Pubdate: Mon, 18 Aug 2014
Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)
Copyright: 2014 Telegraph Media Group Limited
Contact:  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/114
Author: Erica Barrett
Page: 15

DON'T DENY CANNABIS-BASED DRUGS AS PAINKILLERS

SIR - No wonder that the treatment of extreme chronic pain lags so 
far behind other medical disciplines when cannabisbased medication is 
denied to patients who could benefit from it (report, August 16).

Today pain management largely relies on derivatives of the willow 
tree and the poppy and its progeny. The former cannot alleviate 
excruciating chronic pain and may damage internal organs. The latter 
require ever-increasing doses, leading to confusion, physical 
instability, addiction and again, possible organ damage.

Until the NHS is prepared to be more adventurous in the search for 
new painkillers, possible funders will remain reluctant to invest in 
this desperately needed branch of medicine.

Erica Barrett

Hastings, East Sussex
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom