The only study conducted on the FDA’s IND Program determines that “NIDA cannabis is shipped to patients in labeled metal canisters containing 300 cigarettes, and material is frequently two or more years old upon receipt… A close inspection of the contents of NIDA-supplied cannabis cigarettes reveals them to be a crude mixture of leaf with abundant stem and seed components.”
The study concludes that “cannabis smoking, even of a crude, low-grade product, provides effective symptomatic relief of pain, muscle spasms, and intraocular pressure elevations…” and that “clinical cannabis patients are able to reduce or eliminate other prescription medicines and their accompanying side effects.”
According to the study, “clinical cannabis provides an improved quality of life in these patients… The side effect profile of NIDA cannabis in chronic usage suggests some mild pulmonary risk.”
The authors of the study recommend reopening the Compassionate IND program or amending laws to allow access to clinical cannabis.