Interesting request from lawmakers

[seanismorris]

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York is set to become the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana under an agreement announced by legislative leaders.

The Democratic-led Assembly passed the legislation 113-13 early Friday after an hour of debate.

Shortly after midnight, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said the bill would be voted on later in the day when Republican lawmakers had reviewed the legislation.

Skelos, of Long Island, said he planned to vote for the measure and believed there were enough votes to pass the bill in the upper chamber.

The so-called Compassionate Care Act would legalize certain forms of marijuana for severely ill patients. The legislation does not allow the drug to be sold in plant form or smoked, but it can be administered through a vaporizer or in an oil base.

Earlier in the negotiations, Gov. Andrew Cuomo sought to ban smoking the drug, saying it was wrong for the state to promote smoking.

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Their are a couple of things I find interesting here.  One, "the drug" marijuana (in its legal form) has to administered through a vaporizer (or oil based).  This suggests that lawmakers a very comfortable with the vaporizer technology (substitute Technosphere particles) as a way to control access to drugs, and aren't worried about safety issues with inhaled drugs.  

Matt at Mannkind as said Al has been 'chomping at the bit' to sign up collaboration deals (partnerships) for developing treatments using the Technosphere platform.  This could be one example.  It will be very interesting to see how many deals are made even before Afrezza is on the market.

Fyi
One of the things marijuana seems to be successful at treating is seizures.  I think people suffering from seizures can often feel them coming on.  Because of this, I'd think ultra rapid acting nature of the Technosphere platform should beat out other inhalers.  Could it be used early enough to prevent the seizure?  I have no idea...but I do know they can cause brain damage if not treated. 

Heres a list of: Illnesses Treatable with Medical Cannabis
www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/resources/illnesses-treatable

[liane]

I was rather shocked at the length of the list of conditions "treatable with medical cannabis" - given that there are no clinical studies for this. My biggest objection to medical cannibis is that it is not being held to the same rigorous scientific standards as other drugs - it's being approved by popular vote by people with no medical background.

[kc]

Where is the FDA on Cannabis approval. You know they have almost 100 years of test available. Just ask Cheech and Chong... Now were are my doritos...

[4allthemarbles]

Jun 20, 2014 4:52:27 GMT -5 liane said:

I was rather shocked at the length of the list of conditions "treatable with medical cannabis" - given that there are no clinical studies for this. My biggest objection to medical cannibis is that it is not being held to the same rigorous scientific standards as other drugs - it's being approved by popular vote by people with no medical background.

Liane,
There have been plenty of studies, mostly at a very small level (Colleges, activist groups, etc.) which conduct research all of the time. I am serious about that comment. I also agree with you, that this drug does not get anywhere near the scrutiny of any other drugs that have gone through an FDA approval process. 

However, I feel it is my duty to point out the most obvious problem above- when have you ever seen anything in Washington approved by people considered "experts" at anything? Politicians are the most reactive, unknowing group of people in existence. They break laws consistently and frequently and are rarely held accountable for anything. They are also the people who write the laws and spend our tax dollars at will. They serve their own interests, which may or may not align with what most people need. it scares me to think there are not more Doctors in House and Senate (or Politics in general) who actually understand how the human body works. 

That said, it would be cool to see techno sphere get a piece of this, even if it is a pipe dream. Pipe. 

[liane]

4all,

That would be way cool - if all the proper clinical studies are done. My beef - as an example - Maine approved medical marijuana - by popular vote! Sheesh!

As for the small studies - yes, that's where you start. But I want large scale randomized control studies - that's what virtually every other potential drug is subject to.

[babaoriley]

Finally, a subject in which I am an expert.... perhaps I should just stop there.

[slushy]

The reason it isn't getting the scrutiny is because the medicinal angle is being used as a smoke screen. It should just be legalized and regulated the same as cigarettes/alcohol, and from there we can run studies to explore the medicinal benefits. We're putting the cart before the horse.

[chmith27]

Jun 20, 2014 4:03:02 GMT -5 seanismorris said:

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York is set to become the 23rd state to legalize medical marijuana under an agreement announced by legislative leaders.

The Democratic-led Assembly passed the legislation 113-13 early Friday after an hour of debate.

Shortly after midnight, Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said the bill would be voted on later in the day when Republican lawmakers had reviewed the legislation.

Skelos, of Long Island, said he planned to vote for the measure and believed there were enough votes to pass the bill in the upper chamber.

The so-called Compassionate Care Act would legalize certain forms of marijuana for severely ill patients. The legislation does not allow the drug to be sold in plant form or smoked, but it can be administered through a vaporizer or in an oil base.

Earlier in the negotiations, Gov. Andrew Cuomo sought to ban smoking the drug, saying it was wrong for the state to promote smoking.

------
Their are a couple of things I find interesting here.  One, "the drug" marijuana (in its legal form) has to administered through a vaporizer (or oil based).  This suggests that lawmakers a very comfortable with the vaporizer technology (substitute Technosphere particles) as a way to control access to drugs, and aren't worried about safety issues with inhaled drugs.  

Matt at Mannkind as said Al has been 'chomping at the bit' to sign up collaboration deals (partnerships) for developing treatments using the Technosphere platform.  This could be one example.  It will be very interesting to see how many deals are made even before Afrezza is on the market.

Fyi
One of the things marijuana seems to be successful at treating is seizures.  I think people suffering from seizures can often feel them coming on.  Because of this, I'd think ultra rapid acting nature of the Technosphere platform should beat out other inhalers.  Could it be used early enough to prevent the seizure?  I have no idea...but I do know they can cause brain damage if not treated. 

Heres a list of: Illnesses Treatable with Medical Cannabis
www.unitedpatientsgroup.com/resources/illnesses-treatable

great question on siezure.  a benzo-technosphere inhalational product taken by an epileptic during an aura to prevent the seizure.  i hadn't thought about that. rectal valium is pretty fast acting but not as fast as pulmonary route would be.  

[chmith27]

Jun 20, 2014 12:48:33 GMT -5 slushy said:

The reason it isn't getting the scrutiny is because the medicinal angle is being used as a smoke screen. It should just be legalized and regulated the same as cigarettes/alcohol, and from there we can run studies to explore the medicinal benefits. We're putting the cart before the horse.

totally OT here but just so you know cuz i'm very pissed about this.  the amount of private marijuana grows that have sprung up around the pacific NW is staggering.  you might think this is not big deal.  but these grows suck huge amounts water per plant out of rivers, creeks and springs that large ecosystems depend upon.  the growers clear trees for the grow but do so in a destructive manner causing soil erosion. then there is the matter of the pesticides. and i'm just talking about ma n pa grows, not the larger scale cartel grows.  i am by no means a tree hugger, but as a conscientious lover of the outdoors this is a hidden and extremely detrimental consequence of the trade.  

[brentie]

great question on siezure. a benzo-technosphere inhalational product taken by an epileptic during an aura to prevent the seizure. i hadn't thought about that. rectal valium is pretty fast acting but not as fast as pulmonary route would be.

Yup, that's been my desire for the 7 years that I've owned MNKD stock. I've always said that if we can win over that rectal valium crowd, we'll have it made.

[rak5555]

Having conducted several trials over a span of 43 years (didn't begin my medical discovery until age 16), I am happy to report that I have none of the conditions listed. Approved!

[Chris]

Exubera is set to make it's comeback!! Bong and all.

[seanismorris]

Liane,

The list of conditions treatable with cannabis is indeed impressive.  

Personally, I don't care what other people put in there bodies as long as it doesn't put others in danger.  I.e. Drinking and driving

My annoyance with the the government is that they are stone walling the research needed (through clinical trials) to find out what conditions can really benefit from Marijuana prescriptions.  

Until the the proper research is done, doctors prescribing medical marijuana (in my opinion) don't know that they are doing.  How can they? When they can't properly way the risks vs. the benefits.

As far as I can tell the only clinal trials looking to move forward require "research grade" marijuana provided by the NIDA.  Who seem to believe that limiting clinical trials is a good thing.

This is really counterproductive because in 10 years almost all the states will have recreational marijuana legal...

For example, if taking marijuana before the age of 21 (frequently) permanently impairs cognitive function we need to know about it.

With regards to Mannkind, if the beneficial compounds within marijuana can be isolated and those harmful (tar like cigarets?) removed.  This could be something that could help millions of people worldwide.

If people decide to self treat their conditions from marijuana grown in their backyards, because it's cheeper, at least the data will be there.

[spiro]

I refuse to participate in this thread. I am way too old and conservative. I would rather have more fun giving the wolves and coyotes a hard time. I hope my antics haven't offended any of them. I will be glad when the institutions quit taking some quarterly profits. Hopefully most of it will be over by next Friday. 

[liane]

Jun 20, 2014 22:58:19 GMT -5 seanismorris said:

My annoyance with the the government is that they are stone walling the research needed (through clinical trials) to find out what conditions can really benefit from Marijuana prescriptions.  

Until the the proper research is done, doctors prescribing medical marijuana (in my opinion) don't know that they are doing.  How can they? When they can't properly way the risks vs. the benefits.

As far as I can tell the only clinal trials looking to move forward require "research grade" marijuana provided by the NIDA.  Who seem to believe that limiting clinical trials is a good thing.

The current clinical trials process is indeed too long, complicated, expensive, and politically driven. People are dying because new drugs cannot be brought to market quickly and (relatively) inexpensively. This needs to change. But, that said, I cannot give medical marijuana a free pass when other drugs have to endure the 10 year, $1B process. There needs to be at least a few proper RCTs - otherwise it's all snake oil.