Pubdate: Thu, 19 Jul 2001
Source: Agence France-Presses
Copyright: 2001 AFP
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

BELGIUM APPROVES CANNABIS FOR SELECTED MEDICAL PURPOSES

BRUSSELS, July 19 (AFP) - Belgium has approved the use of cannabis 
for selected medical purposes on a trial basis, according to a decree 
published on Thursday in the government's official journal.

Cannabis will be legal in Belgium for treating nausea caused by 
chemotheraphy and radiotherapy, glaucoma, pains and muscle spasms 
linked to multiple sclerosis, AIDS symptoms and chronic pain 
resulting from the failure of other treatments, the decree stated.

But it can be administered only in Belgian hospitals as part of 
research -- approved in advance by an ethics committee -- to 
determine its effectiveness and any side effects.

Doctors will also have to report on a monthly basis how much cannabis 
they give to their patients, the decree said, adding that the 
decision was being taken "without prejudice" to existing Belgian 
narcotics laws.

Last January the government said it would decriminalise the 
possession of small amounts of cannabis, while stopping short of 
approving "coffee shops" like those in the Netherlands which sell 
marijuana openly.

In May the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously that cannabis could not 
be distributed for medicinal purposes in the United States because 
Congress had determined it had no such purpose.
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MAP posted-by: Josh Sutcliffe