MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Editor,

Wheelchair bound Cantabrian Neville Yates deserves congratulations for his
brave stand against a law which deprives him of his medicine. In court on
charges of cannabis possession and cultivation, Yetes pointed out that he
used the cannabis for medicine, and called for the charges to be dropped
(Press, 22 August 2003).

There are so many people around this country, like Yates, who find that
cannabis offers them better pain relief than pharmaceuticals, without the
nausea or addiction attached to the use of prescription drugs. Of these,
there are an unfortunate few who have found themselves on the wrong side of
the law. These poor people are arrested and have their medicine
confiscated because of a ridiculous policy that offers them morphine and
denies them marijuana.

The war on medical marijuana users is outrageous. This substance is
beneficial for a number of ailments, from nausea to multiple sclerosis to
back pain. Sick people are being imprisoned. Surely it's time for doctors
to show some courage. Why aren't more health providers speaking up about
the benefits of medicinal cannabis use? Does the
Burwood Spinal Unit have any official stance on the issue?

Yours,

Duncan Eddy