Good to see Manchester at the forefront of research and innovation

This is hardly headline news is it? Cannabis has been used for all types of treatment over the years, its just another iaid in medicine just like alcohol is??

So, funds have been thrown at something that mankind has been using, safely for thousands of years as pain and stress relief? This isn't ground breaking stuff. All they need to do now is legalise the use of cannabis for the general public and the millions made from its illegal sale will dry up and save the NHS untold amounts in treating victims of cannabis related crime. Yay!!

Lots of useful things come from a cannabis plant, this is good news.

I am a writer of a book that helps people to quit cannabis and I actually welcome this treatment - the reason being is that many people who smoke cannabis use it as an excuse to continue their addiction - they say "leave us alone we need it as a medication". I envisage now that those people will continue to smoke cannabis and claim that this new medication is "Not the same as the stuff you can get from a dealer". This new treatment will ebb away at the false excuses people make up as to why they can't/haven't quit already.

People who smoke cannabis need help to quit and this will help to cut the crap basically.

Finally, tacit acceptance that cannabis is useful and not actually harmful. That said, sufferers of various debilitating conditions have known this for years. Of course, it was only ever prohibited because WIlliam Randolph Hearst feared the effect that hemp would have on his profit margins in making paper.

once again the government telling us its illegal and dangerous yet give pharmaceuticals the permission to grow it so they can sell it legally and make billions.
there are many many ways to use and ingest cannabis naturally without scientists mucking around with it.
what's missing here is education, get the knowledge out there between the hybrid skunk strains and the natural cannabis strains, legalize it then ban the real killer, tobacco. any non smoker reading this please don't get on your high horse because you probably do the other killer, alcohol. if you don't do any still read on.
the worst thing is that this plant can go a very long way in helping the people on this planet feed and fuel itself, but because of a little high the governments of this world cant tax then its the devils own and is evil. pure brainwashing nonsense.
cannabis, its more than a high. do some research and make you own mind up.

would the reporter of this article be willing to have a cognitive functionality test prior to use of sativex then repeat the test following 1 spray, 3 sprays, 5 sprays and 7 sprays? for the sake of balanced journalism. i doubt it, and you know exactly why.

The NHS paying a fortune for something which the patient could just grow on their windowsil, crazy.

So, it's not cannabis is it? It's a medically derived substance from a naturally occuring chemical found in cannabis. You wouldn't say people were being treated with mould if they were taking penicillin would you?

It's great tthese new medicines are being trialled here, shows we have top quality hospitals in Manchester. Shame the same can't be said of our local sensationalism led media.

This article is fundamentally inaccurate. Sativex is not "made from two cannabinoid substances found in the marijuana plant, THC and CBD.". It is an whole plant extract and contains all the cannabinoids that naturally occur in the plant.

Neither is it true that "...patients using the spray do not experience the euphoria...". In fact, "euphoria" is even mentioned as a side effect in the Sativex summary of product characteristics, published by GW. Cannabis Law Reform (CLEAR) has dozens of testimonials on file from Sativex users confirming that it produces a high just as any other form of cannabis.

All this is part of GW's campaign of propaganda and misinformation to attempt to distinguish Sativex from cannabis when, in fact, it is nothing more or less than cannabis (apart from a little peppermint oil and preservative).

“It is very important to point out that patients using the spray do not experience the euphoria associated with the illegal recreational use of cannabis."

We cannot risk terminally ill patients experiencing euphoria, can we?

Sativex is not made from two cannabinoid substances found in the marijuana plant, THC and CBD.. It is an whole plant extract and contains all the cannabinoids that naturally occur in the plant, dissolved in alcohol to make it into a spray, with peppermint for flavour.

Sativex ia also expensive, being produced by pharamceutical companies. A bottle costs over £100 and contains cannabis worth about a fiver.

People ought to be allowed to grow plants for their own use at home. This would save money. And it could be done safely; it is not essential that the produce be smoked; it can be taken in hot drinks or food; it can even be dissolved in alcohol and filtered, with peppermint flavouring, and then consumed.

Recently on line there have been many claims that cannabis oil can cure cancer. Whilst I cannot vouch for the veracity of the reports and YouTube videos, I think there is an URGENT need to investigate this.

As for addiction, we must be careful to distinguish between drug addiction (with heavy withdrawal symptoms) and medicinal dependence (where the symptoms may return if the medicine is withdrawn). There is no evidence that cannabis is addictive in the correct sense of the word; there is plenty of anecdotal evidence that may suggest a mild dependency, no greater than caused by tea and less than caused by coffee.

I never understand these idiots who say "cannabis isn't dangerous/addictive" As someone who loves a spliff I am more than happy to admit that weed is both of these things - yes it is a gateway drug, yes it is addictive and it does all sorts of damage.

