Pubdate: Wed, 20 Oct 1999 Source: Illawarra Mercury (Australia) Copyright: Illawarra Newspapers Contact: http://mercury.illnews.com.au/ DOPE MAY EASE PAIN: GOVT AIDS and cancer sufferers could have their pain eased by medicinal doses of cannabis if a NSW Government investigation finds in favour of the treatment. NSW Premier Bob Carr said yesterday the Government was setting up a working party to examine the possibility of using cannabis as prescribed medication for pain relief. However, he was quick to stress the scheme was not a proposal to legalise cannabis use. "Let me clarify an important point: those who advocate the legalisation of cannabis should not consider my statement today as a sign of support for their cause," Mr Carr told Parliament. "That is a separate issue." The working party has been welcomed by a range of welfare and medical groups. The Australian Medical Association (AMA), which had lobbied strongly for the medicinal use of cannabis, reinforced its call on the Government to reschedule the drug as a medicine and list the conditions it could be used to treat. The AMA will join representatives from other organisations including the AIDS Council of NSW, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and NSW Health on the working party. Mr Carr said the proposition to allow cannabis on to the prescription list had to be considered on compassionate grounds. - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart