Medical marijuana gets a boost from major doctors group

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

The American Medical Assn. changes its policy to promote clinical research and development of cannabis-based medicines and alternative delivery methods.

The American Medical Assn. on Tuesday urged the federal government to reconsider its classification of marijuana as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use, a significant shift that puts the prestigious group behind calls for more research.

The nation's largest physicians organization, with about 250,000 member doctors, the AMA has maintained since 1997 that marijuana should remain a Schedule I controlled substance, the most restrictive category, which also includes heroin and LSD.

In changing its policy, the group said its goal was to clear the way to conduct clinical research, develop cannabis-based medicines and devise alternative ways to deliver the drug.

"Despite more than 30 years of clinical research, only a small number of randomized, controlled trials have been conducted on smoked cannabis," said Dr. Edward Langston, an AMA board member, noting that the limited number of studies was "insufficient to satisfy the current standards for a prescription drug product."

The decision by the organization's delegates at a meeting in Houston marks another step in the evolving view of marijuana, which an AMA report notes was once linked by the federal government to homicidal mania. Since California voters approved the use of medical marijuana in 1996, marijuana has moved steadily into the cultural mainstream spurred by the growing awareness that it can have beneficial effects for some chronically ill people.

This year, the Obama administration sped up that drift when it ordered federal narcotics agents not to arrest medical marijuana users and providers who follow state laws. Polls show broadening support for marijuana legalization.

Thirteen states allow the use of medical marijuana, and about a dozen more have considered it this year.

The AMA, however, also adopted as part of its new policy a sentence that admonishes: "This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product."

The association also rejected a proposal to issue a more forceful call for marijuana to be rescheduled.

Nevertheless, marijuana advocates welcomed the development. "They're clearly taking an open-minded stance and acknowledging that the evidence warrants a review. That is very big," said Bruce Mirken, a spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project. "It's not surprising that they are moving cautiously and one step at a time, but this is still a very significant change."

Advocates also noted that the AMA rejected an amendment that they said would have undercut the medical marijuana movement. The measure would have made it AMA's policy that "smoking is an inherently unsafe delivery method for any therapeutic agent, and therefore smoked marijuana should not be recommended for medical use."

Dr. Michael M. Miller, a psychiatrist who practices addiction medicine, proposed the amendment. "Smoking is a bad delivery system because you're combusting something and inhaling it," he said.

Reaction from the federal government was muted.

Dawn Dearden with the Drug Enforcement Administration said: "At this point, it's still a Schedule I drug, and we're going to treat it as such." The Food and Drug Administration declined to comment.

In a statement, the office of the White House drug czar reiterated the administration's opposition to legalization and said that it would defer to "the FDA's judgment that the raw marijuana plant cannot meet the standards for identity, strength, quality, purity, packaging and labeling required of medicine."

The DEA classifies drugs into five schedules, with the fifth being the least-restrictive. Schedule II drugs, such as cocaine and morphine, are considered to have a high potential for abuse, but also to have accepted medical uses.

Several petitions have been filed to reschedule marijuana. The first, filed in 1972, bounced back and forth between the DEA and the courts until it died in 1994. A petition filed in 2002 is under consideration.

Kris Hermes, a spokesman for Americans for Safe Access, said that advocates hoped the petition would receive more attention. "Given the change of heart by the AMA, there is every opportunity for the Obama administration to do just that," he said.

In a report released with its new policy, the AMA notes that the organization was "virtually alone" in opposing the first federal restrictions on marijuana, which were adopted in 1937. Cannabis had been used in various medicinal products for years, but fell into disuse in the early 20th century.

Sunil Aggarwal, a medical student at the University of Washington, helped spark the AMA's reconsideration after he researched marijuana's effect on 186 chronically ill patients. "I had reason to believe that there was medical good that could come from these products, and I wanted to see AMA policy reflect that," he said.

The AMA is not the only major doctors organization to rethink marijuana. Last year, the American College of Physicians, the second-largest physician group, called for "rigorous scientific evaluation of the potential therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana" and an "evidence-based review of marijuana's status as a Schedule I controlled substance."

Last month, the California Medical Assn. passed resolutions that declared the criminalization of marijuana "a failed public health policy" and called on the organization to take part in the debate on changing current policy.

[Dank1 Profile]

CAN you say $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
now we know how bad our econimy is
legalize to bring us outta this slump there is money and jobs BIG TIME
in the legalization ( you cant pattent a plant but you can pattend a strain)?
you can make everything outa weed from plastics to soap, paper to paint
EVERTHING!!!!! NOT JUST MEDICAL( THERE WOULD BE A MAJOR INCREASE IN JOBS FOR THE WHOLE WORLD NOT JUST AMERICA)

[jetxvii]

I can't wait to see the other side of the debate for legalizing and nationalizing Marijuana.. lets see how educated some of our politicians really are... i guarantee we will here this a few time:

"Marijuana is for lazy stoners!'

I CANT WAIT TO HEAR THE REACTIONS!!! OHHHHHHH BOOOOOOY!!!!!

I'm down for a tax on it, as long as it is not ridiculous, it is very hard to come by when you are pretty much a loner in the world and don't have too many friend around..

I hate trying to call the dude, then he procrastinates about a half a day, then he doesn't ever call you back so you have to call him about 8 times, then he gets mad at you for calling so much even though he wasn't calling you back.

then finally when you do give the guy the money, he has to go get it all the way over in bumfuck Egypt, and while he is getting it you are waiting about to tear someones head off with anticipation, he is sitting there eating at McDonald and then goes to his car to weigh them all out first, put them in separate baggies, then he drops the few baggies off that are on his way to you..

and then Finally when he gets to you he says....

