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Professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Dr. Mechoulam gives a brief history of Medical Cannabis, then describes the role of Cannabinoids as anti-inflammatory for arthritis, as neuroprotectant for brain injury and as a possible treatment for PTSD. Dr. Mechoulam first isolated THC in 1964.
Arnold Trebach, Professor Emeritus, American University, recalls the petition brought before Drug Enforcement Administration Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young. Although the DEA did not abide by his recommendation to reschedule Cannabis, Judge Young's findings on the safety and efficacy of medical marijuana are still relevant today.
Donald Abrams, Professor of Clinical Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, describes methodology of double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine if smoked marijuana is an effective analgesic for HIV patients with neuropathic pain. Dr. Abrams also explains how State of California sponsorship of Medical Marijuana resulted in the University of CA Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.
Professor Richard J. Bonnie, University of Virginia Law School; Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, addresses the 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference on medical ethics and public policy, postulating "What is the right thing to do?" for physicians and officials.
Co-founder of WAMM (Wo/men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana) in Santa Cruz, CA, Valerie Corral tells of the amazing help that Cannabis brings to the terminally ill, with spiritual benefits from a mindful approach to life and death in hospice.
Drawing on over thirty years of Cannabis research in rural Jamaica, Professor Melanie Dreher, College of Nursing, Univ. of Iowa, observes cultural contexts of marijuana use in peri-natal and neo-natal studies, including use of "Ganja Tea".
Jon Gettman, Senior Fellow, George Mason University, examines reasons that Cannabis is still on Schedule One of the Controlled Substances Act, after thirty years of rescheduling petitions and scientific reviews before the DEA and HHS. More on this effort at www.drugscience.org
Dr. Melamede, Associate Professor and Biology Chairman, Biology Department, University of Colorado, explains how the Endocannabinoid System functions as a "Global Homeostatic Regulator", balancing several organ systems. He hypothesizes that, "Free Radicals are the Friction of Life. Endocannabinoids are the Oil of Life."
Husband of MS patient Cheryl Miller, Jim tells their story of love, suffering and activism, from first learning of marijuana's efficacy to pressuring members of Congress. After Cheryl's passing, Jim and other MS patients formed the Multiple Sclerosis Patients Union - www.mspu.org
Dr. Petro, Consulting Neurologist and drug researcher, looks at history of medical marijuana use in Multiple Sclerosis and spasticity, recent trials using Cannabinoids and Cannabis extracts to treat MS and prospects for approval in the U.S.
Professor of Psychology at University of Vermont, Richard Musty, PhD examines research on light and heavy marijuana users, from cancer questions to cognitive tests.
Receiving Medical Marijuana grown by U.S. Government on Investigational New Drugs Program, two Federal IND patients speak to 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference. Irvin Rosenfeld, a stockbroker from Florida, has a rare bone disease that causes painful tumors and receives 300 marijuana cigarettes per month. Elvy Musikka has glaucoma and has smoked Federal Cannabis for 31 years.
Dr. Ethan Russo presents worldwide history of medical marijuana used for childhood diseases: including colic, seizures, pertussis, diarrhea, parasites, wasting syndrome, asthma, tetanus and others. Founding editor of the Journal of Cannabis Therapeutics, Dr. Russo also addresses recent science on anti-cancer agents in Cannabis, ADHD and epilepsy.
"The effects of Cannabinoids on movement are profound!", states Juan Sanchez-Ramos, Professor of Neurology, Helen Ellis Endowed Chair. Director of Movement Disorders, University of South Florida. Addressing Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases, Dr. Ramos finds Cannabinoids have potential to slow onset and progression of neurodegenerative conditions.
At 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference, journalist Christopher Largen relates his personal use of medical marijauna as a child, contrasting it with the effects of Ritalin. George McMahon, one of the Legal Federal IND medical marijuana patients and a director of Patients Out of Time, co-wrote Prescription Pot with Christopher Largen.
