TRIALS TO BEGIN INTO MEDICAL USE OF CANNABIS

PRESIDENT Clinton famously denied inhaling it and Sir David Steel's son was
jailed for growing it. Now, two dozen patients are to take part in the
ultimate scientific experience: testing cannabis to see what it does.

But far from conjuring images of hospital wards full of volunteers blowing
languid smoke rings from large reefers. GW Pharmaceuticals is anxious to
point out that its experiments will be closely controlled.

Patients will breathe in carefully controlled amounts of cannabis vapour
from special inhalers enabling the effects to be monitored precisely.

The main purpose of the research, to start next year, is to investigate the
potential of cannabis for relieving pain and muscle spasms. Those involved
in the pilot study are likely to suffer from multiple sclerosis, spinal
injuries and "phantom limbs" - pain that often follows amputation.

While some patients will be taking the drug for the first time, others will
already have experimented - a fact that highlights the disagreement over
its use.

Last year, a cancer victim, Suzanne Smith, 42, of Kirkcaldy, Fife, was
acquitted by a compassionate judge after she admitted using the drug to
ease her symptoms.

Graeme Steel, the son of the former Liberal leader, was not so lucky and
was jailed in 1993 for growing pot at his country cottage near Galashiels.

Seeding is about to begin at a A34 million greenhouse complex at a secret
location in the south of England where up to 20,000 cannabis plants will he
individually numbered and visitors checked in and out.

Dr Geoffrey Guy, founder and chairman of GW Pharmaceuticals, said he had
taken security advice from the Home Office and Special Branch before
starting.

"I want to begin with inhaling because it allows more rapid absorption of
the plant compounds than taking cannabis orally," he said last night. The
cannabis wiil be highly potent seedless varieties of the sinsimella plant,
containing large amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD
(cannabidiol), the main active drug ingredients.

"These are going to be state-of-the-art plants - pure little pharmaceutical
factories," said Dr Guy, who yesterday gave evidence to the House of Lords
science and technology select committee, which is investigating the
therapeutic applications of cannabis.

"This is the only programme in the world which is authorised to develop
pharmaceuticals from cannabis. I've had inquiries from all over the world."

Volunteers have not yet been chosen to take part in the trials, but he
expected a flood of applications.

A recent survey by 'Disability Now' showed that almost 98 per cent of the
magazine's reader backed the legalisation of cannabis and 67 per cent said
they had taken cannabis for medicinal reasons.

Dr Guy stressed that none of the volunteers would be getting stoned on the drug.

The amount needed to relieve pain or prevent muscle spasms was below this
level, he said, and anyone experiencing a high from cannabis was in effect
taking an overdose.

If successful, GW Pharmaceuticals could obtain the first licence for an
approved cannabis treatment in about six years.

Checked-by: (Joel W. Johnson)