cannabisnews.com: British Drug Firm Names Best Medicinal Marijuana British Drug Firm Names Best Medicinal Marijuana Posted by FoM on November 23, 1999 at 08:02:33 PT By Tracy McVeigh, London Observer Service Source: Journal Online It has been debated since the '60s but now a British firm can say for certain which dope is the best on the market. GW Pharmaceuticals has tested different strains of cannabis on human volunteers and established which is most effective, at least for medicinal purposes. GW was granted a British government license last year to begin a three-year program to develop cannabis-based medicine. It now has 20,000 marijuana plants growing under glass at a police-approved, secure location in the south of England. Dr. Geoffrey Guy, the company's chairman, hopes a cannabis-based prescription drug will be on the market within four years. There is increasing evidence that the plant can help treat pain, notably in cases of multiple sclerosis, paraplegia and neuralgia. It also reportedly increases AIDS sufferers' appetites, and helps treat the eye disease glaucoma. Last week scientists found cannabis sativa, normally grown for its flowers rather than its resin, is the most effective pain-relieving strain. Sativa produces ``grass,'' not solid hashish, which is generally made from cannabis indica. Researchers found sativa was botanically distinct from rope-making hemp, resin-heavy cannabis indica, and cannabis ruderalis, a slightly weaker plant. Healthy volunteers were given various doses of liquid cannabis drops placed under the tongue, for direct absorption into the blood stream. ``These are the first studies in which human subjects have been administered fully standardized extracts of cannabis,'' Guy said. ``The key thing is to work out which combination of the active ingredients works best. Effectively that is what we have done in phase one.'' According to Guy, most people using the drug for medicinal purposes do not welcome the ``high.'' ``They want the pain to be eased without unwanted side effects so that they can get on with their lives,'' he said. In parallel with the trials, researchers have also been testing various gadgets to administer the drug to the patient. Most recreational users of marijuana smoke cannabis, an unacceptable method in medicine. But GW Pharmaceuticals is working on a special inhaler to dispense cannabis vapor. .Similar to what asthma sufferers use, the ``dope guns'' will have little black-market value since the dosage they dispense is lower than that typically wanted by a recreational cannabis user. When data from phase one has been approved by the Medicines Control Agency, probably early next year, phases two and three will see trials on initially small groups of MS and other patients to establish therapeutic benefits. Published: November 23, 1999Journal OnlineRelated Articles:Cannabis Medicine Seen Ready in Three Yearshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3699.shtmlHealth: Cannabis Trials 'Encouraging'http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread3683.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by FoM on March 28, 2001 at 20:33:55 PT Here You go Hi DollarI did an search off of the front page and came up with these articles. I hope they help.http://cannabisnews.com/thcgi/search.pl?K=GW+PharmaceuticalsCannabisNewshttp://www.cannabisnews.com/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Dollar$Bill on March 28, 2001 at 20:30:01 PT: i would like more recent information on this subj I am very interested in this subject and would like to learn more information. I see it on the news and in the paper but they don't tell the whole truth and the more i try to read it on the internet the more sites i come on that are targeted towards the recreational smokers, sometimes it does have some factual information in it but it is always are to tell. I am currently a firm believer that marijuana should be legalized. I just don't understand the justification why it is not. Thousands upon thousands of people die from alcohol poisoning, and cigerettes are taking lives daily but let those are being sold to the people. DEA has even said that not single death has occured from smoking marijuana. I think the problem is that marijuana is place in a family of killers, cocaine, meth, and others, while it is very harmless. Well thanks for reading my comments and hope that i can recieve some additional information on this matter.Dollar$Bill [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by legal on September 24, 2000 at 11:57:29 PT marijuana is good for the body a joint a day will keep the doctor away! [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by mhyytff on September 24, 2000 at 11:56:35 PT: marijuana-legalize it now! lealigize it now!marijuana is used no matter what you do [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: