ORGANIZATION NEWS:

* Medical Marijuana Makes Ohio's Gubernatorial Debate

* OPN in the News

* 15 Minute Mission of the Month

STATE NEWS:

* War On Drugs Can Claim a Deadly Victory

* U.S. Drug Czar Critical of State Issue 1

* New Drug-Law Backers Looking to Try TV Ads in Final Push For Nov. 5

NATIONAL NEWS:

* Court: Don't Tread on Doctors Who Recommend Medical Marijuana

* Election 2002: The Initiatives

* California Medical Marijuana Chronicles: A Widening Conflict

* Federal Suit Charges DEA's Raids Of California Medi-Pot Patients Are

Unconstitutional

* SSDP/MPP Conference Update

* Petition to Reschedule Cannabis

* Marijuana Study Tries to Bring Facts to Heated Debate

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

* Hundreds Involved in Cannabis Trials

* Release of Positive Data from Completed Phase II Pain Trial

* Canada: First Clinical Pot Trial to Use U.S. Stash

* Canada's Pot Proposal Worries United States

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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MEDICAL MARIJUANA RALLY TO BE HELD OCTOBER 24

By Deirdre "Dee Dee" Zoretic, OPN Director of Patient Advocacy

Medical marijuana got a big boost in Ohio when Democratic candidate for governor Tim Hagan showed his support.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to ask a question to the candidates in the first gubernatorial debate that appeared on PBS stations across Ohio on October 15. For those not aware, Taft is our current Republican governor. Hagan is the Democratic challenger. I have transcribed the question and answers below.

My question was: "Hello, my name is Deirdre Zoretic, and I am from Cleveland. I have an incurable nerve condition and have exhausted all available medical options. If you were elected governor, what would you do to help medical marijuana patients, like myself, from being treated like criminals in our state?"

Hagan answered: "Let me say that my father sadly died 3 years ago. He died of cancer. If he was suffering, and he did suffer. I said that if he needed miracle marijuana - medical marijuana to ease his pain on the way to death, I would go out and find it, or get my nephew to find someone to provide for his ease; it doesn't bother me at all. To consider the fact that when people are suffering, we give them all kinds of drugs. If mira - medical marijuana relieves the suffering of this young lady, or anyone else, dieing, I say we gotta do that; we give them all kinds of drugs anyhow.

Taft responded: "First of all, let me say, I sympathize very deeply with the questioner, and her medical condition, and we want to do anything we can to help her, through our Medicaid program or other possible ways. There are a number of ways you can use of course, to alleviate the pain. But, I oppose the legalization of addictive drugs. In the states that have medical marijuana laws, it's not the patients in need that are getting the drug. It's our kids - they are becoming addicted. And we know what addiction leads to. It leads to more drugs. It leads to a life of crime. We need to send out a strong message to our children and to everyone in this state - stay away from addictive drugs. Secure your future, get a good education, and succeed.

I couldn't believe the misinformation that Taft was giving, so I sent the following letter to the editor to several newspapers:

"Governor Taft seems to think that addictive drugs should not be legal. Sorry, suffering, dieing patients. There seems to be some concern that 10 years after your death, you might develop a problem with addiction.

I didn't ask a question about an addictive drug, however. I asked about the therapeutic use of cannabis, a drug that has less addictive properties than some of our over-the counter medications. I learned this information from the '1999 Institute of Medicine Report on Medical Marijuana'. This is research that was commissioned by our government under the direct order of our then Drug Czar. It is information from a reliable source that you trust.  According to the Student Surveys in California, which are conducted every two years, teen marijuana use has gone down since the passage of Prop. 215.

I did my homework before making a decision on this subject. Mr. Governor, may I suggest that you do the same?"

