'Another look' urged for pot's medicinal value

WASHINGTON (AP) A group of experts is recommending strongly that the
National Institutes of Health "take another look" at granting funds for
research into the medical uses of marijuana, according to sources.

In a report to be released today, a committee of medical experts concludes
there is sufficient evidence that marijuana can be useful for treating
severe weight loss, nausea and glaucoma and that the NIH should be more
flexible in its policies about marijuana research.

"Our panel concluded that marijuana may be useful in treating several
conditions, but much of the evidence is anecdotal and needs to be confirmed
in properly controlled studies," said Dr. Paul Palmberg, a professor of
ophthalmology at the University of Miami School of Medicine.

He said panel members were asserting that "NIH review panels need to take
another look" at funding of marijuana research and at making the plant more
available for medical studies.

The NIH funds much of the nation's medical research, but has only rarely
provided grants for studying the therapeutic uses of marijuana. NIH
officials said in February that the experts' report could have an influence
on agency responses to proposals for marijuana research.

The panel of experts was assembled by the NIH early this year to review all
published research on medical uses of marijuana and take testimony from
patients and doctors experienced in the medical use of the drug.

Dr. Alan Leshner, head of the National Institute of Drug Abuse, organized
the panel of experts after California and Arizona enacted laws that allow
medical uses of marijuana in specific circumstances.