THORACIC SOCIETY URGES CAUTION

A Dunedin man appeared before the Dunedin District Court last week after he
was caught growing cannabis to help relieve the debilitating symptoms of
epilepsy. At the same time, the medical profession and politicians debated
the merits of cannabis as therapy. JOANNA NORRIS talked to two people with
differing perspectives.

The harm caused by inhaling smoke into the lungs may outweigh the
therapeutic benefits of cannabis, University of Otago respiratory specialist
Associate Prof Robin Taylor believes.

Prof Taylor, president of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand,
said more research on the therapeutic benefits and alternative forms of
cannabis was needed before any law changes.

Parliament's health committee has been considering whether a derivative of
the drug should be available in pill form to help pain relief.

Cannabis smoke contained more than 130 "products of combustion" other than
active ingredient delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), Prof Taylor said.

"It is a mixture of gases and particulate material almost identical to
tobacco smoke and we know what tobacco smoke does to lungs over a period of
time."

"If you were able to extract the THC, it may have a therapeutic role, but by
just putting it in a cigarette, the disadvantages may outweigh the benefit."

The Thoracic Society believed the therapeutic benefits of active ingredients
in cannabis needed to be carefully studied through appropriately conducted
clinical studies.

If the studies showed symptoms were relieved, the law should be modified to
allow the use of cannabis in a medical setting.

"I use morphine and heroin in a clinical setting very day, but that's a
completely different issue from getting morphine or narcotics on the street.
In the same way, THC could be demonstrated to have therapeutic benefits,"
Prof Taylor said.

"Research into alternative drug delivery, rather than smoking is necessary,"
he said yesterday.

A tablet was a likely alternative if THC could be extracted and absorption
guaranteed.

Prof Taylor said he also wanted to clarify the difference between
legalisation for therapeutic use in a clinical setting and general use.

The Thoracic Society believed it was important to make the distinction and
urged consideration of medical trials before any law change.