Health Canada To Spend Five
Years and Millions
Playing the Research Game Trying Avoid Medical Marijuana
(Marijuananews note: No one can be opposed to
"research," but what will be happening to the patients in the meantime? Are they
going to be arrested? Are they going to have to buy their medical marijuana on the black
market? Or are they just supposed to suffer and die while Health Canada plays the research
game?)
See
"Rock keeps
talking about doing trials, but trials have already been done. There is already sufficient
proof that cannabis helps people deal with their pain." -- Ontario Arthritic Facing
Marijuana Charge.
"My death will be slow and painful. Now, I have this criminal charge against me,
and my children are about to lose their daddy over it."
and
Canada May Begin
Testing Medical Marijuana On AIDS Patients By The End Of The Year,
But They Are NOT Waiting On The Government.
and
"The government
can put off making a decision. This is a luxury denied the terminally ill.
We do not have time on our side." Canadian MS Patient Harichy
and
Toronto Group
Drafting A Protocol For Official Canadian Cannabis Study.
August 21, 1999
From The Toronto Star
lettertoed@thestar.com
http://www.thestar.com
By Suzanne Morrison
OTTAWA TO EXAMINE GAINS OF GETTING HIGH
Health Canada Commits $7.5 Million To Marijuana Trials
(Marijuananews note: The Canadian dollar is around 65 DEAland cents,
so this a total of only 1 million DEAland dollars per year over 5 years. How serious are
they?)
Canada will spend $7.5 million over the next five years to assess the medicinal value
of marijuana.
The Medical Marijuana Research Project has been set up through a partnership between
the Medical Research Council of Canada and the therapeutic products program of Health
Canada.
In clinical trials, the project will evaluate whether or not
marijuana, currently an illegal drug, is safe and effective for a wide range of
disabilities and illnesses.
Research will also compare smoked marijuana with the best standard therapy for various
health conditions.
If funds permit, the research will also look into new ways of
administering marijuana. There is the suggestion an inhaler, similar to those used by
asthmatics, is a more effective way of delivering the drug.
(Marijuananews note: There is also the fact that simple vaporization could work, but we
can’t think about that.)
See
Tests Of Medical
Marijuana On MS Patients In UK Will Begin Within Two Weeks.
Canada Looks At UK "Inhaler"
Health Canada spokesperson Reva Berman said one of the major hurdles to be overcome in
upcoming clinical trials is the fact there is no legal domestic source of research-grade
marijuana.
She said Health Canada is currently inviting tenders for a business plan for a domestic
marijuana growing program.
See
Canadian Health
Minister Issues Call To All Pot Growers To Send Him Their Resumes.
In The Meantime, He Is Going To Try To Get Marijuana From DEAland.
Maybe He Will Have Better Luck Than Our Own Researchers.
"In looking at the problem of where will the supply of research-grade cannabis
come from, we are asking what would be involved in establishing a domestic program in
Canada, which would be cannabis grown under controlled conditions to satisfy specific
requirements.''
At the moment, there are only two sources: A company in Great Britain and the American
government, which provides research-grade marijuana with stringent requirements.
Anecdotal evidence from sick Canadians has suggested for some time that marijuana has
medicinal value.
Cancer and AIDS patients claim it relieves nausea and vomiting and helps in gaining
weight by stimulating the appetite. Multiple sclerosis patients say it relieves muscle
pain and spasms. There have also been claims that it reduces the frequency of epileptic
seizures and assists in the management of glaucoma.
Berman said there has never been scientific evidence to confirm the therapeutic value
of marijuana.
See
Chairman of the House
of Lords Science and Technology Committee
Criticizes UK Government’s Rejection Of Report On Medical Marijuana
– 2 Articles With 2 of the Worst Prohibitionist Arguments
Health Canada is providing $1.5 million a year for the research. MRC will review
research proposals for scientific merit. Oct. 1 is the deadline for submissions with the
first funding becoming available in February.
A growing number of Canadians with health problems have been asking for the legal right
to use marijuana ever since James Wakeford, a Toronto man with AIDS, won an exemption from
the current law two months ago to use and grow marijuana.
See
Canadian Justice Runs
Out of Patience With Government
Before Patient Runs Out Of Time;
Exempts Wakeford From Marijuana Laws. Implications for Others
Berman said by mid-July the government had received about 50 similar requests.
Deanna Groetzinger, vice-president of the Multiple Sclerosis
Society of Canada, said about 20 MS patients across the country indicated their interest
in marijuana after the society did a mailing on the topic last spring.
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada has had a couple of requests from patients
in the last year.
Copyright: 1999, The Toronto Star
Supported