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Note: This page was prepared for the November, 1996 election. Some of the external links may be out of date.
In support of the Californians for Compassionate Use initiative and as a resource to all who are interested in the medical marijuana issue, we have established this unified page of medical marijuana resources on the Internet. If you are aware of any research on medical marijuana - pro, con, or indifferent - which is on the Internet but not listed here, please send an e-mail to: cschaffer@socal.rr.com
References marked with 
are the references which we feel are
most important to understanding the medical marijuana issue.
Do you think the media ought to know about this page? See our Media Contact Lists, for the names and addresses of newspapers, television, and radio stations in your area. Write them a letter today.
In all my study and review of the information regarding this issue, one question keeps coming back to me. Let's assume - for the sake of argument - that marijuana has no medical value whatsoever, despite the fact that it has a several thousand year history of medical use and that a prescription drug is made from its primary active ingredient. Let's assume - for the sake of argument - that all these medical marijuana patients are just fooling themselves.
Even in that case, what would we stand to gain as a society by punishing sick people and putting them through an already overloaded criminal justice system? Even if they are deluding themselves -- what benefit is there to prosecuting sick people?
Cannabis Research Library - A collection of medical research on cannabis
Historical Information
In order to properly understand the current medical marijuana issue, it is really necessary to understand the surprising history of marijuana and how the marijuana laws came to be. We recommend the following texts:
From the Report of the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse, 1972
History
of the Medical Use What you didn't know about the medical uses will
probably surprise you. History of the Non-Medical Use
of Drugs in the United States - by Professor Charles Whitebread. This is a
fascinating and highly entertaining 20-page summary of the history of the marijuana laws
in the United States. Transcribed from a speech by Professor Whitebread before the 1995
California Judges Conference.
The Forbidden Fruit
and the Tree of Knowledge: An Inquiry into the Legal History of American Marihuana
Prohibition by Professors Richard J. Bonnie & Charles H. Whitebread, II, Virginia Law
Review, Volume 56, October 1970 Number 6 -- This is the major research work from which
Professor Whitebread drew the information for his speech above.
The British Pharmaceutical Codex, 1934 - relating to cannabis
For further background information, please refer to
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Marijuana as Medicine - Assessing the Science Base - Full text of the report by the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine, 1999
State Statutes Recognizing Marijuana's Medical Value
Statement of the American
Public Health Association in favor of Medical Marijuana
Cannabis Therapeutic
Research Program - Report to the California Legislature, Prepared by the Research
Advisory Panel - 1989 -- The full text of the results of the State of California's
investigation into the medical uses of marijuana.
A Criticial Review of the
Research Literature Concerning Some Biological and Psychological Effects of
Cannabis by Dr. Peter L. Nelson (1993). A critical review of the research literature
concerning some biological and psychological effects of cannabis. In Advisory Committee on
Illicit Drugs (Eds.), Cannabis and the law in Queensland: A discussion paper (pp.
113-152). Brisbane: Criminal Justice Commission of Queensland.
Cannabis Amotivational Syndrome and Personality Trait Absorption: A Review and Reconceptualization by Peter L. Nelson, Ph.D.
Personality Trait Absorption: An Exploratory Study of Opportunity and Capacity in Relation to Cannabis Use by Peter L. Nelson, Ph.D.
Pharmacological Reviews of Marijuana -- by Leo E. Hollister, MD Veterans Administration Medical Center and Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California from PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEWS Copyright c 1986 by The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
Marijuana and Immunity - by Leo E. Hollister, MD -- Journal of Psychoactive Drugs p159-163 Vol.24 Apr-Jun 1992
Medical Uses of Illicit
Drugs by Lester Grinspoon and James B. Bakalar
Plaintiff's Reply Brief -- Ralph Seeley's successful lawsuit for his own medical marijuana.
Senate Joint Resolution No. 8 - The resolution which passed the California legislature in 1993, calling for the medical use of marijuana. This resolution was vetoed by Governor Pete Wilson because he says that allowing sick people to have medicine "sends the wrong message".
Marijuana as Antiemetic Medicine:
A Survey of Oncologists' Experiences and Attitudes by Richard Doblin and Mark A. R.
Kleiman
Psychiatric Aspects of Marijuana Intoxication -- Samuel Allentuck, MD, and Karl Bowman, MD
Therapeutic Application
of Marijuana - Dr. Robert Walton.
An Incident in Kansas
- A tale of the harassment meted out to a 100 percent legal medical marijuana user.
The health and psychological
consequences of cannabis use - National Drug Strategy Monograph Series No. 25 - By
the Australian Government
Marinol Facts -- The pharmaceutical facts about Marinol.
Marinol Advertising Brochure (Graphic files - approximately 250K each)
Breckenridge, Colorado endorses medical marijuana
Frisco, Colorado endorses medical marijuana
Full text of resolution proposed to the City of Bainbridge Island, Washington
Alameda County Supports Medical Marijuana
Santa Cruz County Measure A Marijuana For Medical Use Initiative -This measure was passed by over 75% of the vote.
