CANNABIS KILLS PAIN IN MEDICAL TRIALS

A large trial of cannabis-based medicines has produced compelling evidence
that they can help to reduce pain, say scientists.

GW Pharmaceuticals has been given a licence by the UK government to test a
range of cannabis-based prescription medicines.

Its latest work focused on 34 patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord
injury and other conditions causing severe pain.

None of the patients had responded well to current medications, but 28 said
that using cannabis-based treatments reduced their pain and helped them to
sleep more soundly.

Each patient was given three different types of medication which contained
different levels of the active ingredients of cannabis. All out-performed a
dummy medication.

Remarkable findings

The research was conducted by Dr Willy Notcutt, at his pain clinic at the
James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth.

He said: "Patients in this trial are suffering from severe pain - it
dominates their lives.

"Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptoms, the
improvements provided by cannabis-based medicines are all the more remarkable.

"Many of those with chronic pain also suffer from a poor quality of sleep,
which - over time - can have profoundly negative effects on them and their
families.

"By bringing about improvements in their sleep regime, as well their pain,
we can have a major positive impact on their quality of life."

The number of patients who took part in the trial is still relatively
small, and further research is required before cannabis-based medicines are
made widely available.

However, Dr Geoffrey Guy, GW executive chairman, said: "We are delighted
with the results of this study in patients with severe pain.

"The data shows improvements with all three of our cannabis-based medicines
and we therefore believe that there will be a market for all three
medicines in pain treatment in due course."

GW plans to release data about more advanced clinical trials later this year.

The Medicinal Cannabis Research Foundation (MCRF) welcomed the results of
the trial.

Lord Rea, MCRF lead trustee, said: "We are encouraged that patients in this
study have gained significant benefit and that the medicines appear to be
well tolerated.

"We are also heartened to hear that the Phase III trials are proceeding
well and look forward to hearing the results. If these are good, it really
does look promising for patients, many of whom cannot find any existing
remedy which relieves their distressing symptoms."