July Newsletter
Content
AMA Medical Students Endorse Medical Marijuana
The prestigious American Medical Association (AMA) will consider endorsing therapeutic use of cannabis at its next interim meeting in November.
In June, the Medical Student Section (MSS) of the AMA, led by an ASA medical advisor, approved a resolution urging the physicians group to support the reclassification of marijuana for medical use. The MSS will send the resolution to the AMA House of Delegates for a final vote in November.
"While it is an historic occasion for any section of the AMA to endorse medical marijuana, the MSS is merely affirming existing science and urging the adoption of a sensible medical marijuana policy," said AMA-MSS member Sunil Aggarwal, who serves on ASA's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board, and is pushing the effort to gain AMA endorsement. "As a future medical doctor, I look forward to exploring and utilizing the many medical benefits of cannabinoid medicines in patient care."
With nearly 50,000 members the MSS is the most influential organization of medical students in the US.
"This is a positive and necessary step in the right direction," said Dr. David Ostrow, a member of the ASA's Medical and Scientific Advisory Board. "We are hopeful that the full house of delegates will follow the example set by the American College of Physicians and place the needs and safety of our patients above politics."
In February, the American College of Physicians (ACP) adopted a resolution that called for rescheduling marijuana to make it available by prescription and expanding research into its medical efficacy. With 124,000 members, the ACP is the country's second largest physician group and the largest organization of doctors of internal medicine.
Public opinion polls consistently show that as many as 4 out of 5 Americans support legal access to medical marijuana.
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Non-Psychoactive, Anti-Inflammatory Compound Found in Cannabis
A new anti-inflammatory compound that is not psychoactive has been found in large concentrations in the cannabis plant. The compound, which can ease swelling, pain and inflammation, may lead to the development of new treatments for such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and Crohn's disease.
The chemical, called beta-carophyllene helps combat inflammation without affecting the brain. Researchers demonstrated in an animal study that beta-carophyllene attaches to CB-2 receptors, producing the anti-inflammatory effect, but not to CB-1 receptors, which are associated with the psychoactive effects of THC and other cannabinoids.
Analysis of cannabis has found it to contain as much as 35% beta-carophyllene. Other common plants that contain this oil include black pepper, oregano, basil, lime, cinnamon, carrots and celery.
Cannabinoids Fight Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Tumor Growth
Swedish researchers report success using the endocannabinoid system, (the body's natural cannabinoid system), to fight non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, show that a cannabinoid agonist halts the spread and growth of cancerous tumors in animals with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Investigators report that mice treated with the cannabinoid agonist experienced a 40% reduction in tumor weight. The researchers conclude that ability of cannabinoids to both restrict the proliferation of cancer cells and reprogram the cells to die off makes "the endocannabinoid system a potential new therapeutic target for individualized therapy in lymphomas."
These findings are consistent with earlier studies that have shown cannabinoids can halt the spread of many types of cancers, including brain, breast, lung, prostrate and pancreatic cancers.
Clinical Neuropathy Trial Shows Cannabis Effective
Even low doses of smoked cannabis can be effective in managing hard-to-treat neuropathic pain. Investigators found that low- and high-dose cannabis produced similar levels of pain relief, reducing both the intensity and unpleasantnesds of the often unbearable nerve pain.
The researchers note that cannabis not only fights pain itself but also interacts with opiod painkillers to increase their effectiveness, particularly in neuropathic pain. They also note that using isolated synthetic cannabinoids such as THC (dranabinol) does not provide the same effect of efficacy as a whole-plant preparation of cannabis.
In conclusion, investigators observe that "cannabis does not rely on a relaxing or tranquilizing effect but rather reduces both the core component of nociciption (pain transmission) and the emotional aspect of the pain experiencr to an equal degree."
North Carolina Medical Marijuana Study Bill Introduced
On June 25, ASA-WNC chapter members traveled across the state to the capitol in Raleigh for the NC House Science and Technology committee hearing regarding H.R. 2405, introduced by Rep. Earl Jones, (D-Guilford County), which is a bill to study the public benefits of allowing medical marijuana in the state.
Former Surgeon-General, Jocelyn Elders, spoke before the committee in favor of the legislation. "This is an old tried and true medicine that we have been using for over 5,000 years with not a single death from cannabis toxification", she told the audience of legislators, senators, citizens, medical professionals and others in the capitol auditorium.
Also testifying before the committee were Dr. Laura Hanson, of Chapel Hill, Jean Marlowe, medical marijuana patient and director of ASAWNC, and Dixie Deerman, patient and registered nurse of Asheville.
"When you are going through cancer chemotherapy and fighting for your life, or living in chronic pain, you want relief," Dr. Elders told the legislators.
To view the committee hearing for yourself and see the testimony, visit our YouTube channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/asawnc.
ASA-WNC wishes to extend our heartfelt thanks to Rep. Jones, Dr. Elders, Dr. Hanson and to the compassionate legislators of the state of North Carolina who will vote in favor of protecting the sick and suffering citizens of our state who need cannabis as a medicine.
