Editorial: Medicinal use of pot needs study

Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000 | 8:27 a.m.

Although Nevadans on Nov. 7 voted overwhelmingly to amend the state constitution to permit marijuana use for medicinal purposes, a decision we supported, some health care professionals remain skeptical about the healing powers of the controversial plant.

We hope those questions are answered by researchers at the University of California, San Diego, who earlier this year established the nation's first medicinal marijuana institute. As reported by the Associated Press, the university's Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research plans to spend $9 million over the next three years to support testing of patients who use the plant. The National Institutes of Health also intends to sponsor cannabis research.

With an estimated 70 million Americans having admitted they have used marijuana, there is a mountain of anecdotal evidence that the plant eases the pain and suffering of individuals who suffer from cancer, glaucoma and other maladies. Some AIDS patients in Las Vegas have reported that marijuana stimulated weight gain.

The main stumbling block to distribution of the plant for medicinal purposes has been opposition from the federal government and from law enforcement agencies in individual states. But if the researchers confirm that the plant relieves pain and stimulates appetite, we would urge the federal government and law enforcement to withdraw their opposition to medical marijuana.

A confirmation of its medical benefits also would hopefully ease the concerns of physicians, who must decide whether to prescribe the plant to their patients. It does no good to pass medicinal marijuana laws if doctors remain skittish.

That is why we encourage the researchers to include in their testing men and women of all ages who suffer from a variety of ailments. Such broad and thorough sampling hopefully would prevent skeptics from claiming that the research was flawed.

If and when the time comes that marijuana clears all legal and medical hurdles, we trust that the plant will be used responsibly by patients. They will be the biggest losers if medicinal marijuana laws are abused.