cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- December 09, 2004





NORML's Weekly News Bulletin -- December 09, 2004
Posted by CN Staff on December 09, 2004 at 15:54:27 PT
Weekly Press Release
Source: NORML
Federal Bill Introduced Calling For Meta-Analysis Of Marijuana ResearchDecember 9, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Federal legislation introduced last week seeks to require the US National Institutes on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to develop a "meta-analysis of the available scientific data regarding the safety and health risks of smoking marijuana and the clinically-proven effectiveness of smoking marijuana for medicinal purposes, and to require the Food and Drug Administration to promptly disseminate the meta-analysis." The bill, H.R. 5429, was introduced by longtime medical cannabis opponent Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), along with Reps. Henry Bonilla (R-TX), Jack Kingston (R-GA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), and Christopher Smith (R-NJ).
NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said that the scientific record shows definitively that cannabis has medical utility, and criticized Rep. Souder's "longstanding and willful ignorance" of the subject."NORML suggests that Rep. Souder and his colleagues begin their analysis by reviewing the National Academy of Sciences 1999 report, 'Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base,' which verified that cannabis is efficacious in the treatment of a number of symptoms, including nausea, appetite loss, and chronic pain," St. Pierre said.That report, which was funded by the White House, further concluded, "Except for the harms associated with smoking, the adverse effects of marijuana use are within the range of effects tolerated for other medications."For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6368CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtmlMore Than Half Of Police Chiefs Oppose Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana, Survey SaysDecember 9, 2004 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Fewer than one in two police chiefs support the use of medicinal cannabis by authorized patients, according to the results of a survey of more than 300 police chiefs nationwide conducted by the Police Foundation and the think-tank Drug Strategies.Fifty-one percent of respondents said that local laws permitting "medical marijuana to be used for seriously ill individuals" are a "step in the wrong direction." Only 38 percent of respondents favored such a policy.The result sharply contrasts with national opinion polls, which demonstrate that 80 percent of Americans believe that it should be legal to dispense medical cannabis to qualified patients. However, the finding is similar to a previous 2004 survey conducted by the National Association of Chiefs of Police, in which 60 percent of respondents answered "no" to the question: "Should marijuana be legalized in the United States for those who have a legitimate medical need for the drug."Commenting on the survey, NORML Foundation Executive Director Allen St. Pierre said: "It's a shame that law enforcement continue to hold seriously ill patients hostage by their opinions and actions opposing the therapeutic use of medicinal cannabis. Equally troubling is that law enforcement's views on this issue are so completely out-of-step with the opinion of the American public."In other findings, the Police Foundation/Drug Strategies survey found that 67 percent of respondents believe that police and other law enforcement agencies have been "unsuccessful ... in reducing the drug problem in the United States," and more than 80 percent said there needs to be "major changes "or a "fundamental overhaul" in the government's anti-drug strategies.Nevertheless, when asked their opinion on "reducing mandatory minimum sentences for low-level, nonviolent drug offenders," 64 percent of police chiefs polled called the idea "a step in the wrong direction." Ironically, only 22 percent of respondents said that mandatory sentences are "fairly effective" or "very effective" at reducing drug trafficking or use.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500. Full results of the survey are available online at: http://www.drugstrategies.org/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6369British Regulators Call For More Research Before Deciding On Cannabis Extract For Multiple SclerosisDecember 9, 2004 - London, United KingdomLondon, United Kingdom: The federal regulatory agency that oversees the licensing of prescription medications in the UK announced last week that it requires further clinical evidence of the ability of cannabis extracts to alleviate MS-associated spasticity in a "clinically relevant" manner.The British firm GW Pharmaceuticals initially submitted a regulatory application for the cannabis extract spray, known as Sativex, in March 2003 after a clinical trial found it to improve spasticity in patients suffering from severe MS, all of whom had previously failed to respond to other available medications. On Friday, the company received notice from the Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM), an advisory body of the Medicines and Health products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), suggesting that an additional "confirmatory study" on spasticity would be required before it would decide on whether to approve the licensing of Sativex.GW Pharmaceuticals stated in a press release that it will appeal the CSM's decision. In parallel, GW also plans to commence the further confirmatory study required by the agency.The CSM reported that the agency had no outstanding issues with the quality and safety of Sativex.Several British health organizations, including the MS Society and the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, responded negatively to the CSM's decision to further delay Sativex's approval. The MS Society called the outcome "extremely disappointing," while a spokesperson for the MS Trust told the London Guardian newspaper, "I hope the [CSM] will reconsider their position and give some thought to the impact of this decision on the lives of those with painful, chronic disease."Previous clinical trials on Sativex have found it to significantly alleviate numerous MS-associated symptoms compared to placebo, including pain, muscle spasms and bladder incontinence. A study appearing in this month's issue of the journal Pain also notes that the extracts significantly reduce neuropathic pain in patients suffering from nerve damage.The company submitted a regulatory application to Health Canada earlier this year seeking to license the use of Sativex as an analgesic.For more information, please contact either Allen St. Pierre or Paul Armentano of the NORML Foundation at (202) 483-5500.DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6370Anger as Cannabis Drug Fails MS Trial http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19975.shtmlGW Pharma Shares Take Hit on Cannabis Delayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18766.shtmlSource: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: December 09, 2004Copyright: 2004 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/NORML's Weekly News Bulletin --Dec. 02, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19956.shtmlNORML's Weekly News Bulletin --Nov. 24, 2004http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19878.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help




