MS suffer hits out at drugs ruling - UK Government is heartless and cruel.

"DESPERATE" is the key word here!

There are tens maybe hundreds of thousand MS sufferers in the UK alone, and many people that suffer other terrifying ailments and pains, that could benefit from cannabis.

But the Government has turned its back on them by refusing them a whole-cannabis extract medicine that cost millions of pounds and took years to be developed and to convince the authorities that it is both effective and safe, side-stepping the smoking issues by producing it as a spray in alcohol ... made too expensive for many NHS regions to allow on prescription .

Sufferers are also threatened them with arrest, fines and even prison for growing the plant in their own homes for their own use.

The recent imprisonment of WINSTON MATTHEWS is an example of just how CRUEL and HEARTLESS the law can be - 16 months in prison for growing plants - no harm to anyone - beneficial in relieving his pains from a horrific accident 40 years ago.

It's Catch 22 for these sufferers - they cannot get the expensive product of the drug companies and they cannot grow a few plants at home - and Lord help them if they go to dealers!

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MS suffer hits out at drugs ruling

Todmorden News, February 19 2012.

DESPERATE multiple sclerosis sufferer Kiran Narang says it is criminal she is denied access to cannabis-based drug Sativex, while others are prescribed it.
NHS Calderdale’s policy is to deny patients Sativex, but it has been revealed a Calderdale surgery has prescribed it. A mouth spray, the drug contains cannabinoids, extracted from cannabis plants, which can help relieve the painful muscle spasms MS causes.
Kiran, 52, of Bankfoot Terrace, Hebden Bridge, says she is desperate for the drug as she believes it would improve her quality of life. “The pain is constant – nagging – which in itself can be exhausting. You can’t sleep. It’s impossible.
“I have been told by my GP that she would love to prescribe me Sativex but is not able to. The fact that Sativex is being denied for the majority of people seems almost criminal.”
She added: “It might keep the cost of the NHS down but it’s certainly not helping the people it’s meant to be helping. Congratulations to the doctor for taking that risk.
“I think it’s brilliant because it is a doctor actually saying that there’s a need. I do think it takes a lot of courage to do something like that – which is unfortunate.
“But it’s for GPs to be arguing.
“There are enough people that feel Sativex would be of real, substantial use to them but are told the same thing, except for these lucky people who are getting it,” said Kiran.
Sativex was approved by the Department of Health and licensed in the UK in 2012. It costs £125 for a 10ml vial – about £11 per day per patient.
NHS Calderdale rejected the drug on advice from the Yorkshire and Humber Specialised Commissioning Board, ruling it would not be routinely funded for Calderdale’s estimated 300 sufferers.