Pubdate: Sun, 10 Dec 2000 Source: BBC News (UK Web) Copyright: 2000 BBC Feedback: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/ Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Forum: http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point/forum/ Source: BBC News

SCIENTISTS' CANNABIS BREAKTHROUGH

Scientists have announced a major breakthrough which they say could pave the way for cannabis to be prescribed on the NHS. The team based at Aberdeen University has developed a method of making the drug soluble for the first time.

That means cannabis could be used in sprays, aerosols or injections - removing one of the objections to the medical use of the drug.

GPs have opposed the use of the drug because it had to be smoked, which caused cancer risks, or eaten, which is an unreliable method of taking the drug.

Now Professor Roger Pertwee believes the cannabis could be available through the National Health Service within five to 10 years - if not sooner.

The House of Lords' science and technology committee has recommended that the drug should be made available now for medical purposes.

The UK Government - through the Medical Research Council - is currently carrying out a ?1m trial involving 600 Multiple Sclerosis patients to assess the medical benefits of the drug.

Drug Companies

Professor Pertwee, a reader in neuropharmacology at the Scottish university, is recognised as the country's leading researcher into the medical benefits of cannabis. He is also secretary of the International Cannabis Research Society.

His team's research has already attracted the interest of major drug companies in the UK and the USA, where some states allow cannabis to be used medically.

Professor Pertwee, who has been researching cannabis for 30 years, believes "thousands" of Multiple Sclerosis patients in the UK are already using the drug to relieve their chronic pain and muscle spasms.

"I agree with the government that more data should be available before prescribing the drug," he said.

"But having said that I would make cannabis available on the NHS now because a great many people are using it to relieve chronic pain and they are doing that through the black market.

"I would rather they used cannabis under medical supervision."

He has developed and patented the new cannabis compound in collaboration with Boston-based Dr Raj Razdan and Virginia-based Dr Billy Martin.

"Water soluble compounds also make the delivery of the drug easier and less toxic," said Professor Pertwee.

"If we can get rid of some of the unwanted effects of cannabis it may be able to help a great many conditions.

Pain Relief

"If we can't then its benefits will be limited to relieving chronic pain."

He is currently working on removing the "high" from cannabis, a step which involves work on the body's nervous system.

"Unfortunately the same receptor upon which cannabis acts is also the same target for the pain it is trying to relieve," said Professor Pertwee.

"But it may be possible to have target drugs which block out or minimise the high of cannabis but allow its pain-relieving qualities to work."

The UK Government banned the medically prescribed use of cannabis in 1971, but in recent years there has been a growing reluctance by prosecutors to take such users to court.