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Study says pot eases chronic pain for people with spinal injuries
By Hempology | October 4, 2002
From the Vancouver Sun, October 3rd, 2002
by David Derbyshire
LONDON - Low doses of cannabis can relieve severe pain for people with multiple sclerosis
and spinal cord injuries, the largest clinical trial into the drug has found.
GW Pharmaceuticals, the company given a licsense by the British government to grow cannabis in the U.K.
and run clinical trials, said none of the patients had respinded well to conventional drugs.
Dr. Willy Notcutt, of the James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth, who is running the trial, said:
“Patients in this trial are suffering form severe pain. It dominates their lives.
“Given the previously intractable nature of their pain symptoms, the improvements provided by
cannabis-based medicines are all the more remarkable.
“Many of those with chronic pain also suffer from a poor quality of sleep which over time can
have profoundly negative effects on them and their families. By bringing about improvements in
their sleep regime, as well as their pain, we can have a major positive impact on their quality
of life.”
Patients were given three durgs containing cannabinoids, the active ingredients in the cannabis
plant.
One spray contained the cannabinoid CBD, antother THC and a third an equal amount of both.
Cannabis-based drugs worked better than a dummy placebo for 28 of the patients, all of whom asked to
continue on the drug. Twenty-five are still on the trial and have been taking the drugs for two years.
Only six felt no benefit.
The drugs are administered with an inhaler under the tongue at low levels designed to avoid
intoxicating effects.
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