Pubdate: Thu, 08 Feb 2001
Source: Guardian, The (UK)
Copyright: 2001 Guardian Newspapers Limited
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Website: http://www.newsunlimited.co.uk/guardian/
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Source: The Guardian
Author: Alan Travis

FAST RESPONSE PROMISED ON MEDICINAL CANNABIS

The government will move quickly to legalise cannabis for medical uses such 
as relieving post-operative pain endured by multiple sclerosis sufferers if 
it passes current clinical trials, the Home Office minister, Charles 
Clarke, promised yesterday.

He renewed the promise when he appeared to give a progress report on the 
trials to the House of Lords science and technology committee, which has 
already urged the government to license the manufacture of cannabis 
products for medical purposes.

Mr Clarke said: "If the clinical trials into cannabis are successful, the 
government is clear that we are willing to amend the misuse of drugs act to 
allow prescribing.

The Home Office and the Department of Health were very clear that "once the 
outcome of the trials is clear, we will act expeditiously to ensure that 
any approved treatment can be brought into circulation".

Brian Davis, of the medicines control agency, told peers he could not say 
whether the new cannabis products would be available within the next two years.
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