Community | January 21, 2010 | 36 comments

Are the Feds blocking medical marijuana research?

source: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/news/dpgoh-are-feds-blocking-medical-marijuana-research-fc-...

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JackHerer
About eight out of 10 Americans favor legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. Fourteen states have now done so. The Obama administration has announced it will not prosecute medical marijuana users.

Yet the federal government is making it exceedingly difficult for research to verify that marijuana is an effective treatment for conditions ranging from glaucoma to multiple sclerosis, reported The New York Times .

Many patients with conditions such as cancer, glaucoma, AIDS or chronic pain swear by marijuana's effectiveness. It appears at least as safe as many prescription drugs used for similar purposes. Yet there have been few scientific studies on it, and even fewer with conclusive results. Much of the evidence for its validity as a medical treatment is anecdotal.

In the United States, researchers who wish to study the effects of marijuana have only one source for their raw material. It is grown at the University of Mississippi, and its distribution is controlled by multiple federal agencies. To use it, researchers must apply to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and must get approvals from the DEA, FDA and a special Public Health Service panel.

The majority of research requests are denied by one or more of these agencies. If they are approved, the researchers are limited to the few varieties of marijuana grown by the university. Other varieties have somewhat different medicinal properties, which cannot be studied as long as access to them is denied. The federal government does not make it as difficult to study Ecstasy or LSD.

In 1985, the FDA approved Marinol , a pill made from synthetic THC, an active chemical in marijuana. The agency claimed that it has the same medicinal effects and less risk. Many patients who have taken Marinol, however, say it did not work for them, or gave them more side effects than smoking marijuana.

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpps/news/dpgoh-are-feds-blocking-medical-marijuana-...
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36 comments // Are the Feds blocking medical marijuana research?

  • James_Gragg
    • +1
      James_Gragg  

    • serenden68,
      You just expressed the "reason" for the "National Security Act." Know how you can tell a government spoaksman is lyin?? Their lips are moving!!! There is no "justice" OR "law" anymore, all that we got is government's power to "enforce" whatever they feel like. Just another "gang" with uniforms & badges. Power corrupts, and absolute power completely corrupts absolutely!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • corrandk
    • +1
      corrandk  

    • lol...this only has to do with the government in the way that lobbyists are still controlling some decisions. Look, who stands to lose the most if marijuana becomes legal?

      The alcohol industry. Not the pharmaceutical industry, they will simply make drugs using marijuana and make more money. Not the politicians, its just more lobbyists for them to get bonuses from. Centuries of our culture have been manipulated by the alcohol industry however, and while marijuana is finally starting to break through, Anheiser-Busch and the others are still the ones spending the most money to fight it. How much money would beer and liquor companies lose if people can actually go out and legally get high?

      A lot. That is why this has taken so long, and that is why it continues to move along at a snails pace despite all logic saying to do so. Not the least of which is to remove one of the largest sources of income for the illegal drug trafficking gangs, mobs, and mafias of various countries, including Mexico.

    • 2 years ago
  • CurrentWatcher17
  • Mephistopheles666
  • Mephistopheles666
  • N_Dank
  • dudefromtherock
  • danitassin
  • danitassin
    • 0
      danitassin  

    • Of course. The federal government makes $20,000 per year per inmate. And 70% of our prisoners are convicted of a marijuana related offense. Most of them have children that are now a part of the system and will most likely end up in prison too. Thus creating a never ending cycle of money for the government.

    • 2 years ago
  • hunzedog
    • 0
      hunzedog  

    • PSA PSA PSA FEATURE: ANTHRAX-TAINTED HEROIN TAKES TOLL IN EUROPE, PROMPTS CALLS FOR EMERGENCY PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE
      At least seven heroin users have died from dope contaminated with anthrax in Scotland, and one in Germany. Harm reductionists and public health experts are demanding that government respond with more than "quit using."

    • 2 years ago
  • Madhatter244
    • 0
      Madhatter244  

    • Please keep in mind the money that these politicians stand to lose from their ties to businesses that benefit from marijuana/hemp being illegal. Logging, paper, fuel, plastics, clothing, building materials, drug companies...the list goes on and on.

      Dont forget the same politicans making the laws own the same businesses listed above...or their buddies do

      Hemp takes one growing season to mature compared to the 100's of years it took to grow the prized trees the loggers destroy for our benefit

      "A nation of sheep beget a government of wolves" - Edward R. Murrow

    • 2 years ago
  • GreenerSide
  • kevinthedude
  • iamaman
    • +1
      iamaman  

    • its easy to protest the feds. get a CARD/perscription! grow what you want at home........at work.......anywhere you can legally according to state law! the feds cant bust everyone! and those who are are subject to the judgment of their peers.

      its easy!!!!!!

      many if not most MM scrips in So Cal are given without medical documentation being required. qualification is on what you say to the MD. all records are private. the state has its med marijuana program but its near impossible to get a card through them. also if the fed wants to crack down, the state has to provide the personal information of every registered person.

      also you can "trade" (what you dont smoke/vaporize) to other "Card Carriers".

      its like money that truely does grow on trees! i dont care what the feds reasons are for keeping it down, its a benefit to millions of Californians, therapeutically and financially. if the fed does not want to tax it...............that great!!!!!!!!! non-controlled substance!!!!!
      no taxes!!!!! no crime!!!!!!! Law? what is the law?

      fuck Marinol and big brother!!!!!

      vaporizing is the way to go!!!!!

