§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the medical ill-effects of cannabis on users.
§ Mr. BowisConsideration of the short and long-term effects of cannabis use is part of the normal medical assessment of any drug-taking individual who presents for treatment. In general, concentration, short-term memory and manual dexterity tend to be impaired during intoxication. Long-term, regular and heavy cannabis smoking may also cause respiratory diseases such as bronchitis or lung cancer.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment her Department has made of the medical applications of cannabis in the treatment or prevention of(a) glaucoma, (b) multiple sclerosis and (c) Alzheimer's disease.
§ Mr. SackvilleCannabis is known to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma and to relieve muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, although in neither case is it as effective as other drugs. We are not aware that cannabis has any benefit to patients with Alzheimer's disease.