NHS patients to be given cannabis(UK)

BBC News UK Edition ^ | 8/20/2003

[JerseyHighlander]

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Last Updated: Wednesday, 20 August, 2003, 07:48 GMT 08:48 UK

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NHS patients to be given cannabis

Some patients will receive cannabis-based medicines

NHS patients are to be given cannabis as part of a government-funded trial.

The study, which is being run by the Medical Research Council, aims to find out if the drug really can help to relieve pain.

Scientists will randomly select 400 patients who have undergone surgery from 36 hospitals across the UK to take part in the study.

They will be given one of four pills after undergoing surgery, two of which will be a form of cannabis.

Controlled study

They will receive a capsule containing standardised cannabis extract or a capsule containing tetrahydrocannabinol - the active ingredient in cannabis.

Many patients and clinicians want an answer to the question of whether cannabis is effective at relieving pain Dr Anita Holdcroft, Imperial College London

The remaining patients will receive either a standard pain-relieving drug or a dummy pill.

Researchers will ask the patients about their pain and general well-being at least once every hour while they are awake, over a six hour-period. The patients will be able to request additional pain relief at any time.

The researchers will then be able to compare the experiences of patients in each of the four groups and, hopefully, determine whether the cannabis-based treatments are effective.

The £500,000 trial is being headed by scientists at Imperial College London.

"Many patients and clinicians want an answer to the question of whether cannabis is effective at relieving pain," said Dr Anita Holdcroft, who will lead the study.

"We need to assess the scientific merits of some of the anecdotal evidence and we need to do this in the same way as any other experimental pain treatment.

"This is a proper study in a clinical setting where patients can be routinely monitored, using an oral capsule containing a prescribed dose."

Without it, I don't know what I would do Richard Spencer Paralysed cannabis user

Studies have suggested that cannabis and cannabis-based medicines can help to relieve pain.

Richard Spencer, who was paralysed 23 years ago after breaking his legs, said using the drug as part of a medical trial took away his pain, relaxed spasms in his legs and allowed him to sleep.

"Without it, I don't know what I would do," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"I just wish it was available 20 years ago, I would have used it. Certainly, I would have had quality in my life."

Last year, a small trial involving 34 British patients with multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and other conditions causing severe pain, found that using cannabis-based treatments reduced their pain and helped them to sleep more soundly.

US approval

Researchers have also found evidence to suggest it can help to reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatment given to cancer patients.

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral use of dronabinol, a cannabis derivative, for people with Aids.

There is evidence that cannabis may stimulate the appetites of Aids patients with wasting disease.

It may also help relieve the pain of menstrual cramps and childbirth.

Claims have also been made for its use in treating asthma, strokes, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, alcoholism and insomnia.

However, opponents of the use of cannabis point to the fact that it damages the ability to concentrate and, if smoked, may increase the risks of developing lung cancer.

The British Medical Association has said that only cannabinoids - part of the cannabis plant - should be used in medicine.

Frank Warburton, director of Drugscope, a charity that comments on drug-related policy, said: "The therapeutic benefits of cannabis have been well-known for some time.

"We welcome this trial which appears to be a sensible and rational exploration of these benefits, and look forward to seeing the results of the evaluation."

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LINKS TO MORE HEALTH STORIES

WATCH AND LISTEN

The BBC's Tom Heap
"Now the weed is finding it's place in the medicine cabinet"

SEE ALSO:

Cannabis

08 Feb 03

 |  Medical notes

Cannabis medicine 'within a year'

05 Nov 02

 |  Health

Cannabis kills pain in medical trials

30 Sep 02

 |  Health

'Pain drove me to pot'

03 Jan 02

 |  UK

Q&A: Cannabis pain trial

20 Aug 03

 |  Health

Cannabis trials are 'delaying tactic'

20 Aug 03

 |  Scotland

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:

Medical Research Council

Imperial College London

Drugscope

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NHS patients to be given cannabis

[JerseyHighlander]

Looks like the Green Isles are returning to a natural drug used for over 2 millenia in London. Hundreds of hash pipes from the Roman conquest have been found in excavations.

THe NHS is cash strapped, this is also an indictment on the socialist healthcare system of the country. When Kosovar gnags can sell higher quality higher potency marijuana at a lower cost than the local NHS pharmacist, there's a serious "Atlas Shrugged" inversion of the free market.

[JerseyHighlander]

I know you post to a drug ping list, but I dont know the name of the list.

How was IT? I d/l'ed the show on livephish, sounded great.

[MrLeRoy]

Wod_list (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/involved?group=124) ping

[robertpaulsen]

You pang? Correct title:

NHS Patients To Be Given Cannabis Extract In Capsule Form

[bigfootbob]

"In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has approved the oral use of dronabinol, a cannabis derivative, for people with Aids."

This is sloppy journalism. Dronabinol is not a cannabis derivative. How can you study the effectiveness of cannabis if the product you're testing is a designer drug? It will provide some pain relief in the target group, however. A legitimate test for the effectiveness of cannabis therapy, I think not.

I agree with your assesment of the socialist health care system.

[cinFLA]

A legitimate test for the effectiveness of cannabis therapy, I think not.

Get over it. Smoked marijuana has no future as a medicine. (Institute of Medicine; ref. FR MrLeroy)

[cinFLA]

Hundreds of hash pipes from the Roman conquest have been found in excavations.

Interesting. And all this time I thought it was the lead in the water that caused the collapse of the Roman Empire.

[cinFLA]

Sorry. No toking.

"The British Medical Association has said that only cannabinoids - part of the cannabis plant - should be used in medicine."

[fishbabe]

of course,when the nhs finds out how stoned the patients are and that they don't mind how bad the health care they get is,the nhs will keep all their patients stoned all the time....could save a ton of money....

[bigfootbob]

"Smoked marijuana has no future as a medicine."

Maybe not, but they should at least test cannabis if they are saying they are testing cannabis, don't you think...never mind.

[MrLeRoy]

Smoked marijuana has no future as a medicine.

It could help sick people who are suffering TODAY---but the WODdies don't care about them.

[robertpaulsen]

Correctamundo.

From a related article:

"The study was welcomed by the British Medical Association, which said that although marijuana itself isn't suitable for medical use, cannabis-derived medicines might have potential."

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[jmc813]

Thanks for the heads-up!

How was IT? I d/l'ed the show on livephish, sounded great.

It was great! Logistically, there were issues (7 hour traffic jam, foot-deep mud, not sleeping for 3 days, etc.), but the shows more than made up for it. Definitely the best festival musically that I've been to.

[jmc813]

You pang?

Pang. I like that. I'm going to start using it.

[robertpaulsen]

Pang is past tense of ping.

With apologies to Maynard G. Krebs.

[cinFLA]

Maybe not, but they should at least test cannabis if they are saying they are testing cannabis, don't you think...never mind.

I think it is very clear:

Controlled study

"They will receive a capsule containing standardised cannabis extract or a capsule containing tetrahydrocannabinol - the active ingredient in cannabis.

The remaining patients will receive either a standard pain-relieving drug or a dummy pill."

[cinFLA]

It could help sick people who are suffering TODAY---but the WODdies don't care about them.

Like you really care. You goal is for ALL drugs to be legalized!

[MrLeRoy]

It could help sick people who are suffering TODAY---but the WODdies don't care about them.

Like you really care.

I care enough to let them get the medicine they need---which is more than you can say.

You goal is for ALL drugs to be legalized!

How does that harm sick people who need medicinal marijuana?

[EBUCK]

Get over it. Smoked marijuana has no future as a medicine.

Why? Could it be because multi billion dollar pharcoms can't compete against sumthin that grows anywhere (except the polar regions).