FAST RESPONSE PROMISED ON MEDICINAL CANNABIS

The government will move quickly to legalise cannabis for medical uses such
as relieving post-operative pain endured by multiple sclerosis sufferers if
it passes current clinical trials, the Home Office minister, Charles
Clarke, promised yesterday.

He renewed the promise when he appeared to give a progress report on the
trials to the House of Lords science and technology committee, which has
already urged the government to license the manufacture of cannabis
products for medical purposes.

Mr Clarke said: "If the clinical trials into cannabis are successful, the
government is clear that we are willing to amend the misuse of drugs act to
allow prescribing.

The Home Office and the Department of Health were very clear that "once the
outcome of the trials is clear, we will act expeditiously to ensure that
any approved treatment can be brought into circulation".

Brian Davis, of the medicines control agency, told peers he could not say
whether the new cannabis products would be available within the next two years.