AMA Ends 72-Year Policy, Says Marijuana has Medical Benefits

[Puffin13]

AMA Ends 72-Year Policy, Says Marijuana has Medical Benefits
10/11/2009

HOUSTON --- The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by the AMA Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, "Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes," which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research. The CSAPH report concluded that, "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." Furthermore, the report urges that "the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods."

The change of position by the largest physician-based group in the country was precipitated in part by a resolution adopted in June of 2008 by the Medical Student Section (MSS) of the AMA in support of the reclassification of marijuana's status as a Schedule I substance. In the past year, the AMA has considered three resolutions dealing with medical marijuana, which also helped to influence the report and its recommendations. The AMA vote on the report took place in Houston, Texas during the organization's annual Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates. The last AMA position, adopted 8 years ago, called for maintaining marijuana as a Schedule I substance, with no medical value.

"It's been 72 years since the AMA has officially recognized that marijuana has both already-demonstrated and future-promising medical utility," said Sunil Aggarwal, Ph.D., the medical student who spearheaded both the passage of the June 2008 resolution by the MSS and one of the CSAPH report's designated expert reviewers. "The AMA has written an extensive, well-documented, evidence-based report that they are seeking to publish in a peer-reviewed journal that will help to educate the medical community about the scientific basis of botanical cannabis-based medicines." Aggarwal is also on the Medical & Scientific Advisory Board of Americans for Safe Access (ASA), the largest medical marijuana advocacy organization in the U.S.

The AMA's about face on medical marijuana follows an announcement by the Obama Administration in October discouraging U.S. Attorneys from taking enforcement actions in medical marijuana states. In February 2008, a resolution was adopted by the American College of Physicians (ACP), the country's second largest physician group and the largest organization of doctors of internal medicine. The ACP resolution called for an "evidence-based review of marijuana's status as a Schedule I controlled substance to determine whether it should be reclassified to a different schedule. "The two largest physician groups in the U.S. have established medical marijuana as a health care issue that must be addressed," said ASA Government Affairs Director Caren Woodson. "Both organizations have underscored the need for change by placing patients above politics."

Though the CSAPH report has not been officially released to the public, AMA documentation indicates that it: "(1) provides a brief historical perspective on the use of cannabis as medicine; (2) examines the current federal and state-based legal envelope relevant to the medical use of cannabis; (3) provides a brief overview of our current understanding of the pharmacology and physiology of the endocannabinoid system; (4) reviews clinical trials on the relative safety and efficacy of smoked cannabis and botanical-based products; and (5) places this information in perspective with respect to the current drug regulatory framework."

Source

(YAHOO! It's about fuckin' time! Now maybe we can quit playing games with peoples lives and allow them to use a medicine that helps with so many diseases and illnesses. Bom Shiva!!!)

[doobydave]

This is good news. Truly good news.

Though the fact that a handful of patients have forced the Feds to supply them with MJ for the last 30 years should have been some indication....

[metal4mullets]

O...M...G!!!!! YES!!!!!!111!!1!!!11!

Son of a fuckin' ho, this is HUGE news!! Umm...wow....just....wow *deep breath*.

Ok...I have to go to lunch and calm down

[echc1]

and the worm finally turns...can you send those advisors to the UK please as we seem to have run out of them,or at least the ones who don't toe the party line......................bravo for sense to prevail at last

[Rasa]

Weed will be legal soon in the U.S I can feel it in the air. The California State Ballet will have the option to Legalize weed in 2010 if Cali does this its obviously going to trigger a chain reaction and the whole country will go legal, the benefits are ENDLESS!

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

Weed will be legal soon in the U.S I can feel it in the air. The California State Ballet will have the option to Legalize weed in 2010 if Cali does this its obviously going to trigger a chain reaction and the whole country will go legal, the benefits are ENDLESS!

Would that mean the Government would put less pressure on Canada's liberal cannabis stance? Possibly leading to legalisation there as well?

[metal4mullets]

Would that mean the Government would put less pressure on Canada's liberal cannabis stance? Possibly leading to legalisation there as well?

In theory

Let's go! U-S-A, U-S-A! *crossing fingers and toes*

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

Would that mean the Government would put less pressure on Canada's liberal cannabis stance? Possibly leading to legalisation there as well?

In theory

Let's go! U-S-A, U-S-A! *crossing fingers and toes*

Surely the Republicans will block it?

[metal4mullets]

Surely the Republicans will block it?

Not unless they're lookin' for me to kick them right in the nutz! *shaking fist*

[cantona7]

Would that mean the Government would put less pressure on Canada's liberal cannabis stance? Possibly leading to legalisation there as well?

In theory

Let's go! U-S-A, U-S-A! *crossing fingers and toes*

Surely the Republicans will block it?

the democrats have a majority right now i think. wouldn't say the usa will legazlise it though just because cali does. wouldn't be suprised f my state (washington) legalises eventually. we were one of the first states to legalise medical mj i think..in like 1998.

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

the democrats have a majority right now i think. wouldn't say the usa will legazlise it though just because cali does. wouldn't be suprised f my state (washington) legalises eventually. we were one of the first states to legalise medical mj i think..in like 1998.

I would of thought if Obama was going to do it, he was going to do it 2nd term. Rather than a huge decision like that 1st term, gives Republicans a too much of a easy ground to attack on, them and the voice of the republican party that is Fox News.

[cantona7]

the democrats have a majority right now i think. wouldn't say the usa will legazlise it though just because cali does. wouldn't be suprised f my state (washington) legalises eventually. we were one of the first states to legalise medical mj i think..in like 1998.

I would of thought if Obama was going to do it, he was going to do it 2nd term. Rather than a huge decision like that 1st term, gives Republicans a too much of a easy ground to attack on, them and the voice of the republican party that is Fox News.

agreed. we shall see maybe he'll make a bold decision. alot of talk political radio seems to be sort of the voice of the republican party as well. iv heard waaaaaay mre conservative radio shows/political pundits on the radio than liberal. prob more than you hear on tv as well.

[Sir Niall of Essex-sire]

I would of thought if Obama was going to do it, he was going to do it 2nd term. Rather than a huge decision like that 1st term, gives Republicans a too much of a easy ground to attack on, them and the voice of the republican party that is Fox News.

agreed. we shall see maybe he'll make a bold decision. alot of talk political radio seems to be sort of the voice of the republican party as well. iv heard waaaaaay mre conservative radio shows/political pundits on the radio than liberal. prob more than you hear on tv as well.[/quote]

Yea man i guess your right. Olbermans alright, the young turks is pretty cool as well

[Geezer]

California will lead the way. There are two ballot initiatives (this is the way Proposition 215 was passed in 1996) and oneAssembly bill 390 in the works.

[metal4mullets]

I would of thought if Obama was going to do it, he was going to do it 2nd term. Rather than a huge decision like that 1st term, gives Republicans a too much of a easy ground to attack on, them and the voice of the republican party that is Fox News.

They already attack him every time he takes a shit. It really doesn't matter what decisions he makes.

TBH, I think if he did make such an enormously large move and fully legalize pot, the country would see just how many people would support him. I mean, think of how many TENS of MILLIONS there are of us...that is a LOT of voters. We're talking approval ratings in the high 80s for sure...IMO, of course.