"From Plant to Prescription Medicine" - Introduced by Don Wirtshafter, Geoffrey Guy, Founder and Executive Chairman, GW Pharmaceuticals, UK, explains why extracts of Phyto-Cannabinoids THC & CBD need to represent the natural balance of the Cannabis plant. Describing Cannabinoid action as a "Super-Modulator", Dr. Guy discusses clinical trials involving Multiple Sclerosis (MS), spinal cord injury and neuropathic pain.
Assistant Professor at College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Audra Stinchcomb discusses Transdermal (patch) and Intranasal delivery of Cannabinoids, focusing on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of co-administration. This research is partially funded by the American Cancer Society.
Founder of the Vancouver Island Compassion Society and Director, Canadians for Safe Access, Philippe Lucas comes to 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference. Because Health Canada has lagged in medical marijuana research and patient advocacy, VICS, with other organizations, has funded several studies and research protocols, with strain / symptom correlations.
Since 2003, The Netherlands has been distributing Medical Cannabis through pharmacies by prescription. From the Office of Medicinal Cannabis (Ministry of Health), Willem Scholten explains how this came about and discusses production, standardization, Cannabinoid assays and quality control.
David Bearman, practicing physician from Santa Barbara, CA, postulates reasons for ample anecdotal evidence that marijuana works for attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders. "Cannabis slows sensory input via synaptic inhibition.", citing role of cannabinoids in neurotransmitter balance.
Director of Patients Out of Time and mother of a Cancer Patient, Mae Nutt describes her education about medical marijuana to 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference. Then Ann McCormick, mother of Childhood Cancer Survivor, Todd McCormick tells their story.
Debbie Jeffries, mother of ADHD patient, and her mother LaRayne Jeffries co-wrote “Jeffrey’s Journey”, how medical marijuana capsules moderated oppositional defiant behavior. Then Patricia R. Skidmore, RN, MSN, HNC and mother of AIDS patient tells her story to 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference, hosted by Patients Out of Time.
Sandra Welch, Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Virginia Commonwealth University, examines the analgesic effects of combining Cannabinoids and Opiates. A synergistic effect was found that required must less opiate drugs to be used for acute and chronic pain.
Chair of Department of Pharmacology and Toxicity, Health Science Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Billy Martin finds a relationship between different drug dependences, with the Endo-Cannabinoid system playing a role as a dopamine regulator.
Observing Jamaican cultural taboo against crack-cocaine use and social acceptance of ganja (marijuana), Professor Melanie Dreher, College of Nursing, University of Iowa, tells 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference how Jamaican women relinquish cocaine addiction by using ganja and impact of maternal crack use on children.
Author of "Cannabis in Medical Practice" and an addiction specialist, Mary Lynn Mathre brings a nurse's perspective to the medical marijuana issue at 2004 Cannabis Therapeutics Conference. Declaring that enough research has been done on Cannabis as medicine to warrant immediate access for patients, Mary Lynn shares the poignant story of Barbara and Kenny Jenks, AIDS victims who were arrested and convicted for medical marijuana.
Closing the conference on medical marijuana in Charlottesville, VA, all the speakers gather to field questions from the conference attendees. Moderated by Mary Lynn Mathre, President of Patients Out of Time, hosts of the conference.
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Cannabinoid
System in Neuroprotection, Raphael Mechoulam, PhD
1988
Marijuana Rescheduling Case before DEA, with Arnold Trebach, PhD, JD
Marijuana
Rescheduling Petitions - a report by Jon Gettman, PhD
Multiple
Sclerosis & Medical Cannabis, Denis Petro, MD
Psychological
& Physical Health of Long-Term Cannabis Users, Richard Musty, PhD
Pediatrics
and Medicinal Cannabis, with Ethan Russo, MD
Movement
Disorders and Cannabis, with Dr. Sanchez-Ramos, PhD, MD
Transdermal
Cannabinoids, with Audra Stinchcomb, PhD
Medical
Cannabis in British Columbia, by Philippe Lucas
Therapeutic
Cannabis in the Netherlands, Willem Scholten, PharmD, MPA
Interaction
between Opiates and Cannabinoids, by Sandra Welch, PhD
