cannabisnews.com: Scientists Develop Cannabis Spray Scientists Develop Cannabis Spray Posted by FoM on December 11, 2000 at 07:36:30 PT Science & Technology Source: BBC News Scientists have developed cannabis in a spray form which could become available on the NHS. The breakthrough could pave the way for cannabis being used, under medical supervision, in aerosols and injections. Professor Roger Pertwee, Britain's leading researcher into the medical benefits of cannabis, believes this approach would be more acceptable to doctors. GPs have opposed the use of the drug because it had to be smoked, which risks causing cancer, or eaten, which is an unreliable method of taking the drug. Now Prof Pertwee believes the cannabis could be available through the National Health Service within five to 10 years - if not sooner. The House of Lords' science and technology committee has recommended the drug be made available now for medical purposes. The UK Government - through the Medical Research Council - is currently carrying out a £1m trial involving 600 multiple sclerosis patients to assess the medical benefits of the drug. Drug Companies: Prof Pertwee, a reader in neuropharmacology at Aberdeen University, is recognised as the country's leading researcher into the medical benefits of cannabis. He is also secretary of the International Cannabis Research Society. His team's research has already attracted the interest of major drug companies in the UK and the USA, where some states allow cannabis to be used medically. Prof Pertwee, who has been researching cannabis for 30 years, believes "thousands" of Multiple Sclerosis patients in the UK are already using the drug to relieve their chronic pain and muscle spasms. "I agree with the government that more data should be available before prescribing the drug," he said. The Research has Interested Drug Companies: "But having said that I would make cannabis available on the NHS now because a great many people are using it to relieve chronic pain and they are doing that through the black market. "I would rather they used cannabis under medical supervision." He has developed and patented the new cannabis compound in collaboration with Boston-based Dr Raj Razdan and Virginia-based Dr Billy Martin. "Water soluble compounds also make the delivery of the drug easier and less toxic," said Prof Pertwee. "If we can get rid of some of the unwanted effects of cannabis it may be able to help a great many conditions. Pain Relief: "If we can't then its benefits will be limited to relieving chronic pain." He is currently working on removing the "high" from cannabis, a step which involves work on the body's nervous system. "Unfortunately the same receptor upon which cannabis acts is also the same target for the pain it is trying to relieve," said Prof Pertwee. "But it may be possible to have target drugs which block out or minimise the high of cannabis but allow its pain-relieving qualities to work." The UK Government banned the medically prescribed use of cannabis in 1971, but in recent years there has been a growing reluctance by prosecutors to take such users to court. Note: If we can get rid of some of the unwanted effects of cannabis it may be able to help a great many conditions. Professor Roger PertweeSource: BBC News (UK Web)Published: Monday, 11 December, 2000Copyright: 2000 BBCWebsite: http://news.bbc.co.uk/Feedback: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/Forum: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/Related Articles & Web Sites:UK Cannabis Internet Activistshttp://www.ukcia.org/Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/Cannabis Tests Show Relief of Long-Term Pain http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7947.shtmlCannabis Pills Go on Trialhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7587.shtmlCannabis Laws Too Strict Say Doctorshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread7524.shtmlCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archives:http://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #7 posted by André on May 22, 2001 at 04:12:27 PT: Can Cannabis be South AfriCan? Thanx to our National cricket heros toke-onna-smoke - Cannabis is SUCH a hot topic in South africa at the moment.Please support !) The hottest I've seen this topic debated. [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on December 12, 2000 at 06:24:24 PT: Yes, But. I'm going to repost something. Please pay close attention to the last sentence. While the gist of this thread is true, that this will produce pharmaceutical products for profit, I firmly believe that the end result will be a benefit to all who seek clinical cannabis. This is not your father's Marinol. Rather, it is a medicine that is essentially equal in its effects and relief to what the the medical marijuana patient appreciates with smoked herb. Here's the previous message:"I am familiar with the program discussed here, inasmuch as I am planning similar trials with GW Pharmaceuticals in the USA. A couple of points are important. Firstly, this is a whole plant extract of cannabis that combines the synergistic cannabinoids and essential oils. Secondly, international governments are seriously looking at these trials. If successful, rapid approval of the first cannabis-based medical extracts will likely occur in the UK and Canada. The USA will likely need to follow in kind, although, response may be slower. Any positive results from these trials can certainly be extrapolated to smoked cannabis. The stumbling blocks for governmental regulatory bodies are the act of smoking, and the issues of standardization of the medicine and its dosing. GW realizes that some people will choose to grow and smoke their own medicine. Rather, the CBME's will be ideal for the patient that prefers to "play by the rules" employing what is expected to be a Schedule III or better pharmaceutical preparation." [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by dddd on December 12, 2000 at 05:10:28 PT "Budasepticol"from Phizer That's what I think will happen Sudaca.It will be used by the anti crowd that always say Marinol is availiable. This weed spray stuff,will be marketed by prescription only,,and will be produced by those caring,and compassionate people of the pharmeceutical corporations. Most likely,it will be extremely expensive,patented,,etc. I guess it's good for the people who can afford it,but they are the same ones who own stock in pharmaceutical and healthcare.......dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Sudaca on December 11, 2000 at 13:24:26 PT on the other hand once this goes out there'll be an excuse to continue the War on MJ.. it goes something like "Dronabinol".. - You may not plant and smoke your own weed. - You must but the "Thisisnotadruginol" spray patented by Merck, or Pfizer at the modicum cost of $50 a hit, from the legal monopoly *ahem, market* (in which Senator X and Congressmen Y have stock) doobies and such other things will still remain illegal... and the cannabis plant will still be one of those things the devil created (when he got creator-powers thanks to the church) [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by FoM on December 11, 2000 at 11:50:22 PT: Related Article Cannabis In A Jab And A Spray On WaySource: Irish Independent (Ireland)Author: Chris GrayPublished: December 11, 2000Copyright: Independent Newspapers (Ireland) LtdContact: independent.letters independent.ieWebsite: http://www.independent.ie/Scientists have invented a technique for making cannabis soluble so that it can be used in sprays or injections, which would remove a key objection to its use as a medicine, writes Chris Gray.The team at Aberdeen University believes the breakthrough could lead to the drug being available on Britain's NHS within five years. GPs have opposed the drug's medicinal use because it had to be smoked, which carries a risk of cancer, or eaten, which is unreliable.Soluble cannabis could be administered to patients in sprays, aerosols or injections.Professor Roger Pertwee, who has jointly developed and patented the new cannabis compound said it still produced a "high" in users, but work was continuing on removing that without also stopping the drug's pain-relieving qualities. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by defenderoffreeworld on December 11, 2000 at 11:23:49 PT: but there would be less pressure if we consider what's taking place in belgium and switzerland, where legalization is right around the corner, then we can conclude that this would take pressure off the u.s. and lead them to speed up the process. however, knowing how ridiculously stubborn these people are, you're right, who knows? [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on December 11, 2000 at 08:10:49 PT: Sooner, Actually If these trials in the UK are successful, cannabis-based medical extracts could be approved a lot sooner, more like the range of 1-3 years. A similar time frame is possible in Canada. Here in the USA, who knows? We are way behind the curve. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: