Pubdate: Fri, 03 Jul 2015
Source: Cecil Whig (MD)
Copyright: 2015 Cecil Whig
Contact:  http://www.cecilwhig.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1992
Author: Jeffrey C. Raber

CANNABIS RESEARCH IN EDITORIAL OUTDATED

I feel compelled to respond to your recent editorial, "Medical pot: No wonder."

Sadly, the conclusions drawn in the piece are largely based on 
information that is (1) only peripherally relevant and (2) woefully 
out of date. The editorial does a disservice to readers by implying 
the "79 studies involving more than 6,000 patients" cited in the 
piece represent directly applicable - and current - research on 
medical cannabis.

The first thing your readers should know is those 79 studies were not 
focused on what many experts would consider "medical marijuana." The 
study cited had "an emphasis on 28 randomized clinical trials of 
cannabinoids" - that is, 28 separate trials on individual molecules 
including mostly those that have been synthetically derived as only 
single, pure compounds. Experts overwhelmingly agree that 
whole-plant-based medicines, those including many molecules made by 
the plant, are physiologically superior to single-molecule 
approaches, yet most of the data cited in your editorial was derived 
from inferior single-molecule studies. It's fair to say that many of 
the questions and concerns raised by the research you cited are 
directly attributable to the deficient nature of the studies themselves.

The other important thing your readers should know about the 
evaluation cited in the piece is that some of the data the authors 
included dates back to 1948. I doubt many of your readers would feel 
comfortable visiting a physician whose treatment decisions were based 
on information that is nearly 70 years old. Given the pace of medical 
advancement in this country, that's like opting for a horse and 
carriage over a modern hybrid vehicle and expecting a comparable 
level of performance.

There is no question that continuing research on medical cannabis is 
necessary - just as ongoing studies are important to improving the 
application of other medicines. But to conclude, based on inferior 
data, that moving forward with a medical cannabis program in Maryland 
is premature and unjustified is to ignore compelling evidence of 
medical cannabis' efficacy and its ability to alleviate the suffering 
of so many different patients statewide.

Jeffrey C. Raber Bellevue, Wash.

Jeffrey Raber is the CEO and CVO of the Werc Shop, a analytical 
cannabis laboratory.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom