A TOP doctor today called for a change in the law to allow cannabis to be legally prescribed to multiple sclerosis sufferers.

Dr David Grimes said it was "absurd" that the soft drug could not be given to victims of the debilitating condition.

He said there was overwhelming medical evidence that cannabis relieved many symptoms of the illness.

And he claimed that many MS sufferers in East Lancashire were ignoring the "ridiculous" legality and were illicitly obtaining the drug to ease their symptoms.

Dr Grimes, medical director of Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley NHS Trust, said: "It is ridiculous to think that doctors are at liberty to give multiple sclerosis sufferers heroin (diamorphine) and other powerful medicines, but cannot give them cannabis. "Cannabis is most helpful to these patients and is not dangerous. There has been a lot of research that patients with severe paralytic conditions such as MS get a mood elevation from the drug. It also helps to relax them.

"Cannabis also helps to ease muscle spasms. Although it would never be used on an MS sufferer, theoretically, heroin, could be. It is an absurd situation.

"MS sufferers do use cannabis because they are aware of its positive effect on their condition."

The Government is under growing pressure to authorise new research into the effects of cannabis-based products for the treatment of MS.

A leading campaigner is Pendle MP Gordon Prentice who believes the drug should be legalised in pill form for use by sufferers of the relapsing or remitting form of the disease.

He said there was considerable evidence that the drug could help.

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