Pubdate: Sat, 07 Apr 2001
Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press (MN)
Copyright: 2001 St. Paul Pioneer Press
Contact:  http://www.pioneerplanet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/379
Author: Debra O'Connor

CONFERENCE AIMS TO EXPLORE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Minnesota Considering Funding Research On Controversial Issue

Wearing a pinstripe suit and authoritative manner, George McMahon 
spoke Friday morning to a conference on medical uses of marijuana 
sponsored by Minnesota's departments of Health and Public Safety.

Then, while others sipped coffee during a break, the 50-year-old Iowa 
man grabbed his briefcase, walked just outside the door and lit up a 
joint.

The act was legal, since McMahon is one of eight people left on a 
discontinued federal program for compassionate use of marijuana 
because of medical problems. In his pocket, he keeps his 
government-grown marijuana in a prescription bottle with a label 
reading: ``Smoke up to 10 marijuana cigarettes.''

``If I didn't smoke the marijuana, I would not be functional,'' he said.

McMahon's move was a dramatic illustration of the conference's main 
point: that many people suffering from such illnesses as multiple 
sclerosis and cancer can relieve their pain and nausea by smoking 
marijuana.

Friday's program focused on whether the state ought to push forward 
with research on the medicinal value of marijuana.

``We didn't just come here today to talk about this and then forget 
about it,'' promised Public Safety Commissioner Charlie Weaver. ``Our 
intent is to move forward.''

Gov. Jesse Ventura this week said he supports legalizing marijuana 
for medical use. Citing the pain relief he said his mother received 
through conventional medicines while dying of a respiratory disease 
in 1995, he said other patients should have equal access to a 
medicine that relieves their suffering.

On his regular Friday radio show, he blamed pharmaceutical firms and 
government for blocking legalization of marijuana for medical use. 
``If you have the ability to get a drug from a plant and you can grow 
it yourself, well that takes them out of the mix,'' Ventura said. `` 
. . . You wouldn't have to pay a pharmaceutical company to process 
it, create it and do everything they do so that they make their 
millions, and you wouldn't have to pay tax to the government.''

Last week, the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Finance 
Committee considered a bill to put $100,000 into research on medical 
uses of marijuana; it was laid over for possible inclusion in the 
omnibus bill. Another proposal would remove criminal penalties for 
sick people who use marijuana to relieve their symptoms.

A 1980 state law allows research on marijuana, but few researchers 
are currently involved in studies, according to Dave Holstrom of the 
state Board of Pharmacy. Researchers must also receive separate 
permits from the federal government for any clinical trials involving 
marijuana.

The information session was billed as an attempt to spur research by 
the academic community, but organizers acknowledged that few if any 
researchers attended the event other than one who appeared on a panel.

Instead, the audience of about 100 was made up largely of proponents 
of legalizing marijuana. Opponents also passed out information.

Stanley Thayer, a professor of pharmacology at the University of 
Minnesota who conducts basic science on the effect of some chemicals 
in marijuana on the brain, said the forum was not well publicized to 
potential researchers.

``The researchers are more interested in the science. This has a lot 
to do with the politics,'' Thayer said. He suggested that research 
should be focused on developing an effective way of delivering the 
medicine in marijuana other than smoking, which he said could never 
pass muster with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The audience at Friday's seminar was largely sympathetic to 
legalization. Advocates claim that many people with multiple 
sclerosis, chronic pain, glaucoma and cancer can find relief from 
pain, nausea, vision problems and appetite loss by using marijuana. 
Eight states have authorized medicinal marijuana use.

In 1988, McMahon was hospitalized for chronic pain after several 
surgeries and broken bones he had suffered over the years. Smoking 
marijuana helped him regain his appetite and ability to sleep, which 
McMahon says allowed him to heal, although pain and muscle spasms 
recur if he doesn't smoke marijuana regularly.

The opposing point of view was expressed by Jeanette McDougal, 
co-chairwoman of Drug Watch Minnesota, who called medicinal marijuana 
proposals a foot in the door for legalizing marijuana for 
recreational use.

This report contains information from the Associated Press and from 
staff writer Bill Salisbury.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe