United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

...might find this news item interesting....
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N23299922.htm

I was wondering how such a stupid policy squared up with freedom of speech and patients rights to accurate info on treatments and drugs, and a doctors responsibility to give the best advice. Here in NZ they are starting to consider trialling medicanal marijuana, about time too.
What I don't understand is that several countries have now undertaken very long trials and are now using the drug on prescription for pain relief-so why is my country repeating the trials? Why don't they just get the spray and let me have it? I think I'll ring my MP.....

Hey all, here in Friendly Manitoba, Canada, the government set about growing marijuana in an abandoned mine in northern Manitoa in a town called Flin Flon. Named after Flintabetty Flonagan (sp) However, after about a year and gazillion tests, 4 out of 7 people trying the dope said they preferred the street stuff better. Go figure. The government had a hard time growing the weed at consistent drug levels. etc etc. I'm down to my last little doober, so, I better hurry and stock up again, eh? Also here in Canada it is no longer punishable to be caught with a small amount that you use for medicinal purposes. Any other comments there Mikey?

interesting, Liz. Thanks. The article really lends itself to some common sense questions......like......if marijuana is far less addicting than opiate painkillers, which I DO believe to be true, and is probably a lot less expensive, then why do some do everything possible to keep it from those in need? Taboo? Drug company special interests? Static mind set? I really don't see it being too much longer before it becomes available medicinally. We'll see.

By the way, are there any good links to articles with summaries of the Euro trials? I read one a few months back, but the conclusions had not been sorted out yet. Thanks again..........George

Good questions George, I think it's a combination of all the factors you mention, plus a genuine fear that legalisation of its medicinal use will send the wrong message about cannabis use generally.
I find it helps me, it doesn't help everyone, but then neither does any drug. I find it 'rounds off' the pain, takes the sharp edges off, I've been using it for years without increasing the dosage. If I'm not in pain, I don't crave it. It would be nice if more people got to find out if it helped them by taking an oral spray legally prescribed rather than by visiting a drug dealer or risking jail for growing their own. Don't start me...............:0)

Anyway, here is an interesting article which also lists papers written about medicinal uses of marijuana http://www.ukcia.org/medical/chronicpain.php and here's the website of the company that makes the spray used in the uk trial http://www.gwpharm.com/corp_glan_phas_2.html

Thanks, Jenny. Hadn't realised that these trials had entered the MS arena also. Quite interesting, especially when you know someone suffering from MS.....hits close to home. A near and dear friend of mine was diagnosed with MS about six months ago, ironically six months before he was to retire. He has to inject himself with the latest treatments every day just to keep the disease at bay, but the side effects are very real and painful. Perhaps soon he will have options to help with the pain.

I agree with you on sending the wrong message. You know.......we send the same message about opiate use and abuse, and I don't mean in the pill form. However, opiates are produced and distributed via prescriptions worldwide. A drug is a drug. Don't the doctors try various types of drugs and dosages to get the optimum relief? Why not try a drug that could potentially do a better job of relieving pain, with very minimal side effects, if any? What will it hurt to try? Who would have thought, years ago, that a certain type of mold (yuck!!) would be used to extract one of the most powerful antibiotics on the face of the earth. ok......off the soap box. Thanks for the links, Jen.

George

Here's a Canadian news article.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/ ... 2615.shtml