HUNDREDS INVOLVED IN CANNABIS TRIALS

Hundreds of patients have been recruited to take part in clinical trials of
cannabis based in Devon.

The research, by Dr John Zajicek at the Peninsula Medical School, is to
investigate the use of canaboids on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

About 44 patients were recruited in Plymouth in January last year and now
that figure has risen to 667 worldwide.

Thirty three medical centres worldwide are contributing to Dr Zajicek's
research, which should be completed by February 2003.

Dr Zajicek's work is being funded by the Medical Research Council, which has
contributed more than UKP1m.

Dr Zajicek said he thinks there may be real health benefits for MS patients
and some people have responded very well to treatment.

After the results are released, he said it is then down to parliament to
decide what to do.

Dr Zajicek said: "All the indications are that they're going to take a lot
of notice of the results of this study.

"This is the biggest study into cannabis ever produced and I think it will
inform the politicians and the regulators of medicines as to how useful
these drugs are going to be.

"We're already looking at ways to get these drugs on the market."

Prescribed Medication

But for those finishing trials, it could be a long wait before they have
access to the medication.

Hazel Walker, from Plymouth, was among the first to be recruited to the
trials.

She said the drug helped her but now she is having to manage without it
because her part in the research has ended.

She also believes properly prescribed medication is the best way to treat
MS.

She said: "I hope that it is made available because it did make a lot of
difference in my life."

User Acquitted

Cannabis still remains a controversial substance.

Despite plans to reclassify it from a Class B drug to Class C, the Home
Office says recreational users can still be arrested for having it.

However, a man from west Wales was acquitted by magistrates after he said he
used it for medical purposes last week.

Brad Stephens, who has the spinal condition cervical spondylosis, had been
prescribed morphine.

He argued conventional medicines were not strong enough but cannabis
relieved "underlying ache and numbness" he suffered from.