ORGANIZATION NEWS:

* OPN Lobbies For the OMMA of 2002

* OPN in the News

OHIO NEWS:

* Taft Accused of Bid to Derail Petition Drive

* Petro Won't Audit Officials Opposing Drug-Law Initiative

NATIONAL NEWS:

* Overview of How a Drug Is Developed

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

* GW Expands Phase Three Clinical Trials Programme Of Cannabis-Based Medicine Into Cancer Pain

The following items are included in every OPNews:

* OPNews Disclaimer

* You Are Invited to OPN Meetings

* How to Get Your Information in OPNews

* How to be Removed from the OPNews List

* How To Contact Your State Representative And Senator

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OPN LOBBIES FOR THE OMMA OF 2002

Building on lobbying efforts of 2001, the OPN is working towards passage of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Act of 2002. In addition to revising the OMMA to reflect changes over the last year, OPN leaders have already contacted State Senators and Representatives by phone and in person.

"We have received some encouraging responses, but we still have a lot more educating to do," said OPN President John Precup. To that end, OPN is planning a legislative staff briefing that will officially kick off the 2002 OMMA campaign. The briefing will be held at the Riffe Center in Columbus on February 11.

"We’re inviting the staff of every State Representative and Senator and planning expert testimony from patients, medical professionals, and attorneys. We’ll also be handing out comprehensive information packets. We want to educate lawmakers, but we also view this conference as an opportunity to hear and address their concerns about the bill."

All OPN members and supporters are encouraged to contact their state officials and ask for their support of the Ohio Medical Marijuana Act. Please forward any replies that you receive to info@ohiopatient.net.

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OPN IN THE NEWS

The efforts of the public relations committee are paying off. As a result of the OPN media packets, which have been sent to more than 115 media outlets in Ohio, the OPN has already been mentioned in two news articles this month.

The Cleveland Free Times feature article, which ran January 3, included comments and photos of OPN board members Eleanor Ahrens, John Precup and Kenneth Schweickart. The article, entitled "Wasted Lives" is extensive and can be viewed at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n009/a01.html?2877.

The OPN was also mentioned in a January 17 Lake County News Herald article. Although not a feature story, the article did net the OPN several new members.

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TAFT ACCUSED OF BID TO DERAIL PETITION DRIVE

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 9, 2002. Copyright 2002, The Plain Dealer

http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/.

By: T.C. Brown, Plain Dealer Bureau

(Columbus) Gov. Bob Taft, his wife, Hope, and two state agency directors have illegally conspired to derail a proposed ballot issue that would permit treatment for drug offenders, according to a complaint filed yesterday with the Ohio Inspector General.

The complaint, filed by the Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies, alleges the officials infringed on citizens' rights, have improperly used state funds and misused their public offices. It also names Luceille Fleming, director of the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and Domingo Herraiz, director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services.

The ballot initiative campaign wants a proposition on the November ballot that would allow nonviolent first- and second-time drug offenders to receive treatment in lieu of jail time. State officials want to thwart that effort, as is evident from over 2,000 public documents, said Ed Orlett, the campaign's manager [and former Ohio state legislator].

"They seem to have an obsession against this issue," Orlett said. "It is especially onerous for them to do this at taxpayer's expense."

Mary Anne Sharkey, communications director for Taft, said the governor has said he opposes the initiative because he believes it is tantamount to legalization. An opposing campaign will be waged if it makes the ballot, Sharkey said.

"We're not interfering or infringing now," Sharkey said. "We're opposing something and that is different from legal infringement."

Sharkey defended the strategy meetings and the costs. Documents indicate the state paid $468 for the first lady and a staff member to fly to Washington for a strategy session.

Furthermore, the state paid to bring Florida officials, who have been faced with a similar ballot issue, to Ohio for a strategy meeting in October. Other records show the state intends to use money from a federal law-enforcement grant to conduct polling. Orlett has asked state Auditor Jim Petro for a special audit.

