I originally posted this on Call for Support, but concluded it was not appropriate.
So, here it is again, on my own blog.
Some may remember Cathy (chatzeekay), who had to stop blogging on-line after AOL journals shut down last October. She has severe health problems, stemming from domestic abuse. Painkillers no longer help, and Cathy is supporting a bill in US Congress to legalise the use of cannabis for the relief of chronic pain.
Personally, I have grave misgivings against the use of cannabis, which is based on the serious side-effects of the drug. These include precipitation of psychosis in susceptible individuals and impairment of cognitive functioning. Cannabis, in its purified form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, could be beneficial for the relief of pain. However, there is currently no firm scientific basis to underpin this.
I will be the last person to deny any pain sufferer relief, however tenuous the scientific base of the use of the compound in question - cannabis. I cannot support the bill, as I'm not a US resident. Even if I was, I would still not do so for the reasons quoted above.
Any US residents reading this: visit the link, visit your conscience, and support the bill. Or not.
as i have previously said, i would have to do more research on the subject before supporting it.
ReplyDeletei think i would, but with stipulations!
ty for posting this for those interested.
huggies...
Hmm an interesting situation ,though I would have to give this one serious thought Guido ..love Jan xx
ReplyDeleteI have read about this from time to time in the newspapers and have tend to agree with those who find relief from taking it. I suppose to my mind there are many drugs legally in use which can have terrible phsychotic and physical side effects. We and our doctors have to make a reasoned choice as to whether the benefits outway the side effects when taking those. So why not with cannabis given on prescription?
ReplyDeleteI am open to changing my mind though if it meant that most people taking it would suffer unavoidable serious side effects which would appear as a cummulative effect because of taking it.
Is it not true that MS sufferers get great relief from using it? I am all for eradication of pain. I have suffered too many times in my life with it to not be sympathetic with chronic sufferers.
Not being a chemist I have no idea what the true side effects would be. This is quite a complex debate where I am not fully aware of all the pros and cons but if it were me suffering and it gave me much better relief than other drugs then I would reach out for it.
Jeanie