DEA Approves UC Center for Medicinal Cannabis Studies
November 28, 2001 – The University of California’s Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research (CMCR), has received Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approval to begin two clinical studies on the possible efficacy of cannabis in the treatment of two severe medical disorders.
The studies approved by the DEA are:
- "Short-Term Effects of Cannabis Therapy on Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis" Project Director Jody Corey-Bloom, M.D. (UCSD) - An outpatient study of the efficacy and safety of smoked marijuana versus placebo for the treatment of muscle spasms, loss of function, and related pain in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.).
- Placebo-controlled, Double-Blind Trial of Medicinal Cannabis in Painful HIV Neuropathy” Project Director Ronald Ellis, M.D., Ph.D., (UCSD) - An outpatient study on the efficacy of smoked marijuana versus placebo for the alleviation of peripheral nerve pain associated with HIV infection.
DEA Administrator Asa Hutchinson said "this announcement is consistent with the DEA position that the question of whether marijuana has any legitimate medical purpose should be determined by sound science and medicine".
Igor Grant, M.D., director of the CMCR at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) stated that "the approval of these clinical trials by the DEA and other federal and state agencies provides a unique opportunity to conduct much needed rigorous scientific studies that can determine if cannabis products have a role in ameliorating suffering or improving prognosis in severe medical conditions for patients that might not have benefited fully from other treatments."
In addition to exploring possible benefits, these studies will monitor
potential side effects and toxicities. In particular, the following sub-study
will investigate effects on complex behaviors such as driving skills.
A
further study at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is pending DEA
approval, anticipated in the near future. The CMCR, headquartered at UCSD and UCSF, is a statewide, state-funded initiative to
study the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis to treat certain medical
conditions. The Center supports and coordinates scientific research at
universities and research centers throughout California, assessing the use of
cannabis as an alternative for treating specific medical conditions. Diseases
and conditions targeted for treatment are those that have been identified as
warranting further research by the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of
Medicine, and by a National Institutes of Health expert panel. Before
studies are submitted to the state and federal regulatory review agencies, an
external Scientific Review Board, composed of national senior scientists,
conducts a thorough review of each study, only approving studies of the highest
scientific standards. The CMCR also has a National Advisory Council in place to
advise and assist the Center’s directorate. After
approval by the Scientific Review Board, each of the above studies were approved
by the Research Advisory Panel of California, the Department of Health and Human
Services (DHHS), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The studies
will order product from NIDA and are expected to begin recruitment at the
beginning of next year. # # # Media Contact: UCSD Health Sciences Communications HealthBeat: http://health.ucsd.edu/news/
Sue Pondrom, UCSD
619-543-6163
spondrom@ucsd.edu