2015年考研必读《经济学人》节选：智利大麻

　　Nicolas Dormal, Daya's co-founder, says teaming up with the University of Valparaiso and a respected cancer clinic helped secure approval. The project includes a clinical study of cannabis as a painkiller. LaFlorida's mayor, Rodolfo Carter, is on board. “ I've had a few jokes about the mayor growing his own pot but in general the reaction of local people has been awesome,” he says. “They realise this is not about personal use of marijuana...providing people with a natural,healthier and cheaper treatment for their pain.”

　　尼古拉斯·多玛，达亚基金会的联合创始人声称与瓦尔帕莱索大学以及一个备受推崇的癌症医院合作会大大增加通过的可能性。该项目包括一项大麻作为止痛药的临床研究。弗罗里达的市长鲁道夫·卡特也参与该项目。他开玩笑说：“我这儿有几则笑话说关于市长中了几盆大麻， 不过总体上看当地人们的反应还是很好的。他们意识到这不是大麻使用私人化，而是为人们提供一种更自然更健康也更便宜的药物来止痛。”。

　　The project may soon expand to help with other ailments. Many Chileans grow marijuana illegally and use it to combat epilepsy. A group of mothers produce the stuff for their epileptic offspring.Not everyone approves of marijuana as a medicine. Doctors and psychiatrists warn that it is habit-forming. The World Health Organisation says it impairs learning and can worsen schizophrenia. The WHO accepts that cannabinoids can have positive therapeutic effects but says more research is needed into their benefits.

　　该项目可能会很快扩展到治疗其他疾病。许多智利人非法种植大麻用于对抗癫痫病。许多母亲种植大麻用于治疗她们患有癫痫病的子女。并非所有人都支持大麻成为药品。医生及精神病专家警告道，大麻会上瘾。世界卫生组织称大麻会损害人们的学习能力加剧精神分裂。但是世界卫生组织肯定大麻有一定积极的疗效但是认为要使其发挥有益作用需要进一步的研究。

　　But people like Cecilia Heyder cannot wait; she has only months to live. Having seen how cannabis works, she will use it whether it's legal or not. Fear of arrest is only a slight deterrent when you're dying.

　　但是像塞西莉亚·海德尔这样的病人就等不起，她的日子没有几个月了。已经见识到大妈的疗效，不管是合法还是非法，她将义无返顾地服用。当死亡迫近的时候，对被捕的害怕已经没有多大的威慑性。

　　Faced with such realities, there is little point in prosecuting people who use cannabis to reduce pain.Canada and at least eight European countries allow the marketing of cannabis-based medicine; now the trend may be starting in the southern hemisphere. For people with little else to celebrate, that is good news.

　　面对这样的现实，对服用大麻用于减轻痛苦的患者起诉没有任何意义。加拿大及至少八个欧洲国家准许含大麻成分的药物市场营销，现在这种趋势将在南半球流行。因为对于几乎没什么盼头的人们而言，这就是好消息。