Researchers from the University of California, San Diego have released a new study linking positive effects of smoked marijuana to multiple sclerosis, giving sufferers of the disease hope for new, alternate forms of treatment.
Lead researcher Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D., Ph.D. set out to see if marijuana could have positive effects on spasticity, muscle tightness and pain that is a common symptom of multiple sclerosis.
Corey-Bloom and her fellow researchers at UCSD's Center for Medical Cannabis Research found that yes, positive effects exist, even if only qualitatively, and more research needs to be done in light of these findings.
Just one day after California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi publicly acknowledged the improvement to terminally-ill patients' quality of life due to medical marijuana and called for "federal policies that recognize the scientific evidence and clinical research demonstrating the medical benefits of medicinal marijuana," Santa Barbara police, along with federal agents, served and executed 4 search warrants in the past 48 hours on medical marijuana dispensaries and their operators' homes. Money, property, and medical marijuana was seized, but no arrests were made in the operation that was headed by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi issued a statement yesterday in defense of California's medical marijuana program, addressing concerns about the federal government's actions against the state's patients and businesses.
This news came on the heels of yesterday's petition and request that Pelosi stand in solidarity with the state's patients. In her statement, Pelosi acknowledges the improvement to terminally-ill patients' quality of life, and calls for "federal policies that recognize the scientific evidence and clinical research demonstrating the medical benefits of medicinal marijuana."
Activists delivered a petition Wednesday to Congresswoman Nacy Pelosi in hopes that she will help stop the federal crackdown on the medical marijuana industry in California.
An ever-growing handful of medical marijuana clubs in California - including recently-discussed Berkeley Patients Group - have closed because of federal pressure from U.S. Attorney for Northern California Melinda Haag. Marijuana activists are hoping to find anyone willing to stand united with the state's patients and defend their right to medicate freely from the state-approved medical marijuana program.
