Drugs That Kill and a Drug That Doesn’t
ProCon.org, whose goal is to “promote critical thinking, education, and informed citizenship” by presenting information on controversial issues “in a straightforward, nonpartisan, primarily pro-con format,” did an interesting experiment recently. They filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the Food and Drug Administration seeking information on reported deaths due to marijuana and 17 FDA-approved prescription drugs. Five of those drugs were chosen because they are widely used and well known, while the other 12 are used to treat many of the symptoms for which medical marijuana is also used.
The folks at ProCon.org took the FDA’s figures and put them into a detailed report, and the results don’t look good for the pharmaceutical industry.
The approved drugs, which included anti-nausea drugs, anti-spasmodics, anti-psychotics, and such well-known drugs as Vioxx, Ritalin, and Viagra, were suspected as the primary cause of 10,008 deaths and as a secondary cause in 1,679 more. Marijuana was the primary suspect in zero deaths and a suspected secondary factor in 279.
A few disclaimers are needed here: First, the FDA’s reporting system does not attempt to prove definitively that a given drug caused a particular death. It’s designed to warn of possible dangers, and physicians are encouraged to report suspected reactions. The numbers may well be overestimates of actual deaths related to various drugs.
Second, the list of drugs compared by ProCon.org doesn’t completely reflect the pharmaceuticals for which marijuana might substitute. Some might complain, for example, about the inclusion of Vioxx, which was taken off the market due to health risks and which was the suspected main cause of some 4,500 deaths. On the other hand, plenty of other pain drugs that can be toxic weren’t included, including acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol), a drug about which an FDA advisory committee recently sounded a warning and which is reported to cause hundreds of overdose deaths annually.
A few weeks ago a TV network news producer told me she found published studies of medical marijuana “unpersuasive” because “they didn’t show marijuana was better than the other drugs.” I don’t know about you, but I think “less deadly” pretty definitely qualifies as “better.”
Tagged with: FDA and Medical Marijuana and pharmaceuticals and science by the author
29 comments
Let them see the facts we know of and see what happens from their but never the less I say dont quit fighting till this in just prohibition of marijuana is finally put to an end through legalization and taxation if not at least decriminalized…..
Bruce…. right on!!! I agree that “less deadly” is a “better” alternative!!
From Testimony to Congress April 2004…. Department of Heath and Human Services:
“Marijuana is not a benign drug. It is illegal and has significant adverse health and social consequences associated with its use. Given the fairly recent discovery of the endogenous cannabinoid system and the tremendous science advances that followed, the development of useful cannabinoid-based medicines is an important area of investigation that should prove fruitful for a variety of health conditions. However, the use of smoked marijuana as a medicine is problematic due to its adverse health consequences and the inherent difficulties with respect to accurate dosing and the purity of the formulation. Approval for the use of marijuana, or perhaps more importantly purified compounds based upon the chemicals found in marijuana, as therapeutic agents must show substantial evidence of effectiveness and show the product is safe under the conditions of use in the proposed labeling. Safe, in this context, means that the benefits of the drug appear to outweigh its risks. ”
Furthermore the Department of HHS says this about smoked marijuana:
“The reports [the 1999 IOM report - "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base"] noted that there is greater promise in purifying the active constituents of marijuana and developing alternate delivery systems, such as inhalers, rather than studying smoked marijuana.”
So my question is why aren’t they studying VAPORIZED Marijuana?????
“purifying the active constituents of marijuana ” —- isn’t this exactly what a vaporizer does???
Cannabis vaporizers are designed to let users inhale active cannabinoids while avoiding harmful smoke toxins. They do so by heating cannabis to a temperature of 180 – 200° C (356° – 392° F), just below the point of combustion where smoke is produced. At this point, THC and other medically active cannabinoids are emitted with little or none of the carcinogenic tars and noxious gases found in smoke.
Let’s not forget the most important truth: The benefits of smoked cannabis STILL outweigh the detriments when you consider the research showing decreased instances of lung cancer and other pulmonary ailments among cannabis-only smokers. Sad how the prohibitionists’ arguments never really hold up…..
Phila is correct,and this fact itself needs no justification,the little amount needed when smoked is easily handled by the body itself,if we saw all the shit we breath in and day out we’d be astounded,a little smoke is probably the least of our worries when it gets right down to it.
“Zero Deaths” = Is the Best and Correct answer for Cannabis.
Drug Warriors tend to only say that smoking is the only way to medicate and will never be “ACCEPTED” as treatment. They keep trying to pump this misinformation into the public.
In reality, it is our own personal FREEDOM to “ACCEPT” whatever we want as treatment. We as human beings should not allow any one or any group, to legislate and control our health and to tell us what is acceptable and unacceptable.
Nothin’ like a good old cup of PROPAGANDA to start the week.
I have been saying the same thing for 25 years. As an every day marijuana user I have no symptoms of any drug related disease. We breath in so much polution every day from car exhaust to big industrial waste that a little weed smoke is a treat for our lungs. I will even bet that marijuana reduces the risk of lung cancer caused by air born polution. As long as there is a doller to be made off marijuana probition each and every drug company will strongly oppose any type of reform. I can never say enough that to get results we must not give our vote to any one who opposes marijuana reform.
Vaporize! Don’t criticize!
I think the second paragraph here tells us why logic, safety and common sense don’t change the prohibition of cannabis:
This Is Your War on Drugs http://bit.ly/SAo85
Good point David. I just learned earlier this year of the great advantage of vaporizing. I choose to use marijuana for chronic nausea and vomiting control due to Diabetic Neuropathic Gastroparesis. My doctor gives me a prescription for Reglan/Metoclopramide and says, “Do not take Reglan on a regular basis for it causes irreversible Parkinson like shakes and tremors.” Which is common, though rarer it also causes “Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome” which is fatal. Sorry folks but I will use the time tested, temporarily non-governmental approved marijuana. It’s side effects are well known and safe. Its therapeutic effects are incredible. There is no drug in today’s pharmacopoeia that controls chronic nausea and vomiting as safe and effective as Medical Marijuana.
The best way is to eat the herb. Not a lot said and/or studied about the eating of the sacred herb. Just munch down a wet bud or a dry bud. It is more expensive this way, but if it were legal you could grow your own pound for about fifty bucks. Youd should eat about a quarter to half ounce a day to do your body right. More needs to be researched on eating the plant raw. Peace Ya’ll. OUT!
Bruce, I might have to disagree with your very last statement.
Just because something is “less deadly” doesn’t necessarily make it “better”. Example: acetaminophen is great at treating aches and pains however it does have toxic effects. Orange juice (vitamin C) is much safer but it isn’t necessarily “better” at treating aches and pains.
I think that a better response to her claim would be to ask her why we have variety of medicines that treat the same symptoms. why do we have acetaminophen if we have Ibuprofen? or why do we have acetaminophen when we have morphine? The answer to the first question is simply that not everyone responds in the same way to the same drug. The answer to the second question would be that morphine is way too strong for your everyday aches and pains, while acetaminophen is useless when treating post surgery pain.
The best way medicine can help everyone is to have a variety of types and strengths of medicines.
LoL Bruce, you love this stuff dont you, grins… someday when prohibition is turned over after a fierce battle of idiology vs culture shock you just might be hailed as one of a tough few who are directly responsible, worthy of a nobel peace prize….for ending death by potcop in urban america.
I personaly have ashtma and IM thinking of handing my young urbanite doctor a copy of the Tashkin study…….Keep on keepin it way real.
I’ve been taking Reglan for over two years and just heard about the side effects. I wonder what my doctor will have to say tomorrow when I ask her why she let me use this dangerous drug without telling me about the side effects? What about my pharmacist? Do you think they even cared? I wonder what the attorney will have to say? I have uncontrolable movements in my mouth and near my right eyebrow. I also have twitches in my muscles showing up all over my body. Could this be from the Reglan?
Bud this is exactaly the side effect of reglan after extended use. It’s called extrapyramidal symptoms. People don’t know about the benefits of cannabis I hope u educate ur doctor on the relief u get from cannabis without any side effects. Very sorry to hear about Your I’ll health.
This is what I got back from my congressman on HR 2943.
Thank you for contacting me regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes. I appreciated hearing your thoughts on this issue.
The federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) currently prohibits the sale or use of marijuana. Several states, including Michigan, have enacted state laws, in violation of federal law, allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit to prohibit these practices, contending there should be no medical exception. This case was ultimately decided in 2001 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which unanimously ruled that federal law does not allow for a medical exception to the CSA that would permit distribution of marijuana to patients who claim a medical benefit from its use. The ruling struck down a California law that allowed groups to distribute marijuana to patients who have a doctor’s approval.
On June 11, 2009, Congressman Barney Frank introduced the Medical Marijuana Patient Protection Act (H.R. 2835). This legislation would prevent federal authorities from prosecuting pharmacies, growers and users of medical marijuana in states where the use of the substance for medical reasons is legal.
Before action is taken on this legislation, I would support hearings to consider how the federal restrictions on marijuana use should be modified. H.R. 2835 has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Please be assured I will keep your thoughts in mind should this legislation be considered.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me. If there is anything further my staff or I can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to call on me again.
Sincerely,
BART STUPAK
Member of Congress
After I saw this I had to resend him a letter saying this:
BART STUPAK,
Their is currently a bill that is going through the process titled HR 2943 which may be found here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2943
It is in the Referred to Committee phase in which is going at this time for House Judiciary and House Energy and Commerce which you happen to be apart of. Bill HR 2943 is a Bill that is for Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 which was first put into the process of trying to become a bill as of June 19th 2009 and is still awaiting to get out of the Referred to Committee phase. If this bill is approved or a bill like wise it shall help Michigan solve some problems such as the illegal sales of marijuana which the cartel makes over 60+% annual profit from as well as can produce extra money that may go towards education if legalized and taxed to name but a few. I and many others of people who have helped put you in office hope that you would at least read and do what you think is right on this instead of being one of the people who just wants to keep marijuana in prohibition that is taking up our law enforcements time that can be used towards more sever issues that they are faced with as well as future problems in which they are needed as well as to help the American taxpayer save Billions annually instead of foolishly wasting Billions annually through prohibition. I am simply saying and asking that you at least look at HR 2943 while keeping an open mind and think that if a bill such as or along the lines as such is logical and can help our state as well as America. Road Island thinks so and is doing something at least and in short I would at least care for Michigan to at least view and help Bill HR2943 or other bills such as HR 2943. Once again here is the url that is tracking HR 2943 :
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-2943
I hope you make the rest of the people of Michigan as well as this nation proud by letting our voice be heard as I know that you are a person of the people of Michigan as well as that of our nation and request you to help We THE PEOPLE of our nation . Please at least view HR2943 and help it get out of the Referred to Committee phase where we the people of not just Michigan but of our nation may have our voices heard…..
Thank you for your time….
Regards,
Jeremy
I hope he understands and does something being he is on one or both of these House Judiciary and
House Energy and Commerce. The HR 2943 bill is still in the Referred to Committee phase and hopefully he will help get this moving and if he does nothing I simply wont vote for him again…..Same as if he votes against it……
BRUCE,
In the Tuesday, July 7 issue of The Wall Street Journal, there is an article titled “Drug Firms See Poorer Nations as Sales Cure”. This article is simply disgusting. Mr. Rodriguez works for Pfizer Inc. and “is part of a strategic shift in the $770 billion pharmaceutical industry to target the working poor in the developing world.” No wonder Hugo Chavez is such a friend to our great country. No wonder terrorism and drug cartels are working against our great country. This article is sickening. Way to go FDA, and American Government. Let the pharma industry wreak havoc across the world and then blame marijuana. We have got our priorities screwed up as a nation. We need to STOP these pharma corporations from promoting a bad name for americans. F ing business-men who only care about money are the root of all evil.
the worst side effect I’v ever had from pot is it made me sleepy ……..oh thats right but that was the point ….I was trying to get to sleep ….and I don’ t have to worry about my liver,or shakes ,or the other side effects that come with drugs
Jeremy R (#17): Congressman Stupak’s ignorance is breathtaking. The Supreme court did NOT overturn the law, it merely said a state law doesn’t provide protection from federal prosecution, and courts have been quite clear that state medical marijuana laws do not violate federal law. It’s nice that Mr. Stupak is willing to have hearings, but he does need to educate himself.
