DOPE MAY EASE PAIN: GOVT

AIDS and cancer sufferers could have their pain eased by medicinal doses of
cannabis if a NSW Government investigation finds in favour of the treatment.

NSW Premier Bob Carr said yesterday the Government was setting up a working
party to examine the possibility of using cannabis as prescribed medication
for pain relief.

However, he was quick to stress the scheme was not a proposal to legalise
cannabis use.

"Let me clarify an important point: those who advocate the legalisation of
cannabis should not consider my statement today as a sign of support for
their cause," Mr Carr told Parliament.

"That is a separate issue."

The working party has been welcomed by a range of welfare and medical groups.

The Australian Medical Association (AMA), which had lobbied strongly for
the medicinal use of cannabis, reinforced its call on the Government to
reschedule the drug as a medicine and list the conditions it could be used
to treat.

The AMA will join representatives from other organisations including the
AIDS Council of NSW, the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre and NSW
Health on the working party.

Mr Carr said the proposition to allow cannabis on to the prescription list
had to be considered on compassionate grounds.