Pubdate: Sat, 31 Jan 2015
Source: Taranaki Daily News (New Zealand)
Copyright: 2015 Fairfax New Zealand Limited
Contact:  http://www.thedailynews.co.nz/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1056
Author: Geoff Noller
Note: Geoff Noller is a Dunedin-based medical anthropologist and 
independent research consultant. In 2008 he completed his PhD, 
examining New Zealand cannabis use and drug policy, at Otago 
University Medical School's Department of Psychological Medicine.

RESEARCHER DISCUSSES MEDICAL MARIJUANA

It is untrue that there is nothing in New Zealand law that allows for 
the use of cannabis medicinally.

In New Zealand there is increasing public and medical professional 
support for cannabis' availability as a medicine, as well as a 
greater commitment by media to more balanced coverage of this 
complicated issue.

The recent Taranaki Daily News article on medicinal cannabis 
(Taranaki woman sparks debate on medical marijuana, January 24) 
featuring a broad range of views is a case in point.

Notable in that article was the extent of mainstream New Zealanders' 
support of medicinal cannabis and the degree to which this phenomenon 
has been embraced elsewhere through cannabis law reform internationally.

Thus, undoubtedly brave but also desperate Taranaki farmer and 
grandmother, Paula Gray, sought her medicine on a New Plymouth 
Facebook page, while NZ Drug Foundation CEO Ross Bell noted the 
availability of medicinal cannabis, even state-sponsored and 
produced, in a growing number of countries.

This willingness to take medicinal cannabis seriously is, however, 
not accepted by new Justice Minister, Amy Adams, who claims to have 
seen "no evidence that supports the benefits for decriminalising or 
legalising cannabis, for medicinal purposes or otherwise, outweighing 
the harm it causes to society".

This is a bizarre view, given on the one hand the growing body of 
scientific data substantiating medicinal cannabis' efficacy, and on 
the other, the gradual dismantling of prohibition around the world. 
For example in the US, the heartland of the war on drugs, 23 states 
allow medicinal cannabis.

As Ross Bell observed, Adams' comments might derive from a simple 
fear that allowing medicinal cannabis could end in the drug being 
sold from dairies, though as he also noted, numerous international 
models show this can be avoided. However, with her legal background, 
Adams should at least have been aware of the Law Commission's 
outstanding 2010 review of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975, a 400-page 
report including a section specifically on medicinal cannabis. While 
the Commission eschewed immediately legalising it, in noting a range 
of therapeutic benefits and the prohibitive expense of the existing 
medicinal cannabis product (Sativex), it did urge the government to 
undertake or support clinical trials.

Concluding its discussion, the Commission recommended that the police 
should adopt a policy of non-prosecution "in cases where they are 
satisfied that cannabis use is directed towards pain relief or 
managing the symptoms of chronic or debilitating illness".

This suggestion may have been reflected in the Daily News article, 
where the police spokesperson suggested their response to incidents 
of medicinal cannabis use would reflect the evidence and 
circumstances of specific cases.

It is, however, untrue that there is nothing in New Zealand law that 
allows for the use of cannabis medicinally. In its 2006 review of 
medicinal cannabis, the NZ Drug Foundation noted that both the 
Medicines Act and the Misuse of Drugs Act contain exemptions enabling 
physicians to lawfully prescribe or administer cannabis, provided 
ministerial approval is given. One is once again left wondering 
whether Adams is the victim of poor briefing by her officials or 
whether her views are more personally or politically motivated.

The minister's concern that cannabis use may provide a gateway to 
other drug use receives some support from Christchurch researchers 
David Fergusson and colleagues. This, however, relates to early and 
heavy cannabis use, with researchers noting the underlying cause of 
this association is unclear and that it declines with age. 
Internationally, there have also been positive unintended 
consequences of the availability of medicinal cannabis reported. 
These include a 1994 US study noting a reduction in fatal road 
accidents among 18-24-yearolds where cannabis intended for medicinal 
use is substituted for alcohol and in a 2014 study, significantly 
reduced rates of fatal opioid overdose where medicinal cannabis is available.

With cannabis so prevalent in New Zealand (current evidence suggests 
around 15 per cent of people aged over 16, or approximately 400,000 
New Zealanders, used it the previous year) and with politicians 
either ill-informed or unwilling to act, it is likely that any shift 
to a more compassionate and rational regime for medicinal cannabis 
will have to come from broader society.

One means of achieving this would be to hold a national drug summit 
or hui, with delegates representing all interest groups, including 
those vehemently opposed to drug law reform as well as user groups, 
treatment and research sectors, police and so on.

This was done successfully earlier in the preceding decade in Western 
Australia, with positive results for more rational drug regulation 
and for the wellness of the wider community.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom