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Issue
#5 July/August 2003
The Pharmaceuticalization
of Marijuana
Cover
Photo:
The cover picture of
Dr. Grinspoon was recently
taken by his son David
when they were visiting
the San Luis Valley
in Colorado. Davids
new book, Lonely Planets:
The Natural Philosophy
of Alien Life will be
published this fall
by Harper-Collins.
Table
of Contents
go
there Corrections
and Notes:
go
there
Editorial
go
there
Feature Story - Dr.
Lester Grinspoon
- The Pharmaceuticalization
of Marijuana
go there
IACM
- The International
Association for Cannabis
as Medicine
go
there Dr.
Ethan Russo
- Who Is Dr. Ethan
Russo?
go
there Medically
NORML
- Physicians weigh
in at NORML conference
go there
Vancouver
Island Compassion Society
- Compassion Club
does more research than
Health Canada
go
there
Dr. Dave West - Genetics
101.2
- The Hawaii Hemp
Project
go there
Canadians
for Safe Access
- Protecting Canadians'
safe access to medical
marijuana
go
there Kudos
go
there
Legal
Eagle
- Supreme Court of
Canada Appeals
go
there Medical
Marijuana Class Action
- Compensation for
medical users
go
there What
to do if you get busted
-Alan Young advises
on how to handle it
go
there
Updates
go
there
Advanced
Research for Advanced
Nutrients
- University of Mississippi
research
go
there Jeffery's
Journey
- A determined mother's
battle for medical marijuana
for her son
go
there McGill
Research for Health
Canada
go
there
Cannabis
Classifieds
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NOTE:
In
the GW Pharmaceuticals article in
issue 4, we did not give the full
name of Valerie Corral of WAMM,
in the middle of the photo, between
Matt Elrod on the left and David Hadorn
on the right. The picture was taken
on the Sunshine Coast while attending
Rene Bojees wedding. WAMM was raided
a few months earlier by federal agents
who were later prevented from leaving
the WAMM property by members blocking
the driveway. Members took down the
blockade when, after being released,
Val asked them to. It was sort of
a hostage exchange. Coincidental to
the picture, Val and WAMM collaborated
with GW on a whole cannabis strain
analysis. WAMM recorded patient impressions
of different strains for treating
various symptoms.
Editorial:
May 24th was truly a landmark day;
a whole day of national TV coverage
of Canada's new national drug strategy.
I am at home, finally, sitting in
my comfortable chair, as over the
past two months I have spent 45 days
in hospital, had two major surgeries
and cancer. My last minor procedure
is tomorrow, but today I am glued
to the television. Never have we seen
such a high level of discussion in
this country. The logic and the arguments
by one credible witness after another
lay to rest the myths. Not to be deterred
by science or the facts, the usual
proponents of prohibition rise to
the challenge and frankly sound like
idiots. Several times in the midst
of the discussion, the interviewer
would say something like, now let
me get this straight, the smoker gets
a fine, and where exactly are people
suppose to get this marijuana? Forced
to back off, the interviewer finally
gets the message and realizes: None
of this plan makes rational sense.
I
see this move by the Liberals as a
positive step in the wrong direction.
We need to recognize that having politicians
debating this without making awkward
pot jokes is a breakthough. We have
moved from total pot paranoia to treating
possession like a speeding ticket.
On May 26th, despite the unworkability
of the whole plan, or maybe because
of it, public acceptance of cannabis
went up. It is now bonified news and
the issues are being discussed as
current events in grade 11. More and
more the debate is sophisticated,
considerate and intellectual.
My
forced sabbatical over the past two
months placed me outside the bubble
of the cannabis movement and my life
collided with a large number of health
care people and non-movement individuals.
I am pleased to report that through
education we are winning over the
hearts of the public. My thanks and
appreciation to the medical staff
in Grand Forks and in Kelowna who
provided excellent care and were respectful
of the use of cannabis in my recovery.
Special appreciation to Barb and all
of the staff for the great job they
have been doing, publishing the journal
and nursing me back to health. It
is heartening that our common cause
has momentum and the commitment of
so many. Have you wondered why (the
US) is spending such inordinate amounts
of money and time on controlling this
relatively innocuous substance that
Canada is about to decriminalize.
News that the US has similar or even
more lenient decriminalization laws
in place in 12 states has finally
caught peoples attention. Yes, marijuana
is the most important drug in America,
not because it is addictive, or a
gateway, but because, if the prohibitionist
lobbyists loose the pot war they will
be forced to admit they are wrong
and have perpetrated massive lies
and deception. This is not your father's
pot, this is about the breakdown of
the whole drug mind set. Could Canadas
new laws be the slippery slope? I
certainly hope so!
This
edition contains a number of well
written and timely submissions by
experts in their respective fields.
Good advice for Canadian politicians
as they make this move to further
remove the fear of pot. Bless the
thin edge of the wedge. BT
Letters
Love the mag, great job
Dear Brian: I've a little story to
tell you while I subscribe to your
journal. As a section 56 exemptee
since Oct. 19/01 expiring July 18/03
(6 month extension) I've seen the
medical marijuana issue become so
complicated, it is failing those in
need the most. I've told H.C. (Health
Canada) that their red tape was killing
me. Their lies didn't help. One of
my doctors pointed out to me that
in 1990 marijuana was the ultimate
pain killer. It's the only substance
I know of that has caused no deaths,
compared to pharmaceuticals. Cindy
Cripps has informed me that on Feb.
7/03 H.C. has issued 541 authorizations
to possess, and 257 have made the
crossover to the M.M.A.R. My odyssey
of applying has made me so mad that
I will take it to the steps of the
House of Commons. I'm a citizen living
in Northumberland County, Ont. and
Iım not allowed to talk to my M.P.
I have received some help from M.P.
Dr. Keith Martin - Esquimalt/Juan
de Fuca in dealing with H.C. It is
now up to me to stand up for what
I believe. In short, the medical system
has failed me and marijuana is the
only medication that I can tolerate
without adverse side effects. It's
one substance for all my ailments
and it grows out of the ground. (WOW!)
Looking forward to witnessing your
success as an informative journal.
Gordon Strickland
A
Miraculous effect
I'm sending this letter hoping some
of the many people suffering from
the never-ending agony of muscle,
joint and bone pain that prescription
drugs, including morphia, don't relieve.
I've been smoking marijuana since
1977 to control glaucoma in both eyes.
Recently, by chance, I obtained a
strain called Hash Plant, that is
having a miraculous effect on an extremely
painful condition diagnosed as Fibromyalgia.
The severity of the pain has kept
me bedridden, 18 to 20 hours a day
since 1982. Iım not completely pain
free, however, 80 to 90% of the pain
has gone, allowing me to function
again. On behalf of my family and
myself, thank you to whomever is responsible
for providing a Miracle. Anonymous
- due to social stigma of pot.
Dr Grinspoon
and his grandchildren Zachary and
Emma Sohpia
Dr. Lester Grinspoon
MD is on the faculty (emeritus) of
the Harvard Medical School in the
Department of Psychiatry. He has been
studying cannabis since 1967 and has
published two books on the subject.
In 1971 Marihuana Reconsidered was
published by Harvard University Press.
Marihuana, the Forbidden Medicine,
co-authored with James B. Bakalar,
was published in 1993 by Yale University
Press; the revised and expanded edition
appeared in 1997 and is now translated
into 10 languages. (Medical Uses rxmarijuana.com
Uses of Marijuana
marijuana-uses.com)
The
Pharmaceuticalization of Marijuana
by Dr. Lester Grinspoon MD
The government of the United States
has a problem where medical marijuana
is concerned. While there are many
thousands of patients in the United
States who currently use cannabis
as a medicine, only seven are allowed
to use it legally by the federal government.
They are the survivors of the several
dozen patients who were awarded Compassionate
Use INDs during a period of time (from
1976 until 1991) when the government
half-heartedly acknowledged that marijuana
has medicinal properties. This program
was discontinued because of the exponentially
growing numbers of Compassionate IND
applications; the official reason
was provided by James O. Mason, then
chief of the Public Health Service:
"It gives a bad signal. I don't
mind doing that, if there is no other
way of helping these people But there
is not a shred of evidence that smoking
marijuana assists a person with AIDS".
Each of the surviving IND recipients
receives monthly a tin containing
enough rolled marijuana joints to
treat his or her symptoms for that
month. Because the quality of the
cannabis is poor, it requires more
inhalation than a superior quality
medicinal cannabis would. In fact,
some of the recipients have been known
to supplement this Government Issue
with better quality street marijuana.
Because
of increasing pressure from the many
patients who find cannabis useful
for the treatment of a variety of
symptoms and syndromes, and the passage
of Proposition 215 in California in
1996, the U.S. government funded the
Institute of Medicine of the National
Academy of Science to study the question
of cannabis' utility as a medicine.
It's report, "Marijuana and Medicine:
Assessing the Science Base" (published
in 1999) timidly acknowledged that
cannabis does indeed have therapeutic
value. The growing understanding that
cannabis is useful as a medicine presents
a problem to the United States government:
how can it make it possible for people
who need it as a medicine to have
unfettered access to marijuana, while
at the same time prohibiting it to
people who wish to use it for purposes
the government does not approve of.
A possible solution to this problem
might be found in the "pharmaceuticalization"
of cannabis: the development of prescribable
isolated individual cannabinoids,
synthetic cannabinoids, and cannabinoid
analogs. The IOM Report states that
"...if there is any future for
marijuana as a medicine, it lies in
its isolated components, the cannabinoids
and their derivatives." It goes
on: "therefore, the purpose of
clinical trials of smoked marijuana
would not be to develop marijuana
as a licensed drug, but such trials
could be a first step towards the
development of rapid-onset, non-smoked
cannabinoid delivery systems."
Actually,
the first attempt at pharmaceuticalization
occurred in 1985 when the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) approved
dronabinol (Marinol) for the treatment
of the nausea and vomiting of cancer
chemotherapy. Dronabinol is a solution
of synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol
in sesame oil (the sesame oil is meant
to protect against the possibility
that the contents of the capsule could
be smoked). Dronabinol was developed
by Unimed Pharmaceu-ticals Inc. with
a great deal of financial support
from the United States government.
This was the first hint that the "pharmaceuticalization"
of cannabis might be what the government
hoped would solve its problem with
marijuana as medicine, the problem
of how to make the medicinal properties
of cannabis (insofar as the government
believes such properties exist) widely
available, while at the same time
prohibiting its use for any other
purpose. But Marinol did not displace
marijuana as "the treatment of
choice"; most patients found
the herb itself much more useful than
dronabinol in the treatment of the
nausea and vomiting of cancer chemotherapy.
In 1992, the treatment of the AIDS
wasting syndrome was added to dronabinolıs
labeled uses. Again, patients reported
that it was inferior to smoked marijuana.
Marinol has not solved the marijuana-as-a-medicine
problem, because so few of the patients
who have discovered the therapeutic
usefulness of marijuana use dronabinol.
In general, they find it less effective
than smoked marijuana, it cannot be
titrated because it has to be taken
orally, it takes at least an hour
for the therapeutic effect to manifest
itself and even with the prohibition
tariff on street marijuana, Marinol
is more expensive. Thus, the first
attempt at pharmaceuticalization proved
not to be the answer. In practice,
for many patients who use marijuana
as a medicine the doctor-prescribed
Marinol serves primarily as a cover
from the threat of the growing ubiquity
of urine tests.
Some
cannabinoid analogs may indeed have
advantages over whole smoked or ingested
marijuana in limited circumstances.
For example, cannabidiol may be more
effective as an anti-anxiety medicine
and an anticonvulsant when it is not
taken along with THC, which sometimes
generates anxiety. Other cannabinoids
and analogs may prove more useful
than marijuana in some circumstances
because they can be administered intravenously.
For example, 15 to 20% of patients
lose consciousness after suffering
a thrombotic or embolic stroke, and
some people who suffer brain syndrome
after a severe blow to the head become
unconscious. The new analog dexanabinol
(HU-211) has been shown to protect
brain cells from damage when given
immediately after the stroke or trauma;
in these circumstances, it will be
possible to give it intravenously
to an unconscious person. Presumably,
other analogs may offer related advantages.
Some of these commercial products
may also lack the psychoactive effects
which make marijuana useful to some
for non-medical purposes. Therefore,
they will not be defined as "abusable"
drugs subject to the constraints of
the Comprehensive Drug Abuse and Control
Act. Nasal sprays, vapourizers, nebulizers,
skin patches, pills, and suppositories
can be used to avoid exposure of the
lungs to the particulate matter in
marijuana smoke. The question is whether
these developments will make marijuana
itself medically obsolete. Surely
many of these new products would be
useful and safe enough for commercial
development. It is uncertain, however,
whether pharmaceutical companies will
find them worth the enormous development
costs. Some may be (for example, a
cannabinoid inverse agonist that reduces
appetite might be highly lucrative),
but for most specific symptoms, analogs
or combinations of analogs are unlikely
to be more useful than natural cannabis.
Nor are they likely to have a significantly
wider spectrum of therapeutic uses,
since the natural product contains
the compounds (and synergistic combinations
of compounds) from which they are
derived. For example, the naturally
occurring THC and cannabidiol of marijuana,
as well as dexanabinol, protect brain
cells after a stroke or traumatic
injury.
The
cannabinoids in whole marijuana can
be separated from the burnt plant
products (which comprise the smoke)
by vapourization devices that will
be inexpensive when manufactured in
large numbers. These devices take
advantage of the fact that finely
chopped marijuana releases the cannabinoids
by vapourization when air flowing
through the marijuana is held within
a fairly large temperature window
below the ignition temperature of
the plant material. Inhalation is
a highly effective means of delivery,
and faster means will not be available
for analogs (except in a few situations
such as parenteral injection in a
patient who is unconscious or suffering
from pulmonary impairment). It is
the rapidity of the response to inhaled
marijuana which makes it possible
for patients to titrate the dose so
precisely. Furthermore, any new analog
will have to have an acceptable therapeutic
ratio. The therapeutic ratio (an index
of the drugıs safety) of marijuana
is not known, because it has never
caused an overdose death, but it is
estimated, on the basis of extrapolation
from animal data, to be an almost
unheard of 20,000 to 40,000. The therapeutic
ratio of a new analog is unlikely
to be higher than that; in fact, new
analogs may be much less safe than
smoked marijuana, because it will
be physically possible to ingest more
of them. And there is the problem
of classification under the Comprehensive
Drug Abuse and Control Act for analogs
with psychoactive effects. The more
restrictive the classification of
a drug, the less likely drug companies
are to develop it and physicians to
prescribe it. Recognizing this economic
fact of life, Unimed Pharmaceuticals
Inc. has fairly recently succeeded
in getting Marinol (dronabinol) reclassified
from Schedule 2 to Schedule 3. Nevertheless,
many physicians will continue to avoid
prescribing it for fear of the drug
enforcement authorities.
Now
that the federal government has embarked
on a cruel and so far successful campaign
to close down buyers' clubs, what
options are available to the many
thousands of patients who find cannabis
of great importance, even essential,
to the maintenance of their health?
They can either use Marinol, which
most find unsatisfactory, or they
can break the law and use marijuana.
Why is a government, which considers
itself compassionate ("compassionate
conservatism"), criminalizing
these patients? What is the government's
problem with medical marijuana? The
problem, as seen through the eyes
of the government, is the belief that,
as growing numbers of people observe
relatives and friends using marijuana
as a medicine, they will come to understand
that this is a drug which does not
conform to the description the government
has been pushing for years. They will
first come to appreciate what a remarkable
medicine it really is; it is less
toxic than almost any other medicine
in the pharmacopoeia; it is, like
aspirin, remarkably versatile; and
it is less expensive than the conventional
medicines it displaces. They will
then begin to wonder if there are
any properties of this drug which
justify denying it to people who wish
to use it for any reason, let alone
arresting more than 700,000 citizens
annually. The federal government sees
the acceptance of marijuana as a medicine
as the gateway to catastrophe, the
repeal of its prohibition. Insofar
as the government views as anathema
any use of plant marijuana, it is
difficult to imagine it accepting
a legal arrangement that would allow
for its use as a medicine, while at
the same time vigorously pursuing
a policy of prohibition for any other
use.
A
somewhat different approach to the
pharmaceuticalization of cannabis
is being taken by a British company,
G. W. Pharmaceuticals. It is attempting
to develop products and delivery systems
which will skirt the two primary popular
concerns about the use of marijuana
as a medicine: the smoke and the psychoactive
effects (the "high"). To
avoid the need for smoking, G. W.
Pharmaceuticals has developed an electronically
controlled dispenser to deliver cannabis
extracts sublingually in carefully
controlled doses. The company expects
its products (extracts of marijuana)
to be effective therapeutically at
doses too low to produce the psychoactive
effects sought by recreational and
other users. My clinical experience
leads me to question whether this
is possible in many, or even most,
cases. The issue is complicated by
tolerance to the psychoactive effects.
Recreational users soon discover that
the more often they use marijuana,
the less "high" they experience.
A patient who smokes cannabis frequently
for the relief of, say, chronic pain
or elevated intra-ocular pressure
will experience little or no "high".
Furthermore, as a clinician who has
considerable experience with medical
cannabis use, I have to question whether
the psychoactive effect is always
separable from the therapeutic. And
I strongly question whether the psychoactive
effects are necessarily undesirable.
Many patients suffering from serious
chronic illnesses report that cannabis
generally improves their spirits.
If they note psychoactive effects
at all, they speak of a slight mood
elevation - certainly nothing unwanted
or incapacitating.
The
great advantage of the administration
of cannabis through the pulmonary
system is the rapidity with which
its effects are experienced. This
in turn allows for the self-titration
of dosage, the best way of adjusting
individual dosage. With other routes
of delivery the response time is longer
and self-titration becomes more difficult.
Thus, self-titration is not possible
with oral ingestion of cannabis. While
the response time for sublingual or
oral mucosal administration of cannabis
is shorter than it is with oral ingestion,
it is significantly longer than that
from absorption through the lungs
and therefore a considerably less
useful route of administration for
self-titration. Furthermore, the design
of the G. W. Pharmaceuticals dispenser
negates whatever self-titration capacity
sublingual administration may have.
The device has electronic controls
that monitor the dose and prevent
delivery if the patient tries to take
more than the physician or pharmacist
has set it to deliver during predetermined
time windows. The proposal to use
this cumbersome and expensive device
apparently reflects a concern that
patients cannot accurately titrate
the therapeutic amount or a fear that
they might take more than they need
and experience some degree of "high"
(always assuming, doubtfully, that
the two can easily be separated, especially
when cannabis is used infrequently).
Because these products will be considerably
more expensive than natural marijuana,
they will succeed only if patients
are intimidated by the legal risks,
and patients and physicians consider
the health risks of smoking marijuana
(with and without a vapourizer) much
more compelling than is justified
by either the medical or epidemiological
literature and they believe that it
is essential to avoid any hint of
a psychoactive effect.
In
the end, the commercial success of
any psychoactive cannabinoid product
will depend on how vigorously the
prohibition against marijuana is enforced.
It is safe to predict that new analogs
and extracts will cost much more than
whole smoked or ingested marijuana
even at the inflated prices imposed
by the prohibition tariff. I doubt
that pharmaceutical companies would
be interested in developing cannabinoid
products if they had to compete with
natural marijuana on a level playing
field. The most common reason for
using Marinol is the illegality of
marijuana, and many patients choose
to ignore the law for reasons of efficacy
and cost. The number of arrests on
marijuana charges has been steadily
increasing and has now reached more
than 700,000 annually, yet patients
continue to use smoked cannabis as
a medicine. I wonder whether any level
of enforcement would compel enough
compliance with the law to embolden
drug companies to commit the many
millions of dollars it would take
to develop new cannabinoid products.
Unimed is able to profit from the
exorbitantly priced dronabinol only
because the U.S. government underwrote
much of the cost of development. Pharmaceutical
companies will undoubtedly develop
useful cannabinoid products, some
of which may not be subject to the
constraints of the Comprehensive Drug
Abuse and Control Act. But, it is
unlikely that this pharmaceuticalization
will displace natural marijuana for
most medical purposes.
