'CANNABIS LAW NEEDS CHANGE'

By Nigel Gould Health Correspondent

Ill Man Argues Medical Use Case

A seriously ill young Ulsterman told today how he has turned in desperation
to cannabis to ease his daily agony.

The 28yearold said he spends £50 every week on the drug to relieve the
painful symptoms of Crohn's Disease.

As a chronic sufferer of the illness, which affects the digestive system,
he faces an uphill health battle every day.

In the five years since being diagnosed he has lost more than five stones,
has constant stomach cramps, painful back, joints and bones.

He has also had two operations one to remove part of his bowel and has
had to be admitted to hospital three times this year alone.

"I take nine tablets every day for the illness but I don't think they do me
any good," he said.

"The cannabis relaxes me and takes some of the pain away. It does cost a
lot and I'm on the dole but it is definitely worth it.

"I use it virtually every day and it certainly helps me." And he called
for the legalisation of cannabis.

"There needs to be a change in the law," he said. "It does me the world of
good and I don't know what I would do without it.

"I realise I could get into trouble. But what can I do?"

Last month, the British Medical Association published a major report
recommending further research into the therapeutic uses of cannabis
derivatives cannabinoids.

And the report concluded that more research was needed to identify
conditions where they may have benefits.

But a spokeswoman warned: "Chronic cannabis smoking, like tobacco smoking,
increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, bronchitis, emphysema and
probably carcinomas of the lung."