DOCTORS DISAGREE ON DRUG'S EFFECTIVENESS

Few studies done due to `stigma of illegality'

When it comes to marijuana's medicinal benefits, there's no agreement among
doctors.

Some are hopeful about how it seems to help cancer victims and HIV
patients, while others say there are more effective prescription painkillers.

Toronto physician John Goodhew sees the merits of marijuana use for
treating the side effects of illnesses like cancer, HIV and epilepsy.

``I'm not talking about waking up and rolling a joint. Small amounts, a
halfhour before eating can increase one's appetite,'' Goodhew said,
referring to the loss of appetite that accompanies some antiHIV drugs.

Now that a judge has given a Toronto man the legal right to cultivate and
possess marijuana for medical purposes, the ball is in Ottawa's court,
Goodhew said. ``I'm hoping the federal health minister will take the
initiative on this. We need a rational look at the issue. We don't need all
the hysteria that says legalizing it will mean kids will be shooting heroin
in the streets.''

Despite the landmark decision by Judge Patrick Sheppard of Ontario Court,
provincial division, giving Terry Parker the right to grow marijuana for
his epilepsy, the medical community is not singing from the same song sheet
when it comes to its effectiveness as a medicinal agent.

``No one has seriously studied it because of the stigma around its
illegality,'' said Dr. Malcolm Moore, oncologist at Princess Margaret
Hospital in Toronto.

Moore said that years ago there were a number of young patients who used
marijuana to combat nausea from chemotherapy. But this isn't as common now
because there are highly effective antinauseants.

Still, he believes there are ``interesting compounds'' in marijuana that
bear scientific scrutiny. ``There isn't a huge volume of data to make a
conclusion either way (about how useful it is medicinally). But it's an
interesting drug that should be studied under controlled research settings.''

Those in the pro and antimarijuana camp cite different studies to back up
their positions.

The Torontobased Council on Drug Abuse points to a 1992 study out of
Georgetown University School of Medicine, in which 170 cancer specialists
were surveyed about the value of cannabis as a medical agent.

The study found cannabis ranked sixth in management of severe,
postchemotherapy nausea and vomiting.

But other high profile studies have pointed in the opposite direction.

Dr. John Paul Morgan, a professor of pharmacology at City University of New
York Medical School, testified at Parker's trial that none of the drugs
prescribed to epileptics is as safe or as effective as marijuana.