Jacob Bell
New Member
Prague-- The organisers of a Czech petition for the legalisation of hemp's use in medical treatment have asked Prime Minister Petr Necas (Civic Democrats, ODS) to support the relevant changes in legislation, in an open letter whose text they also provided to CTK.
The petition committee, including doctors, patients and scientists, recalls that it does not seek the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use.
Since its launch on August 16, the petition has been signed by almost 5,000 people.
Its initiators promote legal use of hemp in treating sclerosis multiplex, the Parkinson disease, cancer and the AIDS in the Czech Republic whose legislation bans such practice.
They say the ban breaches people's free choice of treatment methods and want it to be lifted. They give research results and practice in foreign countries as arguments in support of their demand.
Last week, the petitioners' effort was supported by lower house chairwoman Miroslava Nemcova (ODS). She said she wants to submit a draft amendment to the relevant law to the Health Ministry for discussion by the end of September.
"We've turned to the prime minister mainly so that Ms Nemcova's support to us, that we welcome, does not cause the issue to be politicised or to become a bone of contention between rival parties, as this would complicate the situation for patients and delayed their access to healing hemp indefinitely," the petition committee said.
The petition has also been supported by Jindrich Voboril, Czech national anti-drug fight coordinator. He said under the present legislation a patient using hemp as medicine and a heroin dealer are prosecuted based on the same law article of the Penal Code.
"We need to clearly differentiate a useful use of a substance as a medicine from its misuse as a drug," Voboril said, adding that the change in the law would benefit patients and make the anti-drug policy's financing more effective.
The Health Ministry says that medicine Sativex, that contains hemp extract, is available on the Czech market.
An extension of the hemp use for treatment must be subjected to a broad discussion, the ministry says.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: praguemonitor.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Real Time Productions s.r.o.
Website: Medical Marijuana Advocates Seek PM's Support
The petition committee, including doctors, patients and scientists, recalls that it does not seek the legalisation of marijuana for recreational use.
Since its launch on August 16, the petition has been signed by almost 5,000 people.
Its initiators promote legal use of hemp in treating sclerosis multiplex, the Parkinson disease, cancer and the AIDS in the Czech Republic whose legislation bans such practice.
They say the ban breaches people's free choice of treatment methods and want it to be lifted. They give research results and practice in foreign countries as arguments in support of their demand.
Last week, the petitioners' effort was supported by lower house chairwoman Miroslava Nemcova (ODS). She said she wants to submit a draft amendment to the relevant law to the Health Ministry for discussion by the end of September.
"We've turned to the prime minister mainly so that Ms Nemcova's support to us, that we welcome, does not cause the issue to be politicised or to become a bone of contention between rival parties, as this would complicate the situation for patients and delayed their access to healing hemp indefinitely," the petition committee said.
The petition has also been supported by Jindrich Voboril, Czech national anti-drug fight coordinator. He said under the present legislation a patient using hemp as medicine and a heroin dealer are prosecuted based on the same law article of the Penal Code.
"We need to clearly differentiate a useful use of a substance as a medicine from its misuse as a drug," Voboril said, adding that the change in the law would benefit patients and make the anti-drug policy's financing more effective.
The Health Ministry says that medicine Sativex, that contains hemp extract, is available on the Czech market.
An extension of the hemp use for treatment must be subjected to a broad discussion, the ministry says.
News Hawk- Jacob Ebel 420 MAGAZINE
Source: praguemonitor.com
Contact: Contact Us
Copyright: Real Time Productions s.r.o.
Website: Medical Marijuana Advocates Seek PM's Support
