Press Release: Israeli and European doctors called Cannabis "a medicine" and asked to expand the list of indications and to expedite commercial growing for patients
News Release
Israel's Ministry of Health Medical Cannabis Conference Israeli and European doctors called Cannabis "a medicine" and asked to expand the list of indications and to expedite commercial growing for patients.
January 21, 2007 Tel Aviv, Israel
By: Boaz Wachtel
Israeli Ministry of Health (MOH) organized January 17th, 2007 the first Medical Cannabis Conference ever held in Israel. The landmark conference, designed to educate doctors and patients about the pros and cons of Medical Cannabis, was held at Abarbanel governmental hospital in Bat-Yam.
Opening remarks were made by Dr. Yehuda Baruch, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health responsible for authorization of medical Cannabis to patients. He said "I view Cannabis as medicine, like any other medicine…It is not always clear how it works…Almost no one studies the subject since it can not be patented and be financially profitable. But we do rely on existing research and especially on patient's feelings".
Another speaker at the conference was the world's leading Cannabis researcher Professor Rafael Mechoulam from Hebrew University in Jerusalem who presented advances in Cannabinoid research and recent findings.
Dr. Itay Gur Arye – the secretary of the Israeli Pain society and Director of the Pain Treatment Center at Sheba government hospital spoke of the failure of existing medications to provide adequate pain relief and pointed to the good efficacy of Medical Cannabis in the treatment of naturopathic pain. He also called for the establishment of a government regulated Cannabis growing and distribution operation for patients who hold doctor's prescription or recommendation.
Dr. Peter Van Kanten, a family Doctor from Holland, reviewed the many indications cannabis is used by patients in Holland. Dr. Van Kanten spoke of the positive experiences patients have while using MC and about the Dutch National Medical Cannabis program that allows patients (who possess Doctors' prescription) to buy Medical Grade Cannabis through Pharmacies.
Few patients who use Medical Cannabis spoke: An HIV, Cancer and Tourrette syndrome patients. They talked about reduction of symptoms while using Cannabis after trying existing medications that failed to provide relief. They talked about improvement of appetite, weight gain and a sense of well being that allowed them to function.
Dr. Gideon Hirsch – the Director of the Israeli AIDS Committee presented research supporting the use of Medical Cannabis among HIV patients and of the need and importance to allow HIV patients to use medical Cannabis before the on set of a full blown AIDS.
Mr. Boaz Wachtel, a medical Cannabis activist spoke about various medical cannabis programs around the world and the wide spread illegal use of Medical Cannabis in many societies. He viewed Historical use of Cannabis in Israel dated 1600 years ago and about Israeli Ministry of Health procedures for patients.
Last but not least was Mr. Haim Messing the Director of Israeli the Anti-Drug Authority who spoke about the dangers associated with cannabis use and while supporting the use of synthetic Cannabis was against Cannabis smoking as a means of delivery.
For further details:
Boaz Wachtel
wachtel@shani.net
Tel: ++972-544573679
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