FDA against medical marijuana

[almaty 19]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that it does not support the use of marijuana for medical purposes.

The FDA said in a statement that it and other agencies with the Health and Human Services Department had "concluded that no sound scientific studies supported medical use of marijuana for treatment in the United States, and no animal or human data supported the safety or efficacy of marijuana for general medical use."

A number of states have passed legislation allowing marijuana use for medical purposes, but the FDA said, "These measures are inconsistent with efforts to ensure that medications undergo the rigorous scientific scrutiny of the FDA approval process and are proven safe and effective."

The statement contradicts a 1999 finding from the Institute of Medicine, part of the National Academy of Sciences, which reported that "marijuana's active components are potentially effective in treating pain, nausea, the anorexia of AIDS wasting and other symptoms, and should be tested rigorously in clinical trials."

Bruce Mirken, director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Thursday: "If anybody needed proof that the FDA has become totally politicized, this is it. This isn't a scientific statement; it's a political statement."

Mirken said "a rabid congressional opponent of medical marijuana," Rep. Mark Souder, R-Indiana, asked the FDA to make the statement.

Souder, chairman of the House Government Reform subcommittee on drug policy, has said the promotion of medical marijuana "is simply a red herring for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Studies have continually rejected the notion that marijuana is suitable for medical use because it adversely impacts concentration and memory, the lungs, motor coordination and the immune system."

The FDA statement noted "there is currently sound evidence that smoked marijuana is harmful." It also said, "There are alternative FDA-approved medications in existence for treatment of many of the proposed uses of smoked marijuana."

Mirken responded, "There is abundant evidence that marijuana can help cancer patients, multiple sclerosis patients and AIDS patients. There is no scientific doubt that marijuana relieves nausea, vomiting, certain kinds of pain and other symptoms that don't respond well to conventional drugs, and does it more safely than other drugs.

"For the FDA to ignore all that evidence is embarrassing," Mirken said. "They should be red-faced."

[Mirorgate 0]

Until one of the big drug companies can artificially dupe THC, then jane will be off the market... not enough billions in revenue that way.. but with a drug that you will also have to take another with for the side effects of the first... well now. We're talking $$ !

[Fischkoepfin 1]

I'm in favor; if it helps people get through chemo, have less spasticisms (??) and alleviate chronic pain, then it obviously works as a medicine.

[jordanianprincess 0]

I'm against it....100%.

[Jenn! 918]

I'm all for legalizing for medicinal and recreational purposes.

[almaty 19]

i am also in favor and oregon..washington ands some of the states where it is legal..there is no defined stats that this has been abused.

.of course, with all drugs there is a potenital for abuse but i know vicodin causes more problems than herion today...and sold on the streets..as it soma..ritalin etc...

i al;so, think brother mirror is correct..

[Jasman0717 9]

Damn, I feel like going out and drinking bong water

[Fuzzness 2]

I am completely for medical marijuana. have yet to hear any good reason against it.

[almaty 19]

Damn, I feel like going out and drinking bong water

that is how it got through grad school

I am completely for medical marijuana. have yet to hear any good reason against it.

right you are fuzzy..i have not heard any good reason..

[Satisfaction 1]

I should not respond to any thread on VJ without the presence of my attorney (especially this one B) )

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

I am for it 100%.

"Annual Drug Deaths: Tobacco: 395,000, Alcohol: 125,000, 'Legal' Drugs: 38,000, Illegal Drug Overdoses: 5,200, Marijuana: 0. Considering government subsidies of tobacco, just what is our government protecting us from in the drug war?"

--Ralph Nader

[Jasman0717 9]

Personally I think we should legalize all drugs and tax the living ####### out of them. We could pay off the national debt by a week from Tuesday

[almaty 19]

I should not respond to any thread on VJ without the presence of my attorney (especially this one B) )

[*Robert* 2]

I am completely for medical marijuana. have yet to hear any good reason against it.

[Jasman0717 9]

I should not respond to any thread on VJ without the presence of my attorney (especially this one B) )

Does that include bong water spritzers?