The One Essential Article About Medical Marijuana
We’ve all heard the claims before – from federal officials, police groups opposing state medical marijuana bills, etc. – that there is no evidence that marijuana is a legitimate medicine. Readers of this blog know that’s nonsense, but there’s been a need for an article in the peer-reviewed scientific literature that lays out the scientific case in a clear, tightly-focused way.
Recently, a group of scientists published a review article in the Journal of Opioid Management that does just that. The article, “Medicinal Use of Cannabis in the United States: Historical Perspectives, Current Trends, and Future Directions,” is one every medical marijuana activist should keep handy.
The authors, led by Sunil Aggarwal of the University of Washington, walk readers through the massive body of medical evidence for marijuana’s safety and efficacy, including “the 33 completed and published American controlled clinical trials with cannabis.” They note that “nearly all of the 33 published controlled clinical trials with cannabis conducted in the United States have shown significant and measurable benefits in subjects receiving the treatment.”
They also point out that the federal government has conducted only one long-term study of medical marijuana, the IND program that still provides marijuana to four patients. But it’s a study in name only, as “no clinical response data in the patient cohort have ever been systematically collected or disseminated.”
Translation: If officials don’t know that marijuana is a safe, effective medicine, it’s because they don’t want to know.
Tagged with: IND and Medical Marijuana and science by the author
68 comments
What proof do they have saying that it is not a legitmate medicine?
since when does the government need proof? they will blast through$700+ billion on an unwinnable war in iraq for weapons that were never found… so spending $20+ billion a year for the war on drugs is pocket change for an unwinnable war on drugs…. our government loves funding unwinnable wars with our money without our consent…… we have a badly fractured system when the government goes against the people….. it will blow up in their faces one day
A county in texas is getting 350 thousand dollers for the war on it’s people. When the nazi with the badge said it is for the war on drugs, i got mad. When was the last time any drug was arrested and sent to jail or prison? I want any politition to show me anywhere or anything that proves that marijuana is going to harm me in anyway. When that can be done I might think about quitting herb and getting back on the needle for my constant pian. Now Brazil and Equador are going to legalize marijuana. They are tired of the lies told to them by our gov. They may loose millions of U.S. dollers but they know it will save the lives of countless people. It will drop their crime rates and allow it’s police to do what police are supposed to do, stop crime, not make crime where there is none. I do not know shit about computers. Hell I barely know how to use this one but I know right from wrong, and this war on Americans by Americans is wrong. I was relieved of my cannabis and lots of cannabis related items not long ago and was told I was facing at least one fellony so I was also relieved of my rifles also. When I went to court I was told to pay a fine of 185 dollers. THATS IT!. I can file paperwork at a minimunof 400 dollers to ” try” to get my rifles back. My rifles cost less than 300 when I bought them and I still have the receipt. When the fuck are the police going to police it’s self. No felony, no rifles. This country is getting closer to nazi Germany every day. My grand father fought the nazi’s and the japs and if he were alive today he would fight the Gov. of this so called free country too. I must fight for him and for every American who chooses cannabis over prescription drugs. I will not fight with a weapon that kills. I will fight with my voice and with my knowledge that I am right and our Gov. is wrong. I have more to say but I will shut up for now. Keep Token, Keep Prayin and we will win. Someday.
uhhhh why r they bringing this shit still up? they alrdy know it has medical value, is it that hard for the DEA, FDA to do Studys on it to prove to em it does? or are they that greedy nd all into the money?
GREED!!!!!!
guys i think we r gonna need to demand em to do it or gonna have to take real action. Thats about what we can do, is to take our country back nd get rid of this corrupted goverment.
The only way you’re ever going to be able to take your country back is to start a revolution. Your government doesn’t work for you. Your government works for corporations. Get used to it, or take your country back.
Any way for us to get to the full text of the study? Or is it behind a pay wall? I don’t even see a “full article” link anywhere on the summary page.
The FDA can bless killer drugs and get them out on the market yet they can’t figure out how to control weed let alone define it properly. The FDA should be banned. The are killing the nation slowly to promote the AMA’s great business that helps the FDA perpetuate their crap.
lol d-bag i alrdy know that.. dont have to get mad about it.
how about we light it up nd calm down =)
Yes, please let me know how to get the full article Bruce.
