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| Risks |
Risks associated with marijuana use:
Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study (2002) Russo, Mathre, Byrne, Velin, Bach, Sanchez-Ramos, Kirlin ("Chronic Cannabis Use in the Compassionate Investigational New Drug Program:
An Examination of Benefits and Adverse Effects of Legal Clinical Cannabis")
(studied 4 of the 7 remaining patients in the program, who have used a known dosage of standardized, heat-sterilized quality-controlled supply of low-grade medical marijuana for 11 to 27 years.)
1st pt in 1976; closed to new patients in 1992.
Conclusions and recommendations:
Cannabis smoking, even of a crude, low-grade product, provides effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms, and intraocular elevations in selected patients failing other modes of treatment.
These clinical cannabis patients are able to reduce or eliminate other prescription medicines and their accompanying side effects.
Clinical cannabis provides an improved quality of life in these patients.
The side effect profile of NIDA Cannabis in chronic usage suggests some mild pulmonary risk.
No malignant deterioration has been observed.
No consistent or attributable neuropsychological or neurological deterioration has been observed.
No endocrine, hematological or immunological sequelae have been observed.
Improvements in a clinical cannabis program would include a ready and consistent supply of sterilized, potent, organically grown unfertilized female flowering top material, thoroughly cleaned of extraneous inert fibrous matter.
It is the authors' opinion that the Compassionate IND program should be reopened and extended to other patients in need of clinical cannabis.
Failing that, local, state and federal laws might be amended to provide regulated and monitored clinical cannabis to suitable candidates.
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