Source: Seattle Times

Contact: opinion@seatimes.com
http://www.seattletimes.com/extra/browse/html97/altpotted_081397.html

Opinion/Editorials

Wednesday, Aug. 13, 1997

Medical pot gets boost from federal experts

For too long, proponents of medical marijuana have been cast as aging
hippies and hucksters peddling snake oil to the chronically and terminally
ill. A new report from the respected National Institutes of Health should
put to rest those stereotypes.

The experts' review found evidence that smoked marijuana has been effective
in relieving nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy and may improve the
appetite of AIDS patients who develop wasting, a severe weightloss
condition. There's also evidence that marijuana is useful in treating some
forms of epilepsy and spasticity caused by multiple scleroris.

NIH panelists cautioned about the risks involved, but offered a clear
recommendation that marijuana be studied further to evaluate its therapeutic
effects.

"To the extent that the NIH can facilitate the development of a
scientifically rigorous and relevant database," panelists concluded, "the
NIH should do so."

Federal drug policy officials have given the public a muddled message about
medical marijuana. Under U.S. law, marijuana is illegal and has no approved
clinical use (unlike harder drugs such as heroin and cocaine, which can be
be prescribed by a doctor for certain medical uses).

Earlier this year, national drug czar Barry McCaffrey, an outspoken
opponent of medical marijuana, signaled a new openness to medical pot
research. Unfortunately, reluctance to do controversial science still
prevails. Threats by the Clinton administration to prosecute doctors who
prescribe medical marijuana to dying patients in California and Arizona
don't help.

NIH Director Harold Varmus assured the scientific community of its
longstanding commitment to research: "(W)e want to make clear what has
always been the case NIH is open to receiving researchgrant applications
for studies of the medical efficacy of marijuana."

The research community should respond quickly to Varmus' green light. In
the meantime, the NIH panel's recommendation will give a boost to supporters
of an initiative to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana in
Washington state. In the face of mounting testimony from patients, doctors
and federal experts that marijuana can indeed relieve pain and provide
comfort to sick and dying people, the case for restrictions on compassionate
use of pot looks weaker every day.