Excerpts from the American Public Health Association (APHA) amicus brief in Conant v. McCaffrey, (2001 filing):

Marijuana is effective in treating muscle spasticity.

Current treatments for painful muscle spasms, commonly associated with multiple sclerosis ("MS") and spinal cord injuries, have only limited effectiveness and their use is complicated by various adverse side effects. IOM Report at 164. A growing body of clinical and preclinical literature demonstrates that cannabinoids are effective in controlling the debilitating symptoms of MS.(41) Conventional treatments have limited effectiveness for bladder dysfunction and pain associated with MS.(42) Marijuana, however, has been shown to be effective in alleviating these problems. Lords Report §§ 5.19-5.23, at 23. In addition, a survey of British and American MS patients reports that after ingesting marijuana a significant majority experienced substantial improvements in controlling muscle spasticity and pain.(43) An extensive neurological study found that herbalcannabis provided relief from both muscle spasms and ataxia (loss of coordination), a multiple benefit not achieved by any currently available medications.(44) (See complete APHA amicus brief for footnotes.)

Joy, Janet E.; Stanley J. Watson, Jr.; John A. Benson, Jr., Eds. Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base. Washington, DC: Division of Neuroscience and Behavioral Health, Institute of Medicine. 1999. 259 p. (Chapter 4 of this report contains sections on muscle spasticity, Multiple Sclerosis, and Spinal Cord Injury)

Articles and Studies

Meinck, H-M., P.W. Schonle, and B. Conrad. "Effect of Cannabinoids on Spasticity and Ataxia in Multiple Sclerosis." Journal of Neurology. 1989. 236:120-122.

Baker, David, et al. "Cannabinoids control spasticity and tremor in a multiple sclerosis model." Nature. 2000. 404: 85-87

Summary of research presented at the conference of the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine, October 2001: Cannabis and THC improve bladder function in MS and spinal cord injury.