UK SANCTIONS CANNABIS-GROWING FARM FOR RESEARCH

LONDON, June 11 (Reuters) - Britain's first government-backed cannabis farm
was granted a licence on Thursday to research and develop the drug as a
medicine.

``Our aim is to establish the medical facts,'' said Dr Geoffrey Guy, founder
of GW Pharmaceuticals, which is to grow the drug in a giant greenhouse at a
secret site.

He said in a statement that there was much evidence to suggest that cannabis
may have medicinal uses.

It could help to relieve pain in multiple sclerosis sufferers, act as an
appetite stimulant for AIDS patients with wasting disease, prevent nausea in
cancer chemotherapy and help treat the eye disease glaucoma.

The plan is to isolate its active ingredients and test them for pain relief.
Guy expects to be able to market a drug within five years.

This follows similar research being pursued in the United States, where the
government announced last year that it is to spend $1 million on scientific
probes into the efficacy of cannabis as a medical treatment.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett