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High hopes as funds secured for research into medicinal cannabis

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October 31st, 2014


This article is more than 10 years old.

Research could pave the way for prescription pot

A political agreement has been reached between all of the political parties in parliament for funding research into the medicinal effects of cannabis, Jyllands-Posten reports.

Agreement was reached yesterday as to how the 857 million kroner research reserve should be spent, and at least 35 million kroner will go towards looking into the role of the drug in bettering the health and life quality of patients – for example by using it for pain relief.

The need for an informed debate
Enhedslisten’s research spokesperson Rosa Lund highlighted that sufferers of multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, arthritis and cancer could potentially benefit. “In some parts of the world medicinal cannabis is already legal, and it helps a lot of people,” she said.

“Therefore we’d also like to see if it’s possible in Denmark. Even if the research comes out against Enhedslisten’s position, there’s the need to do more research so we have an informed basis from which to debate the issue.”

Sophie Carsten Nielsen, the education and research minister, believes that it is also good news for the research community. “It’s a great result that we’ve reached a broad agreement,” she said.

“The agreement will ensure growth in Denmark because research and innovation are crucial for Denmark’s future.”


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”