Cannabis as a Medicine

Sir, On Monday, October 6th, you reported the view of Dr Seaghan Ua
Conchubhair, honorary secretary of the Association of GPs: "It has long
been recognised that cannabis leads to addiction and stronger drugs." On
the contrary, it is generally accepted that cannabis is not physically
harmful but that its illegal status means that it is frequently sold
alongside and consumed in conjunction with other illegal drugs.

Dr Ua Conchubhair goes on: "People say that it relieves pain among people
with cancer and other diseases which conventional medicine cannot deal
with. I think that is a big lie." He disregards the testimony of hundreds
if not thousands of patients who have found cannabis most effective in
combating the nausea associated with chemotherapy, not to mention those
suffering from multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, glaucoma, migraine, arthritis
and AIDS.

I suggest that Dr Ua Conchubhair read Marijuana, The Forbidden Medicine by
Lester Grinspoon and James Bakalar (Yale University Press) and peruse the
evidence collected by the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, which has
received hundreds of letters testifying that cannabis is an effective
medicine.

To disregard the stories of people who are suffering from serious and
intractable illness is callous in the extreme, and indicative of the
high-handed attitude of a medical profession in thrall to the
pharmaceutical industry and determined to protect its keys to the medicine
cabinet.

We can't expect doctors to accept the patient's right to self medication;
nor can the drug companies countenance losing business to a commonplace but
uniquely therapeutic herb. Yours, etc.,

RUSSELL CRONIN, Stockwell Road, London, SW9 9QA.