COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND PUBLIC HEALTH REPORT 14 3 - USE OF CANNABIS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES - Peter C. Amadio, MD, Chair
RECOMMENDATION A:
Mr. Speaker, your Reference Committee recommends that the Recommendation in Council on Science and Public Health Report 3 be amended by substitution to read as follows:
That Policy H-95.952 be amended by insertion and deletion to read as follows:
H-95.952 Medical Marijuana
(1) Our AMA calls for further adequate and well-controlled studies of marijuana and related cannabinoids in patients who have serious conditions for which preclinical, anecdotal, or controlled evidence suggests possible efficacy and the application of such results to the understanding and treatment of disease.
(2) Our AMA recommends that marijuana be retained in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act pending the outcome of such studies.
Our AMA urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product. (New HOD Policy)
(3) Our AMA urges the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to implement administrative procedures to facilitate grant applications and the conduct of well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana. This effort should include: a) disseminating specific information for researchers on the development of safeguards for marijuana clinical research protocols and the development of a model informed consent on marijuana for institutional review board evaluation; b) sufficient funding to support such clinical research and access for qualified investigators to adequate supplies of marijuana for clinical research purposes; c) confirming that marijuana of various and consistent strengths and/or placebo will be supplied by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to investigators registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency who are conducting bona fide clinical research studies that receive Food and Drug Administration approval, regardless of whether or not the NIH is the primary source of grant support. (4) Our AMA believes that the NIH should use its resources and influence to support the development of a smoke-free inhaled delivery system for marijuana or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to reduce the health hazards associated with the combustion and inhalation of marijuana. ) (5) (4) Our AMA believes that effective patient care requires the free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives and that discussion of these alternatives between physicians and patients should not subject either party to criminal sanctions. (CSA Rep. 10, I-97; Modified: CSA Rep. 6, A-01)
RECOMMENDATION B:
Mr. Speaker, your Reference Committee recommends that the Recommenmdation in Council on Science and Public Health Report 3 be adopted as amended and the remainder of the report filed.
Report 3 of the Council on Science and Public Health (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. This Report recommends that our AMA urge that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product.
This is the third report developed by the Council on this topic. In general, strong support was offered for the scientific, regulatory, and policy analysis provided by Report 3. Current AMA Policy H-95.952 recommends that marijuana be retained in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. Marijuana for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, and treatment for prevention of disease has not been approved by the FDA, and the federal justification for retaining marijuana in Schedule I has previously been published. The recommendation in Report 3 urges that the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines. Other comments noted that smoking is an inherently unsafe system for drug delivery, and therefore smoked marijuana should not be recommended for medical use. Some support was offered for a more declarative statement supporting rescheduling marijuana, and for protecting physicians who prescribe or advise their patients to use cannabis-based products to relieve a serious medical problem in states with medical marijuana laws. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Conant v. Walters recognized that physicians have a constitutionally-protected right to discuss the use of cannabis as a treatment option with their patients and to make an oral or written recommendation for medical marijuana, a policy supported by our AMA. Given the ongoing issues raised by drug approval by state ballot initiative or legislative action, and the current efforts of the pharmaceutical industry to develop cannabinoid-based medicines, your Reference Committee believes that amending currrent policy is the most appropriate action.
For entire Report of Reference Committe K click here
Comments
Both the American College of Physicians and American Medical Association have expressed support for investigation of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Marijuana in various forms, not necessarily smoked, has been used therapeutically for centuries in many parts of the world. Marijuana appears to provide relief from pain, nausea, and other symptoms, with fewer ill effects and a greater margin of safety than many other classes of drugs. In particular, marijuana appears to be far safer than the narcotic drugs commonly administered for pain, and safer even than the non-narcotic drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen and related compounds that are responsible for a few hundred fatal poisonings each year (www.acponline.org/journals/annals/15sep97/nsaid.htm).
In 2008, the American College of Physicians stated: “Evidence not only supports the use of medical marijuana in certain conditions but also suggests numerous indications for cannabinoids. Additional research is needed to further clari
to further clarify the therapeutic value of cannabinoids and determine optimal routes of administration. The science on medical marijuana should not be obscured or hindered by the debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana for general use.” (www.acponline.org/advocacy/where_we_stand/other_issues/medmarijuana.pdf)
The American Medical Association position is available at www.ama-assn.org/assets/meeting/mm/i-09-ref-comm-k.pdf (the Medical Marijuana section begins on page 12 of the 27 page document).
I hope that anyone who can benefit from the medical use of marijuana is allowed to do so safely, without having to go to a criminal drug dealer and without fear of prison for himself or herself.
"The American Medical Association this week urged federal officials to reconsider marijuana's classification as an illegal controlled substance to allow for clinical research and the use of cannabis-based medicines, he said."
Yeah except maybe these so-called "caregivers" should call the AMA or the FDA before trying to use them as an excuse for why marijuana should be legalized for recreational use first. They are considering reclassifying it to Schedule II meaning that marijuana can legally be studied for production of prescription medicine approved by the federal government, not drug dealing clinics. It will be sold in pharmacies in ingestible form and by the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT in smokable forms ONLY.
Can anyone imagine their personal physician shrinking from advising you to avoid smoking your ANY of your medications as a reasonable system of delivery? But marijuana is given a pass? The AMA should be ashamed that it has neither the fortitude nor the ethos to include the amendment they omitted, "(4) Our AMA believes that the NIH should use its resources and influence to support the development of a smoke-free inhaled delivery system for marijuana or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to reduce the health hazards associated with the combustion and inhalation of marijuana.)"
Katie L.
IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT EVEN THE A.M.A. IS TRYING TO "RECOMMEND" A HERB THAT CONTAINS OVER 400 CHEMICALS AS A "MEDICATION"
THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY REASONS MANY GOOD PHYSICIANS ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE A.M.A.
MARIJUANA EPIDEMIC, A DRUG OF ADDICTION IS THE NUMBER ONE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM IS AMERICA, AND YOU AMA WANTS TO "REGULATE IT" AS A MEDICINE
OUR COUNTRY KEEPS GOING BACKWARD
JOSE CARRANZA MD
RESEARCH IN MEDICINE IS MADE SERIOUSLY ANS SCIENTIFICALLY , FIRST THING IS TO ISOLATE THE CHEMOCAL THAT YOU WANT TO STUDY , AND NOT "JUST" ACCEPT A COMBINATION OF AN ADDICTIVE ILLEGAL DRUG AND MAKE IT "A MEICINE"
The US Department of Health and Human Services has held a patent on Cannabinoids as antioxidants and neuroprotectants since 2003 and was issued a second patent in 2006. (US Patent 6630507 and US Patent 7109245) Anyone who is brain dead enough to still stand for prohibition should use some cannabis to protect the few brain cells they have left.
America is in a Civil War. Cannabis supporters against Prohibitionist. The more the prohibitionist try to harm us the worse it will be on them when we win! Yes we will win, because we have not even begun to fight. We have been extremely civil while the prohibitionist have raided our homes, shot and killed many of us, harassed our friends and family, taken our property, and locked us away in a cage. Now we have support of 50% the nation, the real war is about to begin. Do you really think that this nation has the resources to eradicate cannabis if every supporter was to throw out hundreds of bag seeds in every green space they come across. The thing that prohibitionist fear the most is they will be treated like they have treated us. This is a real possibility, but if the war is ended quickly enough we can let bygones be bygones, otherwise may God have mercy on you because we will not! The choice is yours.
isnt it amazing that the AMA finally declares cannabis should be looked at for medicinal value.
after millions of people already know this, have for years
book of reference for all you "educated" folk
THE EMPEROR WEARS NO CLOTHES .. Jack Herer
"TRUTH IN TRIALS "
for centuries puritans have blocked the science of this plant
the party is over!
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