Cautious nod for cannabis medicine in new zealand

[johnny alpha]

Health authorities admit there is enough evidence to
support use of cannabis on compassionate grounds.

In an October briefing paper to Health Minister Pete Hodgson,
the ministry says there is "sufficient evidence of safety and
efficacy of cannabis in some medical conditions" to
support consideration of compassionate, controlled use.

This could include use when conventional treatments have
failed.

The Government has been accused of dragging its feet
on reform to allow medicinal use of cannabis.

Health Ministry documents obtained by The Dominion
Post under the Official Information Act show the debate
has raged for six years without progress.

The briefing paper came ahead of a meeting with Green MP
Metiria Turei, sponsor of a private member's bill calling for
medicinal use.

It says the known medicinal uses are increasing and
research suggests it can help treat conditions such as
chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and nausea associated
with cancer treatment. However, the ministry expresses
concern about harm caused by smoking the drug and
problems of arranging legal supply.

It says a pharmaceutical form of cannabis, such as
the nasal spray Sativex, would address such issues.

Sativex was approved for multiple sclerosis patients in
Canada in 2005 and is being trialled in Britain. No
application to use it or any other pharmaceutical form
of cannabis here has been made to Medsafe.

At present, the health minister has the power to authorise
medicinal use of cannabis if a doctor applies on behalf of
a patient. However, according to the ministry, no medical
practitioners have applied.

Billy McKee, director of GreenCross, a patients' medicinal
cannabis support group, said it was frustrating the
Government had "stalled" on addressing the issue.

He smokes cannabis daily to control chronic pain dating
from car crash injuries sustained 30 years ago.

He has been prosecuted for cannabis use but now has a
letter from his GP to say he uses it for medical reasons
and carries a GreenCross card that asks police to use
their discretionary powers when deciding whether to
arrest him.

Mr McKee, of Levin, said his GP would not apply for
ministerial approval on his behalf because of the
bureaucracy involved. "I've applied two or three times
but it's always been knocked back," he said.

Ms Turei, whose private member's bill will be put to the
vote in May, said there was huge need for medicinal
cannabis to be made legally available.

The best way to ensure patients had cheap access to
cannabis was to allow them to grow their own. However,
the dosage should be managed by a doctor, she said.

Under her bill, patients could apply for an identification
card that would entitle them to possess the drug for
personal use.

Mr Hodgson has said he will consider the research
before deciding whether to back Ms Turei's bill.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation supported the bill
going to select committee, but executive director Ross
Bell said medicinal cannabis should be grown in a
controlled environment rather than by patients. Leaf
cannabis should be trialled for three to five years so
its medicinal benefits could be assessed.

Norml, a group pushing for reform of cannabis laws,
has handed a 3000-name petition to Parliament calling
for legalised medical use.

Medical Association chairman Ross Boswell said its policy
was for doctors not to advise patients to smoke cannabis
because of the health risks. If used medicinally the
active chemical should be formulated as a pharmaceutical
drug.
cut and pasted from here:
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/dominionpost/3958555a6000.html

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