Pubdate: Tue,  2 Jul 2002
Source: Sunday Mail (UK)
Copyright: 2002 Daily Record and Sunday Mail Ltd.
Contact:  http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2260
Author: Lorna Hughes

SCOTS PATIENTS GIVEN CANNABIS FOR PAIN RELIEF

Unique Drug Trial At Glasgow Hospital

CANNABIS is being prescribed to NHS patients in Scotland for the first time.

A trial of the controversial scheme to offer cannabis-based medicines as 
pain relief has started at one of the country's biggest hospitals.

Doctors at Glasgow's Gartnavel Hospital have been given the green light to 
offer the drug to patients as part of the ground-breaking research study.

The prescription pilot means that doctors will be able to offer the drug to 
MS sufferers and other patients with long-term pain relief problems.

Last night, a spokeswoman for the hospital confirmed that the West Glasgow 
hospitals ethics committee had granted approval to the trial project.

She said: "It's a research study and the benefits of the treatment will be 
reviewed by doctors."

The drug is understood to be administered orally to patients in the form of 
a capsule or a spray used under the tongue. Both medicines are made from 
cannabis derivatives by drug companies.

But patients will not get "high" after chemists isolated the active 
painkilling ingredient of marijuana.

It is not known how long the study will last and whether it will be 
extended to other hospitals.

The revelation comes just a week after the Sunday Mail revealed how police 
forces are no longer prosecuting people caught with personal amounts of the 
drug.

It is mainly out-patients at Gartnavel who have been offered the chance to 
take part in the pilot scheme.

Multiple sclerosis sufferers have long campaigned for the drug to be 
available on prescription, claiming it most effectively tackles their pain.

But the Glasgow hospital is prescribing cannabis-based relief to other 
patients, including those suffering post-operative pain.

MS sufferer Anne Brankin, 57, applied to join the research scheme at 
Gartnavel but was told all the places had already been taken.

Mrs Brankin, of Blackburn, West Lothian, said: "I have tried cannabis and 
it certainly helped relax me when I had spasms.

"A few other sufferers told me they also used it. But what nearly all MS 
sufferers will tell you is that they will try anything to relieve the pain.

"We would like to see cannabis controlled and hopefully this study will go 
some way to make this happen."

Nancy Malcolm, 49, was diagnosed with MS 26 years ago.

The mother-of-two from Stirling added: "I am quite sure every MS sufferer 
would try cannabis if they thought it would help."

But one patient, who is recovering from surgery, was surprised to be 
offered cannabis by his doctor.

He said: "I was shocked when the doctor asked if I wanted to join the project.

"I've suffered from terrible pain since a leg operation and have tried all 
other kinds of treatment.

"I'm a dad and I suppose I was just surprised to hear a doctor offer me a 
drug that I had always been told was illegal."
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth