know all too well the dangerous health risks that accompany (smoking)," said Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., ranking member on the subcommittee, who like Souder, was not impressed by Jensen’s arguments. "It flies in the face of responsible medicine to advocate a drug that had been known to have over 300 carcinogens and has proven to be as damaging to the lungs as cigarette smoking," added Jennifer Devallance, spokeswoman for the White House Office of Drug Control Policy. The government points to Food and Drug Administration-approved Marinol , a THC-derived pill that acts as a stand-in for marijuana. But many critics say there are nasty side effects, and it’s too expensive for the average patient. On the other hand, Jensen and others say cannabinoids can be made into candy form, baked into food or boiled into tea. They say that despite the FDA blessing, giving kids amphetamines like Ritalin for ADD and other behavioral disorders might be more dangerous. "Ritalin is an amphetamine — we have all of these youngsters running around on speed," said Keith Stroup, spokesman for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. "Although it flies in the face of conventional wisdom, it's nevertheless true that cannabis is far safer and more effective than the prescription agents currently advocated for treatment of ADD-ADHD," O'Carroll said. Stroup said if Souder’s intention was to harangue Jensen, he was unsuccessful in the face of her solid and articulate testimony on April 1. "It was a good day for her, and a good day for medical marijuana in Congress," he said. Nick Coleman, a subcommittee spokesman, said Souder doesn't "try to humiliate people. "But to promote medical marijuana for teenagers with ADD … he does not feel that is a sound and scientific medical practice," Coleman said. While the issue of treating adolescents with medical marijuana is fairly new, the idea of using pot to treat chronically and terminally ill patients is not. Nine states currently have laws allowing such practices. A number of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have added that they want the states to decide for themselves whether to pursue medical marijuana laws. Among those lawmakers are Reps. Ron Paul, R-Texas, a physician; Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif.; and Barney Frank, D-Mass. "(Rep. Paul) believes there are some legitimate applications," like for pain and nausea, said spokesman Jeff Deist. "But the real issue is that states should decide for themselves." Source: FoxNews.com (US) Author: Kelley Beaucar VlahosPublished: Monday, April 19, 2004Copyright: 2004 Fox News Network, LLCContact:  comments foxnews.comWebsite: http://www.foxnews.com/NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/Transcript: Hearing on Marijuanahttp://freedomtoexhale.com/hearing.htmMedical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #20 posted by jose melendez on April 22, 2004 at 17:19:28 PT
or maybe free and legal generic opiates are needed
Wow. Maybe Johhny needs a joint, and less Ritalin and caffeine:http://www.wftv.com/news/3032056/detail.html
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Comment #19 posted by FoM on April 21, 2004 at 13:47:16 PT
OverwhelmSam
I just saw your comment and thank you! I hope you had a Happy 4:20! 
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Comment #18 posted by OverwhelmSam on April 20, 2004 at 06:51:47 PT
FOM
You already know what I think about Mark Souder - He needs to be voted out of office. Have a happy 420 and thanks for everything you do here on Cannabisnews.Dennis
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Comment #17 posted by jose melendez on April 20, 2004 at 05:24:53 PT
E_J
"These guys are sooo dumb, they do half our work for us, I swear."Interestingly, Dr. Robert DuPont also testified before Congress on April 1 under oath.After carefully investigating his claims, I noted several omissions and distortions of fact, and so sent a list of three questions to DuPont's office. Amazingly and very professionally, DuPont answered, and claims to be interested in further debate, although the tone of his writing seemed to imply a confidence that his position was correct and assured, and that the issue was therefore settled.DuPont included one demonstrably false statement in his answers, and that inaccuracy seems crucial to his argument, so I have returned the draft for revision.I await DuPont's final draft, and look forward to publishing said evidence here, in print and UNDER OATH.
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Comment #16 posted by BigDawg on April 20, 2004 at 04:42:06 PT
It works... for some
Personally, I can't set foot on a college campus while high. It just doesn't work for me. However...I had a friend in college who suffered from ADHD. He self medicated with cannabis and refused to take ritilan. He NEVER set foot on campu unless he was medicated... and managed to graduate with a 3.97 GPA and was accepted to an Ivy league grad school.Just because it isn't right for me... doesn't mean it isn't right for others. And it certainly has less issues than ritilan.
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Comment #15 posted by Riptide on April 19, 2004 at 22:03:00 PT
ADD
Due to teachers' insistence that I be tested for ADD, I was diagnosed with both ADD and hyperactivity when I was 10 years old. Most of my scholastic life I have either had to deal with this condition on my own or take ritalin to combat it. Even now when things have slowed down for me a bit I still find it difficult not to have my mind on several things at once. Sitting down in front of the TV for even 2 hours at a time is a rare occurrence, I feel the need to move or do something else constantly. In college I have gone through periods of moderate to heavy pot smoking as well as periods of little to no pot smoking. The herb definitely makes it far easier for me to really get into a subject and push the other things occupying my mind to the background. I have noticed that the grades from a semester during which I have smoked cannabis regularly are better by at least a letter grade as compared with those semesters during which I have not smoked cannabis. The subjects are more interesting and obviously I am able to acquire and retain a greater amount of information. 
