WSU High On Marijuana As Medicine

But only in synthetic form, study concludes

"It is strictly politics that they don't want it smoked."
-- David L. Edwards, Washington Hemp Education Network

PULLMAN The state should expand availability and research of
medical marijuana, according to a Washington State University study
commissioned by the Legislature. The report is drawing fire in some
circles because it backs medical use of marijuana and in other circles
because it recommends supplying only synthetic forms of THC, the
drug=92s active ingredient. Critics, including a senator who requested
the study, said a political haze hangs over the report. WSU maintains it
just did what was asked and then some.

We should be exploring the use of the active ingredient, but we can use
synthetic THC and don't have to be growing marijuana," said College
of Pharmacy Dean Mahmoud M. AbdelMonem, who directed the effort.

He noted that WSU, as requested, studied how the state could grow
marijuana "in a tamperfree fashion. However, as a scientist, I felt
it was our responsibility to provide a scientific assessment of whether
pursuing such an activity is appropriate."

The report found "no compelling reasons" to endorse supplying marijuana
cigarettes to people who suffer chronic pain. But it also found
that "hundreds or even thousands of patients may benefit if an
appropriate delivery form of THC is made available." The $70,000
statecommissioned study, "TamperFree Production of Marijuana for
Medicinal Uses," was requested by two senators. One is conservative
Spokane Valley Republican Bob McCaslin, 70, whose wife died of cancer
in l995.

McCaslin was unavailable for comment Thursday. But the study's
other advocate, Sen. Jeanne Kohl, DSeattle, called WSU's effort
misdirected, biased and flawed. "What we directed WSU to do was research
a tamperfree means of cultivating effective and safe THC not evaluate
whether marijuana should be used for patients," Kohl said in Olympia.

Growing or possessing marijuana is illegal under federal law. As a
Schedule I drug, it's classified as having no medical use and high abuse
potential.

Synthetic pills of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are manufactured by
pharmaceutical companies. Taken orally, the synthetic THC, or Marinol,
is filtered by the liver, making it less effective than options such as
chewing gum, lozenges, nasal spray, inhalers, atomizers, patches and
even rectal suppositories, the study reported.

Because Marinol is available only in pill form, research into other
synthetic forms of THC is needed, the study said. "It is strongly
recommended that efforts be focused on clinical studies of appropriate
delivery forms of THC and to expand their use to all patients who may
benefit from this drug," the study said. WSU's study sheds light on one
clear disadvantage of manufacturing marijuana cigarettes: It takes dough
to grow. The report contains cost estimates for growing marijuana indoors
and outdoors as well as buying it from the National Institute on Drug
Abuse. Cost estimates per cigarette are 50 cents for indoor growing, 54
cents for outdoor growing and $1.22 for buying it from the institute.

Patients are expected to need 10 cigarettes a day, the report said.
Supplying marijuana to 200 patients a year would cost from $362,600 to
$892,000, the report estimated. David L. Edwards, a retired pathologist
and medical coordinator for the Olympiabased Washington Hemp Education
Network, lobbied to fund the study last year: He criticized its
rejection of marijuana cigarettes as a viable therapy option.

"It is strictly politics that they don't want it smoked," Edwards said.
Smoked marijuana bypasses the stomach, Edwards said, which is helpful
fora nauseated person. Smoking also activates the THC more quickly so a
patient knows when to stop medicating, he added.

Edwards isn't the only member of Washington's medical community taking a
controversial stand in the debate. Tacoma physician Rob Killian filed a
petition earlier this year to ease restrictions on prescribing Schedule
1 drugs, a move opponents worry may be a first step toward total
legalization of drugs.

Resolution of the issue may hinge on the outcome of a Washington Supreme
Court case, Seeley vs. state of Washington. Tacoma attorney Ralph
Seeley sued the state in 1994, arguing marijuana's classification as a
Schedule 1 drug violates state uniform drug laws. Pierce County Superior
Court ruled in his favor. A state Supreme Court decision is expected
this spring.

Seeley, who suffers from chordoma, a rare form of spinal bone cancer,
claims smoking marijuana cigarettes eases his pain and nausea. Reached
at his home Thursday, he blasted WSU's rejection of marijuana cigarettes
for medicinal use. "It's typical academia they are not known for their
courage," Seeley said.

"I've had dozens and dozens of pills that cost $10 and $15 each
disappear down the toilet because I can't keep them down more than a few
minutes," said Seeley, who is on his third round of chemotherapy.

"Marinol makes me too high. By the two hours it takes to kick in, I'm
completely dysfunctional."

But University of Washington researchers, who reviewed and endorsed the
study's findings, echo WSU's argument that synthetic THC is more
effective because of its consistency.

"By "effective," they are referring to something that can be monitored
and measured in quantitative doses," said UW School of Pharmacy Dean
Sidney Nelson.