TESTING ON AIDS PATIENTS COULD LEAD TO LEGALIZING MARIJUANA FOR MEDICAL USE

RESEARCH FIRM CHOSEN FOR CANNABIS TRIALS

TORONTO—It’s an unassuming enough office building in downtown Toronto. But inside, an epidemiologist is hard at work on a project that may soon help pave the way to a decision thousands of Canadian AIDS patients have been anxiously waiting for.

James Austin, a specialist in epidemic diseases and their control, is one of two scientists who run Community Research Initiative of Toronto (CRIT), a small community-based research organization that has been chosen to carry out out Health Canada’s cannabis trials to test its effectiveness on AIDS patients. Mr. Austin will set up and help run the trials. The results may determine whether Health Canada will any time soon legalize marijuana for medical purposes.
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The study, the first of its kind in Canada, is expected to begin before the end of the year.

And for Dr. Don Kilby, a family physician who is also director of Health Services at the University of Ottawa, that’s none too soon.

"I’ve dealt with patients where (smoking cannabis) was the only thing that was keeping them alive," says Dr. Kilby. "One man kept vomiting up his 30 odd pills a day and when he began smoking, turned into a thriving individual."

See
Canadian Patients Can Apply For Medical Use Of Marijuana, But There's Still No Legal Source.
-- "It’s unfair. It’s just patently unfair," Says Superior Court Justice.
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CRIT is a non-profit, two-person organization that studies community-based AIDS issues such as the use of vitamins and exercise in treating AIDS symptoms.

CRIT had planned to enter into the highly controversial area of marijuana smoking by AIDS patients when it was approached by Health Canada to participate in its project.

"The (original) idea was brought to us by people in the community who were using (marijuana) and said they wanted more research," says Mr. Austin. "Health Canada found out about the project we were working on so we got together."

In March, Health Minister Allan Rock announced plans to conduct clinical test to determine if smoking marijuana reduces pain in terminally ill patients because, despite the anecdotal evidence, there was no scientific proof.

The issue has gained momentum in Canada and the U.S. and last November voters in six U.S states joined California in approving referendums to legalize medical marijuana use.

Currently, Canadians must apply for access to marijuana and other controlled substances under a special Health Canada Department program.

The trials will last six months, Mr. Austin said, and will be conducted on an out-patient basis. They will monitor the effect marijuana has on appetite and nausea of AIDS patient in various parts of the country.

The major question that still remains, however, is where the marijuana is going to come from.
See
In Canada Only the Government Has Difficulty Getting Marijuana.
However, "Canadians who want to take part in a clinical trial
will find application forms on Health Canada’s Web Site"

Mr. Austin says his organization has been called by many AIDS patients with concerns over the possible use of American cannabis in the trials.
See
"Feds to provide pot for medical studies, but it’s all bunkweed." -- Cannabis Culture Reports

"The American company has a more specific strain of cannabis that they use and the concern is that it won’t be like what patients really use and draw relief from."

Mr. Rock has said he favours growing cannabis in Canada for medicinal purposes; however, the process would take years and could cost millions.

In order to meet health requirements, the marijuana has to be closely monitored, properly cleaned and stored in order to ensure all of the plants are exactly the same for testing and not contaminated by fungus or pesticide, Dr. Kilby said.

"We are hoping the government will go with the U.K. source because we are more comfortable with that one."

Carole Bouchard of Health Canada says that a decision hasn’t been made but CRIT’s recommendations will be given serious consideration.

Dr. Kilby is confident the trials will prove that marijuana can help AIDS patients. "After hundreds of years of people using marijuana, I think that it does what people are saying it does and that is stimulates appetite and reduces nausea."

Mr. Austin, however, is not taking sides on the issue. "There is always the possibility that the marijuana will prove not to work," he said. "All we are doing, however, is simply focusing on the science."

Meanwhile, Health Canada is remaining tight-lipped on what the results could mean for AIDS patients.

Whatever the results or the decision of the government on legalizing marijuana, it won’t stop AIDS patients from doing what, in some cases, keeps them alive, says Laurie Edmiston, executive director of the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation.

"The reality is people with AIDs aren’t waiting," she said. "Sure, the marijuana should be cheap, high quality and controlled, but it is important not to forget that people are going to get it through illegal means if they have to."
See
"The government can put off making a decision. This is a luxury denied the terminally ill.
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