Via the NYT: F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana
The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that “no sound scientific studies” supported the medical use of marijuana, contradicting a 1999 review by a panel of highly regarded scientists.
This is an odd conclusion for two reasons.
First, that is a clearly false conclusion:
The Food and Drug Administration statement directly contradicts a 1999 review by the Institute of Medicine, a part of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation’s most prestigious scientific advisory agency. That review found marijuana to be “moderately well suited for particular conditions, such as chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and AIDS wasting.”[…]
Dr. Daniele Piomelli, a professor of pharmacology at the University of California, Irvine, said he had “never met a scientist who would say that marijuana is either dangerous or useless.”
Studies clearly show that marijuana has some benefits for some patients, Dr. Piomelli said.
“We all agree on that,” he said.
Second, and more importantly, is the fact that under the Controlled Substances Act, marijuana is legally classified in such a way as to make widespread scientific study difficult to do. As such, there has always been a catch-22 in regards to medical marijuana as the government will say that no evidence exists as to its efficacy while federal law simultaneously makes scientific inquiry difficult.
While I confess to being persuaded by much of the anecdotal evidence on medical usages of marijuana, it would seem to be the case that it would be useful to have significant scientific study of the question. Instead we normally see the drug war mentality coming into play in a way that I deem irrational. If concerns about abuse were sufficient grounds to make medical studies of potential medications difficult, then we wouldn’t have any number of important medications that are used on a daily basis across the country.
According to an article I read by Rebecca Cook (. “Antiprogestin Drugs: Medical and Legal Issues.” Family Planning Perspectives. 21.6 (Nov 1989), 267-72.) the FDA commonly applies greater scrutiny to or delays decisions about controversial products to assuage political interest groups.
I’m sure the medical marijuana is not a popular idea with many special interest groups in this country. However, I’ve heard that the tobacco industry is ready and willing to take up the business of producing marijuana if they are ever given the chance.
Comment by Jan — Friday, April 21, 2024 @ 8:33 am
This dunderheaded ruling is part and parcel of the administration’s declared war on marijuana consumers. They’re not just ignoring the 1999 study. Nixon ordered The Schaffer Commission to undertake one and then ignored its results. Furthermore the most comprehensive, Marijuana: Report of the Indian Hemp Drugs Commission 1893-1894, came to the same conclusions over a century ago. Marijuana use, even recreational, is not harmful and in fact can be beneficial. And that’s just the major research. Study after study has been done proving the worth of this plant. Check out Drug War Facts and Lindesmith Library collection.
Meanwhile this administration actively seeks to prevent any meaningful modern day research. There’s simply no excuse for instance, for the DEA to have blocked the UMASS program except to protect their own interests. They’re making a ton of money on the prohibition and it’s easy work. It’s disgustingly crass and unconsciousable.
Comment by Libby Spencer — Friday, April 21, 2024 @ 12:50 pm
Illogical policy vis-a-vis marijuana is far from just a manifestation of the Bush administration. It is a multi-decade, bipartisan illogic.
The pervasiveness of drug war thinking is what is primarily at work here.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Friday, April 21, 2024 @ 12:56 pm
Like those who have commented above, it is my opinion that marijuana should be legalized. However, I hasten to add that I believe that most of the political effort towards the legalization of “medical marijuana” is not much more than a cynical attempt to get the proverbial foot in the door. In other words, while I don’t doubt that in some few cases medical marijuana may be beneficial, in many, many more cases I believe medical marijuana is just a way to get a legal joint.
I would prefer to see the anti-drug-war community (of which I consider myself a part) make its arguments in a more straightforward manner. Smoking marijuana - like smoking cigarettes - is a poor life choice. No one should advocate it. But in the U.S. we should allow people to make those choices for themselves.
Comment by LaurenceB — Friday, April 21, 2024 @ 2:26 pm