CANNABIS FAILS PAIN RELIEF TEST

CANNABIS does not provide any better pain relief than a drug in common
headache tablets, according to an Australian study.

The findings will come as a blow to groups advocating the legalisation of
cannabis for medicinal purposes, who cite its supposed pain-killing
properties as a main therepeutic benefits.

A study of the synthetic cannabis pill, Nabilone, found it gave patients no
more pain relief than codeine, which is in over-the-counter headache pills
and cold and flu tablets.

Nabilone has been available as an anti-nausea treatment for cancer patients
under a special Federal access scheme since the 1970s.

Dilip Kapur, from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, studied Nabilone in
80 patients with chronic pain and nerve damage.

Half were given a codeine-like drug and the others Nabilone. After six
weeks the treatments were swapped, with neither group knowing what they
were getting.

Dr Kapur said neither medication was particularly useful but codeine
provided better pain relief than Nabilone.

However, there were arguable benefits for those getting the cannabis drug.

"Nabilone has an equivalent effect on patients as recreational use of
cannabis when used in similar doeses," he said in the centre's newletter.

He said the study provided strong evidence that cannabis was not beneficial
for treating strong pain.

However, it could be helpful in certain circumstances, he said.

The NSW Government this year approved a controlled trial of the drug for
medicinal purposes. The Australian Medical Association has lent its
support to the trial, saying there was evidence that cannabis was a useful
drug for patients suffering wasting, chronic pain and nausea.