When ASA learned that CNN’s Anderson Cooper was going to conduct a 5-part series on marijuana, which was to include some discussion regarding the medical and therapeutic use, ASA reached out.  My lengthy call with the medical producer covered all the usual topics – addiction, potency, toxicity – but my primary goal was to make certain that the CNN producers would accurately report the latest research.

In this AC360 video segment, Dr. Sanjay Gupa provides a fair and balanced review of how cannabis affects the human body, including a brief review of the endocannabinoid system:

[Note: Gupta was Pres. Obama's initial pick to serve as U.S. Surgeon General.]  While other networks seem infected with reefer madness, it’s good to know that CNN is keeping it real! You can read the full transcript, too!

I hope CNN will maintain this standard when reporting on medical cannabis in the future.  To ensure that happens, I invite our readers to thank CNN for their balanced reporting on this matter.

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) recently introduced an amendment aimed at obstructing the effective implementation of state medical cannabis laws.  Fortunately, ASA helped to kill the amendment.

However, during debate on the measure, Sen. Coburn issued an open challenge to produce even a single research article to demonstrate that smoked cannabis may be effective treatment for any condition.  Apparently, Sen. Coburn hasn’t read these medical journal articles, which clearly demonstrate that smoking cannabis (even in low doses) can effectively reduce the pain associated with HIV/AIDS.

Sen. Coburn:  Ask and you shall recieve!

ASA invites our readers to take Sen. Coburn up on his challenge! Please visit www.SafeAccessNow.org/SpankCoburn to send links of this research to Senator Coburn’s office.  Or, better yet, take a minute to print out the studies and mail them directly to his office at:

The Honorable Senator Tom Coburn
172 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510.

In a positive step in the right direction, today the House Appropriations Committee approved a provision authored by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) that seeks to clarify the Obama Administration’s recently announced medical marijuana enforcement policy.

The Hinchey provision was included in the report accompanying the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010. The report language reads:

There have been conflicting public reports about the Department’s enforcement of medical marijuana policies. Within 60 days of enactment, the Department shall provide to the Committee clarification of the Department’s policy regarding enforcement of federal laws and use of federal resources against individuals involved in medical marijuana activities.

ASA applauds Congressman Hinchey’s continued leadership on this matter and welcomes the support for this provision by the House Appropriations Committee. I hope that this provision helps to clarify who, under the new policy, will arbitrate whether there has been any violation of state law. This is especially important for medical marijuana advocates to the extent that federal defendants are still prohibited from providing any evidence during federal trial that the activities for which they stand accused were done in accordance with state law.  As such, ASA believes it is absolutely imperative that any alleged violation of state law be handled strictly within the state.

At the very least, written clarification by the Department of Justice will help advocates better identify what we are working for (or against).  Moreover, the request for clarification echoes a similar resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors following a raid on a medical cannabis dispensing collective in March.

On a related note: the Commerce-Justice-Science bill would provide $64.4 billion in discretionary spending.  This is a 12 percent increased compared to fiscal 2009, but slightly less than President Obama’s request. The Drug Enforcement Administration will receive about $2 billion and 128 “new positions to stop the flow of illegal drugs across the Southwest border and to investigate, disrupt and dismantle major Mexican drug cartels.”  DEA gets about $5 million more than the President’s request and $81 million more than they received in FY2009.  Let’s hope they spend these resources wisely!

The full House is expected to consider the bill within the next several weeks.

California Senator Mark Leno (D-SF) introduced Senate Joint Resolution 14 today in support of ASA’s National Policy Agenda. If adopted, this resolution will be a major milestone in the effort to change federal  medical cannabis laws. This statement comes at a strategic moment. President Barack Obama, his administration, and leaders in Congress are trying to define the new American policy on medical cannabis right now. SJR 14 is a chance for California lawmakers to influence how that new policy will look.

SJR 14 calls on the President and US Congress to  (1) end federal raids, intimidation, and interference with state medical marijuana laws, (2) adopt policies and laws to encourage advanced clinical research trials into the therapeutic use of marijuana, (3) allow an Affirmative Defense to medical marijuana charges in federal court, and (4) develop a comprehensive federal medical marijuana policy that ensures safe and legal access for patients.

ASA members and supporters in California must let their representatives in Sacramento know we want them to adopt SJR 14 and send a message to Washington, DC. This is a great opportunity to rally our growing grassroots base and make a difference nationwide.

ASA has built an effective grassroots base to support our state and federal campaigns. This year, we will coordinate the efforts of almost 40,000 members in sixty chapters and affiliates to put a voice behind our campaign to change federal policy. ASA’s grassroots project plans for 2009 and 2010 will be defined by geographically targeted organizing and sustained national and regional coordination. SJR 14 is an important part of that strategy.

The United States is poised for a fundamental overhaul on medical cannabis policy.  Powerful political allies, with whom ASA spent years cultivating relationships, have moved to positions in the legislative and executive branches with the authority to make the decisions on which the success of ASA’s long-term strategic goals depend.  ASA’s legislative strategy is diverse and multi-faceted, with success on any one of our goals likely to have profound, domino-like policy implications.

Thank you in advance for helping us adopt SJR 14!

Since beginning my tenure with ASA, the question I am most frequently asked is, “So, what does the research really say about the benefits of smoking marijuana?”

It’s understandable that Members of Congress, their staff, and even advocates who support medical marijuana don’t know or can’t find all the research. The results of these research trials are rarely reported by media. And, much of what is reported concerns the exaggerated harms that may be associated with smoking large amounts of marijuana by the non-medical user — which is often not the case for individuals who smoke cannabis for therapeutic purposes.

It can be difficult – but not impossible – to locate information about the safety and therapeutic value of cannabis. The unfortunate result of the federal prohibition of cannabis is limited clinical research to investigate the safety and efficacy of cannabis to control symptoms of serious and chronic illness. As noted by the American College of Physicians cannabis research is “hindered by a complicated federal approval process, limited availability of research grade marijuana, and the debate over legalization.”

So, what does the research really say?

Since 2007, the Center for Medical Cannabis Research (CMCR) has sponsored four double-blind, placebo-controlled, FDA-approved clinical trials which demonstrate that smoking cannabis (marijuana), even in low doses, effectively alleviates the neuropathy pain associated with HIV/AIDS. So there is no mistake, let me repeat that: smoking marijuana, even in low doses, effectively controls the neuropathy pain associated with HIV/AIDS. The results of these clinical trials have been reviewed and published by reputable medical journals.

• In February 2007, Neurology published the results of a Phase I clinical trial which concluded smoked cannabis was well tolerated and effectively relieved chronic neuropathic pain from HIV-associated sensory neuropathy. The findings are comparable to oral drugs used for chronic neuropathic pain.

• In November 2007, Anesthesiology published results of a clinical trial conducted by researchers at UCSDCenter for Pain Medicine which concluded that normal volunteers subjected to chemically induced pain which mimics neuropathy also responded to medium doses of smoked cannabis.

• In June 2008, the Journal of Pain, published the results of a clinical trial conducted by researchers at UC Davis which also concluded that even low doses of smoked cannabis can be effective in managing hard-to-treat neuropathic pain. In fact, investigators found that low- and high-dose cannabis produced similar levels of pain relief, reducing the intensity of the severe nerve pain. The researchers specifically noted that cannabis not only fights pain itself but also interacts with opiate-based painkillers to increase their effectiveness, particularly in neuropathic pain. They also note that using isolated synthetic cannabinoids such as THC (dronabinol) did not provide the same degree of efficacy as a whole-plant preparation of cannabis.

• In August 2008, Neuropsychopharmacology, published the results of a Phase II clinical trial conducted by researchers at UCSD School of Medicine which concluded, once again, that smoked cannabis was generally well tolerated and effective when added to concomitant analgesic therapy in patients with HIV-related neuropathy pain not adequately controlled by other pain-relievers.

Now, go spread the word!