MEDICINAL SMOKE IS A DOPEY IDEA

THE Carr Government’s decision to investigate the therapeutic effects
of marijuana must be regarded with some scepticism.

While no one would dispute the need to continually search for new
treatments to help the suffering, numerous trials on the efficacy of
cannabis as a pain reliever have been conducted in a number of
countries with results that can, at best, be termed
indifferent.

Premier Bob Carr is clearly aware of the risk of sending the wrong
signal about marijuana use to the community as he went out of his way
to emphasise that "those who advocate the legalisation of cannabis
should not consider my statement (agreeing to the trial) as a sign of
support for their cause".

Sound sentiments but the reality is that the pro-marijuana lobby is
already celebrating the proposed marijuana trial as a major victory in
its battle to have the drug legalised.

In his short address to State Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Carr balanced
his concerns about those left racked in pain after chemotherapy
treatment, those dying or seriously ill with cancer or AIDS and the
risks associated with marijuana use.

He appeared to have few illusions about the problems of marijuana
dependence, its proven association with mental illness, cancer and
respiratory problems, and the risk of creating a legal supply of
cannabis or its extracts.

It would be hard to argue that there isn’t a need to explore any
avenue for pain relief on compassionate grounds.

Among those on the working party however, is the Australian Medical
Association, which earlier this month called for the immediate
legalisatlon of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

At the time NSW AMA president Kerryn Phelps said many doctors already
encouraged patients who used marijuana to relieve their symptoms to
continue using the drug.

"Commonsense dictates that we already have enough evidence for this,"
she said.

"We think there should be exemptions for such people immediately. If
marijuana doesn’t work for them, they won’t use it, and if it has some
side effects they won’t continue using it.

"As far as I can see, legallaing prescription marijuana is a win-win
situation."

The publicity-conscious Dr Phelps has a curious view of the law in
line with the self-important view some medicos have of themselves.
Given her obvious prejudice in this matter the ethical thing to do
would be to withdraw her organisation’s participation from the review
panel.

Even as Mr Carr was yesterday agreeing to the investigation of
possible medicinal uses of marijuana, the National Drug and Alcohol
Research Centre (NDARC) was warning that more than 200,000 Australians
were dependant on the drug.

The directors of the study said cannabis dependence was too often
trivialised with its effects, depression, problems with concentration,
memory, isolation and lack of motivation, not fully
appreciated.

And there is a wealth of other research material available for those
with genuinely open minds to explore before the report is due to go to
the government next July.

Published in such reputable organs as the New England Journal of
Medicine, The International Journal of Addictions, Lancet and others,
a multitude of authors have found that marijuana use can contribute to
a host of serious health problems.

According to a 1997 paper published by the British Medical Association
"arguments in favour of sanctioning cannabis for medical use have been
based mainly on anecdotal reports... do not constitute scientific evidence".

It continued, "smoked cannabis is clearly not a therapeutic option";
"hypotension, palpitations and psychotropic effects ... occurred with
such frequency as to militate against the routine use of cannabis in
glaucoma"; "evidence of a therapeutic potential for cannabinoids for
epilepsy is scanty ... trials have been small, uncontrolled and have
given conflicting results"; "ineffective in anorexia nervosa"; "tremor
and hypokinesia was exacerbated"; "no beneficial effects for
Parkinson’s disease or Huntingdon’s disease".

The Health Council of the Netherlands Standing Committee on Medicine
reported in 1996 that "evidence is insufficient to justify the medical
use of marijuana".

As Andrew Fraser, MP, has pointed out, THC, the active ingredient in
cannabis has long been available in tablet form by prescription in the
US but is rarely utilised, as those who want to use marijuana do so
because they like to smoke dope.

He is also correct in suggesting the AMA’s motives in regard to
marijuana must be questioned as it did not seek to fast-track studies
of Naltrexone, which is used to detoxify heroin addicts.

We all wish to reduce suffering and alleviate pain but those slyly
attempting to legalise marijuana by holding out the hope that the drug
may be a panacea can only inflict greater hardship through such empty
promises.