Robert Celt
New Member
The recent announcement that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will relax requirements on cannabis-derived research is encouraging. In the past, the Pennsylvania Medical Society has called on both state and federal officials to support further research on the efficacy and safety of the medical use of cannabis.
This announcement by the DEA recently gave our organization an opportunity to reach out to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of our members and their patients. In reaching out to Stephen Ostroff, MD, acting commissioner of the FDA and a past acting physician general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Medical Society encouraged the FDA to support research that hopefully could lead to the development of treatment options not now available. We also urged the FDA to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II substance to facilitate research across the country.
Given Dr. Ostroff's prior service at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we are sure he is aware of the high profile political debate at the state level, particularly in Pennsylvania, on the issue of the medicinal use of cannabis. With legislation to legalize cannabis for medical use currently pending and likely on the verge of passage in some form in our state legislature, PAMED is hopeful that the DEA announcement may serve to slow down the process of state legislation on marijuana legalization in favor of FDA-approved clinical research on cannabis and rescheduling of the substance.
But why favor FDA-approved research instead of just legalizing its use without the fully completed FDA-research step?
Legislative advocates and patients alike want to use marijuana for a number of illnesses and conditions despite incomplete and limited FDA research on its safety and efficacy. PAMED members have indicated that they prefer additional research and clinical study on marijuana before the commonwealth moves to permit its medical use. This position is aligned with the American Medical Association's policy that reflects the same view.
To date, 23 states have moved forward and legalized marijuana for certain medical conditions while several others have legalized one ingredient in the marijuana plant.
However, only a small percentage of physicians are either recommending or have taken required courses.
For example, a November 2015 report from Colorado indicates only 204 different physicians have recommended medical marijuana for active patients during that month. That's roughly 1.5 percent of the Colorado physician population, using figures from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
And in New York, a Jan. 20 news story says that only 226 of the state's 79,000 active physicians have completed the necessary steps to become eligible to recommend cannabis to patients.
Last October the Pennsylvania Medical Society updated its policy to push for more research after approximately 200 physicians attending its annual meeting from throughout the state overwhelmingly rejected a policy proposal to support legalization.
Specifically, the medical society endorsed an expanded program of trials of cannabidiol oil to treat children with epileptic seizure disorders, with the state funding the research.
More research is needed due to the large number of compounds found in marijuana, inconsistency among plants, and unknown factors. Furthermore, pushing for research instead of outright legalization would help build a body of evidence that potentially could help more patients. At the same time, for those parents who want to "roll the dice," as one Pennsylvania senator was recently quoted, research could allow access to marijuana through trials.
Physicians are held to a standard for all medical conditions to prescribe treatments, medications or therapies where peer-reviewed studies clearly demonstrate safety and efficacy, whether it's treatment for heart disease, cancer, diabetes or conditions commonly associated with using cannabis, to make sure we don't inadvertently cause harm to our patients.
There's little doubt that the biggest hurdle for patients is research, and not getting legislation passed. Physicians aren't running out in large numbers and prescribing marijuana for medical use — likely because they have too many questions and want to see FDA-approved clinical research first.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society will continue to encourage the FDA to support research on the medical use of cannabis and provide the leadership necessary to change how the drug is currently scheduled.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More Research Needed In Pa. On Medical Marijuana
Author: Scott Shapiro
Contact: ydr.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: ydr.com
This announcement by the DEA recently gave our organization an opportunity to reach out to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on behalf of our members and their patients. In reaching out to Stephen Ostroff, MD, acting commissioner of the FDA and a past acting physician general for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Medical Society encouraged the FDA to support research that hopefully could lead to the development of treatment options not now available. We also urged the FDA to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule II substance to facilitate research across the country.
Given Dr. Ostroff's prior service at the Pennsylvania Department of Health, we are sure he is aware of the high profile political debate at the state level, particularly in Pennsylvania, on the issue of the medicinal use of cannabis. With legislation to legalize cannabis for medical use currently pending and likely on the verge of passage in some form in our state legislature, PAMED is hopeful that the DEA announcement may serve to slow down the process of state legislation on marijuana legalization in favor of FDA-approved clinical research on cannabis and rescheduling of the substance.
But why favor FDA-approved research instead of just legalizing its use without the fully completed FDA-research step?
Legislative advocates and patients alike want to use marijuana for a number of illnesses and conditions despite incomplete and limited FDA research on its safety and efficacy. PAMED members have indicated that they prefer additional research and clinical study on marijuana before the commonwealth moves to permit its medical use. This position is aligned with the American Medical Association's policy that reflects the same view.
To date, 23 states have moved forward and legalized marijuana for certain medical conditions while several others have legalized one ingredient in the marijuana plant.
However, only a small percentage of physicians are either recommending or have taken required courses.
For example, a November 2015 report from Colorado indicates only 204 different physicians have recommended medical marijuana for active patients during that month. That's roughly 1.5 percent of the Colorado physician population, using figures from The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.
And in New York, a Jan. 20 news story says that only 226 of the state's 79,000 active physicians have completed the necessary steps to become eligible to recommend cannabis to patients.
Last October the Pennsylvania Medical Society updated its policy to push for more research after approximately 200 physicians attending its annual meeting from throughout the state overwhelmingly rejected a policy proposal to support legalization.
Specifically, the medical society endorsed an expanded program of trials of cannabidiol oil to treat children with epileptic seizure disorders, with the state funding the research.
More research is needed due to the large number of compounds found in marijuana, inconsistency among plants, and unknown factors. Furthermore, pushing for research instead of outright legalization would help build a body of evidence that potentially could help more patients. At the same time, for those parents who want to "roll the dice," as one Pennsylvania senator was recently quoted, research could allow access to marijuana through trials.
Physicians are held to a standard for all medical conditions to prescribe treatments, medications or therapies where peer-reviewed studies clearly demonstrate safety and efficacy, whether it's treatment for heart disease, cancer, diabetes or conditions commonly associated with using cannabis, to make sure we don't inadvertently cause harm to our patients.
There's little doubt that the biggest hurdle for patients is research, and not getting legislation passed. Physicians aren't running out in large numbers and prescribing marijuana for medical use — likely because they have too many questions and want to see FDA-approved clinical research first.
The Pennsylvania Medical Society will continue to encourage the FDA to support research on the medical use of cannabis and provide the leadership necessary to change how the drug is currently scheduled.
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: More Research Needed In Pa. On Medical Marijuana
Author: Scott Shapiro
Contact: ydr.com
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Website: ydr.com
