Medicinal cannabis conundrum
Dr Denise Taylor at the Faculty of Health (Graduate School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health) questions our stance to medical cannabis, and co-presents research around the debate with Dr Fiona Hutton at the University's free Spotlight Lecture on 19th September.
Why is the legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes so controversial in New Zealand and what are the facts around its proposed use?
Globally, we have seen an increase in the number of people suffering from intractable pain or muscle spasm, which is not addressed by prescribed medicines such as gabapentin, morphine, diamorphine, fentanyl and alfentanyl. There has also been a dramatic increase in addiction to prescribed drugs, accidental overdoses and deaths.
Sometimes opiates are not appropriate for the condition being prescribed for, and just maybe medicinal cannabis might help. So why not in New Zealand? Read more here.
Dr Denise Taylor will be co-presenting Medicinal cannabis: A welcome relief with Dr Fiona Hutton from Victoria University of Wellington's Institute of Criminology, as part of the University's free Spotlight Lecture Series, Lecture Theatre 2, Rutherford House, Pipitea Campus, Bunny Street, Wellington, 12.30pm–1.15pm, Wednesday 19 September. Register here.