CANNABIS TO BE GIVEN CLINICAL TRIALS

A pioneering biotechnology company has been granted two Home Office licences
to build a high security greenhouse for cultivating cannabis plants and
carry out the first large-scale clinical trials of the drug.

The decision signals government recognition of the growing volume of
research into medical uses of cannabis as a pain reliever, appetite
stimulant and anti-nausea treatment. The banned Schedule 1 substance is also
known to help suffererers of the eye disease, glaucoma.

GW Pharmaceuticals, established by Geoffrey Guy, has spent A34 million
leasing the greenhouse which it will fill with specialist strains of
Cannabis sativa bought from a Dutch horticultural firm. The seeds have not
yet been planted. The site is surrounded by a high, razor-wire perimeter
fence, CCTV cameras and under 24-hour guard. Its location, somewhere in the
south-east of England, is - so far - a well-kept secret.

Dr Guy, who also set up Ethical Holdings plc and the biotechnology company
Phytopharm Ltd, specialises in developing herbal treatments for chronic
conditions such as asthma, eczema and hormone replacement therapies. His
companies have previously investigated exploiting African herbs for the
treatment of diabetes, and spider venom from Russia for curing nervous
disorders.

Cannabis has already been used in limited clinical trials in Britain. A
handful of licences are in force. Both the Laboratory of the Government
Chemist and the University of London are permitted to grow their own plants.

But Dr Guy claimed his programme, which will cost A310 million over a
decade, would give Britain a leading role in research. Several US states
allow doctors to prescribe the drug, but they face being struck off. In
Italy, patients can grow up to six plants.

"We are going to be producing pharmaceutical grade extracts of cannabis to
carry out clinical trials," explained Dr Guy. "As many as 2,000 patients may
be involved."

The first tests will be with those suffering muscle spasms due to multiple
sclerosis, and patients with severe spine injuries. "Pain relief can be more
easily assessed in a shorter-term clinical programme," Dr Guy said.
"Cannabis is not a panacea but there is such a wealth of medical
possibilities that it needs to be explored."

Although patients will not be smoking cannabis, Dr Guy believes the active
cannabinoid acids are most easily delivered through inhalation. "As we get
more experienced in dose-delivery, perhaps we will use oral tablets.

"The support the Home Office and Department of Health have given is
indicative . . . of the fact that the Government welcomes proper clinical
research into this drug."

Until now the problem for medical researchers has been the lack of
standardised cannabis extracts which can be chemically assessed.

Earlier this year, the Home Office minister, Lord Williams, said: "If and
when the benefits of cannabis-based medicine are scientifically-demonstrated
. . . the Government would be willing to propose an amendment to the misuse
of drugs legislation to allow the prescription of such a medicine."

Hemp plants, which have a far lower concentration of the psychoactive
cannabis constituent THC, are increasingly being grown by farmers to produce
rope and specialist papers. More than 100 licences have been issued or
renewed this year for 12 varieties of EU-approved hemp.

Special Branch was consulted before Dr Guy's project was given the go-ahead.
In the UK, cannabis still accounts for 85 per cent of drug arrests, and
there are estimated to be 500,000 illegal cannabis plants being grown.

The number of police cautions for possession of cannabis grew 10-fold to
40,391 in the decade to 1995. A 1996 survey revealed that 8.3 million adults
between the ages of 16 and 59 had admitted using cannabis.

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"