EXPERTS TELL THE WHITE HOUSE THAT MARIJUANA MAKES MEDICINAL SENSE

Campaigners for the legal use of marijuana as a medicine in the United
States won a significant round yesterday when an independent panel
reported to the White House that the drug could help fight pain and
that it should be tested.

The Institute of Medicine also said there was no conclusive evidence
that smoking marijuana led to harder drugs.

"It's taken a long time but I feel like now people will stand up and
listen," said Irvin Rosenfeld, a stockbroker from Boca Raton, Florida,
who has smoked the drug for the past 27 years to combat a rare medical
condition.

"When you have a devastating disease all you care about is getting the
right medicine and not having to worry about being made a criminal."

Mr Rosenfeld, one of only eight people in the US who receives
marijuana from a government programme, has tumours that press on his
muscles. The drug relaxes his muscles, allowing him to move more easily.

Voters in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and
Washington have backed the medicinal use of marijuana. But the House
of Representatives declared last year that it was dangerous and
addictive and should not be legalised for medical purposes.

The institute said chemicals in the plant ease anxiety, stimulate
appetite, relieve pain, reduce nausea and vomiting and could help
people undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from Aids. The institute,
part of the National Academy of Science, did warn smoking the drug
could cause respiratory disease and suggested it be taken through an
inhaler.