To those of you who think weed isn't a problem - pull your heads out of the sand. I've smoked more than most of you have had hot dinners but but I'm not stupid enough to believe that weed is non addictive and harmless!

we should be looking at all forms of treatment, lots of pharmaceuticals now synthesise plant products, does anyone remember a young american boy being saved by the use of thc (deritive from cannabis) who had a very aggressive brain tumour, his father administered it via his drip, it shrank, he also had the usual tratments ie chemo etc, but we should explore all avenues in the fight against this agressive disease, more clinical trials I say.

Here is a perfect example of why our society is 'broken' and in 'slow motion collapse' or whatever daft statement Cameran made the other day:

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1457776_jailed-pair-who-ran-15m-cannabis-nursery-at-a-house-in-royton

This is the story we are not allowed to comment on in this issue. A perfect example, as I said, of why people refuse to abide by the law of the land. It is legal and profitable for a company like GW Pharma to sell cannabis - and as we have learned from the comments here, and learned much more than from the actual story - GW Pharma is selling a product which is exactly the same as the product sold by so called 'drug dealers', and even with the associated feeling of euphoria.

Our entire society is set out on a two tier basis, where those in charge can sell drugs and do whatever else they like - even getting away with murder if they have the right cash and connections - and the rest of us can expect prison. No wonder there are riots. How long must we put up with this level of unfairness?

Some common sense at last. They've known about the benefits of cannabis for years.

PS I never use it myself, can't stand the stuff.

"Experts believe the drug can relieve pain by numbing muscles – and say it does not give users a 'high'."

Well lets look at side effects that are considered acceptable (or presumably the medicines wouldn't be approved)

Nausea
Weight loss/gain
Hair loss
Coughing
Blood in stools
Blood in urine
Vomiting
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Continence issues
Tremors
Spasms
Headaches
Fatigue
Insomnia
Odema
Mood swings
Depression
Pain
Rashes
Itching
Sexual dysfunction
Heart arrhythmia
High/low blood pressure

So clearly any medicine whose only notable side effect is to get you high just isn't really trying.

For those who say cannabis isn't addictive - Its like saying alcohol isnt addictive. Its the lifestyle that is and the influence of the drug that becomes an addiction. If a person has a mental weakness i.e depression, anxiety etc both these drugs exploit it
After working in the drug field for 20 years - 10 as a cop in GMP and 10 in Oz as a Drug researcher for an offender based criminology program I can assure you both are
Its the interpretation of addiction.
You try drinking or smoking pot every day for a year and see if you can give it up - Extremely hard and most cant "because they dont want to" given as a reason
On the other hand - good to see the benefits of this plant being explored, which is really what this article is about

speaking as someone who is trying to get help with rigidity & spasms from MS, this medication is gazetted for use but our funding agency are at presenting charging $500 per canister for me to even try this med. That equates to a cost of at least $16.00 a day they say.. I do not have the resources (financial) to afford this med. I am devastated that there are people here whom obviously don't suffer from cancers or severe disability, but are only too ready to decry the potential benefits. Time for those anti to stagger/crawl a mile in my shoes and then tell me that they wouldn't try anything to help themselves. If you don't like it, don't use it, let those who need it survive..

wonderful,at last evidence of this amazing plants healing properties are being recognised and used,Surly a massive step in helping to dispel the lies surrounding it and getting the truth out there from the medical profession no less.The palliative care side,to my mind, should let them benefit from the'feel'good factor the plant has to offer without removing anything,as at this stage in life you need to accept and come to deal with so much with no relief from the mental torment.It could so easily be eased and spiritually soothed if nature were allowed to do her thing...that's further down the line though...for now a huge yeeha for huge new treatment...that we've all known about all along!!!!

wonderful,at last evidence of this amazing plants healing properties are being recognised and used,Surly a massive step in helping to dispel the lies surrounding it and getting the truth out there from the medical profession no less.The palliative care side,to my mind, should let them benefit from the'feel'good factor the plant has to offer without removing anything,as at this stage in life you need to accept and come to deal with so much with no relief from the mental torment.It could so easily be eased and spiritually soothed if nature were allowed to do her thing...that's further down the line though...for now a huge yeeha for huge new treatment...that we've all known about all along!!!!

wonderful,at last evidence of this amazing plants healing properties are being recognised and used,Surly a massive step in helping to dispel the lies surrounding it and getting the truth out there from the medical profession no less.The palliative care side,to my mind, should let them benefit from the'feel'good factor the plant has to offer without removing anything,as at this stage in life you need to accept and come to deal with so much with no relief from the mental torment.It could so easily be eased and spiritually soothed if nature were allowed to do her thing...that's further down the line though...for now a huge yeeha for huge new treatment...that we've all known about all along!!!!

A lot of emphasis has been put on the non-existence of a high with Sativex, but have I missed something, or is getting a high not a bad thing? Sativex is just a cannabis tincture, just like the ones Queen Victoria used to treat her pain from menstrual cramps. I hope people start waking up to the fact that the only thing wrong with cannabis is that is is illegal. Cannabis will not ruin someones life, but locking them up will.

Just yet another scam to make someone rich as if the country is not bad enough with drugs and drink. Our country has gone bonkers where there is no common sense left from the good old 80s