Madison NORML

Paul Armentano: Science is clear; why aren't we paying attention?
Source: Redding Record Searchlight

Sunday, July 18, 2010

The Record Searchlight’s call for further scientific study on the safety and efficacy of marijuana (editorial, Tuesday) as a medicine is commendable, but hardly goes far enough. The real challenge is demanding that pundits, politicians, and the media actually pay attention to the research that is presently available.

For example, in February investigators from the University of California Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research publicly announced the findings of a series of randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials on the medical utility of inhaled cannabis. The studies, which for the first time in over two decades utilized the standardized FDA clinical trail design, concluded that marijuana ought to be a “first line treatment” for patients with neuropathy and other serious illnesses.

Among the numerous studies conducted by the center, four assessed smoked marijuana’s ability to alleviate neuropathic pain, a notoriously difficult to treat type of nerve-pain associated with cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, spinal cord injury, and many other debilitating conditions. Each of the trials found that cannabis consistently reduced patients’ pain levels to a degree that was as good or better than currently available medications.

Another study conducted by the center’s investigators assessed the use of marijuana as a treatment for patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. That study determined that “smoked cannabis was superior to placebo in reducing spasticity and pain in patients with MS, and provided some benefit beyond currently prescribed treatments.”

Yet another clinical trial challenged the long-held myth that smoking cannabis damages the immune system. Researchers found that, contrary to popular opinion, inhaled marijuana fails to suppress human immune function. “There was no evidence of acute impairment of immune function,” investigators reported.

Around the globe similarly controlled trials are also taking place. Most recently, a review by researchers in Germany reported that since 2005 there have been 37 controlled studies assessing the safety and efficacy of marijuana and its naturally occurring compounds, involved a total of 2,563 subjects. By contrast, most FDA-approved drugs go through far fewer trials involving far fewer subjects.

According to a recent meta-analysis published in the scientific journal Medicinal Research Reviews, “Research on the chemistry and pharmacology of cannabinoids (the uniquely active compounds in the marijuana plant) and endocannabinoids (receptors in the human body that interact with these cannabinoids) has reached enormous proportions.” A keyword search on the search engine PubMed proves this point, revealing over 2,700 separate papers published on cannabis in 2009 and another 900 published just this year alone.

Two notable preclinical trials appeared in press just last week. Researchers at the State University of New York in Syracuse reported in the journal Pharmacology that the administration of the plant cannabinoids delta-8-THC and delta-9-THC halted cellular respiration and tumor growth in human oral cancer cells. Specifically, investigators reported that cannabinoids were a “potent inhibitor” of Tu183 human cancer cells, a notoriously difficult to treat type of oral cancer.

A separate preclinical study published online last week in the journal Cell Communication and Signaling reported that the administration of the non-psychoactive cannabinoid cannabidiol increases adult neurogenesis (the active production of new neurons) in laboratory animals. Authors speculated that cannabis’ pro-neurogenic effects may explain why the plant appears to be useful in the treatment of certain neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s disease or Lou Gehrig’s disease. Predictably, neither the editors of the Record Searchlight nor any other mainstream U.S. publication felt compelled to report on these results.

Ultimately, calls for further research ring hollow if so few decision-makers are willing to acknowledge the abundant scientific evidence that is already out there.

Paul Armentano is the deputy director of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and he is the co-author of the book “Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?” He lives in Vallejo. Scripps Lighthouse

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