cannabisnews.com: Lords Back Cannabis Use Lords Back Cannabis Use Posted by FoM on March 22, 2001 at 08:59:16 PT Cannabis is being tested in medical trials Source: BBC News The medicinal use of cannabis should be legalised, a House of Lords report recommends. The report, by the Lords select committee on science and technology, says that people who take cannabis to ease the symptoms of debilitating conditions such as multiple sclerosis should not live in fear of prosecution. It also calls for research into developing cannabis-based medicines to be speeded up, and accuses the body that licenses new drugs of dragging its feet. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) is insisting that new data is made available on the possible toxic effects of cannabis. But the Lords report says this data is not necessary, as cannabis has been used in medicine for hundreds of years. It says the MCA stance could delay the introduction of cannabis-based medicines by up to three years. No Viable Alternative: The Lords report said: "In the absence of a viable alternative medicine, and though we would not encourage smoking of cannabis, we consider it undesirable to prosecute genuine therapeutic users of cannabis who possess or grow cannabis for their own use. "This unsatisfactory situation underlines the need to legalise cannabis preparations for therapeutic use." There were 89,000 prosecutions involving cannabis in 1998, but it is not known how many of these people were taking the drug for medicinal purposes. Two major trials into its therapeutic uses were recently given grants worth a total of £1.5m by the Medical Research Council. But the Lords report criticised the slow pace of the studies and said the stigma surrounding cannabis was "inhibiting" research in the area. Minister's Evidence: In evidence to the Lords hearing, Home Office Minister Charles Clarke said the government would not stand in the way of an MCA-approved cannabis-based drug being prescribed by doctors. The report said: "In effect, the minister assured us that once a safe, effective, cannabis-based medicine had been licensed by the MCA, the government would actively co-operate in permitting it to be prescribed." But it also said: "We are concerned that the MCA's approach to the licensing of cannabis-based medicines ... could delay the approval of such medicines." One company, G W Pharmaceuticals, has claimed they could have a cannabis-based prescription medicine available by 2003. But the MCA's demand for new toxicology data could delay any launch by two to three years. Claire Hodges, a multiple sclerosis sufferer and a member of the Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics, said: "The report is recognising that there is a problem and we welcome that. "At the moment, the law is a nonsense. People are prosecuted for using something that eases their pain and distress, which is appalling." A Home Office statement said: "We are pleased to be able to approve the select committee's understanding of our desire to see the matter properly resolved through science and the efficacy of a medicinal form of cannabis being established scientifically." He said the government approved research and clinical trials into using cannabis medicinally. "If clinical trials into cannabis are successful and lead to a medical preparation, which is approved by the MCA, the government has made it clear it would be willing to amend the misuse of drugs regulations to allow the prescription of such a medicine." Note: House of Lords Science and Technology Committee: We consider it undesirable to prosecute genuine therapeutic users of cannabis who possess or grow cannabis for their own use.Source: BBC News (UK Web)Published: March 22, 2001Copyright: 2001 BBCWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/Feedback: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/Forum: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/Related Articles:Cameroon To Import Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread8240.shtmlScientists Develop Cannabis Sprayhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7966.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by CannabisMythsExposed on March 23, 2001 at 10:34:40 PT: Thanks FoM! It's a great hobby as well as being serious in it's intent to expose politicians as the lying 'bar stewards' that they are. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on March 22, 2001 at 12:56:37 PT I like your site Hi CannabisMythsExposed,I justed wanted to say I like what you are doing with your web site. I just got a personal web address. ( I didn't create CannabisNews ) I'm not that smart. It's my site though. I started to learn about making a home page a few years ago but just learned how to ftp. It sure is different then anyway else I've done it but I think I'm getting the hang of it. Keep up the good work. The more web sites out there the better.http://www.freedomtoexhale.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by jAHn on March 22, 2001 at 12:38:47 PT And to think, if Alcohol were in this scenario... ...The Arguements would've ended long ago! Alcohol would be approved, and all of the sick patients would worry no more, but like many have said, and I'm no fool to the know, Drug Warring makes more money for the Wizard behind the Curtain, it'd be "stupid" to end it. For the sake of the children, Legalize? Because children Grow, but only if they're in an atmosphere which does not prohibit such action. End this Lame War, nothing is good about it!!!Pot has become more expensive and for this, I am upset!!! The "right people" can't seem to get their hands on it. Give the herb Away to anyone you know that has smoked before! Help Circulate!!! Just give it away. It's an herb! It's not GOLD like these people want you to think!!! Smoke someone....Today.... End the War......Tomorrow... "That sounds right!" [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by CannabisMythsExposed on March 22, 2001 at 12:18:15 PT: Stalling Tactics But the MCA's demand for new toxicology data could delay any launch by two to three years. I think the above statement sums up the UK government's commitment to medical cannabis. Stall, and then stall some more.Pedro Cannabis Myths Exposed [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 22, 2001 at 11:09:39 PT: Independent Television News - Video http://www.itn.co.uk/news/20010322/video/cannabis_mn.ram My Medical Marijuana Page [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on March 22, 2001 at 09:26:46 PT: Related Article Lords Back Medical Use of Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9114.shtml [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: