A Brief History of Medical Cannabis

One of the first Western physicians to show a keen interest in Cannabis was W.B. O'Shaughnessey who observed its use while working in India at the Medical College of Calcutta. In 1839, he published a report that concluded that Cannabis was an effective analgesic and "an anti convulsive remedy of the greatest value."

In 1842, O'Shaughnessey returned to England with his Cannabis "tincture"; and its use soon became so widespread that it was being prescribed by doctors all over the world for a whole host of ailments. Queen Victoria used Cannabis to relieve the discomfort of menstrual cramps. Coincidentally, it was during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901) that Cannabis had its heyday as a medicine, with a hundred medical papers being published, recommending the use of Cannabis for the treatment of numerous ailments and discomforts. Within that same period, Cannabis was placed consistently within the top three of the most commonly-prescribed medications.

In 1937, the medical use of Cannabis was severely restricted by the Marijuana Transfer Act.

During the 1960s, federally-sponsored research began to show that, contrary to popular belief, Cannabis was not a soul-destroying drug, but was a substance of incredible therapeutic potential.

In 1971, Cannabis was made illegal for Medical use under the Misuse of Drugs Act. This was despite the findings of the recent Royal Commission conducted by Baroness Wootton, that "Preparations of Cannabis and its derivatives should continue to be available on prescription for purposes of medical treatment and research."

In 1976, the US government put an end to federal research into Cannabis, leaving future progress in the hands of private Pharmaceutical Companies who were to be entirely self-funding. The hoped-for payoff for the government was that the pharmaceuticals would come up with a patent able synthetic form of Cannabis at no cost to themselves and with a promise of no "high."

Eli Lilly have come out with Nabilone and Marinol, which, it is alleged, are far less effective than herbal Cannabis and have some very disturbing side effects.

In 1986, after years of campaigning by pressure-groups, public hearings on the therapeutic potential of Cannabis were instigated. The hearings were overseen by administrative law judge, Francis Young, who after over two years of proceedings ruled that "Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to Man." He also recommended that it be made legally available for doctors to prescribe. The DEA (Drugs Enforcement Agency) rejected these findings, calling them a "dangerous and cruel hoax."

Herbal Cannabis remains a Schedule 1 Drug (a drug of no medical value) both here in Britain and in the United States.

If you are sickened by the fact Cannabis remains illegal for medical use, then please write to your MP urging them to support Paul Flynn MPs EDM 782 calling for the legalization of Cannabis for medical use.

On 8th November, the TV programme "The Time, the Place" conducted a phone poll on the medical use of Cannabis. Over 30,000 phoned in and 92% were in favor of legalizing Cannabis for medical use.

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