    • 2 years ago
  • hunzedog
  • hunzedog
  • jdubsy
  • fuj
  • obamaisajoke
  • PirateSauce
  • fun_size
  • serenden68
    • +1
      serenden68  
    • obamaisajoke:

      first of all cannabis isnt a drug... please stop calling it that for your own good because it makes you look stupid. its a plant/herb.

      second judges, officers, scientists, former presidents, inverters, religious leaders, public figures, teachers, doctors, psychiatrists, business owners, construction workers, architects, farmers... you get the point. all of these have those who smoke and yet do their work to the highest degree, most far exceed any and all expectations.

      i smoke and im maintaining a 3.9 GPA in Architecture...

      as far as the ill patients go... why not do a lil bit of research and look up the instances where cannabis actually helped the patient. i know of one where a doctors son was on the brink of death due to his cancer and used cannabis as a last resort, long story short, the boys condition completely turned around and he successfully fought off cancer. thats just one, there are thousands or millions of cases where cannabis has helped patients, whether they are suffering from cancer or arthritis or in recent study even asthma.

    • 2 years ago
  • captain_insano
  • ZomOn
  • Conniepae
    • +1
      Conniepae  

    • The best suggestion I have for those who disagree with the 'anti-marijuana' campaign, is to stop using the man made name 'marijuana' for cannabis. 'Marijuana' is a made-up name to change the subject away from a plant, which has been used throughout history. 'Anti-cannabis' would show their ignorance. Cannabis tracks back thousands of years. Marijuana only tracks back to the 30's. Cannabis hemp, cannabis hemp, cannabis hemp! Stop using their man made name for cannabis. Stop using the word 'marijuana'! 'Cannabis' should used whenever talking about 'cannabis'.

      It's ridiculous, using a 'man made' name, to eliminate the competition from the 'natural' plant cannabis hemp. Cannabis hemp is natural, marijuana is a 'man made' name used to mislead ordinary Americans into thinking it is something it is not. Just sayin...... Stop using their man made name! Stick to natural - cannabis!

    • 2 years ago
  • serenden68
  • ahappymintleaf
    • +1
      ahappymintleaf  
    • Conniepae:

      well, technically all names (and words for that matter) are manmade. and i feel that the sigma that the word 'marijuana' may hold has been watered down significantly over the years, regardless. ultimately the two words should be completely interchangeable, but i see your point.

    • 2 years ago
  • dudefromtherock
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  
    • Image
    • Conniepae:

      The name was changed, to mislead ordinary Americans into thinking 'marijuana' was a new drug. When 'marijuana' became illegal, even the medical profession did not know they were outlawing 'cannabis'. No I don't mean to say cannabis was named by God. But, 'Marijuana' was the name used to spin 'madness' about the plant cannabis.

      http://www.jackherer.com/chapter05.html

    • 2 years ago
  • fun_size
    • 0
      fun_size  

    • Theres some doubt that they are blocking research? I just assumed they are. Seems strange taht Govt. studies always show marijuana being harmful and having few benefits while independent research shows just how many applications marijuana has.

    • 2 years ago
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  
    • fun_size:

      and even in the studies that marijuana has been seen as "harmful", all those studies have been proven to be false. like psychotic murderous behavior, or brain damage, or even addiction... oh and lets not mention the gateway theory.

      in truth it actually helps you kick hard drugs to the curb. people that smoke are some of the most relaxed and least violent people i know, well we all know that cannabis doesn't make you mad.

      as far as the brain goes.. well that study about memory loss was done on a monkey that was also under the influence of tobacco and alcohol so that study is irrelevant anyways, but for me personally it helps me get through my school work more efficiently and a whole hell of a lot easier.

      and the gateway theory... in actuality its the complete opposite of what has been told to you by the govt. it doesnt make you want hard drugs like cocaine, it helps you kick hard drugs, and even alcohol.. and tobacco. thats why the alcohol and tobacco industry are some of the largest contributors to prohibition.

    • 2 years ago
  • artemis6
  • davzap
    • 0
      davzap  

    • During Panama Canal construction the US Army was doing the work and also did a study of ganja smoking and deemed it safe and acceptable for the men to partake.

    • 2 years ago
  • serenden68
    • 0
      serenden68  

    • well of course.

      the govt. didnt want to admit that it was wrong in the first place so they destroyed nearly all the research that was first done initially right b4 it was deemed illegal.

      now the govt. doesnt want the truth to come out because the govt. would be seen as liars to their own people, once that happens then im sure tons of things would be looked at, that the govt. has done and im sure tons of things would be found that would discredit the govt and demand a total govt. reform. and since the govt. doesnt want that to happen they are going to block and hide or do anything they can to cover their asses on this subject and many others.

      and as far as the pill goes. the pill is more dangerous than that the plant its derived from, simply because you can overdose on it. you cant overdose on marijuana.

      ugh the govt. is pissing me off. why dont they just own up to their mistakes and face justice, just like they want everyone else to.

    • 2 years ago
  • Incredulous
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