cannabisnews.com: Italian Region Backs Medical Marijuana Italian Region Backs Medical Marijuana Posted by FoM on May 01, 2002 at 15:36:45 PT By Rosella Lorenzi Source: Reuters The council of Italy's northern region of Lombardy approved on Tuesday a motion in favour of marijuana-based medicines, asking the Italian government and the parliament "to regulate the medical use of cannabis and its derivatives." While Canada, the UK, Spain, Australia, Holland and some US states allow the use of marijuana as a treatment for chronic illnesses, at least in clinical trials, in Italy there is no legal way to obtain it but to ask for a magistrate's ruling. After listing several scientific studies showing the efficacy of cannabinoids--the active substances in cannabis--in moderating pain, spasms and nausea, the Lombardy document specifies that "the choice to approve the therapeutic use of cannabis should not be included in the debate on the prohibitionist and anti-prohibitionist approach to drugs." "Physicians must be able to prescribe their patients the drugs and the therapy they consider most appropriate. Thousands of patients are waiting for the legislation to regulate the therapeutic use of cannabis," Yasha Reibman, a doctor and regional councillor of the radical party, which presented the motion, said in an official statement. The Lombardy document "commits the president of the Regional Council and the president of the Region to communicate its content to the government and the parliament." But health minister Girolamo Sirchia remained skeptical. "From what we know, cannabis' benefits are not particularly significant. Also, they are not exclusive: on the market there are already products with the same indications," he told the daily Corriere della Sera. Florence, ItalySource: ReutersAuthor: Rosella Lorenzi Published: Wednesday, May 1, 2002Copyright: 2002 Reuters HealthMedical Marijuana Information Linkshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/medical.htmCourt Says Italy Must Pay for Pot-Based Medicine http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread12226.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #2 posted by tinorebel on May 02, 2002 at 12:28:02 PT: bella li' belllla stooooria gooood era ora che sti stronzi.... forse l'attacco a lp irellone e' servcoito???? bellla storia. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Gary Storck on May 01, 2002 at 16:31:21 PT Say it in any language... "But health minister Girolamo Sirchia remained skeptical. "From what we know, cannabis' benefits are not particularly significant. Also, they are not exclusive: on the market there are already products with the same indications," he told the daily Corriere della Sera."Sounds like he uses the same playbook as American prohibitionists. But, in any language he's still wrong.-- Gary Is My Medicine Legal YET? [ Post Comment ] Post Comment