NOTE: The medical marijuana question garnered significant attention in the media. To view these articles, see:

*"Hagan's 'Silver Bullet' Misfires," Columbus Dispatch, Wednesday, October 16, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1942/a06.html?1689

*"Candidates Pick Up, Move On," Columbus Dispatch, Thursday, October 17, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1951/a01.html?1688

*"Politics Makes Mustn't-See TV In Most Places." Columbus Dispatch, Sunday, October 20, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1968/a01.html?1684

*"Hagan's Extended Family Didn't Inhale," Cincinnati Enquirer, Monday, October 21, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1966/a01.html?1687

*"Taft Was Insensitive To Questioner's Pain," Columbus Dispatch, Wednesday, October 23, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1984/a06.html?1681

*"Candidates Take Show On The Road: Taft Encounters Tough Questions," Columbus Dispatch, Monday, October 28, 2002. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2001/a06.html?1272

The OPN also sent to Ohio media a press release titled "Medical MarijuanaPatients Applaud Hagan, Denounce Taft", which you can view at: http://ohiopatient.net/OPN_Press_Releases.htm.

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OPN IN THE NEWS

OPN Director of Development Ken Schweickart's run for Ohio's 22nd District was featured in several news stories this month. The October 7 Dayton Daily News article "Medical Marijuana Advocated" (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1882/a10.html?1703) featured Ken and his platform of solutions for Ohio.

The October 18, 2002 article "Three Battle for Ohio House Seat" (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n000/a197.html) overviewed the 22nd District candidates in Columbus' ThisWeek community newspaper.

In addition, Ken spoke at the Ohio Cannabis Society's protest in Dayton, which was held October 19 to protest the shooting death of Jason Helriggle during a drug raid. Ken was quoted in the October 20 Dayton Daily News article "Marijuana Advocates Pan Laws on Pot" (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1956/a07.html?1720).

John Precup and the OPN were mentioned extensively in the Saturday, September 28 Mansfield News Journal article "Opinions Clash Over Legalizing Marijuana" (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n000/a198.html). In addition to the text, the article had the following inset: 

" 'I lost 15 pounds in 10 days...I thought if I smoked I might be able to eat. Five minutes after I smoked, the nausea was gone.' John Precup, Ohio Patient Network president. Enter the web: www.ohiopatient.net"

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15 MINUTE MISSION OF THE MONTH

By: Deirdre A. Zoretic

By now you may have read some of the emails that are coming and going about our "One Patient At A Time" campaign. If you aren't familiar with this yet, I invite you to check out our website (http://ohiopatient.net/One_Patient_at_a_Time.htm). We want to familiarize the media and the public with the vast need for our medication. To do this, every few weeks a new press release is going to be sent containing the personal story of one of our members. Don't worry, you can remain anonymous.

This explains our next mission. Take a few minutes and tell us about how you got to this point. What has happened in your life that requires you to use marijuana as medication? Have you had any run-ins with the law? A few paragraphs is fine, or take this opportunity to pour your heart out. Send your submission to: jwhite@ohiopatient.net.

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CHIEF JUSTICE BLASTS DRUG ISSUE

Source: The Columbus Dispatch, October 07, 2002. Copyright: 2002 The Columbus Dispatch

By: Steve Stephens

(Dayton, OH) Pot-smoking Ohioans already get off easy, say opponents of Issue 1, which would mandate rehab instead of jail for some users.

For [23-year-old] Clayton Helriggle, however, the penalty was death.

On Sept. 27, the doors of his Preble County home were kicked in by masked, heavily armed men. One shot Helriggle in the chest.

The intruders belonged to a SWAT team -- "lawmen,'' so to speak, from several Preble County jurisdictions.

They were seeking drugs and found some -- a tiny bit of marijuana. They also found a couple of pot pipes and "quantities of packaging items used in the distribution of marijuana,'' i.e., sandwich bags.

[snip]

The shooting is under investigation by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, which has assigned two detectives full time to the case, said Sgt. Ed Copher. He hopes to complete the investigation this month.

Michael Helriggle said he heard his son's address announced on the police scanner the afternoon of the shooting.

"I only live a quarter mile from there. I was at the scene five minutes later.''

The sight stunned him. More than a dozen officers, in all manner of battle dress, stood outside the house, the "battle'' over.

"I watched the SWAT guys high-fiving each other, laughing.''

