POT SHOT AT TREATING A RANGE OF ILLNESSES

Cannabis, Dope, Pot, Hooch, Reefer Madness - is Marijuana Set to Be the
Aspirin of the 21st Century?

NSW Premier Bob Carr's recent announcement of a four-year medical trial of
cannabis, a first for Australia, attracted immediate controversy, with
tabloid headlines calling the plan Plain Dopey.

But a trial will include Australia in an already well-established global
quest to spell out the pharmaceutical benefits of this demonised,
misunderstood but ever-popular drug.

Advanced clinical trials are under way around the world, exploring the
medicinal use of cannabis in several illnesses.

The first results of the world's biggest study of multiple sclerosis
patients are due next month and the first cannabis-based medicines are
being considered for a licence.

In anticipation of the first trial results, the prestigious Lancet medical
journal this month published a special review on the therapeutic potential
of cannabis.

Authors Alan Thompson and David Baker, of the London Institute of
Neurology, found a range of potential uses for the active compounds
contained in the plant.

These include spinal cord injuries, motor neurone disease, cancer,
glaucoma, bladder dysfunction, Parkinson's disease, post traumatic stress
disorder, asthma, schizophrenia, stroke and anorexia.

Queen Victoria was said to have sworn by a cannabis tincture for menstrual
pains.

"That we are only just beginning to appreciate the huge therapeutic
potential of this family of compounds is clear," the authors reported.

"As we learn more about the phamacological activities of compounds in
cannabis and their biological targets ... varieties of cannabis might be
tailored to different diseases or used in combination with known drugs."

Used recreationally, cannabis induces relaxation and mild euphoria. It can
stimulate long-term memory, creative thinking and responses to music and
humour.

On the downside, some people can experience paranoia, anxiety, short-term
memory loss, cognitive problems, amotivational syndrome and in extreme
cases hallucinations, delusions and psychosis.

There has also been a steady stream of anecdotal claims through history
that cannabis eases limb-muscle spasms, migraine and pain and has
anti-convulsive, pain-killing, anti-anxiety and anti-nausea effects.

Thompson and Baker said the best evidence about cannabis was in relation to
the management of pain and spasticity in MS patients.

Two British research groups are conducting a 30-centre trial to test the
effectiveness of cannabis capsules in more than 660 MS patients.

That trial is expected to produce results within a month while other big
trials looking at the use of cannabis in treating cancer-related and
post-operative pain, sleep disturbance and HIV-related wasting are in
advanced stages.

Cannabis has been linked to schizophrenia but, according to the Lancet
review, several studies have indicated that people with schizophrenia
actually use the drug as a form of self-medication.

Further down the track, cannabis might be used to treat slow brain
degenerative disorders like Huntington's, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, motor
neurone disease and stroke, the review said.

The authors cautioned about over-optimism about calling cannabis the new
wonder drug, saying a review of small trials of cannabis in 222 patients
with acute cancer and chronic pain cast doubt on its effectiveness compared
with conventional painkillers.

The question also remains of how the drug is best administered - whether
swallowed, sprayed under the tongue, inserted via suppository, inhaled as a
vapour or smoked.

Smoking is viewed as one of the most effective means of delivery but is not
considered a viable option because of the adverse health effects of smoke
inhalation.