More than half of doctors believe the laws on
              cannabis are too strict and one in three want
              the drug legalised, a survey has found.

              Eight out of 10 doctors say they would
              prescribe cannabis to patients with serious
              illnesses such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or
              cancer, if they were allowed to.

              A quarter of the 1,000 doctors questioned said
              cannabis was less addictive than tobacco,
              alcohol, prescribed drugs or illegal drugs.

              But they raised concerns about the lack of
              scientific research into the effects of cannabis
              on driving and its links with cancer.

              The survey, carried out
              by Medix UK - a website
              for doctors, revealed
              54% believe the current
              law on possessing
              cannabis is too strict.
              About a third said
              cannabis should be
              legalised now.

              While 80% said they
              would prescribe the
              drug to patients with
              serious illnesses, many said they would give it
              to people with other medical ailments.

              One in five would consider prescribing it for
              patients with back pain and 16% would
              consider it as an alternative to traditional
              anti-depressants.

              However, some doctors expressed concerns,
              with half said they knew of patients who had
              gone on to harder drugs after smoking
              cannabis.

              Admissions

              The findings come just weeks after Health
              Minister Yvette Cooper and eight members of
              the Tory shadow cabinet admitted they had
              tried the drug.

              They made their admissions after Tory shadow
              home secretary Ann Widdecombe proposed
              £100 on-the-spot fines for anyone caught with
              an illegal drug.

              She later backed down, after police chiefs and
              drugs charities criticised the policy.

              Earlier this month, Professor Tony Moffat, chief
              scientist at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
              predicted that cannabis would be legalised for
              medical use within two years.

              Two large scale clinical trials are currently
              being conducted into the benefits and safety
              of cannabis compounds.

              The British Medical Association welcomed the
              survey findings. It published a report in 1997
              which advocated prescribing cannabis to
              alleviate the symptoms of illnesses like MS.

              A spokeswoman said: "This survey of doctor
              opinion fits together very strongly with the
              BMA's report on cannabis published in
              November 1997.

              "Our report identifies a number of hazards
              associated with smoking cannabis, such as its
              high tar content, the aggravation of psychotic
              illness, and other problems such as loss of
              motivation and libido."

              But she added: "There are a number of
              patients who find that cannabis relieves their
              symptoms in a way that other drugs and
              painkillers do not.

              "We believe that for long term clinical use,
              properly developed medicines containing the
              beneficial components of cannabis are a better
              option than simply smoking the raw product."

              Clare Hodges, a member of the pressure group
              Alliance for Cannabis Therapeutics and an MS
              sufferer, said the survey findings reflected the
              fact that patients were telling doctors they
              were using the drug to alleviate their
              symptoms.

              "This confirms our experience that doctors are
              very supportive of the thousands of patients
              who are using cannabis to treat themselves.

              "These results are also a tribute to the
              patients who have been telling their doctors
              that cannabis has helped them.

              "Doctors are now sitting up and taking note,
              and seeing for themselves that cannabis can
              be therapeutic."
--
Cheers,
Joao Paulo - Salvador,BA,Brazil
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