title: (Re)introducing medicinal cannabis.
abstract: • After considering extensive scientific and medical evidence, a New South Wales Legislative Council multiparty committee recommended that medicinal cannabis should lawfully be made available for selected-use pharmacotherapy. • The evidence indicates that cannabis has genuine medicinal utility in patients with certain neuropathic conditions, with acceptable levels of risk from mostly mild side effects. • The potential medical benefits of cannabis pharmacotherapy have largely been overlooked, with research and society's attention, in most parts of the world, being directed towards the hazards of its recreational use. • The NSW Government has since dismissed the unanimous and compassionate recommendations of their committee.
authors: Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia. lmather@med.usyd.edu.au.
authors: Laurence E
authors: LE
authors: Mather
authors: Alcohol and Drug Services, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Evert R
authors: ER
authors: Rauwendaal
authors: Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Vivienne L
authors: VL
authors: Moxham-Hall
authors: Alcohol and Drug Services, St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors: Alex D
authors: AD
authors: Wodak
mesh_terms: D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D064086:Medical Marijuana / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009325:Nausea / Q000188:drug therapy; D009517:New South Wales; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D064086:Medical Marijuana