Marijuana Trials Spearheaded by Imperial Team

Posted: Aug 20th 2003, 13:45

A group of Imperial academics are at the forefront of a medical research group into the possible use of cannabis as a painkiller.

The trial – which will cost somewhere in the region of £500 000 – is being led by Dr Anita Holdcroft, an ICSM anaesthetics specialist who works at Chelsea and Westminster hospital. According to Dr Holdcroft this trial is being held because "Many patients and clinicians want an answer to the question of whether cannabis is effective at relieving pain."

A number of patients will be supplied with the drug in capsule form after surgery over the coming months, and their responses to the treatment will be noted then compared with a similar control sample who were given a placebo. The medical and therapeutic effects of cannabis have been mooted for some time, but this is one of the largest trials in the UK to date. It has been shown in previous trials that cannabis can improve the quality of life for multiple sclerosis sufferers by decreasing pain and aiding sleep and that it can help AIDS sufferers as well as lessening the side effects of chemotherapy.

It seems to show that the British Medical association are taking a slightly more pragmatic approach to the drug, after they condemned the government’s plans to downgrade the classification of cannabis. It should be noted, however, that the BMA have stated that they are investigating the use of cannabinoids (the active chemicals in cannabis) and are not in favour of the use of cannabis in its 'natural' state, so don't think that having a nasty headache will get you off scot free after being caught with a spliff in halls.

Alex C

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Of course it works

There have been dozens of trials showing the therapeutic effects of dope. Only, often the samples are so small that the results can't be relied upon statistically. THe worrying thing about these modern trials is not that they're being conducted, or even that the sample os too small, i believe in this case that over 400 patients will be used, BUT the fact that the plant itself is being excluded. This is just an open opportunity for drug companies to develop 'extracts', which aside from being less effective, will then allow the "active ingredient" (synthetic chemical) to be patented/owned/abused by all those benevolent pharmas out there. We've had the plant for millennia, we've known about the effects for millennia, we've been persecuted for 70 years for using it, and now the government wants big business to profit from its DNA, not joe bloggs. Do not be disheartened though - there are places in the UK now where medical use sensimilla can be *bought*, though illegal, these places provide a valuable service, particularly for MS sufferers and chemotherapy recoverers. Shame about the narrow minded halls policy as well. Ever heard of a stoned student come home late at night, and start fights?

tom t

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Marijuana Trials Spearheaded by Imperial Team

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