Pubdate: Thu, 07 Jun 2001 Source: Press, The (New Zealand) Copyright: 2001 The Christchurch Press Company Ltd. Contact: http://www.press.co.nz/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/349 Author: Christine Langdon Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) PLEA FOR CANNABIS USE Only Form Of Pain Relief - Amputee Frail amputee Barry Stone yesterday pleaded to MPs to relax cannabis laws to allow him relief from excruciating and unrelenting pain. Mr Stone, a convicted cannabis user, fronted up yesterday to a parliamentary inquiry to support decriminalising cannabis, in particular for medical use. With an empty jacket sleeve tucked into his left pocket, Mr Stone told the inquiry that cannabis was the only form of pain relief that had helped him cope since he was knocked off his BMW motorbike and went through a car's passenger window in 1993. He suffered head injuries, a fractured chest, and breaks in his left arm, which doctors amputated in 1995. He now has phantom limb pain, which he says feels like he is holding a burning ember. Mr Stone, 37, has used cocktails of prescription drugs for constant pain, but they have made him sleepy, or caused confusion, vomiting, and stomach pains. He tried cannabis after a doctor said it might help. "It made my life easier. It made me relax," he told the inquiry. "Marijuana, I have found, has been the only form of pain relief that has helped me to cope with my condition." But in 1999 police raided Mr Stone's home at Waitarere Beach, Levin, found three cannabis plants and laid charges. Last November he was sentenced to prison, with an 18-month suspended sentence -- which means if he is caught with cannabis again before the middle of next year, he will be sent to prison. "I have not touched cannabis since I was charged. I was hoping the judge would allow me to have it, but the law did not allow him to do this," Mr Stone said. As the pain has increased, so has his intake of prescription medicines. Mr Stone went on to the maximum dosage of codeine but then got stomach cramps and had to take zantac and rantidine for the pain. When that did not work, he was put on kapanol, a slow-release morphine capsule. "It made me like a zombie, not knowing what I was doing. I could not urinate when I wanted to, I had stomach pains, did a lot of spewing up, and slept at the wrong times," he said. "I would like to be able to use marijuana again, as it is the only way I have been able to live with my pain." The inquiry also heard yesterday from Billy Mckee, a Levin man whose right lower leg was amputated after he was knocked over in a hit-and-run in 1975. He used cannabis almost every day to cope with depression, stress, pain, and mood swings. "But I still wake up clear-headed," Mr Mckee said. "Over the past 25 years I have made an in-depth study into all available drugs, both legal and illegal. "I have seen far more harm done in the form of organ damage, mood swings, woolly headedness, slow brain, lack of motivation, hepatitis, aids, and death from prescribed drugs and manufactured drugs than I have from cannabis use, which causes none of the mentioned side-effects," he said. The Medical Association told the inquiry it supported more research into the benefits of cannabis for medical use. The association did not oppose partial decriminalisation, provided it could be proven that would not lead to increased use, chief executive Cameron McIvor said. "We consider that drug abuse and addiction is more a health problem than a criminal problem and urge that it should be dealt with accordingly. "Health promotion strategies are likely to be more effective where they are not linked to an environment of illegality and criminality." - --- MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe