CANNABIS

ONE HUNDRED and eighty multiple sclerosis sufferers in this country will
receive fully funded beta interferon treatment from Pharmac ( ODT ,
13.01.01). Great, but what about the thousands of New Zealanders still
suffering without government subsidised medication? At $18,000 a year, the
cost of beta interferon therapy is the main hurdle preventing sufferers
from receiving the treatment. It's no secret to many MS sufferers and
doctors that cannabis use alleviates the tremors and spasticity of MS,
without bringing on the unpleasant side effects that interferon can entail.

Marijuana is cheap. It grows like a weed. All it needs is sunlight, earth
and water. The problem with using this natural medicine is that, like
Auckland tetraplegic Daniel Clark, you run the risk of illegality. Cannabis
prohibition prevents thousands of New Zealanders from accessing this herbal
remedy with a plethora of beneficial medicinal uses. Worse, some medical
marijuana users, like Mr Clark, end up behind bars. Cannabis prohibition
affects far more people than just recreational drug users. It appears that
when it comes to cannabis legislation, all concepts of humanity and common
sense are thrown out the window.

Duncan Eddy

National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

Dunedin