Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jun 2001 Source: Daily News, The (New Zealand) Contact: +64 6 758 6849 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1056 Author: Greg Soar MEDICINAL CANNABIS I WAS most interested to read your recent column regarding the medicinal use of cannabis (May 26), in which Dr John Adams of the New Zealand Medical Association was reported as saying "cannabis suppresses the immune system". I suffer HIV and use cannabis to combat the debilitating side-effects of both the disease and its treatments. I believe Dr Adams' statement to be incorrect. Professor Leslie Iverson, visiting Professor of Pharmacology at Oxford University, states in his book, The Science of Marijuana, that "this history of research (sex hormones and reproduction) followed a similar pattern to that described for the immunosuppressant effects of cannabinoids. An initial, apparently damning, report was followed by a great deal of subsequent research that has largely failed to support the initial claims". I put this to Dr Adams for comment and his reply indicated literature written in 1988 -- 13 years ago and in contradiction to what Professor Iverson says only a few months ago. I feel that the New Zealand Medical Association needs to more aggressively promote cannabis as an alternative to conventional medicine with the current scientific knowledge and current world trends. At the very least they need to promote up-to-date information. GREG SOAR Papatoetoe - --- MAP posted-by: Beth