Here is a copy of a letter I sent to a physician's assistant based in Fresno that took part in a presentation breakfast I attended last Saturday 6/24/10 in Santa Barbara. It was hosted by the drug company that makes Copaxone, the daily injectable therapy I am currently on for Multiple Sclerosis. Thought I'd share it with you.
Mr. Baker-
It was great to meet you at the Shared Solutions meeting in Santa Barbara, I was pleased to gain a better understanding of the way my copaxone is working for me in my fight against MS, good job! I was glad I attended, thank you. I was concerned that you weren't more familiar with the benefits of medical cannabis in the treatment of symptoms related to MS. Over the years I have spoken with many MS patients of different ages and had worked to get the California Compassionate Use Act on the ballot, which was enacted by the voters and took effect on Nov. 6, 1996. This was long before my own diagnosis of MS in 2005 after a second incident of blindness due to a lesion on the brain.
On the subject of research, as I said there has been extensive research done over the years and yes, as you said, most of it has been done outside the US. This is not to say that we haven't done research here, it has just not been recognized by Health and Human Services. In 1970, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act was passed, including the Controlled Substances Act, and two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration classified marijuana as a schedule 1 drug (reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use). As we know, federal agencies are loathe to change. There is an inexhaustible list of patient stories to be heard and
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers. ASA has over 30,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states.
Please take the time to explore this wonderful resource of information as they have downloadable pdf files of booklets the group has published for specific conditions and findings regarding the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4558
Here's an except that I find particularly interesting.
"A 2003 study that the American MS Society calls "interesting and potentially exciting" demonstrated that cannabinoids were able to slow the disease process in mice by offering neuroprotection against EAE(experimental allergic encephalomyelitits). After analyzing the findings, authors at London's Institute of Neurology concluded, "In addition to symptom management, cannabis may also slow down the neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to chronic disability in multiple sclerosis and probably other diseases."
(All notes and sources are available on the website http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4558#research)
As a regular marijuana smoker for over 20 years, I truly believe that I have benefited from it's use in the suppression of the auto immune attacks that can be so crippling. Having done my own research and also having spoken with hundreds of other patients with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis I find that I am doing incredibly well compared with others my age, looking at number of attacks, severity and also degree of remission.
Marijuana use seems to be the one factor I can single out that sets me apart from so many others and, I expect, is responsible for my continuing good health. I hope to share what I have learned and pass information on to those who work in the medical field as I believe that the medical community truly does want to help people relieve their suffering and gain a better quality of life.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this and hope you will share and discuss with your colleagues as well.
Thank you for your time,
Rachel Sedacca
--
Rachel Sedacca http://www.rachelsedacca.com
Soulful, Bluesy Americana
Award winning songwriter & Luna Guitars Artist
Ventura County, CA
Mr. Baker-
It was great to meet you at the Shared Solutions meeting in Santa Barbara, I was pleased to gain a better understanding of the way my copaxone is working for me in my fight against MS, good job! I was glad I attended, thank you. I was concerned that you weren't more familiar with the benefits of medical cannabis in the treatment of symptoms related to MS. Over the years I have spoken with many MS patients of different ages and had worked to get the California Compassionate Use Act on the ballot, which was enacted by the voters and took effect on Nov. 6, 1996. This was long before my own diagnosis of MS in 2005 after a second incident of blindness due to a lesion on the brain.
On the subject of research, as I said there has been extensive research done over the years and yes, as you said, most of it has been done outside the US. This is not to say that we haven't done research here, it has just not been recognized by Health and Human Services. In 1970, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act was passed, including the Controlled Substances Act, and two federal agencies, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Food and Drug Administration classified marijuana as a schedule 1 drug (reserved for the most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use). As we know, federal agencies are loathe to change. There is an inexhaustible list of patient stories to be heard and
Americans for Safe Access (ASA) is the largest national member-based organization of patients, medical professionals, scientists and concerned citizens promoting safe and legal access to cannabis for therapeutic use and research. ASA works to overcome political and legal barriers by creating policies that improve access to medical cannabis for patients and researchers through legislation, education, litigation, grassroots actions, advocacy and services for patients and the caregivers. ASA has over 30,000 active members with chapters and affiliates in more than 40 states.
Please take the time to explore this wonderful resource of information as they have downloadable pdf files of booklets the group has published for specific conditions and findings regarding the therapeutic uses of medical cannabis. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4558
Here's an except that I find particularly interesting.
"A 2003 study that the American MS Society calls "interesting and potentially exciting" demonstrated that cannabinoids were able to slow the disease process in mice by offering neuroprotection against EAE(experimental allergic encephalomyelitits). After analyzing the findings, authors at London's Institute of Neurology concluded, "In addition to symptom management, cannabis may also slow down the neurodegenerative processes that ultimately lead to chronic disability in multiple sclerosis and probably other diseases."
(All notes and sources are available on the website http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=4558#research)
As a regular marijuana smoker for over 20 years, I truly believe that I have benefited from it's use in the suppression of the auto immune attacks that can be so crippling. Having done my own research and also having spoken with hundreds of other patients with a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis I find that I am doing incredibly well compared with others my age, looking at number of attacks, severity and also degree of remission.
Marijuana use seems to be the one factor I can single out that sets me apart from so many others and, I expect, is responsible for my continuing good health. I hope to share what I have learned and pass information on to those who work in the medical field as I believe that the medical community truly does want to help people relieve their suffering and gain a better quality of life.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this and hope you will share and discuss with your colleagues as well.
Thank you for your time,
Rachel Sedacca
--
Rachel Sedacca http://www.rachelsedacca.com
Soulful, Bluesy Americana
Award winning songwriter & Luna Guitars Artist
Ventura County, CA