By MaryJane Egan, Free Press Health Reporter

MS society won't back fight for legalized pot

A multiple sclerosis sufferer in London who argues marijuana should be
legalized for medicinal purposes for those like herself will find no ally
in the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada.

Lynn Harichy, a 36yearold mother of four, was charged with drug
possession Monday after announcing she would light up a marijuana cigarette
on the steps of the London police station.

Harichy argues marijuana gives her relief from the constant pain of her
progressive disease of the central nervous system that leads to numbness,
problems with coordination, vision and speech as well as fatigue and
paralysis.

Dr. William J. McIlroy is national medical adviser of the MS Society and
has refused to endorse marijuana use as a treatment of MS symptoms.

NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS

"There is no generally accepted scientific basis for use of marijuana as a
treatment," the Torontobased physician said.

"There have been anecdotal reports over the years that marijuana appeared
to be beneficial to some patients with MS in treating their spasticity, but
the number of cases is small. It has not been tested in a properly
controlled trial. Longterm use may be associated with significant serious
sideeffects such as impaired memory and cognitive problems."

Multiple Sclerosis isn't the only disease for which it's been argued
marijuana may benefit sufferers. The drug which has been legalized for
medicinal purposes in the state of California only has been cited as a
pain control mechanism for victims of AIDS, cancer and glaucoma.

SOMETIMES HELPFUL

London doctor Dwight Moulin, associate professor at the University of
Western Ontario's department of clinical neurological sciences, said
cannabis and its derivatives have been shown to be "sometimes helpful for
the nausea and vomiting experienced by some cancer patients."

And while it's illegal to prescribe marijuana in Canada, Moulin said,
there's a drug on the market called Nabilone that's "related to marijuana"
and eases nausea in some patients.

The downside, he said, is it can affect a patient's mood. "Many patients
find the mood effects are difficult to tolerate. It can make them feel a
downturn in mood, what we call dysphoric."

Bob Young, 41, is an MS sufferer living in Chatham. He said while he
doesn't support the use of marijuana, he understands "when you have a
condition like this, you're willing to do anything that may bring you some
hope."

BEESTING THERAPY

A Navistar International employee, Young is about to undergo beesting
therapy in a bid to slow the progression of the disease.

"You hold honey bees at various points on your body and while the medical
community in the U.S. is still testing it, people who do it in the
underground swear by it."

Young said a fellow Navistar employee is a beekeeper "on the side" and has
agreed to provide him with as many bees as he needs. While Young's doctor
isn't sold on the idea, Young said he's willing to try anything.

McIlroy said while many MS sufferers maintain being stung by bees regularly
provides relief from some MS symptoms, "it will take considerable time to
determine any possible effectiveness of bee venom as a treatment for MS."

He also warned bee venom can produce a potentially fatal reaction.