CANNABIS ON PRESCRIPTION MAY BE ALLOWED

If cannabis had therapeutic benefits, the Government would allow it to be
prescribed, a Home Office Minister says.

Charles Clarke made the comments in the Commons, but made it clear the
Government would draw a distinction between the therapeutic use of cannabis
and its recreational use.

There are currently two trials on the therapeutic benefits of cannabis
taking place. One is being carried out by a private company and another by
the Home Office.

The private company, GW Pharmaceutical, hopes to have a licence to produce
cannabis for medical use by 2003.

Giving evidence to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, Mr
Clarke said: "The Home Office and the Department of Health are very, very
clear that once the trials outcomes are clear ... we will act very
expeditiously that any approved treatment can be brought into circulation."
But he emphasised the Government would only act on the basis of scientific
evidence and not on the testimonies of individuals who said cannabis had
helped their condition.

He said: "We must act on the basis of scientific tests. To get to the
position of changing the law we need to have a proper scientific judgment."
Also giving evidence Dr Brian Davis of the Medicines Control Agency
Licensing Division said even if the present trials had positive results,
more extensive trials would be needed before cannabis could be licensed for
therapeutic use.

He referred to a study which had shown that cannabis had impaired the
fertility of male monkeys.