cannabisnews.com: MS Doctor Supports Regulated Use of Cannabis MS Doctor Supports Regulated Use of Cannabis Posted by FoM on March 26, 2001 at 18:16:11 PT By Padraig O'Morain, Health & Child Correspondent Source: Irish Times A consultant neurologist working with multiple sclerosis patients has said she would be "delighted" if cannabis could be made available to patients in a regulated and legal way.Dr Orla Hardiman was commenting on remarks by the Garda Commissioner, Mr Pat Byrne, who had been reported as saying there was a case for looking at the legalisation of cannabis for medical problems. Mr Byrne was quoted in the Sunday Times as saying: "I think there is a question for looking at the legalisation of cannabis for medical reasons only. I don't support the broad legalisation or decriminalisation of the use of cannabis, but I do think there is a case for having another look in relation to medical problems."A Garda spokesman said yesterday that he presumed the quotes were accurate.Dr Hardiman, who works with MS patients at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, said: "I would be delighted if there was a move towards regulated use of cannabis in a legal fashion. There is an anecdotal literature, corroborated by patients, that cannabis works for pain in MS. I know patients who would use it and find it useful in pain management."She said she did not ask patients where they got the cannabis.A British government-approved trial of the cannabis plant began recently in Plymouth. Its purpose is to examine the usefulness of cannabis for pain and tremor in MS patients. Nearly 700 people in 40 centres across the UK are expected to take part in the trial eventually.The subject generated considerable public interest in Britain earlier this year when it emerged that a former Drugs Squad officer was buying cannabis on the streets to get relief from pain associated with MS.A Conservative MP, Mr Tim Yeo, this year revealed that his son was using cannabis to alleviate the side-effects of chemotherapy for cancer.Last week a committee of the House of Lords said that it was "undesirable to prosecute genuine therapeutic users of cannabis who possess or grow cannabis for their own use".In Canada and some US states cannabis can be bought on prescription to treat glaucoma and other medical conditions and alleviate the side-effects of chemotherapy.Queen Victoria was said to have used cannabis, prescribed by her doctor, to relieve menstrual cramps.Source: Irish Times, The (Ireland) Author: Padraig O'Morain, Health and Children Correspondent Published: Monday, March 26, 2001Address: 11-15 D'Olier St, Dublin 2, Ireland Copyright: 2001 The Irish Times Fax: + 353 1 671 9407 Contact: lettersed irish-times.ie Website: http://www.ireland.com/ Related Articles:Lords Back Medical Use of Cannabishttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9114.shtmlLords Back Cannabis Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread9113.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #5 posted by CannabisMythsExposed on March 27, 2001 at 12:25:46 PT: New petition! STOP ARRESTING MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENTShttp://www.ethical-business.com/petitions.asp?pet_id=74I thank you!Pedro [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 27, 2001 at 11:31:15 PT: My HCV Information Board Hi Dr. Russo and everyone, Because of my husband's recent diagnosis having Hepatitis C I went ahead and started putting together an information board for those who might be dealing with the same health issue. As I find information I'll add it to this board. Thought I'd pass it on. HCV Information Board [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on March 27, 2001 at 05:57:42 PT: Irish Tradition of Clinical Cannabis As it turns out, William O'Shaughnessy, the father of Western clinical cannabis was an Irishman working in the service of the British in India when he wrote the first modern English medical article on cannabis in 1839.Likewise, Donovan, Corrigan and many other pioneers of "Indian hemp" were Irish and published important accounts of its use.The developments in the above article will hopefully catalyze a return of cannabis to the Irish pharmacopoeia. That would close the historical circle and right a wrong foisted upon a worthy drug by unscrupulous liars and moralistic ideologues. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on March 26, 2001 at 21:52:43 PT Hello Phil I'm glad you are doing well and you're very welcome. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by phil millerd on March 26, 2001 at 18:34:15 PT: MS and Pot I have MS and have been self medicating for fifteen years. I am fifty and doing well.Thanks for the article. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: