CANNABIS 'MAY BE USEFUL'

There is growing evidence that cannabis could be a useful medicine, says
Arohanui Hospice medical director Simon Allan.

But it's not clear that it is any more effective than drugs that are
legally available for controlling pain and nausea.

Dr Allan was commenting on the Greens campaign to get the Government to
approve medicinal use of cannabis. Green MP Nandor Tanczos said about
one-third of doctors who responded to a survey by his party would consider
prescribing medicinal cannabis if it was legal.

Dr Allan said the use of cannabis as a legitimate drug was "an interesting
area for research".

"There is no doubt there is growing evidence that cannabis has some small
contribution to make for pain relief and nausea."

Those were two of the most common symptoms experienced by terminally ill
patients.

"But there is no clear evidence that it is any better than existing
medications, although some patients clearly give testimony that it is."

Dr Allan said he had no personal experience of patients using cannabis for
medicinal use, nor had he treated patients for whom it promised better
results than other medicines.

"It may be that some drugs will be developed from cannabis that may find a
place in symptom control in future," he said.

The Manawatu Independent Practice Association, which represents most
Palmerston North, Feilding and Horowhenua GPs, does not have a policy stand
on cannabis use in medicine.

Consultant pharmacist Andrew Orange said if its use was legal, the group
would provide guidelines for GPs on how to use it most effectively.

"We support anything that can be shown to benefit patients, and not put
them at risk. But we have not looked at the evidence for cannabis because
we are not here to promote the use of illegal things," Mr Orange said.