More MS news articles for May 2003

Cannabis Now Available in Cans

http://www.betterhumans.com/News/news.aspx?articleID=2003-05-22-1

Thursday, May 22, 2003, 10:38:07 AM CT
Betterhumans Staff

Pharmaceutical giant Bayer is bringing a cannabis-based spray onto the market in Britain and will likely distribute it soon throughout other countries.

Germany-based Bayer signed an agreement with UK-based GW Pharmaceuticals for exclusive distribution of the cannabis-based medication, called Sativex.

Sprayed into the mouth, Sativex provides pain relief for people with multiple sclerosis and neuropathy, and may be developed into a pain-reliever for people with cancer.

Coming soon to a pharmacy near you

The deal is worth up to £25 million (about US$41 million) for GW Pharmaceuticals, which is developing a number of cannabis-based pharmaceuticals.

Sativex consists of pure cannabis plant extract whose main ingredients are tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.

The deal only covers the UK, where the government has loosened rules to let doctors prescribe Sativex.

Bayer also has the option of marketing the drug in other European countries as well as Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Drug laws in many countries, such as Canada, have already been relaxed to allow people to smoke marijuana for medical purposes.