Pubdate: Thu, 10 Feb 2005
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2005 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?207 (Cannabis - United Kingdom)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

AILING CATALANS TO TRY CANNABIS

Barcelona is planning a pilot scheme to decide whether cannabis can be used 
to help patients with painful illnesses.

There is still disagreement between the Catalan authorities and the Spanish 
government over whether the pills will be available at chemists for the trial.

Madrid would prefer to see the results of a purely hospital-based trial 
before sanctioning wider use.

Dozens of Barcelona chemists back the project - set to include patients 
with cancer, multiple sclerosis and Aids.

The Catalan regional authority - or Generalitat - has said it is ready to 
start the project later this year, using four hospitals and 60 pharmacies.

But the Spanish Health Ministry told the BBC News website it was still 
waiting for Barcelona to present the final details of the scheme.

A ministry spokeswoman said she did not think the pharmacies would be 
taking part yet - not until in-hospital trials had been carried out and 
evaluated.

Supervision

The Barcelona Pharmacists' Association, Collegi de Farmaceutics, which 
proposed the project, says the use of chemists is key.

They say pharmacies allow closer interaction with patients and controlling 
the use of the cannabis pill would be no more complicated than morphine or 
methadone.

The association, which offers information leaflets on therapeutic cannabis 
use to the public, says it is aware that a significant number of patients 
already use the drug for therapeutic purposes.

"This implies risk, since the absence of medical supervision and the 
variability of the active drug substances contained in the plant make it 
very difficult to ensure correct dosing and follow-up of consumption," it 
says on its website.

A UK study of cannabis-based drugs last year revealed patients using 
cannabinoid compounds could find relief from some of the painful symptoms 
of MS.

Doctors in the Netherlands were allowed to start prescribing medicinal 
cannabis to patients in 2003.

Several studies have also linked the drug to mental health problems, such 
as depression and schizophrenia, and respiratory illness.
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MAP posted-by: Beth