"I'm going to need about 5 or 10 more dollars because this is the bomb shit right huuuur! I know it looks about the size of a grape but trust me it weighs out, and it is so good that I need to take more for it to make my money back.... ( even though that is the point in becoming a dealer is because you get your shit wholesale pretty much and are already making a profit when you choose to sell it)

I would much rather go to my gas station and buy some weed then go through what I have to go through to get weed every week or so. that is why I try to buy large, not because I am a pothead, but because I hate going through the process of finding marijuana. a half ounce of some regulars could last me a month so I am not a HUGE stoner. I just wish it could be easier to get and grow for yourself. but once again good things come with a price!

anyone else agree? are you sick of dealing with your lazy drug dealer? are you sick of dealing with a lazy drug dealer that tries to say he is the Number 1 stunner of marijuana but fails to deliver it or get it to you properly and in the right amount and price?

if you are let me know I am interested in hearing what you have to go through week after week just to get a little buzz for the week... I think it is crazy the effort people go through to get it, but I tell you one thing it is worth it in the end, but could very possibly be more easier.

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

Well being a legal California smoker I can understand you feelings. I just love the fact I can walk into any of 500 pot stores or Farmacies as they are called and purchase up to three pounds and I can carry up to 7 pounds( ehh ehh for personals use of course)
However each store is indipendently owned and run so prices differ alot from place to place so I still find myself driving around looking to score. Only it's not Illegal

[Dank1 Profile]

yo jet you and i must have the same plugg cause you just told it step by step
thats how my fool acts

[Dank1 Profile]

sav im origanally from CALIFAS i wish i could move back but
those bastards MS13 PUT A "LEVA" (HIT) ON ME BACK WHEN I WAS 18
FOR SOME CRAZY GANG SHIT NOW I DONT DARE GO BACK EVEN FOR A VISIT
I MISS CALI
Born @ raised in the Salinas vally i miss the freedom of doing whatever you want when ever
you want

[jetxvii]

@ savwa:

Yeah I was actually born in California, Orange county. I wish I had never moved, and unfortunately I was to young to enjoy the benefits of legal weed smoking there. and also I don't think they had it legal then. also how much would like a 1/8th be usually? and what is the tax rate? I am just interested to know so I can see what it will look like if it is legal..

@ dank1:

Brother, I know It is a ridiculous thing to have to resort to people like that. but then again I suppose it is your and my own fault. but still if you are going to be a marijuana dealer, lets at least answer the phone, give straight up answers like "no I don't have any." or " yeah I got some but it wont be til this time" and when they do tell you that make sure that it actually is that way instead of...

" yeah my tire popped, I had to eat, shower, take a shit, not answer my phone for 4 hours, talk to my buddy and play a round of golf before I came here... and now that I have the money I will get go get it"... "cross the plains of the great heartland, take the Oregon trail to the mountains, speak with a Buddhist monk, go to church, pick up the weed, take the oceans on the way back to bypass the mountains and the monk, stop at SONIC to get a slurpee, stop at a green light, take a 2 hour detour to lose the cop that I thought was following me, and .....here is your weed!!!" and that is another adventure in itself.

anyone else care to share I am on a screw your weed dealer day... actually the new guy isn't so bad he is pretty cool about it.

[Darkplanet Profile]

The general legalization of Marijuana would be a major financial stimulus. If there was a broad agenda to legalize related cannibus industries, the USA would effectively wipe out its current financial crisis (that's how important this plant is). Not only in its related medical applications but in foods, textiles, plastics, fuels and 100's of other potential usages. Getting "mellow" is one of the least useful applications of the plant, though there's definitely a few politicians that should partake to take the edge off and kill some of that anger they have.

Hell, if the government really wanted to make people passive and controllable, you'd think they would be pushing the stuff at every corner

[jetxvii]

The general legalization of Marijuana would be a major financial stimulus. If there was a broad agenda to legalize related cannibus industries, the USA would effectively wipe out its current financial crisis (that's how important this plant is). Not only in its related medical applications but in foods, textiles, plastics, fuels and 100's of other potential usages. Getting "mellow" is one of the least useful applications of the plant, though there's definitely a few politicians that should partake to take the edge off and kill some of that anger they have.

Hell, if the government really wanted to make people passive and controllable, you'd think they would be pushing the stuff at every corner

I can agree with that, I was hit by a truck when I was on my way to a concert when I was 12 at the university, I have had back problems like a mofo and they tried the whole life time pain killer thing with not good effects. when I started smoking weed I learned that my back didn't hurt, I never throw up, I rarely have headaches.

I also understand the need to grow hemp as a means of resources as well. and your statement about politicians smoking weed, I was actually thinking the same thing, "what would happen if every politician smoked weed on a normal regular basis?"

I would like to see that future.

[Savwafair2012 Profile]

The pot is divided up into 3 different category classes Idaca, Sativa and Kush.
Next their are grade level's of which the Quality is determined A, B and C.
Now of these they normally have between 3-6 different types of pot for each category
And of course the more you buy the cheaper it get’s.
But the tax is a non issue because the store owners eat the tax.
An 1/8 is 3.5 and I can get it any where from 75 an 1/8 (for insane good night shit)
All the way down to 25 bucks for a bag full of shake1/4 oz (But good shake non the less)
But I make a big purchase once a month. I get sometimes cookies,hard candy,Brownies,Rice crispy treats. Theirs a Soda with almost an entire 1/8 of pot in it. Coffee, Butter,cooking oil and oh yes bud's

You name it and their putting pot in it
Here is the place I go to

Ironworks Collective Inc. 4 years serving the Venice Beach, Marina Del Rey and Peeps that know good 420!