It
is also clear that the realities of
human need are incompatible with the
demand for a legally enforceable distinction
between medicine and all other uses
of cannabis. Marijuana use simply
does not conform to the conceptual
boundaries established by twentieth
century institutions. It enhances
many pleasures and it has many potential
medical uses, but even these two categories
are not the only relevant ones. The
kind of therapy often used to ease
everyday discomforts does not fit
any such scheme. In many cases, what
lay people do in prescribing marijuana
for themselves is not very different
from what physicians do when they
provide prescriptions for psychoactive
or other drugs. The only workable
way of realizing the full potential
of this remarkable substance, including
its full medical potential, is to
free it from the present dual set
of regulations - those that control
prescription drugs in general and
the special criminal laws that control
psychoactive substances. These mutually
reinforcing laws established a set
of social categories that strangle
its uniquely multifaceted potential.
The only way out is to cut the knot
by giving marijuana the same status
as alcohol - legalizing it for adults
for all uses and removing it entirely
from the medical and criminal control
systems. Two powerful forces are now
colliding: the growing acceptance
of medical cannabis and the proscription
against any use of the marijuana plant,
medical or non-medical. There are
no signs that the U.S. is moving away
from absolute prohibition to a regulatory
system that would allow responsible
use of marijuana. As a result, we
are going to have two distribution
systems for medical cannabis: the
conventional model of pharmacy-filled
prescriptions for FDA-approved cannabinoid
medicines, and a model closer to the
distribution of alternative and herbal
medicines. The only difference - an
enormous one - will be the continued
illegality of whole smoked or ingested
marijuana. In any case, increasing
medical use by either distribution
pathway will inevitably make growing
numbers of people familiar with cannabis
and its derivatives. As they learn
that its harmfulness has been greatly
exaggerated and its usefulness underestimated,
the pressure will increase for drastic
change in the way we as a society
deal with this drug.
I.A.C.M.
Franjo
Grotenhermen, M.D.,
Chairman of the IACM
The International
Association for Cannabis as Medicine
(IACM) is a young scientific society
dedicated to the improvement of the
situation for the medical use of cannabis
and the cannabinoids, through promotion
of research and dissemination of information.
Among the members of the IACM are
scientists working in the cannabinoid
field, doctors from hospitals and
private practices, pharmacists, lawyers,
and patients who use cannabis or THC
medicinally. We encourage an exchange
of knowledge and experience between
these groups and between individuals
from different countries with different
national backgrounds. The foundation
of an international scientific society
was initiated by members of the German
ACM (Association for Cannabis as Medicine)
in 2000 after suggestions by people
from other countries to expand the
ACM to an international organization.
Still, most members of the IACM are
from the German-speaking countries,
but gradually membership is becoming
more international.
Cannabis
preparations have been used as remedies
for thousands of years. Today the
potential medical applications of
natural cannabis products or individual
pharmacologically active ingredients
are considerably restricted by existing
laws and decrees. An important strategy
to change this situation is to increase
the knowledge on cannabis, cannabinoids
and the cannabinoid system of the
human body and to make this knowledge
available to the public, journalists,
lawyers and lawmakers, so that they
are able to argue on an informed basis
and to make informed decisions.
One
of the major obstacles to an accepted
medical use of natural cannabis is
the dearth of well-designed clinical
studies. And even for THC (dronabinol)
- which is approved for medical use
in several countries, among them the
USA, Canada, the UK and Germany -
there is not much scientific knowledge
available on the medical efficacy
in many ailments, e.g. spasticity
in multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, neuropathic
pain or depression. This sometimes
causes a situation of considerable
disparity between the experience of
individual patients and doctors who
see that cannabis and THC do work,
and the low level of scientific evidence
resulting in misunderstandings and
different judgments.
For
several reasons this situation is
improving today, (1) because of the
discovery of a neuromodulator/neurotransmitter
system with specific cannabinoid receptors
in man and animals and endogenous
cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) that
bind to these receptors, (2) because
several respected institutions such
as the House of Lords in the UK in
1998 and the Institute of Medicine
in the U.S. in 1999 conducted thorough
investigations into the therapeutic
potential of cannabis, and (3) because
large clinical trials with different
preparations (smoked cannabis, under-the-tongue
spray, capsules filled with cannabis
extract), are under way in several
European countries and North America.
It
is now well established that the endogenous
cannabinoid system plays an important
physiological role. It is involved
in pain perception, short-term memory,
immun-omodulation, regulation of muscle
tone, blood pressure, intra-ocular
pressure, appetite, in reproduction
and various other body functions.
Insight into the natural and pathological
function of this endocannabinoid system
has fundamentally facilitated our
understanding of the therapeutic actions
of plant cannabinoids, as well as
their possible detrimental effects,
and it has increased the credibility
of patients who claim therapeutic
effects from cannabinoids that are
in agreement with this new area of
basic science.
In
recent years moves to allow the medical
use of cannabis in many countries
have been increasingly successful,
but the ways to realize access to
the drug differ. While Canada and
several U.S. states exempt some qualified
patients from the cannabis laws, allowing
them the medical use of the drug which
they have to find or grow themselves,
the Netherlands allow pharmacists
to supply cannabis to patients with
a doctor's prescription, which is
paid by the health insurance. It is
expected that in the UK an under-the-tongue
cannabis spray will be approved for
medical use by the Medicines Control
Agency by the end of 2003 or in 2004,
and in Germany the government wants
to make a cannabis extract available
in pharmacies, which is standardized
on THC and cannabiol (CBD) according
to a formula of the German association
of pharmacists. The Swiss government
intends to control cannabis use similar
to the use of alcohol and cigarettes,
making private use by adults legal
and taxing the drug, without distinguishing
between recreational and medical use.
The
IACM is promoting exchange of political
information and scientific knowledge
by different means, mainly by the
IACM bulletin and scientific conferences.
A bi-weekly internet newsletter is
available in seven languages (English,
French, German, Spanish, Italian,
Dutch and Swedish). Unlike the scientific
conferences of the ICRS (International
Cannabinoid Research Society) which
are much more concentrated on basic
research, the scientific meetings
of the IACM are more focused on clinical
research and experiences of the efficacy
of cannabis and cannabinoids in the
treatment of patients. ICRS and IACM
may best be regarded as complementary
societies and several scientists are
members in both.
We
are happy about several co-operations,
among them an alliance with Haworth
Press which is publishing the Journal
of Cannabis Therapeutics, edited by
our board member Ethan Russo, the
official journal of the IACM, and
with other groups and individuals
working on common aims
Office:
IACM Arnimstrasse 1A 50825 Cologne
Germany Phone: +49-221-9543 9229 Fax:
+49-221-1300591 E-mail: info@cannabis-med.org
Website: http://www.cannabis-med.org
Board
of Directors
Franjo Grotenhermen, MD, Germany,
1st Chairman,
Kirsten Müller-Vahl, MD, Germany,
2nd Chairwoman,
Ethan Russo, MD, USA , William Notcutt,
MD, UK , Ulrike Hagenbach, MD, Switzerland,
Kurt Blaas, MD, Austria, Martin Schnelle,
MD, Germany, Ricardo Navarrete-Varo,
MD, Spain, Patient Representative
Clare Hodges, UK, Alliance for Cannabis
Therapeutics
Advisory
Board
Rudolf Brenneisen, Switzerland, Greg
Chesher, Australia, Vinzeno di Marzo,
Italy, Hinderk M. Emrich, Germany
Robert Gorter, Germany, Geoffrey Guy,
UK, Manuel Guzman, Spain, John McPa
rtland, New Zealand, Raphael Mechoulam,
Israel, Tod Mikuriya, USA, Richard
Musty, USA, Roger Pertwee, UK
2003
IACM 2nd Conference on Cannabinoids
in Medicine in Cologne, on 12-13 Sept.,
2003
 |
Who
Is Dr. Ethan |
Ethan
Russo, MD, is a board-certified child
and adult neurologist with Montana
Neurobehavioral Specialists in Missoula,
MT, and researcher in migraine, ethnobotany,
medicinal plants, cannabis and cannabinoids
in pain management, and the therapeutic
applications of Schedule I plants
and chemicals. Dr. Russo holds faculty
positions as adjunct associate professor
in the Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences of the University of Montana,
and clinical associate professor in
the Department of Medicine of the
University of Washington. He has published
numerous articles in scientific journals
and is the author of Handbook of Psychotropic
Herbs: A Scientific Analysis of Herbal
Preparations for Psychiatric Conditions.
He is co-editor with Franjo Grotenhermen
of the book Cannabis and Cannabinoids:
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Therapeutic
Potential, and author of the novel
The Last Sorcerer: Echoes of the Rainforest,
all from Haworth Press. Dr. Russo
is the founding editor of Journal
of Cannabis Therapeutics: Studies
in Endogenous, Herbal and Synthetic
Cannabinoids, whose charter issue
was released in January 2001. Two
double-issues are also published as
books, Cannabis Therapeutics in HIV/AIDS,
and Women and Cannabis: Medicine,
Science and Sociology. He has published
over two dozen articles on topics
of neurology, clinical cannabis, and
medicinal plants. Dr. Russo has served
as a consultant for private pharmaceutical
companies, medical-legal cases, and
in conservation policies with regards
to medicinal herbs. He lives in the
Blackfoot River Canyon surrounded
by nature, is married to a pediatric
nurse practitioner, and has two teenage
children.
 |
Cannabis
and Cannabinoids Pharmacology,
Toxicology and Therapeutic Potential
Cannabis and Cannabinoids |
Edited
by: Franjo Grotenhermen, MD, Nova-Institut
GmBH, Hurth, Germany And, Ethan Russo,
MD, Montana Neurobehavioral Specialists,
Missoula, Montana Study the latest
research findings by international
experts in this comprehensive book
compiled by two of the worldıs leading
authorities on the subject of Cannabis
and Cannabinoids. This book contains
state-of-the-art scientific research
on the therapeutic uses of cannabis
and its derivatives. A glance at the
table of contents shows the book not
only covers the chemistry and history
of the plant, but also follows through
with detailed information on medical
uses and the extensive research being
conducted. All too often discussions
of the potential medical uses of Cannabis
are distorted by political considerations
that have no place in a medical debate.
