PATIENTS WELCOME BRITISH MOVE TO ALLOW PRESCRIBED CANNABIS PAINKILLERS

A move to clear the way for cannabis-based painkillers to be prescribed in
Britain within two years was last night welcomed by Irish patients' groups.

Britain's Health Minister Lord Hunt said the use of cannabis derivatives to
relieve pain in multiple sclerosis sufferers and post-operative patients
was being referred to the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).

"If these pharmaceuticals are licensed for medical use, it is of critical
importance that NICE guidance is in place for the clinicians who will have
to make decisions about their use," he said.

Trials funded by the Medical Research Council, with the backing of the
Department of Health and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, to assess the
use of cannabinoids in such pain relief are already under way.

The results are expected by the end of the year and will be used by NICE in
carrying out its appraisal of the drugs.

Wiltshire-based pharmaceutical firm GW Pharmaceuticals, which is developing
a portfolio of non-smoked cannabis-based prescription medicines, welcomed
the Government's move.

Dr Geoffrey Guy, executive chairman, said: "This is a positive move by the
Government. Recommendation by Nice would further smooth the way for our
cannabis-based medicines to be available nationwide to NHS patients on
prescription, if our current trials are successful."

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland also welcomed the announcement
and the fact GW Pharmaceuticals is starting the third phase of its clinical
trials of cannabis-based drugs. "The anticipated arrival of a new drug on
the market in the next two years will be a major boost for those who have
advocated the use of cannabis as a treatment for so long. "It must be
remembered, however, that the responsibility for prescribing any treatment
remains with the medical profession," chief executive, Micheal Dineen said.

Fine Gael health spokesman, Gay Mitchell called for cannabis-based drugs to
be made available in Ireland at the same time as Britain if the Irish
Medicines Board believed they were safe.

"I will be raising this matter with the Minister for Health in the Dail,"
he said.

Health Minister Micheal Martin said there was no research to support claims
cannabis could benefit MS sufferers, but said that if the Irish Medicines
Board was prepared to licence clinical trials of the drug, he would give
"serious consideration" to granting the necessary licences under the Misuse
of Drugs Act. No application for a licence to carry out trials of the
cannabis-based painkillers in Ireland has so far been lodged.