Medical marijuana has been approved in 23 states and recreational use is allowed in Alaska, Oregon, the District of Columbia, Colorado and Washington State. Residents in Ohio, Nevada and California will vote on measures to make recreational use legal in the next year and a half.
A survey of fibromyalgia patients last year conducted by The National Pain Foundation and NationalPainReport.com suggested that medical marijuana was not just a little more effective in treating FM that the three FDA approved drugs for FM, it was a lot more effective.
[/fright]Anecdotal reports of medical marijuana's effectiveness in reducing pain and helping with sleep and even epileptic seizures abound. Check out an account a registered nurse with fibromyalgia recently sent to me.
A neck injury in 2002 eventually lead her to an FM diagnosis. She tried every drug she could find without result. Her extreme pain lead her to finally to try, after rejecting the idea for years, edible medical marijuana. It took her a few months o figure out the right dose, etc. She said
She's done very well and it she points out two issues that probably stop some people from trying it. They have jump through the hoops of getting a medical marijuana card that means getting a physician to sign on, and then they need to negotiate the wide variety of products available. Finding the right product can take time and cost some money.
The federal government recently reduced one restriction holding up research efforts but it's not enough. Medical research remains scanty with few studies coming out of the U.S. That's unacceptable given the promise of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain and other poorly treated conditions.
Company Gets Around Burdensome Federal Laws - Producing Synthetic Analogues
One company has found a way around the burdensome federal regulations restricting access to the plant. A small biopharma company called Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is developing synthetic versions of two of the chemical compounds, cannabinoid and cannabidiol, believed to have produce marijuana's medical effects. No permits for growing and harvesting marijuana are required - just a lab to produce synthetic analogues. (Neither of these substances produce the high marijuana is known for.) The transdermal patches and gels it's been developing will deliver the product straight into the circulatory system.[fright]
[/fright]The company is small - just seven employees - but it recently appointed several high-profile executives to its board and a new President. It’s developed some proprietary patents that have given it some headway in the field. The companies public offering last week successfully brought in about $50 million can use to develop its products and hold clinical trials.
The market is potentially a huge one: the twenty million people with FM and/or neuropathic pain currently spend about $4 billion/year on treatments.
One product, a gel called ZYN002 that has shown promise in refractory epilepsy, Fragile X syndrome and osteoarthritis pain will enter clinical trials this year. Another product, a patch, ZYN001, focused on chronic pain is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials for fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathic pain next year. If the FM trials work out, and no kinks show up at the FDA, a cannabis-based drug could conceivably be approved for FM within five years.
Coherent Approach to Medical Marijuana Needed
Meanwhile the support for more access to the drug continues to grow. Five years ago 80 percent of the public supported having access to medical marijuana.
In a strongly worded op ed piece, the New York Times editorial board recently went so far as to state that the feds marijuana policies "have ruined millions of lives and wasted billions of dollars." They called for federal laws to replace the mishmash of sometimes poorly thought out legislative efforts in the states.
The Obama administration has moved forward. It’s stopped going after medical marijuana producers in states in which it has been legalized but the federal prohibitions on anything marijuana related remains. Because banks - fearful of federal laws - refuse to serve medical marijuana businesses - many are cash only - a dangerous and inefficient way to operate. The NY Times noted that the Federal Reserve denied services to a credit union in Colorado that wished to provide services to legitimate marijuana business. Two bills with bipartisan support on the Hill that would simply allow banks and financial institutions to serve legal medical marijuana businesses are not expected to come to a vote.
Some Barriers to Medical Research Falling: Others Remain
Medical marijuana is still a long way from entering the medical mainstream. The study needed to produce FDA approved cannabis-based drugs or products people can count on, that are easily available, and that they can get reimbursed for is still being blocked by federal regulations.
The Obama administration has made some movement. It no longer requires studies not funded by the federal government to go through an additional layer of review. (Remarkably, marijuana was the only Class I drug with such a requirement.)[fright]
[/fright]The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) which oversees the use of medical marijuana for research studies has also recently expanded the list of available marijuana strains to include some with high cannabadinol (CBD) levels for the first time.
Much of the burdensome and lengthy process of getting permits to study MM in the U.S. remains, though.