This book offers fair, equitable discussion
of this emerging and controversial
medical topic by the world's foremost
researchers. The book deals with health
aspects of the cannabis plant and
the cannabinoids while mainly factoring
our societal aspects. Some authors
refer to social topics that require
discussion even within the bounds
of a narrow handling of medicinal
aspects. Cannabis and Cannabinoids
examines the benefits, drawbacks and
side effects of medical marijuana
as a treatment for various conditions
and diseases. This book discusses
the scientific basis for marijuanaıs
use in cases of pain, nausea, anorexia,
and cachexia. It also explores its
possible benefits in glaucoma, ischemia,
spastic disorders, migraine and many
other medical conditions. "Scientists
with different views on the therapeutic
benefits of the cannabis plant and
with different assessments of the
potential harms get a hearing, so
that the book reflects and considers
the frictions and controversies surrounding
many themes in this area. "Leading
experts in their fields have contributed
to this volume. Most are members of
the International Cannabinoid Research
Society, which includes about 200
scientists. Some of them are also
members of the International Association
for Cannabis as Medicine, which deals
particularly with the medical use
of cannabis and the cannabinoids."
(from Cannabis and Cannabinoids, Preface.)
This reference work is destined to
be indispensable to physicians, psychologists,
researchers, biochemists, graduate
students, and interested members of
the public. Great to recommend to
your doctor who is supporting you
with medicinal marijuana, or to friends
who may be doctors or psychologists.
|
Ask
Dr. Ethan Russo
Medicine
is an ever-changing science.
While suggestions for therapeutic
use of cannabis or other drugs
may be made herein, this forum
is designed solely for educational
purposes, and neither the author,
publisher, nor other parties,
will assume any liability whatever
for application or misapplication
of any information imparted.
We cannot claim scientific proof
or accuracy of the material
discussed, and no warranty,
expressed or implied is advanced
with regard to the information.
Cannabis is illegal in most
jurisdictions, and the reader
must apply awareness of this
fact when considering its usage.
Medical use of cannabis may
or may not be a viable legal
defense where you reside. Canadian
clinical cannabis patients are
encouraged to seek exemptions
under existing law from Health
Canada. The proper forms and
procedures are available on
their website. Full disclosure
and discussion of medical issues
with your health care providers
is encouraged, as is proper
education with respect to effects
and side effects of existing
medication.
|
Q
1: I have epilepsy and I have
heard that marijuana is good for people
with epilepsy. I was wondering if
this is true and if I could get some
info on that if you have any. I used
to use marijuana but have not for
a few years now and have noticed my
epilepsy to be worse. Any info would
be greatly appreciated. Thank you
A 1:
Epilepsy, or seizure disorder, is
a heterogeneous disorder producing
convulsions or other alterations of
consciousness that affects 0.5% of
the population at any given time.
However, about 5% of people will experience
one or more seizures during their
lifetime. The issue of cannabis use
in epilepsy is controversial, but
increasingly should be less so as
we learn more. Once again, you can
find numerous attestations to its
benefit from Dr. Grinspoon:
http://www.rxmarihuana.com/_vti_bin/shtml.exe/search.htm
We know that the cannabis component
CBD is anticonvulsant, as was determined
in pioneering studies in Brazil, but
reviewed here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
12412831&dopt=Abstract Previously
it was thought that THC was neutral
with respect to seizures, or was even
pro-convulsant (made them more likely).
However, recent work done in Virginia
by a brilliant young scientist, Melisa
Wallace, conclusively demonstrates
that THC also reduces the likelihood
of seizures: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=
11779037&dopt=Abstract The most
famous patient with seizures who uses
cannabis is probably Valerie Corral
of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical
Marijuana: http://wamm.org/
Their selfless work on behalf of patients
was thwarted by a DEA raid last fall.
As a neurologist, I can vouch for
the fact that many of my seizure patients
find cannabis to be a useful adjunct
in controlling their seizures, occasionally
as a sole agent. Unfortunately, it
remains illegal in most areas of the
world and "more formal study"
will be necessary to convince physicians
of its potential in this regard.
Q
2: My
name is Meghan and I was diagnosed
with Lupus over 4 years ago. I take
eight 2.5mg tabs of methotrexate once
a week and was wondering if smoking
marijuana would react harmfully to
this drug.
A
2: Systemic lupus erythematosus
is a very complex autoimmune disease
more common in women. It may affect
any of 14 organ systems in the body.
Common manifestations include arthritis,
chronic pain, skin eruptions, psychiatric
manifestations, seizures, and digestive
disturbances. Although little or no
formal investigation has taken place
with respect to cannabis in its treatment,
many affected patients do employ it
to apparent advantage. Please go to
Dr. Lester Grinspoonıs site, Marihuana,
the Forbidden Medicine: http://www.rxmarihuana.com/search.htm
and put the word "lupus"
through the search engine. You will
find interesting testimonials as to
its value as a painkiller, anti-inflammatory,
mood modulator, and digestive aid.
There is very solid evidence behind
these claims. Recently, the anti-inflammatory
and immunomodulatory effect of a cannabis
component was demonstrated in the
related autoimmune disease, rheumatoid
arthritis: Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=
PubMed&list_uids=10920191&dopt=Abstract.
Entire article as PDF: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/97/17/9561
In this instance, cannabidiol (CBD)
was responsible for the benefits seen
in the experimental study. Most North
American cannabis strains contain
little CBD. I was unable to find any
specific information about interactions
between cannabis and methotrexate,
which is an anti-metabolic agent employed
in autoimmune diseases and cancer
treatment. Many patients receiving
chemotherapy employ cannabis to their
benefit, but certainly caution is
advised. Ideally, I hope that this
would be a situation that you could
discuss rationally with your physician.
 |
Medically
NORML: Physicians Weigh in at
National Conference
Mari
Kane is a freelance writer covering
sustainable business and wine.
Mari is the publisher of the
International Hemp Journal formerly
known as HempWorld and the Hemp
Pages, is an advisory board
member of the Hemp Industries
Association (HIA). Mari can
be reached at: mari@marikane.com
and her writing may be viewed
at: .marikane.com/
kanewrld/k wfeatur.html
707-887-7508, 8080 Mirabel Ave,
Forestville, CA USA 95436
|
By
Mari Kane Marijuana as medicine
played big at the NORML Conference
in San Francisco over the 4/20 weekend.
The eminent Dr. Lester Grinspoon gave
a marvelous speech on "The Medical
Marijuana Problem", which he
says will be published in the Journal
of Cognitive Liberties. In answering
a question from a Florida patient
in need of a physician recommendation,
the 75-year-old retired Professor
Emeritus of Harvard Medical School
quipped, "I wish we could develop
a drug that will give doctors more
balls". John Morgan, MD, made
a "blanket condemnation"
of poorly written marijuana research,
which can snowball into unconquerable
mountains of myth.
"In
an area in which argument is so important
and science is used as a political
weapon, there are enormous numbers
of papers by our friends in the 'marijuana
is too dangerous to use' camp that
do not give us advice or debate on
'this is why I'm right or wrong'."
Dr.
Ethan Russo, a consultant to GW Pharmaceuticals,
explained the equipment by which the
company's sublingual spray is delivered.
The system used in England has no
controls because "people over
there do as they're told," he
said, but in order to gain acceptance
by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) and DEA, GWP developed the Advanced
Delivery System. With it, the liquid
or solid drug is contained in a cartridge.
The device is failsafe and access-coded
with Big Brotherish features such
as a quantity monitor that reports
to doctors. "In the U.S. this
is how it will be," Russo resignedly
stated. Grinspoon's attitude toward
marijuana pharmaceuticals was decidedly
less enthusiastic. "I doubt that
pharmaceutical companies would be
interested in developing cannabinoid
products if they had to compete with
natural marijuana on a level playing
field, but it is unlikely that this
pharmaceuticalization will displace
natural marijuana for most medical
purposes," he said.
The
Volcano vapourizer got high marks
among the panelists, with the crowd
breaking into applause at the sight
of its picture. GWP's Cannabis Based
Medical Extract (CBME ) proved effective
after 15-45 minutes with rapidity
depending on the patient's condition,
Russo said. Tests showed the appetite
was most improved with pure THC, but
CBD also had an effect. The THC/CBD
mix worked well especially for sleep
improvement.
Norml's
Paul Armentano summarized the many
clinical trials occurring around the
world. At least 10 California State-funded
trials are ongoing at UC San Francisco
and San Diego investigating whole
smoked marijuana's effects on HIV-related
neuropathy, Multiple Sclerosis and
analgesia. They are working jointly
with the New York State Psychiatric
Institute, comparing oral THC on patients
with HIV/Aids.
In England, GW Pharmaceuticals have
submitted their findings on 3 years
of research into the sublingual use
of cannabis extract and may gain approval
from the British Government by the
end of this year.
The
Israeli company Pharmos has created
a neuroprotective product called Dexanabinol
for the treatment of head trauma and
stroke, and recently gained approval
from the U.S. government for a Phase
III trial in the US.
Data
from a German study on smoked marijuana's
effects on Tourette's Syndrome is
looking very positive, Armentano said,
and in Spain there are studies on
how compounds in marijuana alleviate
certain types of brain tumors. Next
year's convention might return to
San Francisco or it may stay close
to NORML's home in Washington, DC.
The decision will be made this summer.
 |
VICS
heads up more research than
Health Canada
by
Philippe Lucas. Philippe is
the founder and director of
the Vancouver Island Compassion
Society and Director of Communications
for DrugSense. He uses cannabis
to alleviate the symptoms of
hep-C
|
When
the Vancouver Island Compassion Society
opened its doors over 3 years ago,
we did so with the hope of helping
those with a legitimate need for medicinal
cannabis, and of correcting some of
the misinformation surrounding this
astonishingly versatile herb. Although
there are numerous studies suggesting
the usefulness and relative safety
of medicinal cannabis (including its
anti-carcinogenic and anti-tumourific
properties1), artificial
restrictions imposed by the U.S.-led
worldwide prohibition on cannabis
have seriously affected the ability
of countries to conduct clinical research
on its medicinal properties. As a
result, most of what we know about
marijuana comes from in vitro (test-tube)
or in vivo (animal testing) studies.
Compassion clubs, however, have a
very unique membership, and can therefore
play an important part in adding to
our clinical knowledge and understanding
of medicinal cannabis. We quickly
found that as the membership at the
VICS increased, so did our understanding
of the effects of medicinal cannabis
on different conditions and symptomology.
Amongst
medicinal cannabis dispensaries, it
has long been known that certain strains
are more effective in alleviating
certain symptoms. A general rule of
thumb is that Indicas, because of
their more narcotic effect, are typically
better at alleviating generalized
pain than Sativas2,
which appear to be more effective
in treating dystonic movement disorders
such as MS or epilepsy. There are
many theories as to why this might
be: studies have shown that CBD is
an effective anti-convulsant and anti-spasmatic,
therefore it has been suggested that
true Sativas may be higher in CBD
than their Indica cousins. Even within
the sub-group of Indica and Sativa,
there are numerous strains that appear
particularly effective at treating
certain symptoms (for example, the
White family, such as White Widow
and White Rhino, are very good pain
killers); it was in the interest of
our society to find out why this might
be so that we could better treat our
members. It has always been our hope
to share some of the unique knowledge
gleaned from working in a compassion
society with the general populace.
