Tapping Medical Marijuana’s Potential

[pscot]

American scientists seeking clarification of marijuana’s medical usefulness have long been stymied by this draconian classification, usually reserved for street drugs like heroin with a high potential for abuse.

Dr. J. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said the classification was primarily political and ignored more than 40 years of scientific research, which has shown that cellular receptors for marijuana’s active ingredients are present throughout the body. Natural substances called cannabinoids bind to them to influence a wide range of body processes.

In a lengthy report entitled “Blurred Boundaries: The Therapeutics and Politics of Medical Marijuana,” published last year in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, Dr. Bostwick noted that the so-called endocannabinoid system has an impact on the “autonomic nervous system, immune system, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, cardiovascular system and endocrine network.”

There is evidence that several common disorders, including epilepsy, alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder, involve disruptions in the endocannabinoid system, suggesting that those patients might benefit from marijuana or its ingredients.

The strongest evidence for the health benefits of medical marijuana or its derivatives involves the treatment of chronic neuropathic pain and the spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis. Medical marijuana is widely recognized as effective against nausea and appetite loss caused by chemotherapy, although better treatments are now available. But preliminary research and anecdotal reports have suggested that marijuana might be useful in treating a number of other conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, glaucoma, migraine, cancer growth, abnormal heart rhythms, Alzheimer’s disease, fibromyalgia, incontinence, bacterial infections, osteoporosis, intense itching, Tourette’s syndrome and sleep apnea

more at the link

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/04/tapping-medical-marijuanas-potential/?ref=health?src=dayp

[musiclawyer]

1. I find articles like this rather milquetoast

Good that scientists are taking off their blinders but this is not news. The two news is that legal cannabis is coming to your town soon. The potential economic impact is almost immeasurable


People familiar with cannabis have known of its medicinal efficacy for decades

[pscot]

2. The economic impact has been overblown

To have an economic impact there has to be tight state control, heavy taxation and maybe even state sales, if Washington is a bellwether. All that is going to cause trouble. I think pot smokers have thoroughly libertarian view of legalization.

[Uncle Joe]

3. I disagree, the people are already being taxed by the war against cannabis.

The money is either going to the major drug syndicates, the DEA or the for profit prison industry, not to mention paying off officials at all levels of government.

Families have been torn apart and poverty increased as a direct result of having the world's largest prison population with the majority being behind bars for cannabis.

There need be no heavy taxation of legalized cannabis to provide relief to the tax paying public nor to create a most positive economic impact on society in general.

[pscot]

4. Selling it illegally is what makes it

multi-billion dollar industry. Otherwise it's just a field crop. If they can't control it, they can't profit. It's pretty ease to grow. If it's not scarce and pricey, demand is easily met. They aren't interested in "relief" for the public wallet. They see a hugely profitable sting being rolled up. My point is that passing an initiative is just the 1st step. The agencies and the corporations have a lot to lose. They'll keep fighting this. Look at Obama's DOJ.

[Uncle Joe]

5. I see progress as being made on the legalization front.

I agree with you that passing an initiative is just the 1st step, but this isn't going to stop with Colorado or Washington State, the people have become or are becoming too aware.

I have no doubt the agencies ie: DEA, some police forces and the for profit prison industry will continue to fight it, but I believe the momentum is clearly on the side of legalization, there has been a long overdue sea change in the public's perception.

[pscot]

6. I hope you're right

What surprises me is that a lot of people seem to see cannabis as some kind of moral issue, which is very strange.

[Mopar151]

9. The heritage of Reefer Madness

It was cast as a new menace after the end of prohibition - some say, as a re-employment plan for Prohibition agents

[Mopar151]

8. Industrial hemp is a field crop - gourmet weed, not so much

More like an heirloom vegetable requiring some serious horticulture. If rules are set up for growing pot, then they should favor the small farmer, if for no other reason than genetic diversity.

[pscot]

10. Agreed

Especially the part about small farmers. Washington has to come up with a control scheme for 502. The preliminary plan is due next month some time. Be interesting to see what it looks like.

[HuckleB]

7. We should all be tired of the whole "medical" scene.

Research is just not where proponents claim it to be...

On the other hand, we're at a point where there's just no excuse to refrain from legalizing it. The argument needs to change, or it's going to lose credibility.

[Jesus Malverde]

11. It's huge that this health column in the nations establishment paper is dealing with this topic

In an mostly objective manner. NYTime used to get millions a year for publishing anti-drug articles. This is pretty incredible even if they are late to the game. I wonder how much this has to do with their new mexican owner.