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1. Name: Gregory T. Carter, M.D.  
2. Title: Co-director, MDA/ALS Center at the University of Washington Medical Center
3. Medical Marijuana
Position:		 Pro to the question "Should marijuana be a medical option?"
4. Reasoning:

"There are really no other medications that have the same mechanisms of action as marijuana. Dronabinol (Marinol) is available by prescription in capsules, but has the distinct disadvantage of containing only synthetic delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is only one of many therapeutically beneficial cannabinoids in the natural plant. Interestingly, it is the most psychoactive of the cannabinoids and is the one that the Federal government allows to be prescribed!

Cannabinoids are now known to have the capacity for neuromodulation, via direct, receptor-based mechanisms, at numerous levels within the nervous system. These provide therapeutic properties that may be applicable to the treatment of neurological disorders, including anti-oxidative, neuroprotective effects, analgesia, anti-inflammatory actions, immunomodulation, modulation of glial cells and tumor growth regulation. Beyond that, the cannabinoids have also been shown to be remarkably safe with no potential for overdose." (10/03)
5. Credibility
Ranking:

 Key Experts
Physicians [We believe physicians are the "key experts" in the medical marijuana debate because the issue is thought by many to be ultimately based on the medical value and risks of marijuana, and Physicians, with their training and clinical work, should (at least in theory) have the best knowledge of marijuana's medical value and risks.].

6. Involvement:
  • Clinical interests are in the rehabilitation management of neuromuscular disease, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

  • Rsearch is funded by both the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (grant #HB133B980008) and the National Institutes of Health (grant 2P01HD33988-06A1) in projects studying the relationship between pain and disability in neuromuscular disease.

  • Teaches residents and medical students in the neuromuscular disease clinics at UWMC.
7. Education:

Dr. Carter earned a Bachelors (BS) and a Masters (MS) of Science degrees in Physiology from the University of California, Davis and his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from Loyola University of Chicago. His completed an Internal Medicine internship and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation residency at the University of California Medical Center in Sacramento, CA. Following that He completed a National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research Neuromuscular Disease post-doctoral research fellowhsip.
8. Relevant Affiliations/Honors:
  • 2002 - received an Excellence in Clinical Care Award from the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

  • 1998 - won the Excellence in Research Writing Award from the Association of Academic Physiatrists.

  • 1994 - won the Best Research Paper Published by a Physiatrist Award from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
9. Contact Info:
Phone: (206) 598-4590 Fax: None listed
E-Mail:   gtcarter@u.washington.edu
Web Site: Personal University Website
10. Other: Selected Publications:
  • Carter GT, Jensen MP, Galer BS, Kraft GH, Crabtree LD, Beardsley RM, Abresch RT, Bird TD. Neuropathic Pain in Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1998; 79:1560-4

  • Carter GT, McDonald CM. Preservation of function in Duchenne dystrophy with long-term pulse prednisone therapy. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2000; 79(5):455-58

  • Abresch RT, Carter GT, Jensen MP, Kilmer DD. Assessment of pain and health-related quality of life in slowly progressive neuromuscular disease. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 2002; 19(1):39-48

  • Carter GT, Abresch RT, Fowler WM: Adaptations to exercise training and contraction-induced muscle injury in animal models of neuromuscular disease. Am J Phys Med Rehabil 2002;(81)S:151-161

  • Weydt P, Weiss MD, Moller T, Carter GT. Neuroinflammation as a therapeutic target in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Curr Opin Investig Drugs 2002 3(12):1720-1724
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