I started a folder with articles and the link to those articles. BTW, I started that folder just four months ago and it’s getting full.
The Journal of Opioid Management doesn’t seem to post all their content online, but here’s a link to their home page. I presume there’s a way of buying the article or a copy of the issue it’s in — though I can’t promise it will be cheap: http://www.opioidmanagement.com/
I’m so so so tired of the waiting game…
Unfortunetly my fellow Americans it seems our politicians will never have an honest disscussion on this issue. They simply continue to lie straight to our faces…
On a side note if you have not watched this documentary you really should… i found it fascinating
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=american+drug+war+the+last+white+hope&hl=en&emb=0&aq=0&oq=american+drug+war#
Hey Mark #14, yah i seen that doc 3 times… its a really good document. I also posted that on here like a month ago.
I think part of the government not wanting the war on drugs to be over is that third world country’s like Mexico, Columbia, Peru and Afghanistan would have a resource to pull there country out of the slum and they don’t want that. They think the poor must stay poor and the rich must stay rich.
Hey thanks for the link Bruce. As always, great information. Truth and compassion can only be denied for so long in an open society, and it’s thanks to people like MPP that marijuana policy is a cornerstone in the modern civil rights debate.
@Mark 14, Nick 15:
Yeah “The Last White Hope” is great stuff. I recommend it to anybody who is concerned about the drug war and our criminal justice system
Another great one, which is much more tightly focused on marijuana, is “The Union: The Business Behind Getting High”.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9077214414651731007
I would be very surprised if there’s a single commenter here who wouldn’t love either of these documentaries.
These 33 American clinical trials must have been done with cannabis supplied by the US government, right? If that is true, it is amazing that even with the dubious quality of government-supplied pot the medical benefits are still there. Imagine what medical studies would show if various strains of top quality cannabis from independent growers were allowed to be used.
Thanks Bruce. It’s a good idea for those who have the money to order a copy. I ordered a Hard Copy and the total was $26.27. The hard copy was 16 dollars, the rest was Fed X fees.
The yearly subscription was $322.00.
Very proud of myself as I’m not too good at navigating some web sites, it was Determination and the desire to have the knowledge in my hands that did it though.
And that is exactly the problem.That so called authorities do know better,and yet want to keep it illegal.Alcohol,,tobacco are killers,,pot is not,there is no better reason then that to make it legal,Oh one more reason,you wont beat up your wife,But you will want more Cheetos.
Of the topic but if you understand spanish or not check out this video from utube…u will like it and hope it inspires U!
Marcha Mundial de la Marihuana 2009 – Buenos Aires. Programa Especial (Parte I)..
it means World March for Marijuana 2009 – Buenos Aires, Argentina
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up-rcOflPZ8&feature=player_detailpage
It’s official:
Pot is safer than booze.
http://blog.norml.org/2009/08/31/rasmussen-reports-majority-of-americans-now-agree-that-booze-is-more-dangerous-than-pot/
Hey # 7 – I hope it doesn’t come to a revolution, but we do have the right – and an obligation to do so if the government ignores our demands.
Say hello to my little friend… BIG PHARMA!
This talk of a revolution is wrong. It just gives the gov. another reason to arrest us. If they think someone is going to rise against them they will at the very least lock you up. The correct way is by voting out ALL those bastards. Keep Tokin. Keep Prayin, and we will win!
Clarence, amendment 2 of the United States Constitution reads that We the People have every right to bring up arms against a government that is out of control. Thats the reason the US government wants to do away with the Amendment, so that people like us cant have the governing body we NEED AND DESERVE. Keep tokin and prayin? Do you really believe that even if there is a god, he will open the skies and say, “Obama, now you listen here, you legalize marijuana and end the war on my people!”? I dont. and if you truly believe that God will help you about legalizing, think about the 100,000+ American women that get raped every year. Dont you think He would help them first? The time for a new government is closer than you think. I cant remember what President said that in 200 years, the US government would HAVE to be re-established, but I do know that a very smart economic analyst recently said that our government will collapse so hard in 2010, we will have to re-establish a currency. For those of you that dont understand that, it basically means that we will be split, torn apart, war, then we might have freeedom again. Hopefully.!
