CANNABIS TO BE IN CHEMISTS THIS YEAR

HIGH street chemists will dispense cannabis-based prescription medicines
for the first time in 30 years, the Government announced yesterday.

Bob Ainsworth, a junior minister at the Home Office, said that a company
that was licensed to carry out clinical trials had given an "extremely
positive" report to the Medicines Control Agency.

Mr Ainsworth told the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee: "We could be
in a situation to make cannabis-derived medicines available before the end
of the year."

GW Pharmaceuticals is testing an under-the-tongue spray that could be
prescribed to patients for multiple sclerosis as well as for nerve damage
pain and disturbed sleep.

The Home Office said: "The Home Secretary said some time ago that he would
be prepared to amend the Misuse of Drugs Act to allow the prescription of
cannabis-based medicine as a form of pain relief. But that's only if
clinical trials establish that there are therapeutic benefits."

Further research is testing the effectiveness of cannabis-derived
treatments to relieve pain in patients with cancer and in those with spinal
cord injuries.

The main ingredient in the medicines being tested does not contain the
active compounds found in recreational cannabis and does not have the
effect of intoxicating the patient.