Police said Clayton was holding a pistol when he was shot.

Clayton owned a gun, as do many folks in rural Preble County, his father said. But Clayton's best friend, who saw the shooting, said he was armed with only a blue drinking cup.

"I'm going to believe his best friend,'' Michael Helriggle said.

"But even if he did have a gun, he had every right to have it. Those guys that busted in there, they didn't have 'sheriff' or 'police' written on their shirts. They had on camouflage and black masks. They didn't knock. They didn't serve a warrant. They just came in more or less like a bunch of storm troopers, kicking down unlocked doors. All they really had to do was knock.''

The marijuana in the house would have netted his son a minor penalty in court, Helriggle noted.

"Clayton would have known there was no reason to worry about what police would find. The problem was, they sent an unskilled SWAT team into a situation they had no business being in.''

Helriggle said he hopes his son's death spurs a hard look at the war on drugs.

"I'm never going to get my son back, but if I could shut down these SWAT teams in the name of my son, I know that would be something he'd appreciate.

"This could have been anybody's kid.''

Clayton Helriggle is just the latest casualty in the war on drugs, said John Hartman, director of the Ohio Cannabis Society.

"Unfortunately, this type of thing is not uncommon in the world of marijuana raids,'' he said.

"The sad reality is that marijuana is a substance that hasn't killed anyone in itself. But the whole act of prohibition and the way it's enforced --that does cause death.''

That's one truth DARE classes don't teach: Pot doesn't kill people. Drug warriors do.

NOTE: The Media Awareness Project (http://www.mapinc.org/index.htm) has an extensive archive of news stories about this tragedy. You can easily access these articles if you go to http://www.mapinc.org/find and search on Helriggle.

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U.S. DRUG CZAR CRITICAL OF STATE ISSUE 1

Source: The Newark Advocate, October 17, 2002. Copyright: 2002 The Advocate (http://www.newarkadvocate.com/). Author: Gannett News Service. View this article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1960/a02.html?1734.

(Columbus, OH) The U.S. drug czar said a statewide ballot initiative meant to reform Ohio drug policy could actually hurt the state's efforts to curb drug addiction.

In Columbus on Wednesday, John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, joined what he called growing opposition in Ohio to the proposed constitutional amendment on the November ballot.

If Issue 1 succeeds, it would force judges to send thousands of eligible non-violent drug offenders to treatment instead of jail.

"It will weaken the tools that the institutions have to help get people into treatment," Walters said.

Walters applauded Ohio's drug courts as frontrunners in the war on drugs adding that the proposal did not belong in the state's constitution.

"I would not, in this budget environment, put in a constitutional amendment that says this trumps everything else," he said.

Ed Orlett, the director of Campaign for New Drug Policies, a group supporting Issue 1, said the proposal would not take power out of the hands of drug-court judges.

"Issue 1 clearly recognizes that sanctions are an important part of the treatment process," Orlett said. He added that the fight against drug addiction is failing in the United States.

Issue 1 has slipped in the polls recently as its opposition, including Gov. Bob Taft, has mounted a strong campaign to defeat the proposal.

Earlier this month, supporters of the initiative voiced concerns they will not be able to overcome what they called misleading language in the summary voters will see on the ballot Nov. 5.

As a result, they may forgo spending millions on TV ads.

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NEW DRUG-LAW BACKERS LOOKING TO TRY TV ADS IN FINAL PUSH FOR NOV. 5

Source: The Toledo Blade, October 19, 2002. Copyright: 2002 The Blade (http://www.toledoblade.com/).

(Columbus, OH) Backers of Issue 1 are making inquiries about buying TV ad time for a two-week blitz leading to the Nov. 5 election.

It was unclear last night when the ads would begin or how much money the California-based Campaign for New Drug Policies would spend, said the group's political director, Dave Fratello. Backers said earlier this week that there was about $1.5 million available.

If voters approve the constitutional amendment, treatment would be an option for any nonviolent first or second-time drug possession offenders, and the courting would start after passage of the measure.

