Pubdate: Mon, 02 Feb 2015
Source: Herald Sun (Australia)
Copyright: 2015 Herald and Weekly Times
Contact: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/letter
Website: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/187
Author: Brigid O'Connell

EXPERT PROPOSES LEGAL CANNABIS FOR THE ILL

TERMINALLY and chronically ill Victorians could legally grow their 
own cannabis plants and get early access to the drug, under an 
ambitious plan by a top drug expert.

The use of cannabis for medical purposes should be decided by a 
discussion between a patient and doctor, rather than relying on the 
results of an upcoming trial into the drug's effectiveness held 
across the eastern states, says the University of Melbourne's 
Professor David Penington.

Writing in the Medical Journal of Australia today, Prof Penington 
said even if the trial proved the drug as effective, cannabis could 
never be regulated as a pharmaceutical product like other medications 
for prescription. "It contains a variety of components of variable 
potency and actions ... consequently, cannabis has variable effects 
in individuals," Prof Penington said.

"It will not be possible to determine universally safe dosage of 
cannabis for individuals based on a clinical trial."

Prof Penington, who led a committee advising the state government on 
drug policies in the 1990s and was responsible for the controversial 
Grim Reaper AIDS campaign under the Hawke government, said users 
should be allowed to grow up to 10 plants and pharmacies and health 
food shops that sell the product should be registered.

He said a liquid form of purified Cannabidiol (CBD) extract - which 
does not have any intoxicating effects - could be used to reduce 
seizures, alleviate nausea after chemotherapy, as pain relief and to 
reduce muscle spasms.
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