1JoeSky_IVXX
05-15-2005, 06:32 PM
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IACM-Bulletin of 15 May 2005
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* USA: Bill in support of the medical use of cannabis introduced
in Congress
1.
USA: Bill in support of the medical use of cannabis introduced in
Congress
Republicans Ron Paul (Texas) and Dana Rohrabacher
(California), along with Democrats Sam Farr (California),
Barney Frank (Massachusetts), Maurice Hinchey (New York),
and 25 co-sponsors reintroduced legislation on 4 May in
Congress (House of Representatives) to permit the medicinal
use of marijuana by seriously ill patients in states with a
corresponding law.
In announcing the bill, Mr. Frank was joined by television talk
show host Montel Williams, who uses cannabis and says it is the
only thing that has eased his suffering from multiple sclerosis. "It
makes no sense at all to have the federal government overriding
a vote of the people of a state on what should be criminalized
and what shouldn't be criminalized in terms of personal
consumption," Mr. Rohrabacher said.
HR 2087 seeks to reschedule cannabis under federal law so that
physicians may legally prescribe it in states that have recognized
its use under state law. It would reschedule marijuana from a
Schedule I (criminally prohibited drug) to a Schedule II
(prescription-only substance) and also permits the establishment
of medical cannabis distribution systems by state legislators. Ten
states have laws that effectively protect medical marijuana
patients from arrest: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. A
Maryland law protects patients from the threat of jail but does
not provide protection from arrest.
In July 2003 the House of Representatives rejected a similar bill.
It was defeated by a vote of 273 to 152, which was closer than
expected. In 1998 the vote in favour of a resolution condemning
state medical marijuana laws was 310 to 93.
(Sources: Associated Press of 4 May 2005, Washington Times
of 5 May 2005, Washington Examiner of 11 May 2005)
2.
News in brief
***The Netherlands: Poll on legalisation
According to a poll for the newspaper "Trouw" every second
citizen of the Netherlands is in favour of complete legalisation of
cannabis. Further 15 per cent prefer the current policy of
tolerance. Only one third supports a more severe policy on
cannabis. In addition, the poll shows that 20 out of 30 mayors of
the biggest Dutch cities support complete legalisation. Currently,
the cultivation of cannabis is illegal in the Netherlands, however,
possession and purchase of small amounts and the sale in coffee-
shops are tolerated. "The drug policy is very schizophrenic. It is
like telling a baker that he is allowed to sell bread but not
allowed to buy flour," Gerd Leers, the mayor of Maastricht said.
(Source: Der Standard of 27 April 2005)
***Canada/USA: Opinion polls
Adults in Canada and the United States believe in more lenient
penalties for the handling of cannabis, according to a poll by
Ipsos-Reid for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars and the Canada Institute on North American Issues. 59
per cent of Canadian respondents-and 57 per cent of
American respondents-think the conviction of possession of
marijuana should not always result in a criminal record. 1,000
adult Canadians and 1,000 adult Americans were interviewed
by telephone in April 2005. (Source: Angus Reid of 11 May
2005)
***Science: Endocannabinoids in the eye
The endocannabinoids anandamide, 2-AG (2-
arachidonoylglycerol) and PEA (palmitylethanolamide) are
present in several ocular tissues, including cornea, iris, ciliary
body and retina. New research demonstrated that in eyes from
patients with glaucoma, significantly decreased levels of 2-AG
and PEA are present in the ciliary body. Since the ciliary body is
an important tissue in the regulation of intraocular pressure these
findings suggest that these endocannabinoids may have a role in
glaucoma. (Source: Chen J, et al. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun 2005;330(4):1062-7)
***Science: CBD and neuroprotection
Heavy alcohol consumption in the rat induces substantial damage
to the nerves in several brain areas. American researchers
demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD) protected against this
neurodegeneration in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly,
several other antioxidants such as alpha tocopherol (vitamin E)
also afforded significant protection. Authors concluded that their
study "provides the first demonstration of CBD as an in vivo
neuroprotectant and shows the efficacy of lipophilic antioxidants
in preventing binge ethanol-induced brain injury." (Source:
Hamelink C, et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2005 May 5
[electronic publication ahead of print])
3.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Science: Decriminalization does not increase cannabis use
- Science: In persons with chronic hepatitis C, daily use of
cannabis may promote development of liver fibrosis
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Science: THC effective in Tourette syndrome in a 6-week trial
- Science: Use of vaporizers drastically reduces toxins from
cannabis smoke
- Canada: Government grown cannabis available for clinical trials
(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis-
med.org/)
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)
Rueckertstrasse 4
D-53819 Neunkirchen
Germany
Phone: 2247-968083
Fax: 2247-9159223
Email: info@cannabis-med.org
http://www.cannabis-med.org
If you want to be deleted from or added to the IACM-Bulletin
mailing list or if you want to change your e-mail address please
visit
www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm. You may choose
between different languages (English, German, French, Dutch,
Italian and Spanish).
IACM-Bulletin of 15 May 2005
-------------------------------------------------------
* USA: Bill in support of the medical use of cannabis introduced
in Congress
1.
USA: Bill in support of the medical use of cannabis introduced in
Congress
Republicans Ron Paul (Texas) and Dana Rohrabacher
(California), along with Democrats Sam Farr (California),
Barney Frank (Massachusetts), Maurice Hinchey (New York),
and 25 co-sponsors reintroduced legislation on 4 May in
Congress (House of Representatives) to permit the medicinal
use of marijuana by seriously ill patients in states with a
corresponding law.
In announcing the bill, Mr. Frank was joined by television talk
show host Montel Williams, who uses cannabis and says it is the
only thing that has eased his suffering from multiple sclerosis. "It
makes no sense at all to have the federal government overriding
a vote of the people of a state on what should be criminalized
and what shouldn't be criminalized in terms of personal
consumption," Mr. Rohrabacher said.
HR 2087 seeks to reschedule cannabis under federal law so that
physicians may legally prescribe it in states that have recognized
its use under state law. It would reschedule marijuana from a
Schedule I (criminally prohibited drug) to a Schedule II
(prescription-only substance) and also permits the establishment
of medical cannabis distribution systems by state legislators. Ten
states have laws that effectively protect medical marijuana
patients from arrest: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii,
Maine, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington. A
Maryland law protects patients from the threat of jail but does
not provide protection from arrest.
In July 2003 the House of Representatives rejected a similar bill.
It was defeated by a vote of 273 to 152, which was closer than
expected. In 1998 the vote in favour of a resolution condemning
state medical marijuana laws was 310 to 93.
(Sources: Associated Press of 4 May 2005, Washington Times
of 5 May 2005, Washington Examiner of 11 May 2005)
2.
News in brief
***The Netherlands: Poll on legalisation
According to a poll for the newspaper "Trouw" every second
citizen of the Netherlands is in favour of complete legalisation of
cannabis. Further 15 per cent prefer the current policy of
tolerance. Only one third supports a more severe policy on
cannabis. In addition, the poll shows that 20 out of 30 mayors of
the biggest Dutch cities support complete legalisation. Currently,
the cultivation of cannabis is illegal in the Netherlands, however,
possession and purchase of small amounts and the sale in coffee-
shops are tolerated. "The drug policy is very schizophrenic. It is
like telling a baker that he is allowed to sell bread but not
allowed to buy flour," Gerd Leers, the mayor of Maastricht said.
(Source: Der Standard of 27 April 2005)
***Canada/USA: Opinion polls
Adults in Canada and the United States believe in more lenient
penalties for the handling of cannabis, according to a poll by
Ipsos-Reid for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars and the Canada Institute on North American Issues. 59
per cent of Canadian respondents-and 57 per cent of
American respondents-think the conviction of possession of
marijuana should not always result in a criminal record. 1,000
adult Canadians and 1,000 adult Americans were interviewed
by telephone in April 2005. (Source: Angus Reid of 11 May
2005)
***Science: Endocannabinoids in the eye
The endocannabinoids anandamide, 2-AG (2-
arachidonoylglycerol) and PEA (palmitylethanolamide) are
present in several ocular tissues, including cornea, iris, ciliary
body and retina. New research demonstrated that in eyes from
patients with glaucoma, significantly decreased levels of 2-AG
and PEA are present in the ciliary body. Since the ciliary body is
an important tissue in the regulation of intraocular pressure these
findings suggest that these endocannabinoids may have a role in
glaucoma. (Source: Chen J, et al. Biochem Biophys Res
Commun 2005;330(4):1062-7)
***Science: CBD and neuroprotection
Heavy alcohol consumption in the rat induces substantial damage
to the nerves in several brain areas. American researchers
demonstrated that cannabidiol (CBD) protected against this
neurodegeneration in a dose-dependent fashion. Similarly,
several other antioxidants such as alpha tocopherol (vitamin E)
also afforded significant protection. Authors concluded that their
study "provides the first demonstration of CBD as an in vivo
neuroprotectant and shows the efficacy of lipophilic antioxidants
in preventing binge ethanol-induced brain injury." (Source:
Hamelink C, et al. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2005 May 5
[electronic publication ahead of print])
3.
ONE YEAR AGO:
- Science: Decriminalization does not increase cannabis use
- Science: In persons with chronic hepatitis C, daily use of
cannabis may promote development of liver fibrosis
TWO YEARS AGO:
- Science: THC effective in Tourette syndrome in a 6-week trial
- Science: Use of vaporizers drastically reduces toxins from
cannabis smoke
- Canada: Government grown cannabis available for clinical trials
(More at the IACM-Bulletin archives: http://www.cannabis-
med.org/)
International Association for Cannabis as Medicine (IACM)
Rueckertstrasse 4
D-53819 Neunkirchen
Germany
Phone: 2247-968083
Fax: 2247-9159223
Email: info@cannabis-med.org
http://www.cannabis-med.org
If you want to be deleted from or added to the IACM-Bulletin
mailing list or if you want to change your e-mail address please
visit
www.cannabis-med.org/english/subscribe.htm. You may choose
between different languages (English, German, French, Dutch,
Italian and Spanish).