The financial backers are New York financier George Soros; Ohio insurance executive Peter Lewis; John Sperling, founder of the University of Phoenix, and Richard Wolfe, a Columbus native who runs a California high-tech company.

On Oct. 14, leaders of the Campaign for New Drug Policies had presented a "Plan B" if their deep-pocket donors decide that voters likely won't approve Issue 1.

It was to form an independent campaign committee to pour big bucks into TV ads to try to beat Gov. Bob Taft, who has trashed the ballot issue as "de facto legalization" of drugs.

But on Oct. 16, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tim Hagan said it would be "pretty hypocritical" for him to criticize independent expenditure campaigns and then let one battle Mr. Taft.

The group fighting Issue 1 plans to start airing TV ads in the middle of next week, a spokeswoman said.

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COURT: DON'T TREAD ON DOCTORS WHO RECOMMEND MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Source: Associated Press (Wire), October 29, 2002. View the entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n2006/a08.html?1277.

By: David Kravets, AP Writer

The Justice Department may not revoke doctors' licenses to dispense medication or investigate doctors for recommending marijuana to sick patients, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.

The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a 2-year-old court order prohibiting such federal action and is one of several cases resulting from medical marijuana laws on the books in eight states.

Federal prosecutors argued that such tactics are necessary because doctors are interfering with the drug war and circumventing the government's judgment that marijuana has no medical benefits.

The San Francisco-based court disagreed.

"The government policy does ... strike at core First Amendment interests of doctors and patients," Chief Judge Mary Schroeder wrote in the 3-0 opinion. "An integral component of the practice of medicine is the communication between doctor and a patient. Physicians must be able to speak frankly and openly to patients."

Doctors who recommend marijuana in the eight states that have medical marijuana laws "will make it easier to obtain marijuana in violation of federal law," government attorney Michael Stern had said.

The ruling does, in fact, preserve state medical marijuana laws by preventing the federal government from silencing doctors, said Graham Boyd, an American Civil Liberties Union attorney.

[snip]

One case challenging raids [against compassionate use clubs] is pending before the 9th Circuit. That case, brought by an Oakland pot club, argues that the states have the right to experiment with their own drug laws and that Americans have a fundamental right to marijuana as an avenue to be free of pain.

The case decided Tuesday is Conant v. Walters, 00-17222.

NOTE: You may read the actual decision online as a .pdf file at http://www.drugsense.org/temp/conantXvXwalters.pdf

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ELECTION 2002: THE INITIATIVES

Source: The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #259, October 18, 2002. A Publication of the Drug Reform Coordination Network.

With the November elections less than three weeks away, initiatives on the ballot in Arizona, the District of Columbia, Nevada, Ohio and South Dakota are putting different elements of drug reform or related issues to the popular vote. Medical marijuana is on the ballot in Arizona and Nevada, as is the decriminalization or regulation of personal marijuana use; different varieties of sentencing reform are on the Arizona, DC, and Ohio initiatives; and industrial hemp and a cousin to jury nullification are on the South Dakota ballot.

For details about the initiatives, see http://www.drcnet.org/wol/259.html#theinitiatives.

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ELECTION 2002: THE INITIATIVES

Source: The Week Online with DRCNet, Issue #258, October 11, 2002 (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/258.html#medmjchronicles). A Publication of the Drug Reform Coordination Network.

The struggle between the citizens of California and the federal government over medical marijuana is breaking out on so many fronts that it is difficult for a publication that wants to cover other drug policy news to do it justice. This week alone saw a medical marijuana gardener being sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, a patients' lawsuit against the federal government seeking a court order to halt the raids, the reintroduction of a petition demanding the DEA reschedule marijuana, and a big city police force telling the DEA to get lost. And those are just the biggest stories.

