MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS

Cannabis has been used as a medicine for 5,000 years. It was part of the
British formulary until 1971, when concerns about its recreational misuse
resulted in it being banned. Cannabis was a popular medicine in the 19th
century, but it fell out of fashion with the development of injectable
opiates and synthetic drugs, which were more reliable and faster acting
than cannabis preparations of variable quality.

Thirtysix American states have passed legislation recognising the
therapeutic potential of cannabis. Unfortunately, federal laws prevent
this legislation from having any effect. The medical use of cannabis
should be encouraged. Cannabis is useful in treating patients undergoing
chemotherapy, people with glaucoma, AIDS, chronic pain, migraine, menstral
cramps and labour pain, spinal injury spasms, epilepsy, depression and
other mood disorders and pruritis. Cannabis may be useful in treating
asthma and insomnia.

The only problem with cannabis is that in some people it can trigger an
underlying mental problem. This requires further investigation.

Eleanor Sivly
Goteborg, Sweden