CANNABIS TRIAL WOULD BE CONSIDERED -- MINISTER

Wellington, March 20 - Health Minister Annette King says her ministry will
consider approving the supply of cannabis for a clinical trial into its
medical benefits, if a bona fide trial is proposed.

Mrs King said four people had applied to her to use cannabis for medicinal
purposes since she was made minister after the 1999 election. However, all
four had been declined as she had to have evidence of clinical trial
effectiveness and comprehensive clinical data on the safety, efficacy and
quality of any medicine before she could approve its use.

"Without this data, the minister of health cannot consider granting
approval to use cannabis for medicinal purpose," she said in reply to
written questions by Green MP Nandor Tanczos.

"If a bona fide clinical trial was proposed and had the approval of the
police, then the Ministry of Health would consider an application to supply
cannabis as part of a properly constituted clinical trial."

However, it remained unlikely the ministry would approve cannabis for
medicinal use in "joint" form as there was no control over dose, quality or
effectiveness, Mrs King said.

As well, the associated health issues arising from smoking, whether
cannabis or tobacco, would work against any proposed therapeutic effects,
she said.