Medicinal Pot `Not Harmful'

[PFlynn]

University researchers have determined that marijuana can make you dizzy or a bit drowsy.

"What we find is that there are side-effects, but they are not serious," Jean-Paul Collet of the University of B.C. said yesterday.

Collet, along with researchers from McGill University Health Centre and McGill University in Montreal, summarized the adverse effects recorded in 31 studies of ingested, medical cannabis use. Smoking pot was excluded.

Of the 4,779 adverse effects recorded, 164 were reported as serious, with the most being a relapse of multiple sclerosis, followed by vomiting and urinary-tract infections. More than 95 per cent of the side-effects were everyday ailments such as dizziness and drowsiness.

"People only turn to cannabinoids after they have tried something else," said Collet. "At this point you can't take it as a first choice. The medical use of cannabis is often for compassionate means and our primary motivation was to get precise information regarding its safety."

Among cannabis-based medications in Canada are Dronabinol, marketed as Marinol, used for chemotherapy-induced nausea and HIV-associated anorexia, Nabilone, marketed as Cesamet, used for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and Oromucosal, marketed as Sativex, conditionally approved for pain. Marijuana is also available through the government's Medical Marijuana program.



News Hawk: PFlynn - http://www.420magazine.com/
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2008 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: The Province
Website: Medicinal pot 'not harmful'