Comment #6 posted by siege on December 10, 2004 at 09:13:07 PT
US Army
Cannabis and hashish US Army. US military have been conducting tests on human, clinical trials have been going since (01 Jan, 1999) and we don't hear anything on them. BUT you can beat your Donkey that (NIDA) (FDA) and all rest of them have the information ON M M J, if they would brake it out, but that would HURT them.. I seen the paper work that give them the green light. 
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #5 posted by Sam Adams on December 10, 2004 at 08:37:24 PT
smoked MJ
I can't wait to see the results of this study! Interesting that they specified only smoked marijuana.  I used cannabis daily for medical reasons & haven't smoked any in almost a year. (I use a vaporizer, cannabutter, and even cannabis liniment). The funny thing is, if they really DO a serious meta-analysis, of course they will find the smoked cannabis is still incredibly safe when compared to other meds in its class.If Souder had ordered a meta-analysis of NSAID drugs for pain relief, over the counter and prescription, they would have found that 13,500 people per year are being killed through GI bleeding alone, with tens of thousands more probably being killed through kidney & liver damage.Don't forget, the FDA actually bullied medical researchers into keeping silent on the dangers of Vioxx.  They don't just rubber-stamp Big Pharm's products, the pro-actively work to conceal damage done by the drugs.Let me guess: the NIH report on medical MJ will cite increased risk of lung damage, increased risk of going insane, increased risk of this and that. But of course, they won't be any additional death or sickness caused by "smoked marijuana".  Just infinitely increasing risk. The dumb morons in Red America are so pathetic. They love the moral righteousness of these pols going after the potheads. But they're so damned stupid they can't even see that these same guys are forcing prescription speed on their fat, dumb little mini-me redneck children.OK! Getting a little bitter again...
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #4 posted by BigDawg on December 10, 2004 at 08:30:29 PT
Meta analysis????
Meta analysis is taking many different research projects and combining data to get a "big picture" of something. But our gov't has been telling us for years that we need more research. If we need more research... how can they do a meta analysis? Where are they going to get this research when they claim it doesn't exsist?More bs from our gov't.The research has been done over and over. A meta analysis is a good idea... but done by a group that has been saying such research doesn't exist?!?!?! Right (/sarcasm)
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #3 posted by mayan on December 09, 2004 at 18:52:03 PT
Sativex
From the last article on the bulletin...London, United Kingdom: The federal regulatory agency that oversees the licensing of prescription medications in the UK announced last week that it requires further clinical evidence of the ability of cannabis extracts to alleviate MS-associated spasticity in a "clinically relevant" manner.But then...The CSM reported that the agency had no outstanding issues with the quality and safety of Sativex.Then why are they demanding further evidence? Clinical trials have already found Sativex to improve spasticity in patients suffering from severe MS, all of whom had previously failed to respond to other available medications!Are the Brits being leaned on by the Bushies? If whole-cannabis extracts become licensed it spells real bad news for American prohibitionists. THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Spitzer runs for Governor- dead end for Hence and Schwarz Case?
http://inn.globalfreepress.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1105Was 9/11 The Ultimate Black Operation? 
http://rense.com/general60/ultim.htmJury Says Destruction Of Twin Towers Was Two Events -
Insurance Case Clears Way for Bigger Settlement:
http://rense.com/general60/jury.htmCrossing the Rubicon: The Decline of the American Empire at the End of the Age of Oil - by Michael C. Ruppert:
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/announce.shtml9/11 Truth:
http://www.911truth.org/
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #2 posted by medicinal toker on December 09, 2004 at 18:33:00 PT
the glass as almost half full
Why wasn't it titled, "Almost Half Of Police Chiefs Support Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana, Survey Says"?I see it as a positive that nearly half, despite careers of having hatred of pot and pot smokers pounded into them, actually gets the compassion thing. Only about 30% behind the people they police, but getting closer.
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #1 posted by kaptinemo on December 09, 2004 at 18:18:22 PT:
Stall, stall, stall, stall
Antis, we know your game. Stall as long as you can. Stall any chance of immediately relieving the suffering of millions...until you can legally deny the masses the means of growing their own medicine and ensure Big Pharma makes a literal killing from legally determined profits. Stall with committee after bogus committee, ignore the recommendations of study after valid study if it doesn't meet your political litmus test.Dante said the last and worse circle of Hell was comprised of ice. I say it's an echo chamber, in which the screams of all those who've died in agony (when cannabis could have been allowed them to alleviate their suffering) are unendingly heard by those who, in this life, condemned those poor souls to that agony with their insufferable self-righteousness. Those who, like Mr. Souder, so loudly proclaim their actions governed by God seem to pay The Great Maker's principles nothing but lip service, while the *real* followers of Yeshua the Carpenter don't make much of their devotion; they just go about their business of trying to honestly emulate Him as best as mortal flesh allows. Some do so by striving to relieve the suffering of others with no thought of recompense. As do most of those who come here.I know whose company I prefer...
[ Post Comment ]


Post Comment