Pubdate: Sun, 24 Aug 2003
Source: Scotland On Sunday (UK)
Copyright: 2003 The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.scotlandonsunday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/405
Author: Matthew Hulett, New Jersey

CANNABIS HIGH AIDS DRUG'S EFFECTIVENESS

RE YOUR story "Cannabis spray painkiller to be given in month" (News, 
August 17), you state: "Scientists have been working on isolating the key 
pain-relieving ingredients in cannabis in order to allow them to develop 
painkilling drugs without the mind-altering effects of cannabis. They 
managed to isolate two chemicals for use in Sativex - tetrahydrocannabinol 
or THC- and cannabidiol, known as CBD.

THC is responsible for 90% of the psychoactivity of whole cannabis. CBD 
moderates the effects of THC, producing a more sedate type of intoxication. 
It would appear that you have not achieved your goal of eliminating that 
evil euphoria.

Besides, the psychoactive effects of whole cannabis or just THC are 
sometimes desirable for some patients, such as when attempting to alleviate 
anxiety. The US Institute of Medicine report on medical marijuana stated as 
such in their evaluation of the medical potential for marijuana. No matter 
the outcome with this pharmaceutical product, the debate over whole 
cannabis as medicine will not be ended, as hoped by the likes of Brian 
Adam, the SNP MSP for Aberdeen North. Some patients will receive better 
relief from whole cannabis, for there are 60-plus cannabinoids that 
interact synergistically in whole cannabis, albeit most are not 
psychoactive. Some patients will not be able to afford the product, or may 
just prefer whole cannabis.

There are always going to be sick and suffering folks using cannabis for 
medical purposes. They are not going to go away because a pharmaceutical 
solution has been provided for some of them. The House of Lords of Science 
and Technology Committee recommended strongly in 1998 that whole cannabis 
be made available for medical purposes. Holland is doing so right across 
the waterway. It is a political reality in countries possessed by reefer 
madness, like Britain, that until recreational use is fully legalised, 
people like Biz Ivol will continue to be persecuted.

No one in the drug policy reform movement hides behind the medical 
argument. We can argue the topic honestly.

Every major drug policy report done in the past 60 years has at the least 
recommended decriminalisation of personal marijuana possession. Most 
recommend full legalisation. If the scholarly advice were implemented, 
there would be no debate at all in the political realm.

Matthew Hulett

New Jersey
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman