Dutch want cannabis registered as medicine

[WantDaChronic]

THE Dutch Government said today it wants to promote the development of cannabis-based medicine and will extend the drug's availability in pharmacies by five years to allow more scientific research.

 

In 2003, the Netherlands became the world's first country to make cannabis available as a prescription drug in pharmacies to treat chronic pain, nausea and loss of appetite in cancer, HIV and multiple sclerosis patients.

 

“Medicinal cannabis must become a regular registered medicine,” Health Minister Ab Klink said, adding he wanted to give the development of a cannabis-based medicine by a Dutch company a serious chance.

 

The Netherlands, where prostitution and the sale of cannabis for recreational use in coffee shops are regulated by the Government, has a history of pioneering social reforms.

 

It was also the first country to legalise euthanasia.

 

The Dutch Government regulates the growing of special strains of cannabis in laboratory-style conditions to supply pharmacies.

 

A Dutch company started working on developing a cannabis-based drug last year, the health ministry said.

 

“The development path, that could take several years, can deliver scientific details and insight into the balance between the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis,” it said.

 

In 2005, Canada became the first country in the world to approve a cannabis-based medicine produced by Britain's GW Pharmaceuticals Plc as a treatment for MS patients.

 

US regulators granted approval last year for a clinical trial for the GW under-the-tongue spray called Sativex, but the company announced in July that European regulators had requested a further clinical study before approval.

 

Cannabis has a long history of medicinal use.

 

It was used as a Chinese herbal remedy around 5000 years ago, while Britain's Queen Victoria is said to have taken cannabis tincture for menstrual pains.

 

But it fell out of favour because of a lack of standardised preparations and the development of more potent synthetic drugs.

 

Critics argue that it has not undergone sufficient scientific scrutiny and some doctors say it increases the risk of depression and schizophrenia.

Source: www.news.com.au

 

sounds like the dutch are heading even further into the right direction lets just hope it works out for the best and makes the rest of the world take notice

[PGHGreek420]

I wish theUnited States would get its head out it ass and legalize marijuana and except it for the wodnerful drug that it is and all the benefits it has in the medicin world i think that most of the psychos in the world wouldnt be psychos if someone would perscribe them some good reffer to toke but i doubt that will happen or not in the united states for probabl about 5-10 yrs is my projection but i might be wrong hopefully it happens sooner

[WantDaChronic]

marijuana cant be legalized in any nation that is a part of the united nations at best they can decriminalize and then pretty much ignore it like they do in holland