Robert Celt
New Member
Jack Richards used to count backwards and wait for unconsciousness.
Undergoing an extreme form of chemotherapy for a rare tissue cancer, he'd request powerful antihistamine injections to buy some peace in a week of "not being able to look at food, vomiting consistently [and being fed] through nose tubes".
"I'd have six hours gone," said the 24-year-old from Stanmore, in his eighth year of treatment for recurring Ewing Sarcoma. "You just look at the clock and wait for the time you're not on chemo any more."
Something else helped too: the occasional joint.
"You're able to get through the time with a little bit less trouble," he said. "You can never really get back to normal. It's just a little bit of relief that might make you able to stomach some food."
Now Mr Richards is hoping to be one of 300 cancer patients across the state enrolled in a state government trial for medical marijuana on the effects of chemotherapy-related nausea.
The state government announced the trial on Friday at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, the cancer treatment centre that will run the trial for the government.
"Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be of incredible benefit," said Premier Mike Baird.
The state government will in coming weeks commence two other trials: for children affected by epilepsy and the terminally ill.
A Canadian pharmaceutical company, Tilray, will supply the trial with specially-prepared tablets that contain marijuana extracts that maximise the drug's anti-nausea properties and minimise its psychoactive effects.
"We really wanted to come up with a form of cannabis that would be acceptable to patients," said Associate Professor Peter Grimison from the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, who will lead the trial research.
The trial is understood to be the largest in the world of marijuana's effects on chemotherapy patients. It will begin enrolling patients in the middle of next year.
But for people who miss out assistant health Minister Pru Goward warned any move toward legalisation of medicinal cannabis would still be years away and dependent on a positive result.
The state government created in 2014 a register for terminally-ill users of medical marijuana. Police have the discretion to not charge them for possessing small amounts of the drug.
Premier Mike Baird was encouraged to move towards a clinical trial by the case of the late Dan Haslam, a young Tamworth man who found respite from the pains of bone cancer in the drug and who lobbied the Premier with his mother, Lucy.
NSW has also led major advances in medicinal cannabis research. Sydney University's $30 million Lambert Initiative will examine the potential medical applications of the drug.
The federal government earlier this week passed a law that would legalise the growing of medical cannabis under licence.
That law would need to be complemented with legislation from the states to take effect.
The government has set up a help line for enquiries about the trial: 1800 217 257
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: NSW Government Announces Third Medical Cannabis Trial For Chemotherapy
Author: James Robertson
Contact: The Sydney Morning Herald
Photo Credit: Dean Sewell
Website: The Sydney Morning Herald
Undergoing an extreme form of chemotherapy for a rare tissue cancer, he'd request powerful antihistamine injections to buy some peace in a week of "not being able to look at food, vomiting consistently [and being fed] through nose tubes".
"I'd have six hours gone," said the 24-year-old from Stanmore, in his eighth year of treatment for recurring Ewing Sarcoma. "You just look at the clock and wait for the time you're not on chemo any more."
Something else helped too: the occasional joint.
"You're able to get through the time with a little bit less trouble," he said. "You can never really get back to normal. It's just a little bit of relief that might make you able to stomach some food."
Now Mr Richards is hoping to be one of 300 cancer patients across the state enrolled in a state government trial for medical marijuana on the effects of chemotherapy-related nausea.
The state government announced the trial on Friday at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, the cancer treatment centre that will run the trial for the government.
"Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be of incredible benefit," said Premier Mike Baird.
The state government will in coming weeks commence two other trials: for children affected by epilepsy and the terminally ill.
A Canadian pharmaceutical company, Tilray, will supply the trial with specially-prepared tablets that contain marijuana extracts that maximise the drug's anti-nausea properties and minimise its psychoactive effects.
"We really wanted to come up with a form of cannabis that would be acceptable to patients," said Associate Professor Peter Grimison from the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, who will lead the trial research.
The trial is understood to be the largest in the world of marijuana's effects on chemotherapy patients. It will begin enrolling patients in the middle of next year.
But for people who miss out assistant health Minister Pru Goward warned any move toward legalisation of medicinal cannabis would still be years away and dependent on a positive result.
The state government created in 2014 a register for terminally-ill users of medical marijuana. Police have the discretion to not charge them for possessing small amounts of the drug.
Premier Mike Baird was encouraged to move towards a clinical trial by the case of the late Dan Haslam, a young Tamworth man who found respite from the pains of bone cancer in the drug and who lobbied the Premier with his mother, Lucy.
NSW has also led major advances in medicinal cannabis research. Sydney University's $30 million Lambert Initiative will examine the potential medical applications of the drug.
The federal government earlier this week passed a law that would legalise the growing of medical cannabis under licence.
That law would need to be complemented with legislation from the states to take effect.
The government has set up a help line for enquiries about the trial: 1800 217 257
News Moderator: Robert Celt 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: NSW Government Announces Third Medical Cannabis Trial For Chemotherapy
Author: James Robertson
Contact: The Sydney Morning Herald
Photo Credit: Dean Sewell
Website: The Sydney Morning Herald
