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Cannabis drug 'fights pain without high'
BBC On Line ^ | Wednesday, 21 August, 2002 | Unsigned

Posted on 08/21/2002 11:54:00 AM PDT by 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."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News
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To: A CA Guy
Legal = Good. Illegal = Bad. Government = God.
81 posted on 08/21/2002 1:51:49 PM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: Malcolm
I'm sure that there is a medicinal use for pot, but that's not why all the Libertarians are on FReep advocating it's legalization.

You're right.

They just want to be able to smoke it, period.

I don't. Never have, never will.

I have nothing against medical use of pot, but I do against legalization along the lines of alcohol.

Do you think we should return to the prohibition of alcohol?

82 posted on 08/21/2002 1:53:07 PM PDT by Physicist
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To: A CA Guy
Look, alcohol is legal, and causes millions times more health and social problems than marijuana would if it were given away (to adults) on street corners. Show me where I'm wrong. The prohibiton against marijuana is irrational, counterproductive (it's illegal status makes it easier for kids to get than booze) and hypocritical. It is also enriching the criminal element who deal large volumes. Does any of that make sense to you?
83 posted on 08/21/2002 1:54:52 PM PDT by Dakmar
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To: MosesKnows
This all seems a bit silly. There are many pain-killing drugs already available.

Yes, there are a lot of pain-killers around. And my husband can't take any of them because they tear up his stomach. My daughter is also sensitive to many of them.

Something new, without all the negative side effects of what's already out there, could be wonderful for those that need it.

84 posted on 08/21/2002 1:57:02 PM PDT by serinde
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To: tacticalogic
VICE DRUGS = LIBERTRIAN = GOOD
Libertarians = Whack jobs!
85 posted on 08/21/2002 1:57:15 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: Lysander
Speaking of Nixon

“Every one of the bastards that are out for legalizing marijuana is Jewish,” Nixon told chief of staff H.R. Haldeman on May 26, 1971. “What the Christ is the matter with the Jews, Bob?… I suppose it’s because most of them are psychiatrists.”

Isn't nice to know how rational the Drug Warrior is in his heart of hearts?

86 posted on 08/21/2002 1:58:16 PM PDT by Dakmar
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To: tacticalogic
That would be counterproductive, for me anyway. Seems different people have different "triggers". Mine are heavily nitrated meat and alcohol.

No alcohol? I shudder at the thought... ;)

More seriously, it does seem to help without knocking me down the way Tylenol #3 always did. The only thing I've found for me that can reliably trigger it are foods with large amounts of MSG, but I still get them from time to time without that...

87 posted on 08/21/2002 1:58:27 PM PDT by general_re
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To: A CA Guy
f.Christian? Is that you?
88 posted on 08/21/2002 1:58:36 PM PDT by Physicist
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To: A CA Guy
Cough up the $$$$$$ being it's over a year old and I am sure you can find them. They charge for the stories over a year old.

I did tell you this before.

But wait - according to you it was reported *everywhere*. Certainly, every single news site doesn't charge for it's archived material.

I have an office subscription to Nexis. Do you want me to go check for alllllll of the news stories that mention that "the mercury in the ground where pot is grown is going to cause pot smokers to get sick and die"?

Or do you want to be a man and admit you lied?

89 posted on 08/21/2002 1:58:57 PM PDT by gdani
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To: Dakmar
Being drunk is for the most part illegal ( you can't drive, supervise children or be on a job)and you make a case to restrict it better in the future D!
90 posted on 08/21/2002 2:00:18 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: serinde
I did some reading on this new medecine -- seems really darned promising. It's supposed to be as strong as morphine, yet without the side effects. You can read more at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10903396&dopt=Abstract.

Even more interesting, that stuff, like THC itself, seems to have some anti-cancer effects. You can find that article at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=11551521&dopt=Abstract
91 posted on 08/21/2002 2:00:28 PM PDT by WindMinstrel
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To: Physicist
I AMmRashional = Non-Libertarian~
92 posted on 08/21/2002 2:01:18 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: A CA Guy
I AM RASHIONAL = NON LIBERTARIAN

TYPO! LOL
93 posted on 08/21/2002 2:02:15 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: WindMinstrel
I did some reading on this new medecine -- seems really darned promising. It's supposed to be as strong as morphine, yet without the side effects.

Cool beans. Two questions: is it addictive at all? And will it cause patients to fail drug tests for marijuana? (I ask the latter mostly to frost the drug warriors.)

94 posted on 08/21/2002 2:02:47 PM PDT by Physicist
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To: gdani
There was articles about Hawaii and othjer places producing crops of pot high in Mercury due to the volcanic nature of their soil.
It was well over a year ago. For a week it was in several papers.
Happy hunting!
95 posted on 08/21/2002 2:04:13 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: A CA Guy; one_particular_harbour
Being drunk is for the most part illegal

Wow, I didn't realise I was dealing with F. Lee Bailey here. You really know your finer points of law, I see. Very impressive.

96 posted on 08/21/2002 2:05:17 PM PDT by Dakmar
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To: Lexington Green
Ever heard of Hawthorn Berry herb? I know some people who take it regularly and it seems to help. Something about it's good for your cardiovascular system.
97 posted on 08/21/2002 2:06:09 PM PDT by webstersII
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To: gdani
But what should thrill you is that the legal effective for of medication from pot will soon be here and the dopers issues will be moot.
If they debate it further, it is due to addiction and not some ethical medical reason.
Though to be exact, the stuff in pot are less helpful than ohter legal medications out there.
98 posted on 08/21/2002 2:07:16 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: Dakmar
I try and keep it very simple for YOU. I'm not like F. Lee, he is more like a Libertarian based on his ethics.
99 posted on 08/21/2002 2:08:36 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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To: Dakmar
I try and keep it very simple for YOU. I'm not like F. Lee, he is more like a Libertarian based on his ethics.
100 posted on 08/21/2002 2:08:37 PM PDT by A CA Guy
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