Pfizer is nothing more than a legal drug pusher. 770 billion is way to much to even grasp. It is sickenning that they must keep a natural herb illegal to be able to rake in that much money. Whats next pfizor controlled cannabis. Bullshit. I will not ever buy any marijuana product, of any kind’ from any government run business.
bruce, that is exactly what i though. the court just sided with medical cannabis in san diego ca saying they have a right to be their for buisness. the congressman can’t even get this little part straight. lets vote him out! how can we expect them to reform this atrocity that is prohibition.
on a sad note. i met a person yesterday that was a professional, and had traded his profession to venture in the realestate markets and was now down million. he was self medicating with alcohol saying he just wanted to sleep and forget about his situation for a little while. he was liquifying the inside of his body and is at the start of a tombstone. he had a slight yellow hue to his skin. at risk to my own job is asked him a few questions. i asked him if he wanted to see his grandkids meet some of their mile stones. he smiled and said yes. i told him that the drug, alcohol he was using to self medicate would kill him in five years. i asked him if he had thought of cannabis to medicate with. i told him it would serve the same purpose with out the consequences. number of deaths from alcohol millions, from cannabis 0. he said that he hadn’t thought of any of this and he would ask his doctor about getting a presciption for cannabis. i didn’t have the heart to tell him that it is still illegal for this use but maybe the doctor will see the compasion in filling this presciption and save this mans life. like i said very sad. i hope i see that man again in 5 years.
I agree Bruce Mirken (#20) when I got the reply from him I was even shocked . He did not even know about HR 2943 I had to educate him with the reply to this email from him and state facts that may do so as well as should educate as well as show the logic as well as very good reasons why for him to support the bill and cause . I just hope he uses his brain and does the right thing and not be ignorant afterwards and does help support HR 2943 and other bills that may come that is moral , logical and for the good of not just our state but also that of our nation. Lets see now what he will say and do … that will tell us whose side he is on…..
weed has not killed this many!!! free the weed!!!!
Its becomming very clear to me, that the stupidity of all these prohibitionests and the media, legislators and citizens truly show that cannabis isnt illegel due to the danger of using marijuana. Its more because they have been scared into this Drug War, they have been conditioned for years to reject any logical reason for marijuana use. All because since the day it was set in motion, in the 1930s, when a few men decided to lie and cheat in order to scare the public into criminalizing the one plant that mankind had used since the dawn of man as Hemp produtcis, 5000+ of them and Medicine, the only real medicine for centuries, they did it all for profit and greed and left us holding the bag on a broken and shattered policy that has failed us on every turn. The majority wants some sort of reform, they dont want their kids locked up, their mothers or sick grandparents in jail, they dont beleive the lies and dont fear the change needed to lessen the hold drugs have on our nation. Yet with all that Prohibitionests and many others still fight and hold dear that fear that they need us to have in order to control and profit from this policy!
This is a mess and they wont even talk about it, let alone make any changes. Wake up Sheeple, we are losing our rights every day we continue this stupid policy!
Alaska`s congressman, Don Young is as ignorant & sheltered as I was in third grade, MPP speak to Alaska too!! I sent a letter regarding federal decriminalization & he used the same Reefer Madness arguments that were disproven & publicly denounced over ten years ago!!! Blaaaagh, how can we win this war. Its like fighting Hitler with brown eyes & a jewstar on our foreheads!!
Please if you can find a replacement for and stop using Reglan.Tarkdive discania-I know my spelling sucks tonight, will give you Parkinson like tremors.I dumped this and Asacol at the same time.Wish weed were legal so I can dump the oxycontins…Peace and One Love BigD
All this being talked about while the DEA is using tax payer money to say medical science has proven marijuana is not a medicine and saying it is , is just trickery so that marijuana can then be made” legal”. Well, I need my medicine, and I don’t need a study to tell me that the quality of my life is better when I smoke marijuana.
I don’t need a study to tell me an herb takes the edge off my MS. The fact is we shouldn’t even be having this conversation. We live in “America”. We should be able to make this choice without the risk of jail time!
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