Advocates assert that the first step is for the Obama administration to remove marijuana removed from the List of Class I drugs under the United States Controlled Substances Act. (It can do this without Congressional assent). The list includes such drugs as heroin, LSD, MDMA and mescaline. Drugs on this list:
Researchers still must get their marijuana only from a single contractor at the University of Mississippi. The list of strains is limited and phase III trials are out of the question as a drug company is required to produce exactly the same substance in the trial as it will market - something that's impossible to do so long they're unable to produce it. In short the infrastructure is simply not yet present for major pharmaceutical companies to do a full court press on a drug.
Recently, though, NIDA director, said it made sense for NIDA to contract with other cannabis producers. That could open the door for researchers to get easier access to more strains of cannnabis. Even the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) believes the restrictions on medical marijuana need to be loosened considerably. Deputy Administrator, Joseph Rannazzisi of the DEA testified at a Congressional hearing that the:
With the public, medical researchers, doctors, some Senators and even the DEA calling for medical researchers to get easier access to the drug, it's hard to believe that the Obama administration won't move further on the issue.
Check out one more story to get a sense of how important it is for cannabis to get the research other pain inhibiting substances do, that people in pain get access to formulations of it.
Erika Zorn has advanced lupus and a severe case of fibromyalgia to boot. Despite her severe health problems which also included rheumatoid arthritis, enlarged liver, heart and blood pressure problems, she was functional - working a full-time job and taking care of her two young children. She'd been taking opiates for years but after she almost died from the complications of opiate use her doctor suggested marijuana which is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania.
After trying some street dope which had laced with PCP she grow it on her own in her basement to ensure she got a product that was safe and naturally produced.
She said "It was a miracle,"
Her pain was reduced markedly. She was able to sleep at night. Her appetite and energy returned. Unfortunately one of the few people she shared her story of how she got better contacted the police. After getting busted for growing marijuana in her basement she's back on opiates and making regular trips to the ER for her pain.
A survey of fibromyalgia patients last year conducted by The National Pain Foundation and NationalPainReport.com suggested that medical marijuana was not just a little more effective in treating FM that the three FDA approved drugs for FM, it was a lot more effective.
- Check out reviews of medical marijuana on Health Rising and add your own
A neck injury in 2002 eventually lead her to an FM diagnosis. She tried every drug she could find without result. Her extreme pain lead her to finally to try, after rejecting the idea for years, edible medical marijuana. It took her a few months o figure out the right dose, etc. She said
"I cannot begin to tell you all the meds I have tried and the suffering I have endured. Last summer, I tried edible marijuana (got a medical card). I have had amazing relief and can finally get some sleep!!!! I tend to use it more in the evening to help me sleep. The better I sleep the better I feel so I don't need as much during the day. Just the sleep alone is so restorative.
I really don't get high as I don't use much. CBD is great for nerve pain and when my neck hurts I use a low dose hard candy & within 30 sec to a min my neck pain is GONE and so I don't end up with a migraine. It really is a delight to not be throwing up & in agony for 12-24 hours!"
She's done very well and it she points out two issues that probably stop some people from trying it. They have jump through the hoops of getting a medical marijuana card that means getting a physician to sign on, and then they need to negotiate the wide variety of products available. Finding the right product can take time and cost some money.
The federal government recently reduced one restriction holding up research efforts but it's not enough. Medical research remains scanty with few studies coming out of the U.S. That's unacceptable given the promise of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain and other poorly treated conditions.
Company Gets Around Burdensome Federal Laws - Producing Synthetic Analogues
One company has found a way around the burdensome federal regulations restricting access to the plant. A small biopharma company called Zynerba Pharmaceuticals is developing synthetic versions of two of the chemical compounds, cannabinoid and cannabidiol, believed to have produce marijuana's medical effects. No permits for growing and harvesting marijuana are required - just a lab to produce synthetic analogues. (Neither of these substances produce the high marijuana is known for.) The transdermal patches and gels it's been developing will deliver the product straight into the circulatory system.[fright]
The market is potentially a huge one: the twenty million people with FM and/or neuropathic pain currently spend about $4 billion/year on treatments.
One product, a gel called ZYN002 that has shown promise in refractory epilepsy, Fragile X syndrome and osteoarthritis pain will enter clinical trials this year. Another product, a patch, ZYN001, focused on chronic pain is expected to enter Phase I clinical trials for fibromyalgia and peripheral neuropathic pain next year. If the FM trials work out, and no kinks show up at the FDA, a cannabis-based drug could conceivably be approved for FM within five years.
Coherent Approach to Medical Marijuana Needed
Meanwhile the support for more access to the drug continues to grow. Five years ago 80 percent of the public supported having access to medical marijuana.
In a strongly worded op ed piece, the New York Times editorial board recently went so far as to state that the feds marijuana policies "have ruined millions of lives and wasted billions of dollars." They called for federal laws to replace the mishmash of sometimes poorly thought out legislative efforts in the states.
The Obama administration has moved forward. It’s stopped going after medical marijuana producers in states in which it has been legalized but the federal prohibitions on anything marijuana related remains. Because banks - fearful of federal laws - refuse to serve medical marijuana businesses - many are cash only - a dangerous and inefficient way to operate. The NY Times noted that the Federal Reserve denied services to a credit union in Colorado that wished to provide services to legitimate marijuana business. Two bills with bipartisan support on the Hill that would simply allow banks and financial institutions to serve legal medical marijuana businesses are not expected to come to a vote.
Some Barriers to Medical Research Falling: Others Remain
Medical marijuana is still a long way from entering the medical mainstream. The study needed to produce FDA approved cannabis-based drugs or products people can count on, that are easily available, and that they can get reimbursed for is still being blocked by federal regulations.
The Obama administration has made some movement. It no longer requires studies not funded by the federal government to go through an additional layer of review. (Remarkably, marijuana was the only Class I drug with such a requirement.)[fright]
Much of the burdensome and lengthy process of getting permits to study MM in the U.S. remains, though.
Advocates assert that the first step is for the Obama administration to remove marijuana removed from the List of Class I drugs under the United States Controlled Substances Act. (It can do this without Congressional assent). The list includes such drugs as heroin, LSD, MDMA and mescaline. Drugs on this list:
- Have a high potential for abuse.
- have no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
- Are not considered safe even under medical supervision
Researchers still must get their marijuana only from a single contractor at the University of Mississippi. The list of strains is limited and phase III trials are out of the question as a drug company is required to produce exactly the same substance in the trial as it will market - something that's impossible to do so long they're unable to produce it. In short the infrastructure is simply not yet present for major pharmaceutical companies to do a full court press on a drug.
Recently, though, NIDA director, said it made sense for NIDA to contract with other cannabis producers. That could open the door for researchers to get easier access to more strains of cannnabis. Even the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) believes the restrictions on medical marijuana need to be loosened considerably. Deputy Administrator, Joseph Rannazzisi of the DEA testified at a Congressional hearing that the:
“DEA understands the importance of supporting the efficient scientific assessment of marijuana and its constituents such as CBD in connection with new drug development. DOJ and DEA are fully committed to supporting lawful research involving marijuana and CBD.”
With the public, medical researchers, doctors, some Senators and even the DEA calling for medical researchers to get easier access to the drug, it's hard to believe that the Obama administration won't move further on the issue.
Check out one more story to get a sense of how important it is for cannabis to get the research other pain inhibiting substances do, that people in pain get access to formulations of it.
Erika Zorn has advanced lupus and a severe case of fibromyalgia to boot. Despite her severe health problems which also included rheumatoid arthritis, enlarged liver, heart and blood pressure problems, she was functional - working a full-time job and taking care of her two young children. She'd been taking opiates for years but after she almost died from the complications of opiate use her doctor suggested marijuana which is illegal in the state of Pennsylvania.
After trying some street dope which had laced with PCP she grow it on her own in her basement to ensure she got a product that was safe and naturally produced.
She said "It was a miracle,"
Her pain was reduced markedly. She was able to sleep at night. Her appetite and energy returned. Unfortunately one of the few people she shared her story of how she got better contacted the police. After getting busted for growing marijuana in her basement she's back on opiates and making regular trips to the ER for her pain.
- The top-rated pain medication on Health Rising right now is medical marijuana.
- Check out reviews of medical marijuana on Health Rising and add your own
- Want to help improve access to MM? - Check out Safe Access: A Center for Medical Marijuana Advocacy
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