SOME ENCOURAGEMENT GIVEN FOR RESEARCH INTO CANNABIS

The Home Office indicated last week that it is willing to set up "workshop
talks" to discuss licensing procedures for research into the medical use of
cannabis, and the Medical Research Council said that it would consider
special treatment for clinical trials.

The offers were made when both bodies gave evidence to the House of Lords
subcommittee that is inquiring into possible changes in the law relating to
cannabis and its derivatives for medical and recreational purposes.

Home Office officials said that they are making arrangements with the
Department of Health and the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) for a conference
to discuss aspects of research licensing with representatives of the
research community. The aim would be to highlight some of the complex issues
involved such as the supply of standardised cannabis and the adoption of
sound methodologies.

If and when the benefits of a cannabis based medicine had been
scientifically proved and a marketing authorisation issued by the MCA, the
Home Office said that it would be willing to come forward with a change in
the law to allow the prescribing of such a medicine.

Professor George Radda, the chief executive of the MRC, told the committee
that the council did not get many valid applications for research into the
therapeutic use of cannabis, although it would be prepared to give them
special consideration. It was looking into the possibility of carrying out
some preliminary trials at Exeter university.

In addition, the committee set up by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society under
Sir William Asscher (2 May, p 1335) had agreed to focus on the reduction of
pain and spasticity as the end point of possible clinical trials and
committee members were debating which products to investigate. They were in
process of discussing good protocols.

In a written submission, the MRC said that in the absence of data, the
scientific evidence in favour of permitting the medical use of cannabis or
cannabinoids must be considered slight at the moment.

Lord Walton of Detchant observed that the subcommittee had not had any
convincing evidence that cannabis had any effect on the course of a disease.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett