The Government's move to reclass cannabis from a class B to a class C drug could encourage more peop...
The Government's move to reclass cannabis from a class B to a class C drug could encourage more people to smoke the drug, the British Medical Association (BMA) has warned.
Deputy chairman of the BMA's board of science, Dr Peter Maguire, said the public must be made aware of the harmful effects that result from smoking cannabis.
"The BMA is extremely concerned that the public might think that reclassification equals 'safe'. It does not. We are very worried about the negative health effects of smoking cannabis and want the Government to fund more research on this issue.
"Chronic cannabis smoking increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis and emphysema," he said.
However, the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, called for the Government to go one step further and provide cannabis-derived medicines on the NHS. It is widely believed that smoking cannabis can help relieve some types of pain experienced by MS sufferers.
"We have consistently urged the courts to deal sympathetically with people with MS who use cannabis to seek relief from symptoms like pain, spasticity and bladder problems, " said Mike O'Donovan, chief executive of the MS Society.
"Our main concern is to see cannabis-derived medicines available on the NHS. Two clinical trials of these drugs have been completed. On the evidence now available, we believe those who might benefit should be able to have treatment prescribed," he added.
