SECRET FARM HARVESTS LEGAL CANNABIS FOR MEDICAL TRIALS

Five thousand cannabis plants are being harvested at a secret drug
farm for therapeutic research - with the approval of the Home Office.

The crop was sown in August at a glasshouse in the south of England.
The 8ft tall plants are being cut off just above the stem and hung up
to dry before being transferred to a laboratory.

The Home Office issued special licences for the cannabis farm to be
set up, in the light of evidence that the drug has therapeutic value
and could be especially useful as a pain killer and in treating
illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and epilepsy. Eventually 20,000
plants will be under cultivation at the secret location.

Trials on whether cannabis can help multiple sclerosis sufferers begin
this spring. Up to 2,000 patients are expected to take part.

Geoffrey Guy, chairman of GW Pharmaceuticals, which is growing the
crop under high security, said: "We will be using whole plant extracts
for delivery by inhalation, since this is far more precise and
controllable than the oral route.

"The first area of study in patients will concern the relief of nerve
damage pain, including for sufferers of MS."

The company is growing a potent variety yielding large amounts of
chemicals that induce a "high". Because of its potential illegal
street value, the crop was guarded round the clock as it reached maturity.

GW Pharmaceuticals has two licences, one allowing it to cultivate
cannabis and the other allowing the possession and supply of the drug
for medical research.

It is collaborating with the Dutch company HortaPharm BV, specialists
in breeding medicinal cannabis.