17/12/2007 00:00:00
Finland: Guidelines Sought for Medical Use of Cannabis
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New guidelines are to be drawn up for the medical use of cannabis. The
Ministry of Social Affairs and Health wants to clarify legislation so
that prescribing cannabis to sufferers of chronic pain would no longer
be automatically illegal.
In Finland cannabis has been used for medicinal purposes only in
isolated cases, partly because of complicated legal issues and the
sensitivity of the subject.
Just over a year ago the National Agency for Medicines granted its first
special permission for medical cannabis for a man suffering from chronic
pain stemming from a back injury.
The Agency had initially rejected the application for the use of medical
cannabis prescribed by a Dutch doctor because its interpretation of the
law was that prescribing cannabis was absolutely illegal in Finland. The
patient appealed the case to his regional Administrative Court, which
overturned the decision.
The patient's condition has improved significantly during the past year,
says Turku pharmacist Markku Knuuttila, who dealt with the application
process.
The special permission, which was initially granted for one year, has
now been extended for another year.
The court decision has forced the Ministry for Social Affairs and Health
to clarify legislation. A few months from now changes are to be enacted
to allow marijuana by prescription.
Under the plan, even after the changes, medical cannabis prescriptions
will require the permission of the National Agency for Medicines.
Cannabis is not expected to be used as extensively as opiates, but in
certain cases it has been found to provide relief for the muscle spasms
of Multiple Sclerosis, chronic pain, and glaucoma.
http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id77759.html
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Source:
http://www.ukcia.org/news/shownewsarticle.php?articleid=13079
Author:
YLE via UKCIA
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