ILLEGAL WEED, HEALS BODY AND SOUL?

RALPH WENGE, CNN ANCHOR: In most of the developed world, medicine is based
on scientific proof, or physiology, anatomy, and biology. Treatments that
involve the spiritual or ancient tradition instead of science or frequently
called "alternative medicine."

But in many places, these so-called alternative treatments are standards
medical practice. In fact, four out of five people around the globe have
access to nothing but traditional medicine. Traditional healers come in many
forms from witch doctors to acupuncturists.

One thing they seem to have in common is an interest in healing the soul, as
well as the body.

This week we're taking a special look at how medicine is practiced
throughout the world. And we begin in Europe where some physicians are
investigating the health benefits of a drug that is illegal in most
countries.

Radio Netherlands Television reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ARIANE GREEP, RADIO NETHERLANDS TELEVISION (voice-over): For years marijuana
can be bought in many soft drug coffee shops all over Holland. Although it
is by law forbidden to sell the soft drug, the government tolerates it. It
is however illegal to grow the weed on Dutch soil.

For many people, marijuana is not just a soft drug used for pleasure. For
instance, people suffering from the severe chronic illness multiple
sclerosis say they benefit tremendously by smoking marijuana to ease the
terrible pain.

Forty-six-year-old Peter Boonman is one of those people. Nine years ago
doctors found out he had progressive multiple sclerosis, a disease which
will slowly make him an invalid. Severe pains are part of this chronic
disease.

Two and a half years ago he started smoking marijuana.

PETER BOONMAN, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENT: Marijuana is very important. It
keeps me alive. It keeps me -- it gives me energy. It gives me strength. It
gives -- it keeps me going on. Otherwise, I couldn't go on. My legs are
warm. I can eat. I feel fine in my body. I have no spasms any more. I get
strength and energy.

GREEP: it's for you -- it's the ultimate medicine?

BOONMAM: For me, it is ultimate medicine.

GREEP: Up until last year, the government also tolerated the sale of
marijuana in pharmacies. This year it is forbidden. Now a new synthetic drug
will come on the market in Holland with supposedly the same qualities as
marijuana.

MARK HAGENZIEKER, PHARMACIST: Marinol is a product which contains one
chemical substance which is the THC, a product which comes from the
marijuana plant and that can be used as a pharmaceutical product.

BOONMAN: The big industry is putting Marinol on the market. So they want to
keep making their money. And they don't make money on marijuana. Because how
you ask patent on the marijuana? You can't ask patent on the marijuana. So
they against it.

GREEP: In Holland, research has now started on the effect of marijuana on
people with MS, cancer, and AIDS.

For Peter Boonmam, the answer is already evident.

BOONMAN: The solution is legalize marijuana as a medicine.

GREEP: For Radio Netherlands Television, for CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHAEL MORRIS, SWISS TV-SRI (voice-over): Canibus, a plant which can grow
practically anywhere, even in Switzerland. But the crop contains THC, a
highly controversial substance. Since an operation on his spinal cord, Swiss
lawyer Ruedi Prerost is plagued by cramps and pains in his legs. Although
conventional medication of his relief, there's a side effect -- tiredness.

After Ruedi Prerost accepted a joint from a visiting friend in hospital, the
spasms in his legs disappeared.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUEDI PREROST, PATIENT (through translator): That's why I asked my
neurologist if I could have the substance in its pure form and take the
smallest dose possible as a medication.

MORRIS: As part of his study at the Neurological Clinic at Zurich
University, Ruedi Prerost is given THC under medical supervision. How were
the results?

Head of the study, Professor Volker Henn.

PROF. VOLKER HENN, ZURICH UNIVERSITY: Positive because with this particular
patient, there was a clear sign of a positive effect on his physical
symptoms, by painful muscular contractions using a small enough dose to
avoid any psychogenic side effects.

MORRIS: But the study also showed that in many other cases, a higher dosage
of THC was needed producing a psychogenic effect many patients perceived as
negative. The medicinal value of canibus has been known for over 5,000
years. In China, it was used against asthma, in India against headaches and
cramps, to treat malaria and menstrual problems in Southeast Asia, in Africa
against Anthrax and depression, and in the Caribbean to fight off
tuberculosis.

Although nowadays in the United States, synthetic THC is given to patients
in exceptional cases, here in Switzerland, anyone putting crumbs of hashish
into yogurt is still acting against the law. In this case, it's being taken
by a man suffering from multiple sclerosis to ease uncontrollable spasms.

But canibus can also be smoked. Does that mean people with spastic problems
should light up?

HENN: People should certainly not all start smoking joints. Because there
are very effective drugs on the market which ease painful spasms. THC offers
a further option in treating spastic conditions. But the gap between
relieving and producing unwanted side effects is much too narrow.

MORRIS: So even after 5,000 years, the CAMPODE plant remains steeped in
mystery.

This is Michael Morris of Swiss Television and Swiss Radio International for
CNN WORLD REPORT.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

© 1997 Cable News Network, Inc.