| The government says smoking pot
is bad for your health, particularly in the long run. But
four of the seven people it supplies have been looked at
from every angle, and researchers conclude that their
marijuana use hasn't hurt them a bit.
MISSOULA, In the first study of its kind, four recipients
of federally provided medical marijuana were examined for
the health effects of their long-term cannabis use-and
none showed any serious adverse effects.
The Missoula Chronic Clinical Cannabis Use Study-headed
by Montana neurologist Dr. Ethan Russo and Virginia nurse
Mary Lynn Mathre, cofounder of Patients Out of
Time-investigated "the therapeutic benefits and
adverse effects" among patients receiving cannabis
through the department of Health and Human Services'
Compassionate Investigational New Drug program. That
program was closed to new applicants in 1991, but
continues to supply medical marijuana to seven patients.
The four patients
studied, one with glaucoma, one with chronic
musculoskeletal pain, one with spasm and nausea,
and one with spasticity from multiple sclerosis-were run
through a battery of tests, including
magnetic-resonance-imaging brain scans, chest X-rays, and
neuropsychological, immunological and pulmonary-functions
tests. The study provided the first opportunity to
investigate the long-term physical effects of
cannabis-smoking on patients who used a "known
dosage of a standardized, heat-sterilized,
quality-controlled supply of low-grade marijuana for
10-19 years."
The results, which will be published in the Journal of
Cannabis Therapeutics in January 2002, showed "all
four patients are stable with
respect to their chronic conditions, and are taking many
fewer standard pharmaceuticals than previously."
Mild changes in pulmonary function were found in two of
the four, but no cancer cells were detected. No other
negative functions were discovered.
The study, conducted at St. Patrick's Hospital in
Missoula, Montana, was sponsored by Patients Out of Time
and funded by outside individuals.
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