SCIENTIST CALLS FOR NEW CANNABIS LAW

A Leading Aberdeen academic is to urge Parliament to legalise cannabis as a
medicine which doctors can prescribe.

Dr. Roger Pertwee of Aberdeen University is to tell a House of Lords
committee a strong case can be made out on the grounds of "commonsense and
compassion" for allowing cannabis derivatives to treat muscle spasm.

He has submitted written evidence to the Science and Technology Committee,
studying the medical use of the banned drug, that there is sufficient
evidence to warrant additional clinical studies with cannabis-derived
medicines for the management of several disorders including multiple
sclerosis, spinal injury, glaucoma, bronchial asthma and pain.

Dr. Pertwee, reader in Biomedical Sciences in the Institute of Medical
Sciences, describes in detail how the various constituents that make up the
cannabis used by drug abusers can help those suffering crippling medical
conditions.

He reveals that one derivative is already licensed for use to suppress
nausea and vomiting caused by life-saving anti-cancer drugs.

And he suggests another "may also have therapeutic uses, for example in
reducing memory deficits associated with ageing or neurological diseases."

Dr. Pertwee insists smoking cannabis is toxic and probably causes cancer,
but it can be taken orally, and tincture of cannabis was available under
prescription in the UK until 1971.

Some individuals "self medicate" by eating cannabis leaves or resin in
cakes or fudge, or even drink cannabis tea.

In his evidence, he said legal prescribing would seem better than many
otherwise law-abiding patients who feel so strongly that they should have
to self-medicate with cannabis having to risk discovery and punishment.

Dr. Pertwee will have to defend his views before experts on the committee
on Tuesday May 12.

Checked-by: Richard Lake