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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 3 November 2003
Netherlands allows cannabis for the 'seriously' ill - Netherlands again in forefront of alleviation of suffering
The July 2003 issue of the VE Bulletin discussed the growing recognition of the therapeutic benefits of cannabis for a range of distressing medical conditions.The Netherlands has now become the first country to offer cannabis as a prescription drug for seriously ill patients. The country's 1650 pharmacies will make the drug available to sufferers of HIV, multiple sclerosis, cancer and other conditions. It is available in the form of a nebuliser. The government recognised that seriously ill people were already acquiring it for symptom relief. The Dutch Ministry estimates that up to 7000 people have used cannabis for medical reasons.
Arguably the Netherlands is again at the forefront of responding to expressed need for the relief of suffering, and is taking a pro-active approach to regulation and accountability.
Based on an article 'Dutch patients get pot on prescription' by Paul Gallagher, and reported in the Courier Mail 2nd Sept 2003.
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