We wish to inform those currently
self-medicating3
with cannabis on the effectiveness
of different strains on different
symptoms, but first we have to see
if there was any concensus on strain/symptom
correlations beyond the rocky shores
of Vancouver Island. It was with this
research in mind that we developed
a strain/symptom survey protocol for
distribution to all of Canada's compassion
clubs. By surveying the employees
of these unique organizations, we
will discover if there is any strain/symptom
consistency within Canadian clubs.
Should we find that our analysis suggests
that there is a positive correlation
between certain conditions and certain
varieties, this may posit a more specific
investigation into the cannabinoid
profile of these strains, as well
as more specific clinical research
into why one variety might be more
effective than another in treating
specific symptoms. Our survey is currently
underway and should be done by the
summer of 2003.
Last
fall I heard about a researcher from
the University of California, San
Francisco who had stumbled upon some
remarkable results while researching
the effectiveness of hepatitis-C Interferon/
Ribovarin treatment on intravenous
drug users currently on methadone
maintenance. Dr. Diana Sylvestre had
very little experience with cannabis
use, but in her survey protocol she
found that her study subjects had
a much higher Interferon treatment
success rate if they were also using
cannabis to alleviate the symptoms
of hep-C and of the treatment itself.
The results were so dramatic that,
although hard drug use such as cocaine
and heroin were negative indicators
for successful Interferon treatment,
if she included cannabis users in
the "Drug Use during Treatment"
category, it appeared as if the drug
users were doing better than the non-drug
users. When I forwarded her results
to Dr. Ethan Russo, a neurobiologist
with expertise in cannabis, he suggested
that the results may be attributable
to an immunological response. If we
could prove that cannabis actually
had a positive impact on the immune
system4, we could
further defend and justify its medicinal
use.
With
these results in mind, we contacted
her to suggest a follow-up study using
the VICS membership as a study group.
In order to further expand upon the
relevance of our results, we invited
the British Columbia Compassion Club
Society to participate in the design
and implementation of the survey protocol.
Together, we care for almost 500 members
with hepatitis-C. If the results of
our study (which should be completed
by the summer of 2003) show that cannabis
has a positive impact on hep-C treatment
outcomes, it would not only seriously
change the nature of hep-C treatment
protocols, but also completely alter
the U.S. perception of cannabis as
a drug of abuse with no medical value.
In other words, our hope is that this
research may result in a change of
our understanding of this medicinal
herb as well as in the laws currently
prohibiting its use.
Additionally,
we have recently been approached by
a researcher from the University of
Victoria that wished to study the
effects of cannabis on nausea and
emesis in pregnant women. With this
in mind, we designed a retroactive
study of cannabis and pregnancy, as
well as the effects on symptomatic
nausea resulting from other conditions.
We're pleased to announce that UBC
and the BCCCS may be joining us in
this important research, and that
we hope to have preliminary results
by early fall.
The
VICS plans to initiate further research
protocols over the next twelve months,
including clinical double-blind studies
to test the effectiveness of certain
strains in treating specific symptoms.
Over the next year, it is our goal
to use our unique knowledge base and
membership to oversee more medicinal
cannabis research than any other government
or private institution in North America.
This information will not be the property
of the Federal government or pharmaceutical
interests; it will be made public
so that we can all benefit from a
further understanding of cannabis
and its incredible medicinal properties.
1)
See davidhadorn.com.
2)
Interestingly, high THC plants typically
contain only trace amounts of CBD;
hemp has much higher concentrations
of this cannabinoid.
3)
Health Canada estimates that there
are around 1 million Canadians currently
claiming that their use of cannabis
is medical.
4)
As has been suggested by Dr. Donald
Abrams, an AIDS researcher from the
University of California, San Francisco.
Genetics
101.2 The Hawaii Project
2
FOOT PLANT
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FOOT PLANT
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Dr. Dave |
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FOOT PLANT
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FOOT PLANT
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"OK"
Brian said after the first lecture,
"I've got genes, alleles, loci,
chromosomes and heterzygotes. Can
you bring that a little closer to
earth? What, for instance, if anything,
does that have to do with your project
in Hawaii?"
Actually
everything. OK. School's on again.
Let's assume you go back and read
the first in this series 'cause you've
forgotten it all already, and we'll
carry on from there. I left off saying
we'd be next looking at one of the
truly marvelous inventions of nature,
the mechanism responsible for generating
all the variation we observe within
species. I'm talking about what Darwin
referred to as "variation under
domestication". All the different
breeds: dogs, cats, pigeons, people
and ... pot. (The alliteration made
me do it.)
Let's
look at what's happening in the Hawaii
project as an illustration. The issue
in that case is one of adaptation.
What we call "hemp" - or
some prefer "industrial hemp"
though I think "hemp" is
just fine - is a breed of cannabis
generally found in the temperate zones
of the planet. The plant's life cycle
is driven by a genetically programmed
response to the length of the night.
Nights in the temperate zone begin
to lengthen after summer solstice
and the plants shift from vegetative
growth - which has resulted in long
stems - to reproductive phase, so
seed will be set and matured by frost.
Now,
if you take plants with that genetic
program from temperate 45 degrees
to tropical 20 degrees,, where the
days and nights are about equal in
length most of the time, the plants
immediately experience long nights
characteristic of late season in the
north. So immediately the plants fire
up their reproductive gear and little
vegetative growth occurs. Varieties
that would easily reach 9' in London,
Ontario, are only 2' tall, done growing
and setting seed after just 2 months
in Hawaii.
Short
aside: In the 20th century, the hemp
fiber growers of Wisconsin developed
a collaboration with the hemp seed
producers of Kentucky by exploiting
the photoperiod response in reverse.
Here's how: When you plant seeds of
Kentucky varieties (meaning varieties
adapted to finishing seed in the limits
of the Kentucky growing season, approx.
35") in Wisconsin (45")
the plants stay vegetative longer,
the reverse of what happens when you
move varieties south of their zone
of adaptation. If you are after fiber,
you want the plants to remain vegetative
as long as possible (more vertically
elongating stem). So Kentucky produced
the seed that Wisconsin planted for
fibre. This collaboration lasted until
1957, the last year hemp was planted
in Wisconsin. This is the only case
I'm aware of where specialized industries
developed to harness this feature
of the plant in order to maximize
productivity.
Alrighty
then! We have two situations. One
is the egregious misfortune that the
germplasm was lost. Two is that there
are no tropically adapted "industrial"
varieties of cannabis. These two situations
are connected in that they are both
a matter of lower latitude adaptation,
one lower than the other. The lost
germplasm, that of the unique American
hemp called "Kentucky Hemp",
was bred to cornbelt latitudes. As
I have described in great detail elsewhere,
this hemp arose in Kentucky from the
meeting of Chinese and European hemps
after 1850. Of the European hemps,
only the superior Italian hemp was
adapted so far south. What this loss
means is that American hemp farmers
of some hoped-for future will not
have proper varieties for their growing
regions. There is a gap, a lag, that
must be addressed eventually, and
that is what I set about to do in
Hawaii. The State of Hawaii wanted
crop diversification. Both goals involve
the introduction of cannabis with
differing photoperiod adaptations.
How do we proceed?
If
you look across the globe, there are
cannabis plants that do grow abundantly
in the tropics. So the photoperiod
adaptation of those plants needs to
be combined with the internode elongation
and fiber or seed characteristics
of "industrial" cannabis.
The plant's architecture must be modified
and its growth habit altered. We want
to bring in the "agronomic"
qualities that "industrial"
varieties exhibit, such as tolerance
to dense planting. An obvious focus
of concern to some is the coincidence
of high THC production with short-day
photoperiod adaptation. This is a
complicated situation because it takes
years to create new plant varieties.
One must ask, will THC still be a
big issue in 10 years? After all,
the whole issue of THC in hemp varieties
is political. THC never used to matter
in hemp. It's a made-up issue. It
is as informed by science as were
the tribunals of the Inquisition.
So, that means a new wind in Congress
could sunder years of investment in
lowering THC to absurd levels. Looking
at the rapid changes taking place
everywhere but the US, I can imagine
there might come a day when someone
will ask, astounded, "You mean
you bred the THC out of the plant?!"
So,
without going off on too much of a
tangent, whatever happens next, the
first step is the same: identify genetic
sources of the traits of interest;
cross them; select within the variation
that emerges. The photos accompanying
this article illustrate the range
of variation released when you do
that. These plants all had the same
grandmother. They are all descended
from seed born on a single female
plant. As for Gran'pere, well... Gramma
mixed it up a bit, had international
affairs.
After the initial critical cross was
obtained and a large progeny harvested,
the next step was to recombine the
population. Because this is an agronomic
(as opposed to horticultural) breeding
program, pressure (artificial as opposed
to natural selection) is applied to
the population to urge it in the direction
of agronomic traits. For instance,
we are interested in plants that have
achieved 8 feet of growth and are
still vegetative after 3 months, as
with the individual in the lower left
photo. Her cousin (above) went reproductive
very quickly and never got taller
than 2', but it is setting seed. There
could well be circumstances where
the short-quick seed producer might
be the preferred type. (Jargon alert:
we say "phenotype" for the
manifest characteristics of the plant.
The genetic underlayment is referred
to as "genotype." This will
be on the test...) In the photos on
the right are two individuals intermediate
between the extremes on the left,
at 4 and 6 feet of growth in the same
3 months. The characteristic height
would be said to exhibit continuous
variation.
Pressure
is applied by biasing the contribution
of gametes from individuals in the
population. Example: we had an insect
pest identified as the Chinese Rose
Beetle. It really chomped down on
some of the plants. Yet other plants
were left alone. There are two possibilities:
that the beetle is leaving the plants
alone because there's something it
doesn't like about them, they taste
bad; or, that some plants lucked out,
they escaped. If "taste bad=TRUE",
then there is a genetic basis to the
health of the uneaten plants and choosing
those plants (removing the affected
ones before their pollen [male gamete]
is shed) will improve the population.
However, if "escape=TRUE",
then selection won't do any good.
So we hope the first hypothesis is
true, make selections accordingly
as humans have done in the course
of domesticating plants and animals
over the millennia, and wait with
anticipation the next cycle to see
if we were effective. Selection is
applied to the population, so the
character of the plants is gradually,
over successive cycles, morphed toward
the desired type. The biological stuff
is wonderfully plastic this way. But
the effectiveness of selection depends
on there being a link between the
phenotype and genotype. The tighter
that link, the more effective will
be the selection. It's a wysiwyg situation.
But if there's a lot of noise in the
system - in this case escapees, not
taste-bads - then the breeder will
be less effective in recovering in
the next generation the trait he selected,
and we will find the happy beetles
feasting again next cycle on unlucky
individuals.
So
now we've generated a population of
individuals among which we can select
for those that combine the desired
traits. And that population has been
through a round of recombination.
What does that mean? Oops, there's
the bell.
Canadians for Safe Access
As Health Canada continues to put
the lives of critically and chronically
ill Canadians in jeopardy through
its failed Marijuana Medical Access
Regulations, we must organize to protect
the right of Canadians to have safe
access to medicinal cannabis. It is
with this in mind that Iım pleased
to announce the launch of a new organization
dedicated to defending the rights
of Canadaıs sickest citizens: Canadians
for Safe Access (www.safeaccess.ca).
Inspired
by the U.S. organization Americans
for Safe Access (www.safeaccessnow.org),
Canadians for Safe Access will work
to both pressure Health Canada to
free-up access to medicinal cannabis
and to defend the rights of all legitimate
users, cultivators, and distributors
- including compassion clubs and societies
- through legislative strategies,
media campaigns, and non-violent direct
action. Canadians for Safe Access
will work pro-actively with regional
grassroots activists and local, provincial,
and federal politicians to protect
the rights of those who need cannabis
for medical reasons as well as those
who risk prosecution by supplying
them.
Over
80% of Canadians support the distribution
of cannabis for therapeutic purposes,
yet most of those who could benefit
from it are still forced to risk arrest
and to buy it from often dangerous
black-market sources THIS HAS TO
END NOW!
In
a modern liberal democracy it is morally
unacceptable to force the sick and
dying into the street to scrounge
for their medicine. Canadians for
Safe Access will focus the resources
of all those interested in correcting
this social injustice and work towards
the common goal of SAFE ACCESS to
medicinal cannabis and anti-discrimination
towards users and suppliers.
If
you'd like to help, you can go to
www.safeaccess.ca and join our mailing
list and/or take the Pledge of Resistance
(http://www.safeaccess.ca/pledge.htm).
If you work with an organization that
supports safe access to medicinal
cannabis, you can show your support
by registering as a "Supportive
Organization" and allowing us
to link to your website (http://www.safeaccess.ca/endorse.htm).
Help end this war on Canada's sickest
citizens and those who supply them:
join Canadians for Safe Access!
Thank
you for your time and support, Philippe
Lucas, Alison Myrden, Hilary Black,
and Rielle Capler Cannabis
Cannabis
Health gives KUDOS
Treating
Yourself Medical Marijuana Inc. is
a club offering FREE SEEDS with excellent
genetics to the medical marijuana
grower thanks to the people at Badass
Buds in the UK, Serious Seeds and
No Mercy Supply in Holland, and Peak
Seeds and Hemp Depot here in Canada.
In 8 weeks 4200 FREE SEEDS have been
sent out WORLDWIDE. The club also
offers Health Canada Exemptees medical
marijuana AT COST FOR $75 OZ. They
also have sponsors such as Celebration
Pipes, Bubble Bags and KIF Boxes by
BC BOXES donating products that are
given away as prizes every month,
along with FREE SEEDS and FREE MARIJUANA.
http://www.treatingyourself.com
Marco Renda weedmaster@treatingyourself.com
 |
Legal
Eagle - The Supreme Court of
Canada Appeals
John
Conroy, Q.C., photo by Kim O'Leary
John
Conroy, Q.C., CONROY& COMPANY
Barrister and Solicitor 2459
Pauline Street, Abbotsford,
BC V2S 3S1
Telephone: (604) 852-5110
Fax: (604) 859-3361
Website: johnconroy.com
|
On
March 14th in P.E.I. court, the judge
read out the decision on the Ronald
Barry Stavert case, who was charged
with simple marijuana possession and
made application to quash the information
arguing that it does not disclose
an offence known to law. The accused
based his application essentially
on the Ontario Court of Appeal decision
in R. v. Parker (2000) 146 CCC (3d)
193, which declared the prohibition
against possession of marijuana in
s.4 of the CDSA invalid due to its
failure to provide for legal possession
of marijuana for medical uses. Below
are some excerpts from the decision,
with the full document on the web
at http://cannabislink.ca/legal/stavert.htm
Well,
we finally managed to argue the appeals
of Caine, Malmo-Levine and Clay in
the Supreme Court of Canada on Tuesday,
May 6th, 2003.
It's
hard to figure out how it's going
when you're in the thick of it and
waiting to get up next or trying to
figure out just what the judge meant
by a certain question and how to respond.
Consequently, it was a bit of a treat
to watch the CPAC edition last night
so soon after being there and to see
it from the judge's viewing perspective.
I
think we all did great. While they
kept trying to throw Paul off with
some weird questions that I thought
he had already answered, he kept his
cool and kept hitting back like a
prize fighter, with important points
throughout. I thought he did an excellent
job. David was also great. Whatever
misgivings anyone may have had (myself
included at an earlier time) about
him arguing his own appeal, there
should be absolutely none left. He
covered everything very well and I
hope they play the video back over
and over again until they get it.
Great job, David - you served your
community in an outstanding fashion
and better than many lawyers with
years of training behind them. I was
also pleased with my own performance.
They seemed to engage well throughout.
In doing these post-mortems it is
always easy to think of other things
one wishes one had said. I forgot
to ask for a break at 4:20 p.m.!!
It was a pity they cut out the Intervenors,
though both Joe Arvay QC and Andrew
Lokan for the B.C. and Canadian Civil
Liberties Associations also made great
submissions. Those of you that are
interested can get an unedited video
through CPAC.
In
last Saturday nights edited video
replay The Crown, David Frankel QC,
didn 't start until around 1 a.m.
Sunday and unfortunately I must have
fallen asleep on the couch, because
I woke up to my own voice in reply,
thus having missed the main reason
I wanted to watch - David Malmo-Levineıs
reply. My memory of it in the court
continues to make me laugh when he
pleaded with the court to ask him
questions now and the Chief Justice
responded by saying "Maybe it's
because we all agree with you, Mr.Malmo-Levine".
Also when he invited them to be our
heroes. Again, I think it was great
and I'm sure they haven't had that
many laughs in a constitutional case
ever before. Even Frankel got in a
good line about whether David's suit
was more than .03% THC.
There
is only one thing I can think of that
would have made it even better, and
that is the presence of Alan Young.
His contributions to these cases has
been tremendous and it was a very
sad day that he was not able to be
with us. I join all of you in offering
sincere condolences to him and his
family at this difficult time.
While
the result is anybody's guess, I am
more optimistic after watching CPAC
and focusing particularly on some
of the Chief Justice's questions as
well as those of Binnie J. and Iacobucci
J. Whatever they decide in about 6
or more months from now, it promises
to be very interesting for future
Charter challenges to criminal laws.
We only need 5 out of 9. I think we
have 3 for sure with us and probably
3 against us, so let's hope for 2
more at least of the remaining 3.
The
next few months and the rest of this
year will bring some very interesting
developments. We will need to hammer
our politicians for this stupid traffic
ticket scheme and put an end to all
penalties and stigmatization.
My
next task is to try and prevent the
federal government from letting Mike
Patriquen die in prison simply because
they are hypocritically freaked out
about letting him have a cannabis
cookie from Health Care where others
get their methadone!! As an alternative
they want him to do real narcotics.
An Application for various interim
orders pending the main hearing will
be made in federal court in Vancouver
on Monday June 2nd, 2003 at 9:30am,
in an effort to prevent the continued
violation of his constitutional rights
pending the hearing.
Medical
Marijuana Class Action
By:
Christopher R. Penty
Christopher
Penty is a 48 yr. old trial lawyer
practising out of his Kelowna office
for over 20 years. He tends towards
unique litigation and has expertise
in the areas of personal injury, civil
sexual assault, commercial, estate
and tax litigation. He is married
and the proud father of a 10 yr. old
girl. For recreation he enjoys reading,
gardening, skiing and golf, in no
particular order.
I
am sure it is very well known by the
readers of this magazine that there
exists today in Canada a serious dichotomy
or inconsistency at law. On the one
hand, the Federal Government has prohibited
the possession, cultivation, purchase
or sale of marijuana in any form.
On the other hand, they have provided
for the existence of a certain class
of people to be allowed to possess
marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Initially there was to be a supply
source of marijuana to supply those
who hold valid Section 56 Certificates
at the time the whole scheme was envisioned
by the Federal Government. Unfortunately,
that has not come to pass. Medical
marijuana is still high priced and
purchased mostly from illegal suppliers.
The
Canadian legal system provides 3 mechanisms
by which this inconsistency might
be remedied. The first method arises
when the criminal law, which prohibits
marijuana possession, is challenged.
To date this has met with reasonable
success. A recent ruling in R. v.
Clarke heard in Nova Scotia on March
31, 2003 struck down the possession
laws, as Ontario and Prince Edward
Island did before. Until some appeal
cases have been heard, as of now,
possession of 30 grams or less of
marijuana will not be enforced by
the Courts in those provinces. In
B.C. the courts have recognized the
right to possess marijuana, but only
for medicinal purposes.
The
second legal means is to challenge
the laws on a constitutional basis.
Earlier constitutional challenges
did not meet with success. Lawyers
John Conroy, Q.C., Alan Young, and
Paul Berstein, together with David
Malmo-Levine, have only just concluded
arguing their case before the Supreme
Court of Canada and it will be interesting
to see whether they are more successful
on this occasion.
The
third method is to bring a class action,
which, by costing the Government financially,
will force them into action. This
class action would involve a Representative
Plaintiff, likely one from each Province
that wishes to be a part of this class
action. The Defendant would be the
Federal Government. The Representative
Plaintiff would have to be a holder
of a Section 56 Certificate who has
been frustrated in his attempts to
obtain medical marijuana from a legitimate
source. If the class action is large
enough, the collective damages may
be in the millions of dollars.
