cannabisnews.com: Clinical Trials for Cannabis Drug





Clinical Trials for Cannabis Drug
Posted by CN Staff on March 26, 2005 at 19:37:07 PT
By Andrew Bushe
Source: Sunday Times UK
A British drug firm is carrying out clinical research trials in Ireland to determine the effectiveness of a cannabis extract in controlling severe cancer-related pain. GW Pharmaceuticals, a market leader in pioneering the use of medicines containing cannabis extract, has received a licence from the Irish Medicines Board under the Control of Clinical Trials Acts 1987 and 1990.
The board refused to make any comment on the trials, saying the information was “commercially sensitive”. Cannabis is a schedule one controlled drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act and is subject to tight restrictions in its prescription and use similar to narcotics such as heroin and morphine. However, licences can be granted for research and, in the case of certain low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) plant varieties of cannabis, for the growing of hemp. There have been calls both here and in Britain to allow its medical use to treat patients suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma and motor neurone disease. GW Pharmaceuticals is undertaking similar clinical trials in Britain. The company has developed a cannabis-based medicine called Sativex which has been found to help multiple sclerosis patients cope with spasms and stiffness, both common symptoms of the disease. Sativex, which lists a cannabis extract containing THC and cannabidiol as its principal components, is administered using a mouth spray. Regulatory approval is being sought in Britain and Canada. The drug is also being tested with cancer patients. The company says about 40% of cancer sufferers at present “have unmet needs in pain suppression”. In Britain, cannabis was reclassified and downgraded in January last year with the result that most cases of possession are now a non-arrestable offence. However, new studies suggest a strong link between the drug and mental illness. Charles Clarke, the British home secretary, has now asked the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs to consider whether the fresh research should mean a rethink. Source: Sunday Times (UK)Author: Andrew BushePublished: March 27, 2005 Copyright: 2005 Times Newspapers Ltd.Contact: letters sunday-times.co.ukWebsite: http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/Related Articles & Web Sites:GW Pharmaceuticalshttp://www.gwpharm.com/Advisory Council On The Misuse of Drugshttp://freedomtoexhale.com/reschedule.pdf Cannabis: Too Much, Too Young?http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20407.shtmlCannabis: The Questions That Remain Unanswered http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20379.shtmlGW Pharma Buoyed by Hopes for Cannabis Drughttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread20141.shtml
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Comment #6 posted by Toker00 on March 27, 2005 at 11:54:24 PT
No one I know who smokes Cannabis, has these...
symptoms. WHAT DO THE SYMPTOMS INVOLVE?Psychotic people often have delusional beliefs, such as that someone is reading their mind or that they are immensely wealthy, powerful or famous. Extreme disorganisation and auditory and visual hallucinations are also common. Sufferers are usually unable to cope with daily life yet most are unaware that their behaviour is abnormal.Maybe this is why there are so much colateral damage in the Drug War. They are hallucinating that a nine year old child is a dangerous criminal and must be thrown to the floor and restrained like a grown man. This hallucination cost a child his life because of the accidental discharge of a shotgun. Old black men, young mexican men living near the border, sick people in wheelchairs, and even people lying in their own bedrooms are victims of these hallucinations.Listen you psychotic thugs, the only danger of Cannabis causing psychosis, is in your minds. It was put there through the brainwashing techniques employed by DEAth, FDA, and Korporatitions.Natural medicine and organic gardening. Do it when you can.Peace. Legalize, then Revolutionize! (medicine)(energy)(nutrition) 
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Comment #5 posted by PainWithNoInsurance on March 27, 2005 at 10:52:54 PT
Mental illness in the DEA
I can't think of anything more psycotic than the DEA's efforts to try to ban hemp food--that they overwhelmingly lost. What were they wanting to do; hire more agents to bust people smuggling in cakes, pies, candy, bread, and etc because it has non THC hemp in it or is too high in nutrition? Maybe they could have had bakery busts with guns and bullet proof vested military officers?
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Comment #4 posted by runderwo on March 27, 2005 at 10:10:13 PT
mental illness
"However, new studies suggest a strong link between the drug and mental illness."I keep seeing this "strong link" recently. Thankfully, this New Scientist article demonstrates how shaky the evidence is.
Cannabis: Too much, too young?
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Comment #3 posted by Had Enough on March 27, 2005 at 08:08:01 PT
Opps I did it again
John Tyler
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Comment #2 posted by Had Enough on March 27, 2005 at 08:05:55 PT
John Taylor
I was thinking along those lines too when I saw that the US is going to deliver F-16’s to Pakistan that were paid for years ago. I think we sold some to India too, but I’m not sure. History sure does repeat itself. We just might have to face these weapons someday.
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Comment #1 posted by John Tyler on March 27, 2005 at 06:14:48 PT
Off topic a little
Here is an interesting tidbit of news I saw in my local paper yesterday. Everyone is well aware of the U.S.’s global drug war. Nothing that stands in the way of drug suppression is refused. So with that in mind, here comes Iran, the U.S.’s old Middle Eastern nemesis requesting oodles of high tech weapons from European arms merchants, such as sniper rifles, body armor, night vision goggles, vehicles, GPS dohickies, satellite surveillance systems, etc., etc. whatever they can get their hands on, to fight the druggies. This is certainly the law of unintended consequences in action. The U.S. would certainly love to see the druggies blasted to “kingdom come”, but all of this hardware is definitely military quality that can and would be used against us in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is quite a dilemma for the diplomats to sort out. The Drug War makes for some strange bedfellows doesn’t it?
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