Australia: New South Wales plans to allow medical use of cannabis

From: info@cannabis-med.org
Sent: Monday, May 25, 2003 9:27 AM

Australia's most populous state plans to allow seriously ill people to use cannabis as a medicine.

However, a proposal for a four-year trial period by New South Wales state premier Bob Carr provoked outrage among anti-drug campaigners even though he vowed to maintain the state's tough stance on recreational use. "When it comes to marijuana this is not a social revolution," Carr, of the centre-left Labour party, said on 21 May. "This is a method of us doing something compassionate for someone living with multiple sclerosis or receiving massive chemotherapy treatment."

Under the scheme, expected to be approved and begin by year's end, those suffering cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other serious illnesses can register to use marijuana for pain relief. In what form it will be distributed has to be decided.

(Source: Reuters of 21 May 2003)

***Science: Heartburn New animal research shows that THC play a role in a reflex that can result in reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. This reflex was significantly attenuated by THC. Thus, THC may be beneficial in the so-called "gastro-oesophageal reflux", which is characterised by heartburn, regurgitation of stomach acid, and inflammation of the esophagus. (Quelle: Partosoedarso ER, et al. J Physiol 2003 May 16; [electronic publication ahead of print])

***Science: Neuropathic pain Neuropathic cancer pain and pain due to inflammation was induced in mice. A synthetic cannabinoid (WIN55,212-2) attenuated tumour-evoked pain approximately 50% and was more potent at reducing pain in the inflammatory model. In the cancer model the cannabinoid effect was partially blocked by pre- treatment with a CB1 receptor antagonist, in the inflammation by a CB1 and a CB2 antagonist. (Source: Kehl LJ, et al. Pain 2003 May;103(1-2):175-86)

***Science: Neuropathic pain Demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis can be associated with painful sensory phenomena such as tactile pain and hyperalgesia. Demyelination is the term used for a loss of myelin, a substance in the white matter that insulates nerve endings. In a model of demyelination a cannabinoid that binds to the cannabinoid receptor was shown to decrease this neuropathic pain. (Source: Wallace VC, et al. J Neurosci 2003 Apr 15;23(8):3221-33

*Industrial-Hemp has no psychoactive properties following definition of the European Economic Community (EEC); THC content is less than 0.3%. In general, low THC-seed varieties without psychoactive properties are those that have a THC content of less than 1%. (See also No-THC Hemp-seed.) THC= Delta-9 TetraHydroCannabinol.