An epilepsy support group has endorsed Keira MP Ryan Park's calls for access to medical marijuana to be made available quickly, saying the drug can stop seizures in patients who suffer as many as 400 seizures a day.

Epilepsy Action Australia CEO Carol Ireland says she's delighted at the $9m trial for medicinal cannabis, but has stopped short of endorsing NSW Labor's calls for immediate changes to the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act.

"There's a good argument for continuing with trials, and while there's pretty conclusive evidence that cannabidiol can stop seizures and have a huge impact on quality of life, long term effects haven't been investigated yet and most trials have been overseas," she says.

But she wants the trials to be done quickly, because the early evidence for the use of medicinal cannabis in treating especially aggressive forms of epilepsy paints it as a miracle drug.

Ms Ireland says Dravet syndrome, which can cause up to 500 seizures a day, has been effectively treated by cannabidiol.

"You can imagine the long-term effects of that [500 seizures a day] happening, and the other side effects of traditional medications.

"Some of these children are now seizure-free and it's very hard to argue with that."

She says parents and carers have been obtaining marijuana through illegal means, and she's concerned about the quality of the drugs.

By allowing a medical trial, those patients will still have access to the drug, but in a controlled, safe and legal environment.

The active ingredient - cannabidoil - is a non-psychotropic part of the marijuana plant and does not induce a 'high'.

It's also usually taken orally rather than smoked.

"Imagine if you're the parent of a child who's having 500 seizures a day and you hear of something that can stop the seizures and give them some normality," Ms Ireland says.

"It's not hard to see why they've got hold of this drug.

"Having it in a clinical setting and being monitored properly will not only help the child but help us understand the possible other uses of the drug for epilepsy."

There are 45 different types of epilepsy which could potentially benefit from use of the drug.

The NSW Government will look to import medical cannabis from Europe or the US, or potentially grow its own crop.

Regardless of how it happens, Carol Ireland just wants to see it start.

"I hope it [the political debate] doesn't slow the process, but unfortunately this has become a political debate rather than a medical issue.

"With other forms of drugs we wouldn't be having this sort of debate.

Source

berita versi bhs Indonesia
Ganja Obat Efektif Kurangi 400 Kejang Sehari pada Pasien Epilepsi




banyak tokoh2 di dunia yg menderita epilepsi juga

Saint Paul Founder of Christianity .Santo/Rasul Paulus Pendiri Kekristenan itu juga adalah penderita epilepsi
http://www.epilepsiemuseum.de/alt/paulusen.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of..._with_epilepsy


tapi herannya masih ada org radikal beragama yg suka menghina penderita epilepsi itu kerasukan iblis ,cacad & kelainan jiwa
gara2 kisah yesus & anak epilepsi di alkitab itu membuat orang radikal beragama itu berpikiran bahwa penderita epilepsi itu adalah kerasukan setan/iblis
si yesus klaim bahwa penderita epilepsi adalah org yg kerasukan iblis makanya dgn gaya lebaynya si yesus mau mengusir iblis ( kisah cerita alkitab mengenai jesus and epileptic boy Markus 9: 14-28 )
si yesus itu tak tahu bahwa penderita epilepsi akaan sadar sendiri setelah seizure ( serangan)

itulah susahnya Religion vs Science ( agama vs sains )
di agama dlm alkitab ( epilepsi di anggap kerasukan iblis,/setan )
di sains ilmu pengetahuan kedokteran ( epilepsi itu bukan kerasukan setan/iblis)

ngeles,munafik,fanatik,radikal,ekstrimis untuk apalah ...