Newsgroups: alt.drugs From: [a--er--m] at [spot.Colorado.EDU] (Marc Anderson) Subject: Lester Grinspoon at Colo Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1993 00:48:12 GMT -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Dr. Grinspoon gave a speech last Friday in Denver about his new book _Forbidden Medicine_ and medical marijuana in general. I got there late but enjoyed a good deal of his talk, including a panel discussion with a doctor from the Colorado Health Sciences Center (Colorado's Med School) -- uhm, Dr. Robinson(?), I think it was... The talk was very un-technical, and a lot of the data was anecdotal (Grinspoon acknowledged this, and it's understandable due to the target audience). He really did impress me as being someone who knew what he was talking about, though. I hooked up with him after and asked him a few questions on his opinions about the ultimate dangers of cannabis (respiratory system, and its carcinogenicity), and his basic response was that, once we can get it legalized, this problem would be solved very quickly. (i.e., with vaporizers, etc.) The doctor from CHSC was an oncologist, and he was fairly critical of Grinspoon, although, Grinspoon held his ground well. However, Dr. Robinson did seem in favor of making cannabis available for medical purposes. I asked Dr. Robinson what his opinion is on the possible significance of Po 210 in tobacco carcinogenicity, and he said that the other agents in tobacco probably override this danger... Dr. Grinspoon's book seems cool, although, again, much of it is based on anecdotal evidence he has received from personal connections. It still appeared to have a good number of references. I'm probably gonna pick it up in a few weeks when I get some money. One of the interesting things Grinspoon talked about is cannabis' use in treating multiple sclerosis, of which, he mostly talked about anecdotal results reported in his book. I cross-ref'd cannabis and multiple sclerosis through paperchase and came up with a few refs which I'll attach to this post. oh, and btw: Dr. Grinspoon's fax # is 617-277-8423, for anyone interested in getting in touch with him. - -marc [a--er--m] at [spot.colorado.edu] 1 AU - Petro DJ AU - Ellenberger C Jr TI - Treatment of human spasticity with delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol. AB - Spasticity is a common neurologic condition in patients with multiple sclerosis, stroke, cerebral palsy or an injured spinal cord. Animal studies suggest that THC has an inhibitory effect on polysynaptic reflexes. Some spastic patients claim improvement after inhaling cannabis. We tested muscle tone, reflexes, strength and performed EMGs before and after double-blinded oral administration of either 10 or 5 mg THC or placebo. The blinded examiner correctly identified the trials in which the patients received THC in seven of nine cases. For the group, 10 mg THC significantly reduced spasticity by clinical measurement (P less than 0.01). Quadriceps EMG interference pattern was reduced in those four patients with primarily extensor spasticity. THC was administered to eight other patients with spasticity and other CNS lesions. Responses varied, but benefit was seen in three of three patients with "tonic spasms." No benefit was noted in patients with cerebellar disease. SO - J Clin Pharmacol 1981 Aug-Sep;21(8-9 Suppl):413S-416S DP - 1981 Aug-Sep TA - J Clin Pharmacol PG - 413S-416S IP - 8-9 Suppl VI - 21 IS - 0091-2700 UI - 82053565 2 AU - Ungerleider JT AU - Andyrsiak T AU - Fairbanks L AU - Ellison GW AU - Myers LW TI - Delta-9-THC in the treatment of spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. AB - Marijuana is reported to decrease spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. This is a double blind, placebo controlled, crossover clinical trial of delta-9-THC in 13 subjects with clinical multiple sclerosis and spasticity. Subjects received escalating doses of THC in the range of 2.5-15 mg., five days of THC and five days of placebo in randomized order, divided by a two-day washout period. Subjective ratings of spasticity and side effects were completed and semiquantitative neurological examinations were performed. At doses greater than 7.5 mg there was significant improvement in patient ratings of spasticity compared to placebo. These positive findings in a treatment failure population suggest a role for THC in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis. AD - Department of Psychiatry AD - U.C.L.A. School of Medicine 90024. SO - Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse 1987;7(1):39-50 DP - 1987 TA - Adv Alcohol Subst Abuse PG - 39-50 IP - 1 VI - 7 IS - 0270-3106 UI - 88160795 3 AU - Clifford DB TI - Tetrahydrocannabinol for tremor in multiple sclerosis. AB - Based on one patient's enthusiastic report, eight patients with multiple sclerosis, seriously disabled with tremor and ataxia, were given oral tetrahydrocannabinol. Two demonstrated improved motor coordination. SO - Ann Neurol 1983 Jun;13(6):669-71 DP - 1983 Jun TA - Ann Neurol PG - 669-71 IP - 6 VI - 13 UI - 83281524 -----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE----- Version: 2.3a iQBVAgUBLFXMu8UtKvnPICaNAQGDrwIAs4u4WBdP8s1rfYnaKCmRCXiGFkOZKEli ek4HQlobS9dhJ43KhYFyxMxBRa8GMaLFMKHAieAriJ+SFxy/Svzfkw== =5atI -----END PGP SIGNATURE-----