The United Kingdom’s Drug Czar, Keith Hellawell, told BBC News Online Wednesday that he supports the use of medical marijuana.
“I support the use of cannabis on medical grounds,” he said. “I also have a great deal of sympathy because I’ve met a lot of people who have got genuine illnesses and feel that this substance can help them.”
Hellawell said that does not think marijuana should be available by prescription until more clinical trials are completed, but said that United Kingdom is “leading research” in this field.
In November, a House of Lords panel recommended legalizing the use of marijuana by prescription after completing a one year inquiry on the subject. However, government officials immediately rejected the findings, and said that Parliament will not change the law until more research is completed. Human trials regarding inhaled marijuana’s medical value in the treatment of multiple sclerosis and chronic pain began this year.
For more information, please contact Allen St. Pierre of The NORML Foundation @ (202) 483-8751.