CARR UNVEILS FOUR-YEAR CANNABIS TRIAL FOR MEDICAL USE

NSW Premier Bob Carr today announced a four-year trial to allow the medical
use of cannabis to relieve harsh pain.

Mr Carr said the trial was aimed at alleviating the chronic suffering of
people with severe pain who came to the attention of a working party he
established in 2000.

There would be strict safeguards and penalties in the proposed legislation,
which will be introduced in the spring session of parliament.

"This is a compassionate scheme," he told parliament.

"It's directed at people like the 62-year-old man with bowel cancer ...
(who) uses cannabis to relieve pain and to beat the nausea that stops him
from eating."

Another man, suffering from prostate cancer, ate marijuana biscuits to help
bring back his appetite and strengthen his determination to fight against
the cancer, Mr Carr said.

"Medical evidence supported the proposition marijuana . in a number of
these cases can relieve the symptoms of suffering and we have an obligation
wherever we can to minimise human pain and human distress," he said.

Under the government's proposal, patients would be able to gain access to
medical cannabis through a new Office of Medicinal Cannabis within the NSW
Health Department.

"Patients must be able to show that conventional treatment will not relieve
their suffering," Mr Carr said.

"We're talking about people suffering wasting due to cancer and HIV/AIDS,
nausea from chemotherapy, severe or chronic pain, muscle spasticity due to
Multiple Sclerosis and spinal cord injuries."

People convicted of an illicit drug offence (except a minor personal use
offence), on parole, under 18 years of age, or pregnant will not be able to
register as a user, he said.