This one study negates all three of the conditions for Marijuana to be considered to be a Schedule I drug.
(1) Schedule I.
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.
http://www.physorg.com/news179118127.html
Study confirms that cannabis is beneficial for multiple sclerosis
December 4, 2009
Cannabis can reduce spasticity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. A systematic review, published in the open access journal BMC Neurology, found that five out six randomized controlled trials reported a reduction in spasticity and an improvement in mobility.
Shaheen Lakhan and Marie Rowland from the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, Los Angeles, USA, searched for trials evaluating the cannabis extracts delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). According to Lakhan, "We found evidence that combined THC and CBD extracts may provide therapeutic benefit for MS spasticity symptoms".
Spasticity, involuntary muscle tension or contraction, is a common symptom of MS. Many existing therapies for this symptom are ineffective, difficult to obtain, or associated with intolerable side effects. In this study, reported incidence of side effects from cannabis, such as intoxication, varied greatly depending on the amount of cannabis needed to effectively limit spasticity, but the researchers note that side effects were also seen in the placebogroups. They add, "Considering the distress and limitations spasticity brings to individuals with MS, it is important to carefully weigh the potential for side effects with the potential for symptom relief ".
Lakhan concludes, "The therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in MS is comprehensive and should be given considerable attention".
More information: Whole plant cannabis extracts in the treatment of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review, Shaheen E Lakhan and Marie Rowland, BMC Neurology (in press), http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcneurol/