Researchers at the University of Arizona report they've found precious little credible research that shows marijuana is effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder.
Ditto for migraines, depression and general anxiety disorder, said the doctors from the school's College of Public Health.
And those findings -- or, more to the point, the lack of findings -- could prove to be a fatal blow to efforts by some to expand the list of ailments for which a doctor in Arizona can legally recommend marijuana. State Health Director Will Humble, who gets the final word, said he expects to make his decision by the end of the month.
The reports are a direct outgrowth of the 2010 voter-approved law which allows the use of marijuana by patients suffering from a list of several specified medical conditions. These range from glaucoma and AIDS to any chronic or debilitating condition that leads to severe and chronic pain.
With a doctor's recommendation, patients can get a card from the state allowing them to obtain up to 2 1/2 ounces of marijuana every two weeks. So far the state has issued close to 31,000 of these cards.
That 2010 law, though, requires Humble to regularly consider requests for expanding the list of conditions for which marijuana can be recommended.
Proponents submitted requests for four new conditions. And Humble heard hours of testimony from those who said they are afflicted along with how marijuana -- used by many now without legal permission -- has helped.
Backers also submitted everything from news and magazine articles to what they claimed was scientific backing.
But Humble said state law requires something more substantial for him to expand the list. And that, he said, means full-blown, double-blind, peer-reviewed scientific studies.
So Humble contracted with the UA to review everything that is out there and see if there is anything credible.
The researchers found precious little.
Looking at PTSD, for example, they rated the most of the studies of "very low quality.''
Among the problems were not only the small size of many of the studies, but that those who were participating were "self selected'' as opposed as being drawn at random from the population at large.
They did find one study they rated as of moderate to high quality. But the researchers said they found no studies at all which actually researched the benefits -- or harms -- of marijuana use among those with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Similarly, they found only two systematic reviews that directly attempted to explore the association between depression and marijuana use.
"Both reviews were of low quality,'' the researchers said.
They said there is "conflicting evidence'' of whether marijuana use and various forms of anxiety are related. Among the problems is the question of whether anxiety causes marijuana use or even that marijuana use causes anxiety.
Nor could researchers find credible reports on the issue of marijuana and migraines.
Humble said while the UA reports are helpful, he still wants to discuss the findings with his staff before issuing a final ruling.
He said the lack of research supporting the theory that marijuana is helpful in treating the conditions is only part of the problem. The health director said he wants to make sure that allowing patients to use marijuana does not make matters worse.
And that fear, he said, is complicated by the fact that the 2010 law only allows him to add to the list of conditions. Humble said there are no provisions for shrinking the list if subsequent research shows that marijuana use actually would be detrimental.
Humble said he has another concern: He does not want to be in a position of essentially allowing patients with some serious conditions to self-medicate with marijuana rather than getting treatment to deal with an underlying condition that is causing a problem like depression in the first place.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 6:48 am on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
And this report from U of A.....Arizona's answer to University of California at Santa Cruz (the most ultra-Liberal of all the UC Campuses). This report if literally from the "horse's mouth".
Well, too bad.....stoners.....pot-heads....tokers....and the like. They wasted all that money going to those "herbal doctors" and getting medical marijuana prescriptions for hang-nails, "ow-ies", roller-blading scrapes, skate-board bruises, head lice, bed bugs, "crabs" and all those other bogus reasons to just get high.
Have to go down to Rocky Point now for a good buzz and dodge the bullets from the latest Sinaloa Cartel Shoot-um-up.............buena suerte y que te vaya bien.....gringos
[wink][wink]
Engaged Voter posted at 8:45 am on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
Ah, the ignorance from the bigots.
Before I get accused of being a "toking pothead" again (hi hillstreet!), let me again stress the fact that I do not use drugs. I don't even drink alcohol.
But to pretend that medical MJ does not have valid medical use is assinine. I belong to a cancer support group, and I know several individuals who would not be here today if they had not found some way to continue to function (not to mention EAT) during the rigors of chemotherapy.
If you've never been through chemotherapy, I suggest you ask someone who has...even the most anti-MMJ advocate would switch their stance in a heartbeat when faced with that.
PeacefulCat posted at 10:07 am on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
Engaged voter nice to see someone with an education making a statement. leon must have a business in Mexico he wants the gringos to go to. Obviously he did not read the whole article nor comprehend it. leon please let us know your place of business so the marijuana medical patients will know not to support you. After all I am sure you do not want patients, Mexicans or educated people to be near you.
There is research worldwide which the U.S. ignores on top of not letting research be done. They have now messed with the Vets; and from my research and talking to many vets who need this medicine, I see they are going to have a fight on their hands. You can not send someone to war, get them back with medical issues then deny them medicine.
Freya posted at 10:47 am on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
I have a very good friend who is a former POW from the Vietnam War. Believe me, I have seen him in a complete rage, I've sat him down, loaded a big fat bowl and smoked him out. He calmed down. I myself suffer from PTSD, anxiety and depression as well as other medical issues (I have Degenerative Disk Disease and I'm in a lot of pain). I will argue with ANYONE about the effectiveness of marijuana in treating multiple types of illnesses.[smile] I hate the fact that people like Leon here thinks that it's a bunch of bull. Man, what you view all those anti-pot movies that Anslinger put out? Did you know that the government back in the 60s did studies with THEIR RESEARCHERS and the results showed that there was NO NEGATIVE EFFECT from marijuana. I know MANY people that use marijuana for medical purposes, myself included. I stopped smoking pot for joy a long time ago. One of the medications I take for my DDD makes me physically agitated. I smoke pot and it calms down my body, it helps slow down my racing thoughts from the multiple mental illnesses I have. I am a well educated business owner. I will go toe to toe with you, Leon. I have the links to GOVERNMENT FUNDED RESEARCH to prove that marijuana is safe and effective in treating a multitude of health problems, both physical and mental. So get your flipping posterior off of your high horse or I will knock you off it and I will slap you down with all the GOVERNMENT information. Bring it, fool!
azvoter posted at 2:37 pm on Sat, Jul 14, 2012.
Leon Caniceros --
After reading yet another one of your anonymous rants in response to an article in this paper, it is patently clear that you are a sick, lonely individual who has nothing else to do in life but sit at a computer and comment anonymously. Why dont you identify yourself or man (or woman) up? It is easy for you to spew your idiotic, uneducated, misinformed opinion when you don't have to support it, isn't it? Your ignorance related to the issue of MMJ is pathetic and your calling the President of the United States a pimp in response to the article about ICE is outright offensive and degrading. Regardless of how you feel about the man, as an American you have respect for the position the man holds as the President of this country.
It is people such as yourself - and this crazy governor - who have made Arizona the laughingstock of the country. If Obama is a pimp, I sure as hell hope he makes you his Ho so everyone who you have degraded with your comments can have a piece of you. (I will pay for the condoms because you must be diseased)!
What's a waste you are!
wdgnas posted at 5:36 am on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
i will have to paraphrase donald rumsfeld for this one:
the absence of evidence does not mean there is an evidence of absence.
and at leon's caps lock key is working again.
PhD posted at 9:46 am on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
…and this just in…"researchers" and "doctors" say "bad things" about "marijuana".
If anything, publication of such poorly investigated propaganda/pabulum is clear evidence of a not-so-whispered whisper campaign against proven cannabinoidergic pharmaceutical efficacy.
Clearly, these unnamed "Researchers at the University of Arizona" don't have proper access to PubMed…
If Will Humble has any interest in doing his job properly, perhaps he might get on a plane to Freiburg -- the International Cannabinoid Research Society is holding its 22nd Annual Symposium on the Cannabinoids on July 22-27th, an event where 300 of the world's top scientists in the field will present and discuss the year's breakthrough cannabinoid research. Each of which, in Mr. Humble's words, a "full-blown, double-blind, peer-reviewed scientific study".
77 oral presentations and 160 poster presentations of novel basic medical and clinical research from around the world -- I suspect Mr. Humble would likely deem each a "very low quality" investigation as well.
It saddens me that dishonest discussion like this passes for acceptable replacement of peer-reviewed scientific investigation.
El Fezzo posted at 3:37 pm on Sun, Jul 15, 2012.
The lead of this story tells it all - the reporter has a bias. So much for the vaunted journalistic goal of objectivity. No wonder he didn't even bother to get another side.
If he had he would have learned, and reported on, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) monopoly. Under the Controlled Substance Act cannabis ("marijuana") researchers can ONLY get their cannabis from the University of Mississippi's cannabis farm, and that's IF NIDA allows it - which it has a strong tendency NOT to do.
In fact NIDA is on public record as not wanting to facilitate any research that may prove cannabis' efficacy as a medicine. So while a number of studies have won FDA approval, researchers hit a roadblock with NIDA.
No peer-reviewed, double-blind studies? No wonder. Too bad Mr. Fischer and the Trib couldn't be bothered to at least attempt to provide two sides to this story.