DOPE PILL PLAN FOR PAIN RELIEF

Cannabis may be legalised for medicinal purposes but patients
prescribed it could be taking it in the form of a pill rather than
smoking it.

Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick has added her voice of support to cannabis
being legalised for medicinal purposes but says it should be in the
form of a pill rather than patients being allowed to smoke it.

Yesterday Kaingaroa man Peter Hunt went public about wanting the drug
legalised for medicinal use.

Left with a nasty ankle injury that has never healed after a crash in
1999, he smokes up to 15 "joints" a day, claiming cannabis is the only
thing that relieves his constant pain.

Medically prescribed painkillers like morphine have failed to reduce
the pain, and make him too sleepy or sick.

Even his doctor supports his use of cannabis, despite the fact he is
breaking the law in the process.

Mrs Chadwick chaired the Health Select Committee when it debated the
issue back in 2001. At that time the committee recommended cannabis
had a valid place for medicinal purposes and said New Zealand should
follow the United Kingdom example.

The Government should only legalise it for medicinal use if the UK
also did, the committee recommended.

"There was a drug trial undertaken in the UK. The previous Minister of
Health had been waiting for the findings of the trial," Mrs Chadwick
said.

She was not sure if those findings had yet been released.

The committee wants a cannabis derivative which could be in the form
of a tablet or suppository.

According to a Green Party newsletter, Green Party MP Metira Turei's
Misuse of Drugs (Medicinal Cannabis) Amendment Private Members Bill is
expected to be voted on by the Health Select Committee in May.

Ms Turei could not be reached for comment yesterday and Health Select
Committee clerk Graham Hill said he was not able to comment yesterday
about what stage the bill was at.

Mrs Chadwick would support the legal introduction of medication
containing cannabis properties.

"We do need a product. I've got a sister who is paralysed who can't
stop the pain. There is a place for a product like this, a clinically
proven product for this pain," she said.

While she did not condone people breaking the law, the illegal use of
cannabis for medicinal purposes was prevalent.

"That shows that we can't turn a blind eye."

However, people need to realise the downside to smoking cannabis was
the detrimental effect on the lungs.

Mrs Chadwick said she was aware of Mr Hunt's situation.

"He is a very harmless man just looking after his own condition ...
Not that I support him but I understand it. There is no other product
that provides relief."

This month Hunt was convicted of cultivating cannabis for the third
time since 2002. His doctor wrote a letter to the court saying he had
been assured by Hunt the plants found at his house were for personal,
rather than commercial, use.

Bay of Plenty MP Tony Ryall said he would not support the smoking of
cannabis being legalised for medicinal use because of the detrimental
health effects. However, he would support the use of a pharmaceutical
product containing properties found in cannabis but only if it was
proven to be effective.

"The jury is still out on that effectiveness."

A major study is still under way in the United Kingdom.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should medicinal use of cannabis be legalised? *
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