cannabisnews.com: Cannabis Proven Effective in Treating Neuropathy Cannabis Proven Effective in Treating Neuropathy Posted by CN Staff on October 24, 2007 at 12:50:21 PT Press Release Source: Newswise California -- Smoked cannabis eased pain induced in healthy volunteers, according to a study by researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR.) However, the researchers found that less may be more.In the placebo controlled study of 15 subjects, a low dose of cannabis showed no effect, a medium dose provided moderate pain relief, and a high dose increased the pain response. The results suggest a "therapeutic window" for cannabis analgesia, according to lead researcher Mark Wallace, M.D., professor of anesthesiology at UCSD School of Medicine and Program Director for the UCSD Center for Pain Medicine. The paper, to be published in the November issue of the journal Anesthesiology, is the second published study out of the CMCR. Headquartered at UCSD, the CMCR is collaboration between UCSD and UC San Francisco that was funded by a state-funded initiative in 1999 to rigorously study the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis in treating diseases.The study used capsaicin, an alkaloid derived from hot chili peppers that is an irritant to the skin, to mimic the type of neuropathic pain experienced by patients with HIV/AIDS, diabetes or shingles – brief, intense pain following by a longer-lasting secondary pain. The subjects were healthy volunteers who inhaled either medical cannabis or a placebo after pain was induced. The marijuana cigarettes were formulated under NIH supervision to contain either zero, two, four or eight percent delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC.)“Subjects reported a decrease in pain at the medium dose, and there was also a significant correlation between plasma levels of THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, and decreased pain,” said Igor Grant, M.D., F.R.C.P.(C), professor and Executive Vice-Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, the director of the CMCR. “Interestingly, the analgesic effect wasn’t immediate; it took about 45 minutes for the cannabis to have an impact on the pain,” he said.The results, showing a medium-dose (4% THC by weight) of cannabis to be an effective analgesic, converged with results from the CMCR’s first published study, a paper by UCSF researcher Donald Abrams, M.D. published in the journal Neurology in February 2007. In that randomized placebo-controlled trial, patients smoking the same dose of cannabis experienced a 34% reduction in HIV-associated sensory neuropathy pain—twice the rate experienced by patients receiving a placebo.“This study helps to build a case that cannabis does have therapeutic value at a medium-dose level,” said Grant. “It also suggests that higher doses aren’t necessarily better in certain situations – something also observed with other medications, such as antidepressants.”The researchers stated that more and larger studies need to be conducted to measure the efficacy of cannabis, noting that medical marijuana could play an important role in treating patients who don’t respond well to the usual pain relievers or can’t tolerate drugs such as ibuprofen or opioids used for severe pain.“The results of this study might help guide others doing clinical research into pain management,” said Wallace. Additional contributors to the study include Gery Schulteis, Ph.D., UCSD Department of Anesthesiology; J. Hampton Atkinson, M.D., professor, and Deborah Lazzaretto, M.S., UCSD HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center; Ian Abramson, Ph.D., UCSD Department of Mathematics and HIV Neurobehavioral Research Center; Tanya Wolfson, M.A., UCSD Department of Family and Preventive Medicine; and Heather Bentley and Ben Gouaux, UCSD Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.Complete Title: Smoked Cannabis Proven Effective in Treating Neuropathic PainSource: Newswise (VA)Published: October 24, 2007Copyright: 2007 NewswiseContact: editor newswise.comWebsite: http://www.newswise.com/CannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #24 posted by potpal on October 26, 2007 at 07:23:36 PT pot headline This story has made it onto norml.com site...check out this headline!Inhaled Cannabis Has Biphasic Effect On Capsaicin-Induced Pain, Study Says OT: I watched a BBC News broadcast on TV last night. And they had a piece on about just how 'grim' the world is becoming due to us humans and how everything we do from here out must be thought of in terms of being 'green' first and foremost. So I'm writing to ask them why they routinely are the first to demonize a plant, cannabis, that can contribute greatly to the goal of bouying this sinking ship. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by potpal on October 26, 2007 at 05:39:57 PT singing praises No not mine. Was passed to me and I passed it on after toking on it myself! [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by afterburner on October 26, 2007 at 00:02:09 PT More Drinks Anti-Drug Warriors? Dan Gardner . Defining drugs. We overestimate the risks of consuming illicit drugs while greatly underestimating the risks of the legal variety. Dan Gardner, The Ottawa Citizen. Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2007 http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/columnists/story.html?id=4080f03b-a295-4b41-96ae-a3a0516f7f87 [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by FoM on October 25, 2007 at 21:25:22 PT potpal I got to see it again today. Thank you. I remember seeing it before. I am trying out EVDO and I could view it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by whig on October 25, 2007 at 21:21:00 PT potpal I've watched and shared that before, is it yours? It's awesome. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by potpal on October 25, 2007 at 21:20:14 PT my pleasure to share with youse guys!Pass it around! [ Post Comment ] Comment #18 posted by Hope on October 25, 2007 at 08:54:08 PT Comment 10 Thanks, Potpal!That was great. I had a feeling I was watching and listening to this generation's own Bob Dylan. Wonderful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by afterburner on October 25, 2007 at 07:25:20 PT Rick Steves CN BC: Column: Europeans Know Drug Abuse Is an Illness, Not a Crime, Victoria Times-Colonist, (23 Oct 2007) Rick Steves http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1231/a07.html?176 [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by whig on October 25, 2007 at 01:58:15 PT afterburner You've got that right. It's not for nothing that all the Democratic candidates have come out for ending the federal raids on patients. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by afterburner on October 24, 2007 at 22:18:40 PT All The Consciousness-Raising Must Effect Society Cannabis is indeed a mild consciousness-raising plant. Increasing numbers of people enjoy its blessings. Surely, the body politic must be getting more enlightened. More supportive of the change of repealing cannabis prohibition. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by afterburner on October 24, 2007 at 22:16:42 PT CBC Newsworld Showing Documentary on Marc Emery CN ON: Seeds of Rebel's U.S. Pot Fight Grew in Canada, The Record, (23 Oct 2007) http://www.mapinc.org/newstcl/v07/n1225/a04.html?176 Good review of CBC Newsworld documentary, "The Prince of Pot: The U.S. Vs. Marc Emery ."I taped the show Tuesday night, but it is being rebroadcast several times on CBC Newsworld:SHOW TITLE: The Prince of Pot: The U.S. vs Marc Emery. CATEGORY: Special. SYNOPSIS: Prominent activist faces extradition to the U.S. for selling marijuana seeds over the Internet. CHANNEL: CBC Newsworld. DATE / TIME [ET]: October 23: 10:00PM; October 24: 1:00AM, 4:00AM; October 27: 4:00AM, 11:00PM; October 28: 2:00AM. RUN TIME: 1 hour.If you can't receive it in the U.S., the program will probably be shown on POT-TV in the near future. [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by Toker00 on October 24, 2007 at 21:34:55 PT potpal You really are pot's pal, aren't you? Great video. That was so soothing after the 9-11 thread...thanks again, pal.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by John Tyler on October 24, 2007 at 20:36:07 PT MYSpace Video That was really great. Thanks Potpal [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by Dankhank on October 24, 2007 at 20:19:00 PT Potpal frakin' awesome, dude ...so much truth, so much Cannabis, great performance ...thanx [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by potpal on October 24, 2007 at 19:06:17 PT singing praises Just had to share this...enjoy!http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=766510 [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by mayan on October 24, 2007 at 18:19:52 PT Yeah, We Know Ho-hum. There are countless conditions,diseases,disorders, etc. that cannabis can treat/prevent. The list just keeps growing but no matter how long it gets cannabis will continue to be prohibited! The key to freeing the weed is removing the entrenched fascist prohibitionists from power. THE WAY OUT IS THE WAY IN...Tucker Carlson: Clueless About Historical Fact Government Engages in Mass Murder: http://www.truthnews.us/?p=449David Ray Griffin in Denver - Oct. 19, 2007: http://911blogger.com/node/12158Television broadcast of Richard Gage's 9/11: Blueprint for Truth: http://911blogger.com/node/12150Beck: 9/11 Truthers "Insane", "Dangerous Anarchists", "The Kind Of Group A Timothy McVeigh Would Come From": http://infowars.com/articles/sept11/beck_calls_truthers_insane_dangerous_anarchists.htmHey Glenn Beck... http://visibility911.com/jongold/?p=286Bill Maher faces off with 9/11 Truth Movement LIVE on television: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20071024104652344William Rodriguez 'Last Man Out' Tour, Sonoma to Seattle: http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=2007102393929913 [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by charmed quark on October 24, 2007 at 18:18:12 PT aerosolization That's what Sativex uses. It a whole cannabis extract made by GW Pharmaceuticals in England and distributed by Bayer in Canada. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by josephlacerenza on October 24, 2007 at 17:45:30 PT Delivery of cannabis I still have yet to hear aerosolization as another means of administering cannabinoids. This would be simular to an inhaler. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 24, 2007 at 17:19:12 PT I Hope People Watch This Tonight I'm reposting this from a thread that might not be looked at now.National Geographic Tonight: Heroin Crisis It was late last night and I found this documentary. I was tired so I didn't watch the whole program and I found it very hard to watch. It isn't pretty but I think it is worth checking out.Explorer: Heroin Crisis [TV-14 Ratings N/A] Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at 09P Heroin is one of the most addictive drugs on earth. Stronger, purer and easier to get than ever before, heroin is attracting a whole new breed of addict. Dangerously pure, the newest forms of heroin can be snorted or smoked, rather than injected, attracting millions of new mainstream users. Explorer investigates how the war in Afghanistan has inadvertently unleashed a deluge of heroin, enticing users from Kabul to Europe to America's heartland. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/popup/200710242100.html [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Toker00 on October 24, 2007 at 16:32:14 PT Give Peace a Chance. Cannabis, too. I hear there are a few people out there who really want to bring Peace to the World. Any help from any or all of us will be much appreciated, I'm sure. Try this for starters:http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/16736-october-27th-mobilization-to-end-the-war?play=1&utm_source=rgemailThank ya. Thank ya vury mutch.Toke. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by charmed quark on October 24, 2007 at 16:28:33 PT effectiveness The 34% decrease actually equals or exceeds the neuropathic pain reduction achieved by the current standard therapies. And the study indicated that the side effects of cannabis are much less than the standards.I had a good laugh when one of my neurologists said she was worried that THC might cause cognitive problems after some study found a barely measurable memory decrease in long-term heavy users. This was just after we had discussed the severe cognitive effects I had on Topamax. I couldn't add 2+2 on it. It's so bad that many people call it "Dopamax". THC is nothing compared to this. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by whig on October 24, 2007 at 15:07:52 PT Seriously Everyone moderates their use. Come on. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 24, 2007 at 14:35:18 PT potpal It is interesting. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by potpal on October 24, 2007 at 14:15:01 PT interesting And strange to see how a story like this gets knocked around and where it turns up and what a difference a headline makes. Cannabis prohibition is the crime. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment