Manchester Guardian Editorial
Supports Lords’ Call For Medical Marijuana;
Mocks British Medical Association’s Rejection
See
The House of Lords
Press Release On Medical Marijuana; Medical, Yes; Legalization, No From The
Manchester Guardian
letters@guardian.co.uk
Wednesday November 11, 1998
Leader (Marijuananews note: That is what the Brits call
editorials.)
Let GPs prescribe the weed
Who says scientists should not use common sense? The House of Lords Select Committee on
Science and Technology caused a considerable kerfuffle in scientific circles yesterday.
They concluded in their latest report that there is insufficient scientific evidence to
prove the medical value of cannabis but even so recommended that the Government should
reclassify the drug to allow doctors to prescribe it as an unlicensed medicine on a
named-patient basis.
This was not a collection of hereditary nobodies but a notable panel heavily weighted
with distinguished medical scientists (a biologist, chemist, physicist, medical
researcher, neurologist, pathologist and practising fertility specialist) advised by
Oxford University’s visiting professor of pharmacology. In an unequivocal conclusion
they declare: "We have received enough anecdotal evidence to
convince us that cannabis almost certainly does have genuine medical applications,
especially in treating the painful muscular spasms and other symptoms of MS and in the
control of other forms of pain."
The British Medical Association was not amused. It criticised the Lords for failing to
distinguish between the active constituents of cannabis and cannabis itself.
It noted cannabis had many toxic ingredients and 60-plus cannabinoids. It believed
there should be no change to its legal position until further research had established
which cannabinoids had therapeutic value so that new cannabis-based drugs could be
developed. It opposed the use of crude cannabis because of the "unpredictable nature
of its effects". But "unpredictable" is the wrong word. Although there is
only one small clinical trial on the medical benefits of cannabis there is a mountain of
evidence from MS sufferers that cannabis does ease their pain. The
reason why cannabis has these effects may be "unknown" but the effects are not
"unpredictable".
This was one of the reasons why the Lords came out in support of using the drug. Even
the medic about to conduct the clinical trials into cannabis, who spoke out against the
report yesterday, conceded the anecdotal evidence was impressive.
The Lords should be congratulated for listening to patients rather than researchers.
Cannabis was used medically for centuries before being overtaken by more powerful drugs
but it still provides relief for a small category of ailments where modern drugs have
little effect. Knowing why it works would be helpful but making it
illegal until we know why is wrong.
Supported