Stephanie McCarty, spokeswoman for the Office of Criminal Justice Services, said about $3,000 from the general revenue fund paid expenses for the October meeting. No grant money has been spent, but polling, permitted by the grant, could be conducted later, McCarty said.

Inspector General Tom Charles acknowledged receiving the complaint.

On Monday, a screening committee will consider whether an investigation is warranted, he said.

The campaign must gather 335,000 signatures on petitions by August to meet a deadline to put the initiative on the ballot.

EDITOR’S NOTE: For more on this story, see the article "Group Alleges Improper Campaign To Fight Drug-Treatment Plan," which appeared in the January 9, 2002 Toledo Blade newspaper (http://www.toledoblade.com/) and is available in its entirety at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n033/a08.html. The following information from that Toledo Blade article is especially noteworthy:

"In a May 30, 2001, memo to her husband and his chief of staff, Mrs. Taft wrote that during a trip to Washington, she obtained a copy of a strategy against the proposed ballot issue that advised: ‘We need to co-opt the initiative proponents. If we can retain the allegiance of drug abuse work/practitioners (especially treatment providers), we have an excellent chance of turning the tables on initiative proponents, and be seen as the real reformers.’"

This statement helps explain why Ohio officials are working on their own drug treatment legislation, while concurrently fighting the ballot initiative.

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PETRO WON'T AUDIT OFFICIALS OPPOSING DRUG-LAW INITIATIVE

Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer, January 12, 2002. Copyright 2002, The Plain Dealer.

By: T.C. Brown, Plain Dealer Bureau

(Columbus) State Auditor Jim Petro declined a request to audit public officials who have criticized a proposed ballot initiative that would offer first- and second-time drug offenders treatment in lieu of jail.

Petro cited federal and state law and legal opinions in determining the Ohio Campaign for New Drug Policies had no basis to allege that government officials acted improperly and that public money was misspent.

The drug campaign group has accused Gov. Bob Taft, his wife, Hope, and Luceille Fleming, director of the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services, and Domingo Herraiz, director of the Office of Criminal Justice Services, and their staffs of illegally campaigning against the proposed issue.

The law allows public officials to speak out and spend money on public policy issues, as long as the public expenditures are not directed at telling voters to vote one way or another. Ballot information can be analyzed and disseminated to the public concerning the consequences of the passage or defeat of an issue, Petro said.

"Admittedly, part of the [state's] strategy is explaining to the public why your proposal [in their view] is not the better public policy," Petro told the group in a letter. "But that is no different than the governor or members of his administration evaluating a bill pending in the General Assembly and then attempting to persuade legislators or the public that the governor's policy . . . is preferable to that contained in the legislation."

While Petro has correctly cited applicable laws, he applied them to the wrong set of circumstances, said Ed Orlett, the drug campaign's manager.

[Snip]

NOTE: This story is archived in its entirety for 14 days at http://www.cleveland.com/plaindealer/

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OVERVIEW OF HOW A DRUG IS DEVELOPED

Source: MSQR (Multiple Sclerosis Quarterly Report), Winter 2001 (v 20, n 4), pages 21-2.

By Beth Lorenzi, MPH, Research Associate

In the USA development of every new medicine takes an average of 12 years and costs the sponsoring company approximately $350 million. This extensive and rigorous development process is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make sure that new products are safe and effective.

[Snip]

NOTE: The stages that a potential new drug must go through – including Pre-Clinical studies, Investigational New Drug (IND) application, Phase I through Phase III clinical trials, New Drug Application (NDA), FDA approval, and post-approval monitoring – are described in the article, which is available in the Winter 2001 MSQR issue at http://www.mscare.org/msqr/index.cfm.

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GW EXPANDS PHASE THREE CLINICAL TRIALS PROGRAMME OF CANNABIS-BASED MEDICINE INTO CANCER PAIN

Source: GW Pharmaceuticals press release, January 16, 2002. http://www.gwpharm.com/news_pres_16_jan_02_press.html

(England) GW Pharmaceuticals plc, the company developing a portfolio of non-smoked cannabis-based prescription medicines, announces that it has expanded its Phase Three clinical trials programme into cancer pain. This Phase Three trial is the first large-scale trial of its kind and will examine the effectiveness of a cannabis-based medicine in treating pain associated with cancer.

