Pubdate: Fri, 04 Nov 2005
Source: Forbes Magazine (US)
Copyright: 2005 Forbes Inc.
Contact:  http://www.forbes.com/forbes/current/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/769
Author: Terrence P. Farley
Note: Terrence P. Farley is first assistant prosecutor, Ocean County, 
New Jersey, and director of the Ocean County Narcotic Strike Force. 
His comments are in response to "Marijuana Compound Spurs Brain Cell Growth."
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v05/n1618/a08.html

CANNABINOID COMPOUNDS ARE NOT MEDICAL MARIJUANA

It is hard to believe that in this day and age someone as intelligent
as Alan Mozes could write an article about a study of one single
synthetic cannabinoid compound and relate that study to "medical marijuana."

First of all, this compound is but one of many cannabinoids that most
medical researchers and even law enforcement officials feel should be
tested for their efficacy as potential drugs. This has nothing to do
with the current laws that permit the smoking of whole marijuana in
states that passed so-called medical marijuana laws.

In this study, this synthetically produced compound was injected into
the subject rats. Drugs are used either through pills or tablets,
injections or even inhalers, not smoked.

Mozes did note that even the head researcher noted, "This treatment is
not the same as smoking marijuana. Whether smoking marijuana can
produce the same effect, we just don't know."

What we do know is:

* The U.S. Public Health Service terminated its smoked marijuana
research project when it found there was no scientific evidence that
the drug was assisting patients, and it issued a warning that smoking
marijuana as a form of medical therapy may actually be harmful to some
patients.

* Since 2000, the California Center for Medical Cannabis Research has
gained approval for 14 trials using smoked marijuana in human beings
and three trials in laboratory and animal models. It has concluded
that not one of these researchers has found scientific proof that
smoked marijuana is medicine.

* The 1999 Institute of Medicine report on "medical marijuana"
indicated there was medical potential for some of the cannabinoid
compounds found in the marijuana plant and stated that clinical trials
of these compounds should be done with the goal of developing
rapid-onset, reliable and safe delivery systems. The report stated
that in no way did the institute wish to suggest that patients should,
under any circumstances, medicate themselves with marijuana. The study
concluded there is no future in smoked marijuana as medicine.

* That the America Medical Association, the American Glaucoma Society,
the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Cancer Society and
the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis Societies have all
taken stands against smoked marijuana as medicine.

Stop adding to the confusion between smoked marijuana and individual
cannabinoid compounds found in the marijuana plant. Keep in mind that
we don't eat moldy bread to get penicillin, we don't chew foxglove
flowers to get digitalis, we don't eat poppy seeds to get morphine and
we don't suck venom from snakes to get anti-venom. The marijuana plant
is not medicine.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake