The Medical Research Council (MRC) announced plans on 13 December to fund trials into the medical benefits of cannabis for patients with multiple sclerosis. It awarded a grant of 950,000 pounds (about 1.5 million U.S. dollars) to Dr. John Zajicek, of Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, for the three-year trials. GW Pharmaceuticals is running the trials.

The MS study will involve 660 patients from across the country. Each patient will be randomly selected to receive capsules of either an extract of cannabis, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, dronabinol) or a placebo. Participants will be recruited from specialist MS clinics in hospitals around the country.

Peter Cardy, chief executive of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, said: "For years we have pressed for proper medical research to assess the clinical effectiveness and safety of these substances. (...) It is clearly an unacceptable state of affairs when many people suffering from a serious medical condition feel driven to break the law." A spokeswoman for the British Medical Association said: "We warmly welcome these trials. It is what we have been calling for and any research into the medical benefits is to be supported."

(Source: Reuters of 13 December 1999)