POLITICIANS URGED TO ALLOW MARIJUANA FOR HEALTH PROBLEMS

Politicians are being urged to allow those with chronic health
problems to use marijuana as a medicine.

The Health Select Committee has been confronted by supporters of a law
change allowing cannabis to be used as a pain relief.

Reform supporter Billy McKee says users are often unemployed and
ostracised by family members for using the drug.

Mr McKee says there are also problems for people having to grow it,
when burglars break in.

He says he has had his home burgled 10 times, and his dog
killed.

Another supporter Will de Cleene says tolerance of medicinal cannabis
may well provide the message to young people, that it is a medicine,
instead of the illusion of the blind rebellion it currently garners.

He says patients who are having to using cannabis medicinally at the
moment are doing themselves harm, because of the health risks
associated with buying the drug on the black market.