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Thursday, October 7, 2010

American Medical Assn. stance on cannabis

In Nov. 2009, the AMA released the position statement below. The No-on-13 website says: "Crude smoked marijuana has been rejected by major reputable national medical associations in the country including the American Medical Association...."

It's true the AMA opposed therapeutic use of cannabis for about 50 years. However, the AMA also opposed the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, because cannabis was a part of the accepted pharmocopoeia and had been for centuries. Things change. Knowledge advances. Opponents get marginalized.
•••••

AMA Policy: Medical Marijuana (Nov. 2009)


(1) Our AMA calls for further adequate and well-controlled studies of marijuana and related cannabinoids in patients who have serious conditions for which preclinical, anecdotal, or controlled evidence suggests possible efficacy and the application of such results to the understanding and treatment of disease.

(2) Our AMA urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods. This should not be viewed as an endorsement of state-based medical cannabis programs, the legalization of marijuana, or that scientific evidence on the therapeutic use of cannabis meets the current standards for a prescription drug product. (New HOD Policy)

(3) Our AMA urges the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to implement administrative procedures to facilitate grant applications and the conduct of well-designed clinical research into the medical utility of marijuana. This effort should include: a) disseminating specific information for researchers on the development of safeguards for marijuana clinical research protocols and the development of a model informed consent on marijuana for institutional review board evaluation; b) sufficient funding to support such clinical research and access for qualified investigators to adequate supplies of marijuana for clinical research purposes; c) confirming that marijuana of various and consistent strengths and/or placebo will be supplied by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to investigators registered with the Drug Enforcement Agency who are conducting bona fide clinical research studies that receive Food and Drug Administration approval, regardless of whether or not the NIH is the primary source of grant support.

(4) Our AMA believes that effective patient care requires the free and unfettered exchange of information on treatment alternatives and that discussion of these alternatives between physicians and patients should not subject either party to criminal sanctions. (CSA Rep. 10, I-97; Modified: CSA Rep. 6, A-01)

7 comments:

DDC said...

I see the No on 13 site has pulled down the "dispensaries next to day cares..." line off the front page. Perhaps they read IM 13 after it was challenged on the SDGOP's FB post?



My verification word is "press". First time I think I've ever had an actual word.

larry kurtz said...

Anybody seen any polling on IM13?

"flysi"

Bob Newland said...

Polling is most likely being done, but those privy to the info are being bound to silence (or simply choosing silence) on it. Those people might be ad agencies or about anyone with some interest in the matter.

If opponents of Measure 13 are polling, their silence says something, but I have no reason to think they have money to spend on polling. Maybe I should check to see if they've filed a financial report.

Bob Newland said...

There is no financial report on file with the Sec. of State for "No on 13," the only ballot question opponent organization registered. Here is the name of the principal:

No on 13
Staci Eggert
PO Box 130
Howard SD 57349

DDC said...

I see that the No on 13 website has taken the "dispensaries" lie off the front page of the website.



I doubt we'll see any polling until KELO or the Argus commissions one a week or two before the election. Real polls are just too expensive for the average ballot committee or news agency to conduct very often.

Bill Fleming said...

Typically these issues are polled along with the major candidates' polling because they help identify who the undecided voters at the polls will be. Oftentimes issues related campaigns who don't have the budget to do polling themselves can and do get info from campaigns who are sympathetic to their cause.

Sometimes, they're even able to convince candidates to let them "piggyback" a few questions on their polls. I would be willing to bet quite a good sum that your opponents are doing exactly that, and have very good and specific information indeed.

If your side doesn't have access to this kind of info, the best thing to do is watch what your opponents are doing and respond quickly, concisely, creatively and memorably.

Oh, and get some good spies...

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