July 3, 1997

LONDON, Reuters [WS] via Individual Inc. : British doctors voted
almost unanimously on Wednesday in favour of calling for the
use of cannabis to be legalised to help in the treatment of serious
conditions like multiple sclerosis and cancer.

More than 400 doctors at a British Medical Association (BMA)
conference in Edinburgh heard colleagues describe how some
desperate patients ended up in prison for buying illegal cannabis,
a BMA spokeswoman said by telephone.

The motion was proposed by Dr Upendra Pati from Merseyside in
northwest England, who told the conference that certain
cannabinoids offered valuable help for sufferers of many painful
conditions.

``We don't want our patients to use unlicensed cannabinoids that
could be dangerous,'' the spokeswoman quoted Pati as telling the
conference.

Other doctors said hundreds of patients were turning to illegal
drug dealers to get hold of the only treatment they knew would
relieve their suffering.

``When patients are in pain we should be there to give them relief.
When they are sick and dying, they should be able to turn to the
doctor, not to the drug dealer,'' said medical academic Steve
Hajioff.

British doctors are currently permitted to prescribe just two
cannabis derivatives and only for the treatment of nausea in
cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. These drugs can be
prescribed only in hospitals.

The BMA spokeswoman said there were many different
cannabinoids which relieved the symptoms of conditions such as
asthma, cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis.

The association stressed it was not interested in decriminalising
cannabis for general public use.

It was preparing a detailed report into the possible medical uses
of
cannabis which would be published later this year, the
spokeswoman said.

Legalisation of more forms of cannabis would help doctors study
its effects, both beneficial and harmful, she added.

Doctors have little idea of its dangers, although studies in the
United States have linked it to some forms of cancer.

The drug was first reported as having medicinal qualities 5,000
years ago by Chinese emperor Chen Nung, who advocated its use
against malaria, constipation and absentmindedness.

Doctors in Britain were banned from prescribing most forms of
cannabis in 1971 after the World Health Organisation ruled there
were other licensed drugs that could take its place.

A spokeswoman for Britain's Health Ministry said the government
would look at any new evidence of the medical benefits of
cannabis, but these would have to be weighed against its
sideeffects.

``There is evidence in some cases that prolonged use of cannabis
can give rise to acute and transient psychotic disorders,'' she
said.
``Obviously it (legalisation) is something that would have to be
looked at very carefully before making any decision.'' REUTER@

[Copyright 1997, Reuters]