CMMNJ issued the following press release today.
AMA Agrees: Marijuana is Medicine
WHO The American Medical Association (AMA)
WHAT: Recognizes Medical Benefits of Marijuana, Urges Further Research
WHEN: November 10th, 2009
WHERE: Houston, Texas during AMA’s annual Interim Meeting of the House of Delegates
WHY: Marijuana has both already-demonstrated and future-promising medical utilityLargest and oldest U.S. physician-based group reverses long-held position on medical marijuana
by Ken Wolski of CMMNJ
Houston, TX — The American Medical Association (AMA) voted today to reverse its long-held position that marijuana be retained as a Schedule I substance with no medical value. The AMA adopted a report drafted by its Council on Science and Public Health (CSAPH) entitled, “Use of Cannabis for Medicinal Purposes,” which affirmed the therapeutic benefits of marijuana and called for further research.
The CSAPH report concluded that, “short term controlled trials indicate that smoked cannabis reduces neuropathic pain, improves appetite and caloric intake especially in patients with reduced muscle mass, and may relieve spasticity and pain in patients with multiple sclerosis.” Furthermore, the report urges that “the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods.”
In December 2009 New Jersey will have final votes on a medical marijuana bill and Pennsylvania will have their first public hearings. This announcement from the AMA should ring the bell for state elected officials that they can provide their citizens with legal protections and cannabis access while federal policy continues to evolve. – Chris Goldstein NORML-NJ Exec Director
As a person with 2 illnesses which both are medically qualified for medical marijuana I ask that everyone fight for legalization.I am at the present time putting my life at risk legally in the state of New Jersey.As I am much to sick to be in jail stage 3b ovarian cancer but NEED marijuana to allow me to eat fight pain and nausea.I prefer medical marijuana for pain until it wont work any more,it allows me to function and live life with quality with low pain level.I ask as a sick dying person to allow medical marijuana to pass it is a natural herb grown naturally with medicinal purpose medically proven.
Thank you,
Michelle Clossick
I cannot wait either for marijuana to be legalized. I suffer from MS which includes pain and spasticity. I currently have tried numerous pills to help alleviate the pain, but they don’t seem to work. The only thing that actually reduces the pain is this lovely green plant that was put on this earth for a purpose. Obviously, it is a safe and effective substance in which only lawmakers are preventing to become an asset to chronically ill patients. Who has the money to move to California? Why isn’t it accepted in all states for medicinal purposes?