AMA asks Feds for more cannabis research

[SeniorBuzz]

The American Medical Association has called for more research on cannabis, with emphasis on non-smoking methods of delivery for the drug.

The nation's largest physician organization, the American Medical Association, has reversed its position on marijuana and now supports investigation and clinical research on the plant for medicinal use. The group urged the federal government on Tuesday to reassess its Schedule I controlled substance categorization of marijuana that wrongly vilifies it with some of the most dangerous narcotics in existence like heroin and LSD.

Dr. Edward Langston, an AMA board member, points out that only a minimal number of randomized, controlled trials have ever been conducted on smoked marijuana despite clinical research that spans more than 30 years. The group is now encouraging further research into marijuana's efficacy despite its support since 1997 for Schedule I classification of the plant.

The Obama administration also this year ordered federal narcotics agents to cease prosecution of medical-marijuana users in states that allow for its usage, indicating a change of course from previous administrations' strict opposition to usage and enforcement of violations, even in legal states. Currently thirteen states legally allow the usage of medicinal marijuana and another twelve or so have begun to consider allowing it.

The AMA is interested in research that considers alternative delivery methods for marijuana aside from smoking it therapeutically. Advocates for medicinal marijuana cite other useful ways of utilizing the plant medicinally, including the extraction of tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)-rich hemp oil that some claim is capable of curing cancer.

Federal government reaction to the AMA's position has been largely silent despite relaxed federal enforcement of marijuana usage. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reiterated marijuana's status as a Schedule I drug and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declined to comment on the development.

The AMA was one of the only organizations to oppose the first federal restrictions on marijuana that were enacted in 1937; it continues to reject the arbitrary notion that marijuana serves no medicinal purpose, despite its past support of classification as a Schedule I narcotic. The group even opposed a proposed amendment that would have established its organizational policies in opposition to smoked marijuana as a safe delivery method for medicinal therapy.

For the full story click here.

 

[Skip]

I've never been able to understand why our gov't and the scientific community are unwilling to accept any studies done outside the U.S.

Is it because studies outside the U.S. are not susceptible to political influence on the results and final report, like most studies in the US?

Over the past 3 decades probably hundreds of studies were done, most of them supporting marijuana as a safe drug. The only exceptions are other politically motivated studies done in the UK and Canada and Australia.

 

[Tony Aroma]

It's not that they won't accept studies done outside the US, it's that those are just easier to ignore. Or so they think. They don't seem to realize that today when the government says there's no research to support mmj, people can easily learn for themselves that they are being lied to. The government hasn't figured out that the internet gives people access to information from all over the world. Kind of like the little kid with crumbs all over his face that denies eating the cookie, and really believes he's being convincing.

 

[SeniorBuzz]

I've never been able to understand why our gov't and the scientific community are unwilling to accept any studies done outside the U.S.

Is it because studies outside the U.S. are not susceptible to political influence on the results and final report, like most studies in the US?

Over the past 3 decades probably hundreds of studies were done, most of them supporting marijuana as a safe drug. The only exceptions are other politically motivated studies done in the UK and Canada and Australia.

hopefully all of these studies, have been studied, and evaluated, and are on file, so that they can be used, and/or quoted when at all possible.

It's all part of the process

 

[K.J]

This is great news, thanks for sharing.

 

[vta]

This is from 8 months ago...too bad nothing has happened yet.

previous link.....
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=144792

 

[clorox]

Since when is LSD a "Dangerous narcotic" ?

Shits the bomb son

 

[SeniorBuzz]

The last paragraph summarized it well:

The tides are shifting towards honest inquiry into the health benefits of marijuana. The beckoning for further evidence-based research by reputable medical organizations is a step in the right direction towards legalizing marijuana for safe, legitimate medical purposes.

 

[TickleMyBalls]

uh yeah, technically LSD is safer than marijuana for your body. not only that, but there are a few universities that were granted permission a couple years ago to produce 1000 doses of LSD a year for research. They have been testing on rats at purdue for like a year and a half.

 

[kydenj29]

LSD takes a pretty hard toll on the mind though. Kinda had me wiggin out a couple of times.

 

[treefrog]

LSD is not 'narcotic' Neither is Cannabis. Both are more accurately described as 'entheogens'.
Heroin, cocaine, sugar, and caffeine are narcotic, according to the scientific definition.
One would think that the AMA would have their shit together regarding the science of these substances.
And, therein lies the rub, at least for me. People who don't understand these substances fully, have no business policing the usage.
However, I applaud them for publicly stating the laws need to be changed.

 

[!PeAcE!]

I've never been able to understand why our gov't and the scientific community are unwilling to accept any studies done outside the U.S.

Is it because studies outside the U.S. are not susceptible to political influence on the results and final report, like most studies in the US?

Over the past 3 decades probably hundreds of studies were done, most of them supporting marijuana as a safe drug. The only exceptions are other politically motivated studies done in the UK and Canada and Australia.

That certainly would not surprise me, its a shame we already think about our government this way. A real government should have their people respect them....but then again that would be a perfect world wouldnt it?

 

[trichrider]

The doctors for years were led around by the nose by AMA/DEA/FDA collusion lending credence to the Schedual I classification. Now it seems that their PATIENTS are telling them the truth about matters relating to Mary Jane. Interesting stuff.

 

[SeniorBuzz]

LSD is not 'narcotic' Neither is Cannabis. Both are more accurately described as 'entheogens'.
Heroin, cocaine, sugar, and caffeine are narcotic, according to the scientific definition.
One would think that the AMA would have their shit together regarding the science of these substances.
And, therein lies the rub, at least for me. People who don't understand these substances fully, have no business policing the usage.
However, I applaud them for publicly stating the laws need to be changed.

Thanks for the education:

Cannabis is an 'entheogen'.
while Heroin, cocaine, sugar, and caffeine are narcotics

 

[el Dream Reader]

The U.S. government is slowly waking up from a 100 year mental slumber. Science taking precedent over capitalist propaganda is leading to wisdom, which will in time lead to the truth.

 

[kydenj29]

I still don't see how the Schafer commision didn't pull it off way back in the day, but hey it was before my time (and the internet) Now days I don't think that shit would fly, but who am I. Just a lone net surfer. The ignorance of america will be it's down fall.