Med bio 1

Eighteen subjects with Glaucoma smoked marijuana in a double blind placebo controlled experiment. After smoking marijuana intraocular pressure, IOP, fell by 20-30%. Effectiveness of marijuana in controlling glaucoma. "Effect of Marihuana on Intraocular and Blood Pressure in Glaucoma," John Merritt, M.D., et al, Ophthalmology, Vol. 87, No. 3, March 1980, pp. 222-228

"Ulcerative Colitis and Marijuana," (letter) John Barron, MD, et al, Annals of Internal Medicine, March 1990, Vol. 112, No. 6, p. 471. This case suggests that marijuana may help control ulcerative colitis.

Further study may find alternative ways to treat nausea and vomiting, to relieve diarrhea without constipation and to learn more about GI motility and sensations about nausea. "Psychoactive Cannabinoids Reduce Gastrointestinal Propulsion and Motility in Rodents," Jennifer Shook, and Thomas Burks, The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Vol. 249, No. 2, 1989, pp. 444-449.

. Fifty-six patients who had no improvement with standard anti-emetic agents from the nausea caused by chemotherapy were treated and 78% demonstrated a positive response to marijuana. This preliminary trial suggests the usefulness of marijuana as an antiemetic agent. "Inhalation Marijuana as an Antiemetic for Cancer Chemotherapy," Vincent Vinciguerra, MD, et al, New York State Medical Journal, 1988: 88: pp. 525-527

An exhaustive study by the person who first isolated THC in 1964, covers the full gamut of research on the chemical and pharmacological properties of the various cannabinoid drugs found in Cannabis. It also gives some very interesting medical uses of Cannabis down through history. The paper covers the mode of action of the various cannabinoids as analgesic agent, neurological uses for seizure and movement disorders, glaucoma, anti-nausea, and as an anti-asthmatic. Shows how various drug companies have tried to separate the cannabimimetic (psychoactive) from the therapeutic effect. "Towards Cannabinoid Drugs," Rafael Mechoulam, and J.J. Feigenbaum, Progress in Medicinal Chemistry, Vol. 24, 1987, pp. 159-207.

Smoking Marijuana improved airways conductance in asthmatic subjects by up to 45%. "Acute Effects of Smoked Marijuana and Oral THC on Specific Airways Conductance in Asthmatic Subjects," Donald P. Tashkin, et al, American Revue of Respiratory Disease, Vol. 109, 1974, pp. 420-428.

. The chronic motor handicaps of a 30 year old multiple sclerosis patient acutely improved while he smoked a marijuana cigarette. This effect was quantitatively assessed by means of clinical rating, electromyographic investigation of the leg flexor reflexes and electro- magnetic recording of the hand action tremor. It is concluded that cannabinoids may have powerful beneficial effects on both spasticity and ataxia."Effects of Cannabinoids on Spasticity and Ataxia in Multiple Sclerosis," H.M. Meinck, et al, Journal of Neurology, 1989: 236: pp. 120-122

. Nine multiple sclerosis patients were given THC, (5 or 10 mg.) or placebo. Relative to placebo, 10 mg. of the drug significantly reduced spasticity as quantified by clinical and electromyographic measurements, and side effects were negligible. (The researchers tried to procure legal government marijuana for this study but the government refused this request. The patients who'd previously used marijuana claimed it worked better!!!) "Treatment of Human Spasticity with Tetrahydrocannabinol," D.J. Petro, C. Ellenberger, Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 1981, 21: pp. 413-416

. The perceived decrease in pain and spasticity from smoking marijuana, indicates that further studies would be worthwhile."The Perceived Effects of Marijuana on Spinal Chord Injured Males," Dunn and Davis, Paraplegia, 1974, Vol. 12, p. 175