A clinical trial of a cannabis-based medicine has been given the go- ahead by the Medicines Control Agency (MCA), it was disclosed on 14 April. Junior Health Minister Gisela Stuart said the trial would look at the use of the drug to treat multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders.

"If a marketing authorization were to be issued by the MCA, we would seek to modify the current Misuse of Drugs Act controls on the use of cannabis," Ms Stuart said.

The company running the trials, GW Pharmaceuticals, believes them to be the first of their kind in the world. They will start shortly at the Pain Relief Clinic at the James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, in eastern England, under the supervision of Dr. William Notcutt.

Patients will take different formulations of cannabis-based medicines using devices that spray them under the tongue and allow them to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream. About 2,000 patients will take part in the trial, details of which can be found on the Web site www.medicinal-cannabis.org.

(Sources: PA News 15 April 2000)