Legalisation of Medical Marijuana has still to go a long way!

[robertone]

UNIS/NAR/902
8 June 2005

INCB: US Supreme Court Decision on Cannabis
Upholds International Law

VIENNA, 8 June (UN Information Service) -- The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) welcomes the decision of the United States Supreme Court, made on 6 June, reaffirming that the cultivation and use of cannabis, even if it is for “medical” use, should be prohibited.

“INCB has for many years pointed out that the evidence that cannabis might be useful as a medicine is insufficient”, said Professor Hamid Ghodse, President, INCB. “Countries should not authorise the use of cannabis as a medicine until conclusive results based on research are available. Sound scientific evidence for its safety, efficacy and usefulness is required to justify its use in medical practice. Any research into cannabis as a medicine should involve the World Health Organization, as the responsible international health agency.”

INCB has expressed concern that organizations advocating the legalization of cannabis, and of narcotic drugs in general, are using the issue of medical cannabis as a “back door” to legalisation. “Cannabis is the most widely abused drug in the United States and in the world,” Professor Ghodse said. “Cannabis is classified under international conventions as a drug with a number of personal and public health problems. It is not a ‘soft’ drug as some people would have you believe. There is new evidence confirming well-known mental health problems, and some countries with a more liberal policy towards cannabis are reviewing their position. Countries need to take a strong stance towards cannabis abuse.”

In its decision, the United States Supreme Court noted that medical cannabis statutes in California were open to abuse, and even cannabis cultivated for personal use as medicine could end up being supplied to the illicit market.

The Vienna-based INCB is an independent body, established by the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs to monitor governments’ compliance with the international drug control treaties. The three treaties are the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the 1988 United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Its 13 members are elected by the Economic and Social Council to serve in their individual capacities for a term of five years.

For further information, contact

Saul Takahashi
Drug Control Officer, INCB:

Reputation Comments on this post:

The Title is deceptive, for the story listed.

[Solidly-here]

The FDA just gave Sativex permission to do final testing on Medical Marijuana.

Sativex is an alcohol-base tincture of pot. Soak pot in alcohol, all of the THC and cannabinoids suck into the alcohol, throw away the flowertops.

Once Sativex is approved for sale (as it already is in Canada), Medical Marijuana will be LEGAL is the USA. So, Robert, I think there is light at the end of the tunnel. If all goes well, pot will be sold in 1000s of drug stores in 4 years or so.

What will the DEA do then? Pot is an approved medicine which any Doctor can prescribe to his patients. Soon thereafter, I will try to introduce my own Generic version: Solidly's kick-ass pot tincture.

[robertone]

Does Savitex work? There where some trials with pure THC compounds, but these never gave the relief medical marijuana gives. Anyhow, the DEA raids any medical marijuana facility regardsless of it has an permission by state or not.

[Solidly-here]

Robertone asks a question (then he answers it, incorrectly): "Does Sativex work?" Yes, it works. It has been tested on 100s of people for several years. Sativex is pure marijuana. All it does not have is the flowertops (and stems and seeds). In fact, if a person wants to make some Hash Oil, all he needs to do is evaporate all of the alcohol in Sativex; what is left is pure Hash Oil. (And, TRUST ME, Hash Oil kicks ass.)

Next he says: "There were some trials with pure THC compounds, but these never gave the relief medical marijuana gives." I have read abstracts of some of the Drug trials. Most participants had THE SAME relief they would get when smoking (or vaporizing) pot. And, depending on the dosage taken, many people also got High (so the Doctors had to monitor the amount taken).

Then the silly-est thing I have heard recently: "Anyhow, the DEA raids any medical marijuana facility regardless of [whether] it has an permission by state or not." Any time a study has permission by the FDA to test a Drug, the DEA has no business busting them (and so, they wouldn't try to arrest anyone). And, when Sativex becomes LEGAL in the US (right after the FDA gives it final approval), this Medical Marijuana will be sold in Drug Stores. At this time, the DEA will not be arresting pharmacists (or the lucky patients).

[robertone]

Solidly-here, if you like to discredit some-ones reputation then also credit ones reputation for good writings!

Swim's didn't put a [wrong] answer in his second line when he asked something about 'Savitex', Swim simply didn't knew 'Savitex'. The second line is merely to put in memory that clinical studies with synthetic THC (Marinol) didn't found the results that where claimed with the use of Marijuana. However, it's true that MS patients found relief with purified THC (due to its immuno-suppressive effects), but this is not the case for patients with other diseases like Glaucoma or patients who are getting Chemotherapy (Marinol showed effects in case studies with chemotherapy patients, however, smoked Marijuana proofed to be more effective and comfortable).

Silly or not, for the DEA Marijuana is a class I scheduled drug and therefor can't be used (at their opinion) medicinally. Swim just wanted to underline the disproportional governmental opposition against the medical use of Marijuana in the USA. Which is also the reason why Swim started this thread by pasting the INCB press release.

[Solidly-here]

OK, Robert, you are off-topic. You were talking about Marinol, but thought that it was Sativex. It's all right.

I thought that most members knew that Marinol was a pill. I described Sativex as an alcohol-based medicine (that is sprayed under the tongue). We were talking Apples and Oranges. Sorry if I was too hard on you.