American Medical Association Says Cannabis Has Medical Benefits

A century ago, all western physicians were knowledgeable about cannabis.  It was a common medicine mostly used in extracts and tinctures.  Doctors prescribed it as a sedative, a pain reliever and to stimulate appetite. Before that Chinese and Indian doctors used (and still do use) the plant.  But since 1937, when marijuana was basically outlawed, doctors have shied away from offering it.  The American Medical Society(AMA), the largest physician group in the US,  has long-held the position that marijuana was a schedule one drug–that it had no medical applications.  This week, they changed that stance and have declared that cannabis has medicinal benefits. Their as yet unpublished report declares,

“…short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.”

One of the report’s expert reviewers, Sunil Aggarwal, Ph.D.,  explains that they are hoping “to educate the medical community about the scientific basis of botanical cannabis-based medicines.”

 

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Thanks to Safe Access.

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18 Comments
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tom
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tom
13 years ago

It works for a side effect free sleeping medication too.

tom
Guest
tom
13 years ago

It works for a side effect free sleeping medication too.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

The woman in the photo has her finger on the entry for Apocynum cannabicum, which is Dogsbane.

Here is the Google Books result for the US Pharmacopoeia ca. 1850:
http://books.google.com/books?id=jBttAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=pharmacopoeia+united+states&hl=en&ei=NOfjTLOEE4X2tgPyz9Vm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA

It lists an “Extractum cannabis,” “An alcoholic extract of the dried tops of Cannabis sativa variety Indica.”

Sounds pretty good.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

Matthew, Thanks for catching me on that. I just saw hemp and cannabicum and jumped to a conclusion. My bad.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

The woman in the photo has her finger on the entry for Apocynum cannabicum, which is Dogsbane.

Here is the Google Books result for the US Pharmacopoeia ca. 1850:
http://books.google.com/books?id=jBttAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=pharmacopoeia+united+states&hl=en&ei=NOfjTLOEE4X2tgPyz9Vm&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA

It lists an “Extractum cannabis,” “An alcoholic extract of the dried tops of Cannabis sativa variety Indica.”

Sounds pretty good.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

Matthew, Thanks for catching me on that. I just saw hemp and cannabicum and jumped to a conclusion. My bad.

Dave
Guest
13 years ago

Earlier this year, the AMA came out with a recommendation that peer reviewed studies should be done on pot’s medicinal effects.

Thus far, most of the studies have been tainted because the Feds standard for giving research grants included actively looking for negative effects from marijuana use.

The more we know, the better off we all are. Right now Americans are in the process of slowing awakening to the truths about marijuana. By 2012, I suspect California will legalize it and so will some other states. It’s a slow process.

Dave
Guest
13 years ago

Earlier this year, the AMA came out with a recommendation that peer reviewed studies should be done on pot’s medicinal effects.

Thus far, most of the studies have been tainted because the Feds standard for giving research grants included actively looking for negative effects from marijuana use.

The more we know, the better off we all are. Right now Americans are in the process of slowing awakening to the truths about marijuana. By 2012, I suspect California will legalize it and so will some other states. It’s a slow process.

Liz
Guest
Liz
13 years ago

Kym, do you have a link to the news story? Thanks.

Liz
Guest
Liz
13 years ago

Kym, do you have a link to the news story? Thanks.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

I updated the post to reflect the ASA’s story.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

I updated the post to reflect the ASA’s story.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

Can you believe that this actually happened a year ago? Check the date on the ASA press release.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

Thank you again. I need more sleep. I should have caught that. Odd though that I haven’t read anything else about the AMA’s change in position. Last I remember was that only the other large physician’s group was speaking about benefits.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

Can you believe that this actually happened a year ago? Check the date on the ASA press release.

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Matthew Meyer

Thank you again. I need more sleep. I should have caught that. Odd though that I haven’t read anything else about the AMA’s change in position. Last I remember was that only the other large physician’s group was speaking about benefits.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

Yeah, well, I plugged Pete Guither’s drugwarrant.com in another comment, and he got fooled too. (I plugged your blog to him too.)

Somebody posted it as new, maybe ASA. The amazing thing is how little press this got. There’s a really nice comment over at Pete’s blog talking about how the AMA’s Dr. Woodward was a lone voice of reason at the Marihuana Tax Stamp Act hearings, a real adversary of Anslinger. Point being that the AMA later toed the line, and have just now regained their senses. Should be a bigger story.

Matthew Meyer
Guest
Matthew Meyer
13 years ago

Yeah, well, I plugged Pete Guither’s drugwarrant.com in another comment, and he got fooled too. (I plugged your blog to him too.)

Somebody posted it as new, maybe ASA. The amazing thing is how little press this got. There’s a really nice comment over at Pete’s blog talking about how the AMA’s Dr. Woodward was a lone voice of reason at the Marihuana Tax Stamp Act hearings, a real adversary of Anslinger. Point being that the AMA later toed the line, and have just now regained their senses. Should be a bigger story.