The
first step in such a lawsuit, and
one of its key components, is having
the action certified by the Courts
as a class action. The Courts look
at a number of factors to determine
whether a class action lawsuit is
appropriate such as whether the court
action justifies the recovery, whether
the action involves complex medical
matters, whether the action will help
resolve inconsistent laws in the same
area, or whether there are alternative
methods that might achieve the same
end. Such cases are extensively managed
by the Courts and they are never to
be commenced lightly. The Court will
demand a full plan of action from
the Representative Plaintiff and his
lawyer on how the action is to proceed
in terms of what evidence is to be
gathered, how it is to be presented,
how the lawyers are to be paid, how
the class is to be identified, how
the members of the class are to be
notified, the common issues at law
to be resolved, what expert evidence
will be put forward, along with a
host of other more minor considerations.
One concern of such an action is what
the cause of action and damages would
be. The Plaintiff would have to prove
that the Federal Government was responsible
for the lack of legal marijuana source
for medical certificate holders. This
may be problematic, as there are currently
licensed growers. However, these licensed
growers act under extremely restrictive
conditions and are so few that they
have not made any real dent in the
high price of marijuana.
The
real question is whether a class action
will bring about the desired results,
that is access to a reasonably priced
supply of marijuana for those holding
medical certificates, or whether the
other actions currently ongoing, such
as the constitutional arguments that
have just been made, will have that
result. Failing that, one can always
take comfort that at least for now,
and for some foreseeable period in
the future, simple possession of less
than 30 grams of marijuana is not
a crime that will be enforced by the
Courts in some of Canada's provinces.
The
question of the legal impact of the
Rogin decision is rather muddy. Whatever
your view may be it is still risky
to smoke pot walking down the street.
Rogin is a Superior Court judge, so
stare decisis (the law of precedent)
dictates that lower court judges are
bound. Therefore, any lower court
judge (where 99% of marijuana possession
cases are heard) is bound by this
decision. Anyone appearing in court
should not be asking for an adjournment
but should emphatically demand that
all charges be stayed. Stare decisis
does not govern the police. They will
continue to charge. Until the Court
of Appeal resolves the issue, it is
business as usual on the streets.
If the Court of Appeal upholds Rogin
then the police must abide by this
decision and once the Supreme Court
of Canada upholds the decision it
would be binding across Canada. So,
in actual fact there is no valid law
currently in Ontario but a trial judge
must make this ruling in a given case
if you are unfortunate enough to be
charged in this legal limbo. The police
will not stop enforcing the law until
directed to do so and they will not
be directed to do so until the Court
of Appeal upholds Rogin (which is
not an inevitable conclusion).
Michael Patriquen
Update:
Michael
is currently dying and in tremendous
pain. He is being denied medical marijuana
in prison, even through he has a legal
exemption from MMAR authorizing use.
Cannabis Health sent a formal request
to the Honourable Wayne Easter, Solicitor
General Canada; to correct this atrocity
now before Michael becomes the first
casualty of our government's dysfunction.
As the death penalty does not match
his crime of compassion.
John
Conroy stepped up to the plate and
took on Michael's case with no regard
to reimbursement for even his own
costs bless your heart, John. If
you would like to help, please send
your donation to: John Conroy "In
trust for Michael Patriquen"
Every little bit helps... Thanks.
There
is an urgent application before the
courts to be heard by the time you
read this, June 2nd 2003
GW
Pharmaceuticles Update:
German drugs and chemicals group Bayer
AG said on 21 May it had agreed with
GW Pharmaceuticals to market a cannabis-based
multiple sclerosis and pain drug from
the British company. Bayer said it
had received exclusive rights to market
the drug in the United Kingdom and
had the option for a limited period
of time to negotiate rights in the
European Union as well as Canada.
The United States, however, is not
part of the deal and a launch in the
worlds largest pharmaceuticals market
is at least two or three years away.
The company said it had paid GW a
signature fee and would later pay
additional fees on regulatory approval
in the United Kingdom for treatment
of multiple sclerosis, neuropathic
pain and cancer pain, totalling 41
million US dollars,. GW will supply
the product, and get a share of product
revenues. Bayer will market the drug
under the name Sativex. GW Pharmaceuticals
had submitted its medicine for approval
by the Medicines Control Agency in
March. UK approval of the drug was
likely by the end of the year, a spokesman
of GW said. (Sources: Reuters of 21
May 2003)
Advanced
Research for Advanced Nutrients
Advanced
Nutrients Ltd. was founded in
1996 by owners Michael Straumeitis,
Robert Higgins and Eugene Yordanov.
The trio has been a formidable force
in manufacturing and distributing
a wide variety of products to the
hydroponics industry. Michael Straumeitis
brings to the table 22 years of experience
in hydroponics that is paired with
the business background and marketing
skills of Robert Higgins and Eugene
Yordanov.
Today,
Advanced Nutrients is recognized
as the leader of plant-specific nutrients
that have been developed and tested
exclusively on the cannabis plant.
The tenacity of purpose on the part
of the owners of this company combined
with a research team have now produced
a line of over 70 plant-specific products
developed specifically for growing
medical marijuana. The product line
incorporates the latest plant science
advances utilizing full-spectrum macro
and micro nutrients, amino acids,
hormones, vitamins, enzymes, yeasts
and yeast extracts, microbes, beneficial
bacteria and beneficial fungi. Some
of the Advanced Nutrients products
include organic and synthetic components
to maximize plant growth. They have
also developed several natural products
to assist in combating insects, molds,
fungus, bacteria, and other contributing
factors that cause crop failure. The
Advanced Nutrients product
line is currently available in over
380 retail outlets with demands for
worldwide distribution.
PRODUCT
DEVELOPMENT
Their research was initiated by first
analyzing the past 91 years of scientific
papers published about the cannabis
plant and then assembling a specialized
team of researchers including five
Ph.D. holders with disciplines in
plant physiology, plant pathology,
plant biology, plant genetics and
microbiology. Advanced Nutrients
also has a staff of 55 individuals
including chemists and assistants
who aid in the research and development
of these nutrients, and to ensure
product quality control and stringent
manufacturing standards are strictly
adhered to. Although Health Canada
has issued hundreds of licenses to
medical marijuana patients, allowing
them to grow or possess marijuana,
the science community cannot obtain
a permit to grow cannabis for research
and development purposes. So, Advanced
Nutrients relies on several select
licensed medical marijuana patients
to assist in the research and, in
turn, they assist these patients by
providing them with nutrients and
technical knowledge.
The
patients allow the researchers to
develop and monitor all facets of
the growing environment. The nutrient
regimen is set up and strictly adhered
to, with the aid of a lab assistant.
The patient provides plant tissue
samples as requested and several tests
are conducted that precisely determine
the specific nutrient demands of the
cannabis strain being grown. This
precision monitoring of plants includes
testing the moisture levels within
each plant, growth rate, cell division,
root development, specific nutrient
demands and nutrient uptake, THC and
cannabinoid production, resin production,
and yields. Several specific tests
are conducted that determine the nutrient
progress within the cannabis plant
and the exact nutrient uptake in each
plant. This information is then used
to ensure that each element the plant
demands is made available with precise
timing and delivery of all essential
nutrients in perfect balance.
Advanced
Nutrients researchers currently
monitor approximately 40 different
strains through various test sites
and have been able to classify many
of the strains into specific feeding
regimens specific to that particular
group. Research is also being conducted
to further develop strain specific
nutrient formulas that will prove
vital in the medical applications
of cannabis. Current studies are also
being conducted for genetic fingerprinting
of cannabis strains and develop a
reference library to categorically
identify the various strains and their
specific beneficial properties. Research
thus far has proven that many theories
of traditional feeding techniques
provide only mediocre results when
it comes to cannabis plants. However,
plants do respond remarkably differently
when the correct ratios of nutrients
are made present.
The
latest line of products from Advanced
Nutrients is an engineered plant
nutrition feed system called SensiPro.
This system is based on a patent pending
process of delivering the exact quantities
of necessary elements to the plant
at a precise time interval for the
entire life cycle of the plant, all
packaged in one feed kit. Each kit
contains all the micro and macro nutrients,
amino acids, hormones, vitamins, enzymes,
yeasts and yeast extracts, beneficial
bacteria and beneficial fungi to ensure
a healthy robust yield.
RESEARCH
STUDY
A 2002 study was conducted by the
Plant and Science Department of the
University of Mississippi, who are
responsible for the development of
cannabis studies in the United States.
The study was a comparison of various
nutrients on the overall development
of cannabis plants and specifically
their yield and cannabinoid profiles.
Test results revealed that Advanced
Nutrients outperformed the specified
nutrient feed regimen set forth by
their researchers and showed a 21%
increase in yield with an increase
of 42% in THC production
THE
UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI
Re: Mohmound A ElSohly, Ph.D. Research
Professor.
Effect of 2 different fertilizers
on THC and other cannabinoids contents,
total biomass production and seed
production potential in a high yielding
varitety of Cannabis Sativa.
This
study was conducted to assess the
effect of two different fertilizer
treatments on Delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), other cannabinoids (THCV, CBD,
CBC, CBG, CBN) contents, total biomass
and seed production in high yielding
variety of Cannabis sativa. Selected
seeds were grown under similar environmental
conditions in indoor cultivation and,
after 30 days, seedlings were transferred
to research garden, School of pharmacy,
University of Mississippi.
Research plot was prepared in a 2000
sq.ft. area and was divided into 2
parts, each plot with a 1000 sq.ft.
area. Plants in plot A were treated
with Advanced Nutrients formula, whereas
plants in plot B were fertilized with
the regular fertilizer composition
used to grow corn and sorghum, recommended
by soil testing laboratory, plant
and soil science department, Mississippi
state University, MS. Delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC) content of the plants treated
with Advanced Nutrients formula was
found significantly higher than those
treated with regular fertilizer. Similarly,
in comparison of the plants treated
with the regular fertilizer, those
treated with Advanced Nutrients formula
produced more useable biomass and
seeds.
