Volunteers needed for UC-San Francisco medical marijuana study

[Fly by night]

As some of you know, I am pretty involved in the medical marijuana movement. See these links:

www.saveberniesfarm.com
www.commonwonders.com/archives/col391.htm
www.nashvillescene.com/Stories/Cover_Story/2007/04/26/Marijuana_Martyr/index.shtml


Today, I received this announcement from the Marijuana Policy Project for an upcoming medical marijuana study at UC-San Francisco. Dr. Donald Abrams is one of the foremost authorities on med pot in the U.S. and I am sure it will be a very worthwhile study (plus you get five days in San Francisco and get paid for it!!)

Unfortunately, I am still on probation for my federal medical marijuana charge so I can't volunteer myself (which I would do in a heartbeat if I could.) But there may be some folks here who might qualify themselves or might know other sick and hurting people who could qualify for the study.

So review the criteria and get calling. My little gift to any of you who hurt more than you should, and my small effort to liberate the Goddess in our lifetimes.

Please keep this K&R for a while. Thanks kind-ly (pun intended).
-----
Patients needed for clinical trial of medical marijuana

There is good reason to believe that marijuana can boost the efficacy of opioid pain drugs, allowing pain patients to get better relief with smaller doses of narcotic medications. University of California, San Francisco researcher Dr. Donald Abrams is looking for participants to take part in an important pilot study that could lay the groundwork for critical research in this area.

Dr. Abrams is conducting a trial of vaporized medical marijuana in conjunction with opioid medications in chronic pain patients. This is an opportunity for patients to try controlled doses of medical marijuana completely legally — under both state and federal law — for five days and for researchers to collect important data about the safety of medical marijuana.

The study will assess the clinical safety of using marijuana with opioids by monitoring the short-term side effects associated with combined therapy.

Participants in the study must:

* Have ongoing chronic pain
* Be 18 or older
* Be on a stable twice-daily dose of sustained-release oxycodone or morphine medication for at least two weeks before enrollment
* Not use marijuana for a month prior to entering the study
* Not be a cigarette and/or cigar smoker, or be willing not to smoke for two weeks before starting the study
* Meet some additional criteria

Participating patients will:

* Spend five days and nights in a clinical research center at San Francisco General Hospital
* Attend a screening appointment before the study begins
* Have blood tests and other measurements done
* Inhale vaporized medicinal marijuana three times a day

You can receive $520 for participating. For more information, call [phone], ext. 315, or e-mail [e-mail]. The Community Consortium Positive Health Program of the UCSF Medical Service at San Francisco General Hospital is conducting the study.

Thank you for supporting the Marijuana Policy Project. Please pass this on to any chronic pain patients who might be interested in participating in the study.

[gateley]

1. K&R - I hope we're making progress on this important issue. nt

[Fly by night]

2. Kick for the "kind"

[Fly by night]

3. Kicking once, kicking twice ....

I don't hang out on GD. GD, your threads drop fast around here!!

I would like to keep this announcement up for at least a little while.

How about a little kind-ness from some of you strangers.

[Fly by night]

4. One more kick for the kind -- then off to watch "Survivor".

We'd all survive serious diseases and chronic pain more easily with the help of wolf bane (my favorite name for cannabis -- I believe that's what the Chinese call it.)

[bananas]

5. They use the seeds, though: "semen cannabis" nt

[Fly by night]

6. Huh?

[bananas]

7. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses the seeds for medicine

Herbalists use the latin names for plants and their parts, "semen" is the seed of the plant.
http://www.google.com/search?q=Traditional+Chinese+Medicine+cannabis+seeds+semen

http://www.sacredlotus.com/herbs/herb.cfm/hid/176

Huo Ma Ren (Hemp Seeds or Cannabis Seeds)
Herb 1 of 2 in Moist Laxatives

Channels:
LI, SP, ST

Properties:
Sweet, Neutral

Latin Name:
Semen Cannabis Sativae


Huo Ma Ren means "Fire Hemp Seeds"

Actions
Moistens the Intestines
For constipation from Blood deficiency, fever, or post-partum. Especially useful in treating constipation in the elderly or debilitated.
Strengthens the Yin
For constipation from a mild case of Yin deficiency.
Clears Heat
Used with other herbs to reduce ulcerations and sores, for this purpose it is either used topically or taken internally.

<snip>

[jberryhill]

9. Traditional Chinese Medicine

...also uses rhino horn, tiger bone, and assorted bits and pieces of innumerable endangered species.

Not to knock all sorts of benefits of a plant product, but in view of the tremendous biological damage being done by "Traditional Chinese Medicine" to pretty much every endangered species in Asia, that's hardly a ringing endorsement.

But, dang... I feel some chronic pain coming on...

[Maine-ah]

8. kick

[mark414]

10. damn...the first and only time in my life i've wished for chronic pain...

sorry to make a joke, but...i need to hurry up my move to SF

[Fly by night]

11. One more time for the Friday night crowd