Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune (MN)
Copyright: 2014 Star Tribune
Contact: http://www.startribunecompany.com/143
Website: http://www.startribune.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/266
Author: Jennifer Brooks
Page: B1

POT RESEARCH IN MINNESOTA MEETS JUNGLE OF RED TAPE

It Took Four Years to Obtain Approval for One Pain Study.

Within a year, patients will be lining up to buy medical marijuana 
legally in Minnesota.

But for the state's scientists, it's still a struggle to do basic 
research into the plant's medicinal properties.

Kalpna Gupta, a professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota, 
spent four years entangled in federal paperwork before winning 
approval to study whether vaporized cannabis was an effective pain 
relief treatment for patients with sickle cell disease. The research 
itself will take another four years.

Eight years is "too long," Gupta told members of the Minnesota 
Legislature's Task Force on Medical Cannabis Therapeutic Research on 
Wednesday afternoon. The university is home to one of only two labs 
in the United States licensed by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency 
to grow cannabis, and its researchers are studying the drug's 
effectiveness on debilitating pain from conditions like cancer and sickle cell.

"When I try to do scientific research, social issues get in the way," 
Gupta told members of the task force, which will be assessing the 
effect of the state's new medical marijuana program. The 23-member 
panel is made up of lawmakers, medical and legal experts, law 
enforcement officials, substance abuse experts and patients.

Minnesota is one of 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana, 
despite the fact that the federal government still categorizes 
cannabis as a dangerous drug with no recognized medical value. The 
state is scrambling to get the new program up and running by next July.

The Department of Health is now accepting applications from 
entrepreneurs interested in becoming one of the two manufacturers 
that will grow and refine cannabis for eight retail outlets that will 
be set up around the state.

Minnesota's medical marijuana law is more narrowly focused than most. 
Not only will there be fewer places to buy the drug than in many 
states, but it will be available for sale only in non-smokable forms. 
The Legislature also limited the number of medical conditions that 
would permit use of medical cannabis - barring patients suffering 
from chronic pain and other conditions.

Gupta, however, said preliminary studies indicate that cannabis may 
provide relief for different types of pain.

Minnesota will allow patients with a host of other illnesses access 
to marijuana. Approved conditions range from terminal illnesses, to 
cancer, to seizure disorders.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom