cannabisnews.com: Medical Cannabis To Be Legalised Within Two Years Medical Cannabis To Be Legalised Within Two Years Posted by FoM on May 13, 2001 at 21:13:51 PT By David Derbyshire, Medical Correspondent Source: Daily Telegraph Cannabis could be legalised for medicinal use within two years after clinical trials on patients with multiple sclerosis, cancer and arthritis proved encouraging.Tests on 70 British patients showed that an extract of the plant sprayed under the tongue significantly reduced pain, muscle spasms and bladder problems. Because the doses used in the trials were relatively low, patients did not experience the "high" associated with smoking or eating the drug. Large scale trials involving up to 2,000 patients are underway and should be complete by 2003. The tests are being carried out by GW Pharmaceuticals, a British company licensed to grow 40,000 cannabis plants in a greenhouse at a secret location in the south of England.Cannabis contains active ingredients called cannabinoids that can alleviate pain, reduce tremors and prevent incontinence. In the "phase two" clinical trials, which have been taking place in Oxford, Guernsey, Great Yarmouth and London, patients have been given sprays containing cannabis or a placebo.The drug was sprayed under the tongue so that it was absorbed into the bloodstream rather than swallowed or inhaled. The applicator allowed patients to regulate their own dose . Dr Geoffrey Guy, chairman of GW Pharmaceuticals, said he hoped that cannabis would be prescribed legally by 2003. He said: "Patients are clearly gaining benefit. These results provide enough confidence for us to increase the number of trial centres and the number of patients taking part. We are seeing a significant improvement in quality of life for sufferers of a range of medical conditions." If the final trial results are good enough, a licence would need to be approved by the Medicines Control Agency. The Government has confirmed to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee that it would be willing to amend the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the prescribing of cannabis-based medicines.Mark Rogerson, a spokesman for GW Pharmaceuticals, said: "The important thing seen in these trials is that it can really improve lifestyle. For multiple sclerosis sufferers it helps with incontinence and pain and allows people to sleep."The success of the trials could lead to tests of cannabis on other diseases. Some supporters of the legalisation of cannabis say it can treat depression, asthma, glaucoma, Parkinson's disease, menstrual cramps and prevent seizures in epilepsy.Many of the health concerns surrounding the drug are focused on the toxic effects of cannabis smoke. Studies have shown that smoking three cannabis cigarettes a day causes as much lung damage as a packet of 20 standard cigarettes. But there are concerns that some of the 400 active compounds in the drug could affect concentration and memory.Lesley von Goetz, 75, a grandmother from Dundee, is to stand for parliament for the Legalise Cannabis Alliance party. Daily Telegraph, London Source: Daily Telegraph (UK)Author: David Derbyshire, Medical CorrespondentPublished: Issue 2180 Monday 14 May 2001Copyright: 2001 Telegraph Group LimitedContact: dtletters telegraph.co.ukWebsite: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/Multiple Sclerosis Society: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/Medicines Control Agency: http://www.open.gov.uk/mca/mcahome.htmAlliance for Cannabis Therapeutics: http://www.marijuana-as-medicine.org/alliance.htmWhat's New - Multiple Sclerosis: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/asp/news/msnewsBrief.aspMarijuana Special Report - New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/nsplus/insight/drugs/marijuana/Related Articles & Web Site:U.K. Medicinal Cannabis Project: http://www.medicinal-cannabis.org/UK Cannabis Test Offer Hope: http://cannabisnews.com/news/9/thread9576.shtml Task Force Considers Oral Spray: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5838.shtmlPatients To Test Cannabis Medicines: http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread5309.shtmlAn Illustration of The Cannabis Inhaler: http://cannabinoid.com/boards/politics/media/25/25928.gif Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #8 posted by dddd on May 14, 2001 at 07:23:49 PT Ethan You really should consider going red with your name.....It's true thatan imposter would have a tuff time emulating your eloquence,,,butI think you would look good in red.......It's easy to do........and it willprevent me from making silly comments using your name...........Cheers........................dddd [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on May 14, 2001 at 07:06:05 PT: No Problem Dear Rambler, I appreciate your taking the time to respond, but no apology is necessary. I merely hope that people read these news items and commentaries carefully so that they have the most complete and balanced picture on the issues.Take care,Ethan [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by Rambler on May 14, 2001 at 07:02:30 PT Dr.Russo Please forgive my ill-informed ,jocular ramblings.I remember seeinga previous comment,in which you spoke of the integrity of GW.I believewhat you say about them,but I think you would agree that their highlevel of integrity is probably quite rare.I was not intending to badmouth them.I was just rambling.SincerelyRambler [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by Ethan Russo, MD on May 14, 2001 at 06:29:42 PT: Some Comments I have addressed this issue several times and have a definite conflict of interest in that I am working with, and on the advisory board of this company, but must respond to a few things that I consider misconceptions.Firstly, GW is about the only company in the world that "gets it" on the cannabis issue; that is, that cannabis is effective as a whole herb, and that its components act synergistically far better than any single component, such as the synthetic THC of Marinol. Their preparations preserve the cannabinoid mixture along with its essential oil components. That is why they are getting such good clinical results. In comparison, Marinol is an expensive joke in bad taste.In addition, their medicine comes from real live plants, organically grown in real soil without toxic herbicides, pesticides or other nasty techniques. The extracts are as natural as hashish, but far cleaner, and free of any pathogens (disease-causing organisms).GW personnel are not deluding themselves with an oral preparation. Cannabis works better for most treatments by other routes.They are trying to avoid the relative side effects of smoking.They have no illusions that their preparation will replace smoked cannabis for most consumers. The idea of these products, rather, is to provide to the consumer and regulatory bodies of government preparations that are safe, reliable and standardized. It is only then that the FDA and similar agencies in other countries will allow any cannabis-based or cannabinoid medicine.You can rest assured that any "proofs" of efficacy of these extract in treating a given condition will also generally apply to cannabis herb. Thus Herb Homegrow, Sally Sinsemilla, Gary Ganja, Robby Reefer, and B.C. Budd may still choose to cultivate their medicine. However, the average patient may not have the time, money or inclination to do so, and may correctly opt for a prescription medicine that their insurance covers, and which will give them reliable relief without side effects.Be assured that if someone uses too much of such extracts, they will become high. However, that is not the idea for most medical users; it is, rather, to get effective relief of symptoms without any impairment. It is possible to do this with a joint, bowl or bong as well as with cannabis based medicine extracts. The difference is that the FDA may allow the former, but will never in a million years allow the latter under current regulations. We need to allow a little reality to creep in here, folks. These people are not the enemy in any way, shape or form. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by J.R. Bob Dobbs on May 14, 2001 at 05:56:59 PT The Ol' Bait And Switch Don't you just love the headline? "Medical Cannabis to be Legalized Within Two Years". But the article has nothing to do with whole cannabis legalization - this article is about a pharmaceutical company marketing a cannabis extract. If that is the definition of "legalized medical cannabis", then the USA already had legalized medical cannabis, called Marinol! This is the same kind of semantic trickery which can "prove" that American drug users were responsible for the deaths of Veronica and Chastity Bowers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by kaptinemo on May 14, 2001 at 04:38:06 PT: LOL God, Rambler, you're killing me! LOL "Ass cancer". LOL [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by lookinside on May 14, 2001 at 02:43:28 PT: lol... at least someone is doing serious research...about time... [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by Rambler on May 14, 2001 at 02:34:44 PT Good and Bad,,Bad and Good Yes,it's a good thing that in a couple of years,this spray may become availiable to those who are suffering.But the relief of those who canafford to get prescribed the sprayweed,is the only good part.I wonder if it will be provided in aerosol cans,like WD-40,or Glade,orPAM,,,,WD-420?,,,Green Flag,,,,CannaMist? or perhaps more likely,it will come in a pump spray,,Weedex,,Formula 420??I'm afraid the bad side of this spray thing will not be funny at all.Thespray will be immediatly approved here in the US,perhaps even beforethe U.K.Pharmas will jump on it,and lobby hard to get it approved.Itwill be supplied by prescription only,and of course it will be fairlyexpensive.The anti cartel will welcome this quite readily,as it willprovide them with the perfect excuse to continue prohibition of theherb.They will continue to say that there is no medical use for smokedMarijuana,and will point to the spray,as the only necessary way touse marijuana derivitives.They will say the same thing they say aboutMarinol.I'll bet you the drug companies are already poised to moveahead with this spray,not to mention,the wonderful suppositories.So for those who who want to get stoned,but not break the law,theycan varnish their tongues,or stuff their butts full of this fake potsubstitute,and they wont even get a buzz,they'll just end up gorgingthemselves with massive quantities of food,which will then cause themto excrete the roaches of their suppositories.We will end up witha bunch of irratable,frustrated,angry fat people.I cant see passing around a big suppositorie at a Pink Floyd concert.I wonder if pot would be illegal today if it was never smoked becausesmoking it had no effect,the only way you could get stoned was to putit up your butt.They would probably have prohibited anal marijuana use,and they would now be researching way to make it into smokeable form,because of the concerns by leading sphinctologists at the NIDA,and FDAabout users getting ass cancer."we dont know the long term effects ofputting weed in your ass",they would say."That's why we are nowconsidering the possibilities of making it in smokeable form".Instead of using the term "potheads",Marijuana users would be knownas "potbutts" [ Post Comment ] Post Comment Name: Optional Password: E-Mail: Subject: Comment: [Please refrain from using profanity in your message] Link URL: Link Title: