Medical study of cannabis begins
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A man who doesn't drink, smoke or take drugs yesterday won the first-ever licence from the Home Office to investigate the uses of cannabis as a medicine.
Dr Geoffrey Guy, founder of two pharmaceuticals companies, predicted that pain-relieving drugs made from extracts of cannabis could start clinical trials within a year.
"I'm interested in producing something helpful to certain people, such as multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferers, people with painful spinal injuries and pain from nerve diseases," he said yesterday.
His new company, GW Pharmaceuticals, will grow its own supply of cannabis plants under the Home Office licence. The site will be at a secret location in south-east England.
The staff will isolate chemicals such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the plants. But smoking will not be among the "delivery" methods for THC and any other useful chemicals.
"Smoking is not the right way to deliver medicines. It introduces carcinogenic particles," Dr Guy said. But because some of the chemicals remain inert until they undergo a particular chemical reaction - usually instituted by burning, which heats them above 1200C - he is investigating the most effective techniques.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments