Page 28 - ARUBA TODAY

A28 SCIENCE
Wednesday 12 June 2019
Marijuana health claims lure patients as science catches up

By CARLA K. JOHNSON made from CBD, to treat tients with AIDS or cancer. In one study, nine patients Such challenges are com-
AP Medical Writer two rare seizure disorders. And researchers continue with an aggressive form mon for scientists studying
SEATTLE (AP) — Marijuana THC causes marijuana’s to study whether marijuana of brain cancer had THC an outlaw medicine, said
has been shown to help mind-altering effect; CBD helps with PTSD, back pain injected into their tumors; Dr. Igor Grant, who directs
ease pain and a few other doesn’t get people high. and other problems. any effect on their survival the oldest marijuana re-
health problems, yet two- search center in the U.S. at
thirds of U.S. states have the University of California,
decided pot should be San Diego.
legal to treat many other There, scientists are study-
conditions with little scien- ing marijuana chemicals
tific backing. for children with autism and
At least 1.4 million Ameri- adults with a brain disorder
cans are using marijuana that causes uncontrollable
for their health, accord- shaking. Established by
ing to an Associated Press state law in 2000, the Cen-
analysis of states that track ter for Medicinal Cannabis
medical marijuana pa- Research once relied solely
tients. on California for funding.
The number of medical The center now has support
marijuana cardholders from private foundations, a
more than tripled in the last sign of growing public ac-
five years as more states ceptance of the research.
jumped on the bandwag- TRACKING PATIENTS
on. The analysis is based Minnesota medical mari-
on data from 26 states and juana patients must regu-
the District of Columbia. larly fill out surveys about
The total climbs to 2.6 mil- their symptoms and side ef-
lion patients if California, fects. That allows research-
Washington and Maine are ers to study how people
included, the AP estimates. In this Friday, March 22, 2019 file photo, an employee at a medical marijuana dispensary in Egg with cancer react to mari-
States that expanded the Harbor Township, N.J., sorts buds into prescription bottles. juana.
use of medical pot for com- Associated Press In one study, a third of can-
mon ailments such as se- cer patients made only one
vere pain, post-traumatic British drugmaker GW Phar- OPIOID ALTERNATIVE? was unclear. Another study purchase and didn’t come
stress disorder and anxiety maceuticals is seeking U.S. New York, New Jersey, found worrying evidence back during a four-month
saw a boost in enrollment, approval for Sativex. Other Pennsylvania and New that marijuana might in- period. They may have
the AP found. companies are pursuing Mexico allow medical mar- terfere with some cancer died, or decided marijuana
The U.S. government, Food and Drug Administra- ijuana for opioid addiction drugs, making them less ef- was too expensive or didn’t
meanwhile, both considers tion backing for products despite little evidence it fective. work. Of the rest, most re-
marijuana an illegal drug based on marijuana ingre- works. RESEARCHING AN OUTLAW ported improvements in
and a therapeutic herb dients. But marijuana may be MEDICINE vomiting, pain, disturbed
worth more study. Arizona-based Insys Ther- helpful in reducing use of The U.S. government grows sleep, anxiety and depres-
A look at the health claims apeutics, which filed for opioid painkillers. The Na- marijuana for research at a sion with few side effects.
and research on medical bankruptcy protection tional Center for Comple- farm in Mississippi and gen- Marijuana can ease many
marijuana: Monday as it faced fallout mentary and Integrative erally bans grant-funded symptoms “all at one time,”
THE EVIDENCE over its marketing of an Health, better known for studies of real-world prod- but more study is needed,
Besides chronic pain, addictive opioid painkiller, its research on herbs and ucts. said study co-author Dr.
there’s strong evidence is developing CBD drugs yoga, has set aside $3 mil- But a mobile lab inside a Dylan Zylla of the health
marijuana or its ingredi- for two types of childhood lion for studies to determine white Dodge van allows care system HealthPartners.
ents can ease nausea and epilepsy and a rare genet- which of marijuana’s 400- University of Colorado Boul- He has no financial ties to
vomiting from chemother- ic disorder. Pennsylvania- plus chemicals help with der researchers to study cannabis companies. Zylla
apy and help with symp- based Zynerba Pharma- pain. the potent strains of mari- is studying whether can-
toms of multiple sclerosis. ceuticals is working on a THC was excluded how- juana many patients con- cer patients can decrease
Several European coun- CBD skin patch for autism ever. sume without running afoul their prescription opioid use
tries have approved Sa- and fragile X syndrome, a Its mood-altering effects of the law. while using marijuana.
tivex, a mouth spray con- genetic condition. and potential for addic- Study participants use mar- Marijuana “does seem to
taining THC and CBD, for Prescription drugs already tion and abuse make it less ijuana in their homes, com- help patients,” he said,
multiple sclerosis symp- on the market use synthet- useful for pain, said Dr. Da- ing to the van for blood “but so much is unknown
toms. Last year, U.S. regu- ic THC to treat weight loss, vid Shurtleff, the agency’s draws and other tests be- about the risks, side effects
lators approved Epidiolex, nausea and vomiting in pa- deputy director. And THC fore and after using, said and drug interactions.”q
has been studied more Cinnamon Bidwell who has
than the lesser-known com- federal grants to study mar-
pounds. ijuana’s effects on lower
CURE FOR CANCER? back pain and anxiety.
Despite online claims, With increased demand
there’s only weak evi- for research pot, the Drug
dence that marijuana’s Enforcement Administra-
ingredients might one day tion created an applica-
be used to treat cancer. tion process for growers,
Most studies have been in but has not acted on more
animals or in the lab. Re- than two dozen applica-
sults have been mixed. tions.