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The VE Bulletin Excerpts
'No price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself' Rudyard Kipling
Vol 20: No 2 July 2003
Cannabis for painIn her book Cannabis and Cancer, Arthur’s Story (2001,
Scribe Publications) Pauline Reilly tells how cannabis offered relief
to her husband where other medication failed. From a debilitated 84
year-old with no appetite, he regained some vigor, 6 kg in weight and
his sense of humour. This allowed him to enjoy a reasonable quality of
life during his last six months of life. The necessary ingredients were
incorporated into biscuits, as he was a non-smoker.
There has been an ongoing
positive response to the book and, like the author, sufferers desperate
for relief for themselves or others are prepared to break the law,
While the result is generally good it does not work for everyone. Also
an unfounded fear of overdosing may inhibit a good result. The biggest
problem is supply, but the author cautions against the illicit street
trade as a supply of ready-made biscuits is available if a medical
certificate is provided.
The opponents of cannabis use concentrate on
recreational use, and are obviously ignorant of research revealing its
medical benefits as revealed in evidence on the
web(www.gwpharm.com/news). In Canada there is now an Office of Cannabis
Medical Access that approves the use of cannabis for terminal illness,
multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and disease, cancer, AIDS/HIV,
severe arthritis, epilepsy and for other serious medical conditions
(medical declaration necessary).
Cannabis is grown under government
supervision to supply patients. In Belgium, cannabis can be used
legally to treat similar medical conditions, as well as for treatment
of glaucoma and the nausea resulting from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. This softening of attitude is repeated throughout Europe and in the UK.
In Australia laws differ from state to
state, with South Australia, ACT and the Northern Territory permitting
personal use, with relaxed law enforcement in the other states; but
nowhere is its use legalised. There is a fine line which few lawmakers
wish to cross, but those such as Families and Friends of Drug Law
Reform (ACT) Inc
continue to press for legal clarification. Lobbying of politicians has
received little more than predictable negative responses, even though
the current Victorian government went to the last poll with a positive
commitment to legalise cannabis use.
There is world-wide recognition
that prohibition does not work, but instead encourages profiteering by
illicit drug growers and places at legal risk those who gain relief
from devastating illness. The author argues that if the opponents of
cannabis spent some time with AIDS sufferers and the terminally ill who
gain some relief from cannabis, they might perhaps concede 'there but
for the grace of God go I', and take action. It is only by constant
'hammering' that we can change the law. Anything that can be done to
alleviate distress ought to be done, not just by somebody else, but by
all with compassion for those less fortunate. After all who knows when
we may join them.
Based on the VESV REPORT November, 2002.
(NSW Premier Bob Carr has recently proposed a trial for the medical use of cannabis. SAVES will monitor the issue.- Ed)
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