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Aust: Cannabis 'preferred to other medications'

Miranda Wood, Health Reporter

The Sun-Herald, Australia

Sunday 15 Aug 2004

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Nearly two-thirds of people using marijuana for medical reasons had
decreased or stopped taking other medications early, results of a State
Government survey show.

The survey, an Australian first, was conducted by the National Drug and
Alcohol Research Centre.

Participants reported cannabis was useful in preventing side effects caused
by conventional medicines.

The most common medical conditions the cannabis users suffered were
arthritis, chronic pain, depression, nausea, muscle spasms and weight loss.

More than 70 per cent were concerned about marijuana's illegality and 54
per cent were scared of being arrested, but were willing to take the risk
for the benefits of the drug.

The centre's information manager, Paul Dillon, said: "Some say they believe
that if they get caught it won't be that bad because they are using it for
a medical condition."

Preliminary findings show that 70 per cent of those using medical marijuana
would be willing to be involved in a trial of an alternative form of
cannabis, such as a spray.

Mr Dillon said some believed a tablet or spray would be less effective than
natural cannabis, but they wanted to experiment because of their concerns
over smoking it.

He said a young man suffering fibromyalgia, a chronic illness causing
muscle aches and fatigue, said in the survey: "I would rather risk being
arrested than not being able to function in a normal state.

"The drugs that I take for pain are bad enough as it is. If cannabis helps
and I can function a hell of a lot better, then I am going to use it and
continue to use it."

Last year NSW Premier Bob Carr announced a trial of the therapeutic
benefits of cannabis.

The survey was one of the recommendations of the NSW working party on the
medical use of cannabis.

 

 

 

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