A tangent for Rhayader… I must say that the movie “The Union” was poorly done. Joe Ronan (Sp?) was the most refreshing voice on it and he’s a newbie to the movement. Honestly, I wrote a better paper for my high school poly-sci class. As a contributing member to MPP I can say that the book “the Science of Marijuana” should be a movie (documentary) and a must read for anyone on this board. The actual science behind the scenes is complex but fascinating. I got this book free with my $40 donation to MPP. I had an intelligent conversation with my neurologist the other day from the info I garnered out of this book.
Not only am I a life long advocate that thought he knew a lot about Cannabis, but I’m also an ex-POW from my younger years with the cause. This book is published by Oxford. That is BIG. I encourage everyone to read it no matter how in-depth the science is.
Fight on my brothers and sisters!!
Oxford University Press is the publisher.
They can prescribe medicines that can kill you… and not one that can’t… it boggles the mind!
I don’t care whether or not it is an effective medicine. I don’t care what the majority thinks. I have no right to tell you what you can put in your body and you don’t have the right to tell me.
Craig…Devil’s Advocate. What if a person put a drug, chemical, or herb that highly increased one’s propensity for violence or ultra-violence? Should that be allowed. I understand and agree with your premise. However, our government and the people should be leary of drugs such as crystal meth or angel dust. My own personal experiences with PCP helped me to understand why this type of synthetic drug has no place in society as we know it.
I do believe certain drugs should be regulated or decriminalized. Every addict deserves the chance for a true rehabilitation. I just think it is a gray area and drugs and narcotics need to be handled on a case by case basis.
MORE EDUCATION would help. Once I learned of the alleged dangers of Extacy (MDMA mixed with other crap) I stopped doing it after seeing the possible long term side effects.
It’s very gray and needs to be treated that way.
JJ, I to have been prosecuted for my cannabis use. If I raised my arms in anger Iwould have been shot and possibly killed. Then the state will raise my kids with tax payers money. I know i sound lame but I still have my kids, I am still alive and I am still using my voice against big brother. I would rather be alive and toking than daed and burried. Vote them out, not take them out!
@Dayadog
I must say that the movie “The Union” was poorly done.
I completely disagree. Did you even watch the whole thing? In addition to Joe Rogan, there was Tommy Chong, Lester Grinspoon, Todd McCormick, Jeffery Miron, Norm Stamper, Jack Cole, etc etc. These are all highly respected voices from the fields of law enforcement, medicine, economics, and marijuana activism.
Also, the focus on the BC “Union” took the documentary beyond the typical drug war rebuttals and gave me insight to something I had little understanding about (and I’ve spent years reading about marijuana). I’m apparently not alone, either; right now IMDB is showing a rating of 8.5/10 after 620 votes.
Do you have any specific objections to the film? (By the way, many of us are also MPP contributors, have written papers on the subject, etc etc. I’ll check out the book you recommended.)
I also have to disagree with Dayadog. Now “The Union” may have not included everything that everyone wanted, to do that it would need to be about 5-6 hours long, but as far as a documentary that is aimed more toward folks that dont really know much about cannabis, it gives them a crash course. I do wish they picked a bigger grow op to go to though. But I guess they were sending out the message that ‘hey these things are everywhere and anyone can start one up anywhere’
When you ask someone if they have ever seen a cannabis documentary and they say “yea reefer madness” Those are the people that truly need to start by watching this.
Also a good one that people learning should see is “The Hemp Revolution” I’m sure everyone in here has seen it at least twice, but for that one person that hasn’t……here ya go
Part 1:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3070358204716119824
Part 2:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8376961766517588127&hl=en
The medical evidence supporting cannabis is overwhelming.
Unfortunately, the ignorance of our public officials is also overwhelming.
Politicians are like diapers……they both need to be changed.
We just need to start telling the TRUTH as a country. does not anyone wonder, What else is the American govt lying to the public about? Marijuana is NOT a health issue, it is an integrety issue. God bless America…..Please!
Marijuana is NOT a health issue, it is an integrety issue.
It’s both of those things, plus more. I agree though, the central issue is about civil liberties and honesty. Of course, I’m not sure our modern-day statism allows for much more than “for the public good” type arguments.
