Pubdate: Thu, 27 May 1999
Source: Times, The (UK)
Copyright: 1999 Times Newspapers Ltd
Contact:  http://www.the-times.co.uk/
Author: David Harding-Price

MEDICINAL CANNABIS

Sir, The Townswomen's Guild is backing the campaign to allow the seriously
and terminally ill to use cannabis medicinally. The Guild is a most welcomed
ally. Anecdotal evidence has for some time shown that cannabis alleviates
pain in some medical conditions, particularly terminal ones, and also
improves the quality of life for people with multiple sclerosis.

Why do politicians not return cannabis to the medicinal status it held
before the Misuse of Drugs Act of 1971? The argument that to do so would
lead to increased misuse of cannabis does not stand up. Having been involved
with an addictions unit, I know that the people most likely to benefit from
prescribed cannabis are highly unlikely to sell their prescriptions to other
people.

Yours faithfully, 

David Harding-Price,
Chairman, Forum for the Development of Mental Health Nursing Practice
Royal College of Nursing, 20 Cavendish Square, London W1M 0AB. May 23.

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