MEDICINAL CANNABIS TRIAL APPROVED

THE nation's first trial of cannabis for medical relief will begin in
NSW by the end of the year, a move that Premier Bob Carr said
yesterday would stop decent people feeling like criminals.

Mr Carr seized on the pleas from a 62-year-old bowel cancer sufferer
and an 80-year-old prostate cancer sufferer, who used the drug to
relieve pain and nausea, to push the scheme in parliament.

"No decent government can stand by while fellow Australians suffer
like that, while ordinary people feel like criminals for simply
medicating themselves," he said during question time.

Under the four-year plan, the Government will establish a new Office
of Medicinal Cannabis within the Health Department.

Patients would have to register annually and would need a doctor's
certificate advising that conventional treatment would not relieve
their suffering.

People with minor convictions for personal drug use would be eligible
to apply. But those with more serious drug convictions, or who are on
parole, pregnant or under 18, would be banned.

People suffering from cancer and AIDS, nausea from chemotherapy,
severe and chronic pain, spinal cord injuries and multiple sclerosis
would be eligible.

But the questions of who will pay for the drug, and its form of
distribution, are yet to be finalised. A draft bill will be presented
to parliament within weeks.

Options include tablets and a special cannabis inhaler being trialled
in Britain.

In authorising medicinal cannabis use, NSW will be joining countries
such as the US, Canada and The Netherlands.

The plan, which follows a working party on the issue in 2000, was
approved by cabinet on Monday and is understood to have received the
broad approval of caucus yesterday.

It also drew in-principle support from Liberal leader John Brodgen and
National Party leader Andrew Stoner, with strict conditions. The NSW
Greens wanted the trial to be expanded to include children dying of
degenerative disease, and for non-hallucinogenic varieties to be used.

The announcement had the support of HIV sufferer Justin Brash, who
began using cannabis in 1988 after his infection was diagnosed, in the
hope of ending his nausea and restoring his appetite.

"I was down to 58kg and I was vomiting about six times a day," he said
yesterday. "Then a friend suggested I try some marijuana. Soon after I
had a smoke, the nausea was gone and I ate two bowls of noodles within
about 20 minutes.

"I'm now up to a healthy 75kg and I believe that's because I'm smoking
cannabis, but I'm not happy about having to use the black market to
make me feel less ill."

Mr Brash, 47, said he was relieved the NSW Government had recognised
the plight of sufferers of serious and terminal illnesses by offering
them medicinal cannabis for pain and nausea relief.