Pubdate: Sat, 18 Oct 2003
Source: West Australian (Australia)
Copyright: 2003 West Australian Newspapers Limited
Contact:  http://www.thewest.com.au
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/495

CANNABIS FAILS PAIN RELIEF TEST

CANNABIS does not provide any better pain relief than a drug in common 
headache tablets, according to an Australian study.

The findings will come as a blow to groups advocating the legalisation of 
cannabis for medicinal purposes, who cite its supposed pain-killing 
properties as a main therepeutic benefits.

A study of the synthetic cannabis pill, Nabilone, found it gave patients no 
more pain relief than codeine, which is in over-the-counter headache pills 
and cold and flu tablets.

Nabilone has been available as an anti-nausea treatment for cancer patients 
under a special Federal access scheme since the 1970s.

Dilip Kapur, from Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, studied Nabilone in 
80 patients with chronic pain and nerve damage.

Half were given a codeine-like drug and the others Nabilone.  After six 
weeks the treatments were swapped, with neither group knowing what they 
were getting.

Dr Kapur said neither medication was particularly useful but codeine 
provided better pain relief than Nabilone.

However, there were arguable benefits for those getting the cannabis drug.

"Nabilone has an equivalent effect on patients as recreational use of 
cannabis when used in similar doeses," he said in the centre's newletter.

He said the study provided strong evidence that cannabis was not beneficial 
for treating strong pain.

However, it could be helpful in certain circumstances, he said.

The NSW Government this year approved a controlled trial of the drug for 
medicinal purposes.  The Australian Medical Association has lent its 
support to the trial, saying there was evidence that cannabis was a useful 
drug for patients suffering wasting, chronic pain and nausea.
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