Finland's National Agency for Medicines has granted a citizen special permission to use cannabis for the relief of pain. According to a newspaper article this permission is valid for one year. Terhi Hermanson, head physician at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, said that the case is the first one in which a patient has applied for permission to use cannabis for medicinal purposes in Finland. She adds that the ministry now must examine the legislative aspects of the case.

The patient in question suffered from a serious injury to his back and neck in a traffic accident four years ago. Since then he suffers from chronic pain, which was not relieved by opioids. These caused severe side effects. The decision the certificate of exemption was made by the regional administrative court. The matter is seen as a special case. Erkki Palva, head of the drug safety section of the National Agency for Medicines emphasises that it should not be seen as a statement in favour of using cannabis as a generally accepted treatment. "Finland has significantly stronger drugs in use, such as morphine and other opiates," Mrs. Hermanson told the newspaper Turun Sanomat.

The article is available in English.

(Source: Helsingin Sanomat of 12 December 2006)