Pubdate: Mon,  1 Sep 2003
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2003 BBC
Contact:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/558
Author: Geraldine Coughlan, BBC correspondent in The Hague
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)

DUTCH TO PRESCRIBE CANNABIS

 From Monday, Dutch doctors will be able to prescribe medicinal cannabis to 
patients.

Soft-drug use is tolerated in the Netherlands, but for the past two years 
the government's Bureau for Medicinal Cannabis (BMC) has been researching 
the effect of the drug on patients.

Other countries, including the UK, are also considering allowing the sale 
of the drug in pharmacies.

Medicinal cannabis is intended as a pain reliever for cancer and Aids 
patients, and for people suffering from other illnesses, such as multiple 
sclerosis.

In line with United Nations narcotics regulations, the BMC is monitoring 
the cultivation and distribution of the drug.

Five-gram packets

The BMC has signed a contract with two marijuana growers to supply pharmacies.

The drug will be sold in five-gram packets for around $50.

Public-health insurers are to decide this week whether they will cover the 
costs.

The use of soft drugs is illegal but tolerated in the Netherlands, and 
cannabis is openly sold in so-called coffee shops.

In March this year, the government changed the opium law to allow doctors 
to prescribe the drug through pharmacists.

The Netherlands is co-operating with other countries who are researching 
the use of medicinal cannabis, including Canada, the United States, 
Britain, Switzerland and Belgium.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom