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The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study examined the overall
health status of four of the seven surviving patients in the Compassionate
Investigational New Drug (IND) program of the Federal Drug Administration.
The patients had used "a known dosage of a standardized, heat-sterilized
quality-controlled supply of low-grade marijuana for 11 to 27 years."
The study, performed by researchers associated with the Montana
Neurobehavioral Specialists in Missoula and others at the Univ. of Montana
and the Univ. of South Florida, concluded: "Results indicate clinical
effectiveness in these patients in treating glaucoma, chronic
musculoskeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and spasticity of muscular
sclerosis. All four patients are stable with respect to their chronic
conditions, and are taking many fewer standard pharmaceuticals than
previously." The study did note mild changes in lung function in two of
the patients, but no other significant negative health effects.
"These results would support the provision of clinical cannabis to a
greater number of patients in need," concluded the researchers. "We
believe that cannabis can be a safe and effective medicine with various
suggested improvements in the existing Compassionate IND program."
The Missoula Study reviews the relatively thin literature of scientific
study of chronic marijuana use over the last century and notes that this
is the first study to focus on benefits and side effects of the clinical
use of known amounts of quality-controlled cannabis. Through the case of
the late Randall Robinson, who suffered from glaucoma and after a legal
fight began using medicinal marijuana in November 1976, it gives a brief
history of the Compassionate IND program -- which apparently never
included more than a few dozen patients -- through the 1980s. The advent
of AIDS created a whole new group of applicants, but for unannounced
reasons the Public Health Service of the first Bush administration closed
the program to new patients in 1992. "A significant number," report the
authors, "had received medical approval but were never supplied."
George McMahon is "Patient B" in the study. His medical history is
recounted in detail, and the report notes that his condition improved
considerably after he began using medicinal marijuana regularly in March
1990. The study also describes the official cultivation and preparation of
the NIDA's marijuana cigarettes, reporting they are greatly inferior to
the cannabis provided by the government in the United Kingdom under a
similar program. All of the study patients say they have logistical
difficulty and interruptions in getting their assigned supply of
marijuana, must occasionally supplement inadequate supplies by other
means, and have been occasionally subject to harassment by law enforcement
or security personnel.
Based on their research, the authors of the Missoula Study recommend that
the Compassionate IND program be reopened and extended to other patients
in need, or that "local, state, and federal laws might be amended to
provide regulated and monitored clinical cannabis to suitable candidates."
Copyright Austin Chronicle Corp.
Title: The Missoula Study
Author: Michael King
Source: Austin Chronicle
Contact: louis@auschron.com
Website: Austin News, Events, Restaurants, Music - The Austin Chronicle
Pubdate: Friday, June 20, 2003
health status of four of the seven surviving patients in the Compassionate
Investigational New Drug (IND) program of the Federal Drug Administration.
The patients had used "a known dosage of a standardized, heat-sterilized
quality-controlled supply of low-grade marijuana for 11 to 27 years."
The study, performed by researchers associated with the Montana
Neurobehavioral Specialists in Missoula and others at the Univ. of Montana
and the Univ. of South Florida, concluded: "Results indicate clinical
effectiveness in these patients in treating glaucoma, chronic
musculoskeletal pain, spasm and nausea, and spasticity of muscular
sclerosis. All four patients are stable with respect to their chronic
conditions, and are taking many fewer standard pharmaceuticals than
previously." The study did note mild changes in lung function in two of
the patients, but no other significant negative health effects.
"These results would support the provision of clinical cannabis to a
greater number of patients in need," concluded the researchers. "We
believe that cannabis can be a safe and effective medicine with various
suggested improvements in the existing Compassionate IND program."
The Missoula Study reviews the relatively thin literature of scientific
study of chronic marijuana use over the last century and notes that this
is the first study to focus on benefits and side effects of the clinical
use of known amounts of quality-controlled cannabis. Through the case of
the late Randall Robinson, who suffered from glaucoma and after a legal
fight began using medicinal marijuana in November 1976, it gives a brief
history of the Compassionate IND program -- which apparently never
included more than a few dozen patients -- through the 1980s. The advent
of AIDS created a whole new group of applicants, but for unannounced
reasons the Public Health Service of the first Bush administration closed
the program to new patients in 1992. "A significant number," report the
authors, "had received medical approval but were never supplied."
George McMahon is "Patient B" in the study. His medical history is
recounted in detail, and the report notes that his condition improved
considerably after he began using medicinal marijuana regularly in March
1990. The study also describes the official cultivation and preparation of
the NIDA's marijuana cigarettes, reporting they are greatly inferior to
the cannabis provided by the government in the United Kingdom under a
similar program. All of the study patients say they have logistical
difficulty and interruptions in getting their assigned supply of
marijuana, must occasionally supplement inadequate supplies by other
means, and have been occasionally subject to harassment by law enforcement
or security personnel.
Based on their research, the authors of the Missoula Study recommend that
the Compassionate IND program be reopened and extended to other patients
in need, or that "local, state, and federal laws might be amended to
provide regulated and monitored clinical cannabis to suitable candidates."
Copyright Austin Chronicle Corp.
Title: The Missoula Study
Author: Michael King
Source: Austin Chronicle
Contact: louis@auschron.com
Website: Austin News, Events, Restaurants, Music - The Austin Chronicle
Pubdate: Friday, June 20, 2003
