Phelps to raise medical cannabis use at AMA National Conference

Dr Phelps said many doctors support the use of cannabis to ease the symptoms of patients with certain conditions because there is evidence it may work for some patients when nothing else does.

"There is a subset of patients for whom the only effective treatment is cannabis," Dr Phelps said.

"For these patients who may be suffering from intractable wasting or nausea, the only way at this stage that they can administer the cannabis is orally or by smoking it.

"The image of smoking the cannabis may be an image that is contributing to opposition to the trial from some people.

"Trialling cannabis in medical situations opens the way for researchers to be able to obtain standardised supplies of cannabis and develop other ways of delivering it other than by smoking it.

"Other opponents are raising the possibility of side effects for some patients. Of course there will be side effects in some cases, but there are side effects in taking prescribed medications like morphine or other forms of pain relief.

"As long as doctors and patients know what those side effects are, and the patients are able to make an informed decision, this is not a valid argument against the trial.

"It is important, however, that the public is clearly informed that the cannabis use is strictly limited to a defined subset of patients with intractable symptoms relieved only by cannabis.

"With this issue prominent nationally in the community at the moment, it is appropriate that Australia's peak medical organisation - the AMA - adopt a formal policy on medical cannabis use.

"The time is right to raise the issue for debate at next week's AMA Conference," Dr Phelps said.

CONTACT: John Flannery (02) 6270 5477 / (0419) 494 761

Judith Tokley (02) 6270 5471 / (0408) 824 306