MedMj Chronicles I: The Feds Are Deadly Serious: Bryan Epis Sentenced to Federal Prison (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/258.html#bryanepis)

MedMj Chronicles II: San Jose Police Department Cuts Ties with DEA Task Force (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/258.html#sanjose)

MedMj Chronicles III: Marijuana Patients and Caregivers Sue the Feds, Seek Order to Stop Raids (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/258.html#lawsuit)

MedMj Chronicles IV: Marijuana Rescheduling Petition Revived (http://www.drcnet.org/wol/258.html#petition)

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FEDERAL SUIT CHARGES DEA'S RAIDS OF CALIFORNIA MEDI-POT PATIENTS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Source: NORML News, October 10, 2002. View the entire article at http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5431.

(Oakland, CA) A pair of California medical marijuana patients and providers brought suit Wednesday to demand the federal government stop targeting those who use and grow the drug legally under state law. The suit is in response to a recent wave of federal raids and arrests of California medical marijuana patients and cooperatives.

The lawsuit, filed by NORML Legal Committee member David Michael and co-counsel Robert Raich in U.S. District Court in Oakland, argues that U.S.  Attorney General John Ashcroft and Drug Enforcement Administration director Asa Hutchinson are violating the Fifth, Ninth and 10th amendments as well as exceeding their authority under the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by cracking down on medical marijuana use in California. "Defendants are unconstitutionally exceeding their authority by embarking on a campaign of seizing or forfeiting privately-grown wholly intrastate medical cannabis from California patients and caregivers, arresting or prosecuting such patients and caregivers, mounting paramilitary raids against such patients and caregivers, harassing such patients and caregivers, and taking other civil or administrative actions against them," the plaintiffs' complaint states.

[snip]

Since September 11, 2001, federal drug enforcement officials have taken action against more than 35 medicinal marijuana patients, cooperatives and providers in California.

NOTE: For more information, see also "Medical Marijuana Patients to Sue Ashcroft, Federal Government" at http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr100802.html.

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SSDP/MPP CONFERENCE UPDATE

Students for Sensible Drug Policy October 9, 2002 update.

(Anaheim, CA) The SSDP/MPP National Conference will be held in Anaheim, California, on November 8-10, 2002. Visit http://www.mpp.org/conference.

Conference Updates:

Thursday Night: Free Bill Maher performance!!!

Friday Evening: SSDP Congress (each chapter is represented)

Saturday Evening: Comedy with John Fugelsang (of VH1) , and the film presentation of The War on The War on Drugs, which is touring the independent film circuit with director discussion after words.

Confirmed Speakers: Former Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders, M.D.; Mayor of Baltimore Kurt Schmoke; Judge James P. Gray; Drug Policy Expert Ethan Nadelmann; Author and Producer Mike Gray; Film Producer Aaron Russo; and Performer Michelle Phillips.

Invited speakers: Dr. Dre, Eminem, artist Alex Grey, Woody Harrelson, Chris Rock and many others. 

Student Workshops: Trainings in Media, Lobbying, Civil Liberties, Police Encounters, Harm Reduction and Civil Disobedience.

New Topics and Discussions: Art and the Drug War, In Your Face Activism (w/ PETA and Green Peace), Youth and Drugs debate.

It's going to be our biggest and best conference ever!!!

Please visit http://www.mpp.org/conference/ for information and to register.

Your attendance at the SSDP/MPP conference is essential to the growth and development of our network of knowledge, people and ideas.

NOTE: For more information, view the October 14 Marijuana Policy Project press release "Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders to Speak at MPP National Conference" (http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr101402.html).

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PETITION TO RESCHEDULE CANNABIS

Source: Patients Out of Time (http://www.medicalcannabis.com/) October 7, 2002 Press Release

On October 7, 2002 Patients Out of Time, in conjunction with The Coalition for Rescheduling Cannabis, filed by mail a rescheduling petition with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Patients Out of Time is a national non-profit that has among its leadership the first five federally supplied cannabis patients and health care professionals with expertise in the therapeutic applications of cannabis.

The petition challenges the DEA determination that cannabis has no medical value in the United States; the determination that cannabis is addictive; the contention that cannabis is a toxic substance. Patients Out of Time through its own study and observation acknowledges the pain and suffering being experienced by patients throughout the United States that may be helped by therapeutic cannabis. This conclusion has been supported by dozens of professional health care organizations, representing millions of MD's and RN's, who actively support the therapeutic use of cannabis under health care control. As representatives of federally supplied cannabis patients and as patient advocates for the potential therapeutic cannabis patients class, Patients Out of Time claims injury and standing in this petition.

The full text of the petition can be found at www.drugscience.org.

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MARIJUANA STUDY TRIES TO BRING FACTS TO HEATED DEBATE

A doctor takes a scientific look at the illegal drug's effects on HIV patients with painful symptoms 

Source: Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research - University of California (see http://www.cmcr.ucsd.edu/geninfo/14102002.htm).

October 14, 2002 from www.latimes.com

By Linda Marsa, Times Staff Writer

In March, in a hospital room tucked in a quiet corner of San Francisco General Hospital, a 39-year-old AIDS patient made history of sorts when he lighted a marijuana cigarette -- legally. He is the first of 16 volunteers participating in a study of whether the illicit herb can relieve the pain in the hands and feet that afflicts people with HIV.

Although anecdotal stories abound about marijuana's therapeutic powers, there is no data to support such claims. Dr. Donald I. Abrams, who's heading the study at UC San Francisco, says his research -- and similar studies that are getting underway -- are an attempt "to inject some facts into this very emotionally charged debate."

Scientific interest in medicinal marijuana is blooming. It has been kindled, in part, by the recent discovery of a molecular signaling system in the brain and other parts of the body activated by cannabinoids, naturally occurring compounds that are chemical cousins to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the active ingredient in marijuana, according to Abrams. Research suggests this system affects movement and emotional excitability, appetite and the growth of cancerous tumors -- and may be as potent as morphine in reducing pain. These findings may explain why smoking marijuana has a calming effect,  combats nausea or gives users the munchies.

Smoking, of course, is a crude and hazardous way of delivering THC, and scientists eventually hope to synthesize marijuana's medicinal compounds into a pill. But right now, Abrams' main objective is doing bulletproof science. Because of the tremendous controversy, he says, "we have a burden to do this correctly."

An AIDS doctor since the epidemic began, Abrams knew many of his patients smoked pot to curb nausea and stimulate their appetites, which is why he wanted to study its medicinal potential. In 1998, after a lengthy battle to get funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Abrams conducted the first test of pot on people with HIV. That study showed marijuana helped patients gain weight without weakening their immune system. 

If all goes well, his current study will be broadened to involve 100 subjects, half of whom will receive a placebo or dummy cigarette. Abrams is also in the initial phase of tests that use cannabis to ease pain in patients with bone metastases from advanced breast and prostate cancer. "We're looking to see if there is a beneficial interaction between cannabis and morphine, and if pot can decrease the side effects of these opiates," he says.

A potential powerhouse

The San Francisco study is the first sponsored by the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research. Managed by the University of California, the center is funded by a 1999 state law that provides $3 million annually for three years to study marijuana's potential use.

The active ingredient in marijuana appears to be the Swiss Army knife of therapeutics: a powerful painkiller that also can combat cancer, curb nausea, stimulate appetite, reduce anxiety, ease joint stiffness and control muscle spasms.

The center has so far given the go-ahead to 15 projects, two-thirds of which have cleared many federal regulatory hurdles, including scrutiny from the Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the Food and Drug Administration. Four studies -- on AIDS patients, multiple sclerosis sufferers and people with metastatic cancer -- are already underway, and several more are gearing up, making this "the largest program ever done in the U.S. on this topic," says Dr. Igor Grant, a psychiatrist at UC San Diego.

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HUNDREDS INVOLVED IN CANNABIS TRIALS

Source: BBC News (UK Web), October 4, 2002. Copyright: 2002 BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/). View the complete article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1927/a04.html?1813.

(UK) Hundreds of patients have been recruited to take part in clinical trials of cannabis based in Devon.

The research, by Dr John Zajicek at the Peninsula Medical School, is to investigate the use of canaboids on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

About 44 patients were recruited in Plymouth in January last year and now that figure has risen to 667 worldwide.

Thirty three medical centres worldwide are contributing to Dr Zajicek's research, which should be completed by February 2003.

Dr Zajicek's work is being funded by the Medical Research Council, which has contributed more than UKP1m.

Dr Zajicek said he thinks there may be real health benefits for MS patients and some people have responded very well to treatment.

After the results are released, he said it is then down to parliament to decide what to do.

Dr Zajicek said: "All the indications are that they're going to take a lot of notice of the results of this study.

"This is the biggest study into cannabis ever produced and I think it will inform the politicians and the regulators of medicines as to how useful these drugs are going to be.

[snip]

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RELEASE OF POSITIVE DATA FROM COMPLETED PHASE II PAIN TRIAL

GW Pharmaceuticals September 30, 2002 Press Release (see http://www.gwpharm.com/news_pres_30_sep_02.html)

(UK) GW Pharmaceuticals plc, the pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of non-smoked cannabis-based prescription medicines, announces the latest Phase II data from a completed 34 patient study in patients with Multiple Sclerosis ("MS"), Spinal Cord Injury and other conditions, suffering primarily from severe pain. This new data represents the largest patient study presented to date by GW and demonstrates significant benefits for patients, notably in the relief of pain and improvement in sleep.

The data was presented by Dr Willy Notcutt, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, at the American Academy of Pain Management (http://www.aapainmanage.org/) in Reno, Nevada, USA on Saturday 28 September 2002.

In his pain clinic, Dr Notcutt examined 34 patients with severe symptoms resulting from MS, Spinal Cord Injury and other medical conditions which could not be treated satisfactorily with current medications. The placebo-controlled trial included three different cannabis-based medicines.

Of the 34 patients, 28 obtained benefit or significant benefit and elected to continue on to a long-term trial. Twenty-five are still on that trial, a number of which have been taking the medication for over 2 years. Only six of the patients obtained no benefit from the medication.

Dr Geoffrey Guy, Executive Chairman of GW, commented,."I am also pleased to report that patient recruitment and data analysis for a number of our Phase III trials has proceeded ahead of schedule. We now expect to announce preliminary Phase III results in November."

[snip]

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CANADA: FIRST CLINICAL POT TRIAL TO USE U.S. STASH

Source: Globe and Mail (Canada), October 10, 2002. Copyright: 2002, The Globe and Mail Company (http://www.globeandmail.ca/). View the entire article at http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n1893.a08.html

By: Brian Laghi

(Ottawa) Canada's first clinical study on the use of medicinal marijuana will use cannabis grown in the United States while a large, Canadian-grown stash of the drug sits on ice.

The United States National Institute on Drug Abuse has agreed to supply the drug for a Toronto-based trial, even though that country's drug czar disapproves of the program.

Meanwhile, about 200 kilograms of cannabis grown with Ottawa's sanction in an abandoned Manitoba mine sits in storage and will not be used on patients, Health Canada says. 

[snip]

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CANADA'S POT PROPOSAL WORRIES UNITED STATES

Source: The News (Mexico), October 17, 2002. Copyright: 2002 The News (http://www.thenewsmexico.com). View this entire article at: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02.n1937.a10.html.

By: Tom Cohen, AP

(Toronto) American officials caution they may be forced to drastically slow trade across the northern U.S. border if the Canadian government relaxes its marijuana laws.

The changes being considered by Prime Minister Jean Chretien's government would make the penalty for getting caught with a joint similar to a traffic ticket.

By contrast, the zero tolerance policy of the United States makes possession of even small amounts illegal.

U.S. drug policy experts say decriminalizing marijuana in Canada will increase drug use in America and trafficking by organized crime elements on both sides of the border. Washington would respond with tighter border checks that could hinder trade crucial to the Canadian economy.

"We intend to protect our citizens. We would have no choice," said John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

[snip]

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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.

All articles are intended for educational purposes and do not reflect an official position, either positive or negative, by the OPN or its Board of Directors.

Ohio Patient Network does not endorse any candidates running for office. The reports of campaign-related activities are for educational purposes only.

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

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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.