Sonoma County Approves Medical Marijuana
Marijuana Smoking as Medicine, A Cruel Hoax by Gabriel G. Nahas, M.D. and Nicholas A. Pace, M.D.
Marihuana as Medicine: A
Plea for Reconsideration by Lester Grinspoon, MD James B. Bakalar, JD Journal of
the American medical Association, June, 1995
Marijuana Compassion Clubs by Tim Whitmire Associated Press, August 10, 1995
Information for Physicians -- Nausea and vomiting - from CancerNet from the National Cancer Institute's PDQ System -- Contains a discussion of nausea and marijuana.
References on Multiple Sclerosis and Marijuana
Editorial from USA Today supporting medical marijuana 7-18-96
Articles by Tod Mikuriya, MD
Tod Mikuriya, MD, is a psychiatrist and Former Director of Marijuana Research for the National Institute of Mental Health
Introduction from Marijuana: Medical Papers by Todd Mikuriya, M.D.
Cannabis as an Adjunctive
Treatment for AIDS Related Illness. -- By Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
Cannabis as an Adjunctive
Treatment for AIDS Related Illness. Part 2 By Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
Possible Therapeutic Cannabis
Applications for Psychiatric Disorders by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Safe Use of Cannabis by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Consuming Cannabis Safely by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Medicinal Uses of Hemp Drugs
- by Tod Mikuriya, M.D.,
Marijuana Medical Handbook by Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
Marijuana Addicts Anonymous by Lance B., submitted by Tod Mikuriya, M.D.
Marinol and Cannabis by
Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Chronic Migraine Headache:
five cases successfully treated with Marinol and/or illicit cannabis. By Tod H. Mikuriya,
M.D.
Cannabis and Marinol in the
treatment of Migraine Headache by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Toxic Effects of Marijuana by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
For New Users of Cannabis: The Reynolds Protocol:
Cannabis Medicinal Uses at a "Buyers" Club by Mikuriya, T.H.
Songs by Tod Mikuriya (At least he has a sense of humor!)
Vaporization of Cannabinoids: a Preferable Drug Delivery Route by Tod H. Mikuriya, M.D.
Cannabis 1988 Old Drug, New Dangers, The Potency Debate, Journal of Psychoactive Drugs, Vol 20(1), Jan-Mar, 1988 pg 47. Mikuriya, Tod H. and Aldrich, Michael.
This is a summary of an article discussing the myth of the increase in marijuana potency over the last couple of decades. As this article and others have pointed out, the strongest forms of marijuana have been available since the dawn of recorded history. Readers are invited to make reference to the various historical documents below regarding the historical use of hashish.
ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MARIJUANA USE
This is an excellent summary of many of the questions regarding marijuana. It is very well-documented. Contributed by Christopher Reeve.
The Myth of Marijuana's Gateway Effect by John P. Morgan, M.D. and Lynn Zimmer, Ph.D. This is a good review of the myth that marijuana leads to harder drugs.
PHARMACOLOGY OF MARIJUANA: JUST ANOTHER SEDATIVE by Frederick H. Meyers, M.D., Professor of Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, Ca.
A Review of the Scientific Literature Re Amotivational Syndrome
This is an excellent synopsis of the information regarding the "amotivational syndrome" and marijuana. Complete with citations for further reference. Contributed by Brian of DRCNet.
Notes on Marijuana and the Amotivational Syndrome
The human toxicity of marijuana: a critique of a review by Nahas and Latour. This is an abstract of an article which reviewed the work of Dr. Gabriel Nahas regarding his claims about the dangers of marijuana.
Marijuana and the Human Brain - By John Gettman, with NORML
The Effects of Marijuana on Consciousness -- From: Altered States of Consciousness, edited by Charles T. Tart, Doubleday & Co., 1972, Chapter 22
Cannabis: the brain's other supplier by Rosie Mestel - reprinted from the New Scientist 31 July 1993 This is an article about natural chemicals in the brain which are very closely related to THC.
Chemical Constituents of Cannabis - Report of a Study by a Committee of the INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE, National Academy Press, Washington, DC 1982
From Carl Olsen's site:
DEA Judge Francis
L. Young's ruling (September 6, 1988) on Medical Marijuana - The ruling of the Chief
Administrative Law Judge of the DEA after hearing two years of testimony pro and con on
the issue of medical use of marijuana. A must read. From the MAPS Site:
The following are new as of September 6, 1995.
The following are new as of August 11, 1995.
From the Lindesmith Center Site
The Medical Marijuana Issue Among PWAS: Reports of Therapeutic Use and Attitudes Toward Legal Reform by Wesner, Ben. Working Paper No. 3, Working Paper Series, Drug Research Unit, Social Science Research Institute, University of Hawaii at Minoa. June, 1996.
Marihuana as Medicine: A Plea for Reconsideration by Grinspoon, Lester, and James B. Bakalar. Editorial. Journal of the American Medical Association 273.23 (1995): 1875-76.
Therapeutic Potential and Medical Uses of Marijuana by Mikuriya, Tod.
The History of Cannabis by Grinspoon, Lester, and James B. Bakalar in Marihuana: The Forbidden Medicine. [chapter 1] New Haven: Yale University Press, 1993.
Club Medicine by Christie, Jim. Reason, April, 1996:54-57.
Out of Joint: The Case for Medicinal Marijuana by Hecht, Brian. The New Republic. 15 July 1991: 7-10.
From the AIDS Treatment News Archive
04/03/92 - Anti-Drug Politics
Impede Medical Use of Marijuana
07/27/91 - Marijuana: Therapeutic
Access Threatened
12/01/95 - California: Medical
Marijuana Petition Drive Begins
08/07/92 - Medical Marijuana:
Overwhelming Support at San Francisco Hearing
01/07/94 - Medical Marijuana:
National Press Coverage, No News
12/01/95 - Medical Marijuana: 80%
U.S. Voter Support
11/22/91 - Therapeutic Marijuana
Initiative Approved by San Francisco Voters
08/05/94 - Medical Marijuana: 89
Percent Support
10/06/95 - California: Marijuana
Compassionate Use Statewide Initiative
09/02/94 - California AIDS
Legislation -- Action Alerts
06/16/95 - San Francisco: Medical
Marijuana on Viacom Cable, June 20
08/05/94 - Interim AIDS Coordinator
Announced
08/05/94 - Kaposi's Sarcoma -- Major
Overview Published
09/29/95 - Drug Policy Reform: Ninth
International Conference, October 18-21
12/23/91 - Announcements
10/20/89 - SAN FRANCISCO: AIDS
ISSUES ON NOVEMBER BALLOT
From the High Times site:
The High Times Medical Marijuana Page
Mississipi and Colorado Nurses Associations Pass Medical Marijuana Resolutions by Al Byrne
The Battle for Medical Marijuana by Peter Gorman
Medical Marijuana Update 10-11-95 by Leslie Stackel
Medical Marijuana Bust May Spur Legal Challenge by Paul Derienzo
Marinol - The Little Synthetic That Couldn't by Elsa Scott
From HempBC (Hemp British Columbia)
Dutch Deport Medical Marijuana User
San Diego Medical Marijuana Activist Arrested In Ohio
From the DRCNet Site
Mother of Two Convicted for Medical Marijuana
A Medical Marijuana Victory - Ralph Seeley
From The Drug Watch International Site:
Just so you won't think that we have restricted this list just to the links which favor medical marijuana, here is some stuff about marijuana from the opposition. We invite you to compare their claims with the research on the other sites.
Marijuana (in general)
Drug Watch International's position paper on "Medical Marijuana" use.
Gabriel Nahas' paper on Hemp, Marijuana and the Law
"Marijuana as Medicine Refuted by NIH Scientists". Dr. Janet Lapey reports on recent findings from the National Institutes of Health. Published in the Best of IDEA, Illinois. Fall, 1993.
This article published in the Best of IDEA shows that no credible organization has supported Medical Marijuana use.
"Marijuana for AIDS Patients?...Think Again." From Drug Watch Oregon.
"GLAUCOMA. Is Marijuana a Safe and Effective Treatment?" From Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 1, No.1 February, 1994. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 1, No.2 July, 1994. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 1, No.3 October, 1994. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 2, No.1 January, 1995. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 2, No.2 March, 1995. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 2, No.3 June, 1995. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Marijuana Research Review. Volume 2, No.4 September, 1995. A publication of Drug Watch Oregon.
Susan Kaplin's paper on research used to block the UK "Royal Commission on Cannabis" May, 1994.
"MARIJUANA IS NOT MEDICINE. SOMEBODY HAD BETTER TELL YOUR DOCTOR!" by Dan Brookoff, M.D., Ph.D. This must read article gives the hard facts about medical marijuana use and enlightens readers about why some Harvard Medical School professors may have come out in favor of it.
"Mental fuzziness linked to marijuana", the Chicago Tribune reports.
The "shadow pushers" are the aging marijuana users and advocates who try to legitimize their drug of choice and perpetuate their crusade to legalize marijuana. They have embraced slick marketing and promotional techniques that target a new generation of potential marijuana advocates. A paper by Rosanna Creighton.
From the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition, Inc
Federal Medical Marijuana Attracts Bi-Partisan Support; First Two Republicans Sign On To Bill -- NORML News Service Story
Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Legislation Progresses - 1-96
From Cures Not Wars
NYC Medical Marijuana Buyers Club Prosecuted by D.A.
Support the new Medical Marijuana Bill in Congress - HR 2618
From the The Scientist - U. of Pennsylvania
Trials Of Marijuana's Medical Potential Languish As Government Just Says No by Peter Gwynne
NORML of Canada Medical Marijuana Page
How to Use Medical Marijuana - From the Orange County Buyer's Club
Ron Shaw's Home Page - A Medical Marijuana User
Last Update: December 09, 2000
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