MEDICAL CANNABIS TESTS GET GO-AHEAD

GOVERNMENT-backed agencies are to issue official guidelines for
testing the medical benefits of cannabis.

The guidelines, to be announced on January 11, are expected to form
the basis of tests on more than 1,000 patients throughout next year.

If approved, each of the initial three tests will cost GBP 500,000,
funded by taxpayers.

Medical respectability for the drug will come a step closer when The
Medical Research Council and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society will
set the guidelines at a closed meeting to be attended by Department
of Health officials.

A Government licensing authority, the Medicines Control Agency will
advise scientists on regulatory aspects of the proposed trials.

The move comes after growing pressure to look at the drug's possible
benefits.

Prince Charles last week joined the debate when he asked a woman
struck down by the nerve disorder multiple sclerosis whether she had
smoked the drug.

Karen Drake, 36, said: 'He said he had heard it was the best thing for
relief from MS. I was surprised that he asked me about it.' The drug,
which has side-effects including paranoia, was barred from use by
doctors under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.

But a number of people struck down by MS have argued that smoking the
drug can lessen their symptoms and improve their quality of life.

Peter Cardy, chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis Society said
earlier this month: 'Quite a lot of people with MS do use cannabis
because they find conventional remedies do not work or are not
prescribed for some of the nasty symptoms like spasms and pain.

'It is sad and regrettable that when they find something that works
for them they have to deal with the criminal world.' In November the
Government rejected a call from the House of Lords Science and
Technology Committee for doctors to be immediately allowed to
prescribe the drug for medical purposes.

The British Medical Association maintains its opposition to any change
in the law until there is scientific proof of its therapeutic efficiency.