Europe: Italian Government Gives Approval for Marijuana Derivatives for Pain Control
The Italian cabinet gave its approval Thursday for the use of marijuana derivatives, such as the sublingual spray Sativex, in pain relief, the German agency Deutsche Presse Agentur reported. The move reverses the anti-drug policy enforced by the previous government of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who was defeated by current Prime Minister Romano Prodi earlier this year.
"We are talking about pain relief therapy. This has nothing to do with smoking joints," Health Minister Livia Turco told reporters after the cabinet meeting where the decision was made. "These drugs are already in use in Canada, Switzerland, and Holland," she added.
Although the Prodi government has vowed to relax stiffened drug penalties enacted by the Berlusconi government, this move has nothing to do with that, said Turco. "If someone mentions cannabis then the whole world is in uproar. We're talking about therapies against pain."
What problem?
Comment posted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/22/2006 - 5:53pmWhat problem do you have with the licensing of a rapidly absorbed cannabis extract that doesn't produce smoke?
the problem with the medical model
Comment posted by martin holsinger on Fri, 10/20/2006 - 7:33pmmartin holsinger
Not talking about cannabis, indeed--talking instead about a patentable, high-priced pharmaceutical. This is the co-optation of the medical marijuana movement, and it sucks!