Fda: Smoked Marijuana Is Neither Safe Nor Effective Medicine For Any Condition

[zachw]

Letter to NY Times - "Medical Marijuana: The Government’s View". Link here. Short enough to quote in full here.

 

To the Editor:

 

In his Nov. 7 Op-Ed article, “Reefer Madness,” Ethan Nadelmann criticized the Obama administration’s position on medical marijuana and described the debate as “essentially a cultural and political struggle.”

 

The issue of medical marijuana is not about culture and counterculture. It is not a struggle; it is not a war. It simply comes down to how we approve medications as safe and effective for use in the United States. To date, the Food and Drug Administration has not found smoked marijuana to be either safe or effective medicine for any condition.

 

No national medical association has come out in favor of smoked marijuana for widespread medical use. Further, many public health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, American Glaucoma Foundation, National Pain Foundation and National Multiple Sclerosis Society, do not support smoked “medical” marijuana.

 

The administration’s position is clear: the medication approval process should remain above the political fray. Smoked marijuana does not meet scientific standards for safe and effective medicine, and marijuana use and distribution remain illegal under federal law for any purpose.

 

Like our National Drug Control Strategy, it is a position driven by evidence, not ideology. When it comes to protecting public health and public safety, the American people deserve no less.

 

RAFAEL LEMAITRE

Associate Director for Public Affairs

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Washington, Nov. 14, 2011

 

There is a positive here folks; the repeated phrase "smoked marijuana" sort of implies that other forms of ingestion HAVE benefits!

[Timmahh]

but alas they are wrong in the end.

 

 

recent studies (2008/09) have shown people that smoke cannabis only, have better lung function than people that smoke cannabis and tobacco, and this group obviously has better lung function over those that only smoke cigarettes.

 

the study also comparred the lungs and lung function of cannabis only smokers and people that have never smoked anything, and those that never smoked at all had no noted level of lung health or function than cannabis only smokers.

[Medcnman]

Im curious how they would know this since the DEA has not allowed Cannabis to be tested "Medically". I think the FDA has no "Medicinal Value". Thanks, Medcnman.

[+Annnie]

I heard those facts somewhere before about Marijuana being the "Only Cure for Glacoma" way back in the 70s.. I think mostly ppl smoked back then and not so much using preparations made by the FDA... Excuse me while i light my spliff..

[+Annnie]

[Croppled1]

I am all for lowering the amount of cannabis smoked when possible but smoking is preferable for certain circumstances . The NPF has never took a stand on this in any of my reading of their material . I would question the source who I believe mistakenly made assumptions though there probably are people inside any organization that believe tobacco smoke is dangerous so cannabis smoke must also be . I heard Dr Grinspoon speak on this one time in public and he was pretty convincing in pointing out there were valid reasons for smoking even over vaporization within the limits of that technology ..

 

 

Some interesting links on the topic which all cleared antivirus as safe

 

http://www.schmoo.co.uk/thclub/methods.htm

 

http://www.nationalpainfoundation.org/articles/112/marijuana-and-pain-management

 

http://www.forces.org/evidence/hamilton/other/oldest.htm

[The Digital Nomad]

It is true - you are better off eating the plant or learning to use its raw material. Smoking is inherently bad - human beings were not meant to inhale fire. Your lungs cannot withstand heat and ashes. While it is less cancerous than tobacco, it is still dangerous due to the heat and ashes.

 

If you want to explore the medical benefits of marijuana, you should use other means of ingesting marijuana - make a salad with its leaves, cook with its oils, eat hashish, make bud capsules.

 

Even Jack Herer said this.

 

DN

[+Annnie]

nevermind.. excuse me while i light my spliff

[+Annnie]

Arg.. this thread is really bothering me.. Inhaled marihuana is an effective medicine.. There i said it..btw.. jack and i smoked together.. it was definately his choice that fine day..

[zachw]

It is true - you are better off eating the plant or learning to use its raw material. Smoking is inherently bad - human beings were not meant to inhale fire. Your lungs cannot withstand heat and ashes. While it is less cancerous than tobacco, it is still dangerous due to the heat and ashes.

 

If you want to explore the medical benefits of marijuana, you should use other means of ingesting marijuana - make a salad with its leaves, cook with its oils, eat hashish, make bud capsules.

 

Even Jack Herer said this.

 

DN

 

I'm always leery of "human beings were not meant to" arguments.

 

And keep in mind that inhaled marijuana is the most immediate acting and easiest self-regulating method of ingestion. This is a major consideration for certain ailments.

 

z

[solabeirtan]

Smoking is cave man style, low tech, low cost, most invasive, quick, fast and dirtiest, but effective, nevertheless.

 

We are now in the 21st century. Vapor is superior ... Volcano for Life !

 

How about an eJoint, with 800 puffs or more. Wow! I cant wait !

 

 

Pipe Dreams !

[zachw]

Here's a response to that smoked marijuana gummint letter.

 

Of course, the FDA hasn’t approved it! It can’t because the Controlled Substances Act states that marijuana has no legitimate medical uses! Not only that, but the necessary testing to match the clear medicinal properties of marijuana with diseases and afflictions for which it could provide relief can’t be performed. Talk about a Catch 22!

 

And note the repeated emphasis on “smoked,” which is truly deceptive. Marijuana’s medicinal properties can be administered effectively without being smoked–as in Canada and some European countries, where a marijuana spray is prescribed and dispensed through pharmacies.

 

Again, the answer is easy and commonsensical: Amend the CSA so that marijuana can be prescribed and dispensed in medical forms–as morphine is. That would permit an end to the chaotic medical marijuana mess in the states, allow proper drug enforcement against recreational sales, and provide sick and disabled people with necessary relief.

 

 

z

[barkascruff]

While it is less cancerous than tobacco, it is still dangerous due to the heat and ashes.

 

DN

 

Cannabis is cancerous?

[zachw]

Smoking is cave man style, low tech, low cost, most invasive, quick, fast and dirtiest, but effective, nevertheless.

 

We are now in the 21st century. Vapor is superior ... Volcano for Life !

 

How about an eJoint, with 800 puffs or more. Wow! I cant wait !

 

 

eJoint certainly presents a strange contrast of science and pseudoscience (the latter when bringing homeopathy into the conversation.)

[solabeirtan]

"eJoint certainly presents a strange contrast of science and pseudoscience"

 

Electrohomeopathy you are referring to, maybe ? [not too familiar with this area of expertise, homeo]

Surely the Ejoint is safer than incinerating .5 gram of plant material to release the active ingredients ?

 

Tar and nicotine from cigarettes should have a Category 1 status long before Cannabis ever got there.

 

Good looking out FDA, DEA and especially "Office of National Drug Control Policy ".

 

American Cancer Society would agree with that too, I'm sure. For what it's worth.