Cancer pain represents the second key target market for GW's programme of developing cannabis-based medicines for a range of medical conditions. The Institute of Medicine in the United States has reported that some of the most encouraging clinical data on the effects of cannabis on chronic pain are from studies of cancer pain .

Over 100 patients, who have terminal cancer and are experiencing pain that is not responding adequately to current therapy, will take part in the double-blind, placebo-controlled study at more than 20 centres around the UK. The cannabis-based medicine is being administered by means of a sublingual (under-the-tongue) spray.

Dr Geoffrey Guy, Executive Chairman of GW, commented, "This is a significant milestone for GW, and - we hope - for sufferers from cancer pain. Cannabis-based medicine has the potential to provide considerable advantages over current medications to cancer patients. The potential market is very significant since approximately 40 per cent of cancer sufferers at present have unmet needs in pain suppression."

The new cancer trial is part of a significant expansion of GW's pivotal regulatory clinical trials programme which will continue throughout the coming months. GW is already conducting a Phase Three trial in Multiple Sclerosis patients. Recruitment for this trial is proceeding on track with 135 patients screened, of which 62 are already enrolled. Up to a further 35 patients may become eligible for entry in the coming weeks.

As part of its clinical trials expansion, GW has commenced further clinical studies including a Phase Three randomised placebo-controlled trial in brachial plexus injury, a severe form of nerve-damage pain. (This injury commonly results from motorcycle accidents and follows a wrenching of the arm and traumatic disruption of nerve connections leading to extreme pain.)

The aim of each of GW's clinical programmes is to prepare data for Product Licence Approval by the Medicines Control Agency. Phase Three of the trials programme is the final stage in preparing for an application to be made for a Product Licence Approval.

New positive data from GW's Phase Two clinical trials in Multiple Sclerosis and Spinal Cord Injury is provided in the preliminary results announced separately today. This encouraging data shows significant improvements in a range of symptoms.

Institute of Medicine, Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Janet E. Joy, Stanley J. Watson, Jr., and John A. Benson, Jr., "Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base"

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The following items are included in every OPNews:

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OPNews DISCLAIMER

OPNews, a publication of Ohio Patient Network (OPN), provides medical cannabis news that affects Ohio patients, caregivers, and health professionals. Articles are intended for information purposes and do not reflect an official position by OPN or the OPN Board of Directors.

For more information, contact Jean Taddie, Editor (editor@ohiopatient.net).

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YOU ARE INVITED TO OPN MEETINGS

The OPN Board of Directors invites you to participate in the OPN planning meetings. Electronic voice/text meetings are held at the OPN chatroom in PalTalk.

To receive PalTalk and meeting room instructions, as well as date and time information, contact info@ohiopatient.net.

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HOW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION IN OPNews

OPNews is published monthly. To have your information considered for publication, submit your story to editor@ohiopatient.net.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND ATTACHMENTS. Please do not boldface or italicize text. Include a contact name with a phone number and/or e-mail address with submissions.

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HOW TO BE REMOVED FROM THE OPNews LIST

You may sign off this list at any time by using the webform at www.ohiopatient.net.

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HOW TO CONTACT YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR 

Find your Representative in the Ohio House at http://www.house.state.oh.us/jsps/Representatives.jsp

Find your Ohio Senator at http://www.senate.state.oh.us/senators/

Write to your officials care of their district office, or send your letter to their Columbus office at:

The Honorable (name)

Ohio House of Representatives

77 South High Street

Columbus, Ohio 43266-0603

-or-

The Honorable (name)

Ohio Senate Building

Columbus, Ohio 43215

Telephone calls and emails are also persuasive, especially when the constituent contacts the district office.