Daily Archives: October 1, 2015

There has been a growing acceptance of medicinal marijuana in recent years, with the government recently announcing a national medicinal marijuana regulator.

The THC-laden plant has long been praised for its remedial properties, with many swearing that it alleviates symptoms associated with cancer, chronic pain and other conditions. Many hope that it will aid in treating epilepsy and cancer in children.

Some parents have already taken the controversial step of giving cannabis-derived substances to their children. Earlier this year, a Queensland father was charged after he gave his sick daughter cannabis oil in order to aid her treatment for neuroblastoma cancer.

But although cannabis remains illegal in Australia, many are hopeful that it will soon be legalised for medical purposes, including the treatment of children suffering from serious health problems.

In fact, one Australian doctor has gone so far as to specialise in using cannabis to treat children.

Introducing “Doctor Pot”

Former Doctor Andrew Katelaris is not your average medical practitioner.

Instead of operating out of a surgery room, he grows cannabis plants for medical use in a ‘secret laboratory’, producing cannabis tinctures and oils which are delivered to twelve chronically ill children across Sydney. He also imports and grows special plants which contain high levels of cannabidiol; a chemical that has been shown to have health benefits without negative side effects such as intoxication. He also produces resins and other cannabis products for use on adults who suffer health problems.

Katelaris runs clinics in NSW to assist those considering cannabis as a treatment, and also provides consultations via Skype. He believes that the attitude of health ministers in Australia is ‘criminal,’ arguing that current laws are ‘depriving severely incapacitated children from a lifesaving medicine.’ His stated aim is to help sick kids and their families, But not all agree with Katelaris’ philosophy – in 2005 he was deregistered as a medical practitioner after health authorities became aware that he was growing and prescribing cannabis, and he has also been charged with numerous drug offences throughout his career.

But he remains undeterred, saying that his is a case of ‘necessity,’ and arguing that children and their families are reaping the benefits of his treatments despite living in a ‘pharmaco-fascist state.’

The Future

While the Australian Medical Association has accepted that medical cannabis may have health benefits, its members remain wary that ‘unregulated growers’ may be prescribing untested or dangerous substances to vulnerable and desperate patients.

But the issue could soon be resolved with clinical trials into the effectiveness of treating epileptic children with cannabis to commence in 2016, and results expected to be available within two to five years. The trials will be conducted in association with the NSW

Ministry of Health and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, and will specifically evaluate the effectiveness of cannabis-derived treatments on children who have severe, drug-resistant epilepsy.

It is hoped that the study will address the concerns of health authorities, including the potential for children to become addicted to THC, the increased risk of developing mental illness, and the possibility of those who regularly use cannabis to pass on learning difficulties to their own children.

In response to these concerns, Katelaris is adamant that cannabis-derived treatments only offer benefits, and is quick to remind Australians that no-one has ever died from a cannabis overdose. He also says that ‘drugs that the specialists use for childhood epilepsy have horrendous side-effects but there are none with the cannabis.’

With research on the horizon, it is hoped that Katelaris’ claims may be given credence so that terminally ill children can finally obtain relief from their symptoms.