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In reply to the discussion: Weed is woo too [View all]

RainDog

(28,784 posts)
28. Cannabis medicine is sound science
Tue Jan 7, 2014, 04:15 AM
Jan 2014

And it's true that the NIDA is very stingy with approval for studies because of its scheduling as a class I, with no medical value.

But as a palliative treatment for side effects of chemotherapy, cannabis was so effective, based upon user surveys from doctors, it was synthesized and that's why Marinol exists. Unfortunately, Marinol, from patient reports, is much stronger because it's just THC. And further research has indicated a synergistic effect from two diff. cannabinoids, not just THC.

The AMA has recommended that cannabis be removed as a schedule I substance so that more research can occur, again, based upon physicians' views of existing research and patient reports. But they have to couch their words so that they don't offend the DEA, etc., as you see in this link: http://www.amednews.com/article/20091123/profession/311239968/7/

But cannabis is already legally prescribed as a drug for epilepsy and MS, and other conditions, depending upon the country. Sativex is made from cannabis plants, not a synthetic, and delivered as a spray. GW Pharmaceutical, in GB, grows and processes all the plants used for Sativex at this time.

Cannabis is legal as medicine in the UK (on June 21, 2010, making it the first cannabis-based prescription medicine in the world) Approved to treat spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis in Spain, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Norway, and Poland.

There has only been one human study for cancer (gliomas) and that was only allowed when tradition treatments were no longer recommended. Animal studies have shown good results and have shown the way that cannabis creates apoptosis of various cancer cells.

These are current or upcoming studies:

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=%28smoked+OR+inhaled+OR+vaporized%29+AND+%28cannabis+OR+marijuana%29

Early Studies Indicate Cannabis May Shrink Tumor Cells (Studies: 1974-2010)
The link is to 5 studies that indicate cannabinoids shrink cancer cells (various cancers)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/117030

CBD cannabinoid prevents neuropathic pain from breast cancer chemo
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21737705

This is an important overview from four researchers/doctors:

As recently as a decade ago a review of the world literature on the status of the efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for pain and spasticity revealed that only nine randomized studies of acceptable quality had been conducted . All of these were single dose studies comparing oral synthetic THC (or cannabinoid analogs or congeners) to codeine or placebo...In the past decade, the scope and rigor of research has increased dramatically. This research has employed cannabis, cannabis-based extracts, and synthetic cannabinoids delivered by smoking, vaporization, oral, and sublingual or mucosal routes.

Evidence is accumulating that cannabinoids may be useful medicine for certain indications. Control of nausea and vomiting and the promotion of weight gain in chronic inanition are already licensed uses of oral THC (dronabinol capsules). Recent research indicates that cannabis may also be effective in the treatment of painful peripheral neuropathy and muscle spasticity from conditions such as multiple sclerosis . Other indications have been proposed, but adequate clinical trials have not been conducted. As these therapeutic potentials are confirmed, it will be useful if marijuana and its constituents can be prescribed, dispensed, and regulated in a manner similar to other medications that have psychotropic effects and some abuse potential. Given that we do not know precisely which cannabinoids or in which combinations achieve the best results, larger and more representative clinical trials of the plant product are warranted.

Based on evidence currently available the Schedule I classification is not tenable; it is not accurate that cannabis has no medical value, or that information on safety is lacking. It is true cannabis has some abuse potential, but its profile more closely resembles drugs in Schedule III (where codeine and dronabinol are listed). The continuing conflict between scientific evidence and political ideology will hopefully be reconciled in a judicious manner . In the meantime, the decision to recommend this treatment in jurisdictions where use of medical marijuana is already permitted needs to be based on a careful assessment

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3358713/?tool=pubmed


Based upon the patient response that was broadcast to the world via CNN, FDA Approves Investigational Trials Assessing Cannabidiol for Pediatric Epilepsy (Cannabis, as Sativex, is already legal in many countries, as noted above, for epilepsy in adults.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11701420

Marijuana Causes Remission in Crohn's Disease
http://www.democraticunderground.com/11701420

Uruguay, who just legalized, is in talks with Canada and research labs to supply cannabis for medical purposes. Canada would not be doing this if the govt. thought there was no medical value in the cannabis plant, not just a synthetic.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/medicinal-marijuana-labs-eye-uruguay-law-21435613

I don't think cannabis as medicine quite fits the definition of woo.
Weed is woo too [View all] Lancero Jan 2014 OP
No, weed is wow. TeeYiYi Jan 2014 #1
People say the same of woo too. Lancero Jan 2014 #4
you had to go Niceguy1 Jan 2014 #2
It's perhaps "woo" as a medical treatment, perhaps, but it has another use. nt Demo_Chris Jan 2014 #3
But it was tested on animals! icymist Jan 2014 #5
You're absolutely wrong. I've thoroughly tested it myself for decades. lob1 Jan 2014 #6
Same for any woo user :) Lancero Jan 2014 #7
for the 8,543 time the FEDS have patented the use solarhydrocan Jan 2014 #8
Yes and no... Lancero Jan 2014 #9
You seriously misunderstand patents. Ms. Toad Jan 2014 #21
Tell Kannalife, and the US Gov that granted them part of the patent solarhydrocan Jan 2014 #23
I was responding to YOUR commentary Ms. Toad Jan 2014 #30
19,419 studies listed on PubMed for "marijuana." Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #10
yeah, OP fail. dionysus Jan 2014 #12
Lets have a look at the first 5 shall we? Lancero Jan 2014 #16
How about the next 15,000? Comrade Grumpy Jan 2014 #24
I just pulled that definition from another topic... Lancero Jan 2014 #25
Medical Studies Involving Cannabis and Cannabis Extracts (1990-2012) Shampoobra Jan 2014 #27
more like dionysus Jan 2014 #11
Jerrrrrrrrrrrrrrry! zappaman Jan 2014 #17
No. progressoid Jan 2014 #13
Thank you. You made up my mind for me. blogslut Jan 2014 #14
Nope. Woo is what HAS been tested, and found wanting tkmorris Jan 2014 #15
finally KatyMan Jan 2014 #18
And politics, too. LanternWaste Jan 2014 #33
Woo is a weed cvoogt Jan 2014 #19
Woo Woo (Wait a minute, that one sounds good!) icymist Jan 2014 #20
Sounds yummy. In_The_Wind Jan 2014 #34
Not. I am pretty sure smokers have empirical evidence on its effects. on point Jan 2014 #22
Could the same be said for other treatments that we are calling woo? Lancero Jan 2014 #26
Cannabis medicine is sound science RainDog Jan 2014 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author Warren DeMontague Jan 2014 #29
Did you really think there had been no scientific study of cannabis? DefenseLawyer Jan 2014 #31
When I was a young man, cannabis as medicine was called quackery Bluenorthwest Jan 2014 #32
Much of what people say about weed is woo. NCTraveler Jan 2014 #35
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