Researchers at the UC San Diego in a report to the California Legislature confirmed that marijuana consistently provides relief for neuropathic pain and for muscle spasms. The researchers followed 200 people over several years, and even administered placebo tokes to one group of subjects (cigarettes that smelled like pot but did not contain any THC, the active chemical in pot). Former California state Sen. John Vasconcellos, who authored the legislation providing the funding for the research, said the study should bring broader acceptance for medical pot use.
"This is the latest, best, most objective clarifying research," Vasconcellos said. "That ought to solve the issue."
The research results are at: http://www.sacbee.com/...
One interesting finding is that marijuana provides its medical benefits at low dosage. This is good news for medical marijuana users -- they can choose lower-potency (and less expensive) cannabis to get relief. They can choose higher potency cannabis if they LIKE the "side effects."
The Sacramento Bee's report on the medical marijuana research emphasized a different point than did ex-legislator Vasconcellos, starting with the headline "Smoking pot can soothe tingling or burning pain – but you don't need to get high to find relief." The Bee report pointed out that "a clinical trial for 38 patients who smoked marijuana for pain from spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other conditions found higher doses were not more effective than lower doses in relieving pain." So, according to the Bee, while "the research endorsed medical benefits of marijuana, it was anything but an endorsement for getting stoned."
The Bee admitted that the research findings nonetheless "are sure to drive debate over public policy governing California's burgeoning medical marijuana market."
The Bee reported that "With five of seven clinical trials completed, researchers found marijuana to be a reliable pain remedy. The studies also found that participants experienced "adverse side effects," including cough, nausea, dizziness, sedation and changes in cognition. However, the report concluded: "These effects were typically mild and resolved rapidly."
Dr. Igor Grant, the UC San Diego professor of psychiatry who directed the research, said the ramifications of the research study are not clear for medical marijuana dispensaries operating in California, because the pot they sell varies greatly in content and potency.
"We don't know the composition of the product on the street," Grant said. "We don't know what the patients are getting. In a sense, that is not a good situation."
This is true, but it is a lot better situation than having to buy your medicinal marijuana on the street.