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LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - British doctors could be filling out prescriptions
for cannabis-based pain-killing drugs as early as 2004 if clinical trials
prove a success, the Department of Health said on Monday.
Canada became the first country to legalise the use of marijuana as a
treatment for chronic illnesses last year and now Britain's clinical watchdog
will consider offering cannabis-based pills on the National Health Service.
"Medical Research Council funded trials supported by the Department of Health
and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have been set up to assess the use of
cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis and post-operative pain," Health Minister
Lord Hunt said.
"Results are expected at the end of 2002 and the National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (NICE) will use these results in its appraisal of these
drugs," he said.
Britain's Medical Research Council, a government-funded research body, has
already begun trials with cannabis-based tablets on hundreds of sufferers of
the crippling condition multiple sclerosis.
The results of those tests will be forwarded to NICE, Britain's medical
watchdog, which will decide whether the cannabis tablets should be offered on
prescription through the government's National Health Service.
"A decision whether one or more of these (cannabis-based) products will be
licensed for official medical use is likely in 2004/5," the Department of
Health said in a statement.
"If the drugs do receive a license the NHS will require timely and clear
guidance on the clinical and cost effectiveness of these treatments," it
said.
Long smoked as a recreational drug, marijuana is favoured by many multiple
sclerosis or cancer sufferers, who say cannabis kills pain and stimulates
appetite without the corrosive side effects of many prescription
alternatives.
Britain has recently relaxed its stance against marijuana, saying it would
downgrade its classification so users caught with small quantities of the
drug for personal use will escape with only a police caution.
A British company, GW Pharmaceuticals, is developing cannabis-based
prescription medicines. It recently said it would expand clinical trials into
dealing with cancer pain.
By Jason Hopps
for cannabis-based pain-killing drugs as early as 2004 if clinical trials
prove a success, the Department of Health said on Monday.
Canada became the first country to legalise the use of marijuana as a
treatment for chronic illnesses last year and now Britain's clinical watchdog
will consider offering cannabis-based pills on the National Health Service.
"Medical Research Council funded trials supported by the Department of Health
and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society have been set up to assess the use of
cannabinoids in multiple sclerosis and post-operative pain," Health Minister
Lord Hunt said.
"Results are expected at the end of 2002 and the National Institute for
Clinical Excellence (NICE) will use these results in its appraisal of these
drugs," he said.
Britain's Medical Research Council, a government-funded research body, has
already begun trials with cannabis-based tablets on hundreds of sufferers of
the crippling condition multiple sclerosis.
The results of those tests will be forwarded to NICE, Britain's medical
watchdog, which will decide whether the cannabis tablets should be offered on
prescription through the government's National Health Service.
"A decision whether one or more of these (cannabis-based) products will be
licensed for official medical use is likely in 2004/5," the Department of
Health said in a statement.
"If the drugs do receive a license the NHS will require timely and clear
guidance on the clinical and cost effectiveness of these treatments," it
said.
Long smoked as a recreational drug, marijuana is favoured by many multiple
sclerosis or cancer sufferers, who say cannabis kills pain and stimulates
appetite without the corrosive side effects of many prescription
alternatives.
Britain has recently relaxed its stance against marijuana, saying it would
downgrade its classification so users caught with small quantities of the
drug for personal use will escape with only a police caution.
A British company, GW Pharmaceuticals, is developing cannabis-based
prescription medicines. It recently said it would expand clinical trials into
dealing with cancer pain.
By Jason Hopps
