Cannabis drug 'fights pain without high'

BBC On Line ^ | Wednesday, 21 August, 2002 | Unsigned

[aculeus]

Scientists have developed a cannabis-based medicine which relieves chronic pain without any of the "high" normally associated with the drug.

They believe the discovery could pave the way for cannabis-based medication to become available by prescription within two years.

Much of the controversy surrounding the medicinal use of cannabis has centred on fears that it would be used solely for its mood-altering effects.

However, scientists at the University of Massachusetts in the United States say their discovery should help authorities to overcome these fears.

Dr Sumner Burstein and colleagues say early trials of the medication in animals and healthy patients have been promising.

The medication, called ajulemic acid or CT3, has been manufactured in laboratories.

It maximises the medicinal effects of tertrahydrocannabinol - the key ingredient of cannabis - without any of the mind-altering effects.

'More effective'

In animal tests, this compound was found to be between 10 to 50 times more effective at reducing pain than tetrahydrocannabinol.

Those tests showed that ajulemic acid was very effective at preventing the joint damage associated with arthritis and relieving the muscle stiffness associated with multiple sclerosis.

The compound was tested last year in 15 healthy volunteers in France. That study reported no side effects or mood changes in those participants.

A further trial on 21 patients with chronic severe pain is currently underway in Germany.

Dr Bernstein said the results of each study had been promising.

"The indications so far are that it is safe and effective," he said.

Dr Bernstein added that the compound could replace a wide variety of current medicines used to fight pain.

"We believe that [the compound] will replace aspirin and similar drugs in most applications primarily because of a lack of toxic side effects."

Dr Bernstein acknowledged that some patients may wish to experience the mood-altering effects of cannabis by taking this compound.

But speaking at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, he added: "The medical community wants efficacy without this effect."

A spokeswoman for the UK's Medicinal Cannabis Research Foundation said: "We believe it would be premature to comment on the merits of ajulemic acid before more rigorous testing in patients has been carried out, but look forward to seeing the results after further study."

[WindMinstrel]

ahh, the BS actually makes the difference. I'm guessing that means you had to take real classes that deal with math, science, logic, and the like. . .

[Dakmar]

Where the hell did you get your poli sci degree---Hitler University?

Stalin State.

[Physicist]

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph are people blinded by ideology.

Well, then I'm glad the Holy Family doesn't post to these threads.

What I'm saying is, you might want to rephrase that sentence. ;^)

[Kevin Curry]

LOL! The "dope iz gud 4 U" crew's bluff has been called.

If made available as a medicine, this will be the drug equivalent of the Edsel.

[MrLeRoy]

The "dope iz gud 4 U" crew's bluff has been called.

How so? This further establishes that the active ingredients of marijuana have medicinal value; looks like a slap in the Drug Warriors' faces to me.

[tacticalogic]

This further establishes that the active ingredients of marijuana have medicinal value;

And that idea just scares the hell out of Kevin.

[Dakmar]

LOL! The "dope iz gud 4 U" crew's bluff has been called.

How so? This demonstrates that what we were saying all along was correct. It sounds like you are the one who is ill at ease with this, as your house of lies comes crashing in on itself.

[Dakmar]

If made available as a medicine, this will be the drug equivalent of the Edsel.

Can you fax me a copy of your medical diploma?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

What I'm saying is, you might want to rephrase that sentence. ;^)

Ah, that's just Boston tawk for "madonne."

[dcwusmc]

Yeah, but a comma in the right place would change the whole meaning of it... ;^)

[CJ Wolf]

FYI: Here guys is a study. At the bottom is a conclusion: "From our overview of literature on mercury and vegetation, it is highly unlikely to expect the mercury levels in the vegetation adjacent to mercury-contaminated sites to ex- ceed 39 mg/kg, the clean-up level for the Superfund site in Juan Diaz, PR. Background levels for mercury in vegetation are quite low. For most mercury-contaminated sites, there is no mode of transport for the mercury to enter the plant. Generally, there are no significant mercury concentrations in the ground water or volatile mercury in the air. Significant mercury content in vegetation occurs when certain species are exposed to ab-normally high concentrations of available mercury in the laboratory. Only a few, selected species are capable of surviving these conditions and accumulating mercury"

In addition in this study you can find these remarks as well.

"In the literature there are reports of vegetation that are highly resistant to mercury. They are: tobacco, marijuana, and junipers. Siegel, Garnier, and Siegel report that mari- juana (Cannabis sutivu L.) has been grown near soils that are known to be rich in mercury deposits (Hawaii, California, Mexico). Cannabis vegetation collected on the island of Hawaii between July 1980 and October 1986 were found to contain about 0.400 mg/kg of Hg on a dry weight basis."

[Dakmar]

Are you going to trust a study done by General Electric? Haven't you heard they're just a bunch of liberdopian idealogues? ;^)

[tacticalogic]

This demonstrates that what we were saying all along was correct.

Marijuana is a Schedule I drug, which means that by definition it has no medical value, and it ticks the woddies of to no end that the marijuana just won't cooperate.

[A2J]

But seriously, I hope this is good news for cancer sufferer's and the like.

Maybe good news for cancer patients but horrible news for the dopers who have used "pain" as an excuse to get high.

[Dakmar]

It's hilarious how they can turn a blind eye to hard scientific facts right in front of their faces then turn around and call us idealogues. They remind me of the Muslims who whine about being persecuted because they're not allowed to kill at random. There is a very large, very gaping hole in that sort of logic.

[A2J]

There is a very large, very gaping hole in that sort of logic.

Yeah, about the same size as the ones left in the heads of those who support recreational dope usage.

[MrLeRoy]

those who support recreational dope usage.

I don't support recreational use of ANY drug---including the deadly addictive drugs alcohol and tobacco. What I do support is FREEDOM; perhaps you've heard of it?

[Dakmar]

Ooooh, you are just too impressive with your ability to hurl childish insults. Why don't you try using reason and logic, it might give you some credibility.

[A2J]

What I do support is FREEDOM; perhaps you've heard of it?

Oh, I've heard of freedom. It's that precious commodity that conservatives take with great respect and responsibility and liberdopians use as an excuse to destroy society by feeding their selfishness.

[Malcolm]

Amen!!!