PM BACKS CANNABIS USE FOR PAIN RELIEF

PRIME Minister John Howard has backed the use of cannabis for pain relief
provided it is in specially-produced tablet or spray form and dispensed by
doctors.

But Mr Howard emphasises his views on the medical use of cannabis should
not be interpreted as condoning any softening of Australia's drug laws,
condemning the WA Government's move to relax marijuana laws as crazy.

In a surprise endorsement of a controversial medical trial to be undertaken
in New South Wales, Mr Howard said he had no personal objection to making
cannabis available to patients suffering chronic and debilitating pain.

"Provided it is strictly as outlined by the NSW Premier, provided where it
is only where there is no mainstream treatment available, and provided it
doesn't take the form of being permitted to grow marijuana - in other words
it's dispensed in some way, tablet or spray - I would give it in-principle
support," Mr Howard told The West Australian yesterday.

On Tuesday NSW Premier Bob Carr announced a four-year trial of the
medicinal use of cannabis, under strict conditions, for the treatment of
chronic pain.

The plan won conditional support from the NSW Liberal Opposition and from
Federal Labor leader Simon Crean. The WA Government said it would monitor
the move.

Mr Howard said he was totally opposed to the decriminalisation of marijuana.

"But you are dealing here with the relief of pain and suffering and
essentially where people's quality of life has already been not only
severely degraded but also potentially threatened," he said.

"In those circumstances it seems to me to be a proper human reaction to say
if somebody who could be dying of cancer, whose pain could be relieved by
marijuana, then I'm all in favour of it."

The position is at odds with the views of his Education Minister Brendan
Nelson, who said he found it difficult to back the trial. Mr Howard drew a
distinction between the cannabis trial and medically-dispensed heroin to
addicts, which he opposes.

Mr Howard said the case against decriminalising marijuana was stronger than
ever.

"It's dangerous in its own right, there are strong links between marijuana
dependency and depression, strong links between marijuana dependency and
schizophrenia," Mr Howard said.

He rejected any suggestion that decriminalising the use of small amounts of
marijuana, as would be the case under WA Government plans, would ease
pressure on the legal system so it could target big-time criminals.

"That's an argument for legalising petty larceny," Mr Howard said.