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Comment #14 posted by E_Johnson on April 19, 2004 at 20:02:56 PT
I'll say one good thing about Fox
They do make an effort to give Libertarian ideas a platform.Which CNN has never done. Most of the mainstream "liberal" news media discriminates against the political margins for the sake of the status quo.
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Comment #13 posted by E_Johnson on April 19, 2004 at 19:46:11 PT
I think Souder's hearing just blew up in his face
Wow, I'll bet Souder wishes he never had his dumb hearing NOW!These guys are sooo dumb, they do half our work for us, I swear.
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Comment #12 posted by DevoHawk on April 19, 2004 at 18:29:59 PT
Cannabis great for ADD
At age 21, the first semester in college I enjoyed cannabis at the University of Kansas I recieved all A's, a once in a lifetime feat for myself. No question it allowed me to finally sit down and study for more than 30 minutes at a time. My grades get higher when I do you could say.I don't think I used it in highschool because 30 minutes a night studying was all the more time a person needed in Texas in the 70's. Most every person in High School I hung out with enjoyed cannabis and I was fortunate enough to hang out with those who graduated tops in their class.When I tell people how wonderful cannabis was for me, very few people believe me until they verify the story with my friends and roomates and then they tell me I'm just an aberration which is probably part true. It is quite easy and acceptable to pick on a person for using pot as medicine.It is good to see this reported so well by fakeas news, perhaps they're sheet scared since the forked up so bad with the whole Iraq "not quagmire". 
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Comment #11 posted by FoM on April 19, 2004 at 18:09:15 PT
sukoi 
I know why I haven't heard about it. It happened in 1992 and there wasn't an Internet. I'll bookmark and read about it. Thank you.
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Comment #10 posted by sukoi on April 19, 2004 at 18:01:28 PT
FoM
I can hardly believe that you haven't! Check out these links:http://www.outpost-of-freedom.com/SCOTTIII.htmhttp://francesplantescott.dmusic.com/http://www.greatscottpresents.com/
 
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on April 19, 2004 at 17:40:31 PT
sukoi
Thank you. I never heard about this case. Cannabis Enthusiast thanks I put it in my wish list on amazon.
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Comment #8 posted by Cannabis Enthusiast on April 19, 2004 at 17:17:55 PT
Reefer Madness - now in color!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00018D3XM/Enjoy!
Reefer Madness DVD in color
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Comment #7 posted by sukoi on April 19, 2004 at 17:12:40 PT
Conspiracy theory in song
I haven't seen this posted here (although I could have missed it), but it's a great article about the attempted Scott land grab that lead to his demise and his widow fighting back!http://malibutimes.com/articles/2004/03/31/life_and_arts/art2.txt
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on April 19, 2004 at 17:05:43 PT
mayan
Yes for Fox it is cool. I find it very hard to watch Fox. My mind just doesn't compute what they report!
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Comment #5 posted by mayan on April 19, 2004 at 17:01:16 PT
"Fair & Balanced"
For Faux News it's pretty cool, FoM! "Fair & Balanced"(between fascism & totalitarianism)."I do believe that Dr. Jensen really wants to help her patients, but I think she is deeply misguided when she recommends marijuana to teenagers with attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity," he told Foxnews.com. "There is no serious scientific basis for using marijuana to treat those conditions, and Dr. Jensen didn’t even try to present one."also...Nick Coleman, a subcommittee spokesman, said Souder doesn't "try to humiliate people. "But to promote medical marijuana for teenagers with ADD … he does not feel that is a sound and scientific medical practice," Coleman said.Yeah right, Doctor Souder. What? You're not a doctor? Then why are you pretending to be one?The way out...NORAD had drills of jets as weapons:
http://www.usatoday.com/advertising/orbitz/orbitz-window-unldPop.htmF.A.I.R. Challenges NY Times Over 9/11 Investigation Reporting:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=231&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0Help get David Ray Griffin on Democracy Now!
http://www.septembereleventh.org/alerts/dn.php
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Comment #4 posted by FoM on April 19, 2004 at 16:47:37 PT
Hi Marc
Sometimes the news amazes me. It seems that Cannabis is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
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Comment #3 posted by Shishaldin on April 19, 2004 at 16:46:18 PT
????
and from "Fair and Balanced" FoxNews, no less??!! 
Wow...I'm speechless...
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Comment #2 posted by Marc Paquette on April 19, 2004 at 16:45:14 PT:
She's right!
Hi FoM;Dr Jensen is absolutely right. I would prefer giving a kid suffering from ADHD a shake muffin instead of Ritalin. Ritalin is synthetic cocaine at 98% and not only it has nasty side-effects, but it's very addictive. All that shit they sell in drug stores could be replaced by different strains of cannabis because there's a strain for every pain! That other doctor that is saying that marijuana contains 300 carcinogens must have meant "cannabinoids" and there are over 400. Health "Hell" Canada says that there are 50 carcinogens in cannabis..not 300! And up to now, most cannabinoids have been reported as destroying cancer cells and destroy tumours.Glory to this miraculous and worderful herb called cannabis! Not only that it improves the lives of many sick and dying people, it increases the quantity of life as well! I believe in preventive medicine also...which rationalizes the use by recreational smokers :o)Peace,Marc 
http://www.medpot.net
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on April 19, 2004 at 16:09:11 PT
This Is a Different Article
What does anyone think?
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