Subj: Trials to begin into medical use of cannabis

Date: Jul 29, 1998

Source: The Scotsman

Trials to begin into medical use of cannabis

Nick Thorpe



PRESIDENT Clinton famously denied inhaling it and Sir David 

Steel's son was jailed for growing it. Now, two dozen 

patients are to take part in the ultimate scientific 

experience: testing cannabis to see what it does.



But far from conjuring images of hospital wards full of 

volunteers blowing languid smoke rings from large reefers. 

GW Pharmaceuticals is anxious to point out that its 

experiments will be closely controlled.



Patients will breathe in carefully controlled amounts of 

cannabis vapour from special inhalers enabling the effects 

to be monitored precisely.



The main purpose of the research, to start next year, is to 

investigate the potential of cannabis for relieving pain and 

muscle spasms. Those involved in the pilot study are likely 

to suffer from multiple sclerosis, spinal injuries and 

"phantom limbs" - pain that often follows amputation.



While some patients will be taking the drug for the first 

time, others will already have experimented - a fact that 

highlights the disagreement over its use.



Last year, a cancer victim, Suzanne Smith, 42, of Kirkcaldy, 

Fife, was acquitted by a compassionate judge after she 

admitted using the drug to ease her symptoms.



Graeme Steel, the son of the former Liberal leader, was not 

so lucky and was jailed in 1993 for growing pot at his 

country cottage near Galashiels.



Seeding is about to begin at a £4 million greenhouse complex 

at a secret location in the south of England where up to 

20,000 cannabis plants will he individually numbered and 

visitors checked in and out.



Dr Geoffrey Guy, founder and chairman of GW Pharmaceuticals, 

said he had taken security advice from the Home Office and 

Special Branch before starting.



"I want to begin with inhaling because it allows more rapid 

absorption of the plant compounds than taking cannabis 

orally," he said last night. The cannabis wiil be highly 

potent seedless varieties of the sinsimella plant, 

containing large amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and 

CBD (cannabidiol), the main active drug ingredients.



"These are going to be state-of-the-art plants - pure little 

pharmaceutical factories," said Dr Guy, who yesterday gave 

evidence to the House of Lords science and technology select 

committee, which is investigating the therapeutic 

applications of cannabis.



"This is the only programme in the world which is authorised 

to develop pharmaceuticals from cannabis. I've had inquiries 

from all over the world."



Volunteers have not yet been chosen to take part in the 

trials, but he expected a flood of applications.



A recent survey by 'Disability Now' showed that almost 98 

per cent of the magazine's reader backed the legalisation of  

cannabis and 67 per cent said they had taken cannabis for 

medicinal reasons.



Dr Guy stressed that none of the volunteers would be getting 

stoned on the drug.



The amount needed to relieve pain or prevent muscle spasms 

was below this level, he said, and anyone experiencing a 

high from cannabis was in effect taking an overdose.



If successful, GW Pharmaceuticals could obtain the first 

licence for an approved cannabis treatment in about six 

years.