Cannabis is a widely misunderstood
plant of great chemical diversity, pharmacological variety and cultural
importance.
As a result of the prohibition of
marijuana and Draconian misclassification as a U.S. Schedule I drug with
'no medicinal use', scientific and medical research on cannabinoids (active
ingredients) is limited and unobjectively retarded by federal permitting.
Because cannabis research is restricted to groups approved by the federal
government, this biases development of the marijuana body of knowledge.
Mysteriously, research applications are regularly "lost",
delayed and denied. In order to ensure that cannabis science and research
is accessible and objective, the cannabis plant must be at least
reschueduled to Schedule III (i.e. Marinol, synthetic THC), and the permitting
system deregulated and managed by a non-government, peer-reviewed panel of
objective doctors and scientists.
DEA
Judge Francis Young Recommends Rescheduling Cannabis Based on Safety
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The
Chemical Ecology of Cannabis - David Pate (pdf)
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CB1
Receptor Threaten$ Alcohol Indu$try Revenue (abstract)
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Cannabinoids
and the Endocannabinoid System -
Franjo Grotenhermen (pdf)
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Oxford Study Shows Caryophyllene (terpene) as a Dietary Cannabinoid
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CBD Prevents Cerebral Infarction (abstract)
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Journal
of Natural Products August 2008 - ANTIBACTERIAL CANNABINOIDS
FROM CANNABIS SATIVA (pdf)
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U.S.
Patent # 6630507 - In 2003, the U.S. Government as
represented by the Department of Health and Human Services filed for,
and was awarded a patent on cannabinoids as antioxidants and
neuroprotectants.
-
High
Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) - Methods for
analyzing cannabis - A Procedure in Cannabis DNA & Forensics
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Study
Confirms Medical Marijuana Pain Relief
University of California Clinical Trial Shows Relief of Neuropathic
Pain, Mild Side Effects CONTACT: Bruce Mirken, MPP director of communications,
202-215-4205 DAVIS, CALIFORNIA -- A clinical trial conducted at the
University of California at Davis and just published online by the
Journal of Pain has demonstrated significant relief of neuropathic
pain (pain caused by damage to nerves) stemming from a variety of causes.
This is the second study in just over a year to show that marijuana
relieves neuropathic pain, which is notoriously resistant to treatment
with conventional pain drugs, including opioid narcotics. A UC San
Francisco study published last year showed relief of HIV/AIDS-related
neuropathy. In
the new study, 38 patients experiencing neuropathic pain from diabetes,
spinal injury, multiple sclerosis and other causes were given marijuana
cigarettes of three different strengths: Zero percent THC (placebo),
3.5 percent THC or 7 percent THC. In each session, patients took the
same number of puffs, following a standardized procedure to ensure
uniformity of the dose received at each strength. Both
doses of marijuana reduced pain significantly, producing marked declines
in pain intensity that lasted over five hours. Researchers Barth Wilsey
and colleagues wrote that side effects "were relatively inconsequential," and "psychoactive
effects were minimal and well-tolerated." Although the scientists
did express caution about the neurocognitive effects of the higher
dose -- reflected in lower scores on some tests of memory and problem
solving, the study was not designed to examine the potential for marijuana
to allow reduced doses of narcotic painkillers that also cause cognitive
impairment, a benefit widely reported by patients. For a copy of the
complete study, contact MPP director of communications Bruce Mirken
at 202-215-4205. "This is yet more proof that
the American College of Physicians was right that U.S. government policy
on medical marijuana is totally divorced from scientific reality," said
Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington,
D.C. "Congress needs to act to end the federal war on medical
marijuana, but in the meantime states should act on their own to protect
medical marijuana patients from arrest, as several states are considering
right now." States where legislators are presently
considering medical marijuana legislation include Illinois, New York
and Minnesota. A medical marijuana initiative has qualified for Michigan's
November ballot. With more than 23,000 members and
180,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project
is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States.
MPP believes that the best way to minimize the harm associated with
marijuana is to regulate marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol.
For more information,pleasevisit
http://MarijuanaPolicy.org