Pubdate: Tue, 06 Jul 2004
Source: Canberra Times (Australia)
Copyright: 2004 Canberra Times
Contact:  http://www.canberratimes.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/71
Author: Michael Robinson
Note: Michael D.Robinson is executive director of Drug Free Australia, a 
national non-profit community group established in 2002.
Cited: Drug Free Australia  http://www.members.optusnet.com.au/drugfree/
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

NO MIRACLE IN MARIJUANA AS A MEDICINE

AS THE search continues for better treatments for a growing number of
seriously ill patients, one controversial move is to allow patients to
smoke or consume marijuana.

The Drugs of Dependence (Cannabis for Medical Conditions) Amendment
Act 2004 introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly by Kerrie
Tucker, of the Greens, will open the way for more people to grow and
use marijuana, if it is passed. Supporters of the Bill will argue that
we should let seriously sick people try anything, in case it may help.
Those opposing it warn that it is likely to cause more harm than good.

Despite the claims and hopes of possible pain relief, the evidence
shows that any use of the whole-plant marijuana product is harmful.
Some studies have cautioned that in some patients it is responsible
for increased pain sensitivity. Repeatedly, scientific studies
conclude that the adverse side-effects of the plant's use may be so
detrimental that they outweigh any possible benefits.

Modern medicine comes in standardised, quality-controlled, measured
doses. Backyard dope does not. How much marijuana would have to be
consumed? What would be the impact of addiction and what is the
treatment for anxiety and depression so commonly linked to marijuana
use? These are questions that must be answered by the Bill's
supporters. They must also address issues of quality control. Not the
least of these is the complaint by many HIV patients that they are
regularly admitted to hospital emergency wards after using a batch of
marijuana with fungal spores on it.

There is a great concern also that if such a Bill was passed, it could
open the door to criminal elements profiting from marijuana grown in
the ACT and sold across Australia.

The most damning condemnation against marijuana use is its documented
links to depression of the immune system resulting in increased risk
of infections or cancer, and actually putting patients health and
lives at risk.

Marijuana use is linked also to other adverse effects, including acute
anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, cognitive impairment, psychomotor
impairment, hormonal and metabolic imbalances, adverse respiratory
effects (including lung damage) and increased respiratory infections.
As well as a negative impact on brain function and mood, it has also
been recently linked to likelihood of increasing heart attacks by more
than four times.

Smoking is a poor delivery mechanism for medicines. The tar from
marijuana smoking can be as high as four times greater than that of
tobacco cigarettes. Marijuana smoke also contains up to 70 per cent
more of some cancer-causing chemicals than tobacco smoke.

Against this background of progressive research and innovation,
medical scientists are obliged to uphold high standards in Australia
by the Therapeutic Goods Administration Act and also by a common
responsibility to do no harm.

The majority of the world's governments, including Australia's, hold
to the same position as the United Nations International Narcotics
Control Board.

No use is good use when it comes to the crude marijuana plant. But,
when we look at the potential of substances identified in the
marijuana plant there is an expectation that safer and more effective
medicines may be found. Leading doctors warn against marijuana use,
saying it would reduce the health and life expectancy of seriously ill
patients. It is cruel to create false hopes of possible miracle marijuana.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake