Pubdate: Wed, 13 Sep 2006
Source: Lismore Northern Star (Australia)
Copyright: APN News & Media Ltd 2006
Contact:  http://www.northernstar.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4156
Author: Megan Kinninment
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

CWA pushing for cannabis pain trials

THEY won't be adding hashish to the cookie mix any time  soon -- but
the Coraki CWA ladies are warming to the  possibilities of marijuana.

Perhaps better known for lamington drives and knitting  groups, the
conservative Country Women's Association  (CWA) has launched a
controversial push to trial  cannabis for pain relief.

While they don't support recreational drug use at all,  the medical
trial has the support of many of the Coraki  ladies.

"Thirty years ago I would have been horrified at the  thought," Coraki
CWA vice-president Mary Hearn, 77,  said yesterday.

"I don't like drugs at all, but I think marijuana has  great potential
for those in severe pain -- I have seen  it work."

President of the Coraki branch, Ruth Blanch, 88, also  knows those who
have used the illegal drug to provide  pain relief, but added: "Any
trial would need to be  very carefully monitored."

The decision to lobby for medical trials of the drug  was made at the
CWA Australia's national conference in  Darwin last month.

"This is a health issue -- we don't see it any  differently from any
other health issue such as doctor  shortages in rural areas," CWA
Australia president  Leslie Young, from Tasmania, said.

"Cannabis is just another drug that can potentially  help people with
chronic pain. The opiates are all  illegal too -- but we make them
available for pain  relief."

Member for Ballina Don Page said he also supported a  medical trial:
"I'm supportive of using prescribed  cannabis for the terminally ill
or where conventional  drugs are destroying the person's organs. But
it needs  to be prescribed by a doctor."

The CWA cannabis decision has made the CWA ladies a new  friend in
Michael Balderstone, spokesman for the Nimbin  Hemp Embassy, who was
yesterday delighted to hear the  CWA had taken up his pet cause.

"I imagine the CWA will be much better listened to than  us hippies,"
Mr Balderstone said.

"Marijuana works. It can act like a magic cure for pain  relief, they
are the best painkilling plants on the  market."

Mr Balderstone said cannabis was often useful in the  relief of the
side effects of chemotherapy, arthritis,  glaucoma and pain relief in
terminal illnesses.

"Many older people are coming to see us at the Hemp  Embassy who are
either already using cannabis or want  to use it for pain relief," Mr
Balderstone said.

"The word is out there that it works.

"We've had busloads of Ballina retirees visiting Nimbin  and they
aren't coming for the scenery ..."
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MAP posted-by: Derek