Montel Williams fined for Marijuana pipe possession at Airport
Former talk show host Montel Williams was busted with drug paraphernalia at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport, according to reports.
While passing through a security checkpoint at the airport on Tuesday, TSA officials found what they believed to be a pipe used for smoking pot. According to TMZ, there was no residue in the pipe.
Williams, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, has been a vocal advocate for medical marijuana in recent years, claiming it has been the most effective treatment for his chronic pain associated with the disease.
Victorian doctors want approval to use marijuana for MS sufferers
If successful it would be the first time permission has been given for the drug's legal use in prescription medicine in Australia.
The push to trial a liquid marijuana-based mouth spray to ease the symptoms and pain of MS sufferers is being led by a doctor from the Royal Melbourne Hospital's neurology department.
The doctor is expected to lodge a formal request with the hospital's ethics committee when it next meets.
He wants to be able to prescribe Sativex, a drug developed in the UK by GW Pharmaceuticals, a company established specifically to develop cannabis-based prescription medicines.
According to the company's website there is no evidence that patients obtain a high such as those experienced by marijuana smokers.
NOT GUILTY: Marijuana Grower With MS faced 5-10 Years for growing 17 marijuana plants
A New Jersey man on trial for growing 17 marijuana plants on his property was found not guilty yesterday of the most serious charge against him, that of operating a drug production facility, which carries a potential 20-year sentence. But multiple sclerosis-sufferer John Wilson, 37, still faces the possibility of five to 10 years in prison, because the jury found him guilty of second-degree manufacturing and third-degree drug possession. It's possible that Wilson avoided conviction on the most serious charge because he cast doubt on the credibility of state troopers who arrested him in August 2008—with a little help from the National Guard.
Wilson maintains that he was growing the marijuana because it helps alleviate his MS symptoms, but Superior Court Judge Robert Reed had ruled that the validity of medical marijuana was a matter for the Legislature and inadmissible in court. Nevertheless, Wilson was able to make one mention of his condition during his testimony on Wednesday, when he contradicted the state troopers who swore they did not discuss why he was growing the drug. "I told them I was not a drug dealer and I was using the marijuana to treat my M.S.," Wilson said.
Rally photos: MS patient John Wilson facing 15 years for 17 plants
Rally at the Somerset City courthouse for John Wilson 12/14/09
Family and supporters of John Wilson demonstrated today in front of the Somerset County Courthouse as jury selection began in his trial.
About 50 volunteers held signs for over 5 hours and passing cars honked their support.
Without healthcare 36-year-old Wilson was using marijuana to help treat Multiple Sclerosis. John has also been enduring an overzealous prosecution on the part of the State Attorney General. He faces first-degree felony charges of ‘Operating a Drug Manufacturing Facility’ after a National Guard Helicopter spotted 17 cannabis plants growing outside his home.
Two state Senators have already appealed for a pardon in a case that has generated national outrage and national media attention. John has been barred by the trial judge from telling the jury that he has MS.
RESEARCH: Whole plant cannabis extracts in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis
Cannabis therapy has been considered an effective treatment for spasticity, although clinical reports of symptom reduction in multiple sclerosis (MS) describe mixed outcomes. Recently introduced therapies of combined Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) extracts have potential for symptom relief with the possibility of reducing intoxication and other side effects. Although several past reviews have suggested that cannabinoid therapy provides a therapeutic benefit for symptoms of MS, none have presented a methodical investigation of newer cannabinoid treatments in MS-related spasticity. The purpose of the present review was to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of combined THC and CBD extracts on MS-related spasticity in order to increase understanding of the treatment's potential effectiveness, safety and limitations.
GNIF Review finds marijuana may help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients
Cancer patients, glaucoma patients and others can benefit from medical marijuana, and now a new analysis shows that it can help multiple sclerosis
(MS) patients find relief from the muscle spasms that are the hallmark of the debilitating autoimmune disease.
"The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in MS appears to be comprehensive, and should be given considerable attention," said lead researcher Dr. Shaheen Lakhan, executive director of the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation.
"Spasticity, an involuntary increase in muscle tone or rapid muscle contractions, is one of the more common and distressing symptoms of MS," the researchers noted in their review. "Medicinal treatment may reduce spasticity, but may also be ineffective, difficult to obtain or associated with intolerable side effects," they added.
"We found evidence that cannabis plant extracts may provide therapeutic benefit for MS spasticity symptoms," Lakhan said.
Although some objective measures showed improvement, there were no significant changes in after-treatment assessments, Lakhan said. "However, subjective assessment of symptom relief did often show significant improvement post-treatment," he added.
AIDS Law Project, ACLU-PA endorse medical marijuana
Philadelphia - The ACLU-PA and AIDS Law Project joined with dozens of medical experts and residents to officially voice their support for the medical marijuana bill in Pennsylvania leading up to hearings on PA HB 1393.
The Pennsylvania AIDS Law Project, a premier advocacy group for those living with HIV/AIDS, offered their formal support for the Barry Busch Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act. The Project’s Executive Director Ronda Goldfein sent the group’s comments to PA4MMJ to submit to the PA House Health and Human Service Committee for consideration during their December 2, 2009 hearings.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society responds to AMA’s revised opinion on Medical Marijuana
Last week the American Medical Association AMA made the historical recommendation to move medical marijuana off of Schedule 1. Multiple Scleroisis is one of the maladies for which the legalization of medical marijuana is currently advocated. As new data is revealed on the effects of marijuana as a treatment tool for MS the position of the society continues to evolve.
Today, 11/17/2009 the society issued an official statement regarding medical marijuana in light of the revised AMA policy.