Therefore,
within the limits of this study it
can be concluded that Advanced Nutrients
formula can be useful to grow Cannabis
sativa to achieve higher yield in
terms of potency and biomass. See
table 1 for analytical data on the
biomass produced from both plots and
fig. 2 for the biomass yield data.
| Plot
ID |
Percentage
of Cannabinoids |
| |
THCV
|
CBD
|
CBC
|
THC
|
CBG
|
CBN
|
|
A
|
0.13+-0.002
|
0..53+-0.04
|
0.24+-0.01
|
11.35+-0.20
|
0
|
0.17+-0.002
|
|
B
|
0.10+-0.01
|
0.34+-0.06
|
0.18+-0.01
|
7.99+-0.46
|
0.23+-0.13
|
0.14+-0.01
|
Table
1:
Variations
in THC and Other cannabinoids
in the harvest samples.
Plot A was treated with
Advanced Nutrients Formula,
whereas regular fertilizer
was used in Plot B. |
|
 |
Fig.
2:
Variations in seed and usable
biomass production in plot A
and Plot B. Plot A was treated
with Advanced Nutrients Formula,
whereas regular fertilizer was
used in Plot B.
|
|
Jeffery's
Journey
A determined mother's battle
for Medical Marijuana for her
son
|
Jeffery's
Journey
"...Jeffrey's
Journey is not only for parents
concerned about a child's illness
and treatment, but will also
serve as a guide for all seriously
ill individuals and their families
and physicians seeking answers
about the best treatment available."
- Jeff Yablan, M.A., Medical
Marijuana Project
|
by
Philippe Lucas
"Jeffrey's Journey" is the
very real and harrowing story of a
young boy named Jeffrey and his inner
battle with severe emotional and behavioural
problems. Written by Debbie and LaRayne
Jeffries - the boy's mother and grandmother
- Jeffrey's tale takes him from the
depths of prescription drug despair,
to the high of successful cannabis-based
treatment. Before Jeffrey even reached
adolescence, he had been diagnosed
with multiple emotional and behavioural
conditions: ADHD (Attention Deficit
Hyperactive Disorder), PTSD (Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder), OCD(Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder), ODD (Oppositional Defiant
Disorder), IED (Intermittent Explosive
Disorder), and Bi-Polar Disorder...
to name but a few. Along with these
diagnoses came a plethora of pharmaceutical
treatments: from Adderall to Zoloft
and Zyprexa, Jeffrey was prescribed
over a dozen anti-anxiety, anti-depressant
drugs, many of which have never even
been tested or approved for use by
children. After seeing that most of
these either had no effect or worsened
Jeffrey's condition,
Debbie
began to explore the use of medicinal
cannabis. This was a rapid and significant
transition for the Jeffries family,
who describe themselves as conservative
Christians. Debbie admits that when
California's Proposition 215 (which
led to the legalization of medicinal
cannabis in California) appeared on
the state ballot, she voted against
it. However, after contacting WAMM
(Wo/Men Alliance for Medical Marijuana)
and speaking with founder/director
Valerie Corral and speaking with an
informed physician, she decided to
try this untested therapy. Debbie
recounts the morning of Jeffrey's
introduction to marijuana therapy
through cannabis-laced muffins: "Within
1/2 hour of ingesting the first piece
of muffin, I had a new child. We were
driving to school, and as I merged
into a new lane of highway traffic,
Jeff looked over at me and smiled,
"Mommy, I feel happy, not mad,
and my head doesn't feel so noisy!"
This was the beginning of a successful
treatment regimen that soon led to
Jeffrey being able to make friends
and have an 8th birthday party with
other kids at the local Chuck E. Cheese's,
something that would have been previously
unthinkable for the Jeffries.
Sadly,
there have been some setbacks. Last
year's federal bust of the WAMM cannabis
garden led to a break in Jeffrey's
line of medicine, which led to a decline
of his emotional/behavioural state.
This was only restored once the Jeffries
were able to once again access the
particular strain that helped calm
Jeffrey's mind and resultant behaviour.
"Jeffrey's Journey" is the
tale of a family's sorrow and desperation,
and the hope that finally came from
an unlikely source: cannabis. Although
therapeutic cannabis is by no means
a cure-all, it has been able to give
the Jeffries happiness where there
was once only fear and frustration.
As I finished Jeffrey's Journey, I
had to wonder how many more families
might be struggling with similar problems,
and how many severely emotionally
handicapped children might benefit
from the information in this brave
book.
MAP
posted-by: Richard Lake, Pubdate:
Fri, 02 May 2003, Source: DrugSense
Weekly, Website: http://www.drugsense.org/current.htm.
Details:
http://www. mapinc.org/media/2899
Note: Philippe Lucas is Director
of Communications for DrugSense. He
is also the founder and director of
the Vancouver Island Compassion Society,
a medicinal cannabis organization
based in Victoria, B.C., http://thevics.com/
URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03.n638.a03.html
McGill Research
for Health Canada
McGill
Research for Health Canada After receiving
a grant from the Canadian Institute
of Health Research, McGill University
scientists are leading the world in
a study to examine the effects of
cannabis on neuropathic pain. This
is the first trial of smoked cannabis
on non-HIV and Multiple Sclerosis
patients, as well as being the first
trial where subjects will smoke cannabis
as outpatients. It was important to
researchers that as much as possible
the study replicated the real life
conditions under which most patients
live on a day-to-day basis.
The
main hypothesis of this study is to
show that cannabis containing 8% THC
is superior to lower concentrations
in reducing neuropathic pain.
The main objectives for this study
are as follows:
To examine the effects of short-term,
low-dose cannabis use on patients
with chronic neuropathic pain.
To study issues of safety, placebo
discernment, and dose estimation for
clinical effects.
To examine the effects on quality
of life and mood.
To evaluate the mechanisms of the
actions of cannabinoids on neuropathic
pain using quantitative sensory testing.
To supply experience and data for
larger clinical trials.
The
Canadian government is still not ready
to distribute the cannabis that is
has contracted to have grown, so the
product is being supplied to McGill
University by the National Institute
of Drug Abuse {NIDA}.
Note:
NIDA currently is not growing any
cannabis with a potency level higher
than 4%. McGill requested THC at 8%.
When questioned about this discrepancy
and the possible jeopardization of
the integrity of the study, McGill
suggested that I speak with NIDA.
To-date NIDA has not responded.
Sources:
www.mcgill.ca/public/releases - Dean
Beeby Canadian Press, Sunday April
20, 2003 - www.medicalmarihuana.ca
|
Announcement
Green
Aid.
The Medical Marijuana Legal
Defense Fund (USA). Contributions
welcome. www.green-aid.com
or call 1-888-271-7674 (US),
1-415 677 2226. Donations are
tax deductible (US).
|
Announcement
Colorado
Med. Users
Colorado Cannabis is helping
people join the Colorado Patients
Registry. We offer grow advice,
registration assistance and
referrals. Contact us at mail@colorado
cannabis.com
|
Announcement
Help
save the endangered Granby Grizzly
from extinction. Send a free
fax to the BC government.at
www.granby
wilderness.org
|
|
Announcement
Have
you been banned from the U.S.
for marijuana charges? Please
contact us at
Cannabis Health, att. Banned.
Sorry we have been unable to
respond to the flood of the
calls and letters, keep the
faith, we will get back to you.
|
Announcement
U.S./Canadian
medical marijuana benefit concert,
Hands Across the Border: Persons
interested in the organization
of a major musical event in
the fall or late summer of 2003
please contact Cannbis Health,
attention ³Benefit Concert².
We are seeking organizers, volunteers,
bands, financial backers, etc.
This is a call for assistance
with this project. The organizers
are open to ideas and suggestions
|
Announcement
Drop
on by the website that tells
the REAL stories and valiant
struggles of Federal Medical
Marijuana Exemptees in Canada.
We KNOW you are curious....
so, see you here. Check out
the National Media attention
we have received for this issue
already. Remember we are here
to stay... Chow for now. Gary
Lynch, Alison Myrden Web Designer.
Federal Medical Marijuana Exemptee.
The Medical Marijuana Mission.
www.themarijuana
mission.com
|
|
Announcement
Looking
for property in Grand Forks?
E-mail Sonja Gartner from Century21
at sonjag@sunshin
ecable.com and Iıll send
you a current Real Estate brochure
of the area. (Specify the area
you are interested in: Grand
Forks, Grand Forks rural, Christina
Lake, Greenwood /Midway/ Rock
Creek, vacant land or Commercial)
|
Announcement
Tarot
Readings
by Liza Smith Book your appointment
250-442-3018 Find out whatıs
happening in your life!
|
Health
and Healing
Flyinghands
Farm
Effective, energetic herbal
help for chronic, serious imbalances:
wounds/rashes, frostbite/sunburn;
arthritic/rheumatic, bone, muscle,
ligament problems; immune system
boosting. Flying Hands Farm
Herbals 1-250-265-4967 use http://www.flyinghands
farmaddr.com
|
|
For
Sale
WHITE
OAK ESSENTIALS
Hand-made Hemp Soap, all natural
made to order - choose from
a variety of essential oils.Call
1-250-442-2237 send order to
Box 806, Grand Forks, B.C. V0H
1H0
|
For
Sale
SHAKEDOWN
STREET
For all your psychedelic needs,
276 King St. W., Kitchener Ont.
Twisted smoking accessories,
519-570-0440 Wholesale Available
www.shakedown.com
|
For
Sale
Tree
Free greeting cards
7x10 hemp paper, blank inside
- all original watercolour and
coloured pencil images, by Tarakym.
Visit www.calicomarket.com,
then click Tayakym.
|
|
Ontario
SWEET
HYDROPONICSı GARDENS
281 Mask Rd. Renfrew Ont. K7V
3Z7
613 433 9600 Medicinal discounts
available.
|
Ontario
SHAKEDOWN
STREET www.shakedown.com
276 King St. W., Kitchener Ont.
Smoking accessories
1-519-570-0440
|
Quebec
Plant-O-MaxX
+
7020A St. Hubert Montreal Quebec
H2S 2M9 514-276-8858 Cell: 514-830-1711
|
|
B.
C.
Highway
Hydroponics
1791 Tamarac St. Campbel River,
B.C. 1-250-286-0424 Fax:1-250-286-0420
e-mail: hwyhydro@telus.net
|
B.
C.
Blossoms
Hydroponic Garden Supplies
8460 West Granville St. Vancouver,
BC, Ph: 1-604-266-5582
|
B.
C.
JJıs
Hemp Hollow
420 TCH West Salmon Arm, B.C.
V1E 1S9 ph/fax 250-833-1414
|
|
