CANNABIS TRIAL SMOKES OUT PARTY OPPONENTS

Splits have emerged in the Federal Government over NSW plans for a trial of
cannabis for medicinal purposes, despite Prime Minister John Howard giving
in-principle support.

In The West Australian yesterday, Mr Howard backed the controversial
four-year trial to allow the chronically ill access to cannabis for pain
relief if it was dispensed by a doctor and administered in tablet or spray
form.

But at least three of his frontbenchers said they were opposed to the plan,
announced last Tuesday by NSW Premier Bob Carr.

Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson said Mr Howard's support for the
trial had not changed his personal opinion.

I've expressed a personal view about the trial as a member of Parliament
for NSW and a parent, apart from anything else," Dr Nelson said.

"The Government position will clearly be outlined by the Health Minister
Kay Patterson and supported by the Prime Minister." Senator Patterson said
she believed the trial might have merit.

But Federal parliamentary secretary for family and community services Ross
Cameron called the trial a mistake and said it would confuse the health
message sent to young people.

"I think we have come a long way in the area of pain management and there
are lots and lots of alternatives available to medicate pain," Mr Cameron said.

"The problem with cannabis is that if you say there is a set of
circumstances under which it's a good thing to use cannabis, you send this
very confused message to the vast mass of relatively ill-informed and
disinterested people watching."

Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson also had reservations about the trial,
saying he was yet to be convinced it was the best way forward.

"The devil is in the detail - the detail opens up a whole range of areas
which are really very difficult," he said.

"I must say I'm not sure that this is necessary."