Clinical trials show medical benefits of pot

[alp227]

Source: San Francisco Chronicle

The first U.S. clinical trials in more than 20 years on the medical efficacy of marijuana found that pot helps relieve pain and muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and certain neurological conditions, according to a report released Wednesday by a UC research center.

The results of five state-funded scientific clinical trials came 14 years after California voters passed a law approving marijuana for medical use and more than 10 years after the state Legislature passed a law that created the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at UC San Diego, which conducted the studies.

Dr. Igor Grant, a UC San Diego psychiatrist who directs the center, called the report "good evidence" that marijuana would be an effective front-line treatment for neuropathy, a condition that can cause tingling, numbness and pain.

"We focused on illnesses where current medical treatment does not provide adequate relief or coverage of symptoms," Grant said. "These findings provide a strong science-based context in which policymakers and the public can begin discussing the place of cannabis in medical care."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/18/MNRF1C3964.DTL

[Xicano]

1. Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7736811

[AlbertCat]

2. AGAIN!

[RussBLib]

3. Maybe we can bring some sanity to this situation

Legalizing it could produce a massive amount of revenue and take a ton of pressure off of our court systems. You know that. I know that. Obama knows that.

HAVE SOME POLITICAL COURAGE FER CRISSAKES!!

[Christa]

4. They will never let facts interfere

with their fiction.

[pattmarty]

9. Even Ron Paul and that fucking idiot W F Buckley knew it............

..........I am not advocating for Ron Paul, but a lot of "honest conservatives" know it.

[Socal31]

5. Medical benefits? BS.

If it cant be patented, marked up, and advertised on the national nightly news with all of its horrible side effects, it cant possibly help anyone!

[jmowreader]

11. Oh, we can certainly come UP with some horrible side effects

"Marijuana is not for everyone. Side effects may include unexplainable weight gain, the desire to listen to Govt. Mule albums, and the sudden need to piss on Ronald Reagan's grave. To avoid weight gain we recommend stocking your pantry with low-calorie, nutritious snacks. Govt Mule albums are available through the iTunes store. As for Reagan...well, we already did it so you don't have to. Marijuana is produced by Local 420 of the Amalgamated Marijuana Growers and Pickers of America (AFL-CIO). It is American-grown, not genetically modified, and available by prescription only. Ask your doctor about Marijuana today."

[pattmarty]

6. I think there is a danger here. Here's what I mean, if we push for.............

.........."legalization" through medical means, you run the risk then of giving powerful fucking drug/medical companies a kind of "exclusivity" on use/regulation of cannabis.

[psychopomp]

7. Nope. It's a plant.

One that tenaciously grows even in dry, nutrient-poor conditions. In other words, once the plant is legalized you'll see Johnny/Jane Ganjaseeds all over the country.

[ConcernedCanuk]

10. THAT's the problem - big PHARMA can't make it's billions when you can grow your own at home

.
.
.

heck

we can even grow it way up here in Northern Ontario

and we've known for DECADES that it is a great pain reliever.

Even the cops up here don't bother people that have a few plants growing; out of sight of course - and don't get caught selling it.

But even in small towns, SOMEONE is growing a bit somewhere.

Ya couldn't get away with a crop of any size now anyways with Google Earth and aerial surveillance anyhoo - but a half-dozen plants in a clearing somewhere -

who cares?

[pleah]

8. K&R