Legality of THC synthetic drugs? / Is Sativex really synthetic?

[Guest guest]

Hello folks.

Are synthetic THC drugs legal in all states in the USA?

Are these drugs able to be prescribed " off-label " for cancer in any/all

states in the USA?

Oh, and is Sativex really synthetic at all, or is it actually just

standardized/tested for levels of THC and CBD?

Thanks much!

Glen from Illinois, USA

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" Cannabinoids: potential anticancer agents " by Dr. Guzman

Nature Reviews Cancer 3, 745-755 (October 2003)

Abstract: _http://www.nature.com/nrc/journal/v3/n10/abs/nrc1188.html_

(http://www.nature.com/nrc/journal/v3/n10/abs/nrc1188.html)

Full Article: _http://americanmarijuana.org/Guzman-Cancer.pdf_

(http://americanmarijuana.org/Guzman-Cancer.pdf)

<< The best-established palliative effect of cannabinoids in cancer

patients is the inhibition of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Today,

capsules of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (dronabinol (Marinol)) and its synthetic

analogue nabilone (Cesamet) are approved for this purpose. >>

<< A safer alternative [to smoking cannabis] for inhaled administration of

cannabinoids has been recently produced by GW Pharmaceuticals and Bayer

AG. This is a medicinal cannabis extract known as Sativex, which contains

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol, that is administered by spraying

into the mouth and is now in clinical trials for pain and the debilitating

symptoms ofmultiple sclerosis. >>

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Marinol (Dronabinol) (synthetic version of THC)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marinol)

Cesamet (Nabilone) (synthetic cannabinoid which mimics THC)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabilone)

Sativex (standardized cannabis extract - Is it synthetic at all?)

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sativex)

<< Sativex is distinct from all other pharmaceutically produced

cannabinoids currently available because it is derived from botanical material,

rather than a solely synthetic process. Sativex is a pharmaceutical product

standardised in composition, formulation, and dose. Its principal active

cannabinoid components are the cannabinoids: tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and

cannabidiol (CBD). The product is formulated as an oromucosal spray which is

administered by spraying into the mouth. Each spray of Sativex delivers a fixed

dose of 2.7mg THC and 2.5mg CBD. >>

<< In clinical trials, Sativex has generally been well tolerated. Sativex

is to be released for clinical trials in the U.S. in early 2008. >>

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Doing quick searches at the Clinical Trials website...

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=sativex)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=sativex+cancer)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=marinol)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=marinol+cancer)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=dronabinol)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=dronabinol+cancer)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=cesamet)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=cesamet+cancer)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=nabilone)

(http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=nabilone+cancer)

....seem to bring up studies regarding the effects of these drugs on

cancer/chemotherapy-related pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. However, I do not see

any studies on the cancer growth reducing effects of these drugs (unless I

missed something).