Freedom seems to rank pretty low these days unfortunately.
THE revolution will take place at the ballot booth.
seek out candidates that will commit to repealing prohibition.
they are, probably, not going to have an R or a D in front of their name. there are a few exceptions, but you will have to look at other parties like the Green or Libertarian.
sure, it is possible that, other than the issue of marijuana prohibition, you MIGHT not agree with ANYTHING ELSE this candidate stands for.
but unless the anti-prohibition candidate is a complete tool, vote for them, and rally against their opponents.
2009 is burning down fast. by the end of 2010, there could be a total of 17 states that allow medicinal mj. the current administration will have to start trying to stay in power about halfway through 2011, and that presidential campaign will be expensive, and long. THERE WILL be a candidate that will gain a grassroots boost in exposure because they come out against prohibition (amongst other issues).
i dunno what that candidate’s name is…yet.
it came close to being Ron Paul in this last election.
but whomever is turns out to be, folks are going to have to get behind them.
how nice would it be if all that internet exposure and support through home meetings and neighborhood canvassing that helped President Obama get elected were concentrated on a candidate that clearly stated that they were against prohibition???
pretty nice.
how nice would it be if all that internet exposure and support through home meetings and neighborhood canvassing that helped President Obama get elected were concentrated on a candidate that clearly stated that they were against prohibition???
It would be great, if only there were ever a legitimate candidate who “clearly stated they [sic] were against prohibition”. Like you said, Ron Paul created quite a stir, but in the end he was marginalized just like every other drug war reformer who has ever run.
That’s the paradox — the people we want to vote for have absolutely no chance of winning. They are ignored by the media, barred from debates, and generally considered fringe players by the voting population. So we’re stuck “throwing away” our votes — at least from the perspective of the overall election — or voting for whatever we can get.
Personally, one of the major reasons I voted for Obama was his slightly-less-militant stance on drugs (I’m no Democrat, that’s for sure). But that’s only going to get us lip service and platitudes; I think we know by now that Obama won’t be seriously addressing drug policy reform, even if he wins a second term. Too much on his plate, and like all mainstream politicians, drug policy becomes the ignored stepchild.
Unfortunately the reality is exactly what Rhayader #39 has stated in the paradox paragraph – “That’s the paradox — the people we want to vote for have absolutely no chance of winning. They are ignored by the media, barred from debates, and generally considered fringe players by the voting population. So we’re stuck “throwing away” our votes — at least from the perspective of the overall election — or voting for whatever we can get.”
How many times does it need to be said where people will understand that voting will do little to change the corruption we find ourselves enveloped in? It’s an old mantra, the vote mantra, worn out at best. Sorry ……..
To ALL @ MPP:
With all the recent news I would expect to see your smiling faces (Rob you do need to smile a little more on TV) on the airwaves again really soon.
ASK THIS QUESTION:
Since the US Government has run the IND program for marijuana since 1978 how many long term studies of the patients involved have been done?
WE know the answer is ZERO…
So why is it that the US Government has had patients that they are supplying to and they have never once done a study on them.
The government continues to throw the 1999 IOM report in the mix, but that report specifically said that more research is warranted. Why no studies on these long term cannabis patients???
Rob does a great job on TV. You need to keep in mind that many of these debates still start with a munchie joke, or some other stoner stereotype. Rob and MPP have done a fantastic job refuting these conceptions, and I think taking themselves seriously is an important part of that.
Glen Beck said yesterday: “drug smoking hippie radicals”
This was in reference to the Czar’s Obummer is appointing, however, the very idea that he said this sent chills up my spine.
My jaw dropped to the ground and the television immediately went off. And a silent “frak you”.
Go ahead Beck, go back to your alcohol.
I can’t get a read on Beck. Sometimes he sounds like a libertarian — he’s actually expressed a desire to reform our drug laws a couple different times. But then he goes and says stuff like that all the time too. I suspect it’s just his abrasive personality — I personally don’t like watching him — and not an actual flip-flop.
Ditto to the “can’t get a read on him”. I don’t watch him every day but do find it interesting the subjects he covers.
Rhayader,
I just don’t think they did enough in the movie. I’ll re-watch to see if I missed something. It didn’t strike me as one of the better ones. The Great White Hope or the
Is marijuana medicine? The question is flawed. Is alcohol medicine? Certainly alcohol can be a medicinal substance or be a part of a medicine, but that is not to say that alcohol is only medicine and never anything else. The answer is – it can be depending upon the potency and how it is used and what it is being used for.
But we don’t make people register with the State like heroin addicts in order to be able to buy alcohol legally. When you buy alcohol you pay a tax on that alcohol. How you use it, whether for cooking, or personal enjoyment, or medicinally is none of the government’s business as long as you behave yourself. Same model should be used for cannabis.
Dude, I meant the Last White Hope…i’m mixing my movies.
@Dayadog
“Craig…Devil’s Advocate. What if a person put a drug, chemical, or herb that highly increased one’s propensity for violence or ultra-violence?”
You mean something like alcohol?
Craig,
Alcohol is an example of a drug with POTential to lead to violence. I am REFERRing more to drugs like crystal meth and PCP. My point is that I agree that society should not interfere in what a person ingests. However, there is a gray area that is difficult to deal with when you have idealists on both sides.
I personally went through years of addiction form pain killers after major surgery. I do not believe in legalization of that drug. Until you’ve chased the dragon you don’t know what happens.
In my own experiences, which are more than I remember if that makes sense, I don’t believe the government should legalize all drugs. Decriminalization is the answer for most. I also believe that most of this should be looked at through the eyes of ex-abusers. Ask them if they think heroin or crack should be legal.
I’m not sure if you were REFERRing to legalization when you said that no one has the right to tell you what you can imbibe.
I agree, but there are gray areas. These gray areas are best handled through decriminalization. If that’s what you meant, cool.
I also believe that most of this should be looked at through the eyes of ex-abusers. Ask them if they think heroin or crack should be legal.
The answer will almost universally be “no”, but I’m not sure that’s the best group to ask. They have an intimate negative life experience that clouds their overall judgment. So while I think “ex-abusers” should certainly be considered and heard in this debate, I don’t necessarily agree that theirs should be the dominant voice.
Even with drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, the vast majority of users never develop an addiction. Dependence is not the destiny that our prohibitionist government would have you believe. It’s that fatalistic, “voodoo pharmacology” view that gave us alcohol prohibition, and we saw how well that worked.
I’m not saying this to minimize the tragedy of hard drug addiction — I have an uncle who I grew up admiring, and who is now addicted to heroin and crack and is constantly in and out of jail. And yeah, I tend to agree that we shouldn’t just be able to run down to the corner store and buy smack, like we can with alcohol (and like we should be able to for pot).
I think legalization makes sense for every drug — the difference is in how tightly regulated the legal sale is. For pot, it makes sense to regulate it like alcohol. But for hard drugs, I could easily envision a system of user registration, tightly tracked supplies, highly restricted points of sale (pharmacies?), etc etc. Sale and use would still be legal — not simply decriminalized — but the level of regulation would be commensurate with the potential for abuse posed by the substance in question.
Angus @ #38:
Ron Paul’s biggest issue was that he was running in the Republican Primary in an election year in which the main topic of conversation was the war in Iraq. Since Paul was against the war and believes that we need to rein in our foriegn policy and stop trying to “expend our empire” he was at odds with most in the Republican Party. Unfortunately I am finding that more and more Republicans do not follow the core beliefs of the party.
I mean they are supposed to believe in some core ideas:
1) Smaller government:
—- Why are we spending all this money on an unwinnable war?
2) State’s Rights:
—- Why are we spending Federal dollars to arrest and prosecute people that are clearly following their Sates laws?
—- Why is the Federal Government dictating how an individual State handles its medical decisions?
3) They are supposed to be strict Constitutionalists (interpret the Constitution based on what is actually written, not what you think the founding fathers meant):
—- The Constitution says that we are to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity”….
Liberty is the “condition in which an individual has the right to act according to his or her own will.” Why is it that we have Federal Laws prohibiting what I can do with my own body???
Personally I think these are key points that our Republican leaders aren’t paying attention to. They are too cought up in power and control to think about their core beliefs and how this issue truly affects those beliefs. They’ll say that don’t want to look soft on crime, but they just have to realize that marijuana possesion is only a crime because the Federal Government says so. Personally I believe that in order for a “Crime” to be committed you must do something that affects someone else or that has potential to affect another person. My smoking marijuana does not rise to that level and therefore should not be considered a crime.
Unfortunately I am finding that more and more Republicans do not follow the core beliefs of the party.
Absolutely right Darth. If the Republican Party behaved according to its stated principles, I would happily join their ranks. But when I look at the part, I see GW Bush, I see Sarah Palin, I see Rush Limbaugh. These people are not concerned with a principled approach to individual freedom; they are concerned with moralizing and consolidating power.
Same goes for the Democrats, of course.
…and yet we’ll continue to vote for the lesser of two evils. Am I right?
As it stands, does anyone around here think we can afford to allow Republicans to rule the white house again anytime soon? After all, states are making progress under Obama’s watch, whereas we wouldn’t see the kind of progress we’re seeing now under another Bush-type administration.
Yeah, agreed. Lesser of two evils is our only choice, and I’m not sure there’s any better example of evil incarnate than Sarah Palin.
How about the entire GOP? I can’t think of anything more frightening than a party as corrupt as theirs.
@ Dayadog
I am for legalization. I don’t believe there should any penalties for buying, selling or consuming a drug. No force is initiated on anyone. It’s not a grey area for me, however I am not sure where the harder drugs would be sold. The free market would figure it out although no doubt it would be the Government dictating how it’d work.
Ex-drug abusers should have no say in what I do with my body. I do not need to take a drug to know what it does to me, there is plenty of information available. The majority of us already do this and stay away from destructive drugs. Would things have been different for you if your doctor could have recommended marijuana?
Pfizer just got caught doing their usual illegal drug pushing, and it wasn’t their first time.
End this insane war on Cannabis NOW.
I should rephrase my statement on #58.
Pfizer got caught again pushing drugs illegally by bribing doctors.
Big pharma at it’s best again. This is why I will not buy LEGAL drugs. I will continue to smoke my meds while THEY pay over 2 billion. Who gets all the fine money anyway, our goverenment? Why don’t we get to share in the windfall? Oh, that cannot happen because the money will probably go to politions to keem in big pharma pockets. NOTHING has changed except for the greedy fucks in office!
Full text of article: students.washington.edu/sunila/JOM_5-3-03.pdf
We have the measure to change the laws. We just need to convince enough voters to see cannabis as it is rather than what the govt. has spent years and Billions(possibly trillions over all) of $ telling them it is.
I have seen some of the most intelligent comments come from pot smokers that post here.
I have to agree that a real change in drug policy will not happen without a civil uprise or a revolution of some sort. Our government has long forgotten it’s purpose, which was always to serve the people of this country.
Our government has long turned into a war machine trying to destroy any kind of individuality or independent thinking, whether it’s in this country or abroad. Our country has long turned into a prison state where our civil liberties are violated and we are being stripped of our basic human rights.
I have said this before and I will say it again.
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.
We need to stop whatever we doing, stop complaining and stand up for our rights. We need to come up with a date and have every pot smoker come out and protest on that date.
Our strengths is in numbers, and the truth is on our side.
Fight for your rights. Free The Weed. Free The People.
Get a date set and I will gladly protest and I will get anyone I can to protest right along with me.
I wish a Big Pharma guy/gal could see me on my hands and knees at 5am puking my ass off whilest on 480mg of oxycontin for chronic pain.Marijuana saved my life as I went from an obese 410lbs to 234lbs by vomiting daily.I was scripted Marinol but it made me paranoid and cant swallow it while puking.If it were not for pot,I’d be dead-plain and simple.Free the Weed for those who Need!
FreeTheWeed I completely agree with you. It is our numbers that will make change happen if we just sit back and push policies and such they will just tell us to be patient. We have been patient prohibition has been going on for long enough. It is up to us as the people to stand up for our rights.
If you look back on the history of major changes within government policies they didn’t just happen. There were activist just like us organizing, raising awareness, parading, protesting, and empowering others to stand up for their rights. We can’t just keep playing it safe we have to do something.
[...] 3 Clarence { 08.31.09 at 12:31 pm } [...]
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