Chronic Kidney Failure Approved in Washington

By Ron Crumpton

Washington State – chronic kidney failure has been added to the list of conditions that marijuana is considered a valid medical treatment under state law.

It was the opinion of the state’s Medical Quality Assurance Commission that patients suffering from nausea and loss of appetite caused by dialysis would benefit from medical marijuana. However, they also warned that it could jeopardize a renal-failure patient’s eligibility for transplant.

Although, this was a victory for those who suffer from chronic kidney failure, it was key a defeat for those in Washington who are suffering from neuropathic pain and Alzheimer’s disease. The Medical Quality Assurance Commission failed to approve these conditions.

The commission concluded that the term neuropathic pain was too broad. According to the commission, many of the conditions that would fall under this term are already covered and some that would be covered should not be. It was their conclusion that the petition, brought by the Cannabis Defense Coalition, needed to be better defined.

In the case of Alzheimer’s disease, they ruled that there was insufficient scientific or anecdotal evidence that it could prevent the disease in humans.

It makes you wonder what constitutes enough and anecdotal. With Complutense University and the Cajal Institute in Madrid, Ohio State University and Scripps Research Institute having all issued studies that state otherwise, it makes you ask, how much evidence do you want?

The commission should be applauded for approving chronic kidney failure. Most reasonable people can even understand that they might want a tighter definition – after all they are not looking at the fact that it should be legal for everyone, they can only look at the medical question and the law.

However, Alzheimer’s is a terminal disease, and any evidence that it could help a dying patient should be enough evidence to leave the decision to the patient, his family and his doctor.

It is the stories where they give you a prize and then slap you in the face that makes you realize how far we have come, but also make you realize just how far we still have to go.

New Research Supports Marijuana Use for Neuropathic Pain

MONTREAL – researchers have released the result of a study, which finds that smoking marijuana can ease chronic neuropathic pain and help patients achieve a more restful sleep.

The study was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on August 30, 2010, and found that most people suffering from neuropathic pain are usually treated with opioids, antidepressants and local anesthetics. These treatments are limited and can have severe side-effects.

The new study found that patients suffering from chronic pain noticed significant improvement after smoking higher-potency marijuana.

“We’re not saying that this is the final solution for chronic pain management. As with any pain strategy, especially with chronic pain, we know that the best approach is a multidisciplinary one,” said lead author Mark Ware, director of clinical research at the Alan Edwards Pain Management Unit of the McGill University Health Centre. “All that this does is open the door to the cannabinoid being another tool in the toolbox in treating chronic pain.”

The study looked at 21 adults with post-traumatic or post-surgical chronic pain. They were randomly assigned to receive marijuana with a THC content of 2.5percent, 6percent, 9.4percent or were given a placebo.

Researchers found that those who participated in the study found higher levels of relief by smoking the 9.4percent marijuana three times a day.

The study does not address the use of marijuana as a long-term treatment for neuropathic pain, but it does support its effectiveness on neuropathic pain in short term treatment. More studies will still have to be done as to its viability as a long-term treatment.