Large majority of Americans see some medical benefits in use of marijuana

A new study by the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that a large percentage of Americans have a favorable attitude to medical marijuana even though the study claims that the beliefs are not supported yet by scientific research.

Vast majority of respondents see some medical benefits for marijuana

For the study the authors surveyed about 16,000 Americans about marijuana. 81 percent of those who responded believed that marijuana had at least one medical benefit, in areas such as pain management, treating diseases, and alleviating mental health problems. Both medical and recreational marijuana is growing in popularity in the US and elsewhere.

More research needs to be done on benefits of medical marijuana

There is not high quality clinical evidence marijuana does all the things that people believe it does. Although the research is promising, it is not rock solid.

Neurologist Steven Novella notes that most published studies are poorly designed. The authors note: "As of 2013 there were fewer than 20 randomized controlled trials testing the benefits of marijuana. — the gold standard for scientific research — have tested the benefits of marijuana, according to the American Medical Association.) Some don’t necessarily show marijuana doing better than placebo, and many don’t investigate whether marijuana actually reduces symptoms or if it just makes people care less. There’s a lot we don’t know."

The reason for the dearth of research is that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) makes it extremely difficult to research marijuana. Scientists who want to study marijuana must use government samples.

Two years ago, the agency said it would provide universities with more licenses to do marijuana research but the DEA has not granted these licenses and is not accepting new ones. it would seem clear that the federal US government simply does not want to see evidence that medical marijuana is useful. This would increase pressure to legalize it at the Federal level.

The study concludes: "These are the kinds of policies that make it hard for us to see through claims flying in all directions. A few decades ago, we had Reefer Madness and propaganda about the overblown dangers of marijuana. Today, some have swung in the other direction, setting their sights on marijuana as a wonder drug with few downsides, even as rates of marijuana addiction are growing.

"The only way to have a clear-eyed view of both the benefits and harms of marijuana is by making it easier to study; by extension, that’s the only way for us to cut through the hype and make the most informed decisions."

Many US states, Canada and other countries have legalized medical marijuana

Around the globe medical marijuana and even recreational marijuana is legal. As Wikipedia notes: "Countries that have effectively legalized recreational cannabis are Canada, Spain, and Uruguay – plus the Netherlands where possession remains technically illegal but use and sale is tolerated in designated coffeeshops. In the United States, 9 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of cannabis.

"Countries that have legalized the medical use of cannabis include Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Peru, and Poland. Others have more restrictive laws that only allow the use of certain cannabinoid drugs, such as Sativex or Marinol. In the United States, 31 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis, but at the federal level its use remains prohibited for any purpose."

While no doubt many are hyping the use of marijuana for ailments that it is doubtful that it cures surely there are many studies even in the U.S. that show its medical benefits. Why cannot the US use foreign studies of the benefits the drug rather than require more U.S. studies?

The Harvard Health Blog has one study. The Annals of Internal Medicine Study can be found here. A lot of support for medical marijuana comes from personal experience as illustrated by the enclosed video.

Previously published in Digital Journal

Australia introduces bill to legalize medical marijuana

A bill was introduced in the Australian parliament on Wednesday that will allow the legal cultivation of marijuana for medical or scientific purposes.

The bill is designed to create a national licensing and permit regime that will eventually allow doctors to prescribe marijuana to patients with chronic pain on clinical trials. There are already several Australian states that have committed to cultivation of marijuana for medical and research purposes but they cannot do so because of federal laws that prohibit growing of the plant. As a result, manufacturers, researchers, and patients in these states on clinical trials must use international supplies of legal medicinal marijuana, often at considerable expense.

Australian Health Minister Sussan Ley said: "Allowing controlled cultivation locally will provide the critical missing piece for a sustainable legal supply of safe medicinal cannabis products for Australian patients in the future." Marijuana will not be available to the general public or other patients. Ley noted that marijuana was seen as beneficial for patients experiencing chronic pain:

Gaelan Bloomfield, manager at MMJ Phylo Tech Ltd. said:"The market for medicinal cannabis in Australia is substantial. The number of patients that could be targeted could be people with epilepsy, Multiple sclerosis, while there is the other spectrum of people with chronic pain."The company was the first listed medicinal medicinal marijuana company. Its initial public offering last year was three times oversubscribed. The main opposition party in Australia also has pledged support for the bill and so it is almost bound to become law. A survey by the Australian government in 2013 found 69 percent of those responding supported a change in the law to allow use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes is not new. In 2737 BC, Emperor Shen-Nung, also a pharmacologist wrote a book on treatment methods. He recommended marijuana for constipation, gout, rheumatism, and absent-mindedness. In traditional Chinese medicine, marijuana is one of 50 fundamental herbs. A government survey of 24,000 Australians nationwide found in 2013 that 69 percent of respondents supported a change of the law to permit cannabis use for medicinal purposes. Preparing to enter the Australian medicinal marijuana market are Dixie Elixirs in the US state of Colorado where recreational marijuana is already legal. The company makes cannabis edibles and topicals. As of mid-2014, 23 states plus the District of Columbia passed medical marijuana laws. More have joined since then. Many of the laws conflict with federal government regulations.

In Canada, there are Marijuana for Medical Purposes Regulations that make it legal to possess, consume, or grow marijuana under the conditions set out in the regulations. In November last year, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the Liberal government intended to make marijuana legal for recreational use. Many medical authorities still oppose the use of marijuana and political authorities even more so. In 1936 a propaganda film against marijuana, Reefer Madness, was produced to warn youth not to use it. It does not seem to have worked but the film, which is appended, has become a cult classic.

Virginia judge gets 30 days for growing pot

James H. Allamong Jr. a substitute judge in Shenandoah Court in Virginia has been sentenced to thirty days in jail for growing marijuana on his property.

The prominent local attorney and substitute judge was sentenced after a plea bargain that reduced the charges from a felony to a misdemeanor. Allamong admitted to possessing marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Allamong was sentenced in a courtroom in Woodstock by judge Paul Sheridan who also fined Allamong $500, placed him on probation for two years, and ordered him to carry out 200 hours of community service. Allamong's troubles date back to a shed fire on his property.

Scott Proctor of the Shenandoah County Sheriff's office said:

" "A large number" of marijuana plants were found growing on his property at 1817 Copp Road when firefighters responded to a fire at a nearby outbuilding there Monday afternoon...Firefighters on the scene reported that they noticed what appeared to be several marijuana plants next to the structure that was on fire."

Proctor claimed the street value of the marijuana was estimated to be more than $150,000.

However Allamong claims that the marijuana was for his personal use. Allamong says he smokes marijuana because of pain he has from injuries dating back to the Vietnam war. He said:"That's the only reason I had the stuff. Obviously, I wish I had an opportunity to go another way, where you can get medicinal marijuana in Virginia, but that's not an option. I was wounded in Vietnam from a severe concussion blast and had severe joint and hip problems that just are debilitating."

After the shed fire Allamong consented to a search of his property. A large number of plants and a small amount of processed marijuana was found. Given the large amount of marijuana Allamong was charged with possession with intent to manufacture and distribute marijuana. Maybe he just needed a lot of marijuana for a lot of pain!